Carol McGiffin: The Way I See It
‘P ETA is an organisation that has undoubtedly done good work. But it’s also capable of really stupid, nonsensical stuff that can be damaging – as in the case of the ‘monkey selfie’, a snap taken by a macaque on a camera belonging to British photographer David Slater.
The charity only got involved after the US copyright office had ruled that a monkey couldn’t own copyright. Two years of court rulings (against PETA) didn’t stop it, either, as it forged ahead with its ‘cause’.
Slater, exhausted and severely financially stretched by the legal battles, has agreed to donate 25 per cent of all future royalties to monkey conservation charities, which is great, but what a waste of time and money. The photo had already highlighted awareness and therefore helped the crested macaque monkeys, which was always his intention.
And, whichever way you look at it, he made the photo happen. The monkey did not simply grab the camera and hold it in front of its face, screaming, “Selfie!”
The legal battle has cost Slater and PETA a heap of money, with lawyers inevitably claiming their share.
I wonder how long will it take for the charity to recoup that money? I’m sure the monkeys don’t give a monkey’s, and neither do the chumps running PETA.’
Wisewords fromourfeisty, fearless andfunny columnist