tankian is an advocate of environmental and animal protection. he became a vegetarian, claiming in an interview with peta that his change was due to "touring and its variety of edible crap," and also he felt it was "instinctive somewhat." furthermore, he also feels the need for respect towards 'mother earth'. in july 2009, tankian signed a peta petition against the slaughtering methods of chickens in kfc slaughterhouses.