tagged w/ Ban Fur
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Animal Equality...
International Organization for the Abolition of Animal Slavery
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31 December 2011
Make it your New Year's resolution to Help Animals!
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Each year Animal Equality carries out many vegan outreach activities and investigations in defence of animals. With this work we aim to touch peoples’ hearts, in the hope that they will discover a lost empathy towards non-human animals. We aim to show them that it is easy to create a world without animal exploitation.
Much impassioned work was carried out during 2011, and it would not have been possible without the dedication of new volunteers and supporters just like you.
Read ahead to see how we carried out activism for animal rights in the UK and elsewhere in Europe throughout the year.
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2011: a year growing up!
We believe that human education is the first step to equality, and a truly kind world. During 2011, we carried out dozens of events and info-stalls in the UK.
Here are some examples of our work:
• In the UK alone, during our Demonstrations promoting veganism and free vegan food giveaways, we handed out 12,000 vegan leaflets.
• We launched a brand new website called ChooseVeganism.org, Thanks to the website’s new video, 'A message of respect', we received more than 11,000 visitors in a few days.
• Hundreds of vegan outreach events were carried out in Spain, Poland, UK and Venezuela, more four undercover investigations.
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Our dedication did not stop in these countries; in India we started to work to convince the Indian Government to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks.
Another important event during 2011, was the creation of a new branch of Animal Equality in Italy, based in Rome!
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International Animal Rights Day 2011:
A fantastic celebration of the International Animal Rights Day 2011, marked this year as being such a success in terms of recruiting new activists and achieving excellent worldwide media coverage on our activities. A brief summary of our events to mark this important day are as follows:
• LONDON (UK): Crime scenes featuring the outlines of the victims of the speciesism calling on passers-by to adopt a vegan lifestyle.
Photo gallery: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjxhi5Na
• MADRID (Spain): 400 activists gathered to show 400 corpses of dead animals, and demand justice for the billions of animals who continue to die each year as victims of speciesism.
Photo gallery: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjxgLviM
• ROME (Italy): For six hours, the Pincio's square was covered with 100 crosses, each one accompanied by a photo of an animal who had been exploited and/or killed for human consumption.
Photo gallery: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjxhWfTD
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Investigations:
Behind the closed doors of the animal exploitation centers, Animal Equality's Investigation Team with hidden cameras exposed the reality and misery of animals' lives. With our investigation work, we aim to change society into one that respects animals by promoting a vegan lifestyle.
Some examples of our investigation work are as follows:
• We recording of the brutal killing of minks on one of the biggest fur farms in Spain.
• We carried out a unique and intensive undercover investigation into the most important zoos in Spain.
- Visit the website: Spanishzoos.org
• We infiltrated Tordesillas, one of the biggest bullfighting traditions in Spain.
• We documented the gruesome ritual slaughter of 6.000 lambs for the ‘Feast of Sacrifice’ in Melilla, Spain.
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.Animal Equality...
International Organization for the Abolition of Animal Slavery... more
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DNAinfo...
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Fur Coats Banned at Animal Lover's East Side Bars
December 21, 2011 7:18am | By Serena Solomon, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
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EAST VILLAGE (New York City) — An expensive fur won't get you past the velvet rope at Johnny Barounis' East Side bars — in fact, it will stop you in your tracks.
Barounis, who owns establishments on the Upper East Side, the Lower East Side and in the East Village, is refusing to serve patrons who come in wearing pelts.
The 51-year-old vegetarian has won many fans and a few critics with his anti-cruelty stance, which has vetted customers at his bars for more than ten years and also extends to bans on certain foods, like veal and foie gras.
“It has been something I have done my whole life,” said Barounis, the 51-year-old Upper West Side resident whose bars include the Lower East Side's Revision Bar and Gallery and the Back Room.
“I was always anti-hunting, anti-fur.”
As the evening crowd roll into his trendy establishments, doormen question the pelts of patrons for their authenticity and even inspect the furs if there is any doubt.
“We tell people you are welcome to come in, but the fur stays out” said Barounis, as he sat in Revision, on Avenue B and 14th Street, that is furnished with recycled materials.
Animals that are raised for their fur are often kept in small spaces like battery hens and meet their end by suffocation, electrocution, gas and poison, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal (PETA), of which Barounis is a member.
While many regular patrons are aware of the rule, some have been caught off guard. Last winter at the Back Room one woman became irate when she was denied entry due to her coat.
“She called the police and they almost locked her up for the false alarm,” Barounis said, who also owns the Auction House and Fetch on the Upper East Side.
Not only does the cruelty aspect to fur upset Barounis, but that the animal’s death is often worn as a status symbol only adds to the frustration.
“I guess she felt entitled enough [to call the police] because she could not get into a bar with a fur coat,” he said, comparing it to “wearing a trophy.”
However, most patrons are graceful when their outfit is rejected. Another woman who also wanted to drink at the Back Room, a speakeasy with an unassuming entry at 102 Norfolk Street, simply took her fur coat off.
“She rolled it up and stuck it in a dark corner in the alley,” said Barounis, adding that the woman fetched it after her night out. “She made no bones about it.”
While Barounis sticks to his rule, he understands the conviction is a personal matter and is not interested in enforcing his views outside the walls of the bars he owns.
“No radicalism here, there is no red paint,” he said.
It was only about eight years ago that Barounis took his beliefs to the next level and became a vegetarian with his wife. While he stuck to it, Barounis didn’t bother trying to convince her out of abandoning the lifestyle a few years later.
While Barounis said he would never deny anyone entry for being a meat eater, he has drawn the line at serving products that are exceptionally cruel to animals like, he says, foie gras and veal.
Leather is still allowed because Barounis believes those animals are part of the food chain. They are not only killed for their skin, but their meat as well.
“The fur thing is basically what I can do to help change some behavior,” he said.
.DNAinfo...
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Fur Coats Banned at Animal Lover's East Side Bars
December... more
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BuzzFeed...
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20 Asshole Celebrities Who Wear Fur
Celebrity Buzz
Many celebrities choose to wear fur as a symbol of their success and luxurious lifestyle. You would think that they would know better, especially with all the press about animal cruelty! Plus, they just look silly.
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1. 50 Cent (above)
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[NOTE FROM ETHICAL VEGAN: The headline is not mine.]BuzzFeed...
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20 Asshole Celebrities Who Wear Fur
Celebrity Buzz
Many... more
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Los Angeles Times...
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West Hollywood makes fur ban official
November 22, 2011 | 12:00 pm
West Hollywood approves fur ban 2011
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After multiple readings and loads of public comment, the West Hollywood City Council gave final approval Monday night to its ban on fur sales.
By a vote of 3-1 with one abstention, the council passed the ban, which will prohibit the sale of fur apparel within city boundaries.
The move comes after the council tentatively approved the measure at a council meeting in September.
The ban was later tabled for 30 days as city officials worked to modify the ordinance to protect against potential lawsuits.
The ban, which is one of the first of its kind in the nation, is set to take effect in 2013.
.Los Angeles Times...
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West Hollywood makes fur ban official
November 22,... more
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The Near-Extinction Of American Bison In The 1800’s
As the populations of the United States pushed West in the early 1800’s, a lucrative trade for the fur, skin, and meat of the American Bison began in the great plains. Bison slaughter was further encouraged by the US government as a means of starving out or removing Native American populations that relied on the bison for food. Hunting of bison became so prevalent that travelers on trains in the Midwest would shoot bison during long-haul train trips.
Once numbering in the hundreds of millions in North America, the population of the American Bison decreased to less than 1000 by 1890. Thanks in large part to conservation efforts undertaken by Theodore Roosevelt and by the US government, there are now over 500,000 bison in America.
[Thanks to Bamboocum for bringing this to my attention.]The Near-Extinction Of American Bison In The 1800’s
As the populations of... more
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Animal activists steal limelight at FENDI show
2011-06-05 19:35
On the day of Floating Island’s international debut, 200 protest fur fashion show at the latest Seoul landmark
With only a small bridge in between, two totally different worlds unfolded in the Banpo area in southern Seoul on Thursday night. On the Floating Island on the Han River, the venue of FENDI’s fashion show, about 1,000 guests chatted pleasantly over cocktails.
Just a few hundred meters away in Hangang Park, about 200 animal rights activists angrily chanted “No Fur! No FENDI!”
As expected, FENDI’s second big show in Asia after the 2007 show at the Great Wall of China not only attracted fur-friendly consumers but also hundreds of anti-fur protesters.
While about half of the 50 models strutted down the catwalk decked in fur coats and vests, a model dragged a fake fur item dipped in blood red paint across a huge piece of white fabric with the word FENDI written on it.
When performers hired by FENDI banged on drums to spice up the after-party, the activists across the bridge upped the volume of the video featuring animals shrieking as they were skinned alive.
Several actresses and models from Hong Kong, China and Japan, including Zhang Ziyi and Hana Matsushima, were seen at the show but Korean celebrities were nowhere to be seen. Several celebrities, including singer Lee Hyo-ri, had voiced opinions against the event by retweeting mentions of the harm in wearing fur.
“No Korean celebrities came to the show, which means that they knew what the public sentiment was. I am hoping that they will make less appearances in fur items from now on. I also hope that Seoul City and other government organizations will be more cautious in holding such events,” Park So-yeon, head of Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth which led the protest, told The Korea Herald.
The show had been mired in controversy since it was announced on May 11, as animal rights groups protested the Italian brand’s fur items. Mindful of the anti-fur mood, Seoul city informed the brand’s Asian headquarters on May 13 that the city could not host the show if it featured fur items. However, Seoul city finally allowed the Italian fashion brand to go ahead with the show because plans to broadcast it internationally had already been made.
The use of vivid colors and simple, modern cuts in FENDI’s 2011 F/W collection were beautiful and desirable, but what caught the eyes most were the fur items, especially after two protesters who managed to sneak in and scream “No Fur! No FENDI!” at the beginning of the show were dragged out by the guards.
Most of the garments shown were fur items, particularly when bags and shoes are included. All of the overcoats displayed on the first floor were fur. Although kids appeared on the runway holding hands with the models in an effort to show “FENDI’s life style range” as the brand put it, the show still heavily weighed on fur.
“It is difficult to say how many fur clothes there were because some of them are items to wear around the neck or arms. We did not decide on the exact number of fur items when we discussed the show with FENDI again. It was just about the overall concept, that it should be a total collection including handbags, etc. In my opinion the show was not much out of line,” said Ryu Gyeong-gi, head of Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Hangang Project Headquarters.
Photo: Animal rights activists protest in front of the Floating Island on the Han River on Thursday. (Ahn Hoon/The Korea Herald)
“The show was broadcast worldwide online and was mentioned in many foreign media such as The Wall Street Journal. It is difficult to calculate the city marketing effects right away but it was a chance to expose the Floating Island to the world,” he added.
Photos of the protest bombarded the Internet during and after the show, leaving little room for talk about FENDI’s new collection or on the newly built Floating Island, which Seoul city was eager to promote through this international event. The Floating Island was criticized for limiting access to the public starting at 1 p.m. on the day of the fashion show which was held at 8 p.m.
“It was built using taxpayers’ money to be used by the general public, not for only a small number of people who enjoy luxury goods,” said the protesters.
Michael Burke, CEO of FENDI, thanked Seoul City after the event in a statement.
“I am glad to have chosen and introduced ‘Design Seoul,’ a rising fashion capital, and Han River which is a historic spot of Korea, as we did on the Great Wall in China in 2007. I would like to express my gratitude to Seoul City and everyone for your support to the event,” said Burke.
By Park Min-youngAnimal activists steal limelight at FENDI show
2011-06-05 19:35
On the day of... more
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Opposing Views...
Video: Donna Karan Lies About Using Fur
Cameras caught notorious fur hag Donna Karan as she lied about using fur in her cruel collections. Maybe her fingers were crossed behind her back, because a quick glance at her stores and shows proves that she's still in the bunny-butchering business.
We already knew that the yoga follower was a New Age hypocrite, but now it's obvious that she's an old-school liar too.
E-mail Donna Karan and let her know that you won't be caught dead in her clothes as long as bunnies are.
Written by Michelle SherrowOpposing Views...
Video: Donna Karan Lies About Using Fur
Cameras caught... more
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Robin Roberts (GMA) asked Sarah Palin about the controversy surrounding her hunting on her reality show, and criticism towards it.
Sarah Palin responded as expected:
"[I] would never shoot an animal for its fur or for fashion."
In her living room, in the background -- and clearly on camera -- lies a bear's skin, complete with his head.Robin Roberts (GMA) asked Sarah Palin about the controversy surrounding her hunting on... more
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