Cut class, not frogs!

Alizen — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:35:04 +0000

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, more commonly known as PETA, is a non-profit organization that targets animal rights and companies that infringe upon these virtues. While many people assume that PETA is all about a group of extremists forcing others to convert to vegetarianism (or even more extreme, veganism), this organization is dedicated to doing so much more than that. PETA targets anything and everything related to animal infringement, which includes, but is definitely not limited to, animal testing, abuse, consumption and extraction of fur through violent methods. Large companies in the fashion industry, such as Donna Karan and Giorgio Armani, are well-known for their fur-embellished coats. Now most of you are probably thinking, “What’s the big deal? It’s not like there’s any harm from it. After all, the use of fur dates back as far as the primeval era.” In a sense, those of you who feel this way are correct. The origin of fur dates back to a time where homo sapiens and even some hominoids relied on it for bodily warmth. The extraction of fur, however, is drastically different.

Welcome to a little process called “fur farming“. This is a modernized method in which fur trappers gather thousands of animals including mink, rabbits, raccoons, dogs and countless others into tightly-packed cages shipped into dank factories for their inevitable death. What most people don’t understand is that instead of providing a simple and almost harmless death to mass quantities of animals, these fur trappers drown, beat, strangle, suffocate and electrocute these animals before the extraction process begins. What’s even more shocking is that more often than not, these animals aren’t even dead yet! (Click to watch an informational video about how fur, leather and wool is taken) Bet you didn’t think about how the fur on your jacket came about, did you? Now let me backtrack to my earlier point about Karan and Armani. As a leading company in the fashion industry I think we can all safely agree that:
1. Both owners receive a surplus of money each year, and
2. Fur and leather is their number one choice for clothing material.
But let’s think about this for a moment. Are the digits on your paycheck really worth the agony you’re putting not only on the consumers and protesters, but ultimately the animals you’re abusing? For those of you who answered this question with a yes, congratulations, you’ve just received an award for being the most inhumane and ignorant person ever. For those of you with a heart big enough to actually reconsider the idea, I kindly thank you. But let us place ourselves in Donna’s and Giorgio’s shoes for a moment and ask ourselves this question yet again. Is this form of torture worth the money? Well, for starters, consumers want fur, and what is demanded must be supplied. So in a sense, yes, this cruel process must be used. Taking this into account, do we really care about the treatment these fur trappers give to these innocent animals? Well, folks, PETA’s campaign for the banning of fur has been going on for over a year and Donna Karan has finally agreed to stop using fur. Yes, you heard correctly! Donna Karan’s 2009 Fall line will no longer contain fur. The same goes for other famous companies such as Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. Unfortunately, Giorgio still refuses to discontinue the use of fur and claims that the fur he uses from rabbits are taken from those that will be butchered for meat. Well, Mr. Armani, if you can honestly back that up with some clear evidence, I’ll rest my case.
A high majority of society believe that PETA campaigns for animal rights through the use of boycotting and rallies. While this may only be partially true, most of what they do is done by volunteers who choose to pass out flyers. For those who don’t believe in doing so there are many alternatives, such as displaying PETA banners, pictures or videos on many social networks like Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter. Even joining a school club could help trigger a response. What it all comes down to is that there are many ways you can choose to lend a hand, and quite surprisingly they can be done even in the convenience of your own home. It starts with a different mindset, an attitude that is ready and willing to campaign for a community that cannot voice their own opinion. As a three-year member of PETA, I’ve done all that I possibly can to put an end to this cruel treatment, and not only has it made me more aware of what is happening throughout the country, it’s made me a more compassionate person. So the next time you walk into the upper class store we all call Neiman Marcus, I want you to remember that the retail cost of the fur coat you’re planning on purchasing is nothing more than a fabricated cover-up of the blood and pain these animals experienced.

Still interested? Here are a few links I found useful:
Cruelty-Free Shopping
Would You Rather Go Naked?
Donna Karan dumps Fur
Find out why Animal Testing Breaks Hearts at
peta2.com.

As Told By Alizen(: » cut class not frogs

Cut class, not frogs!