‘Grim Reapers’ Stage Powerful Protests to Call for Irish Fur Farm Ban
“Grim reapers” held demonstrations across Ireland this weekend to support a pending bill that would spare the lives of some 200,000 animals a year by banning fur farming in the country.
Holding black “scythes” reading, “Ban Fur Farming,” and “The Fur Trade Is Dead,” and dragging mink coats behind them, the PETA supporters gathered in Cork, Kerry, and Limerick to urge the Irish government to outlaw this cruel industry.
The Solidarity party is expected to present the bill this month.
On Irish fur farms, up to 200,000 minks are gassed and skinned every year. Prior to their agonising deaths, they’re confined to cramped, filthy cages and denied any opportunity to engage in their natural behaviour – they can’t roam, swim, seek solitude, or care for their young.
In addition to being torture for animals, fur farming wreaks havoc on the planet by contributing to climate change, land devastation, pollution, and water contamination.
An independent research and consultancy group conducted a study of mink farms in Europe and determined the impact of fur production with respect to 18 different environmental issues, such as climate change, ozone pollution, and water and land use, before comparing it to that of other common textiles. For 17 of the 18 issues, fur was found to be much more harmful than other materials.
Many countries – including Austria, Britain, and Switzerland – have already outlawed fur farming. And the majority of today’s top designers – including Vivienne Westwood, Versace, Gucci, Stella McCartney, Simone Rocha, and, most recently, Burberry – have policies against using fur in their collections.
What You Can Do
If you’re an Irish resident, please urge your TDs to support a ban on fur farming:
