Tweet the Change You Want to See in the World! Wrexham’s Mayor Goes Fur-Free
We know that online advocacy is a great way to speak up for animals. Whether it is e-mail actions persuading councils to save animals from suffering or Twitter hashtags demonstrating popular support, online activity can make organisations take notice. And sometimes, it can take only a few people to make an impact.
This is what happened when PETA supporter David Wayne Price saw photos on Facebook of the new Wrexham mayor, Stansty Councillor I David Bithell MBE, dressed in ceremonial fur-lined robes. He posted a comment asking whether the robes were made of real fur, which kicked off the debate. Using social media, his campaign took off quickly and was noticed by local newspapers.
As soon as we heard about Mr. Price’s efforts, we let the mayor of Wrexham know via the local media that there is no sound reason to continue to wear ceremonial robes lined with real fur. As Brits, so strong is our moral objection to cruelly killing animals for their skin that Parliament passed an act banning fur farming more than a decade ago. It is inexcusable and an act of sheer indifference to public opinion for British representatives to wear garments that so conflict with British values. We urged the mayor to follow the compassionate example of many other public servants who have requested that their ceremonial robes be lined with faux fur.
And in only a day, the new mayor released a statement:
As a supporter of animal welfare it would go against my principles and morals to continue wearing the ceremonial robe. … I was not aware that the robe contained real fur and I have taken the decision to wear an alternative for official duties and ceremonies.
As a thank-you for choosing compassion, we are sending Mayor Bithell a bouquet of flowers. And we hope that Mr. Price’s activism will inspire others to speak up for animals in their communities by using tools such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs.
Image: National Assembly For Wales / Cynulliad Cymru / CC BY SA-2.0
