Fur Stop campaign in the Italian Press

The Italian media have responded enthusiastically following the launch of ADI’s Fur Stop campaign in Milan, and the screening of the Italian Version of ‘Bloody Harvest – the real cost of fur’.  In a positive sign, both national and local papers have covered the campaign, highlighting the issues surrounding the use of fur in the fashion industry.

Read the articles here >>

Fur Stop campaign launched in Milan

‘Bloody Harvest – the real cost of fur’ video screened during Milan Fashion Week

In the midst of Milan Fashion Week, On Friday 26th February, ADI launched their Fur Stop campaign, screening the Italian version of their ‘Bloody Harvest – the real cost of fur’ video, and distributing copies of the accompanying report.

Right: ADI Head of Parliamentary Affairs, Helder Constantino, speaking to the Italian press

Having already launched their Fur Stop campaign in London and Helsinki earlier this month, ADI joined Italian campaign partners AgireOra Network to urge both designers and consumers to consider how the fur being worn and sold is produced before it reaches the catwalk.

ADI Head of Parliamentary Affairs, Helder Constantino, presented the findings of the investigation that showed that these animals live short lives in deprived conditions, exposed to fear and suffering disease and deformities. He stressed that that given the circumstances of intensive farming and the constant push for profit; it is simply not possible for these animals to be kept in a way that can maintain physical and psychological health. Agire Ora’s spokesperson, Marina Berati, highlighted the relevance of this campaign, timely tied with the Milan Fashion Week aiming to bring designers and consumers face to face with the reality of fur.

The event was held in the prestigious Spazio eventi Mondadori Multicenter at 11.15am this morning, and was attended by the regional and national Italian newspapers, TV and radio.  The video, showing the appalling systematic abuse of foxes and mink farmed for their fur, shocked the press particularly as many MFW designers have shown fur on the catwalk on their 2009 autumn –winter collections.

ADI will continue to show the footage in various European countries, targeting consumers and designers that wear or use fur to take responsibility for creating a demand for a product that causes millions of animals to suffer and die unnecessarily.

Public oblivious to suffering as a cruel industry swells

With misery out of sight and out of mind, fur has made a comeback

With UK consumers remaining oblivious to the appalling realities of the fur industry, sales of real fur have bloated to a shocking 169% growth* over the past decade.

ADI, who have released the findings of a shocking undercover investigation of the fur farming, believe complacency has set with the suffering of animals being out of sight and out of mind.

Despite a wealth of alternatives to real fur, many high profile designers are showing fur at AW10 Fashion Weeks in cynical attempts to generate publicity, thereby increasing demand and boosting sales.  As it stands, over 400 designers are now using fur in their collections, capitalising on a lack of awareness about the shocking suffering that animals reared for fur endure.

An undercover investigation released by Animal Defenders International (ADI), features over 30 Finnish fur farms visited in the past 12 months and dispels any myths about how animals used for their fur are raised.  Over seven hours of footage and one and a half thousand photographs, reveal:
▪               Foxes and mink living in cramped barren cages, living on mesh floors
▪               Foxes with severe injuries including tails bitten off by cage mates
▪               Sick, dying and dead animals in cages
▪               Malformed limbs
▪               Empty, unclean and broken water bowls
▪               Behavioural abnormalities, indicative of psychological damage

Finland is the biggest producer of fox fur pelts in the world – producing almost half of the fox fur in circulation.  When you see a fox fur coat this is how the previous owner lived and died.

The investigation has revealed the shocking reality of claims by the fashion industry that animals are raised humanely for fur and that industry accreditation schemes for farms are meaningless.

Despite that fur farming was banned in the UK because of comparable deplorable conditions, there is a rising demand for fur in the UK, with over 40% being sourced from Finland.

Tim Phillips, Campaign Director of ADI:  “I do not accept that people in the UK are crueler or more callous than they were a decade or even twenty years ago.  The problem is that the fur and fashion industry has successfully airbrushed away the reality of the horrific suffering of fur animals.  All we ask is that people look at our video and photographs of the suffering of these animals and decide for themselves whether that is an acceptable price to pay for a fashion accessory.”

The ADI Fur Stop campaign is being launched worldwide to give people that facts about fur production.  Twiggy and Jenni Falconer recently backed the campaign in London Fashion Week, calling on designers to stop using fur.

Fur Facts

·     4 MILLION cubs are killed per year for their pelts.

·      Lifespan of mink and fox bred for fur is ONLY 8 MONTHS.

·      Babies born without the prerequisite pelt quality ARE KILLED IMMEDIATELY.

·      Pelts of up to 15-20 foxes or 60-80 mink are required to make ONE fur coat.

·      Wild foxes live up to 15 years and mink live up to 10 years.

*Growth from 1999 to 2009 – Items of clothing, clothing accessories and other fur-skin articles. uktradeinfo.com, part of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) responsible for producing trade statistics. These statistics record the movement of visible goods between the UK and both EU and non-EU countries.

Twiggy backs new anti-fur report from Animal Defenders International

Iconic fashion model Twiggy pleads with UK fashion designers to stop using fur at London Fashion Week.

With the increase of fur on the catwalk this London Fashion Week, many celebrities are denouncing the use of fur. Additional supporters of ADI include: Stella McCartney, Mary McCartney, Brian Blessed, Meg Mathews, Ricky Gervais, Samantha Janus, and Belinda Carlisle.

Whilst fur farming is banned in the UK, the rising trend in fur has fuelled UK demand with over 40% of fur being sourced from Finland. Animal Defenders International (ADI) has launched a new undercover report titled ‘Bloody Harvest’ (with video and photographic evidence) revealing the truth about the horrific conditions and cruelty at these certified farms.

“I am very sad that some designers are still using real fur when the fake alternatives are so effective and so easily obtainable.  I hope this ADI report helps the fashion industry realise that these poor animals are kept in such terrible and inhumane conditions.  Is it really worth this cruelty just for fashion’s sake?  I don’t think so.”

Twiggy

A summary of report findings includes: animals with open and infected wounds; obvious signs of untreated infection; eyes infected or missing; tails bitten off; deformed and damaged legs; overgrowing gum disease resulting in difficulty eating and drinking; babies with legs stuck through the mesh floor of the cage; dilapidated and dangerous caging and facilities; widespread animal suffering and neglect; empty, unclean and broken water bowls.

According to ADI Chief Executive, Jan Creamer,

“It’s really disappointing to see fur making a comeback on the fashion catwalks. Some in the fashion industry have chosen to close their eyes and hearts to the truth about fur production.  This investigation is a wake-up call – it is no longer acceptable to ignore the suffering, and designers must take responsibility for the way that their fur is produced.”

Fur Stop campaign launched at Finnish Parliament

On Friday 18^th February, ADI presented the “Bloody Harvest: the real cost of fur” video and the main findings of the accompanying report on the Finnish fur farming industry to the Finnish Parliament. The video shows the systematic abuse of foxes and mink farmed for their fur, abuse endemic to the industry.

Right: Ms. Salla Tuomivaara (Animalia), Ms. Mari Puoskari (Member of the Parliament/Green Party), Mr. Pentti Tiusanen (Member of the Parliament/Vice-chairman of the Environment Committee), Ms. Anne Nieminen (Oikeutta Eläimille), Alexandra Cardenas (ADI)

ADI’s Finnish campaign partner Oikeutta Elaimille, stated that some of the farms investigated were certified by the Finnish Fur Breeding Association.

The event was addressed by several members of Parliament including a spokesperson of the Left Alliance party, Mr Paavo Arhinmaki, the Vice-Chairman of the Environment Committee, Mr Pentti Tiusanen and a representative of the Green Party, Ms Mari Puoskari.

Mr Paavo Arhinmaki introduced the event and commented that this investigation was a wake-up call for Parliament to discuss a ban on fur farming; Finland is falling behind other European countries that have already banned this practice.  Encouragingly, Mr Arhimaki took immediate action by tabling a written parliamentary question to the Ministry of Agriculture and asked what action the Government was going to take to ban fur farming.

Right: Ms Anne Nieminen (Oikeutta Eläimille), Alexandra Cardenas, Mr. Paavo Arhinmaki (Member of the Parliament/Left Alliance party). Alexandra Cardenas is handing the report to MPs

Support for the campaign and a ban were voiced by all three representatives with the Vice-Chairman of the Environment Committee, Mr Pentti Tiusanen also criticising the lack of action taken by the Ministry of Agriculture. He further highlighted the importance of presenting the footage to designers who will be showing fur on the catwalks during the Milan and Paris fashion weeks.  Ms Mari Puoskari added that the initiative to ban fur farming will be an important part of the Green Party’s agenda after next year’s election.

ADI spokesperson Alexandra Cardenas urged the Finnish Parliament to table legislation to ban fur farming and follow the compassionate step already taken in the UK, Austria and Croatia. A representative of the local Finnish group Animalia, Salla Tuomivaara, also requested the Parliament to table a ban.

Right: ADI campaigner Alexandra Cardenas

ADI will continue to show the footage in various European countries, targeting consumers and designers that wear or use fur to take responsibility for creating a demand for a product that causes millions of animals to suffer and die unnecessarily.