Macy’s Charged with Fake Labeling of Fur: Lying by Labeling Raccoon Dog Fur as Faux Fur: What You Can Do?

Received this email about this important issue. Not the first time such charges have been leveled against a major retailer. Please read below and follow the link for more information and to see what you can do to stop this practice of horrible lying.

Email:

My name is Maria Abramovich. I'm the Communications & Outreach Intern at Change.org. I've read your blog, and see that you focus on animal advocacy. At Change.org, we've recently posted about Macy's policy of labeling raccoon dog fur as "faux fur." This is both false advertising and a violation of animal rights. Here's the link to our post:

http://animals.change.org/blog/view/imposter_fur_gets_a_fashion_week_makeover

Would you be interested in supporting this cause by signing the petition and writing about it in your blog? I greatly appreciate all the help, and believe that your audience will help us get enough signatures to really put pressure on the Vice President, the Senior Vice President, and the CEO of Macy's. Please let me know if you have any questions, and thank you so much for all your help!

U.S. Figure Skater Johnny Weir Uses Tired Illogical Argument to Rationalize Wearing Fur: Let Me Take a Second to Tear the Horrible Argument Down

This story is a little old, as just today he came out with some jacked statements about how he loves to wear dead things. You can look for it if interested.

My point in talking about this is to expose the ridiculous rationalization people use when talking about issues like this.

Basically, they state that they don’t care about non-human animals because they care about humans. Or, put another way….I care about humans so I don’t care about non-human animals.

Do I really need to go on, or is this jacked up rationalization to keep carrying out cruel acts pretty clear now?

• First, do they really care about humans to the point that they actually do things for them? Are they human activists?

• And second, let’s say they do care about humans and do things for them. Does this necessarily mean that they then CANNOT care about animals?

• And third, they fail to realize that actually in the case of such issues as vegetarianism, being one actually effects human rights in relation to such issues as environmental improvement.

Hopefully this clears this horrible argument up. Stop talking Johnny Weir and focus on your hair.

Article:

US figure skater changes mind about wearing fur

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-weir-fur&prov=ap&type=lgns

By NANCY ARMOUR, AP National Writer Jan 28, 7:08 pm EST

CHICAGO (AP)—U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir will replace the fox on one of his costumes with faux fur after he and his costume designer were targeted by an animal rights group.
Weir received “hate mail and death threats,” agent Tara Modlin said on Thursday, and he doesn’t want anything to disrupt his performances at the Vancouver Olympics.

“He’s changing it because he needs to focus on skating,” she said.

Friends of Animals posted an open letter to Weir after he added white fox fur to the left shoulder of his free skate costume for the U.S. figure skating championships. On Tuesday, the animal advocacy group called his costume designer, Stephanie Handler, and faxed a press release about its open letter to her business.

Since then, Weir has heard from other anti-fur activists, Modlin said. Although People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals made its case in a professional manner, Modlin said others did not—to the point she and Weir were concerned someone might disrupt him at Vancouver.
Weir qualified for his second Olympic team by finishing third at the U.S. champs.

“I do not want something as silly as my costume disrupting my second Olympic experience and my chance at a medal, a dream I have had since I was a kid,” Weir said in a statement.

Weir makes no secret of his love of fashion—fur included—and he’s received letters and videos from PETA and other animal-rights advocates over the years. Although he respects their positions and was fully aware of how pelts are obtained, Weir has said wearing fur was a personal choice.

There are other causes that concern him more, he said, such as homelessness, soldiers dying and the devastation in Haiti.

“I hope these activists can understand that my decision to change my costume is in no way a victory for them, but a draw,” Weir said in his statement. “I am not changing in order to appease them, but to protect my integrity and the integrity of the Olympic Games as well as my fellow competitors.

“Just weeks away from hitting my starting position on the ice in Vancouver, I have technique and training to worry about and that trumps any costume and any threat I may receive.”

Celebrities in England Campaign to Keep the Fox Hunting Ban

Just as would occur in the US, the conservatives have promised to overturn and allow the cruel practice of fox hunting. We’ll see what happens.

Article:

Celebrities campaign to keep hunt ban

http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk/news/Celebrities-campaign-hunt-ban/article-1844648-detail/article.html

Thursday, February 18, 2010, 07:00



CELEBRITY animal rights campaigners today step up their campaign to keep the hunting ban, which the Conservatives have said they will repeal if they win the general election.

Senior politicians from each of the main parties today write exclusively for the Western Morning News, setting out their policy on the fifth anniversary of the legislation coming into force in England and Wales.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said Tory leader David Cameron must "come clean" about his policy to "reintroduce the practice of dogs tearing wild animals to pieces."

However, Mr Benn's Conservative opponent Nick Herbert reiterates his call for a free vote on repealing the law, branding the Act "the most symbolic example of Labour's disregard for rural areas".

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Tim Farron says the law should be repealed, and replaced with a "more comprehensive animal welfare bill" which would allow cases of alleged cruelty to be properly tested in court.

With less than three months to go until the expected general election date of May 6, opponents of hunting have stepped up their campaign to protect the ban.

Sir Paul McCartney heads a list of stars opposing a return to fox hunting with hounds. In a report from Ifaw in Action, part of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the former Beatle and animal welfare campaigner described the ban as an "historic victory for wildlife" that must be preserved.

Sir Paul said: "The scenes described in this report of how animals were hunted down and savaged with dogs for fun before the Hunting Act 2004 was passed are simply barbaric and shocking and should remain a part of Britain's past, not its future."

The report from Ifaw in Action claims there was "overwhelming scientific evidence" that hunting with dogs was cruel and that more than 100 people had been brought to justice for breaking the law.

The No Return to Cruelty report also said a recent Ipsos Mori poll of more than 2,000 adults found that 75 per cent, including seven out of 10 people in the countryside, did not support a repeal of the fox hunting ban.

Meanwhile, the League Against Cruel Sports today launches a film featuring celebrities watching footage of hunts.

Stars include former Doctor Who Colin Baker, One Foot in the Grave actress Annette Crosbie and Time Team presenter Tony Robinson. Naturalist Bill Oddie and ex-Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson also appear.

League chief executive Douglas Batchelor said the reaction of the celebrities is "just hammering another nail into the hunter's coffin". He added: "Their bloodsport is a thing of history just like bear baiting."

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "The Government is satisfied that the Hunting Act is working and is legally sound and has no plans to introduce any changes to the legislation."

According to the Government, the Hunting Act was brought in to end practices the majority of people did not support because they caused unnecessary suffering.

Ministers believe the Act is legally sound and the police have made it clear they would enforce it.

Suit Won by Animal Rights Group Against Utah State Entities for Right to Protest Shows Importance of Fighting for Your Rights

Nuff said. Don’t just give in if it’s a legal issue. Congratulations to the group

Article:

Animal rights group suits settled

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14422255

By Jason Bergreen

The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 02/17/2010 08:42:14 PM MST

The Utah Department of Transportation and Morgan County have agreed to pay an animal rights group almost $40,000, settling the lawsuits the group filed last year to hold a protest against fur farms.

According to the settlement filed in federal court, UDOT has agreed to pay $19,750 to the Salt Lake Animal Advocacy Movement (SLAAM) and Morgan County will pay $20,000. The settlement will cover the group's attorney fees and court costs.

SLAAM filed a court order in October 2009 seeking permission to hold a demonstration without having to take out a $1 million insurance policy or arrange security for the event.

The suit claimed two UDOT employees violated SLAAM's rights to free speech and to peacefully assemble because they refused to issue a permit for the protest. The employees told the group they wouldn't issue the permit unless the group took out the expensive liability policy and assured them the Utah Highway Patrol would provide security.

The event, called Fur Free Saturday, was eventually held Nov. 28 on State Road 66 in Morgan after the county backed down and allowed the group to assemble without paying for security.

Morgan County had originally told SLAAM members the county would require them to pay $425 for extra policing and permit fees or they must take out the insurance policy.

Attorney Brian Barnard, who represented SLAAM, said Wednesday that Morgan County has since amended ordinances restricting residential
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picketing and allowing the sheriff's office to force demonstrators to pay for their own police protection.

"SLAAM accomplished what they wanted and has forced these government entities to review and change their positions and to acknowledge the importance of the First Amendment, especially for small fledgling groups," Barnard said.

Protesters at Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Bring to Reality Problem of Dog and Cat Overpopulation Caused by Breeders

I’m sure many will overlook the message and just talk them down for protesting the event. But, the message should not be lost that dog and cat overpopulation is directly caused by Breeders.

Article:

Scottie Sadie wins Westminster after PETA protest

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100217/ap_on_sp_ot/dog_show

AP – Security closes in on a protester holding a sign that reads 'Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs' during the best …

By BEN WALKER, AP National Writer Ben Walker, Ap National Writer – Wed Feb 17, 9:48 am ET

NEW YORK – Sadie the Scottie was fully expected to reach the purple podium at America's top dog show. She did, after two intruders turned the center ring at Westminster into their own platform.

The heavily favored Scottish terrier won best in show Tuesday night and seemed to be an easy choice. Her team waited quite a while for this victory — it took a little longer, too, because of a startling protest inspired by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Shortly before judge Elliott Weiss picked Sadie, a pair of well-dressed women walked into the big ring at Madison Square Garden and held signs over their heads that said "Mutts Rule" and "Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs' Chances," the latter a slogan popularized by PETA.

The crowd of 15,000 gasped at the sudden protest, booed the women and then cheered as a half-dozen security guards ushered them away without incident.

PETA members Dana Sylvester and Hope Round were charged with criminal trespass, police said. They acted on their own, the organization said, but it supported them.

The interruption lasted about a minute and came between judging of a Doberman pinscher and brittany. Moments later, 4-year-old Sadie climbed the best in show podium where one of the women had stood.

"I thought it was well-controlled by our people," Westminster spokesman David Frei said, without elaborating. Frei, the host of USA Network's coverage, is a veteran of the show world and a longtime advocate of therapy and rescue dogs.

Sadie was a big favorite coming into the show, which is for 2,500 purebred dogs. There have been previous PETA protests at Westminster, but none nearly so dramatic. During every day of the show, the public-address announcer at the Garden reads an announcement urging people to visit shelters and adopt their dogs.

PETA contends the focus on purebreds leaves many mutts homeless. In a statement, vice president Daphna Nachminovitch said "euthanasia becomes a sad necessity."

Sadie earned her 112th best in show ribbon. The last time a show dog came to Westminster ranked No. 1 in America and actually won was 2001, when a perfectly primped bichon frise called J.R. did it.

"She was perfect," said Sadie's handler, Gabriel Rangel. "I couldn't ask for anything more."

Also reaching the final ring were a brittany that recently had two litters, a whippet that can run 35 mph, a Doberman pinscher headed into retirement, a white toy poodle who overcame his anxiety around crowds, a Canadian-bred French bulldog and a puli that twice won the herding group.

Her tongue out and her tail wagging, Sadie was right in step with Rangel. She is owned by Amelia Musser of Mackinac Island, Mich., and sports the champion's name of Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot.

Rangel kidded that his relationship with Sadie was like a marriage. "I'm happily married," he said, "as long as I say, 'Yes, honey.'"

Sadie became the eighth Scottie to win at Westminster, second most to the 13 wins by wire fox terriers. She was the record 45th terrier to win in a show that began in 1877.

Judge Elliott Weiss picked the winner. He'd already seen Sadie — he chose her as the winner of an event in North Carolina last September.

Sadie became the first Triple Crown winner of dogdom. She took the National Dog Show in suburban Philadelphia in November and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in California in December.

She also did well last year at the world's largest show — Crufts, in England, draws nearly 25,000 dogs — when she was judged as the best Scottish terrier.

This was Sadie's third try at Westminster. She got spooked by strange sounds at the Garden two years ago, and last February had a potty accident on the green carpet.

Dogs from 173 breeds and varieties entered this show. Sadie takes over as Westminster champ from Stump, the 10-year-old Sussex spaniel who'd come to New York as an underdog.

Sadie was set to go on the talk-show circuit Wednesday and make a visit to Donald Trump. By night, maybe she'd see herself.

"She likes to watch TV," Rangel said. "We have dinner together at the hotel and watch Animal Planet.

Italian State TV Suspends Cooking Show Host Beppe Bigazzi After he Voices His Love of Eating Cats

Wow. One sick guy. His quotes below say it all. Be careful…they’ll make your stomach turn.

Article:

Cat stew lover skewered in Italy

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100217/ap_on_re_eu/eu_italy_cat_stew

AP – This Sept. 3, 2003 photo made available Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 shows cooking show host Beppe Bignazzi … .By FRANCES D'EMILIO, Associated Press Writer Frances D'emilio, Associated Press Writer – Wed Feb 17, 5:51 pm ET

ROME – Italian state TV has suspended a cooking show host who shocked the nation by saying cat stew is a Tuscan delicacy he swears he has enjoyed many times.

RAI TV confirmed on Wednesday that it had suspended Beppe Bigazzi, the 77-year-old host of a popular morning program that offers food tips and recipes in a country fiercely proud of its cuisine.

When his 27-year-old female co-host looked stunned as Bigazzi said he has eaten cat stew "many times," the white-haired, grandfather figure defended his tastes.

"Why, people maybe don't eat rabbit, chicken, pigeon?" Bigazzi said. He could have added horse meat, which many butchers and supermarket meat departments stock.

"Who's not fat, kills the cat," is how Bigazzi began his lighthearted prattle about cat stew.

Bigazzi claimed cat stew was a Tuscan specialty near the Arno river valley, but co-host Elisa Isoardi looked so embarrassed she ducked behind a cart of fresh salad greens whose healthy virtues the two were supposed to be chatting about.

"Cat, soaked for three days in the running water of a stream" in Tuscany "comes out with its meat white, and I assure you — I have eaten it many times — that it is a delicacy," Bigazzi continued.

His critics included Health Ministry Undersecretary Francesca Martini.

"Cats are pets protected by law," Martini noted, specifically against "cruelty, maltreatment and abandonment."

She lamented in a statement issued by the Health Ministry that Bigazzi's advocating cat stew "hurts sensibility, which is fortunately steadily growing, of citizens toward animals."

The director of the RAI channel the show runs on, Mauro Mazza, called the decision to suspend Bigazzi for an unspecified amount of time as "painful but inevitable."

Only a few moments after revealing his startling recipe, Bigazzi seemed to anticipate he would be barraged with criticism. "Now there will be letters from nature lovers. Why don't they defend rabbits?" he asked.

By Wednesday, two days after the showed was broadcast, the YouTube video clip had recorded more than 55,000 hits, and more than 800 comments registered.