Donna Karan Loves to Design Clothes that Uses Rabbit Fur: New Website Shows Just How Cruel She Is

Check out the website at: http://dkbunnybutcher.com/bunny-butcher-yoga.aspx

Here’s a paragraph that sums it up: “Donna Karan's clothing lines include fur that's ripped from the bodies of rabbits who endure deplorable living conditions, neglect, and filth on Chinese fur farms while they wait to die in the name of fashion. This barbaric treatment doesn't exactly fit the tenets of yoga, which advocate peace and freedom from suffering for all living beings. But because Donna Karan claims to be a devout yoga practitioner, we're giving her a new yoga chart to follow that shows the hidden truth behind fur.”

New Documentary “Skin Trade” Shows the Horrors of Fur: Debuts in California with Celebrity Help

I look forward to this one and very happy to see that those in positions of privilege are helping to put an end to the unnecessary practice of using fur in clothing.

Article:

Anti-fur documentary 'Skin Trade' debuts with celebrity support in Westwood

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2010/06/antifur-documentary-skin-trade-debuts-in-westwood-with-celebrity-support.html

June 11, 2010 | 8:22 am

"Skin Trade," a new independent documentary lambasting the fur industry and those who condone its practices, had its Los Angeles premiere Thursday night at the Majestic Crest Theater in Westwood.

The film, directed by Shannon Keith, an animal rights attorney and founder of the nonprofit organization Animal Rescue, Media & Education (ARME), strives to answer the question of why fur is still a part of modern fashion — despite the well-documented cruelties of fur farming.

"I just could not believe that people were still wearing fur," Keith said before the screening. "I knew it was high time to make this film because these animals are being tortured alive -- it's not a pretty thing."

And neither is the documentary, which shows graphic, disturbing footage of animals being tortured (in traps, by electrocution and even via fatal beatings) between interviews with a number of notable anti-fur activists, including Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), environmental attorney Jan Schlichtmann, designer Todd Oldham, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk, Overstock.com chief executive Patrick Byrne (who chooses not to sell fur on his website) and actor-activists including Alexandra Paul, James Cromwell and Jorja Fox.

In fact, there is so much abuse shown in the film, watching it — at least for me — became an exercise in self-editing. I had to cover my eyes numerous times just to give my senses a break from the brutal imagery (even so, I found myself tearing up a few times).

But then, showing horrific footage from mink farms is par for the course for animal rights organizations including PETA and the Animal Liberation Front. What makes "Skin Trade" a little different is its willingness to call out the fur industry's cagey public relations tactics.

For example, in recent years the industry has been referring to itself as "green," because skins and pelts are technically biodegradable. But in reality, making fur requires an enormous amount of toxic chemicals. "It's anything but green," actor and green activist Ed Begley Jr. says in the film. "That, for me, is green-washing."

The film also takes on the idea of fur as a status symbol. "These hip-hop stars, they're not enamored with fur," said anti-fur activist and former NBA player John Salley. "They're literally putting on an image, and the image is 'I've made it.'"

Cromwell, who starred in "Babe," one of the most famous animal movies of all time, boils the future of fur down to a simple equation. "We have a choice," he said. "The question is, 'Will human beings make the choice?' Just choose. Choose, and it ends."
-- Emili Vesilind

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.”

HSUS Take Dog Fur Issue to New Level: Asks FTC to Fine the High-End Retailers and Designers Who Mislabeled Jackets That Contain Fur from Dogs, Wolves

We wrote about this investigation recently. You can read the disturbing details at http://geari.blogspot.com/2007/02/
humane-society-of-united-states-found.html

Essentially, the Humane Society of the United States found that 24 of 25 fur-lined or trimmed coats contained dog fur. The coats were labeled as containing fake fur. So, an issue of mislabeling and lying to consumers.

Cited in this issue are the following companies and designers:

Designers Andrew Marc and Michael Kors; major department stores, including Barneys New York, Macy’s, Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus, I. Spiewak and Sons Inc. Macy’s parent - Federated Department Stores Inc.

“The petition stems from a Humane Society investigation that turned up products that were made with fur from dogs, wolves or raccoon dogs, a species found mainly in China, that were sold as either fake fur or other types of fur in violation of the Federal Fur Products Labeling Act.”

Of course, the fur comes from China where they love to torture dogs. You can read more about that at -
http://geari.blogspot.com/2007/01/
sean-diddy-combs-admits-dog-fur-used.html

and

http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/03/
crash-course-in-unbelievable-cruelty.html.

For photos on the horrors of fur see
http://www.atourhands.com/furfarm.html

For additional photos and to learn why fur is so wrong see http://www.furkills.org/furfarming.shtml

AND PLEASE VIEW THE VIDEO IN THE STORY BELOW. TO VIEW IT, SIMPLY CLICK ON THE LINK TO THE STORY AND THE VIDEO OPTION WILL BE THERE.

Article:

Humane Society urges crackdown on dog fur
Animal rights organization wants FTC to fine retailers, grab inventories

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17584385/

NBC VIDEO
• Retailers accused on using dog fur

March 13: The Humane Society will file a petition against retailers who altered origin of fur. TODAY's Janice Lieberman reports.

WASHINGTON - A national animal rights group wants to put a group of fur retailers and manufacturers in the dog house.

The Humane Society of the United States will ask the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday to fine high-end retailers and designers of clothing that contains mislabeled fur from dogs, wolves and raccoon dogs. The group also would like inventories seized and perhaps charges filed.

“Consumers have a right to know what they are purchasing,” said Michael Markarian, the executive vice president of the Humane Society. “If they are truly getting a type of dog fur, they should be outraged.”
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The documents filed with the FTC name designers Andrew Marc and Michael Kors, among others. Many major department stores, including Barneys New York, Macy’s, Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, and Neiman Marcus also were cited.

The petition stems from a Humane Society investigation that turned up products that were made with fur from dogs, wolves or raccoon dogs, a species found mainly in China, that were sold as either fake fur or other types of fur in violation of the Federal Fur Products Labeling Act.

Raccoon dogs look like oversize, fluffy raccoons and aren’t kept as pets. Importing their fur is not illegal, but activists argue they are still a type of dog.

Mislabeling fur is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $5,000 fine or a year in prison. Fur valued at less than $150 doesn’t have to be labeled.

Jim Sluzewski, a spokesman for Macy’s parent, Federated Department Stores Inc., said his company opposes selling dog fur but takes its vendors on faith that they comply with company policy.

“It is our vendors that label product, and we expect them to do so accurately,” he said in an e-mail. “We take immediate action whenever we find a violation of policy.”

Late last year, Macy’s immediately pulled from its shelves coats with raccoon dog fur but labeled as raccoon after the Humane Society raised the issue with the chain.

“Macy’s hasn’t done enough as far as we’re concerned,” Markarian said Monday, claiming that it is still selling other products with raccoon dog fur.

The Humane Society said in its petition that Barneys sold fur-trimmed jackets marketed as coyote fur when it was really fur from wolves. Barneys did not return a call for comment.

Josh Chapman, a spokesman for the manufacturer of the jacket, I. Spiewak and Sons Inc., said his company inspects the facilities where they purchase coyote fur. “We certainly know that everything is coyote, nothing could be anything else,” Chapman insisted.

Design company Michael Kors (USA) Inc. said it is conducting its own internal investigation on the sources of fur products it sold through Dillard’s stores.

“We certainly expect the companies to be discussing these issues internally, but they’ve had plenty of time to do that,” Markarian said.

Dillard’s did not respond to a requests for comment. J.C. Penney said it had no comment.

Neiman Marcus Group Inc. spokeswoman Ginger Reeder said her company removed all products with fur trim from their Web sites after the Humane Society investigation.