What many people don’t realise is that most of the fur that gets exported to the West comes from China. Now this is where the problem lies:

1.) China has no animal welfare laws whatsoever.
2.) Among animals such as foxes, raccoons and mink, they also skin dogs and cats alive. Yes, you heard me right. They skin them alive! You may think it’s an urban legend, but it is completely true. Just Google ‘chinese fur trade’ and you’ll see for yourself.
3.) The dog and cat fur is marketed to the West as faux fur/rabbit fur/other fur.
They are actually duping us into buying coats and other products that contain dog/cat fur.
4.) The barbaric Chinese fur industry is going strong as we speak and it won’t stop until people stop buying fur.

And if you still don’t believe me, just watch this disgusting footage:

(Please copy and paste into your browser.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueBWi8BL0PQ

And another thing, the above video is not an isolated case. This sickening stuff is happening on a daily basis, where China skins up to 2 million dogs and cats a year.

Oh, and on the meat and leather argument: At least we have animal welfare laws in place that regulates the meat industry. China does not. And that’s the difference.

All I’ve got to say is this. You being on this board is like me continually posting every day in day out on a luxury fur board where women (men whatever) discuss where to buy the latest in fur fashions. I could tell them all day that fur is bad but they probably (like you) won’t listen. So, despite the cynic in me, I like that some tiny hidden part of you wants us to change your mind. Part of you way deep down inside just might be against fur.

Because the only reason I’d be on that luxury fur board (I believe) is if deep down I wanted a big fur coat.. And there is no part of me that wants that – ever. Hence the reason I’ve never even been on such a site and refused to wear model fur my entire life.. But I think somewhere in you- you might have an eco friendly animal loving fur despising side and I hope somehow this board can bring it out in you.

Peace

Erin

Honestly, as much as I enjoying having thoughtful, meaningful conversations on the subject of animal rights, you’ve proved time and time again that you’re absolutely steadfast in your views. And that’s okay dude — they’re your views. But I’ve got seven stories sitting in front of me this morning and it seems silly to tread water here. While our ideologies might be fundamentally different, I do appreciate your participation on the blog and look forward to your future instigation.

Erin, “there are far, far worse things in the world” was not an argument to turn a blind eye to the issue. It was an argument for questioning the hyperbolic responses to the video. However, feel free to beat your straw man if it makes your feel better.

The point was that videos like this are counterproductive to the argument at hand. This is because it encourages shallow responses along the lines of “I don’t like to watch cute bunnies getting killed, therefore killing bunnies is wrong.”

One can have a perfectly justified position for or against fur from ethical grounds. Therefore the choice to use or not use fur should be a personal one.

As for my “eco tendencies”, I believe our planet’s ecosystem is far too complex for us to understand causal relationships within it with any great accuracy. This leads to a conservative stance where we should minimize our disturbance since we cannot possibly know the impact of our actions – this from a purely self-preservation point of view. It also leads to great distaste for the current climate and eco-prophets that claim to know how we should act in order to “save our planet” – they cannot possibly know it. However, all of this has to be balanced with our natural right and tendency to make life better for ourselves through the use of whatever resources are available to us.

And I believe FBR (and a few others) have said that before on here in defense of killing animals.

FBR: There’s always something worse in the world no matter what. Always. But certainly you would not turn a blind eye to something terrible that were happening that you were outraged about and say ‘well there’s worse things’

Should we not care about the health care crisis? The environment? Because it’s worse somewhere else?

that is the lamest excuse I have ever heard.

I still am curious what eco friendly tendencies you have (if any) that draw you to this board.

Erin

In response to, “There are far, far worse things going on in this world.” Of course there are terrible things happening everywhere, but we must look at what lies at the root of the problem. Pythagoras once said: “For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love.”

Words to think on.

Seriously, if you find this video so unbearable that you throw up, you have either lived an incredibly sheltered life or need to open your eyes to what is happening around you.

I understand people who object to the use of animals for food, clothing and other purposes from ethical grounds. I also understand people who find it acceptable. What I don’t understand are people who’s depth of reasoning is: “Cute bunnies are getting killed, I can’t watch!!”