Call for all fur to be labelled

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

A coat with fur trim may be labled as ‘100% cotton’ etc. but the label often only refers to the main body of the garment and not the trimmings.  Quite often shop staff are unable to tell you if the fur is real or not, and many assume - like the customers - that it is bound to be fake. 

Customers often use price as a guide and think ‘if its affordable it must be fake’.  This isn’t the case.  Over the past few years, real fur trimmed gloves have been found on sale for less than 5 pounds sterling, shoes at less than 20 pounds sterling and coats for less than 100.

Respect for Animals is calling on the Government to introduce a labelling order for all garments with fur trim, regardless of cost or the species of the animal involved.

Please write to your MP asking him or her to sign EDM 175 LABELLING OF PRODUCTS MADE FROM ANIMAL FUR which calls upon the government to introduce fur labelling as soon as possible.  You can write to your MP at The House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA or use http://www.writetothem.com/ where you can also find the name of your MP if you do not know it.  Check here to see if your MP has already signed: http://tinyurl.com/2bwwn9n

Please write to the Edward Davey MP, the minister responsible for the introduction of a fur labelling order, asking him to act as soon a possible. 

The previous Minister Brennan claimed that fur labelling is covered under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 which requires traders not to ‘omit or hide material information that the average consumer needs to make an informed choice’.  This turns it back to the consumer to complain to the Local Trading Standards Authorites after making a purchase rather than give them the freedom to make an ethical choice from the outset.  If consumers are unaware that they may be buying real fur, how will they know to complain if they mistakenly do so? This would then require action from Local Trading Standards Authorities which is unlikely to happen unless a substantial number of complaints are made about the same item. 

Contact Edward Davey MP, Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs by email at mpst.davey@bis.gsi.gov.uk

or at Department for Business, Innovation & Skills,1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET.

In the meantime, when you are out shopping, if you cannot be sure what an item you are considering buying is made of, then please give the animals the benefit of the doubt and DON’T BUY IT.

Please visit the Fur Free Retailer section to find out which retailers don’t sell real fur, you can shop there with confidence!!

Back

Ways you can help stop the Canadian seal hunt

Sunday, February 07, 2010

It is the connection between commercial fisheries and the seal hunt and the economics of both industries which make a boycott of Canadian seafood products a logical step in ending the annual hunt. And it is British consumers and businesses that purchase Canadian seafood who have the power to convince the Canadian government and individual fishermen to stop the slaughter.

It is our firm opinion that only outside economic pressure can now help the seals and we have joined together with an international coalition of animal welfare groups to orchestrate a boycott of Canadian fish and seafood products. We are therefore asking the public, retailers and importers in the UK not to buy Canadian seafood and fish products as they are produced by the same people who are killing the seals. A similar campaign run by the HSUS in America has had great success with thousands of individuals and hundreds of stores and businesses pledging to avoid Canadian seafood.

By boycotting Canadian fish and seafood products you send an important message back to those directly involved in the slaughter of the seals.

Tips to help you identify Canadian seafood:
Shopping
Read the label
Some products are clearly identified as Canadian by the large maple leaf symbol, but make sure you also read the product information. If in doubt ask the manager or member of staff for the country of origin. Also see our Supermarket Guide.
Eating out
Talk to the Waiter
Always ask your waiter where their seafood originates from if not identified on the menu.

Explain why:Whenever you decide not to purchase Canadian seafood, explain that you are doing so in protest at Canada’s seal hunt, and ask the supermarket, shop, market, or restaurant manager or owner to join you.

Let Canada know: Please tell James Scott Peterson, Canada’s International Trade Minister that you are choosing to boycott Canadian seafood products until the commercial seal hunt is ended for good. Direct your letters and e-mails to:

The Honourable James Scott Peterson, Minister, c/o Canadian High Commission, 1 Grosvenor Square, London, W1K 4AB.

Read the http://www.boycott-canada.com/what/supermarket.htm :what they say and what not to buy.

Boycott Canada as a tourist destination

UK tourists spend more than 1 billion dollars (Can.) a year in Canada, contributing to the economy and therefore to the Canadian exchequer.

The seal hunt, by contrast, is a volatile industry estimated to be worth only a few million dollars each year. The hunt is actually heavily subsidised by the Canadian government and so by visiting Canada as a tourist or by buying Canadian fish and seafood products, consumers are actually inadvertently supporting the hunt.

Staying away from Canada while the hunt continues is the only way you can be sure that none of your money is being used to subsidise the hunt. It will also begin to make the Canadian government - which only seems to care about money - take notice.

The Canadian Tourism Board uses the slogan; “Discover our True Nature”. This is something we are keen to promote as well. It is important that people realise that part of this true nature involves the clubbing and skinning of seals - many whilst still conscious.

Please register your intention to boycott Canada as a tourist destination until the killing stops by writing to them at the following addresses:

Michele McKenzie
President and CEO
Canadian Tourism Commission
Four Bentall Centre, Suite 1400
1055 Dunsmuir Street, Box 49230
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7X 1L5

Maggie Davison
Managing Director
Canadian Tourism Commission (UK)
Canada House
62-65 Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 5DY

Please clearly and politely state that you will be boycotting Canada while ever the cruel seal hunt continues.

Write to the Canadian Prime Minister

Let Stephen Harper know that you are choosing to boycott Canadian products until the commercial seal hunt is ended for good.

Write to:

Prime Minister,
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper,
c/o Canadian High Commission,
1 Grosvenor Square,
London, W1K 4AB

Sign the petition

Please download Save the Seals Petition (PDF file)*.  Please make as many copies as you need and obtain as many signatures as possible and return the completed forms to:

Respect for Animals
PO Box 6500
Nottingham NG4 3GB

Thank you for your support.

*You will need to have Adobe Reader installed to open the PDF. It is available as a free download from the Adobe website.

Back

Raise money while you shop!

Friday, January 08, 2010

Respect for Animals has joined the increasingly popular Internet fundraising site http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk.  Its simple and easy to use and over 400 retailers and businesses have already signed up to the site. These include many of the big name high street and Internet stores (such as Amazon), DIY outlets, insurance and travel companies (such as Expedia, lastminute.com and Eurostar) and many specialty stores. 

Once you have registered and chosen Respect for Animals as your good cause all you have to do is to remember to visit your favourite stores via the easyfundraising website each time you shop with them.  It won’t cost you a penny more but the retailer will automatically make a donation to Respect for Animals.  The amount Respect for Animals receives varies from retailer to retailer but can be as much as 15% of your spend.  Once you have registered, easy fundraising will keep a running total to show you how much money you have raised for Respect for Animals by shopping through their website.

With so many retailers signed up there are bound to be some stores or services that you regularly use taking part in the scheme. Please tell your friends, family and work colleagues about the site and ask them to register too. Remember, it won’t cost you anything but it will help Respect for Animals to help animals.

Back

Sell your unwanted goods on eBay and raise funds for Respect for Animals.

Thursday, January 07, 2010

To learn more about how you can support charities on eBay visit http://www.ebay.co.uk/charity - to sell an item right now click here: http://sell.ebay.co.uk/sell

To see visit Repect for Animals site click here: http://donations.ebay.co.uk/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=32511 - you can also buy our range of gifts and other goodies here!  If you would like to donate to Respect for Animals you can use the ‘donate now’ section on the above link or call Respect for Animals on 0115 952 5440. 

All donations will be put to good and immediate use in our work to end the cruel and unnecessary fur trade.

Back

Make a regular donation to Respect for Animals

Friday, December 11, 2009

A Standing Order is the most cost effective way for you to donate, download a form here standorder.pdf, once completed please send it to Respect for Animals, PO Box 6500, Nottingham NG4 3GB.  Once its set up, we will keep you informed with occasinal updates.

Every penny we receive goes to help us to help stop the cruel and unnecessary fur trade. 

Back

Mobile Telephone Appeal

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Back