:::Kürke Hayır Platformu:::

Fur Should Stay Where it Belongs, on the Animal it Came From

Every year, millions of animals are killed for their fur, and their deaths are extremely vicious. Fur that is bought for fashion, social status or appearance, actually symbolize corpses. Fur is no longer used only for clothing, but also for accessories, toys and presents. According to the Humane Society International, the fur industry victimizes over 2 million dogs and cats per year. The raw fur that is obtained in China and East Asia are exported to Europe for consumption.

Fur is produced from animals that collectively live in fur farms. Fur farms are mostly situated in North China, where the coldest temperature can produce the thickest type of fur. Animals are placed under unbearably cold temperatures in order to produce the desired thickness of fur. German Shepherds and short haired cats are the most popular type of cats and dogs used. Just like the other animals in the fur industry, cats and dogs are not supplied with enough food or water. They are brought down to the lowest weight possible for when they will be killed.

Fur is not only produced in less developed countries like China. One of the most developed countries in the world, Canada carries out a seal hunt every year in which more than hundred thousands of baby seals are murdered by being struck on the head with heavy objects. The fur industry does not prefer shooting, which although a more painless method, devalues the fur by leaving undesired holes.

Many celebrities and famous people are protesting against the use of fur and trying to raise awareness of the crime the buyer of fur commits. It is hard to prove this type of awareness in Turkey. Some celebrities in Turkey wear fur, although they themselves are animal lovers and owner, they claim wear fur “because they love animals.”

In effort to raise awareness of the fur industry in Turkey, we chatted with Ezgi Aktas from Kürke Hayır:

Can you please describe some of the organization’s activities? What is the present status of fur today, in the world and in Turkey?

Since 2003, Kürke Hayır has been trying to clarify fur as a luxury consumption item that is accessed through both unnecessary and bloody methods.

By using our website, www.kurkehayir.gen.tr we broadcast the bloody truth behind fur, by emphasizing on the misconception people have of it as a luxury good. In doing so, we try to view this problem through not only animal rights, but also through the negative effects on the environment (cheap fur has consequences in humans suffering with cheap and intensive work labor in China and other countries).By using the press, we inform prospective consumers of the misleading truths of fur, the mislabeling of Chinese fur products, in response to the outrages against fur and that these inaccurate labels of fur clothing and accessories actually hide the true sources, which can be from cats and dogs. We try to reach and inform potential consumers by our website that is open to the public and available visual material (brochures, stickers, posters).

Additionally, aside from raising awareness on the internet, we have tried to do so on the streets, with carefully thought out street signs; however, due to the fashion and fur industry’s commercials that proclaim our messages to be false, incomplete and biased, we haven’t been able to reach our goal. We are still continuing our goal in trying to inform others of the cruelty of fur.

Many celebrities around the world have been taking place in a variety of anti-fur protests: models and singers are proclaiming “I’d rather go nude than wear fur.” So what do you think about the other celebrities, who have been wearing fur, instead of easily raising awareness about its cruelty?

Along with public support, the support from celebrity and social leaders is also important. As you have said, there are celebrities who instead of informing the public the truth of this issue, have been making bizarre and misinformed statements, such as “I wear fur because I love animals” or simply just have ignored any confrontation of the subject. We need to work with Turkey’s environmentally conscious celebrities in order to reduce fur consumption. The public always leaves the strongest impact. The public, the consumers are the ones who are affected by celebrities, fashion designers or media; and we believe that we need to teach people how to revolt against fur.

From which animals is fur obtained?

Fur victims can range from wild animals such as foxes, minks, lynx, leopards and seals, and domesticated animals like chinchillas, rabbits, cats and dogs. %70 of the world’s production of fur is from China, and %30 of fur is from animals in the wild and the remaining are from cramped animals in teeny cages on fur farms. Dogs and cats do not have different lives than do other animals. All suffer extremely bad conditions during their growth period and after are killed with unbelievably vicious methods. Then the producers in China ship the fur to Europe to be used for clothing, accessories and collections. These fur items can partially or fully contain cat and dog fur. Key chains, shoes, hair clips, fur trimmed toys and accessories usually contain cat and dog fur. Although they are made of dog and cat fur, the labels of these fur items show it to be made of something more acceptable, such as rabbit fur. In this aspect, we want consumers to be careful of the various types of misrepresented fur items on the market.

How can you tell the difference between real or fake fur?

There are a few tests that can be done to items bought in order to understand if they are real or not. If when touching the surface it feels like a real animal’s coat, or when lighting the fur with a match, if the fur melts like nylon, then it is fake; but if instead it smells like burnt human hair, then you have bought real fur.

10 December 2007

Translated by Melisa Karabeyoglu

Adapted from www.miyavlar.com.