West Hollywood bans fur; please sign and send petition and sample letter to Nordstrom to do the same

Artist, Elyse Bryan, Tyler School of Art, Temple University

Please see below for Petition and Sample Letter to sign and send regarding Norstrom’s continuous use of fur.

From AR News, AJ Shannon

Last night (Monday, September 19) the City Council of West Hollywood passed an historic ordinance unanimously prohibiting the sale of fur apparel products within the city! This great success culminated after months of canvassing and rallies spearheaded by the Fur-Free West Hollywood Campaign made up of activists from In Defense of Animals, Last Chance for Animals, Animal Alliance, PETA, OCPA, ARME, APRL and many hard-working individuals, most notably Ellen Lavinthal, Ed Bucks, Shannon Keith and Bryan Monell. Several stores in West Hollywood had voluntarily removed fur items from their stores prior to the City Council’s actions.

In 1989, West Hollywood passed resolution number 558 proclaiming West Hollywood a “cruelty free zone for animals”. Since that time West Hollywood has passed legislation banning the declawing of cats, prohibiting pet stores from selling puppy mill animals and resolutions banning cosmetic testing on animals and steel-jaw leg hold traps. In February of 2001 they adopted IDA’s guardian language which substitutes the word “guardian” for “owner“ in all discourse.

West Hollywood is the first city in the United States banning the cruel commerce of fur. It is a remarkable historic victory.

Want to help animals killed for their fur in your city? Visit furkills.org to find out!

This year’s Fur Free Friday is right around the corner. Visit http://www.furfreefridayida.org/2010summary/ to see what activists from around the world did last year and start planning your own events soon… more details on that coming soon!


VIDEO

Bloody Harvest: The Real Cost of Fur

Vodpod videos no longer available.

PETITION

Tell Nordstrom to Stop Selling Fur

WHOM TO CONTACT

contact@nordstrom.com ,
designer@nordstrom.com ,
beauty@nordstrom.com

SAMPLE LETTER

To Whom It Concerns,

I am shocked to discover that Nordstrom is still commercially engaged with the fur industry. Due to the fundamentally-savage business of fur farming, any products derived from the suffering and killing of animals should be rejected, and I am respectfully requesting that Nordstrom finally discontinues profiting off the exploitation of animals; this request includes all non-Nordstrom brand fur products as well as your shearling merchandise. Furthermore, commercial demand is not justification to undertake such barbarism; indeed, child labor and human trafficking are considered financially beneficial as well, yet due to their inherent brutality and inequity, should not be sanctioned.

Please watch the undercover footage of the industry you promote: animals are forced to endure deplorable conditions including living in cramped, feces-crusted cages; suffering from sickness and disease; lacking an enriching environment; and being subjected to substandard diets and severe psychological trauma. They are then butchered via anal electrocution, gassing, skinning alive, and forced trauma. Why in the world would you WANT to cause such suffering?

FurStop.Com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTZQnQeAPJc&feature=player_embedded

Humans are capable, indeed obligated, to acknowledge animals as sentient beings who, like humans, experience love, anguish, pain, and suffering. Human apathy as established by the usage of fabrications and euphemisms reflects a lack of respect, not only for animals, but also for humans, and I implore upon you to examine your role in the suffering of animals and your unscrupulous conduct as host to such a cruel business. Regrettably, as long as you unnecessarily and selfishly capitalize on the mutilation, torture, and death of animals, I will not financially support you or your associated products. Furthermore, I will share this information with family, friends, colleagues, and members of online communities.

Please make both the ethical and responsible decision to discontinue your commercial support of fur immediately: join an increasing body of compassionate businesses and designers who are listening to a concerned and attentive consumer population who refuse to be complicit in the inherently malicious industry of fur farming. I hope this letter finds you willing to scrutinize your own involvement and desire to protect, rather than harm, animals.

Thank you for taking the time to read this important message.

NAME

FUR-FREE RETAILERS

SEE MORE: Fur | Skin

so beautiful
fur is on
those with it
born,
and how ugly when
by the vain and
frivolous,
worn

Karen Lyons Kalmenson