On a warm spring night in West Hollywood, Kim Kardashian was at the London Hotel to promote her new fragrance, True Reflection. Nothing seemed to be out of place, until all of the sudden a woman jumped out and poured flour all over Kim and yelled, “fur hag!”
It’s no secret that Kim Kardashian is a fur-lover and that PETA has called her out on her actions. However, PETA says that they had nothing to do with the flour-bombing, but they are supportive of the culprit. A representative for the organization said in a statement, “PETA has tried everything from polite letters to public protests, but Kim Kardashian has not been moved by the news that animals are beaten, electrocuted, and even skinned alive for real fur garments. Whoever threw that flour may reach her when our polite appeals did not.” Kim responded to the whole incident to TMZ stating, “If you’re trying to promote nonviolence towards animals … why are you trying to be violent towards humans?”
This is a debate that has been going on for ages and each side has convincing arguments. On the anti-fur side, they believe that killing animals for fashion, or anything else, is unethical.
According to the Animal Defenders International, many endangered animals are poached and traded for their skins and this is a contributor to certain species becoming extinct, including tigers and leopards. Poachers get big bucks for selling the skins of animals, so this has led to the creation of fur farms- farms that raise animals with the intent of killing them for their fur. The animals raised in these farms are stuck wired, mesh cages. The cages are not comfortable at all for the animals, but they filter out the feces and urine and keep their fur clean. Eventually, the animals are killed by either being gassed, electrocuted, having their necks snapped, or being put in decompression chambers.
Animals can also be caught for their skin through trapping, an equally painful process. The fact that animals are being hurt and killed for the sake of beauty and fashion is appalling to many human rights activists. Student Madeline Van Aelst chooses not to wear real fur because of what people do to animals in order to get the fur. “It’s a disgusting act. I feel like faux fur is just as good as real fur, so I don’t get why people would do this.”
However, pro-fur have their own argument as well. Many people who wear fur believe that it is more eco-friendly than faux fur.
According to the Fur Council of Canada, fur is recyclable, biodegradable, and a renewable resource. It is actually faux fur that is bad for the environment because it is made from petroleum, anon-renewable resource.
The council also makes the point that most people eat hamburgers and steak from cows, so it makes sense to not waste the skin. They also state that no endangered animals are used by the fur industry and that only common, plentiful animals are used. Most animals produce more young in order for there to be higher chance of survival for their species.
Many young animals die of diseases, or hunger, caused by the overpopulation. People are able to gain fur from this surplus without decreasing the general population. Fur is also an important industry in many areas because it provides a major portion of their income. Student Michelle Hill does not have a problem with people wearing fur. “If the animal is going to die, either for food or by natural causes, why not use their skin?”
Whichever side you choose, it’s important to get both sides of the story. Make sure you’re informed the next time you’re standing in a store trying to decide between faux fur and real fur.
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