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JANUARY 2010...
WYAIN have been successful in initiating an EDM (Early Day Motion) in The House of Commons concerning the labelling of real fur products to enable consumers to more easily identify real fur from fake fur.
A massive 159 MP's, so far, have signed the motion for the issue to progress to the next stage of the procedure - an EDM.
This is needed because consumers are, at the moment, being fooled into believing that real fur is a good quality fake and walk around wearing real fur collars and hoods or boots without even knowing!
This just proliferates the fur industry as we, the consumers, by purchasing real fur products are sending out the message that fur products, with all it's cruelty, is acceptable when clearly it is not to the majority of people.
Innocent creatures such as baby seals are culled in Canada whilst domestic cats, dogs and rabbits are killed in countries such as China for the fashion industry. To see the cruel nature of the fur industry please refer to our page 'Action Needed Urgently' which shows graphically just what goes on. Further information on the fur trade can be gained from visiting the following websites:-
We are really proud of this result as we have very strong feelings about the issues involved and have relentlessly worked to obtain such an outcome. Lets just hope that the EDM results in the appropriate legislation being passed by the House.
This legislation, if passed, will allow the consumer to make informed choices about the products they purchase. The labelling will state clearly if any real fur is used as well as give the country of origin.
It will become much easier to avoid real fur and this, hopefully, will send a clear and unequivocal message to the real fur industry not to use the real thing and to use fake fur instead.
The power of the consumer cannot be over emphasised. Please vote with your feet and walk away from any product containing real fur.
You can also make your views known by contacting your local MP's and lobby them to support this important piece of legislation.
WYAIN have been vigorously involved with initiating two campaigns concerning animal welfare since our inception in July 2007.
THE GIVING OF GOLDFISH AS PRIZES
One campaign involves the barbaric practice of giving goldfish as prizes at various events like gala's and fetes. These poor goldfish suffer from:
- brain damage due to the battering they receive whilst in transit and once they are dropped into the small plastic bags;
- lack of oxygen;
- skin slowly being burnt off because tap water is used.
There are many issues involved here and cruelty to the fish is just one of them as this practice sends out all the wrong signals to people - especially to children.
Animals are not something to be won. They are not a consumer item that can simply be put in a cupboard and forgotten about or in the case of goldfish flushed down the toilet! The ownership of any animal, and that includes goldfish, means responsibility and this should be carefully thought out before committing to it.
It's also very upsetting when you get home and the goldfish is dead. This is the usual outcome.
We have presented petitions to both Bradford and Leeds Councils who have agreed to ban the giving of goldfish as prizes at any event on council owned land in these areas . So if you see this happening please complain to the organiser if it is on private land and to the organiser and the relevant council if the event is taking place on council land and take photographs as proof.
We will be asking other councils to follow suit - Wakefield Metroplolitan District Council was asked last year by WYAIN to ban this practice and it appears they have sent out a directive to that effect. But please check for yourself - if these stall holders think they can get away with continuing they will.
Let's try and put a stop to this once and for all and obtain a blanket ban which covers the whole country on ALL land whether private or council owned.
We have received quite a lot of positive publicity in the press on this issue and if you google WYAIN/goldfish the articles should come up.
THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF GROUSE SHOOTING ON ILKLEY MOOR
The re-introduction of grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor is another campaign close to our hearts.
There is no financial, moral or moor management case which favours this re-introduction and yet it will go ahead once grouse numbers have increased to make the shoots viable. And please remember that Ilkley Moor is a public moor and cannot be closed for any reason. How does health and safety fit in here then?
How anyone can call the shooting of any animal/bird 'sport' and gain pleasure/enjoyment from is incomprehensible.
The act is cruel in itself but when you also take into account the trapping of 'predators' that has to take place in order to ensure overpopulation of grouse for shooting it is beyond belief. Protected species like hedgehogs get caught in these traps as do domestic pets.
Again what message does this send out to people? That it's right to shoot animals... where does it end! I thought as a nation we were trying to escape the 'gun culture' which seems to dominate our society today. This is not the way to do it.
We have lobbied Bradford Councilors and MP's as well as presented a petition to the Council. Our campaign continues...
This photogragh shows a few people peacefully demonstrating on Ilkley Moor...
We gained some good publicity for the campaign. Just google to find the articles that appeared in The Yorkshire Post and Ilkley Gazette.
Please, lobby your councilors and MPs.
WYAIN support many international animal welfare charities by publicising their campaigns and petitions. We have two seperate sections covering this aspect on our website:
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International Animal Welfare Organisations;
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Action needed urgently.
Please log into our website at least weekly to help the work of these wonderful organisations and to make a difference to animal welfare around the world just by doing something as simple as signing a petition.
Registered Charity Number: 1120275