Kenneth Cole & Liz Claiborne to boycott Indian leather, says PETA
25 Jul '06
3 min read
In a letter to M M Hashim, chair of the CLE's Core Committee on Animal Welfare Reform Programme, PETA points out that the CLE's modus operandi has been to do as little as possible and to stall as much as possible in an effort to keep PETA's campaign at bay while leather exporters continue to profit from the illegal abuse of animals.
PETA India and its affiliates put CLE's promises to a final test by offering a draft memorandum of understanding spelling out specific basic actions which would reduce the suffering of animals in the leather trade. After sitting on the memorandum for nine months, the CLE ultimately refused even to negotiate with PETA India about its contents.
“The suffering of cows and other animals is horrific, yet our government has done nothing to reduce the suffering of even one bullock, while the Indian leather industry supports the unabated torture of animals”, says PETA India Coordinator for Campaigns and Legal Affairs N.G. Jayasimha. “We expect a flood of retailers to pledge their boycott of Indian leather – and rightly so.”
PETA India investigations spanning seven years reveal that Indian animals used for leather are transported in such poor and crowded conditions that their bones often break and they often suffocate or die en route to slaughter. The animals are routinely dragged, beaten, and otherwise cruelly and illegally mishandled. At all municipal slaughterhouses,animals are slaughtered in full view of each other, which is illegal.
Although it claims to have an animal welfare reform programme, the CLE refuses to initiate any action to prevent leather businesses from obtaining hides and skins from suppliers which mistreat animals – even from unlicensed, illegal slaughterhouses.
PETA India's campaign has gained the support of celebrities all over the world, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sir Paul McCartney, Pamela Anderson and Jackie Chan.
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
