Anjelica Huston Asks Irish Minister To Uphold Ban On Fur Farming
For Immediate Release:
25 April 2012
Contact:
Elisa Allen 0207 357 9229, ext 243; [email protected].
Anjelica Huston – who spent much of her childhood in Ireland and once posed in fur for British Vogue – has appealed to Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, to ensure that Ireland honours its commitment to ban fur farming in the upcoming Animal Health and Welfare Bill. The BAFTA and Academy Award winner wrote to the agriculture minister on behalf of PETA and the Animal Rights Action Network.
“This issue means a lot to me as I grew up in Ireland and used to wear fur. I had a change of heart when I learned how minks and foxes on fur farms are crammed into tiny, dirty cages and driven so crazy by the confinement that many self-mutilate and even cannibalize their cagemates”, writes Huston. “Please use your considerable power to follow through on the commitment to add Ireland to the growing list of countries-including Northern Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, and Great Britain-that have banned the cruel practice of fur farming.”
Huston, who was given a PETA US Humanitarian Award in 2010 for her work with the international organisation, joins an ever-growing list of notable fur-wearers who have had a change of heart and now speak up for animals. Eva Mendes shed her furs and then hosted PETA US’ anti-fur video exposé, and the White House revealed that Michelle Obama also does not wear fur. PETA and its affiliates have reached out to and received assurances from many other celebrities, such as Carla Bruni and Victoria Beckham, that they wear only fake fur.
Huston’s letter to Coveney follows:
The Honorable Simon Coveney, TD
Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine
Agriculture House
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
Dear Mr Minister:
I was delighted to learn from my friends at PETA and the Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) that Ireland had passed legislation to ban fur farming by 2012. However, I am concerned that the changes in government since that decision may put the ban in jeopardy. I urge you to honor the commitment to ban fur factory farming in Ireland in the upcoming Animal Health and Welfare Bill.
This issue means a lot to me as I grew up in Ireland and used to wear fur. I had a change of heart when I learned how minks and foxes on fur farms are crammed into tiny, dirty cages and driven so crazy by the confinement that many self-mutilate and even cannibalize their cagemates. After several months of this agony, the animals endure a painful death by gassing or electrocution, all just to produce a frivolous product that hardly anyone wears anymore because of the social stigma that it carries. Here is a video from ARAN’s latest investigation into fur farming in Ireland: http://www.banfurfarms.ie/movie.html. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch it.
Please use your considerable power to follow through on the commitment to add Ireland to the growing list of countries-including Northern Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, and Great Britain-that have banned the cruel practice of fur farming.
Sincerely,
Anjelica Huston