Danish Government & Media Slams Fur Industry, Again 

(edited from the original article by Polyglossus )

According to Denmark’s fashion forum the grievances that the fur lobby filed, regarding mainstream media coverage of conditions on Danish fur farms, were officially rejected just before the holiday season.

Almost exactly one year ago, Minister Eva Kjer Hansen of Denmark stated that “Mink breeders break animal welfare rules. And that is unacceptable,” after the Danish newspaper Politiken published this article (Danish): Mink live under bad conditions in two out of three farms. That came after fox farming was outlawed in Denmark following a 2009 undercover investigation from the Danish animal rights organization, Anima. The investigation sent shock-waves through the Danish media, exposing horrible conditions on fur farms, and contradicting the multimillion-dollar marketing efforts of the fur industry and fur lobby groups like Kopenhagen Fur, which are headquartered in Denmark.

As the fur industry continues to dispute all claims made by animal advocates in the EU, and has even filed official complaints about the press itself. It’s important to point out that, while animal advocates have nothing to gain financially from documenting and exposing these farms, the fur industry stands to lose billions – so it’s no surprise when they deny clearly documented facts. This is something of which the Danish government is well aware.

The Danish TV station, TV2, recently did a follow-up on 2009′s Operation X, and this wasn’t to the liking of the Danish fur industry, so they filed a complaint with the Danish media board (Pressenævnet). According to politiken.dk the fur industry claimed that the images in the documentary were used in a misleading way to make matters worse then they are. They didn’t get very far with their complaint and the media board rejected it. The animal rights group Anima’s documentation is supported by the government. It seems our politicians could learn a lot from the Danish!

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joshuakatcher, January 5th 2011 | Tags: , ,
Posted in animal rights, Contributor, news

Norway Bans Fur From Oslo Fashion Week

MOTE MOT PELS: Kjell Nordström og Fam Irvoll er to av initiativtakerne bak aksjonen Mote mot Pels.=
Kjell Nordström and Fam Irvoll of Mote Mot Pels

2011 is going to be the year that the fur industry is undone, once and for all. Already, Norway has made history by banning fur from the runways at Oslo Fashion Week. Just check out the size of the list of fashion industry professionals in Oslo who are openly and vehemently against fur. This is huge considering the climate, the culture, and the proximity to so much of the neighboring fur-farming countries. Once again, we Americans are shamefully lagging behind much of the developed world when it comes to ethics. New York Fashion Week could learn a thing or two from Norway. Ecouterre reports:

litenrevAny fur that flies at Oslo Fashion Week in February will be strictly metaphorical. Norway has become the first country to ban animal pelts from its biannual runway event. The ban is a response to the efforts Mote Mot Pels (Fashion Against Fur), an anti-fur initiative that has received the support of more than 220 Norwegian fashion industry insiders who refuse to work with fur, including designers Leila Hafzi, Thomas Ryen of Undorn, and John Erling Vinnem of JohnnyLove, as well as Norwegian Elle, Norwegian Cosmopolitan, KK, and Det Nye.

Founded by designer Fam Irvoll, designer and stylist Kjell Nordström, and fashion editor Hilde Marstrander, in collaboration with the animal-rights group NOAH, Mote Mot Pels has been instrumental to shaping Oslo Fashion Week’s fur-free stance. “It has been a very natural choice for us,” says Paul Vasbotten, general manager of the Oslo Fashion Week. “We are doing this in order to increase ethical values in fashion.”

1 Comment

joshuakatcher, January 2nd 2011 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in activism, fashion, news, vegan

Apolis, Join the Club & Gilt Sale

• Apolis: Global Citizen is the future of garment production – and it’s a necessary future. From Bangledesh to Nepal and Uganda, “Apolis connects developing economies to the global marketplace through seasonal stories and tracks our tangible social results… Although Apolis is heavily inspired by philanthropy, we are a for-profit social enterprise wherein our customers act as benefactors, allowing Apolis to grow as a sustainable business instead of depending on fundraising for support. We have found this model of social business to be the most valuable and effective way to accomplish our ambitious long term goals of “advocacy through industry.”

While I wish (and I find myself doing this too often) that more of the items were free of livestock products, considering the immense ecological toll and inherent cruelty of raising animals to use their skins and hairs (leather & wool), from a human-rights and labor standpoint, I still think this is a very important business model to point out. Here are some of the cruelty-free items from the website:

• 90% off at GILT MAN’s Holiday Sale! Here are some vegan jackets and blazers I’ve selected from the options. If you’re not a GILT Member, get your invitation by clicking HERE.

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• Join the club. Point collars and spread collars are not the only options out there. Club collars are rounded, smaller, and offer a soft but sophisticated alternative. They were popular in the first few decades of the twentieth century – and likewise, offer the wearer a subtle antique-gentleman  or dandy appeal. The shirt on the right, from Patrik Ervell, does not even require a tie. When wearing a shirt like this, it is best to button up all the way, and layer under a blazer, cardigan, or sweater-jacket. Getting sick of super-skinny ties? (me too!) The club collar is a great excuse to pull out a medium or wide, striped tie.

•

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joshuakatcher, December 28th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in accessories, activism, animal rights, art, cruelty-free, environmental justice, fair trade, fashion, green, news, organic, sale, social responsibility, sustainable, vegan, vegetarian

Snack Attack, Nude Attitude, Man Tools & The Cost of Cheap Clothes

• The simplicity of a henley is a thing of beauty. Practical, utilitarian, and handsome whether you layer it with an organic plaid shirt, or wear it on it’s own. When that henley is fairly-made in Italy  or Portugal from organic cotton, it’s also a thing of ethical handsomeness. While I wish on all my lucky-charms that Nudies would stop using cruel and ecologically devastating leather for their denim tags and jackets, I am happy when they have items like this that are leather-free. (Don’t they know about all the cutting-edge, supple faux-leathers made from recycled soda bottles, TV’s, or in closed-loop Japanese factories?). Nudie does, however, have an amazing human rights program set up with Amnesty International – that with the purchase of any one of their organic cotton “Human Rights Tees“, 10 Euros gets donated to AI. They’ve got some pretty cool designs, as well.

Axel Grandpa PD Organic Nudie JeansSigvard Organic Canvas Check Nudie Jeans

Human Rights Tee )26 Nudie JeansHuman Rights Tee )27 Nudie Jeans

• Is cheap denim worth burning young women to death? Most people would say no – but our shopping habits speak otherwise. On December 15th, 2010, a multi-story sweatshop making clothes for notorious sweatshop slumlords, The Ha-meem Group (employed by GAP Inc., Wrangler jeans, JC Penney, Target, Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, Walmart, Kohl’s, Sears, Next and Osh Kosh B’Gosh, trapped and killed at least 29 workers in Bangladesh. The unsafe and unchecked conditions in the sweatshop prevented these mostly young girls from making a safe escape, as exists are commonly locked from the outside to prevent people from taking breaks. Many were burned alive, and many jumped to their death. To add insult to injury, “…the workers who were burned alive were likely being paid some $24 a month, less than $1 a day,” according to Change.org.

http://laborrightsblog.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341bf90b53ef0147e0c42f47970b-pi

The disconnect we have concerning where our clothes come from is shameful, but understandable considering the epic propaganda and marketing machine that tells well-funded myths about cheap clothes. Between 2006 and 2009, 414 workers died in 213 factory fires. This latest fire at the Ha-Meem Group factory was not the first one to occur this year either – and famous factory fires that kill poor people or immigrants have a well-documented history.

If you unwrapped a Christmas present from any one of these companies yesterday, or plan on going to the mall to spend gift-certificates, I would seriously consider using the opportunity to return items, speak to a managers, write letters, or otherwise voice your outrage. Lastly, please Sign The Petition to demand that these manufacturers at least compensate families of the victims.

* If you are designer or work with any of these companies – check out the amazing work that Made-By is doing, and find out how to get the button sewn into your label!

• Snack Attack! I am drooling like a rescued pitbull just thinking about these new snacks! The vegan mozzarella-style sticks from Chicago Soy Dairy’s Teese line offers 15 sticks for 6 bucks  – that ain’t bad at all. Then, squeeze some of Tiger Tiger’s flavored vegan mayo on your favorite sandwich or burger, and for dessert, how about some raw, Nutella-inspired Rawtella over  ice cream or in a cookie sandwich?

Breaded Teese Cheese Mozzarella Sticks by Chicago SoydairyRawtella Organic Raw Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

Vegan Flavored Mayonnaise by Tiger Tiger

• Man Tools from Jack Black are a sure way to keep a well-groomed face and handsome conscious. A cruelty-free and Men’s Health Magazine award-winning lather-brush designed to both meet and exceed the performance of Silver Tip Badger hair, and a razor-sharpener that extends the life of any razor are often hard to find, but here they are:

3 Comments

joshuakatcher, December 26th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in accessories, activism, animal rights, art, cruelty-free, design, fair trade, fashion, food, green, grooming, History, human rights, news, organic, social responsibility, sustainable, vegan, vegetarian

Animal Fur Sold as Fake at Barneys New York

It’s bad enough that designers still use fur. It’s cruel, unnecessary, and when you wear it, it means you hate animals. But what’s worse is that designers and stores are still breaking the law and labeling real fur as “faux” in order to keep money rolling in for the fur mafia – whose sleazy tactics and multi-million dollar marketing campaigns insist that you should ignore the inherent cruelty and selfishly indulge in an outdated status symbol. The full article:

A Humane Society of the United States Investigation Reveals “Faux Fur” Deception

WASHINGTON (Dec. 21, 2010)–The Humane Society of the United States revealed through laboratory testing that a Phillip Lim brand parka sold online by Barneys New York as “faux fur” is real animal fur, and that the same Phillip Lim parka was sold in the Manhattan flagship store without the “real fur” label required by New York state law.

“Consumers have a right to know what they are buying,” said Pierre Grzybowski, manager of the Fur-Free Campaign at The HSUS. “The Humane Society of the United States calls on Barneys to take immediate action to ensure that unsuspecting consumers are not duped into purchasing animal fur when they intend to purchase a cruelty-free alternative.”

August 2007: New York state fur labeling bill signed into law requiring all animal fur to be indicated as “real fur” on label.

Selling unlabeled real animal fur-trim jackets has been allowed for decades through a loophole in the nearly 60-year-old federal fur labeling law, but a new bill signed on Saturday by President Obama will close this loophole. H.R.2480, The Truth in Fur Labeling Act, will take effect in March and will require all garments made with animal fur to be labeled and advertised with the correct species of animal on the label. It is unlawful to describe garments containing animal fur as “faux fur.” Violations of the federal fur labeling law carry up to a $5,000 fine and a year in prison.

New York state passed its own law several years ago to address this deception in the marketplace and protect consumers. Under New York state law, fur garments must be identified as “real fur” or “faux fur” on a fixed label.  Violations carry penalties of up to $500 for the first violation and up to $1,000 for each subsequent violation.

Images of garments, ads and labels for both garments are available.

Timeline and Facts:

  • • Dec. 18, 2010: President Obama signs H.R. 2480, the Truth in Fur Labeling Act, into law. It goes into effect 90 days from the time of signing.
  • • August 2010: HSUS investigators purchased a 3.1 Phillip Lim brand “amber…oversized silk blend button front parka with removable faux fur collar trim” from Barneys.com. Hangtag indicates: “Style: F110-8156HST.” Lab results: animal in the Canidae Family, possibly coyote.
  • • September 2010: HSUS investigators purchased a 3.1 Phillip Lim brand “amber…oversized parka w/dlbe function removable fur clr” from the Barneys New York flagship store in Manhattan. Hangtag indicates: “Style: F110-8156HST.”  There is no label indicating whether the fur is real or fake. HSUS has confirmed the fur is real animal fur.

2 Comments

joshuakatcher, December 21st 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in fashion, news

April 77 Launches Online Store

http://april77.fr/img/diaries_2/1.jpg

Rejoice! It’s finally here! Our favorite vegan Parisian, Brice Partouche, has launched April 77′s online store, chock full of bad-boy clothes and accessories that embrace the real rebels out there. Their new campaign features Jethro Cave (model, musician, and Nick Cave’s son) and Sophie Willing (model and actress) in photos and an upcoming video!

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joshuakatcher, December 14th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in celebrity, fashion, music, news

Smells Like Crap & Tastes Like Coffee

Civet

The Civet Cat is a rather cute animal. Sort of cat-like, but actually from the Viverridae family – the animal is native to Africa, Madagascar, the Iberian Peninsula, southern China, and Southeast Asia. Strangely, we humans have taken a liking to this fuzzy critters poop and anal gland secretions. We’ve been wearing it in our fragrances and drinking coffee beans that pass through (if you know what I mean).

The smelly stuff, which is also called civet, that comes out of the perineal glands (near the anus) is quite musky and acts as a stabilizing agent in fragrances – it extends the life of the overall smell, their olfactory duration, if you will. Left to itself in nature, the musk is very offensive, has been known to induce vomiting in humans, and can smell for up to four months. In order to harvest the secretion, the civet must be killed or have the thick, yellow grease painfully scraped from the gland’s anal sac. The civet’s secretions must be combined with alcohol and other chemicals to bring out its “pleasant musky odor”.  It is rumored that civet cats produce more secretions when they are under stress, so many of the farmers hit their cages to keep them scared. Fortunately, synthetic civetone has been synthesized from precursor chemicals found in palm oil, but many supposed “high-quality” perfume manufacturers still prefer torturing these unfortunate and smelly animals. There are other animals also used for their smells.

And if you didn’t think this poor animal already had it tough, people have been drinking incredibly expensive coffee that has been shat out after these guys eat the coffee cherries. It sorta looks like a Babe Ruth bar, no? At first, people collected the wild droppings, but now they’ve realized that farming the civets yields greater revenue. The whole demand for the crappuccino comes from the distinct and rare flavor that occurs from the fermentation process inside the civets stomach. Now, I know there are people out there who are scientists. Can’t you think of more intelligent way to ferment coffee cherries?

Fortunately, someone has done just that. According to poopcoffee.com, “The Trung Nguyen Coffee Company hired a German scientist to research the chemical processes that occur in the Civet’s stomach, and in 1996 scientists were able to isolate six specific digestive enzymes and then use these enzymes to create a synthetic soak known as Legendee, which they patented. “

When you cage a wild animal, you prevent it from doing  anything that nature intended it to do. It is emotional and physical torture for wild animals to be locked up – and this is no exception, no matter how delicious the coffee tastes, it’s still shitty. No matter how amazing the fragrance smells, it’s still shitty. Free the civet cats!

New York Times: A civet farm in Liwa, a town in Sumatra, where the catlike animals eat coffee cherries. Their droppings contain coffee beans fermented in their stomachs.

6 Comments

joshuakatcher, December 5th 2010 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in food, green, grooming, Health, news, philosophy, vegan, vegetarian

Running With Russell, Vegetable Frenzy & Rise of the Power Vegans 

Ryan Olbrysh,  www.lasvegassun.com

• Power Vegan. What does this phase connote? According to the Business Week article from Nov. 4th, The Rise of the Power Vegan is an interesting turn of events for a culture of executives and power-players who want to take control of their own health, and thrive for as long as possible.

…a growing number of America’s most powerful bosses have become vegan. Steve Wynn, Mort Zuckerman, Russell Simmons, and Bill Clinton are now using tempeh to assert their superiority. As are Ford Executive Chairman of the Board Bill Ford (F), Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, venture capitalist Joi Ito, Whole Foods Market (WFMI) Chief Executive Officer John Mackey, and Mike Tyson. Yes, Mike Tyson, a man who once chewed on human ear, is now vegan

• A new, slightly controversial article in New York Magazine explores why vegetables are the new meat, becoming the focus of entrees at unlikely restaurants throughout cities famous for fervent foodies. Vegetables Are the New Meat, they say – but they make sure to distinguish themselves from vegetarians, still calling on meat, butter, and cheese for flavor. What do you think about the “vegivore” trend?  Leave a comment!

“Sales are up 15 to 20 percent,” says Mountain Sweet Berry Farm’s Rick Bishop, whose spigarello broccoli and spring-ushering ramps have cult followings at Union Square. “You see lines at the market now for vegetables. People used to only line up for eggs and fish.”

• If you like football, but hate the stereotype of the meat-maniacs that fill the parking lots, you’ll love Peta’s list of the Top 5 Vegetarian-Friendly NFL Stadiums:

  1. 1. Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles), where protein-packed mock-steak sandwiches, faux-chicken sandwiches, veggie dogs, and veggie burgers are coming off the grill faster than DeSean Jackson in the open field.
  2. 2. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland Raiders)
  3. 3. Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers)
  4. 4. Georgia Dome (Atlanta Falcons)
  5. 5. (Tie) Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs) & Ford Field (Detroit Lions)

• I made my debut on Oxygen Network’s Running Russell Simmons last night, where I was drenched in fake blood and wrapped up in a meat tray in times square! So may people have been Tweeting that they are considering going veg! Thanks to the amazing Simone for asking me to join her at this event! Watch the full episode (the PETA demo starts at about 36 min. in):

• Win a Gardein Stuffed Turk’y Thanksgiving Meal from Mercy For Animals! Gardein has provided MFA with five coupons for free Savory Stuffed Turk’y products to give away to our supporters. All you have to do is enter MFA’s Savory Stuffed Turk’y contest for your chance to win a free coupon. So, what are you waiting for? Enter to win today! Five lucky winners will be randomly selected on November 15.

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4 Comments

joshuakatcher, November 10th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in accessories, activism, animal rights, contest, cruelty-free, event, fashion, food, green, Health, news, philosophy, restaurant, social responsibility, sustainable, vegan, vegetarian, video

Kenneth Cole, Loden Dager, Cool Contests & Clinton’s Tipping Point

• Not only does the new Loden Dager collection feature some sustainable fabrics, but if you look close, the belt the model is wearing is leather-free in clear plastic. The video is rad featuring music from Panda Bear and fun old-timey film clips. I’m liking Loden Dager more and more lately, especially after having a a chance to sit down with them about PINNACLE! Stay tuned…

• Gardein is hosting a CONTEST to win a dinner for 4 prepared by celebrity chef Tal Ronnen, and all you have to is fill out a super easy survey!

• Speaking of contests, Blackbird Parlour in Williamsburg is hosting a Veggie Burger Recipe Contest! Enter your written recipe along with your contact info by Oct 2nd. Finalists will be invited to a cook-off and the winner will have their signature burger named after them on their new menu! EMail Blackbird for more info!

http://www.blackbirdbrooklyn.com/Resources/Exterior.jpg

• Our friends over at Hint Mag remind us of Kenneth Cole’s Rubber Collection, especially this mens’ Electric Rain Boot – 100% of the net profits go to The AWEARNESS Fund, in partnership with amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research)

• Clinton’s choice to be vegan-ish is causing quite a frenzy. Dropping pounds, reversing heart disease, regaining his youthful high-school physique. Could this be the tipping point for vegetable-based diets? CNN recently revisited their interview with Clinton and also hosted the doctors that Clinton credits for his lifestyle change.

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joshuakatcher, September 27th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in accessories, activism, animal rights, celebrity, contest, fashion, food, green, news

Bob Harper Video Interview

Being a loser was never so cool. When I was in Los Angeles a few weeks ago I sat down with Bob Harper, host of NBC’s Biggest Loser to discuss his role as the 2010 National Spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary’s Walk for Farm Animals. We discussed his recent evolution to a vegan diet, how he grew up on a cattle farm, and or course, food and nutrition! Check out the full interview, and sign up for the Walk for Farm Animals in your town! The new season of NBC’s Biggest Loser premieres tonight.

9 Comments

joshuakatcher, September 21st 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in activism, animal rights, celebrity, food, green, Health, interview, news, vegan, vegetarian, video
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