Over two dramatic days, the Sejm (the lower house of the Polish Parliament) has held a historic meetings advancing the legal protection of animals in Poland. It concerned the so-called “Five for animals”: a proposed bill with key changes to animal protection law. MPs voted in favour of an amendment, which includes a ban on breeding animals for fur. The sitting of Sejm on Thursday, 17 September 2020 was saw
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Terrible animal suffering revealed on huge Polish fur farm
Following last week’s revelations about the suffering on mink on French fur farms, we can also reveal a major undercover investigation in Poland. Respect for Animals’ colleagues at the Fur Free Alliance, Otwarte Klatki, conducted a two-month long investigation using an activist as an undercover farm employee. The farm, in Goreczki, is considered to be the biggest mink farm in the world, with around 500,000 animals kept in small cages.
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Horrific fur farm footage from France reveals the truth about fur
New footage, taken in August 2020, has been published by French organisation, and Fur Free Alliance colleagues of Respect for Animals, One Voice, detailing once again the truth about animal suffering on fur farms. Mink were documented with long-lasting physical injuries and serious mental anguish. There is no doubt that these animals experienced high levels of suffering. Such animal welfare failures are common on fur farms, as documented in this
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Dutch fur farms WILL close early after major Covid outbreak
The Netherlands had already intended to shut down its entire mink breeding industry by 2024, but the government has now decided to bring forward the closures to next year following Covid-19 outbreaks on 41 fur farms. Holland has long been one of the world’s biggest ‘producers’ of mink fur, but now around 5 million fewer animals will annually suffer in tiny cages and a cruel death. Sadly around 2 million young mink
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Breakthrough in campaign to end fur farming in Finland
In a historical vote, the Social Democratic party of Finland (SDP) committed to working towards ending fur farming and fur sales both in Finland and in the EU within a reasonable transition period. News on the decision broke on during the Social Democrats’ party congress, held in Tampere, Finland. Finnish animal rights organizations Animalia and Justice for Animals thank the Social Democrats for their forward-thinking conclusion. The SDP is Finland’s
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News round-up
Over 1 million mink killed in Holland due to coronavirus outbreak More than 1.1 million mink have been killed on 26 Dutch farms that recorded outbreaks, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. The government also announced that mink at a 27th farm also were infected and would be killed. The Netherlands, which has some 160 mink farms, is the world’s fourth-biggest producer of the prized fur
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Ireland: fur farming ban included in Programme For Government document
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party are set to form the next Irish government, with all three parties agreeing on a programme of government this afternoon. Respect for Animals is delighted that the document includes a firm commitment to end fur farming in Ireland as a matter of urgency. Once the document, known as “Our Shared Future,” is signed off by parliamentary members of each party, the next
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Not a single mink left in Estonian fur farms
The Estonian animal advocacy organization Loomus, colleagues of Respect for Animals in the Fur Free Alliance, is proud to report that, according to assurances from the Ministry of Rural Affairs and a verification visit by Veterinary and Food Board, the Estonian fur farms no longer house a single mink. Also, as stated to Loomus by Veterinary and Food Board, and the Environmental Board of Estonia, the Neitla mink farm had
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Make Fur History Podcast with Joshua Katcher
Photo of Joshua by Marko Sovilj Joshua Katcher is a fashion designer, activist, author and educator, whose strong stance against the fur industry makes him a key figure in fur-free fashion. In our first podcast, we chatted with him about the campaign to ban fur in New York, the need for innovation in the fashion industry and much more.. Respect for Animals · Episode 1: Katcher In The Rye. Joshua
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Thousands of fur farmed mink culled in Holland after coronavirus outbreak
The Dutch government has ordered the culling of thousands of mink on nine fur farms, following advice from a team of veterinary and infectious disease experts that mink fur farms could act as a reservoir for SARS-COV-2, allowing it to remain in circulation for a long time. Dutch MPs were notified of the cabinet decision in a letter sent by the Dutch Agriculture Minister and the Minister for Public Health,
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