Boycott China Database Needs YOU

Like everyone else these days, bloody ShopNBC is so cheap that its jewelry vendors are having their pieces manufactured in China. Bad tactical decision, as I told them an employee over the phone. High-end lines, too: Carlo Viani, Passport to Fine Jewelry.

Now, I understand that gold topped out at $1000 an ounce last week. Not my problem. It's in times like these that the "designers" sell us on airy, ethereal circle designs--less gold required.

Do I really want my Carlo Viani piece to come from China? Certainly not. Do I plan to tune to NBC to watch the Olympic games from China? Of course not. Like millions of others.

Be an instrument of change.
Boycott China database -- interactive clearinghouse for listing products NOT made in China

The Horrors of the Fur Industry

This disturbing image below graphically illustrates the cruelty with which fur is obtained. I think it has impact, because many people are unaware of the treatment of fur-bearing animals--particularly in China. This photo shows the poor animal being killed by electrocution rods, which generally are inserted anally or genitally as well as orally. This torture is the price of a fur coat. Oh, and China has no qualms about using dogs and cats--warehouses full of dog and cat fur have been shown on national network television. Much of this fur is mislabeled, and sent to the United States. China exports torture and is the world's leading producer of fur. It kills 40 million animals for their fur every year.

Charla Rines of ShopNBC

Last weekend, Charla Rines was with Manuela and saying something about wanting "not to look like a hag," or some such. Note: she was wearing fur.

Today, she is on showing The Find handbags--made of calf hair, excessive amounts of leather, and finished with mink oil.

It's too disgusting.

Catalysts for Change

It's difficult to walk around in February and see evidence of the carnage. A book called Animal Rites: Liturgies of Animal Care by Andrew Linzey offers some inspired truths and remind us to be courageous and hopeful and catalysts for change.

Merciful God
we are made in your image
but we have made gods of ourselves;
we have turned your creatures
into things and machines,

making them objects of our sport
using them for our vanity,
exploiting them for our greed
and stealing their lives;

but you are the liberating God
who can transform
even ourselves;
help us to turn from
our evil
and embrace
the vision
of your peaceable
kingdom:

They shall not hurt nor destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full
of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
(Isaiah. 11:9, RSV)

Musings on Libby Floyd and Linguistics

If I had a dollar for every time Libby Floyd of ShopNBC said "and you get this home for a hunnerd bucks..." or even the word "bucks." Or the word "classy." Is that a word, and if so, who says it?

Not sure...is "classy" some kind of variation of "classic"? It reminds me of a phrase my father relayed to me from his Navy days: "She's a tough as a 50-cent steak."

Where Fur Comes From

The Washington Post gets it right in this story by Philip Rucker. Make sure you know the facts about fur and fur trim.

Of interest, an executive for Saks Fifth Avenue is quoted by Mr. Rucker as saying that the store removed a Burberry jacket from its Web site after an investigation revealed that the coat was made of dog fur, and not "faux" fur as labeled. Laboratory testing had revealed in 2006 that Saks and other retailers were selling items made of fur from the raccoon dog.

The status of Saks' sale of mislabeled dog fur remains to be confirmed.

The Post story discusses legislation introduced in Maryland that would end the mislabeling of fur. (Published Feb. 5, 2008)

Read more about real fur being sold as faux fur and the Humane Society investigation that revealed this.

...and Justice for All

New York anti-fur activists, take heart! This story will restore your faith in the cause, and it came about thanks to the persistence of your West Coast counterparts. Schumacher Furs in Portland, Ore., was ordered by a court to pay PETA more than $40,000 for fees incurred in what was described as a frivolous lawsuit. The store, which closed its doors in 2007, had foolishly blamed demonstrators for the demise of the business. The silly store also failed to understand the concept of free speech but got a civics lesson in the bargain.

Photo courtesy of Greenisthenewred/Creative Commons. The sign was placed in the window of Schumacher Furs during a lawful protest against the cruelty of the fur industry.

Read more about this anti-fur victory on The PETA Files blog
Read the laughable accusations made by Schumacher Furs

Editor's Note: Lordy. When did schools stop teaching civics?