皮草仍在飛舞 | 環境資訊中心
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皮草仍在飛舞

2001年02月22日
作者:Jackie Alan Giuliano博士

你且問走獸,
走獸必指教你;
或問空中的飛鳥,
飛鳥必告訴你;
或與大地說話,
大地必教導你;
或差遣海中的魚向你說明。
約伯記第十二章7-8節(聖經,King James版本)

許多人認為在皮草可怕殘忍的製造過程被廣為人知後,穿著皮草的風氣會因而退燒。很不幸的,製造皮草的工業仍然存活著,只是, 對它的成功三緘其口罷了。

近760萬隻動物被殘忍的捕獸夾夾住,在世界各地並有超過3千萬隻的動物被飼養在環境極糟糕的養殖場中。在美國有404個皮草養殖場,生產270萬的動物和廣告;並另有16萬個領有執照的獵人捕殺其他400萬隻。

這堆蒙大拿的剝皮死貂,是用以製造8-10件皮草大衣後所留下的遺體。

這個製造業雖然比以前還要萎縮,但離真正的消失還遠的很。它還持續地從痛苦、受折磨的殘忍死亡之中獲利,迎合我們敗壞社會中最腐化的人性。

1999年在美國皮草的銷售額有14億美金,即使這比1986及87年的18億銷售高峰略為降低,但這個金額還是高得令人作噁,這包括了皮草的收藏、清潔及修復的收益。

動物權利保護組織在1980年間打了幾場勝戰,成功的使大眾相信皮草工業的殘忍之處,許多名人也以穿著假皮草來宣揚這個理念,媒體亦定期的報導這個議題。

抗爭皮草業的行動持續,然而媒體對此已喪失興趣,而且皮草業者也改變它們的行銷方式,以較秘密的方式去接觸客戶。

我相信,縱使那些反皮草的抗爭活動-其中我直接參與了許多次-持續說服人們的良知體認皮草工業的暴行。但典型的皮草購買者全然不關心這些訊息。

捕獸夾

你或許已經聽過有關皮草業殺忍的故事,動物們在捕獸夾上經歷幾天痛苦的折磨,腿被緊緊的夾住。狗、貓、鳥和其他「非標的」或「垃圾」動物也常在這殘忍的陷阱中死亡。

超過69個國家宣佈這種夾腿式的陷阱為非法,美國並不在其中。但它還是許多獵人上選的捕獵方法。那些在養殖場飼養的動物也沒好到哪去,拘限在狹小的籠舍中渡過牠們短促的一生。牠們苦於感染、殘酷的對待及凌遲處死。牠們常在被剝皮後還一息尚存。

你曾見過花栗鼠的皮衣嗎?這種皮衣,一件得要殺害200隻之多的花栗鼠的性命。你曾看過活生生的花栗鼠嗎?每一隻都像披著長而華麗毛皮的巴掌大的老鼠。我曾經由飼者手中拯救過許多將被宰殺的花栗鼠,牠們是我所見過最溫和、最親切的小動物。

這件美洲山貓的皮草需要8-12隻瀕臨絕種的野生貓科動物的毛皮來製造。

製造一件外衣需要殘殺大量的動物:22隻山貓;70隻黑貂;30隻袋鼠;40隻兔子;400隻松鼠;甚至狗和貓也曾被用來製造外衣。但這些知識對有些人來說是事不關己的,到底是誰在買這些最背離自然的噁心產品呢?

全美多於半數的皮草販賣是在東北部,25﹪則是發生在中部。

當我們每天以各種方式在糟蹋地球的同時,其實也很難去責怪那些人,他們不去理會皮草製造過程所帶來的殘酷及折磨。

看看我們每天都在做些什麼:

丟掉20萬噸可食用的食物
使用3億1千3百萬加崙的燃料-等於每分鐘消耗26個油灌車的量
由地球取用1千8百萬天然物質
用68億加崙的飲用水沖馬桶
從車窗丟出100萬次垃圾
花2億元在廣告上
鋸下材積1億板呎的樹木
用25萬噸鋼鐵
用18.7噸紙
(編按:板呎,木材度量單位;1板呎相當於厚1吋、面積1平方呎的木材)

在美國有40﹪的研發經費以及60﹪的物理科學家和工程師,投身於研發足以殺掉地球上每個人67次的武器。

然而,我們打出生起就被教導信奉消費主義真神,如此,我們還能怪罪那些對自然世界的律動及關聯不予理會的人們嗎?

作者及媒體評論家尼爾‧伯斯特曼提醒我們,年齡在3到18歲間美國的孩子,平均會在電視上看到50萬支廣告。

公立學校的孩童,接受越來越多贊助企業植入課程中的商業訊息。這些贊助商準備了狡黠、似是而非的課程計劃,之中暗示著其活動的潛在利益。

世上大部分有權力的人所傳達的訊息是很清楚的,在死前擁有最多東西的是贏家。愈有錢的人愈有權勢,欺凌弱者和無反擊能力的人是力量的象徵。

位於佛羅里價值美金1千6百萬的房子

有這種觀念的人當然會認為擁有美金6萬元的貂皮大衣會使其更有權勢。首先他們會擁有些稀有的東西;下一步他們會增加其炫耀性消費,清楚地向同儕展現他們有比較多的錢及財產;最後,也是最重要的一點,他們要穿一件必須犧牲70隻動物所製成的衣服。

對某些不必考慮日常生活抉擇的重要性的人,尤其是那些不用擔心一家子的吃穿的人來說,選擇買這樣一件外衣代表極大的權力及自由。

大多數的我們都生活在許多衝突及矛盾中。如果你衣櫥裡有一雙真皮皮鞋,曾經吃過漢堡,曾坐過飛機或開過車,你就已經在虐待動物和破壞自然的行列當中了。

當我在寫這篇文章的時候,正使用會極耗電的電腦,而有一半的電力是來自於高污染的火力發電廠。

我們消費文化的基本原則必須要改變,任何殘忍具破壞性的行為將會終止。一旦只要我們繼續以貪婪和過度消費成為我們衡量成功、權力、功績的標準,數以百萬計的動物和人類,仍會繼續受到折磨。

皮草仍在飛舞-而且我害怕它還要延續到未來的日子。

《資料來源》

1.學習如何投身終結皮草工業的活動,請參觀革除皮草交易聯盟網站: http://www.banfur.com/index2.html

2.看看學生如何致力於增進動物權益http://soar.contentfree.org/index.shtml

3.繼續關心這個議題以及學習提供幫助請參觀「皮草已死」網站:http://www.furisdead.com/index2.html

4.你的投書是有用的!HBO頻道極受歡迎的節目「慾望城市」,在最新一季的節目中以演員身著真的皮草為片頭,外界反對的聲浪極高,該節目已停止這段演出,甚至並移除在其網頁上所有演員著皮草的照片。詳情請看: http://www.furisdead.com/100.html

5.有關重新定義美國夢想及克服消費者保護運動請看: http://www.islandpress.com/ecocompass/
dream.html

6.有關電視節目對孩童不良影響的實証請看http://www.mediaandthefamily.org/
research/fact/chduse.shtml

7.找出代表你的國會議員,並寄電子郵件給他們,告訴他們你覺得我們對太空探測應以哪方面的著眼點為優先。如果你知道你的郵遞區號可經由以下網站找到他們:http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
ziptoit.html

你可以分州搜尋:http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html
你也可以在以下網站找到你的國會代表:http://congress.nw.dc.us/innovate/index.html

Jackie Alan Giuliano博士是西雅圖的作家及教師。他曾在美國太空總署的噴射機推進實驗室工作近20年,包括在太空站前趨發展工作的1年。你可以在市區看到他在散步,偶爾會抬頭仰望天空,忖度我們的太空探測究竟會激發新智慧,或者是,取而代之的,招致永恆的錯誤。請將你的想法、意見及觀點告訴他:jackie@healingourworld.com參觀他的網頁:http://www.healingourworld.com/

版權歸屬 Environment News Service 環境信託基金會 (楊璧如譯,施淑芬、 蔡麗伶 審校)

The Fur is Still Flying
By Jackie Alan Giuliano, Ph.D.

But ask now the beasts,
And they will teach thee;
And the fowls of the air,
And they will teach thee:
Or speak to the earth,
And it shall teach thee:
And the fishes of the sea
Shall declare unto thee.
-- JOB 12:7-8 (The Bible, King James Version)

Many people believe that wearing furs has fallen out of favor due to the heightened awareness of the terrible cruelty involved in its production. Unfortunately, the fur industry is still alive - it is just quieter about its successes.

Nearly 7.6 million animals are trapped in cruel steel jaw traps and more than 30 million animals are raised on farms in terrible conditions worldwide. In the U.S., there are 404 fur farms producing 2.7 million animals and commercial and 160,000 licensed freelance trappers kill another four million.

This pile of dead, skinned minks in Montana is the remains from 8 to 10 coats. (Photo courtesy Fur Free Friday)

This industry, although smaller than in the past, is far from dead. It continues to profit on pain, suffering and cruel death, catering to the most depraved characteristics of our troubled society.

Fur sales in the United States amounted to $1.4 billion in 1999. Although this is down from the industry high of $1.8 billion in 1986 and 1987, it is still obscenely high. These figures include revenue from fur storage, cleaning, and repair.

Animal rights groups waged successful campaigns in the 1980s that convinced the public of the cruelty of the fur industry. Many celebrities helped expose the cause by wearing fake fur. The media was reporting on the story regularly.

Although anti-fur campaigns still continue, the media has lost much of its interest and the fur industry has changed its marketing practices, reaching their customers by more subtle means.

I believe that although the anti-fur campaigns - many of which I directly participated in - continue to convince people of conscience of the atrocities of the fur industry, the typical fur buyer is - and always has been - totally unconcerned with this information.

The steel jaw leghold trap (Photo courtesy Humane Society of the United States)

You have probably heard some stories of the cruelty of the fur industry. Animals suffer for days in traps in terrible pain, chewing at their trapped limbs. Dogs, cats, birds and other "non-target" or "trash" animals often die in these cruel traps.

Over 69 countries, but not the U.S., have outlawed the leghold trap. Still, it continues to be the capture method of choice for trappers. Animals raised in farms don't fare much better. Confined in small cages for their short lives, they suffer from infections, brutal treatment and poorly done executions. They are often skinned alive.

Have you ever seen a chinchilla coat? As many as 200 chinchillas are killed for it. Have you ever seen a live chinchilla? Each one is like a giant handful-sized hamster covered with long, luxurious fur. I have rescued many chinchillas from breeders who were going to kill them. They are the kindest, sweetest animals I have ever encountered.

This American lynx coat takes 8 to 12 of these endangered wild cats to make. (Photo courtesy State Fur Salon in Montana)

It takes large numbers of animals to make one coat: 22 bobcats; 70 sables; 30 kangaroos; 40 rabbits; 400 squirrels. Even dogs and cats have been used for coats. Yet this knowledge is irrelevant to some people. Who is buying these disgusting examples of the ultimate in disconnection from the natural world?

Over half of all U.S. fur sales take place in the Northeast. Twenty-five percent of sales occur Midwest.

It is difficult to blame other people who have decided that they will not care about the suffering and cruelty that went into the production of their fur coats when every day we trash the Earth in many ways.

Look at what we all do each day:

throw out 200,000 tons of edible food
use 313 million gallons of fuel - draining 26 tanker trucks every minute
take 18 million tons of raw materials from the Earth
use 6.8 billion gallons of drinking water to flush toilets
throw 1 million bushels of litter out of car windows
spend $200 million on advertising
saw up 100 million board feet of wood
use 250,000 tons of steel
use 187,000 tons of paper
Forty percent of America's research and development expenditures and 60 percent of the country's physical scientists and engineers are devoted to developing weapons to kill everyone on Earth 67 times.

And can we blame people for being disconnected from the rhythms and connections of the natural world when we are taught from birth to worship the God of Consumerism?

Author and media critic Neil Postman reminds us that between the ages of three and 18, the average child in the U.S. will see about 500,000 commercials on television.

Children in public schools are being subjected more and more to commercial messages inserted into curriculum by corporate sponsors who prepare slick, glossy lesson plans featuring the benefits of their activities.

The messages of those in power in most of the world are clear. Whoever dies with the most toys wins. Those who have more possessions have more power. Preying on the weak and defenseless is a sign of strength.

$16,000,000 home in Florida (Photo courtesy Millionaire Village)

People who embrace these principles may perceive they have more power from possessing a $60,000 sable coat. First, they will own something that few around them own. Next, they will have increased their conspicuous consumption, making it clear to their peers that they have more money and toys. Finally, and most importantly, they will be wearing something that as many as 70 animals had to die for.

To someone disconnected from the consequences of the choices of daily life, someone who does not have to worry about providing food and clothing for a family, the choice to buy such a coat represents vast power and freedom.

Most of us participate in this roller coaster ride of conflicting values. If you have leather shoes in your closet, have ever eaten a hamburger, ever flown in an airplane or ever driven a car, you have participated in cruelty to animals and the destruction of our natural world.

As I write this article, I am using a computer that is gobbling up electricity, half of which comes from polluting coal fired power plants.

Fundamental principles of our consumer based culture must change before the fur industry, or any cruel and destructive practice, will end. As long as greed and over consumption are the scales by which we measure success, power and achievement, millions of animals - and people - will continue to suffer.

The fur is still flying - and I fear it will fly for some time to come.

RESOURCES

1. To learn how you can get involved in ending the fur industry, visit the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade website at: http://www.banfur.com/index2.html

2. See what some students are doing to improve animal rights at: http://soar.contentfree.org/index.shtml

3. Keep in touch with this issue and learn how you can help at the Fur Is Dead website at: http://www.furisdead.com/index2.html

4. Your letters do work! HBO's popular show "Sex in the City" began their new season with the cast members wearing real fur. The public outcry was so great, that the show stopped the practice, even removing photos of cast members in furs from their website. Read about it at: http://www.furisdead.com/100.html

5. Read about redefining the American dream and overcoming consumerism at: http://www.islandpress.com/ecocompass/dream.html

6. Read some disturbing facts about the effects of television on children at: http://www.mediaandthefamily.org/research/fact/chduse.shtml

7. Find out who your Congressional representatives are and e-mail them. Tell them what you feel the priorities of our space exploration efforts should be. If you know your Zip code, you can find them at http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
ziptoit.html or you can search by state at http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html.
You can also find your representatives at http://congress.nw.dc.us/innovate/index.html

Jackie Alan Giuliano, Ph.D. is a writer and teacher in Seattle. He spent nearly 20 years working for NASA at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, including a year working on the early development of the space station. He can be found hiking around the city, occasionally looking skyward, wondering if our space exploration will yield any new wisdom or will instead, perpetuate old errors. Please send your thoughts, comments, and visions to him at jackie@healingourworld.com and visit his web site at http://www.healingourworld.com