are calfskin and lambskin cruel?

[ladysarah]

I do research on all my products--I've even gone as far to email/call companies to find out their policies on animal testing, where they source ingredients from etc. Most of my products are vegan, but a few are not (the product itself isn't tested on animals, but ingredients in it are). I'm working on replacing those...

Medically I haven't found many options, other than looking at changing eating habits and lifestyle. By doing that I've eliminated several medications, but I still take one and as I know from my sister (who has worked in medical research), my prescription probably is anything but animal friendly.



Exactly, there is a difference between "not tested on animals" and "vegan" products. Really it comes down to DOING YOUR RESEARCH--i cannot stress that enough.



I STRONGLY disagree with what you posted. I am not going to get all preachy or post things that may disturb or upset people, but I've been actively involved and researching this for most of my life, specifically the meat packing industry's involvement and treatment of animals. I, personally, see nothing wrong with eating meat and if I could find a humane way to do it, I just might. For me, the biggest reason I do not eat meat is because of the slaughtering process and treatment of the animals (even most humanely treated animals go through the same slaughter houses). If someone hunted a deer, cleaned it up and cooked it themselves, I would see nothign wrong with eating it. But 99% of the meat on the kitchen table go through treatment so incredibly inhumane. I suggest books like "the case for animal rights," "the emotional lives of animals," "eating animals," "some we love, some we hate, some we eat," or "why we love dogs, eat pigs and wear cows." "Eating Animals," is a great, eyeopening and nonpreachy book that gives a complete look at the industry, but can be tough to read at times. "Some we love..." and "Why we love dogs..." are better options if you are just curious, want easy reads and don't want as much of the in your face brutality of the industry. The others (like the case for animal rights etc) can get a little preachy but are very well done.

Anyway, Ill stop now but I just want to make it clear, many animals are skinned alive, many calves are killed in front of their moms and vice versa, chickens are boiled alive, animals scream etc (here, in the US). Like animal activists always say--if slaughterhouses had windows, no one would ever eat meat again.

Excellent points! Which is why is important that we all become informed as consumers and RESEARCH thoroughly the companies we buy from, their suppliers and their general ethics. I do try to research my purchases and sadly I do realise that not everything I buy to eat or use is ethically produced. That doesnt mean i stop trying though and my bags ( which lets face it are a luxury) would never come from questionable sources.

 

[Save_the_Rhinos]

Hate to resurrect an old thread, but I really wanted to add to this discussion. I assure you this post is related to the moral dilemma of using animal by products for purses, shoes or accessories, regardless of the age of the animal.



I sometimes feel conflicted because I ultimately believe in the fundamental right that an animal has to live its life without human intervention, but given our circumstances this seems unrealistic. Our consumption and capitalistic attitudes are driving species to extinction far faster than any natural process in history save for an act of God (I.e. Asteroid event).

As far as calves and lambs and pigs and chickens and all domesticated animals are concerned, I believe they should be killed in a humane manner and that all of their parts should be utilized. However, this attitude is simply not enough to curb the tide of environmental havoc that we are causing. Cattle need pasture, which is often stolen from nature and indigenous peoples through land-grabs and deforestation ( that latter contributes to further environmental degradation by destroying the soil cycle, thereby reducing the precipitation cycle and on an on). Pigs and poultry are even more damaging because of the tremendous amounts of grain required to feed them. If we used all the grain in the world solely for human consumption it would be enough to feed the entire human population! But most of that grain and soy is used as chicken and pig feed. Further, why should cows, chickens and pigs be given so much land while wild animals are basically denied room to move?

Researching where your products come from may seem like a sensible thing, but really, we SHOULDN'T HAVE TO do all of that work. The corporations that source and make our products should be entirely transparent about this! The only reason they aren't is because as consumers we don't demand it. This is a shame on all of us who enjoy leather products or meat. We should demand to know from companies the entire life cycle of the products we buy.

In the end, however, we have to change the way we live and feed ourselves, including promoting women's access to birth control and family planning, making all people live in large cities and leaving "rural" areas to grow wild again. We can promote new technologies or take up old technologies like hydroponic farming of fruits and veggies within our own homes (less bugs-thus less pesticides-and more control over our food) and raising food animals ourselves in perhaps community urban "farms" where we can know the whole life cycle of the animal and local butchers can do the dirty work for us. I don't believe that essentially "unnatural" animals like cows, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats should be given priority over majestic animals like elephants, rhinos and even small wild creatures like insects. Thus, I give "animal rights" priorities to wildlife in the sense that they have a right to exist and live and die without us making them go extinct. Don't get me wrong, I love my pet cat (surrogate child) as much as anyone, but we have to put things into context.

While I certainly applaud those with the commitment to pursue veganism, ultimately we all have to move towards more efficient, transparent lifestyles that benefit both humans and nature. And we could still keep our beloved handbags and leather accessories!

Sorry for the long post, I'm just feel very strongly about these issues.

 

[Flip88]

I completely agree. We all want the best leather possible. If you want soft leather, it just makes sense to have it come from the softest source, a baby animal. You want motorcycle leather, turn to cowhide. A rodeo dress for competition? Lambskin is the ONLY thing. All animal skins are valudable for what they offer us, for purses, belts, dresses, slacks, wallets, jackets, etc. Humans have been using animal skins and meat and other products for thousands of years. We're not about to fall out of love for leather, fur or meat any time soon. Enjoy what you eat and wear and stop feeling guilty! I don't.

Well said.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I completely agree. We all want the best leather possible. If you want soft leather, it just makes sense to have it come from the softest source, a baby animal. You want motorcycle leather, turn to cowhide. A rodeo dress for competition? Lambskin is the ONLY thing. All animal skins are valudable for what they offer us, for purses, belts, dresses, slacks, wallets, jackets, etc. Humans have been using animal skins and meat and other products for thousands of years. We're not about to fall out of love for leather, fur or meat any time soon. Enjoy what you eat and wear and stop feeling guilty! I don't.

Amen!

 

[texasbird]

Some years ago I googled this topic, as I was considering making my first purchase. I learned that some Chanel bags were fabricated from the skin of UNBORN lambs. Hence, I dropped the idea. I’ve searched but can no longer locate that information online. It wouldn’t surprise me if it were intentionally buried; if true, clearly it wouldn’t be good for business.