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Cat & Dog Fur Ban

25th January 2005

Oxford debating chamber Fur + Fashion = Fair

On Wednesday 25th January, Heather took part in a lively debate at the Oxford University debating chambers. The subject of the debate was the renaissance of fur in fashion. Joining Heather to debate this contentious issue was the Founder director of Viva! Juliet Gellately and Mark Glover, Director of Respect for Animals.

On the pro-fur team were writer, broadcaster and commentator Richard D North, fashion designer Jane McMillan, who established her own label in 1997 and photographer Bernard Falk, editor of the Swedish on-line fashion magazine ‘Dorian’ who recently started a line in leather bags and suitcases.

Impassioned and articulate the anti-fur team presented their case to the students. Each speaker had five minutes only to outline their position and then the debate was opened to the floor for questions. A straw poll at the beginning of the debate saw the audience divided on the subject. When it was Heather’s turn to speak she nodded to her sister Fiona who had concealed a video screen strapped to her chest. Fiona stood up and faced the debating chamber audience forcing them to watch the harrowing and distressing footage of dogs being skinned alive in China to supply the UK trade.

Tears streamed from Heather’s eyes as no matter how many times she had seen this video the shock and the heartbreak never waned. It is difficult to argue against the direct reality of such terrible and unnecessary suffering and cruelty. No matter how clever the opposing team attempted to argue their case, the reality of this footage was never far from the audiences mind.

In the chair was Baroness Buscombe, Shadow Minister for Education and Skills and formerly Opposition Spokesman in the House of Lords for the Department of Culture, Media and Sports. She asked the audience to vote on the subject. After witnessing the harsh reality of this footage. There really could not be any justification for this cruel trade and the hand count resulted in an unprecedented and impressive 90/10 against Fur.