Animal Rights: The Fur Industry Debate

There are no shortage of people who find the use of animal furs for (what they believe are) superfluous and even gratuitous reasons. For those who feel that this is cruel and unjust, the very idea that someone could even consider wearing furs at all borders on the incomprehensible and is certainly an issue which is highly morally suspect. Their argument is that humankind must learn to develop a greater respect for what are after all our fellow animals, and in this way, we may come to a greater appreciation of our natural world and learn to revere and protect it more vigilantly than we now do.

Those on the other side of the argument are those who produce the furs themselves and those who wear them. For the producers, an obvious motivation is the high profit margin involved in the sale of furs, as they are very much so considered luxury (and luxurious) items. Therefore, to defend themselves they point out that, harsh though it may be, the fact is that animals which can prove themselves to be profitable actually stand a greater chance of being protected and preserved. Also, they note that human history is indeed one of using animal furs for clothing. And anyway, they say, the claims about mistreatment of fur-bearing animals are greatly exaggerated and are often simply fabrications.

Wherever you stand on this debate, you can log on to the Internet and see what both sides have to say about themselves and each other.