California Bans Fur! Biggest Victory for Animals in 50 Years!

UNEXAMINED TRADITIONS & THE CAPITALIST WAY OF LIFE HAVE BROUGHT US TO THIS PRECIPICE

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The ecoanimal defence community, which includes ecosocialists, is celebrating a victory which may have lasting consequence in the struggle to turn capitalist industrial activity (by definition amoral) toward more ethical activities and modes of operation. A final victory in this and many other areas is not foreseen until capitalism itself, and its malign child, imperialism, are defeated conclusively. Besides constant wars, and the much aggravated specter of a nuclear war, and the rabid exploitation of everything conceivable, from human to natural resources, imperialism has enormous ill effects as a global retardant, a gigantic distraction from all important secondary struggles—such the ecoanimal/human intersection— which would make this planet a much better, compassionate, and viable world. In this particular struggle it is worth mentioning that activists pronounced the fur industry "dead" on several occasions before, including during the 1970s, when an outcry against the clubbing of baby seals brought a wider sense of revulsion of furcoats and fur items to an industry which, like many others, prefers to operate in the background, away from the spotlight. My thanks to Armory of the Revolution's Roland Vincent for alerting us to this breakthrough.

The fur trade and "furriers" is one of the oldest human activities, classified as "predatory extractions". Early American capitalists built fortunes on the fur trade, and even wars were instigated directly or indirectly for the control of this "resource" (the aseptic way of hiding the true nature of this activity). America's first "great fortune"—the Astors—originated in the matyrdom of countless animals:

New York City.

Born in Germany, Astor immigrated to England as a teenager and worked as a musical instrument manufacturer. He moved to the United States after the American Revolutionary War. He entered the fur trade and built a monopoly, managing a business empire that extended to the Great Lakes region and Canada, and later expanded into the American West and Pacific coast. Seeing the decline of demand, he got out of the fur trade in 1830, diversifying by investing in New York City real estate and later becoming a famed patron of the arts.^[2]

He was the first prominent member of the Astor family and the first multi-millionaire in the United States.

Today, the fur trade involves, as usual, horrendous practices, including inhumane caging, anal electrocution, neckbreaking (minks and similar species), skinning alive (raccoon dogs in China, for example), stomping alive, and drowning in underwater traps. With the rapid development of so many alternatives using "real fur" is now a strictly moral choices, except for populations that really need to depend on animal resources, such as the Inuit in polar regions. Overall, in any urban setting, the use of animal fur is basically a vanity question.

Gov Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 44 into Law! The California Fur Ban!

This is the most important piece of state legislation for animals in history. And is likely second only to the federal Animal Protection Act in term of its importance!

No new fur products will be able to be sold in California after 2022!

The effect of the ban will be to close furriers, force major retailers to stop buying products with fur trim, force manufacturers to produce separate lines for California or abandon fur themselves in all their markets. It will put a substantial dent in imports from China, many of which are dog and cat fur.

As the world’s 5^th largest economy, California is positioned to use it’s considerable influence and economic power to impact markets and governments around the world.

We can expect to see other states and countries follow California’s lead.

And California’s Democrats have demonstated that with control of both legislative houses and the governor’s chair, they can change the world!

Here is the link to the CBS report on the governor’s actions today: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-becomes-first-state-to-ban-the-sale-and-manufacture-of-new-fur-products-ab44-today-2019-10-12/

Thank you for visiting our animal defence section. Before leaving, please join us in a moment of compassion and reflection.

The wheels of business and human food compulsion are implacable and totally lacking in compassion. This is a downed cow, badly hurt, but still being dragged to slaughter. Globally, the human tyranny over animals takes over a trillion creatures each year, a truly mind-boggling figure. With plentiful non-animal meat substitutes that fool the palate, there is no longer any need for this senseless suffering that is also killing the planet. Meat consumption is a serious ecoanimal crime. Please re-examine your habits in this regard.

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