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Week-long protest staged at Harrods in bid to ban fur
Last updated at 10:52am on 18.12.06
The Coalition to Abolish The Fur Trade campaign aims to shame Harrods into re-thinking its fur policy
Madonna: Sparked a row recently by wearing a £35,000 coat made from 40 chinchillas
Animal rights campaigners begin a week of protests outside Harrods, demanding the store stops selling fur.
The Coalition to Abolish The Fur Trade campaign against the Knightsbridge store comes during one of its busiest trading periods.
It aims to "shame" the store into rethinking its fur policy.
Until Christmas Eve, protesters will hold banners calling for shoppers to boycott Harrods.
Coalition spokesman John Wilson said: "Harrods is the last department store in the whole country that is still selling fur.
"Our main aim is to make them take the compassionate decision to remove fur from their sales.
"Our previous campaigns against stores such as Selfridges have proved successful.
"Throughout the week, we are expecting between 70 and 100 people. There will be a constant presence of protesters during shopping hours.
"We want to name and shame Harrods into going fur-free. Fur production is illegal in this country and rival department stores have fur-free policies so it is also unfair they continue profiting from selling fur."
The group's Christmas Anti-Fur Week is the latest episode in a battle between the anti-fur lobby and the country's most famous department store.
In October last year, protesters began lobbying Harrods after it was announced the store was teaming up with the British Fur Trade Association to launch a new British fur label.
After several protests outside the shop, Harrods went to the High Court to seek an injunction under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
Harrods applied to have a no-protest exclusion zone installed around the Knightsbridge store to force protesters on to the opposite side of the road.
The attempt was relatively successful - last year, the store was granted an interim injunction ensuring that no more than three protesters could stand by each of its 12 entrances.
There was also an exclusion zone of five yards around each entrance for all other protesters, which has been marked by a red line since the summer.
Management at Harrods were unavailable for comment. Sales of fur in general are soaring, triggering a growing backlash from campaigners.
Fur clothing sales across the country are up by 30 per cent on 2004. The market is now worth £500million in the UK.
Madonna, 48, sparked a row recently by wearing a £35,000 coat made from 40 chinchillas on a dinner date with her husband Guy Ritchie at Cecconi's restaurant in Mayfair.
Earlier this month, campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals launched an internet campaign against British design house Burberry for using real fur.
Last year, West End department stores Liberty and Selfridges joined Harvey Nichols, Fenwicks, House of Fraser and Debenhams in becoming fur-free following protracted lobbying by protesters.
Reader views (12)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Trev from Leamington Spa,
skinning an animal alive isnt sexy or classy is horrible and you need to grow up
- Chazz, London, England
Sorry to be the minority here but Madonna and my girlfriend both wear real fur and they both look beautiful. Its there choice and I support anything they do. Animals are killed for more than just fur but no one protests outside tesco, asda etc too stop selling dead meat.. oh no. Cos thats just right isnt it. Well so is fur, its soft, sexy and very classy so carry on girls, you look brilliant and you flaunt it
- Trev, Leamington Spa, England
I hope I live to see the day the fur trade is abolished worldwide! It is simply pure vanity and people's desire to display wealth that keeps this henious cruelty based trend alive. I find it disgusting, not "fashionable" to see a dead animals fur on a person. I do not envy those who are able to wear fur. I just feel pity and shame.
- Janet Keleher, Burt, NY USA
We no longer live in caves, having to rely upon the skins of dead animals to keep out the winter cold. There are so many cruelty-free alternatives to fur, that it is inexcusable to support this abject abuse of animals. Undercover video footage of animals being skinned while still alive, proves the level of cruelty that many animals endure, and would deter any decent person from buying or wearing real fur. However, what does it say about those that still cling unashamedly to their very ugly and offensive wardrobe?
- Garry Sheen, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
In reply to James, nowhere in this article does it mention anything about intimidation and obnoxious behaviour. Like many you deliberately attack the protestors rather than deal with the issues raised, the same has been true throughout history, from the slave trade, to the suffragettes to civil rights, those calling for change have been vilified by those too lazy to understand change.
- Brendan, London, England
The anti-fur lobby are intimidating bullies.
- Willstead Ash, London UK
The Bearded Guardian Reading Brigade strike again. When will the vegan lefties just go back to their commune. If people want to wear fur then let them. I might put on a fur hat and coat and stand outside the Tofu shop and protest.
Free speach is one thing but don't do it like this, James is right.
- Mike, Croydon
I'm willing to bet that these same people would scream in outrage if abortion were banned; "You have no right to force YOUR morals on US!"
- Sandy, Chicago
Real fur on anything other than the animal it was meant for is vile. It has nothing to do with money or hating the rich, it is morally wrong and the selling of it should be stopped immediately.
- Shirley, Bromley
The fact that fur is for sale in the UK is terrible! Fur farming is illegal and therefore the selling of fur should also be banned. I admire those protestors and support them all the way!
- Tristan, Exeter, UK
Activist minorities think they can impose their views on others through intimidation and generally obnxious behaviour. These same people have come close to terminally damaging key elements of the UK's Pharmaceutical industry, a major UK employer and global leader. These people will not succeed, all that will happen is that the trade will shift to countries where their protests will get rather short shrift. Try doing this in Russia and see what happens to you? By all means express your point of view peacefully, that way more people are likely to listen to the arguments, current tactics merely alienate most people.
- James, London
Perhaps these people would use their time helping in homeless shelters and soup kitchens before shouting rubbish at rich people from across the road at Harrods.
- Larry, Geneva
