Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Global Protest Against the Chinese Fur Trade

WAR Activists Protest Fur Industry at Chinese Consulate in NYC

As a founding member of the International Anti-Fur Coalition, Win Animal Rights organized and sponsored the 2nd annual Global Day of Action Against the Chinese Fur Trade in New York City. We joined with activists around the world to send a message to the Chinese government through their international network of Embassies and Consulate Offices. This year’s message is that we are calling for a full boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics being held in China next year.

A handful of intrepid and very courageous activists braved the brutally cold, sub-freezing temperatures coupled with high winds from an incoming winter ice storm that hit New York during the protest. The wind was so strong that it was almost impossible to hold signs and totally impossible to hold a banner or to photograph the event. Full color literature was distributed to passersby and anyone going into or coming out of the Consulate.

Although we were prepared to deliver the Coalition’s letter to the Consulate General, we were advised by the local police that it was not safe to enter the Consulate Office. They explained to us that the Consulate management staff was extremely nervous about our protest and that they felt that they could not ensure our safety if we entered the building.

As usual, police outnumbered the demonstrators, but considering the circumstances (weather), they were pretty cool about letting us be closer to the Consulate main entrance than they usually allow other protesters to be. The windblown and freezing activists that did tough out the bad weather sent a powerful message to those inside the Consulate…a message of true grit and determination to end the barbaric Chinese fur trade.

For more info about the International Anti-Fur Coalition check this out: http://www.antifurcoalition.org/