Substitute of leather? Yes! As we have all sorts of vegan products, we do have alternatives to leather products which look alike and most importantly are eco-friendly! (The boots worn by the two members of PETA are not leather, even though it seems so!)
A more environmentally friendly form of tanning, adopted by many ethical and sustainable designers, is an ancient method of vegetable tanning. Instead of using chromium salts, vegetable tanning uses tannin, which is a naturally occurring chemical in many trees and plants. Although vegetable tanning is a much longer process, taking between 3 and 5 weeks, it does not use the harsh chemicals that chrome tanning does, which means that tanneries cause less environmental harm.
When it comes to the end of its lifecycle, leather is easier and safer to recycle or dispose of when it’s been vegetable tanned.
No PlanetPoints audit was done for the protest (EarthSmiles.net did not receive the required information.)
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PETA protest the immense environmental damage tanneries cause to rivers. Toxic Leather
Divya Dhamija SEPTEMBER 2013
Mute protest:Like the cattle in a slaughterhouse, PETA activists stand in silence with their boards. What would have probably made their immersion in toxic water worth it, was a little more noise to drum up publicity - and support - for the protest. If there were folk around to eyeball - then this would be a creative attention getter.
To underline the importance rivers on World Water Week (1-6 September,) and especially the negative impact of the leather industry on River Ganga, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) organised a protest at Babu Ghat, Kolkata; on the banks of Ganga, 3 September 2013. Two members of PETA wore yellow biohazard suits while standing in the Ganga (River Hooghly here in Bengal) and holding boards which read:"Stop Ganges Pollution - Go Leather Free!" Staged to make people realise how cruel and toxic the leather industry is; and its contribution to making Ganga - believed the most sacred of rivers - one of the most polluted rivers in the world. So toxic, in fact, that if not checked the day is not far when we will have to wear the biohazard suits to enter the water!
In India, leather is referred to as a co-product of the meat industry by the Indian Council of the Agricultural Research, and is actually valued more as an export, than meat is. PETA India campaign adviser, Bhuwaneshwari Gupta says, "Buying leather directly supports the cruelty of the transport of animals and the misery of the butchery."
The PETA team who took the plunge! Minus a hazard suit
is PETA India campaign adviser Bhuvaneshwari Gupta.
To make leather products like belts, shoes, etc; a truck headed for the slaughterhouse which can carry only six or seven animals are forcefully loaded with more than twenty. Hence, they climb over each other to find any space, scratch with their horns. Extreme crowding is particularly cruel when temperatures soar, leading to heat exhaustion and suffocation. Some animals are even skinned while still alive. Leather pollution also affects those working in and living near leather tannery industries, resulting in high incidences of menstrual disorder, stillbirth, cancer, nervous disorders, asthma and other illnesses.
Bhuwaneshwari says that, "Not only does the production process of leather products cause torment and death of animals but also pollutes our land and water due to excessive use and disposal of highly toxic chemicals." She advised,"To make our world a kinder and safer place, we should simply choose leather-free shoes, clothing and accessories."
When someone asked her whether the black boots worn by the two members in biohazard suits are made of leather, she replied that the boots are not made of leather even though it seems so! She believes when we have alternatives to leather products which are both comfortable and economical, then why should we sacrifice the lives of the poor animals?
In April 2011, PETA had written a letter to Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal. Following this, the Punjab Government Schools banned the wearing of leather made shoes. "Leather shoes should be replaced by canvas shoes that are more comfortable, economical and eco-friendly", said a spokesperson of the Punjab Government. Neighbouring Himachal Pradesh has also banned leather made shoes as part of uniform in Government Schools.
Besides this correspondent, a single newspaper reporter, some photographers and a newsperson from DD News were present to cover the event, along with a few bystanders who happened to be there. Some schools boys present were sarcasticly commenting on going leather-free... showing the lack of awareness and understanding of the threat of leather pollution.
We really feel the protest could have been given more publicity, causing a larger impact than it did. Next time a better run up campaign - we expect it to involve as much public /citizen interaction as possible - is needed, if it is to be worthwhile. Protests as creative as this can educate a large mass of people at a single time. But only if those people are in the audience.
Overall, the campaign brings up a good message and we hope people make the move towards a leather-free. So, Go Leather-Free and love the world you're on - and its animals!
