For Immediate Release:
May 30, 2000
Contact:
RaeLeann Smith 757-622-7382
Norfolk, Va. -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has reached an agreement with 37 European and North American animal protection organisations to a 60 day moratoium on any efforts to pressure overseas customers of Indian leather from buying such goods in light of assurances by the Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports, Mr. H. Mohamed Hashim, that the CLE's member groups will take action against cattle cruelty. Among other considerations, the CLE has agreed to halt all purchases of hides originating at Deonar in Mumbai, one of India's most notorious slaughterhouses, where video documentation of injured cattle left baking to death in the hot sun has stirred protests world-wide. The CLE has also agreed to add its voice to those of the Dalai Lama, Sir Paul McCartney and others in asking the Indian government to take action to enforce existing cattle transport laws and the CLE will be holding meetings with state government officials shortly. The hope is to stop some lorry companies from overloading cows and their calves, as well as bullocks and buffalo, who now often arrive injured or dead at slaughterhouses from suffocation and gouging.
The announcement of the moratorium comes on the heels of the decision by five more top U.S. and European retailers (J. Crew, Clarks, Florsheim, Fioruci, and Liz Clairbourne) to end their contracts for leather goods in India.
Says PETA's Ingrid Newkirk, "While PETA believes compassionate people must always choose a kind alternative to the flesh and skin of animals, we applaud the CLE for recognizing its responsibility to try to stop the suffering. This is no easy task and we will step back for 60 days to see if progress can be made. Our focus may now shift to possible tourist boycotts of cities with the worst record, such as Tamil Nadu, a favourite western destination where border guards take bribes every day to allow shipments of cattle from auctions to cross into Kerala and Karnataka."
