Apparel maker Patagonia stops buying Ovis 21 wool after PETA video
Source: Reuters
Mon Aug 17, 2015 9:15pm EDT
Apparel maker Patagonia stops buying Ovis 21 wool after PETA video
By Marty Graham
Aug 17 Outdoor clothing maker Patagonia said on Monday it has stopped buying wool from the Ovis 21 network of farms in Argentina after U.S. animal rights activists released video of workers there slashing and stabbing lambs with knives.
The footage published on Thursday by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) showed the cruel treatment at farms which supplied the Ventura, California-based company with merino wool used in its base layers and insulation.
Patagonia's Chief Executive Officer Rose Marcario said in a statement the company was shocked by the video, and they were dismayed to witness such "horrifying" mistreatment.
"We've made a frank and open-eyed assessment of the Ovis program," Marcario said. "Our conclusion: it is impossible to ensure immediate changes to objectionable practices on Ovis 21 ranches, and we have therefore made the decision that we will no longer buy wool from them."
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/18/usa-peta-patagonia-idUSL1N10S24220150818?rpc=401
RKP5637
(67,111 posts)forest444
(5,902 posts)My great-great grandfather owned a sheep ranch in Argentina in the early 1900s, and from what I've heard from my mom and grandparents shearing was certainly a lot more paced and humane back then.
Since it seems to be a worldwide problem, what we need is a certification system similar to animal testing-free labels. They won't be 100% of course, but they'll make things a lot better.
Tumbulu
(6,291 posts)and they are both quite good. Hoping that some of these big retailers start supporting those of us who raise our animals to those standards.
The trouble is that being humane costs more money for the producer. And the world of commerce always wants the best deal.
And producing purely wool sheep such as a merino is not also a meat animal. This is incorrect in this discussion. There are indeed some "dual purpose" sheep breeds. But merino's are not one of them. People tend to eat a merino if something is wrong with it. But one does not make money on the sale of it's meat. Meat breeds produce a good 20 lbs more meat per animal, while the wool breeds do not produce much muscle at all, just wool.
dhill926
(16,346 posts)Touting this wool. That's a quick turnaround. Good for them.
SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)companies with conscience
hugo_from_TN
(1,069 posts)Hopefully the will be lucky and nobody videos their other suppliers.
robinlynne
(15,481 posts)humanely.
ciaobaby
(1,000 posts)Hopefully all the PETA haters on this site will crawl back in their holes and spare us their bullshit rants about how awful PETA is. If not for PETA this cruelty would be left unchecked cause nobody else cares nearly as much.
Thank you PETA !!!!!
Judi Lynn
(160,545 posts)It's a horror it has happened at all.
So glad Peta was able, despite all the resistance from those who believe they have the right to inflict suffering upon helpless, terrified, suffering creatures, to call this to the world's attention.
Welcome to D.U.
dembotoz
(16,808 posts)Like a apple grower cutting down trees at end of harvest
alarimer
(16,245 posts)I would not change anything based only on that.
They are known to lie and stretch the truth about this subject:
http://www.veggieboards.com/forum/12-animal-rights-welfare/175114-peta-s-new-anti-wool-campaign.html
Darb
(2,807 posts)The very next post refutes it.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)WTG, Patagonia! Hope more do the same.