Quantcast Vegetarian Starleather and environment

Activists have written to the president of the International Cricket Council, Sharad Pawar, asking him to replace the traditional leather balls used during the game with synthetic ones.

“As the so-called “Gentleman’s game,” cricket should be gentle on animals and the environment by making the switch to synthetic balls. You are in a unique position to create a change that would alleviate massive suffering and destruction,” PETA official Poorva Joshipura wrote.

Activists say not only is the use of leather causing animals to suffer, but people as well, as there are toxic chemicals used in the tanning process that pollute the environment.

In Banglasdesh, more than 90% of workers in tanning factories suffer from a severe physical malady from the exposure. These illnesses range from the acute such as asthma to serious, life-threatening diseases like cancer. Chemicals such as chromium, known for their toxicities, are regularly dumped into nearby streams and get into water supplies.

In the U.S., the equivalent sport king that uses so much leather is football. Ever wonder how many cows go into the balls used by the NFL?

(more…)

Possibly Related Posts:


Natalie Portman Makes Christian Dior Give Her Non-Leather Shoes

Written by Vegetarian Star on Friday, December 10th, 2010 in Actresses, Environment-Eco-Green, Fashion.

Natalie Portman

You know you’ve got power when a major fashion label asks you to represent them, then remakes its fashion animal-friendly just so you can wear them.

That’s what Natalie Portman told WWD Chrisitan Dior has done with all its leather shoes it wants her to model.

“One of the things that’s been so nice is that Dior made all of the shoes for me with no animals and no leather or anything, because I don’t wear any leather…They re-made all my shoes so I can wear Dior shoes without taking lives.”

Leather just isn’t an animal issue, it’s also an environmental one. A 2009 Greenpeace report revealed several top shoe brands like Nike, Adidas and Reebok and their demands for leather may have played a role in the supporting cattle ranchers that were illegally slaughtering in the Amazon and contributing to the deforestation there.

(more…)

Possibly Related Posts:


"Project Runway" Gretchen Jones

"Project Runway" Gretchen Jones

Gretchen Jones, the Oregon-based designer who pledged to use sustainable materials on this season’s Project Runway, has battled it out to the finals. Most recently, the contestants were challenged to design a look inspired by New York city. Gretchen travels to the lower east side, using the brick facade of buildings that inspires an outfit consisting of a white top, skirt and leather cropped jacket.

The jacket could have been faux, but if it wasn’t, the designer who introduced herself as the purveyor of organic  fibers made a fashion faux pas to present leather as a material in her collection of sustainable designs.

(more…)

Possibly Related Posts: