On the eve of winter, the South Urals joined the All-Russian campaign “Animals are not clothes”. 58 Russian cities took to the streets to urge people to be kinder, to protect those who cannot stand up for themselves. In Chelyabinsk, the action was held in the form of a theatrical procession.
Arina, 7 years old, vegan (on the title photo to the text):
– In the kindergarten, my girlfriend brought a sausage with her from home, sat down to eat it. I ask her: “Do you know that this is a pig, they killed it and got meat out of it?” And she answers me: “What kind of pig is this? It’s sausage!” I explained to her again, she stopped eating sausages.” So the seven-year-old Arina transferred her friend, and then another one, to a humane way of eating.
If a child understands such a simple truth, then there is probably hope that it will “reach” an adult who considers himself reasonable, a person …
The action “Animals are not clothes” in Chelyabinsk is held on such a large scale for the second time. Last year the event was held under the name “Antifur March”. Today, activists have decided to make their position clearer: it is inhumane to exploit animals in any way. Animals are not clothes, not food, not puppets for circus performances. They are our little brothers. Is it customary to mock brothers, skin them alive, shoot them, keep them in cages?
How the action took place in the Chelyabinsk region in our photo report.
Maria Usenko, organizer of the march in Chelyabinsk (pictured wearing a faux fur coat):
— This year we were moved from the city center towards South Ural State University. The march proceeded to the Park of Culture and Recreation. Gagarin, then back. We attribute this to the fact that our march had an effect last year, the representatives of the fur business became nervous. In 2013, we walked with banners along the pedestrian Kirovka, where there are many fur salons. The management of one of the shops was unhappy that we stopped in front of them, although we did not pour paint on anyone, we did not break the windows!
South Ural activists brought their pets to the march. According to statistics, almost 50% of fur coats brought to Russia from China are made from pets – cats and dogs. It is cheaper for producers to catch homeless animals on the street than to raise expensive fur animals on a farm.
In Chelyabinsk, the march took place despite the “slippery” weather. On the eve of the rally, “freezing” rain fell on the city: immediately after the snowfall, it began to rain. All the snow turned to ice, it was scary to walk the streets. Nevertheless, the animal rights activists withstood the planned four hours of the procession, not stepping back from the route plan.
“They killed me for a long time and terribly. And you wear my flesh. Come to your senses!”«I died a painful death! Bury my body! Don’t pay my executioners!” Five girls dressed as angels symbolize the souls of dead animals. In their hands are natural fur coats and sheepskin coats, once unknowingly bought by one of the activists. Now they are cremated, as one should do with the corpses of dead animals.
Eco-fur manufacturers showed their humane products. Fur coats look very beautiful, so for those who cannot imagine themselves without furs, there is an alternative. Today, the production of environmentally friendly goods, including clothing, food, hygiene products, is gaining momentum. By the way, a good niche for entrepreneurs.
Soft toys were donated by the participants of the action. Chanterelles and dogs were carried in a cage, showing the cruelty of keeping animals on fur farms.
There are also “sinners” in the theatrical march. Girls in natural fur coats personify criminals, they have signs on them: “I paid for the murder of 200 squirrels. SHAME”, “I paid for the work of the executioners by buying this fur coat. A SHAME”. By the way, the scenario of the procession in Chelyabinsk has changed. As planned by the organizers, the masks on the girls were supposed to cover their faces, but on the eve of the action, they called from the police and said that their faces should be open! Also, law enforcement officials banned the use of face painting, which was supposed to be applied to the angels. As a result, the girls-souls of animals managed with typical children’s drawings on the “muzzles” – mustaches and noses.
Permanent participants of the Chelyabinsk action Sergey and his pet El. Only a raccoon should have raccoon fur! animal rights activists are convinced. So, most likely, El thinks too!
“Not leather”, “not fur” – such stickers the participants of the action pasted on their clothes, trying to show that for a humane person in the modern world there is a choice – shoes, jackets and other clothes can be bought from materials of non-animal origin. It is no worse, sometimes even wins in quality. Alternative fur materials – insulation tinsulate, holofiber and others can withstand up to -60 degrees. It is in such things that polar explorers are equipped when going on northern expeditions. Cities with a traditionally cold climate join the action. This year, residents of Nadym took to the streets of the city, where the temperature drops below 50 degrees in winter.
This year in the Chelyabinsk region, protests against fur and leather products were expressed by three cities in the South Urals! Zlatoust was added to Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk, where the march took place in 2013. There, the event took the form of a rally.
Maria Zueva, the head of the Guild of Magicians holiday agency, refused to perform animal performances in her business:
— I took up the topic of ecology, animal protection about seven months ago, refused fur, leather, meat, any exploitation of animals, primarily out of mercy and sympathy. I am sure that in today’s world we have no need to survive at the expense of the lives of others. Today, fur coats are a sign of status, they are not bought for warmth. Girls in mink coats get cold at bus stops.
In addition, the production of fur and leather is the destruction not only of animals, but of our planet as a whole. The chemicals that are used in the production of such products have a negative impact on the environment, as a result, destroying the house in which we live.
Alena Sinitsyna, a volunteer animal rights activist, puts homeless cats and dogs in good hands:
– The fur industry is very cruel, sometimes skins are torn off from living animals. At the same time, there are many alternative materials that can be used to make warm clothes. I am sure that people should stop wearing leather, fur. This is a humane choice.
Marat Khusnullin, head of the real estate agency “Hochu Dom”, a specialist in Ayurveda, practices yoga:
— I gave up furs, leather, meat a long time ago, it only made me feel better. Many people simply do not understand that they are doing bad things, I myself went through it. They wear a fur coat and think: well, a fur coat and a fur coat, what’s wrong? It is important for us to convey information to people, to sow the seed, which may ripen gradually. If a person wears the fur of an animal that has suffered, experienced terrible torment, all this is transferred to a person, he spoils his karma, life. My task is to set the right vector of development for people. Refusal of fur, skin, meat is a segment of the general favorable universe of the development of the planet Earth in the right direction.
Pavel Mikhnyukevich, director of the Ecotopia store of organic natural products, does not eat meat, milk, eggs, and feels great:
— In addition to activists, animal rights activists, “ordinary people” come to our eco-goods store! That is, interest in healthy nutrition and humane goods is growing. There is evidence that this year there will be 50% more vegetarians on the planet than now, and by 2040 there will be more than half of vegetarians in Europe.
Previously, there was cannibalism, now it is found only in certain parts of the planet, then there was slavery. The time will come when animals will no longer be exploited. In 20-30 years, but the time will come, and until then we will go on the march!
Reportage: Ekaterina SALAKHOVA, Chelyabinsk.