From January 23 till January 30th, 2007 there has passed Week of
anti-fur actions. The initiator was the Alliance for Animal Rights,
but representatives of different initiatives participated in actions.
By quantity of cities-participants this Week became the largest
campaign in protection of animals from three allied countries: Russia,
Ukraine and Belarus. The action was supported by animal rights
activists from cities: Barnaul, Vladimir, Voronezh, Kaliningrad,
Krasnodar, Minsk, Moscow, Nizhni Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Petrozavodsk,
Prokopevsk, St.-Petersburg, Samara, Saratov, Tolyatti, Tyumen, Ufa,
Kharkov, Chelyabinsk and others. Some actions devoted to this Week
took place in advance up to its beginning.
Novosibirsk on January, 21st, Prokopevsk on January, 24th and 25,
Barnaul: on January, 26th: these days activists went out on the
streets of the cities and distributed leaflets with an appeal to
refuse fur and shouting the slogans "Its life is more important than
fur coats!" Activists from these cold cities have supported animal
defenders of other regions proving that alternatives to furs are
suitable even for Siberia.
St.-Petersburg 22, on January, 24th and 27:
1) A graffiti has appeared on walls in area of station of underground Chernyshevskaja and two other areas of city. Inscriptions said "Fur is
murder!", "Your fur coats are in blood!", etc. a Number of mass-media
(in particular, fontanka.ru and the newspaper "Neva time") have
informed on this action, having quoted the statement of unknown
activist, as the application of the Alliance of Animal Rights that
mismatches the validity. The text: http://www.fontanka.ru/
2007/01/26/015/ The photos
http://piter.indymedia.ru/?q=ru/node/754 ,
http://piter.indymedia.ru/?q=ru/node/760 and http://piter.indymedia.ru/?q=ru/node/825
2) on January, 26th on the Neva prospectus of St.-Petersburg animal
rights activists have lead actions against four shops engaged fur
trade. Shops have preferred to be closed temporarily in connection
with actions of defenders of animals. The first action consisted of a
funeral procession. Near show-windows of shop wreaths and flowers were
put and candles were lighted up. A photo with black stripe with the
image of a raccoon was put in front of the shop. Protection and
employees of shop have preferred to observe of all event through the
show-windows. After shouting out the slogans on a wall of shop some
graffiti's were made. Some participants of the action were with black
stripes, tied on hands as a token of mourning for victims of the fur
industry. Then about thirty activists have moved down the Neva
prospectus, distributing leaflets and stopping people in fur coats for
conversation. On a way two more fur shops have been pasted over by
labels. The security guard of one of them, having noticed coming
nearer activists, has blocked a door from within and held it that
nobody could enter. Procession came to the end near shop "Lena".
Animal defenders tried to break into the shop, shouting out the
slogans, but the input was blocked by three security guards. As a
result only one person managed to enter the shop and threw around the
leaflets, but after he was thrown out of the doors. The facade of the
shop was painted by slogans. References to photos and video in the
near future will be placed on this site. The additional information
http://piter.indymedia.ru/?q=ru/node/802
Video:
http://piter.indymedia.ru/files/fur_26_01_2007.mp4
3) on January, 27th in the center of Petersburg about thirty activists
of animal rights developed transparencies and posters opposite the
Kazan cathedral. Some of them have put on masks of animals and all
together they have started to shout out the slogans: " Leave fur for
animal! ", " fur is murder! " And others. During the action there was
a small incident - the passed by woman in a fur coat has asked " what
are your boots made of? ", and has attacked one person - the press
photographer who was taking pictures of the event. After that she
hurried to disappear. The same day animal defenders came into the fur
shop on the Neva prospectus where to buyers and the personnel were
distributed the leaflets and explained, how it is bad to work in the
fur industry. Only two employees behaved themselves aggressively and
attacked two defenders of animals and tried to take away the camera.
The security guard of shop went out on the street and continued the
discussion in front of an input. But having realized that his
arguments were too poor, he made a decision to go back to the shop.
Photos: http://arpiter.keep4u.ru/ , http://community.livejournal.com/
ar_activists/41527.html Video:
http://piter.indymedia.ru/files/piket27fur_0.mp4
4) The distributing of the leaflets in the center of St.-Petersburg
took place on January, 24th and 31. This event was devoted to the Week
of anti-fur actions. About 10 activists took part in this action.
Photos: http://community.livejournal.com/ar_activists/39029.html
On January, 25th an action against fur trade took place in Moscow:
defenders of animals lead a picket on the Pushkin square. Activists
shouted out the slogans, distributed leaflets and addressed to passers-
by in furs with the requirement to refuse from fur. Transparencies
said "Say NO to violence!" and "Leave fur for animals!". Also there
were many posters with various appeals and photos of fur animals.
Approximately at the same time animal defenders approached to fur shop
near the Patriarchal ponds and quickly pasted the anti-fur stickers
over show-windows of shop. Suddenly the security guard run out the
shop, having slipped, fell near the door. Then tried to catch someone
from activists, but didn't manage to, and when he started to take off
the stickers from a show-window, defenders of animals threw at him
snowballs. Photo: http://ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/15942/
index.php ,
http://www.hippy.ru/eco/25012007/page1.html
Petrozavodsk, January, 26th: not less than 15 activists took part in
the action for the ethic attitude to animals, for use of alternatives
to natural fur. Near one of the places where fur trade is conducted,
picket with transparencies and posters was exposed. Details and
photos: http://www.animalrights.ru/index.html?cmd[147]=x-150-10651
Saratov, January, 27th: in front of the House of officers where an
exhibition of furs passed, activists of Alliance accommodates a banner
"Fur is murder!". To passed by people they explained, why it is
necessary to buy natural fur. After distributing of leaflets near the
House of officers, activists directed to the shops which are situated
on Moscow street. They entered inside the shops and talked to buyers,
sellers and security guards. Animal defenders informed: "We are very
glad, that have lead the action during a Week of anti-fur actions".
Photos: http://community.livejournal.com/ar_activists/40390.html
Tolyatti, January, 27th: animal rights activists distributed and
sticked hundreds of leaflets and stickers against fur. With posters in
hands they passed down the streets of the city, representing fur
animals. Photo: http://ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/15974/
index.php
Voronezh, January, 29th: animal defenders lead a picket near the House
of the Architect where there the Kirov exhibition-fair of furs passed.
Leaflets extended, the passer-by were showed the photos of the
tortured animals with the stripped off skins, slogans were cried out:
"Refuse furs - fur clothes for losers!", "Your fur coats are in
blood!", "Fur - a word from three letters!". At this time from a roof
of the nearest house the banner size 1.5x5 meters with a slogan "Fur
is murder" was hung. Photos: http://ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/
15969/index.php
Ufa, January, 29th: near the store shop "World" activists distributed
to passers-by the leaflets telling about cruelty of the fur industry
and calling to refuse furs and leather.
References to some publications in mass-media about a Week of antifur
actions:
http://stolica.onego.ru/news_folder.php?day=29&month=01&year=2007#93204
http://avtonom.org/index.php?nid=597
http://www.amic.ru/news/?news_id=63719
http://piter.indymedia.ru/?q=ru/node/1058
http://www.karelinform.ru/?id=6704
http://www.petrozavodsk.ru/news/view.html?id=255335
http://vrn.best-city.ru/news/?id=2691
http://www.regnum.ru/news/772994.html
http://www.fontanka.ru/2007/01/26/015/
http://www.fontanka.ru/2007/01/27/009/
http://www.regions.ru/news/2048790/
http://voronezh.rfn.ru/rnews.html?id=37977&cid=7
the Additional information on sites:
http://www.AnimalRights.ru
http://www.Zhestokosti.net
http://StopFurs.spb.ru
http://FurIsMurder.AnimalRights.ru
http://AAR.org.ru
ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS
