By Moira Johnston Sixth grader, New Roads Middle School
Let me get to the point. Can’t we just stop buying fur and animal products?
Last week, in my Humane Education class at school, a guest came to talk to us about where leather comes from, trapping, etc. During that discussion, I realized that when we buy a pair of Ugg boots, or a refined leather jacket, animals die! They have to die gruesome deaths — for us. But do we care? Well, some of us do, sure. But the rest of us are completely oblivious.
A lot of girls in my class have about three pairs of Uggs, four pairs of leather flats and so much more. But please, don’t get me started. They just don’t care. Their style is much more important to them than the lives of animals. They need to think about the animals and what they’re giving up before they make style choices. Maybe they could get fake Ugg boots and “pleather” instead of the real deal. Who would notice? And, besides, who needs a real fur coat in LA anyway?
Thus, concluding that whenever you shop at your local Macy’s or Nordstrom’s and a lovely mink coat catches your eye, just think of the poor, helpless animals in steel traps. Then, hopefully, you will walk away — and not in your Uggs.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 6, 2007. Read the original PDF.