Interview 4

1. What are your immediate thoughts about the fur product? Can you say a little more about why you think that? I am against killing animals for any purpose. The one exception I would make is the same as for the killing of human beings: namely, in self-defence. 2. What words would you use to describe the traditional way of taking fur pelts from animals? The various methods (see, for example, http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/animals-used-clothing-factsheets/inside-fur-industry-factory-farms/) are indefensibly cruel. Animals are sometimes skinned alive, although this has been denied by interested parties. However, emphasis on methods allows fur-sellers to claim that their products are ‘ethical’ or ‘humane’ without going into detail. Such emphasis also bypasses the issue of killing, implying that it would be all right to kill the animals as long as it was ‘humanely’ done. But, as stated in answer (1), I think it would be wrong to kill them by any method. My argument is: would you think it was all right to kill human beings for meat or skins as long as it was done ‘humanely’? Granting animals the right to life is the only way to protect them against cruel methods. 3. What do you see as the main benefits of my project which is replacing animal skin with pleather? To yourself? To others (e.g. fur clothing industry, franchiser, fur bearer)? The main benefit is to the animals, and since the loss to them of taking their fur immeasurably outweighs any loss (psychological or financial) to humans of doing without animal fur, that should be the only consideration. 4. Do you see any risks or downsides to this project? To yourself? To others? No. 5. Do you have any feelings about who should develop this idea? Preferably someone who does not also develop animal products, using pleather as a mere sideline; although it could be someone who also develops other non-animal products. 6. If you were offered this product as a tester, what sort of information would you like to be given about it? Don’t require other information as long as I’m assured no animal products went into it. 7. What should the new technology fur product be called? It shouldn’t be called anything that suggests it’s an imitation of fur, which would imply that fur was desirable and the new product was just second-best. For that reason I don’t like the term ‘faux fur’ or buy the product. Indeed, ‘pleather’ suggests it’s an imitation of leather. Call it something unrelated to animal products, but suggesting warmth, fashion, etc. 8. Do you have any ideas about ethical or religious objections about my project? Don’t see how there could be any such objections. 9. Would you accept the product made with my method if you were offered it? What would other people feel? Sure; don’t know what other people would feel.