Pink Calls for Wool Boycott
The pop star Pink has joined forces with People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), asking that consumers boycott products made with Australian wool because of the country’s treatment of sheep, The Daily Telegraph of Australia reports.
The 27-year-old singer (whose real name is Alecia Moore) also calls on Australia and other countries to ban the live export of sheep to the Middle East.
'Sadly, like any other industry that uses animals, the wool trade uses methods so sadistic that it makes you consider clearing your closet of any animal products.'
On Wednesday, the rocker held a press conference in the fashion capital of the world, Paris, to state her pro-sheep position. The event coincided with PETA’s release of a graphic video narrated by Pink.
The campaign was strategically launched during the holiday gift-giving season, according to the Telegraph.
The video shows Australian farmers using the mulesing technique, which involves cutting flesh from the rear ends of sheep.
The technique is to prevent maggot infestation in the animal and a potentially fatal condition called flystrike. Pink describes mulesing as the 'cheapest, cruelest and crudest way' to combat flystrike.
The footage also shows sheep being beaten, having their throats slit, and in one scene it is alleged that a sheep has its leg cut off while still alive.
If the label lists 'merino wool' or 'made in Australia', the songstress is asking consumers not buy it.
'I am calling on consumers to check labels on sweaters before buying them, and if they're merino wool or made in Australia, to leave them on the racks,' Pink says in the video.
Peter Costello, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia, responded by dismissing the singer’s crusade.
``I don't know if Pink is an expert on the sheep industry,'' Costello told reporters. ``You know, Pink is entitled to her views, but at the end of the day would Australia's farmers take advice from Pink?''
The 27-year-old singer (whose real name is Alecia Moore) also calls on Australia and other countries to ban the live export of sheep to the Middle East.
'Sadly, like any other industry that uses animals, the wool trade uses methods so sadistic that it makes you consider clearing your closet of any animal products.'
On Wednesday, the rocker held a press conference in the fashion capital of the world, Paris, to state her pro-sheep position. The event coincided with PETA’s release of a graphic video narrated by Pink.
The campaign was strategically launched during the holiday gift-giving season, according to the Telegraph.
The video shows Australian farmers using the mulesing technique, which involves cutting flesh from the rear ends of sheep.
The technique is to prevent maggot infestation in the animal and a potentially fatal condition called flystrike. Pink describes mulesing as the 'cheapest, cruelest and crudest way' to combat flystrike.
The footage also shows sheep being beaten, having their throats slit, and in one scene it is alleged that a sheep has its leg cut off while still alive.
If the label lists 'merino wool' or 'made in Australia', the songstress is asking consumers not buy it.
'I am calling on consumers to check labels on sweaters before buying them, and if they're merino wool or made in Australia, to leave them on the racks,' Pink says in the video.
Peter Costello, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia, responded by dismissing the singer’s crusade.
``I don't know if Pink is an expert on the sheep industry,'' Costello told reporters. ``You know, Pink is entitled to her views, but at the end of the day would Australia's farmers take advice from Pink?''
