Despite outcries in recent years from British subjects due to the ethics and rising costs associated with the hats, as well as citizens in Canada and around the world, the Ministry of Defence has not moved to find an alternative. The Ministry has noted that they have not found any material comparable for use.
But Canada’s own national police service – the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – has moved away from using fur by finding a synthetic alternative that not only out performed the fur in most conditions, but costed significantly less. The Ministry of Defence has also been told that popular ethical designer Stella McCartney and others would be willing to develop alternatives on their behalf.
The political response was typical tap dancing: the Minister in charge stated that the MoD does not purchase bear skins or kill bears, but buys the finished products from a Canadian company, which follows all Canadian laws. Of course, what that means is the MoD creates a demand that a Canadian company then buys bear skins to fulfill. The value of bear skins created by this demand also inspires more hunting and trapping.
Please consider writing to the Ministry of Defence to register your concern about their ongoing use of our bears in such a pointless, yet heinous manner by emailing MP Philip Dunne, who is in charge of procurement for the Ministry, at philip.dunne.mp@parliament.uk.
Work like our growing #MakeFurHistory campaign is only possible with the support of monthly donors. Please consider become a monthly donor – for as little as $5 a month – and help us create a Canada where we can proudly say we were part of the change to #MakeFurHistory.
