When I was a little girl, my parents and I went on a
vacation to the beautiful valley of Kashmir in the Himalayan mountains.
I was fascinated by the street shops selling colorful Kashmiri
handicrafts, but one item in particular that kept pulling my attention
was a white purse .
It looked so cute, like a little rabbit. It felt so
soft and beautiful. That was the only thing I wanted. Its closing flap
was even shaped like a face of a little bunny. I was a well-behaved
girl and it would have been rude to ask for anything that I didn’t
really need. Day after day in Kashmir I was drawn to the shops that
sold those white purses; I would quietly stand and admire them. I think
my Mom and Dad saw this and quietly bought one for me. I was so excited
and thrilled. My exhilaration quickly turned to heartbreak when a wise
man in the train explained to me what it really was and how it had
become a purse.
He told me how animals are
skinned for fur. The smaller the animal, the more precious the fur. I
was literally carrying a cute baby bunny who had been taken away from
her mommy and daddy, most likely destroyed in an inhumane way only to
be sold for a few rupees.
I did not want to part with my purse, yet I did not want to be a part
of the cruelty business. What was I to do ? What was my redemption
going to be? 
Teary
eyed and heavy hearted, I asked the wise man for advice. He told me
that my redemption was to never again buy fur and to educate others
about the cruelty to animals associated with the fur business.
My
return trip home from that vacation was ruined. However in looking
back, I am so thankful for the experience and for what I learned.
Someone once said, “Experience is not the best teacher – it’s the only teacher”. I promised that wise man and myself that I would become an advocate for the Earth, its animals and their lives.
I have since learned that today, fur continues to be the fancy for
girls and women across the world. The multi-billion dollar fur industry
is a consummate advocate of animal cruelty. Animal right activists have
shown that many animals are destroyed by inhumane ways, listing France,
China and Canada as examples.
So
the next time you are tempted to purchase a furry looking coat or purse
or shoes, remind yourself what goes into it, and ask yourself if you
really want to be a part of and contributor to the animal cruelty
business.
At a very minimum, you should say no to fur. If you want to do more, here is what I recommend:
-
Write to your favorite designers who continue to sell fur. Tell him or her that you will not buy their brand until they go fur-free. There is great power in an individual voice when it comes from the heart.
-
Educate your family and friends about the cruelty of the fur business.
-
Join an Anti-Fur cause on Facebook or Twitter and make your voice heard with thousands of others.
Guru Nanak says:
"Cruelty, material attachment, greed and anger are the four rivers of fire. O Nanak! Falling into them, one is burned but saved by holding tight to good deeds." SGGS Ang 147
Incidentally, I gave my purse a respectful burial and made a promise to be kept for as long as I am alive.
Interested in more green thoughts by Gurmeet Aunty ? Visit www.greengurmeet.blogspot.com