PETA to AFL Brownlow — Go High, Ban Feathers On The Red Carpet
The Brownlow Medal awards the fairest and best, but there’s nothing remotely fair about birds being live plucked, factory farmed and killed for their feathers. That’s why PETA is calling for a ban on feathers on the Brownlow Medal red carpet.
Real birds’ feathers should be as unwelcome on the Brownlow red carpet as cheating is on the field. In their natural habitat, ostriches form strong social bonds, nurture their young for up to three years, and can live for more than 40 years – yet in the fashion industry, workers forcibly restrain ostriches as young as one year old, electrically stun them, and slit their throats before tearing the feathers from their still-warm bodies. Other birds fare no better – peacocks, pheasants, emus, turkeys, and chickens all endure miserable lives on crowded farms and painful deaths so that their feathers can be used in garments.
The industry also carries a pandemic risk: a goose farmed for their feathers was the world’s first bird diagnosed with deadly H5N1 bird flu strain, which now has global pandemic potential.
The Brownlow Medal red carpet is known for its focus on the dresses worn by female attendees and several AFL teams are named after birds. Allowing attendees to wear the cruelly obtained feathers of these sensitive, clever animals is a betrayal. The most beautiful thing the belles of the (foot)ball can wear is compassion.
Make Your Wardrobe Bird-Friendly
The only way to ensure that no birds suffered for your clothing or accessories is to choose only vegan materials. So always check the label when you’re shopping.
Help Birds and Other Animals Abused for Fashion
Urge brands and designers to drop animal skins, fur, wool, and feathers and instead make a fashion statement the kind way, with fabulous vegan textiles.
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