Strange but true, the German chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has coerced Mercedes to offer a non-leather (meaning seats, of course) version of their vehicles.
While this is a small, and some would say ridiculous, victory, it still remains a step forward. The only question is, how many potential Merc owners are conscientious enough to show their displeasure at the leather industry?
Now, if the same set of circumstances had occured with Peugot’s 2CV…
About a week ago, The Government passed a bill to ban fox-hunting, deer-hunting and coursing in England and Wales, to start from February 2005. Of course, it needed the Parliament Act to pass it (a seldom used act that allows Parliament to overturn the decision of the House of Lords, who historically how opposed any anti-hunting bills. Ahhh, democracy, eh.)
It just remains to be seen what the pro-hunting lobby can do to overturn the law. They are expected to take it to the European Courts of Human Rights. Interesting they choose Human Rights, when one of their biggest arguments is that foxes need controlling. They’ll doubtless go for the “hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost” line.
Still, for the moment I revel in the victory.
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