Liz Claiborne, Nordstrom Join PETA Campaign
Several national retailers—including Nordstrom, Gap Inc. and Liz Claiborne—have joined a campaign supporting the recent agreement reached between People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Australian Wool Growers Association (AWGA). The agreement calls for the phase-out of potentially harmful sheep harvesting methods.
Other retailers joining the campaign are Lands’ End, L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, Jones Apparel Group, Ann Taylor, H&M and Talbot’s. Abercrombie & Fitch has participated in a boycott of Australian merino wool, which is used in many products, from UGG-style boots to sweaters and knitwear.
PETA and the AWGA reached an agreement that calls for an end to “mulesing,” which involves cutting away a layer of skin from a sheep’s rear end to prevent the animals from being affected by certain insects. PETA has claimed the practice is harmful to the sheep.
The retailers have signed a letter drafted by Business for Social Responsibility, a San Francisco–based organization that supports ethical business practices.
While the AWGA has signed the agreement, which calls for a 10-year phase-out of mulesing and a ban on certain live-sheep exports, a number of other Australian trade groups are resisting the terms. One of them, the National Farmers’ Federation, said in a statement that “Australian sheep and wool producers will not agree to have their management practices audited by a radical animal rights group or its agents, as proposed in the agreement.”
PETA officials are hoping the retailer support and boycotts will persuade the growers otherwise. As part of the agreement, it has refrained from engaging in boycotts for 45 days.
“We hope they see the light by the time this moratorium is over with,” said PETA spokesperson Paula Hough. “We are getting e-mail even from Australian citizens saying, ’Thank you for doing this.’”
—Robert McAllister
