Blitzkrieg Victory for Anti-fur Campaign in Israel

Animal rights activists in Israel were a bit surprised to learn that, after a short, low-key, no-budget three weeks campaign, they managed to get one of Israel’s leading fashion chains to stop selling furs.

Castro, one of Israel’s biggest fashion chains, has 95 clothing stores throughout Israel, plus nine more in Germany, Russia and the Ukraine. Last year it boasted profits of over 373 million NIS (over 86 million Dollars).
In August, a newspaper’s article about fashion had mentioned, off-hand, that Castro’s Winter Collection was already being sold, in the middle of the scorching Israeli summer, and that it included many items made with animal furs.
Animal rights activists, enraged by the Fur Industry’s attempt at a chic comeback, organized a small vigil outside Castro’s main store: a disgusting, huge, 1,050 square meters, 3 floors, 10 million NIS “fashion and lifestyle” complex in the heart of Tel Aviv’s shopping area. The vigil’s organization was spontaneous, coordinated over an Internet forum, and involved members of all Israeli AR groups – SHEVI, Anonymous for Animal Rights, ISAV and One Struggle. “officially”, though, it was a true grassroots campaign, organized simply by people who care, and not by groups, donors or alike.
The first vigil, at the end of August, attracted more than 60 people (a big number by Israeli standards), and was violently dispersed by Israel’s notorious Yassam Police (Riot Police), for no other reason than it was bad for Castro’s business (the demonstration was quiet, orderly and did not block any street or sidewalk). Three people were arrested.
Within 48 hours, 4,000 people had signed a petition asking Castro to stop selling fur, and a decision was made that, although Castro’s management seemed to enjoy too good of a relationship with the police, the vigils will become a weekly event, to show we will not be silenced by violent police acting on behalf of business interests, and that we will not forget the animals.
The following week, a second vigil attracted close to 100 people – many of them passers-by who joined after reading and learning about the cruelty involved in the making of fur (and leather) clothing.
Activists also organized a parallel vigil outside a Castro store in Jerusalem, which was smaller but still relatively successful.
By the third weekly vigil, the campaign had received some media attention (mainly thanks to the violent police dispersal), the number of signatures on the anti-fur petition rose to 17,000, and Castro was still calling the police on the protestors for no reason, although they quickly saw we would not back down and decided to leave us alone (they did threaten to disperse us if we continue to use a bullhorn, but were politely ignored).
On the 15th of September – one day before the 4th weekly vigil – Castro took out a full-size ad in Israel’s biggest daily newspaper (Yediot Aharonot), with the following text: “Dear Castro Clients, as promised by us, and in light of comments from many of you, we have looked into the fur issue. After looking into the issue, we have decided to cease designing and manufacturing all products containing animal fur.”
It seems the amount of pressure, phone calls, e-mails and faxes they received was bigger than even we had hoped, and frankly we are very surprised and happy about they’re decision (although they will continue to sell leather, and they will be selling what fur items they still have in stock).
Worldwide, the fur industry has, in fact, made a comeback. Its profits (1.7 Billion in 2002, for example) are almost as high as they were in the 1980s.
It is true that, compared to the food industry, the fur industry seems small, almost trivial (40 million animals worldwide every year, compared to approx. 90 billion for food), but through the issue of fur we can reach people and open their eyes to the suffering of animals, to Speciesism, and to generally care about animal exploitation, however it manifests itself.
Also, there is no need to narrow our message to a monist, “consumerism is okay as long as it’s cruelty-free” kind of line, and we have not done that. Consumerism is a disease, and there is no “cruelty free” merchandise within Capitalist structures. Our message is broader, we speak of freedom from a culture of blood, power and greed. And we do not forget, not for a second, that Israel is an Apartheid state.
Down with Zionism, Solidarity with Grand Jury victims, SHAC and long live the ALF!

Doctor Zoidberg, The Israeli Straightedge Crew.

Pictures
Vigil outside of Castro Store, Tel Aviv:
 https://israel.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/1/large/12_2.jpg
A picture of Castro’s Ad in Israel’s leading Newspaper (in Hebrew):
 https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/3689/index.php

Links
SHEVI (Animal Liberation Israel): www.free.org.il
ANONYMOUS For Animal Rights: www.animal.org.il
ONE STRUGGLE: www.onestruggle.org
ISAV (Israeli Society for the Abolition of Vivisection): www.isav.org.il