This Christmas CIWF has joined together with the British Union for the
Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), Lynx and The Vegan Society to campaign
for a cruelty-free Christmas.
The Choose Cruelty-Free This Christmas campaign was launched on 23rd
October and is already starting to receive widespread press coverage.
The aim of the campaign is to offer the public information about the
cruelties involved in the production of cosmetics, toiletries, furs and
the traditional Christmas dinner menu and to give advice on the
cruelty-free alternatives available.
During the campaign we hope that you, our members, will help
distribute 250,000 Choose Cruelty-Free This Christmas leaflets. Members
of the public responding to the leaflet, a copy of which is enclosed
with this issue of Agscene, will receive a Choose Cruelty-Free This
Christmas magazine containing details of the campaign and articles
outlining the aims and action suggestions of the BUAV, CIWF, Lynx and
The Vegan Society. The campaign has been endorsed by many celebrities
with Richard Briers saying "Traditionally, Christmas is a time for
caring and that caring should be extended to all living creatures. You
have my best wishes for your splendid campaign to Choose Cruelty-Free
This Christmas" and Sophie Ward saying "I wholeheartedly support the
promotion of cruelty-free products and hope that they will prove how
unnecessary cosmetic testing can be"; Joanna Lumley said "Suddenly, you
will realise that you cannot enjoy anything that has caused pain, has
made blood flow, has ended life. Trust your instincts, try a truce: no
killing at Christmas"; and by Carla Lane, Captain Sensible, Jill
Gascoine, Judi Dench, Barbara Dickson, Clare Francis, Spike Milligan and
many other caring celebrities.
This is a very exciting campaign which enables the participating
societies to spread the message about their particular areas of concern.
At the launch MacDonald Daly of BUAV said "15,652 animals died in 1986
testing cosmetics and toiletries which we do not need. Exercise your
conscience at Christmas and you can change things". Mark Glover of Lynx
said "As we enter the Christmas period, it is ironic that the season of
compassion and goodwill coincides with the peak fur selling period. We
hope that this year people will give some thought to the animals and not
include fur coats on their Christmas list". Barry Kew of The Vegan
Society said "Give animals a break as you break the animal habit". Carol
Lang of CIWF said "If you celebrate the festive season with a bloodbath
then you're Christmas crackers. Christmas should be a time of goodwill
to all living creatures, not just people".
We hope you will support this campaign in any way you can. CL
From Agscene (December 1987)
Reproduced with thanks .
