News in brief: A petition in Finland calling for a ban on fur farming has garnered the required 50,000 signatures for a Parliament debate. A survey shows a “slim majority” of MPs in favor of the ban as petitioners argue for the ban due to concerns about inhumane treatment of animals.
A citizens’ initiative petition for a ban on fur farming in Finland has received the mandatory 50,000 signatures needed to push it to a Parliament debate.
The petition reportedly hit the mark the same day it was launched on Monday, September 4, according to a news report. Its aim is to completely phase out of fur farming within a reasonable transitional period.
Part of the petition’s details state that the ban must take place in a way that is fair to farmers and workers in the industry. Additionally, farmers who will close their farms as a result of the proposed ban will receive support packages.
Proponents of the move have justified their demands on the inhumane treatment of mink on fur farms as the animals have to spend their lives in small cages. These cruel treatments, they say, impede the social growth of the animals which is unlike their typical behavioral patterns. Finland is among the increasingly small number of countries, including Russia and China, where fur farming is still allowed.
The signatures would still have to be verified before the Parliament would commence debating it. However, the Members of Parliament (MPs) have had varying responses to the proposal. A survey, conducted among the country’s legislators, found a ‘slim majority’ in favour of implementing said ban. Of the 200 MPs surveyed, 56 supported a ban, 50 favoured a continuation of fur farming, six were undecided, while 88 declined comments.
The MPs in favour of a ban hoped for a rapid response to the situation given the background of recent bird flu outbreak. Opponents of the ban have however, said such measure will happen in time, but the transitional method needed to be given careful consideration.
