Tourists visiting St Paul’s Cathedral, and the nearby Millennium Bridge on Sunday saw 100 people dressed in nothing but blood body paint and bear masks sprawled on the streets chanting “MoD, go Fur Free”
They were members of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protesting against the use of bearskins by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to make the Queen’s Guards’ ceremonial caps, six days before the Queen’s Birthday Parade. The protest lasted 20 minutes, long enough for many bystanders and tourists to take notice and enquire about the cause.
Poorva Joshipura from PETA says the location was specifically chosen for its popularity. “Most tourists have no idea that in this day and age a whole bear is
killed to make one cap,” she said.
Bears in Canada are killed in order to make the caps. Many bears are shot several times before being left to die. Sometimes mother bears are shot, leaving the cubs orphaned. Joshipura says, “We are asking for a simple switch to faux fur. It is ridiculous to kill sensitive intelligent animals for ceremonial caps.”
Andy Barnett, 43, was part of a similar protest in 2006 and hence had no qualms about shedding his clothes. He says, “I knew what to expect, although the warm weather conditions helped. My mother introduced me to the cause and I have been supporting it for three years. This year we used body paint for emphasis and it worked.”
The protestors also distributed pamphlets and bear masks publicising their cause. Deepika Malla, 22, an Indian tourist says, “I always loved those caps and I was keen to take pictures with the Guards at Buckingham Palace. But after knowing how they are made, I definitely do not wish to be photographed with an innocent dead animal.”
The earlier protest took place in 2006, when 70 protestors lay naked in the same fashion to symbolise a pile of dead bears. During that time the MoD declared they were looking for alternatives. Lieutenant Colonel Peter Dick-Peter said, “Fake fur looks like a 60s Beatles wig. It doesn’t look right. It sticks up with the wind and the rain soaks into the fibre.”
Joshipura disagrees, claiming the whole world is switching to faux fur. “MoD has all the technology of the world at their feet and it’s ridiculous to think they can’t find an alternative. Bears are not fabric, they are living breathing animals and it’s time to give them that respect.”
The Ministry of Defence did not respond to a request for comment.
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