To the person who found this site just a short while ago with the search terms chinchilla coats for men:
Please look in my photo albums to the right. Please think long and hard about the methods which are used to put a sweet little creature like my Matilde to death.
I'm sorry, folks, I am not prepared to be rational on this issue. Anyone commenting in defense of fur will have their comments deleted. That may not be fair, but I am unprepared to see both sides of what to me is a fundamentally black and white issue.
I will debate civilly with folks on all sides of the abortion issue. I welcome folks with widely divergent views on faith, homosexuality, and the men's movement. But I see no other side to the factory farming issue. Purchase of a chinchilla coat is grounds for termination of friendship and family affection -- and I can think of no other issue that could lead me to make such a blanket statement.
Please visit here:
Save the Wild Chinchillas
PETA's account of chinchilla farming practices (warning: read with caution, it is graphic)
Chincare's page on the chin fur industry
Of course, it is easy to be compassionate towards the small, the furry, the adorable, and the loving. The challenge in my life is not to love Matilde and her kind less -- it is to have that same level of intense compassion for the rest of life. I still -- intellectually -- cling to pacifism, and aspire to vegan-hood (though I fall woefully short). I long to live out a radical consistent-life ethic, and pray regularly for God to help me draw closer to a life of total non-violence. I know I am far from the mark, but I struggle on.
For those of us who are yet without children, small animals teach us responsibility, sacrifice, patience, and unconditional love. I cannot find adequate words to describe how much I love this 2 pound ball of fluff. But as much as I love her, I know I must love more than her alone! Matilde is one tiny creature in His vast creation; when I watch her and hold her, I am overwhelmed by the unspeakable beauty of those things He made! (I often hum this old standard to myself when I hold her.) And I am reminded that just as I care for her, I am called to care for others as well. (On a related note, check out this very touching link.)
I know other pet lovers who say, for any number of reasons, that they prefer animals to people. I've certainly been sympathetic to that sentiment on many an occasion! But loving little creatures in my own life has made me more rather than less compassionate towards my own species. Matilde teaches me patience, she teaches me love, and she shows me Christ. (And no, I don't imagine I see the Virgin in her droppings!)
But though I can pray for those who wear fur coats, and those who profit from them, I cannot yet love them. Nor am I ready to suffer their voices on my blog.
can somebody PLEASE tell me how many chinchillas it takes to make a fur coat? i need 2 write a persuasive essay due tomorrow and im writing about chinchillas and every time i try to look up facts it leads me to sites about pet chinchillas!!!!! ugh!
Posted by: helppp mee | January 11, 2009 at 05:24 PM
Well chinchillas like all animals or living things that have a purpose in this world, they are still not human beings and well to any living thing, i think they should not be killed with extreme pain that we all would not want to have, we are humans they are animals. Don't treat them like one, but still give them that heart warming love like anyone would want if lonely, animals are not like us though they can feel pain too. God gave us the gift to change what must be changed and if people are just killing animals like this for coats worth 500 dollars then change will be the plan.
Posted by: madison | May 11, 2009 at 04:03 PM
Yeah I agree to an extent. Practices like this definatly put species to extinction.
But I have to admit, those chinchilla jackets do look great.
As a matter of fact, I stumbled here looking for one to buy.
I'm a little iffy on the issue, seeing as that they sure do kill a lot of those little animals for one jacket...
I saw an arguement about animals being pests, which may nullify the issue of some animals that are actually pests in areas...
But if you can give me an area where chinchillas are pests, tell me where it is, cause I'll move there immediatly.
I'de probably share part of my home with them. (not all of it though, cause I'm pretty sure that chinchillas don't know how to use a toilet)
Posted by: ACT | December 28, 2009 at 05:01 PM
I'm totally all for abortion, cause i dont want kids...but not chinchilla hunting...i have a pet chin.
Posted by: Beezneb | January 25, 2010 at 09:51 PM
I wonder why I did not knew this before.... it was a good read. You are working on a very good blog.. I look forward to visit your blog again....
Posted by: Generic Viagra | December 21, 2010 at 05:31 AM
100 Hundred To Make Chinchilla Coat. To Your Waist. Longer = More.
Posted by: Brianna | April 28, 2011 at 08:11 AM