The Crest Theater in Westwood dressed up with furless gowns and activist attire on June 10th for the LA premier of SKIN TRADE. The premier was supported by several hundreds spectators, retired NBA Player John Salley and award winning singer-songwriter Fawn. Director Shannon Keith formed ARME (Animal Rescue Media & Education) in 2004 as a non-profit organization. Gene Blalock is the organization’s graphic design artist and editor, and Holly Brown is the public relations liaison. ARME counts on volunteers who work tirelessly to get the message out to the public.
In addition to saving countless animals, they raised funds for their first documentary about the Animal Liberation Front, called “Behind the Mask,” which had overwhelming response from people whose lives changed after watching the movie. “I knew I had to make a second movie, to speak up for the animals once again. While there are so many animal exploitation issues to focus on, I decided upon fur because I could not understand why fur is still being considered fashionable.” Shannon says. She is an animal rights lawyer who prosecutes those who abuse animals along with representing animal rights activists and organizations. Her clientele include: SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), SHAC USA (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty USA), SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY, and others.
You may or may not know that fur trade is next after drugs and fire arms; that a coyote coat at $3,000 retail uses the fur of 11 coyotes; or that each British Royal Guard hat is made with 2 Canadian bears; or that 96% of faux fur contains cat/dog hair from China and so they do many of the cloths we wear because manufacturers do not have to disclose fur content if retail value is under $150. Among other facts, you may also learn from this documentary that there are hundred of hidden fur farms all over the USA where animals are confined in small spaces all their lives to end being electrocuted, asphyxiated or having their neck broken.
Do not expect a fun easy chick flick or the latest blockbuster loaded with special effects. The images you’ll see are real, captured with hidden cameras in American fur farms by workers or the director herself, or are coming from places like China where there are no animal protection laws. You will not laugh but you’ll sure be horrified and deeply touched by the senseless cruelty our animals are mistreated while we eat, sleep or have a drink with friends.
You will watch well-known celebrities like veteran actor James Cromwell, CSI’s Jorja Fox, designer Todd Oldham, actress Alexandra Paul, band Poison’s drummer Rikki Rockett, musician and producer John Feldmann who is the lead singer/guitarist of the band Goldfinger, retired NBA Player John Salley, former modeling agent and writer Rory Freedman, actress Elaine Hendrix, congressman Dennis Kucinich and actor William McNamara, speaking with outrage about this tragic reality that many thought was eradicated in the 80’s. Overstock.com is losing 2-3 million a year because they actively refuse to sell fur and they are very proud of it; so is Peter Young, who went to prison for two years for saving animals from being killed for their fur in Montana.
Truth is sometimes hard to take, but it makes us wiser. Who would want to live like a dummy, oblivious to the reality around us? Wisdom helps us make wiser decision, so go watch this documentary and learn, even if you don’t think you can take it because you will, then you will take wiser actions.
For more information:
http://www.arme.tv/
http://www.uncagedfilms.com/
http://www.skintradethemovie.com/
Photos courtesy of ARME, ©Cyndee Arroyo and ©FFD Images
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Josie-Roman-TV-Show/306322634385
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