Vijf Finse dierenrechtenorganisaties eisen vertrek minister Landbouw na onthulling gruwelijkheden in bontfokkerijen - Demonstratie in Helsinki

Anti-fur farming protesters demand Finnish

agriculture minister's resignation

22-02-2010 The Helsinki Times, Finland


About 200 protesters from five animal rights groups staged a demonstration in central Helsinki on Monday, calling for the resignation of Sirkka-Liisa Anttila (centre), the agriculture minister, over apparent animal welfare violations documented on a number of fur farms in the country.

Oikeutta eläimille, the group that shot shocking footage on fur farms that was aired by the Finnish public broadcaster last week, handed a petition to the agriculture minister claiming that more than 7,000 members of the public wanted Ms Anttila to resign.

Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, the minister dismissed the resignation calls as unfounded.
"I do not intend to resign, for I have done more for [the welfare of farm animals] than many others have," she told reporters.

Ms Anttila added that banning fur farming in Finland would be naïve given conditions on fur farms in China.

Anni Sinnemäki (green), the labour minister, had said last week that Finland should ban fur farming.

The minister went on to say that she suspected that the animals shown on Oikeutta elämille's footage might have been held in closures reserved for sick animals.

Matti Vanhanen (centre), the prime minister, said in a blog entry that the government would hold talks over the fur farming controversy on Wednesday.

Mr Vanhanen defended the Finnish fur farming industry and Ms Anttila.

(Bron: http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/)