The Fur is Flying: Barbi Twins Take on Kathy Ireland

I’m certainly not an animal rights activist. However, I work with captive wildlife and am well aware of the contentious debates between some advocacy groups concerning their respective interests and perhaps distorted views. Some of their reactive discourse may pale in comparison to what has transpired in the past few days among celebrities on Twitter.

I took pause when I read the following Twitter exchange.

Shane and Sia Barbi (Barbi Twins)

An excerpt from the “Twitter War” being waged between the world famous pin-ups and controversial animal activists Barbi Twins and mom, supermodel, and successful business woman Kathy Ireland:

Kathy Ireland: @Barbi_Twins Will stop fur design when activists join fight to save babies.
Barbi Twins: @kathyireland Love babies too, but animal activists don’t wear, sell and design skinned babies.
Barbi Twins: @kathyireland ur luv 4 babies is g8, but saying u will stop selling #fur if #animalactivists saved babies is disguising profit 4 #compassion
Kathy Ireland: @Barbi_Twins @jmniguy Am praying for you. God bless you.
Barbi Twins: @kathyireland TY Can u also plz put a prayer n 4 the #animals that were skinned alive or anally electrocuted 4 ur #FUR line? God luvs us all.

Kathy Ireland

Shane Barbi said, “Compassion has no boundaries. Learn to love and respect beyond your own race, religion sex and species. Loving only your own species is specism; narcissistic bigotry.”

The Twins said, “If we can put a man on the moon, we can certainly find more compassionate clothes and fashion lines.”

The opposition includes a lot of people who feel that we should be more concerned about people suffering in developing countries than with animal issues.

In response to that, the Barbi Twins said, “For the most part people have choices and animals don’t. However, why does it have to be either or? If we are a so-called evolved species I feel we have an obligation and a responsibility to take care of those humans in need and non-human species that are often deemed less evolved, rather then exploit them.”

Sia Barbi remarked, “We admit that we are an oxymoron so it is silly to stereotype us. We are actually more like the Green Tea-Party Twins.”

The Barbi Twins believe that you can’t “barter compassion.” Rather, they said, “Choosing to treat animals with compassion will manifest in all other areas of your life.”

The twins were featured in Skin Trade, a film by Shannon Keith, which explored the behind-the-scenes world of the fur industry–a graphic yet compelling documentary.

I applaud both Kathy Ireland and the Barbi Twins for their charitable work. The Barbi Twins are vegans that have rescued many companion animals, campaigned for animal bills, protested animal cruelty and have contributed a great deal to animal charities. Kathy, also a dog lover, is also quite compassionate having supported causes for children and adults with life-threatening illnesses.

I contacted Kathy Ireland’s publicist, but have yet to receive a response.

How do you as a reader feel about fur?

The views expressed in this article are those of Jordan Schaul and not necessarily those of the National Geographic Society.

Comments

anmlrights
california
April 2, 11:11 pm

Seriously! K.I. only good comeback was “Will stop fur design when activists join fight to save babies.” What exactly is she talking about? How many children has she adopted?? Or has she? I don’t know that much about her and honestly.. I don’t give a sh*t!… I just know she promotes and sells animal fur.. that makes her a nasty heartless human being. Oh! And by the way! We donate to organizations for children and organizations for animals… I guess K.I. heart is so small it only has room for baby’s…
Maya
NYC
March 30, 12:01 am

What a hypocrite! She claims to love GOD, yet she condones killing animals for her capitalistic gain? Wake up Kathy, killing is killing. Wearing dead animals is really creepy, so is eating their flesh. The Barbi Twins ROCK!
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January 25, 11:22 am

I�m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later on. Many thanks.
Rob P
Co Antrim. N.I.
November 6, 2012, 8:44 pm

If you went up to Kathy Ireland & just shaved her head the police would charge you with assault either here in the UK or in the USA. However it is ok to kill animals in the most cruel ways you can imagine with no penalty at all. I myself love to see a beautiful fur coat but where it belongs in the animal. It’s time to do to the fur trade what various countries have done to smoking. Make it horrible & unacceptable. Come on people it’s the 21st century look what “people” have done to magnificent animals like the Tiger for its skin & other body parts. It’s nearly extinct in the wild. We have lost so many species to our greed, we don’t need to lose more. People like Ms Ireland need to stop making pathetic excuses & wise up before its to late.
John
Oregon
August 4, 2012, 9:48 pm

Why do Animal Activists have to have a “…perhaps distorted view…” in cases such as this. This is biased reporting, as the assumption says it is okay to abuse animals any way we wish, and for any outcome, as long as it is profitable? As a supposed civilized society, we do not abuse animals, and keep in mind that there is simply no such thing, method, or approach to tell ourselves, as civilized people, that there exists an acceptable animal abuse situation — There is no such thing on this planet!
PJ DEE
June 23, 2012, 12:22 am

LOVE YOU MY DEAR FRIENDS SIA & SHANE. YOUR WORDS ARE FACT/TRUTH AND KATHY IRELAND IS JUST A GREED MACHINE. REAL CHRISTIANM OF HER TO PROMOTE ANIMALS BEING CLUBED OR SKINNED ALIVE. THE FUR FARMS ARE HORRIFIC! YET SEALS BEATEN TO DEATH IS JUST UNCIVILIZED AND AS EVIL AS IT GETS.
David W. Lincoln
May 8, 2012, 2:42 pm

When I read, “If we are a so-called evolved species I feel we have an obligation and a responsibility to take care of those humans in need and non-human species that are often deemed less evolved, rather then exploit them.” I had to read it more than once.

Given the atrocities that fall under the category of “man’s inhumanity to man”, are we as evolved as some think we are? At best, the jury is still out on that.

So, what options are there? Shouldn’t we be asking basic questions such as, “how did life come about that isn’t attributable to people?” For I have my conclusion, and frankly I do not have enough faith in randomness to account for all that is, that didn’t come about via the actions of people.
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Lourdrs
California
March 30, 2012, 9:11 am

What Kathy said makes Nooo sense. Will stop selling fur when activists join the fight to save babies…what babies? What babies out there need saving? The unborn ones…the malnourished ones….the 3rd world ones….the underprivileged ones…the orphaned ones? American babies? I could have sworn there are plenty of organizations out there that handle whatever babies she’s talking about. How about not contributing to the suffering and cruel torture of innocent animals and then charge ridiculous amounts of money for the coats their fur is turned into? How about not living an exorbitant lifestyle and rubbing it in the faces of those who can’t even afford to pay their house mortgage. What a hipocrite. She’s useless just like her fur line. Just like Kanye and Kim Kardashian. The world is sick and tired of these celebutards rubbing in their wealthy high class life style in our faces on top of thinking they are better than the poor creatures they murder so that they can wear fur, which looks stupid by the way. We need some kind of revolution to happen….they French did it right
Gary Martin
united states
March 28, 2012, 11:02 pm

Shane and Sia are very knowledgable and speak so eloquently for the animals.. this is a no contest, Kathy is teaching her fans that it’s ok to cause pain and suffering to innocent animals for a look and to make money from their hell. Kathy needs to drop the fur line and make it up to the animals. thank you Barbi Twins!!
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Debbie
Florida
March 15, 2012, 12:38 pm

I can respect both sides, and the good they do. They both,however have grey areas in how far they’re willing to committ. Ireland should be trying to stop the cruel fur business and the Twins and Wahl need to stop supporting other celebs that perform at functions where animals are routinely abused.
JENMEDIA
U.S.
March 15, 2012, 12:17 am

Ireland needs to step up to the plate and stop dodging behind other causes. The fact of the matter is she is profiting from cruel torture and killing of innocent animals. It’s 2012 people, we have many materials that keep us just as warm. There’s just no need for it. Kathy Ireland=Selfish, heartless greed.
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JPC
March 14, 2012, 1:15 pm

Fur belongs on the animals. Killing for fur is a heinously cruel and barbaric tradition. We do have other alternatives, you narcissistic fur-wearers. People wearing fur should be fined, and the Federal government should levy a tax on fur and the fur industry, which would be the equivalent of twice the cost of the actual garment.
Rory Freedman
Los Angeles, Ca
March 13, 2012, 4:01 am

I applaud the Barbi Twins and all they do to promote a more compassionate world. Shame on Kathy Ireland for profiting off the exploitation of animals.
Tess Faulkner
NYC
March 12, 2012, 1:55 am

Fur on anybody but the animal born with it sucks and now I know that Kathy Ireland does too. Caring about animals does not equate to not caring about babies or people, in fact, I would argue to the obviously ignorant and uneducated Ms. Ireland that having compassion for animals will do far more for the exploited humans of the world since it is through the exploitation of this earth through factory/torture farming, etc. that is going to wreak havoc on the earth and all that inhabit it including babies and especially the poorest people of the world. While climate change causes tsunamis and tornados and all kinds of other natural disasters Ms. Ireland can donate her time and money to the end result while continuing to dismiss those who are working at the roots to make this a better world for all. Wow, I did not realize that Ms. Ireland was so ignorant.
Marcie Newman-Perskin
Queens NY
March 11, 2012, 1:34 am

Fur is madness –Anally electrocuted skinned alive , People its time to take a lasting stand on the way we treat and care for all animals . A fur coat makes me sick== the person wearing that coat should feel the pain that animal felt before it== WAS MURDERED FOR FASHION
Nina Eckhoff
New Canaan, CT
March 11, 2012, 12:37 am

I absolutely support the Barbi Twins and their compassion. Keep tweeting the truth, ladies!
barb
March 10, 2012, 5:45 pm

P.S. Can someone please explain to Kathy Ireland that if she wants to help babies in third world countries she must go vegan? All the grain/water fed to animals to give meat/dairy to the rich countries could feed the poorer countries.
barb
March 10, 2012, 5:43 pm

Kathy Ireland’s comment is like saying, “Don’t help children in other countries until you help all U.S. babies first.” She’s saying don’t help one group until another group is helped. Her comment was an odd way to deflect from the cruelty she causes.
Bonnie Snider, National Animal Advocacy Examiner
Atlantic Beach, Florida
March 10, 2012, 2:58 pm

I’m 100% behind Shane and Sia on this! These helpless animals meet their deaths in the most barbaric and painful ways and for what? So someone can drape the skins that have been ripped from the animals’ bodies because of some sick idea that it’s somehow beautiful? It was beautiful when it was on the animal who was born to wear it!

Every creature on this earth was put here for its own purpose. Animals have the capacity to feal fear, love and pain, just as humans do. But humans exploit these animals simply because we can. We aren’t cave dwellers anymore, who have to wear animal fur in order to stave off the cold. We have evolved, and in that evolution we SHOULD have come to recognize the importance of all living beings.

There are many choices humans can make for fashion, but those animals whose fur is torn from their bodies don’t have a choice. They are forced into the torment and agony of anal electrocution or whatever method chosen that doesn’t “damage the pelt”. They are the helpless victims of humans who merely want to fluant their wealth and make others think they’re something more than what they are. I have far more admiration for people such as the Barbi twins who make the conscious choice to speak out for those who have no voice, and take a stand against the cruel fur industry than I do for some narcissitic egomaniac who feels the need to wear that fur.

There’s the blood and immense suffering of innocent beings in every single piece of “fur fashion”. Just because you can’t hear their screams doesn’t mean they aren’t there. They are, and they scream loudly into the ears of those of us who actually care enough to really listen.

We all choose which causes we wish to champion. Just because some choose to fight for animals does NOT mean they care any less about humans. Quite the contrary. It’s merely the choices we each make about what we wish to stand up for and speak out about. Personal choices that don’t negate each other in any way. Keep up the fight Shane and Sia! There are countless people who support you in this cause.
Bob Barnett
United States
March 10, 2012, 1:59 pm

I totally agree w Kathy Ireland, as long as she’s willing to be skinned alive and worn like a hood ornament
Alan Sassoon
NY
March 9, 2012, 11:20 pm

I have read the story, visited Twitter and seen the back and forth comments. To use the abortion issue as a wedge to “divide and conquer” animal-rights activists to “listen to reason” is not only unreasonable, its self-destructive. I have to agree with Mr. Williams in that Ms. Ireland is dangerous. Though she seems to have changed her tweets to “help her save babies”…as it was “go out and stop killing babies” could easily be misconstrued by a weak or mentally ill mind as a demand to kill or injure people who perform abortions. Indeed Ms Ireland’s suggestion is not only Charles Manson-like, it is ten thousand-fold of what Manson suggested. He suggested to “do what had to be done” to kill a small group (horrible enough for sure); but what Ms Ireland is leaving out is; the only way to do her bidding, is actually to kill the ones’ doing it. The Constitution does not allow for someone to go in and stop an abortion that is prescribed. But a crazy person could easily read her message to go kill abortion doctors, nurses etc. and hasn’t there been enough violence and killing over this issue already. Her killing fur-animal feeling/living animals and calling it “humane ethical euthanasia” is ludicrous enough. Sadly, when caged wild animals are killed; they are already so insane and in so much pain (they travel normally 20-30 miles a day); that any kind of killing would be considered “humane”. Hasn’t she got enough money to not have to do something so sinful? Maybe not. Maybe she’s got the same kind of ponzi-scheme going as Donald Trump (I noticed she retweeted him today). She may be broke too as this fur business seems to be something relatively new in her line; maybe its a last-ditch effort to save her business; but of course it is going to sink her. How could someone we thought was so savvy, be so stupid? Well we’re adults. A lot of “heroes” have disappointed us. I put her in the league of the Sanduskys, of the world. I am now reading articles that she is also giving speeches to try to defund Planned Parenthood which of course would cause a breast cancer and AIDS Pandemic in about 6 weeks; she’s a bit mum since the Komen debacle but she was speaking with vigor before that. Google it. There’s articles up everywhere. I think we’re dealing with a true madwoman with big severe issues. I really want to feel sad for her, but I can’t. What she is doing is very willful. She could stop if she wanted. But it appears she has plenty of enablers who, of course, care nothing about her as a person, only what they can get out of her.
branden hawkins
March 9, 2012, 11:11 pm

U go twins!! Much love
Sasha
March 9, 2012, 11:08 pm

This bitch makes me sick. Cruel, cold-hearted and disgusting. To wear real fur is arrogance at its finest. You will never be as beautiful as the animal who’s coat it rightfully belongs to. Ever.
Janiice
Miami Springs,
March 9, 2012, 9:45 pm

people that have fur coats need to understand that most of it comes from cruel fur farms that DO skin them alive. I feel that anyone wearing a fur coat is either a selfish person who nobody needs be associate with or an ignorant person.
michelle a schlund
USA
March 9, 2012, 6:58 pm

PEOPLE WEARING FUR THESE DAYS JUST LOOK LIKE IDIOTS ANYWAY. EVERYONE KNOWS HOW “UN COOL” WEARING FUR IS.
Paul Hester
USA
March 9, 2012, 3:48 pm

Well said Barbi twins! I used to think Kathy Ireland was a very attractive woman, now I just see UGLY all over her. What a self obsorbed, warped, compasssionless person she seems to be.
Tammy Lynn
Albany, NY
March 9, 2012, 2:24 pm

I totally agree with the Barbi twins. Animals need a voice and are often exploited, abused, tortured, worn, etc. for the pleasure of an evolved society???? Thanks for your concern and your work with raising awareness to this very important issue.
Hannah Odeal
California, USA
March 9, 2012, 2:21 pm

I think one point that has sadly been missed in this discussion is that being Vegan, the Barbi Twins do care about the welfare of humans, most especially babies in under developed countries. It takes 16lbs of grain to ‘make’ 1lb of ‘beef’ and 3000 gallons of water for that very same animal. As vegans we know that what it takes to feed/water ONE Cow could feed & provide water for MANY of these starving children in these countries. The fact that factory farms cause the most pollution, not only to our air, but water & forests in many countries outside the USA are being destroyed so that we can feed the 70 BILLION farm animals slaughtered in the USA alone should be a good enough reason that people who love/care about humans go vegan. So you say you love children, well why not look into the facts. Fight againt the true demons, corporations/companies who exploit animals not only for factory farms BUT fur, vivesection, cosmetic testing. Why just fight for the animals you can bring into your home & cuddle? By going vegan you can not only save 100 animal lives a year, BUT you are helping those poor children overseas who are starving & do not have fresh water to drink. At least be open minded enough to look into these things! BARBI TWIN YOU ROCK!
june bullied
canada
March 9, 2012, 2:19 pm

barbi twins rock big time! kathy ireland is a doorknob. she only cares about the almighty buck. self-centered and totally absorbed in her own stupid world. view the video kathy on animals being skinned alive.
Tristan L. Sullivan
US
March 9, 2012, 2:11 pm

One of the most senseless, ridiculous, cowardly justifications for abject cruelty and exploitation anyone has ever heard. Kathy Ireland’s logic is so impaired it’s a challenge to even comprehend it.
nancy
March 9, 2012, 1:30 pm

Just because a person cares about stopping animal exploitation doesn’t mean they don’t care about humans. In fact, they usually care more about all creatures (including humans) than people who don’t have the compassion to see beyond their own speciesism. Remember, all exploitation is connected.
Ian Middleton
UK
March 9, 2012, 10:23 am

I agree with the twins. Respect for life doesn’t end with having opposable thumbs and the ability to work a digital watch.

If you believe the lives of human babies are sacred then why not animals? They are both born into a world where they are at the mercy of others and in many cases unable to defend themselves. If it’s right to protect and defend one, why not the other?

The flip side of Kathy Ireland’s comment is that the treatment of one person or species should be dependent on that of another. By the same token then none of us can expect to receive compassion or respect until all bad things in the world have been dealt with. I could equally say I’ll campaign for babies when they stop shelling civilians in Syria.

These are non sequitur arguments thrown up by a lady who seems desperate to justify her wish to continue killing animals for completely frivolous purposes by suggesting that her support for other good works gives her impunity. It doesn’t.
jt waldie
USA
March 9, 2012, 10:20 am

http://www.mercyforanimals.org/fur_farms.asp
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/fur.aspx
http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/fur.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz8XLh5crDA&feature=related
kathy Ireland has no idea of how she obtains her skins so I have included a few educational videos. She loves her dogs? Would she then allow them to be skinned for their fur?Animals have no voice or choice in how their skin is extracted. THE BARBI TWINS HAVE GIVEN THEM THEIR VOICE! 1000000000000000% behind the Barbi Twins and ZERO, NADA, ZIP behind Kathy Ireland…..Kmart and other producers of her line of merchandise will indeed suffer for her greed!
Robin0827
Marshfield, MA
March 9, 2012, 9:40 am

I agree with the Barbi Twins. You cannot say you are compassionate when you have it for one species and not another. I believe if one is truly compassionate it spreads to all species , all of miraculous life on this fragile blue planet of ours.
Webster Page
Chesapeake VA
March 9, 2012, 8:19 am

Thank you Barbi Twins!! Humans wearing FUR is cruel.
Sheila
United States
March 9, 2012, 4:56 am

I am so tired of the so called animal lovers who only love some. They choose without regard for the suffering of all life. They make their filthy blood money from the pain of innocent, defenseless life.
Remember one thing, do you want to die the way you have treated other lives?
I hope to die in with compassion and dignity.
Shane and Sia Barbi have also lent a huge helping hand in the battle against animal crush videos. These women ROCK!
Sherlock
March 9, 2012, 4:06 am

Thats too bad you’re not Jordan! Interesting how they’re considered “controversial” because of the things they do. They do good for the animals….how is that “controversial”? I am truly surprised and disgusted Kathy supports such an incredibly cruel industry. She’s now on my sh** list.
Kathleen
March 9, 2012, 3:58 am

Thank you, Shane & Sia, for staying true to TRUE compassion and ethics. I’m sorry but I’ll call it like I see it: it is a disingenuous diversionary tactic to respond to criticism on the fur issue by claiming or insinuating anti-fur advocates are not also advocating for babies/children/human welfare. 1st it is a complete avoidance of the fur issue, a way to deflect and change the topic because she knows she is guilty and can’t defend being responsible for the miserable lives and the ultimate deaths of all those animals. 2nd it’s insulting for Kathy Ireland to make broad generalizations that people who are anti-fur are also somehow anti-baby/child/human. This kind of response only shows the low level of intelligence and narrow mind we are dealing with. Anyone with half a brain and the ability to see beyond preconceived notions knows that this kind of generalization simply cannot be made — it is just not accurate nor fair. It’s really no different than a misogynist man claiming all women are bitches… I’m sure we won’t see Kathy Ireland supporting that!

It’s sad but I really think Kathy Ireland is not interested in the truth, the pain, suffering and agony the animals suffer to provide fur for the clothing she sells for the almighty buck. She has firmly closed her eyes to that basic foundation of the entire issue. She is also blind to the fact that her professed love for her pets as “proof” of her compassion and love of animals is at complete odds with her very real role in the factory farming and the mass killings of thousands of animals for the sake of vanity and money.

Our role on this earth is not to use every thing and every being in a mad rush for self-worship and adulation or for money. To live moral and ethical lives, we must respect all of God’s creations and work to “walk softly” on this planet. We owe that to our creator and to the future generations who will inherit it all from us. Do we leave them bankrupt of resources and bankrupt of soul as well via examples like Kathy Ireland gives, to kill without regard in the name of “fashion” and money?

“They too, are created by the same loving hand of God; which created us. It is our duty to protect them and promote their well being.” ~ Mother Theresa
Athena
March 9, 2012, 3:23 am

How wonderful that Kathy Ireland helps people in need…now why can’t she take it a step further and stop the killing, the horrific and cruel killing, of animals for her clothing line? Money, money, money…there is no other reason, none whatsoever, to use fur in her clothing line.
Coming back at the Barbi Twins with the comment she made about stopping the use of fur when activists work to save babies lives is a typical response from people who really have no intention of changing and think that challenging others makes it all ok. It most certainly is not ok. Frankly, it is most often the people who help animals that do the most for humans, too…and why people like Kathy Ireland think activists only help animals is a mystery.
Having said that, THE BARBI GIRLS WIN THIS ONE!!!
PJB
California
March 9, 2012, 2:22 am

Interesting that the author leads with “I’m not an animal rights person”…what’s with that? And why doesn’t he say “he’s not an anti-abortion person,” then.

From that to his complete pass on Ireland (“I admire both” parties), I think it’s clear where he stands.

In this age of blogging, I guess any attempt at objective journalism or criticism has gone by the wayside. Too bad. The result feels like amateur manipulation.
Al Jackson
Palm Springs, CA
March 9, 2012, 1:56 am

Kathy Ireland seems selfish and heartless. And without much fashion sense either. Who wears fur anymore? And while Miss Ireland and co are all for killing helpless animals for profit, no animal activists are killing babies! We love babies for the same reason we love animals: they’re defenseless and they need us. Their only hope is the empathy of all of us. Miss Ireland is willing to kill for money. Anti fur activists aren’t willing to kill anything or anyone! I’ve joined the boycott on Kathy Ireland.
Heather Clemenceau
Aurora, ON
March 9, 2012, 12:20 am

Fur has fallen so far from grace that furriers are now trying to convince consumers that pelts are ‘eco-friendly.’ Furs are loaded with chemicals to keep them from decomposing in the buyer’s closet, and fur production pollutes the environment and gobbles up precious resources. And don’t forget: Unlike faux fur, the ‘real thing’ causes millions of animals to suffer every single year.

Fur is mean, not green. I look away in disgust when I see someone wearing animal fur.
Anja
March 9, 2012, 12:03 am

Fur is cruel… barbaric really. It shows the world what a self centered, superficial loser you really are. I will be sure to never buy anything that Kathy Ireland endorses, sells… whatever. Fur hags suck.
JoAnne
United States
March 8, 2012, 11:27 pm

Kathy Ireland has shown she will do just about anything for $$ . A shallow cold hearted money maker business woman , Boycott her line of furniture and especially the Macy’s Fur vault..line she says she designs and promotes and is not merely a model for the company..
Holise E Cleveland III
http://cyberwhalewarrior.com
March 8, 2012, 11:25 pm

Compassion: sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it

∞ “Where there is a mind, there are feelings such as pain, pleasure, and joy. No sentient being wants pain: all wants happiness instead.” – Dalai Lama

∞ “The systematic torture of sentient beings, whatever the pretext and in whatever form, cannot achieve anything more than it already has: to show us what is the lowest point of debasement man can reach . . . if that’s what we want to know.” – Joaquin Phoenix | quote from EARTHLINGS

∞ “If we cut up beasts simply because they cannot prevent us and because we are backing our own side in the struggle for existence, it is only logical to cut up imbeciles, criminals, enemies, or capitalists for the same reasons.” – C.S. Lewis
Kristin Harris
March 8, 2012, 11:01 pm

This is a very interesting conversation. I just always wonder when you have people so very adamant about the fur trade or being vegetarian, how far they take it. Do they wear a leather belt, shoes? Do they eat meat? How about do they eat products with palm oil in it? Palm oil plantations is one of the main killers of orangutans today. Do they have a cell phone or computer? Some of the elements in them are mined in the Congo, which is destroying animal habitat.
All I am trying to say here is that we all have our causes. Just because we don’t jump on someone else’s cause also doesn’t mean that we are not compassionate, we are just compassionate about something else. We have to pick out battles and hope that the ones we don’t pick will get picked by someone else.
Just my thoughts on the issue.
Sam Johnson
NYC
March 8, 2012, 10:57 pm

What Ms Ireland is asking is Unconstitutional, and a felony criminal. She is asking us to stop the “killing of babies”‘ I imagine in her mind that means “stop abortions”. The only way to do that would be to commit a felony; and could cause harm to other human beings; in fact would cause injury.

She is using social media to use others to do this for her. Any lawyer could look at this (even not a very good one) and see there’s not a big difference with her request, and Charles Manson’s request to The Family.

On the other hand, The Barbi Twins are simply asking Ms Ireland to stop raising and selling fur. She is not asking for anyone to intervene, to hurt Ms. Ireland, to cause damage to the farm, simply to stop. A simple request.

Someone in the legal business should look at this story very carefully.

Ms Ireland seems dangerous to me…not to mention extremely cruel.
Sam Johnson
NYC
March 8, 2012, 10:29 pm

I believe
Paul Jefferies
Aurora Colorado
March 8, 2012, 9:14 pm

The fur industry is inherently cruel. Every aspect of it is designed to maximize profit, with no concern whatsoever for animal welfare. All for a product which is not even needed. Merely a fashion item for the rich.
Yvette Busot
Los Angeles
March 8, 2012, 7:52 pm

Kathy Ireland is just being defensive and deflecting. That’s great that she has championed social causes. Unfortunately, fur is extreme animal cruelty. Killing animals for vanity, skinning them alive, anal electrocution, clubbing… I don’t know why anyone would want to put their name on that. She is also propagating the myth that Human and animal rights are competing interests, which they are NOT–at least they don’t have to be. Compassion has no boundaries and conscientiousness has no limits….they’re as big, or small, as your your mind.
Katrin Kirschner
L.A.
March 8, 2012, 7:15 pm

Need money Kathy Ireland? GO DO SOME HONEST WORK INSTEAD OF PROMOTING THE CRUEL SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS!
What a b*tch! We’re talking “skinning alive” and you try to compromise this discussion by talking about babies!??
Are you insane?
No wonder nobody likes you!
We won’t stop until you’re bankrupt!
milan cronje
south africa
March 8, 2012, 7:09 pm

To ‘Curious’: You state that people make ill informed statements about the fur-industry fueled by cult groups(where did you get that from?) like Peta.You also state that people would be very surprised to learn what really happens on furfarms.You are absolutely right; People have been very surprised to learn what really happens to animals on furfarms and if you have a drop of compassion you would be repulsed to the bone! I,unlike you, I am very informed about what really happens on furfarms and you have to be psychotic to support the immense cruelty these beings suffer.I would be correct in assuming that you think these beings are ‘humanely’ killed.The outcome is exactly the same;Innocent beings are being slaughtered for the vulgar vanity of some humans.Barbi Twins have my complete support !
Bridget Curran
Halifax, NS Canada
March 8, 2012, 5:22 pm

The fur industry is inherently cruel. Anyone with an ounce of compassion in their heart and common sense in their head knows this to be true. Kathy Ireland talks of charitable work for babies and loves dogs, yet she turns a profit on the suffering of others, in this case fur-bearing animals. She is the worst kind of hypocrite. Shane and Sia Barbi have my full support to end the brutal skin and fur trade. Kathy Ireland should find an ounce of compassion in that ice cold heart of hers and stop paying someone to torture and murder animals for ugly clothes.
Curious
March 8, 2012, 4:58 pm

Everywhere there are hypocrites and ignorant people…..just seems like you can’t be rid of them. First of all….if you want to make statements about the fur industry and how the animals are treated, then maybe you should be informed, and learn about what actually happens out there. Your info is wrong, and skewed by cult groups such as PETA. Seriously look into the fur farming industry and I bet you would be surprised by what you find. On the other hand…seriously look into PETA…..what they do is not what they represent. On a last and (to me) pretty funny note, I wonder if these Barbi twins have ever been questioned on the product they are wearing IN their lips. Wearing fur has always happened…probably always will, but paying extreme amounts of money to inject your body with a product that is tested and KILLING thousands of animals just so you can look like you are going in anaphylaxis, seems pretty stupid to me. Check the facts people!

http://www.aerzte-gegen-tierversuche.de/en/resources/cosmetics/194-botox-animal-cruelty-for-a-questionable-beauty
Jonathan Livesley
UK
March 8, 2012, 4:41 pm

Go Barbi Twins indeed! Of course we should all show compassion to mankind, but not at the expense of showing compassion to animals. We can and should do both. It makes no sense at all to be campaigning ‘compassionately’ for people whilst profiting from the incarceration, torture, brutality and murder of fellow creatures. Especially when we have evolved so many cruelty free fashion alternatives. “Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all livings things, man will not himself find peace.” Albert Schweitzer. Beauty isn’t a coat made from tortured animals. Beauty is a compassionate soul.
Cili Robertson
Texas
March 8, 2012, 4:34 pm

I’m with the Barbi twins, anyone who parades around with the pelts of animals who are skinned alive, and murdered in other horrible ways,thinking they look glamorous
need to really take a good look at their black heart.
Lindie0
Canada
March 8, 2012, 4:10 pm

When I was younger, I used to think that animals were bred, raised and euthanized humanely for the use of their pelts, hides, and other body parts. Then, to my horror, the truth came crashing in on waves of campaigns from organizations like The Humane Society and PETA. I realized then how terribly naïve I’d been to think that animals were treated with respect by owners raising them for profit. Quite the opposite, animals are abused in heinous ways to make money off their bodies.

But that was then, and this is now. And NOW, with social media, I’m getting an even wider glimpse into the tortured hell on earth animals suffer every day to provide human(kind?) with fur to use in their “creations.” I am so sickened and appalled now, I would never buy fur, leather, feathers, and have also evolved to vegetarianism. And frankly, I can live with that. Easily.

Animal advocates like the Barbi Twins are heroes. They speak up for the voiceless and the choiceless; and I support them – all the way.
Ariel Rose
Vancouver
March 8, 2012, 4:01 pm

I am not sure how somebody, in this case Kathy Ireland, who engages in and supports violence on a level causing extreme suffering, could be congratulated for their compassion. I suppose that is the world we live in, one can contribute to horrendous things, but as long as they also do charity for the sake of looking good for the public they will continue to be hero’s.

The true hero’s are the Barbi Twins who have compassion for people and animals. Kathy Ireland has no compassion as far as I am concerned.
Mia
Brazil
March 8, 2012, 3:50 pm

I am with the twins 100%. Fur is unacceptable. To rip the skin off a live animal for vanity is barbaric. Anyone who wears fur should have their head checked.
Simone Netherlands
March 8, 2012, 3:47 pm

“Until we expand the circle of our compassion to all living beings, man himself will not find peace”. Albert Schweitzer.

How come that Albert Schweitzer and Albert Einstein had these wisdoms such a long time ago , how come people took to the streets in the 70′s to protest fur and the clubbing of baby seals, (which worked pretty well), yet today, we seem to be right back at square one?

Since when is it ok again to blatantly show off what suffering you have caused? Do we really need to freeze over our hearts to make our necks feel warm? I think not, we have plenty of fabrics that accomplish the same. We need to rethink “necessary”.

I believe it is a lack of being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. A lack of imagination to understand what it would feel like to be that innocent animal.

With Kathy it might not be a lack of compassion but a lack of imagination. If she would be there witnessing the process, the compassion might be there. Is it simply too difficult to begin to understand what it would be like to be another species? If it was her own dog that was being skinned alive, would she be able to understand? I do wonder.

Everyone who wears fur needs to go visit a fur farm and witness the killing process, in which they are skinned alive. They are skinned alive because in a more humane way, the fur would be damaged, and after death the skin does not come off as easily therefore it makes the process less time and profit efficient and thats what its all about, profit efficiency.

The saddest fact that I can think of about living in this day and age is that there is no limit to what people will do for a buck. It is the world we live in. We will not stop, until we have used every last resource on earth.

“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight”. Albert Einstein.
Kathy
Indiana, USA
March 8, 2012, 3:44 pm

The Barbi twins argument is one that is truth.
One can not turn on & off compassion when there is profit for them. kathy ireland is a disgrace to compassionate women who know that if we can not learn compassion and tolerance for God’s animals,, then mankind will never learn compassion and tolerance for mankind. kathy ireland is further ignorant in her comment about animal rights activists. We help other activists and bond with them in their fight for the environment, & human rights. A zillion points to the Barbi twins. ZERO for greedy, uneducated, no compassion kathy ireland
Patricia Betty
United kingdom
March 8, 2012, 2:59 pm

I feel sad that people like Kathy Ireland cannot embrace all life human and animal and work towards ending all suffering. The barbi twins are my absolute heroes. I wish all people could see the bigger picture like they do
George Coon
March 8, 2012, 2:40 pm

How do I feel about wearing fur? Put it this way. GO BARBI TWINS !

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