USA on war

As we go to press with our October issue everyone's thoughts are centred on the horrendous events that have occurred in the heartlands of America. Quite apart from the sheer destruction and the thousands of people killed, the scale of the terrorist attack could result in a war between the mighty USA and Muslim fundamentalists in the Middle East. This is a terrifying spectre. All this rather puts our own industry's woes in the shade but it has not been a good summer one way or another. Prime and Salz announced impending closure of their tanneries in the US shortly after we published our survey of the USA, which contained sufficient bad news to alert us to the unhappy times being experienced there. In gathering information for our raw materials report for this issue, we learn that two major exporters in Australia have appointed receivers during recent months. In the UK, Pearce/Pebody closed their doors at the end of August and we heard that Connollys, who are interested in producing wet-blue there, have shut their finishing and cutting plant in the US. Foot and mouth rages on and in terms of the number of animals slaughtered the UK epidemic is the worst ever recorded. India is still under attack from PETA. Their latest press release to the leather industry states: 'Retail giants Eddie Bauer, L L Bean, Timberland and Casual Corner have told PETA that they will not purchase leather from India until the government there takes steps to enforce basic animal protection laws. 'The companies, along with Travel 2000 and German-based Bader, join a host of other international retailers - including Gap, J Crew, Liz Claiborne and Florsheim - that have shunned Indian skins since finding the mistreatment of animals killed in India for leather, documented by PETA, to be completely unacceptable.' It angers me that PETA refuse to acknowledge that animals are not killed for their hides and skins. I abhor the mistreatment of animals anywhere and for any purpose. But compared with what man is prepared to do to others of their own species - in the name of religion? - politics? - I am bereft of words.....