What Do Kangaroos Have To Do With Connecticut? It’s All About Soccer Shoes
This is the third time in recent months that CT News Junkie has published a story regarding wildlife and the inhumane treatment of animals, and the third time that its coverage of animal issues has been less than balanced or taken seriously. that the subject deserves.
The most recent example is Susan Bigelow’s January 17 notice that referenced HB 5113, regarding the use of kangaroo skins in products imported for sale in the United States. In my opinion, it was flippant, dismissive and detrimental to the pursuit of a constructive dialogue.
In her “analysis”, she declares: “What is it? Apparently it’s a real thing… I didn’t know that. I don’t know what to think about it. Admittedly, this is a new topic for CT voters and the bills on the Statement of Intent don’t offer much detail, but a little homework would have given him the information needed to make a ” more informed analysis” that she, in turn, could have shared with NewsJunkie’s readership.
Allow me to make up for the lack of information and share with NewsJunkie readers that this, indeed, “really is a real thing” and a tragedy that deserves recognition. Each year, more than two million kangaroos are brutally killed in Australia, one of the largest massacres of native wildlife in the world. More than 400,000 joeys (baby kangaroos in the pouch) are killed by blunt force trauma to the head, usually done by smashing the young animal’s head against the bumper of a truck. This inhumane practice is done at night with hunters unable to see if the joey is still alive. Seriously injured joeys are left to suffer and die needlessly.
What does this wildlife desecration have to do with Connecticut? These are football boots (aka cleats) made from hides from the two million slaughtered kangaroos – and their ultimate sale in retail stores across CT and other states. The skins are used for a small number of football boot models manufactured primarily by Nike and Adidas. Other athletic shoe manufacturers have banned the practice, others promise to do so in the near future as athletic shoe companies no longer make products from wildlife. Nike and Adidas are the big holdouts. California has already banned the sale, and several states, including New Jersey, have similar bills pending with CT, with several others considering the same.
Do we want CT consumers to participate in this cruelty pipeline? The answer is a decisive no. When alerted to the connection between football boot sales and the killing of kangaroos, the people of our state will want nothing to do with this kind of business. News Junkie’s reporters and regular opinion writers may think these topics don’t deserve better treatment, but I believe the people of Connecticut would disagree with that opinion.
CT Votes for Animals thanks Rep. David Michel for sponsoring HB 5113, for his leadership as co-chair of the Animal Advocacy Caucus, and for all of his other bills that recognize the importance animals play in a civilized society. .
Jo-Anne Basile, General Manager
Ct vote for animals
ctvotesforanimals.org
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