Nude PETA Members Tell the Naked Truth About Bearskins

Wearing nothing but bear masks and with their nude bodies sprawled on the ground, dozens of members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Europe – symbolizing black bears slaughtered in Canada for the palace guards' caps – held a “die-in” in Parliament Square on Sunday calling on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Ministry of Defence to stop the needless killing of bears for the guards' ceremonial headwear. Four PETA activists who were without masks held signs that read, “Bears Slaughtered for Queen's Guards ? Indefensible!”

The provocative display came as Parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) 1756, which called for the use of faux fur in the guards' caps, had at that point garnered the signatures of almost 170 compassionate MPs (more than 200 MPs ended up supporting the EDM). The EDM enabled MPs to draw attention to the issue and generate support for their views by inviting other MPs to add their signatures. PETA aims for the use of bearskins to be debated in the House of Commons.

You Can Help!

Bears aren't crops to be "harvested"; they are individuals who live in families and feel pain and terror when they are shot. Today, please ask your MP (you can find his or her name and contact information by typing in your postcode at www.locata.co.uk/commons or by calling 020 7219 4272) to urge the British government to stop its continued financial support of the slaughter of black bears for ceremonial purposes.