People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has announced a special award for Meghalaya minister James Sangma for his plans to encourage the local farmers to produce vegan pineapple-leather.
PETA India announced the ‘Progressive Business Concept Award’ for Meghalaya environment and forest minister, James Sangma. It is said that the adoption of vegan pineapple-leather will also protect animals and the environment.
Besides this, Meghalaya is also planning to open a climate change museum and introduce climate change into school curricula.
“Sangma has rightly identified the climate crisis as ‘a defining challenge of our times’, and he’s already taking steps to address one of the biggest culprits: animal agriculture,” PETA India senior campaigns coordinator Radhika Suryavanshi said on October 13.
“PETA India looks forward to seeing Meghalaya create new opportunities for farmers while helping to save the planet and animals’ lives through a thriving pineapple-leather industry,” she added.
According to the United Nations, animal agriculture – which includes animals killed for clothing – is responsible for nearly a fifth of human-induced greenhouse-gas emissions.
“To keep the skins of cows, buffaloes, and other animals used for leather from rotting, tanneries use a variety of caustic, toxic chemicals, which pollute waterways. One of the most widely used chemicals in the tanning process is chromium, which can cause cancer in workers exposed to it,” Suryavanshi said.
She said that the leather industry also causes animal suffering on a massive scale. Cattle used for leather in India are often crammed into vehicles in such large numbers that their bones break.
“Those who survive the gruelling journey to the slaughterhouse endure agonizing deaths: their throats are cut in full view of other animals, and many are dismembered while they’re still conscious,” Suryavanshi said.
