To ask that people consider giving up leather?

[Breadandwine]

I’ve been a vegan for 13 years. My concerns are animal welfare and global warming, plus I feel it's good for my health.

With regard to animal welfare, I have issues with every aspect of animal husbandry - but I have to be honest, until now, I haven’t given much thought to leather. I avoid it, certainly - it took several years of delicate negotiations before I persuaded my wife to accept a faux leather suite instead of the leather one she wanted - but I’ve always thought leather to be a by-product of the dairy industry.

Not so. An article by Lucy Siegle in this morning’s Observer Magazine brought me up short.

Leather production seems to be worse than other forms of animal cruelty in that humans are suffering too:

"Finally the animals are skinned (in front of each other) in the back streets of Dhaka. The skins are processed in makeshift tanneries with workers, including children, knee deep in toxic chemicals."

I'm vegetarian and wear some leather shoes, it is hard to get comfortable ones that are not. I never buy leather bags though, plenty of lovely non leather bags and you don't really need a bag at all. It is really sad that more people don't consider animal welfare when making choices.

Yanbu to ask, though I doubt anyone will take you up on your suggestion.

YANBU to ask but YABU to expect me to listen to you. I have deformed foot bones and I shall be wearing my comfy leather shoes anyway.

Does faux leather make you feel sweaty if you sit on it? I'm a vegan, but I understand people keeping inherited leather, as I think it's horrific that an animal would have died in order for it to be made and then it's thrown out, because other people don't agree with it. I know that would sound strange/hypocritical, but I feel it's much more disrespectful to dump the product, because it's no longer fashionable.

Yanbu - I won't read article but I can only imagine. I do have a leather sofa and will only always buy leather shoes/ boots that last and are better for your feet.

I would rather the animals were treated more humanely and there were options to ethical leather itms if we didn't eat meat or buy the products the animals wouldn't exist.

I remember something about snakes being treated appallingly

Nope. Hate plastic anything, especially shoes, they make my feet uncomfortable.

Love my red meat too, it's good for me. It is loaded with minerals, antioxidants and nutrients and I'm not giving it up. not that you're asking me to!

I think I would ask where the leather came from esp if toxic chemicals are harming children forced to work in such environments.

We have leather sofas because of the high rate of dust mite allergy in our family.

not linked to topic but my son could never be a vegan, due to his severe allergies. Stops us having many veggie meals as well. which is a shame.

Vegan shoes have improved recently - Will's vegan shoes are very good, they are breathable and made of some sort of microfibre. I have some lace up brown suede type boots that have been much admired (heels, not DM type).

Joke

Q. How can you tell if someone's vegan?
A. Don't worry, they'll tell you!

YANBU to ask so long as you don't get aggressive when people say no. I don't want to be subjected to abuse because I have made a particular choice and as I respect your choices and opinions, I ask mine are respected as well.

Yabu. Your choice not wearing leather but pushing that on others is very rude. Leather is a very useful material for many things including shoes. Plastic shoes yuk! I dont even own flip flops. Do you think plastic is good for the environment op?

And of course it's a vegan posting this.
Yanbu to ask, yabu to think it will happen. I won't be taking you up on it, thanks.

"In fact you haven't even read the first sentence in my OP!"

I didn't need to.

I knew from the thread title in Active. Quite possible other posters did too.

I have a question for people who are vegan/vegetarian because of ethical reasons:-

Do you take prescribed medicines or do you treat yourself with herbs?

And would you not let your children be treated with prescribed medicines?

This is a genuine question by the way because of prescribed drugs being tested on animals. I've never asked in real life

AIBU to ask you to give up being a vegan and eat a big, fat, juicy steak for dinner tonight?

Oh bugger, that reminds me my newly vegan, disciple of deliciously Ella SIL is coming this weekend. I better keep some money aside for a takeaway.

And I agree with Derek

You can ask if you want but I'm not going to give up leather. I just got given a second hand leather sofa a couple weeks ago, I'm not getting rid of that! Can I ask you to stop buying any new items and only buy second hand as that's much better for the environment etc.?

Shame about all the vegan bashing on this thread. Hello Breadandwine I am with you on this one & YANBU to ask people to consider giving up leather. (vegan wine obv)

I eat meat. I would rather all parts of the animals killed be used. So I'll continue buying leather goods.

Shame about all the vegan bashing on this thread.

It's also a shame someone who is also for people to give up leather isn't willing to discuss the issue.

You can ask but we can also say no. Veganism is a lifestyle choice that I don't wish to take - happy for you to do so, however.

But no - I don't want to give up leather shoes. There is already too much plastic in the world.

I like meat. If I'm ok eating it then I'm ok to wear it

You wear meat

OP YANBU to ask. However I won't be giving it up.

You wear meat

Bacon hats are all the rage these days, don't you know?

Is there vegan bashing though? I wouldn't dream of asking a vegan to eat meat so one shouldn't be asking me to give up my leather shoes! It's a ridiculous request