In 1998, Bryan Adams was promoted to the rank of Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to common music and his philanthropic work throughout numerous causes. Twenty-six years later, the (All the pieces I Do) I Do It for You” singer’s dedication to animal rights has landed him a brand new goal that’s fairly near dwelling — the Canadian Armed Forces.
In a brand new PETA video shared solely with Billboard, the Grammy winner particulars how bears undergo harrowing, drawn-out deaths for the fur used to make ornamental headpieces worn by the CAF’s Ceremonial Guards. As PETA’s graphic, investigative footage depicts, leisure hunters in Ontario bait the animals with buckets of meals earlier than taking pictures them with crossbows after which disemboweling and dismembering them. Whereas hunters save the bears’ physique elements as trophies, based on PETA, additionally they promote the skins to patrons who make ceremonial headgear.
“Shot bears don’t at all times die immediately. Determined and in ache, some bears flee the hunters and endure a sluggish, painful loss of life from an infection or blood loss,” Adams narrates within the video. “Nursing moms are typically shot, abandoning cubs who starve, unable to outlive on their very own.”
“The Canadian authorities is endorsing this cruelty by utilizing actual bear fur on its navy caps, although military-grade fake bear fur now exists,” the musician concludes within the video. (PETA U.Okay. and luxurious fake furrier ECOPEL have developed a substitute state-of-the-art fake fur to be used.) “Inform the Canadian authorities to finish the cruelty and go fur-free.”
In an announcement to Billboard, Andrée-Anne Poulin, a spokesperson for Canada’s Division of Nationwide Defence, defined that the DND and the CAF have already converted to utilizing artificial fur “the place doable,” citing the shift away from the fur-lined winter equipment that dominated the nineteenth century.
“It’s essential to notice that the majority of the bearskin hats worn by the Ceremonial Guard are greater than 20 years previous and are well-maintained from the thorough care they’ve acquired over the many years,” Poulin says. “DND/CAF refurbish and lengthen the lifetime of the prevailing hats, taking each effort to solely re-use bearskins that have been beforehand acquired.”
Animal rights usually are not the one trigger Adams is elevating his flag for. In February, the Grammy winner shared “Somebody’s Daughter, Somebody’s Son,” an unique tune written for the Lorna Tucker-helmed documentary of the identical identify that stands as name to motion towards the worldwide wrestle of homelessness.
Watch Bryan Adams and PETA’s new video calling for the Canadian Armed Forces to finish its use of bearskin caps. (Warning: The video incorporates graphic content material.)
