Tough Shoes to Fill
June 1, 2007 - 5:27PM
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and soccer glamour boy David Beckham have become central figures in an Australian kangaroo cruelty campaign in the US.
At stake is a potential export market worth tens of millions of dollars for the Australian kangaroo export industry and the right for Californian sports stars to wear shoes made from soft, lightweight kangaroo skin.
It is illegal to import kangaroo skins and meat to California, but Schwarzenegger is likely rule in September whether to keep the ban.
California is the only US state to have the ban.
The prospect of Schwarzenegger legalising the importation of kangaroo has angered US animal rights activists, who have responded by launching a state-wide campaign.
"People are opposed to kangaroo slaughter and are opposed to wearing kangaroo skin on their feet," People for Ethical Treatment of Animals campaign co-ordinator Melissa Karpel said today.
PETA has recently campaigned against the Australian wool industry over blowfly prevention techniques.
"We'll be letting people know how to contact the governor," she said.
Beckham, the former English captain and the face of adidas' soccer shoe line, finds himself in a precarious position just weeks before joining his new American club, Los Angeles Galaxy.
Last year he announced he would wear a synthetic version of adidas' Predator soccer boots, instead of styles made from kangaroo skin.
Beckham, whose Spice Girl wife Victoria is a devout vegetarian, made the decision after viewing graphic videos of the culling of kangaroos in Australia, including a joey being cut out of its mother's pouch and battered with a blunt instrument.
It has been adidas, which has spent more than $US435,000 ($A526,000) lobbying the California legislature, and the LA Galaxy, that have led the fight to have the ban overturned.
The LA Galaxy argues its players are at a disadvantage as other clubs outside California playing in America's Major League Soccer competition can wear kangaroo leather shoes, which are light and soft.
"It is unfair to have these products freely available for commercial purchase in all of the other 49 states and not here," Alexi Lalas, president of the LA Galaxy, wrote in testimony filed with the California Senate.
On Tuesday, after four years of failed attempts, adidas and the LA Galaxy were successful when the Senate passed a bill that would allow kangaroo product to be imported and sold in California if the species was not protected by laws in the US and abroad.
There are 55 species of kangaroo and six, including red, eastern and western, that can be commercially harvested in Australia.
The next hurdle for adidas and the LA Galaxy is California's Assembly.
If the assembly approves the bill it will then go to Schwarzenegger who could sign it and make it law or veto it.
"If the bill does pass the assembly we will ask Governor Schwarzenegger to veto the bill," Karpel said. (Source: AAP)
And a letter to the Governor by The Honourable Richard Jones (AWPC Patron) and former MLC NSW Government...
To: Governor Arnold SchwarzeneggerState Capital
Sacramento, California 95814
USA
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger
Governor Ronald Reagan signed the bill to ban the imports of kangaroo products into California at a time when kangaroos were in crisis.
Today over thirty years later, kangaroos are in an even greater crisis.
We are suffering what has been reported as the worst drought in a thousand years, most likely exacerbated by climate change.
Vast numbers of pregnant females are now being killed to satisfy an industry which is growing while the kangaroo population is declining. When a female dies, her young in her pouch and her older young at foot both die with her. The cruelty is unimaginable.
I ask you Governor to please veto the recently passed legislation allowing resumption of kangaroo imports into California. Please don't undo the good work of Governor Reagan.
Best wishes
The Hon Richard Jones
Former Member of the NSW
Legislative Council
7th June 2007
To Have your say - you can email the governor by visiting his website www.govmail.ca.gov/ or his postal address is:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capital
Sacramento, California 95814
USA
