By
Journalist Shen Yi
"Don't
wear the skin of dead animals on your body!" says Ingrid Newkirk, president
of the world's largest animal protection organization, PETA. Wearing
a cotton outfit she came to Formosa, the country with the most homeless
dogs, to appeal to the people to love and protect animals. In addition
to observing a vegetarian diet, her clothes are also all vegetarian.
Ingrid
only wears plant and chemical fabrics such as cotton, linen, rayon,
and nylon. She organized a massive parade called "I'd Rather Go Naked
Than Wear Fur" to protest against fur and leather manufacturers. "Why
do we have to go back to the stone age?" She explained to me that plant
and chemical fabrics are as good as fabrics made of animal hair, including
sheep's wool, in terms of warmth, ventilation, economy, and comfort.
In
1979, when she investigated a legal case of a farm harming animals,
she saved a dying piglet. On the way home, she remembered that there
was a pig's hoof in her freezer for dinner: "How ironic!" she said,
and since then has stopped eating meat.
"The
atmosphere of a room with only vegetarian cooking is always fresh, but
in a room with meat cooking, there is always a 'warm death' smell --
the most frightening death smell." Ingrid said. "Besides, the dying
animals are terrified and hence release harmful substances in their
flesh. This is evidenced by the fact that most people feel heavy and
sleepy after eating meat. How can you have the heart to cook harmful
food for your loved ones?
During
her visit to Formosa, Ingrid often went to a tofu store for meals. "In
Western countries, vegetarian and health food stores are becoming more
popular, but there are no stores specializing in selling tofu. I want
to convince the store owner to open a tofu chain store in New York.
I'm sure that the business would be extremely good!"
The
current ideological trend in the West is against the maltreatment and
killing of animals. Ingrid gave some examples: "Vegetarian" brand shoes,
not leather shoes, have become popular in American and Canada. Young
people like this brand very much, although it is expensive; and it is
frequently imitated. On Armani brand man-made leather coats, their slogan
is: "Thank Armani for not using our skin."
Paul
McCartney, one of the lead singers of the ex-Beatles, often wears a
"No Fur" button in his public appearances to call attention to this
issue and encourage more people to protect animals. His daughter Stella,
a vegetarian at the age of fifteen, later became a vegetarian fashion
clothing designer. Ingrid believes that Paul's actions have tremendously
affected public opinion.
Ingrid
occasionally wears light cosmetics. "No doubt," she smilingly said,
"I only use brands like Clinque, the Body Shop, and Revlon. They are
made without being tested on animals." 
