Madam, - Notwithstanding the awful events unfolding in the Middle East with their attendant and in some cases obscene media coverage, my attention was nonetheless taken with a recent documentary in the Fíorscéal series on TG4 (shown on Wednesday, March 19th).
This programme revealed the mind-numbing cruelty inflicted upon creatures, primarily cats and dogs, in the Far East (with China, Thailand and Philippines specifically mentioned) to satisfy largely Western demand for fur and leather clothing, and also to supply products for the household gift market.
The images portrayed were simply nauseating!
I'm left to wonder, in spite of events which currently preoccupy the world's media, whether there exists any residual morality or kindness among our consumer-driven Western society when it comes to consideration of the appalling suffering inflicted upon our fellow creatures, in countries such as above, in pursuit of our unceasing demand for products which are merely fashion accessories and cheaply ornamental. - Yours, etc.,
JAMES HEALY, Kimmage, Dublin 12.