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Yvette Bozsik, Renowned Hungarian Artist and Choreographer
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International Grand Prize Winning poster: Mike Blain |
Yvette Bozsik, a renowned Hungarian dance artist and choreographer, gave her support to the youth of today by publicly recognizing their dedication and talent for helping animals. Students worldwide had designed posters to stop consumers purchasing fur coats and trim.
A dedicated supporter of the work of the international Fur Free Alliance (FFA), comprised of over 35 animal protection organizations representing millions of members world-wide, and the Budapest based Fauna Society, Ms Bozsik personally presented Canadian Michael Blain with a check for 5,000 EURO from the FFA for being the Grand Prize Winner of the 2004 Design Against Fur International Student Poster Design Competition. Part of his prize was a trip from his school, Conestoga College, located in Kitchener, Ontario to Budapest. As first prizewinner for Canada he had earlier received $1,000 CAD.
Michael Blain's winning poster is of a label on a fur garment with the wording: "100% trapped, tortured and slaughtered Fox Trim. Will you recognize the truth?" Michael Blain states, "It is such an honour to win the grand prize for the 2004 International Design Against Fur contest. Working on this project has taught me that animals are just as capable of suffering as people, and deserve to live free of exploitation at the hands of the fur industry."
Co Chair of the FFA and Director of Respect for Animals, Mark Glover states, "Michael Blain won over 1,700 students from 250 schools representing more than 20 countries worldwide. This was our second annual international competition to create posters sending a compassionate message to consumers to stop the suffering of animals by not buying or wearing fur or fur trim. Next year we expect to double participation in the competition."
Andrew Plumbly, Director of the Montreal Canada based Global Action Network, states, "Global Action Network is thrilled to see a Canadian student win the grand prize for the 2004 international Design Against Fur competition. This contest is an important way for students in the creative arts to provide a meaningful contribution to ending the cruel Canadian fur trade, an industry that slaughters over 2 million animals every year in Canada."
According to Levente Pencz, Director of the Budapest based Fauna Society, "It is by reaching out to students that we can help them learn about how animals are treated by the fur industry before their skins become a fur coat or fur trim. It's a real eye opener for students. We've had a tremendous response from students in Hungary and we're thrilled that Julianna Kasza, from Hungary, won first prize for the Europe and International Regional Contest."
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European Regional Competition First Prize winning poster: |
Julianna Kasza, a student at the Hungarian University of Craft & Design and the first prizewinner of the Europe and International Regional Contest states, "The furrier's aim in manufacturing a fur coat is to change an animal from a living being to a lifeless object. My poster, in depriving a fox of its eyes and vision, is the same as furriers depriving a fox of every possibility in its life to run, to sleep, to eat, to cry or just lie on the grass. The animal steps from living to lifelessness—a mere object—with no say in the process. The animal's skin and fur become a coat and the animal no longer exists."
According to Nicki Brooks, Co Chair FFA and Founder/Director of Respect for Animals, "Many people are misled into thinking fur-trim is made from the 'leftovers' of full-length fur coats. To the contrary, more animals are used each year for fur trim than for fur coats and 90% of factory farmed foxes are killed for fur trim alone. Young people set fashion trends and 50% of fur and fur trim is currently purchased by consumers younger than 40 years of age. It is critically important that the younger generation be knowledgeable about the fur trade and use their knowledge to protect animals."
Yvette Bozsik states, "It's obvious that to wear expensive, snobbish fur coats is completely unnecessary. I feel great wearing fake fur coats and accessories. I think that how we treat animals is a sign of the progress of a society. I know that this issue is in its infancy in Hungary. I hope that because Hungary has joined the European Union, we will be more cultivated on all points, especially in respect to the treatment of animals and children."
Dr. John Grandy, senior vice-president for wildlife and habitat protection of the Humane Society of the Unites States (the HSUS) and Co-Secretariat of the FFA states, "It is the youth of today that lead the fashion and consumer trends. They are the ones that have the power to end the cruelty inflicted on animals by the fur trade. The Design Against Fur competition gives students an outlet to engage their talents and expertise to make a real difference for animals. It is their talent that can make this a better world for animals."
Contact Phone Numbers:
NOTE: Dr. John Grandy, Michael Blain, Yvette Bozsik & Julianna Kasza can be contacted through Mark Glover & Nicki Brooks
Mark Glover & Nicki Brooks, Respect for Animals (English speaking only):
Cell #1: 0044-7850-768337 Cell #2: 0044-7967-096477
Levente Pencz, Fauna Society:ĘTel 0036-205-872-372, Cell 00 36 20 5872372
Andrew Plumbly, Global Animal Network, Canada: Tel 514 939-5525, Cell 514-582-4670
Over 40 million animals are killed worldwide every year just for their fur.
This equates to one animal killed every single second of every minute of every day.
The Fur Free Alliance believes that the international fur trade is cruel and unnecessary and its
member organisations work peacefully in many countries to bring it to an end.
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