Despite a long lasting controversy, it now looks as if Parliament (Storting) will not suggest shutting down the fur industry in Norway, the newspaper Nationen reports.According to the newspaper, there is no mention of a shut-down in the coalition government's upcoming white paper on agriculture, in spite of both the Socialist Left Party (SV) and the Labor Party (AP) voting for closure. It therefore looks like the third coalition party, the Centre Party (SP) will have their way in the question about whether or not the fur industry in Norway should continue to operate, despite animal activists and protesters having unveiled both illegal and shocking conditions at fur farms across the country.
All three Parliamentary groups have very different views on the fur industry, but agreed on a gradual liquidation of fur farming at the Labor Party’s annual meeting.
On November 13, several thousand people protested against the Norwegian fur farming in the streets of Oslo. However, the Centre Party will not present an agriculture report that suggests shutting down fur farming in Norway, said Irene Lange Nordahl, a party spokesperson, to Nationen.
Member of Parliament, Heikki HolmÂs (SV) made it clear that he does not think the battle against fur farming is over. Both the Labor Party (AP) and SV would still like to see the industry wind down.
The Norwegian Animal Protection Alliance is now preparing to come up with the arguments and facts needed to challenge the Labor Party and Socialist Left Party to fight for better conditions for these animals, and eventually closing down then entire industry, explains Live Kleveland, a spokesperson for the alliance.
In several other European countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Italy, and the Netherlands, the fur industry has already been closed down, or is in the process of liquidating.
(NRK)
Julie Ryland
