Joanne Chang, spokesperson for animals rights group Liberation B.C., didn't intend to go nude today for the 20th anniversary of National Anti-Fur day. There are 22 demonstrations planned in cities across Canada for the campaign -- and Vancouver activists traditionally, ahem, bear it all.
When The Tyee specifically asked to speak to one of the participants yesterday, Chang changed her mind.
"It's hard to be the spokesperson and be nude at the same time...you know, with your boobs right there on camera. The person I assigned to be spokesperson bailed," she said.
"I'll take my clothes off, honest. If that's what gets media attention."
Chang, who has participated before, said it is a great a way to get a lot of publicity for a subject people often don't want to hear about -- the torture of animals for fashion's sake. She said there will be six or seven other nude protesters outside the Bay this afternoon.
"It's both symbolic and a way to get attention," said Glenn Gaetz, another participant.
"It puts ourselves in a similar situation, a position of being an object. Most people don't consider fur-bearing animals as more than a part of nature, but they really are beings that feel and suffer."
Colleen Kimmett is a regular contributor to the Hook.
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