HELSINKI, 22 MAY 2015 – Over a thousand people came out to show their support for a Fur Farm Free Finland in an international demonstration in Helsinki on thursday the 21st of May. An international petition with 200 000 signatures from more than 100 countries was handed over to the new Finnish parliament calling for an end to fur farming in Finland.

In addition, the world’s largest animal rights organization, PETA, handed over 20 000 signatures, calling for an end to fur farming, to the newly elected parliamentarians. The Prime Minister – Designate Juha Sipilä and the members of parliament also received a letter from the international umbrella organisation Eurogroup for Animals and the coalition Fur Free Alliance urging Finland to ban fur farming. Salla Tuomivaara, Director for Animalia, states:

‘Finland does not seem to have understood how other European countries are looking at fur farming’

The demonstration was the first one to be organized in co-operation between the Finnish and Estonian organisations. Among the organizers were the Fur Free Alliance members Loomus as well as Animalia and Eurogroup for Animals’ member SEY Finnish animal protection association. A large number of Fur Free Alliance members – among which the Swedish organizations Djurens Rätt and Djurrättsalliansen, the Chinese organization ACTAsia and the Dutch Bont voor Dieren – participated to show their support.