PETA Threatens to Hold Protest to Call Queen’s Attention on Use of Bear Fur by Honor Guards
Controversy appears to await Queen Elizabeth even before she arrived on Wednesday night in Canberra. An animal rights group is threatening to hold a protest while Queensland flood victims feel slighted by the non-inclusion of their area in what could be the royal's last visit to Australia.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have threatened to hold a protest to bring to the Queen's attention the use by her majesty's honor guards of ceremonial hats made from the fur of black bears.
"No tradition on earth can justify this cruelty," PETA spokeswoman Karen Vincent said referring to the killing of black bears to manufacture the ceremonial hat.
The 10-day itinerary of the 85-year-old monarch includes a river cruise that will go past flood-affected zones in Brisbane. She is also slated to attend a reception for affected residents with 200 people invited to the event, which excluded Ipswich residents.
"It's a bit disappointing they haven't contacted people who are at the frontline of the emergency response.... Even the Dalai Lama made sure he spread his time evenly between Ipswich and Brisbane," News.com.au quoted Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale.
A spokeswoman for Premier Anna Bligh explained that the Queen would be in Brisbane for only half a day and the reception guest list was based on a roster drawn by government departments.
Of course, there is the usual pro-republic protesters in Melbourne who would again air their desire to severe ties with the royalty with slogans of "Go Home." However, the Queen has been used to such protests and even smiles gracefully to the anti-royalists.
"They don't need to take to the streets - we already know that some are opposed to the monarchy so what will they gain by telling us over and over again?" Mail Online quoted Australian Monarchist League official Matthew Archer.
Locals, however, highly anticipate the visit of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, including hundreds of school children who will line up the streets of Canberra to give her a royal welcome.
