I have been a tanner for forty years – my great great grandfather was one too, when he came to South Africa to carry on his family trade from Cumbria in 1842.
I, like most of the good folk who read your column in the esteemed Leather, therefore identify with your sentiments on the activities of aforementioned individuals [PETA].
I am writing to seek your advice and possibly your help, and to offer some help in return. In April this year I am due to take over the presidency of the International Council of Tanners (ICT).
When I started attending council meetings of this organisation some eight or nine years ago (simply because nobody from my country seemed interested enough to give up a day before or after a major leather fair to do so), I was impressed and stimulated by the buzz and the pretty good attendance at these gatherings. Names like Koppany, Segerdahl and others graced the meetings with their presence. Since then, however, numbers have dropped, although actual country membership has remained pretty stable.
People just don’t come to meetings – they perceive no immediate threats dire enough to warrant a discussion, even for a day! In other words, country associations remain members (the fees are quite low), but no one pitches up to the meeting (this despite environmental, eco-labelling, restrictive trading, contract disputes…..).
And now animal rights!
I respect your anonymity – I myself am a part-time professional journalist in another field, and sometimes wish I could get away with a pen-name. However, should you be planning to come to Hong Kong for the APLF in April, would you consider delegating your shadow or alter ego to address the ICT Council meeting on the morning of Friday March 30?
It appears to me that the activities of these people could just be the single most serious threat to our industry in the next few years. What is more significant, is that it threatens tanners in developed countries right the way down to rural pit-diggers in darkest Africa.
Other issues, such as those outlined earlier, tend to affect certain areas more than others, while some, such as free trade in raw materials, will never be sorted out, as vested interests and politics are too deeply rooted.
If you are not able to accept our invitation, can you suggest anyone who may be able to give us some ideas on how to combat the threat. I like your idea of a website – ICT has a pretty bland one, so we would need to develop something much more punchy and attention-grabbing. It would be really great to get someone to speak to us/warn us of the potential danger, and facilitate a discussion on how we should go about combating it.
All suggestions welcome!
Tony Mossop
Mossop-Western Leathers
South Africa
