Yes

by Kate Manning

Created on: August 13, 2008

Sex sells! That is a fact. Therefore what better angle to take to attract attention to a good cause?
Even people who do not have an opinion on the use of fur, or even those who agree with wearing fur will at least notice the campaign ads, before they even know what they are about

Obviously, the first thing you notice are the naked people! Then, upon wondering why there are naked people, one realizes the message they are putting across. I believe that is an effective campaign. Advertisement is all about getting the public to notice and then encouraging their curiosity in order to send a message.

And who are the most noticed people on the planet? Celebrities of course! So, who better to enlist in a campaign that you are trying to get noticed.

And so followed PETA's naked protests. Originally inspired by a Florida lady called Holly Jensen, who fashioned a flesh colored leotard and stood solo on the roadside with a magic-marker sign reading "I'd rather go naked than wear a fur coat", PETA went one step further and stripped all clothes! Celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Michelle Manhart, Alicia Sliverstone, and numerous Playboy models among many others, have bared their flesh for the cause and aided PETA in getting the attention they aimed for.

Brandishing slogans, such as "I'd rather bare skin than wear skin" or "Skin looks better on its original owner" are memorable and attention grabbing phrases that make people stop and think if only for a moment, and it is these moments that can make a difference. Once PETA have gained the attention of the public with a more light-hearted, daring approach, they have the opportunity to expose the truths behind the fur industry and other acts of senseless cruelty, with the use of investigative videos and shocking footage of the ways these animals are treated and killed.

So why these methods? They are physically illustrating their message, that if given the choice between fur or nothing - being naked is the preferable alternative to wearing dead animals!

PETA have not only used the naked approach to campaign against fur, but to also promote their views on vegetarianism. Naked models have drawn on their bodies and labeled each part as to which cut of meat it would be - ie. Chuck, rib, sirloin, T-bone etc. This is certainly a different way of making people think about animals and the fact that they are treated as insignificant pieces of meat as opposed to living, breathing animals.

A testament to the effectiveness of the naked protests is apparent in the fact the fur sales have decreased since the emergence of these protests. That in itself answers the question!

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