Leading article: The fur flies

It once seemed that the fashion for wearing fur was fading, as public attitudes shifted in a broadly progressive direction. But no. Cruelty is back, partly as a result of some clever marketing by the fur industry. It is time now to try to finish the job started by the shock tacticians of the early anti-fur campaigns. This time round, new tactics and a more considered response are required. The Independent on Sunday is not against fur; we are opposed to cruelty to animals.

So it would not be right to incite hostility towards anyone who appears to be wearing fur. It may be fake, or it may be humanely produced. The object of our campaign is to tighten up the classification and labelling of fur, so that people can have confidence in fur that is sold as cruelty-free. This should not include imported fur that may have been trapped or killed inhumanely; nor should it include fur from animals such as mink or foxes that have been farmed. They are wild animals not suited to domestication, that often die in distress.

Fur is a matter of personal choices as well as of political will. If people are provided with information about how fur is produced, we are confident that they will prefer to go cruelty-free. And we are confident that famous people who have the power to influence others will recognise their responsibilities.

So, Kate Moss: join our campaign today.