[pct-l] ethical considerations of down insulation

[kryhorchuk at gmail.com (Kent Ryhorchuk)]

You want Eider Down - it is gatherd from the abandoned nests of the
endangered Eider Duck. Not only does it meet your ethical criteria,
but it is the very best down available. On the _downside_, it is
incredibly expensive... *ducks* :)

Google for Eider Down, you will find more information.

Kent.

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 08:17:43 -0800 (PST), Eliza Schissel
<eliza_schissel@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> I'm in the thick of planning my 2005 thru-hike, my first journey of this kind, and growing more excited by the day. Now I'm debating whether to buy synthetic or down insulation to sew a sleeping quilt, and all ethics aside, I'd choose down for all its advantages. But I just don't feel right about it? The geese are raised for food (the production of foie gras being at best an uncomfortable process, and very likely a painful one, where the geese are force-fed through metal tubes injected down their throats) and are "live-plucked" every six-months until they're slaughtered. The plucking itself causes considerable pain to the geese, who are hung by their necks and tied at their feet while having their feathers pulled from their sensitive skin.
> 
> Geese will pluck their own feathers to insulate their eggs in their nests, so I figure, somebody's got to be raising geese and collecting the "self-plucked" down from the nests after the eggs have hatched? Does anybody know of a retailer or farmer who collects down in this way???
> 
> Is anybody hoping to hike vegan (food, gear, and all) this summer? I'd love to share ideas. Thanks very much , and be well. See you all out there!
> 
> Betsy
> 
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