PETA is calling on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to stop using bear pelts to make headpieces for the five guards regiments and to have the hats fashioned from luxurious faux fur instead.

Bears are cruelly killed for their hides; they are either shot during hunts or ensnared, possibly for days, in painful traps. During hunts, as many as one bear in seven is not killed immediately after being shot, and some escape wounded, possibly dying later from blood loss or starvation. In some Canadian provinces, there are no restrictions on the shooting of mothers who have nursing cubs, leading to the slaughter of entire families during hunts. For nearly two centuries, the MoD has waged a war on black bears while doing nothing to further the search for synthetic materials. In fact, when it was presented with high-tech synthetic materials by PETA - sourced from leading faux-fur manufacturers around the world and made to the MoD's own specifications - the MoD was quick to make negative comments about the faux fur, saying that it "lacks life" and "doesn't bounce back". Instead of financially supporting the shameful slaughter of black bears, Great Britain should set a compassionate example by switching to a humane and progressive alternative and committing to stopping the killing. These bears' slaughter may only produce three Grenadier Guards' hats.

Please write a polite letter requesting a reply and urging Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth, MP, to immediately stop supporting the killing of bears while the MoD works on replacing the real fur used in the guards' hats with cruelty-free faux fur:

The Rt Hon. Bob Ainsworth,
MP Secretary of State for Defence Ministry of Defence,
Main Building
London SW1A 2HB

Please also sign the petition: http://action.peta.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=5&ea.campaign.id=2149