Javier Culotte loved to wear shoes,
He liked them in reds and he loved them in blues.
He sometimes wore tall ones, sometimes they were flat,
But none of them were leather, he made sure of that.
***
“Leather is not natural,” said Javier Culotte,
“It’s been tanned with dangerous chemicals.
The tanning makes sure the skin won’t rot,
So it’s not even bio-degradable.”
***
“The stink and the waste and the toxins from tanning,
Are not pleasant things to live by.
So most of it’s done a long way away,
In poor developing countries.”
***
“They use arsenic and cadmium, chromium and lead,
Mercury, nickel and cobalt.
They use copper and zinc, formaldehyde, nuf said,
Bad for feet, bad for health, bad by default.”
***
“These metals and dyes and organic compounds,
Are present in the leather.
They leak and may poison the skin of the wearer,
Through contact, through sweat, through blister.”
***
“It’s bad for the wearer and bad for the tanner,
And it’s carcinogenic to boot.
When dumped it poisons the Earth and ground water
So wearing it’s not too astute.”
***
“Whatever you want there’s no need for concern,
Vegan footwear has come a long way.
It has the style and function and quality you yearn,
For everything you need day to day.”
Bikers and workers who shun leather gear
Opt for armoured, steel toe-capped synthetics.
They feel safe in their weather-proof, hi-viz gear
Made from quality, long-lasting fabrics.
***
Javier Culotte loved to wear shoes,
He liked them in reds and he loved them in blues.
He sometimes wore tall ones, sometimes they were flat,
But none of them were leather, he made sure of that.
****
Sources:
http://www.inspirationgreen.com/toxins-in-leather-shoes.html
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/leather-industry/leather-environmental-hazards/
Vegan shoes:
http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/
Vegan Motorcyclist:
http://www.bebenroth.com/vegan%20motorcyclist/motorcyclist.html
http://www.peta.org/living/fashion/cruelty-free-gear-vegan-motorcyclist/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vegan-Motorcyclists/129648463741351
Violet's Vegan Comics 
Those blue boots are utterly fabulous.
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Thank you, I think so too 😀 They’re purple and gorgeous and I’ve had them for ten years now. I’ve had the soles replaced twice but they still look as good as they did when I got them 😀 Good ole Vegetarian Shoes!
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10 years?! That’s amazing. Obviously a sound footwear investment.
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Yeah! They are expensive but you certainly get your money’s worth if you don’t need any new shoes for over a decade 😀
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This is great!
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Thank you 🙂
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Reblogged this on wwwpalfitness.
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Thanks for the reblog 🙂
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You are very welcome 🙂
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Very intriguing poem and great information! (Well not great about the carcinogenic leather, but great quality facts!)
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Thank you 🙂
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Thanks for the information. I didn’t know anything about this process.
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Thank you for the information and the shopping tips Violet. 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂
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Don’t know why but when I read this out loud Javier went from C21 Frenchman to C14 Chaucerian – But, that aside, I liked this a lot – good message and put across well – thank you! G:)
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Ha ha ha 🙂 it’s funny you say that because, when I wrote it, Javier started out fully Spanish, his surname was De Toro, but then I needed it to rhyme with with ‘rot’ so I changed it to Culotte 😀 I love picturing you reading it aloud – thank you for making me laugh x
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We had a tannery in the town where I grew up. It’s closed now thank goodness but I still remember the stink!
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I pity anyone that lives anywhere near one – not just for the stink but the also the hazard to their health according to what I’ve just been reading. Terrible.
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I’ll try not to think about it. I’m only glad that I wasn’t adventurous enough to go paddling in the river downstream of it.
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shudder at the thought
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Chemicals aside; think about it, you’re wearing dead living creature skin… Omg gross
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gross gross gross
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