I created the poll on leather mostly out of curiosity, not because I had anything interesting to say on the matter. I found the results disappointing... not because of the way people responded, but because only 9 people did so (and I know one of them was Helen).

Anyway, our sampling told us that 44% of vegetarians reading this site do wear leather, while 33% do not and 22% currently do but are considering changing their ways.

PETA (which I'm beginning to think many people view as an extremist group), has this article about the leather industry. Citing the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the article states, "Every year, the global leather industry slaughters more than a billion animals and tans their skins and hides."

My question is: would these animals have been killed anyway for their meat? And if so, should that affect one's decision whether to wear leather (say that ten times fast)?

According to this Web site, Cows Are Cool, "Leather from cows comes from animals raised for both beef and milk."

That gave me some relief of guilt, until I read further and learned that "Buying leather directly contributes to factory farms and slaughterhouses, since the skins of animals are the most economically important coproduct of the multibillion-dollar meat industry."

The site then goes on to describe the horrific conditions in which most of these cows live, which I'll spare you from.

I did not respond to my own poll (I've still got some dignity) but I think I'm leaning toward the third category, meaning I wear leather now but after learning more about it, am starting to rethink it.

What do you all think??