Mounties’ muskrat hats pit animal rights against tradition | DW Environment | DW | 19.12.2017

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Mounties’ muskrat hats pit animal rights against tradition | DW Environment | DW | 19.12.2017

Fur is natural, renewable resource that is durable ... Muskrats reproduce, their populations aren't expended up by regulated trapping, which the same can't be petroleum-based plastics.

"Which is why Canada's iconic, red-coated Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) — better-known as the Mounties — have traditionally worn muskrat fur hats."

"Two years ago, the RCMP gave in to pressure from animals rights activists and announced plans to drop muskrat hats in favor of synthetic alternatives. But then it reversed its decision."

In field testing, "artificial fur did not stand up to exposure to the elements (particularly rain), or provide the same level of warmth in extreme winter conditions," the RCMP said.

"And so the Mounties put in an order for 5,000 new muskrat hats. With three pelts going into each hat, animals rights activists see the Mounties' backtrack as condemning 15,000 animals to a brutal death."

Tax Bill to Preserve Critical Credits for Wind, Solar and Electric Vehicles

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Tax Bill to Preserve Critical Credits for Wind, Solar and Electric Vehicles

"The booming renewable energy industry is breathing a wary sigh of relief as Congress prepares to vote this week on a sweeping tax bill that preserves critical tax credits for wind energy, solar power and electric vehicles."

"As lawmakers were working over the past week to resolve issues between the House and Senate versions of the bill, the clean energy industry kept a keen eye out for details of the legislation, including provisions in the House bill that would have weakened or eliminated the tax credits for renewables."

"By rejecting that approach, Republicans sent a message that they won't back attempts to kneecap ongoing growth in renewables, despite pressure from the oil and gas industry to scale back incentives for clean energy. The credits have stoked growth in wind and solar, which for the first time this year provided 10 percent of the country's electricity, while jobs in clean energy are among the fastest growing in the country."