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Pamela Anderson & the 'Fondation Brigitte Bardot' Team Up
The former 'Baywatch' star ruffled more than a few feathers at the French parliament on Tuesday
Pamela Anderson, the Canadian-born actress, was invited to speak to the French parliament by a member of the green EELV party, who was introducing a bill to prohibit the force-feeding of ducks and geese during the production of foie gras.
You can read more about the bill here, which was introduced at a press conference that was co-organised by the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and attended by Pamela Anderson. Saint Tropez resident, Brigitte Bardot, is also a star turned animal activist and is well known for her outspoken attitude and her fight for welfare and protection of animals. In a statement released by Bardot she says "Foie gras is not a symbol of festivity, but a symbol of death, and force-feeding is an absolutely outrageous barbarity."
Famous throughout France as being an over-the-top garnish for meat dishes, this rich and buttery tasting delicacy is actually the fattened liver of duck or geese.
Literally meaning 'fat liver', it comes from ducks or geese which have been forcibly fattened. It is thought that this practice of force-feeding the bird came from the Egyptians a couple of thousand years BC. This controversial feeding technique means it is often a case of love it or hate it. It is very much part of France's heritage and the process of foie gras production is enshrined in French law to ensure the birds are not harmed.
Tuesday's press conference caused a commotion as Anderson stated "foie gras is not a healthy product and does not have a place in a civilised society. These ducks did not have a single day of happiness in their short lives."
The campaign, initiated by Laurence Abeille of the EELV green party was not well received as foie gras producers are currently battling an outbreak of bird flu. In December, Japan banned imports of French foie gras due to the recent outbreak. Poultry farmers have been told that they can continue rearing the adult birds they have in production, but not raise any new chicks until their farms have been certified as sanitised.
