Question

A news item silk has come under fire from animal rights activists why

Answer 1

Silk is created by boiling silkworm cocoons. Silkworms are animals too - sentient creatures who feel pain and thus deserve to be protected. Also, silk is derived from silkworms, and many animal rights activists believe that humans are stealing the silk from these worms, in the sense that they certainly are not making it for us. Also, the silk industry does not have optimal habitats for silkworms - lack of natural sunlight, diet, etc.