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Jun 182009
Further Shocking Terror: 3 more House Searches in the Animal Protection Repression Case
House searches take place despite peaceful blockade, but as expected, nothing was found!
2 years and 7 months of investigations and 26 house searches are obviously still not enough. In an unbelievable escalation the state prosecution ordered a further 3 house searches: all addresses of one of the same people targeted in last years spate of searches. This time his flat was searched for a second time and in addition, his mother and fathers separate homes were also searched. Particularly tragic is the fact that this person’s father has recently committed suicide, but his home was nevertheless turned upside down.
Although the search warrant stated that they were looking for chemical substances, police took away 5 DVDs, 3 computer hard-drives, 4 old computers, a mobile phone and a camera memory card. In other words, the search was unsuccessful.
In protest at this police terror, supporters raced to the scene and blocked the entrance to the flat, successfully hindering access to the police. After some hours and police reinforcements, the supporters were removed, with unnecessary force, and the search took place. One person was arrested for not giving ID, but was later released.
VGT’s Dr Martin Balluch: “What on earth is happening here? Which country are we living in? Those from the police special commission and from the state prosecution responsible for this escalation appear to have really lost the plot! They have no evidence against the accused and now they want to show us all that any of us can be raided at any time. This is an attempt to keep us in a permanent state of fear. This is what one normally refers to as terror!“
Jun 102009
Pig welfare campaigners target national pork conference
Pig welfare has become a serious concern for the New Zealand public however animal advocates say the pig industry remains ‘pigheaded’ and is not taking the welfare of the animals seriously.
Pig farmers, pork processors, veterinarians and consultants will discuss getting more productivity out of pigs during the ‘Advancing Pork Production’ conference in Palmerston North on Monday. National animal advocacy organisation SAFE says the primary focus of the pork industry right now should be the welfare of its animals, not simply how to exploit them further.
SAFE will be outside the conference to demand the pig industry abandons cruel farming practices, along with other animal rights and welfare organisations.
“The New Zealand pig industry has been exposed as using extremely cruel confinement systems where pregnant sows are kept in small crates. We are holding them accountable for animal cruelty and will be reminding those within the pig industry that they need to take immediate action to improve pig welfare,” says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek.
“The public outcry that followed the Sunday programme on TV One should have sent a clear message to the industry that it is time to change their cruel practices. However conference agenda topics such as ‘The Growth Potential of New Zealand Pigs’ and ‘Pork Flavour and Composition’ show that the industry remains more interested in its profits than addressing serious animal welfare problems,” says Mr Kriek.
In New Zealand over 20,000 pregnant sows are confined in crates merely 60 centimetres wide. These animals can suffer leg weakness and other health problems and often exhibit unnatural behaviour such as bar biting, indicating that they are under severe stress.
Pork conference protest details
Starts 9am on Monday, 8 June, outside the Kingsgate Hotel at 110 Fitzherbert Avenue in Palmerston North.
The protest will be followed by a public meeting at 7pm at the Palmerston North City Library on George Street.
For more information contact Hans Kriek on 027 446 2711.