Ban Live Exports from Australia

Jun 082011
 

The incredible story of Bill and other animals has emerged after investigation footage of animals exported live from Australia was filmed by Animals Australia investigators in Indonesia recently. Please join us, Animals Australia, and RSPCA Australia to demand justice for Bill and all animals exported live through the live export trade.

You can watch Bill’s story and cast your vote at Ban Live Export

(Please note that the second half of the video is very difficult to watch.)

If you can’t bear to watch all of the video, you can still protest about this. There is a form letter to sign, or you can write your own, and you can share it through Facebook or Twitter. Please do this – we can make a difference from here.

‘Medical’ Abuse of Animals in the USA: a success story with more you can do

May 162011
 

After a long campaign by PCRM and its members, Massachusetts General Hospital has ended its lethal use of sheep in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) courses! Given the status and reputation of Mass General in the medical community this is a monumental achievement, and make no mistake about it, this would never have been possible without your dedication and commitment. This decision by one of the world’s most prominent hospitals supports the superiority of medical simulation—rather than live animals—for trauma training.

Since PCRM launched its public effort on Mass General in October 2009 with a peaceful demonstration in Boston, you and others have sent more than 38,000 e-mails to hospital leadership. Now we need to keep that momentum going. Please take a moment to ask the president of Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., to end its use of pigs in ATLS training immediately.

Baystate is currently the only ATLS program in Massachusetts—and one of the last in all of the United States and Canada—that continues to use live animals. The American College of Surgeons, which oversees ATLS courses, has approved the use of human patient simulators such as the TraumaMan System to teach these courses, but at Baystate, trainees learn on live animals. After numerous invasive procedures are practiced on the animals, they are killed. Baystate continue to use pigs for this training despite the fact that it already owns the TraumaMan System simulator.

So far, the responsible faculty members and administrators have ignored our pleas to change their methods. Please contact the president of Baystate today.

Thank you for all of your help and for all that you do for animals.

Christchurch Animal Aid – We Need You!

Feb 282011
 

SAFE is assisting with the Christchurch relief effort for people and animals who are separated and to support animal welfare groups on the ground. We have set up the Animal Aid facebook site which lists all the resources for those who have lost animals and those who have found them, in an attempt to link everybody up.


This Animal Aid site is for Christchurch people who have lost or found animals following the catastrophic earthquake. Please BECOME A FAN too, then SHARE with friends to help us unite people with their beloved animals. Let’s help lessen their worry and suffering.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Animal-Aid-Christchurch-Earthquake/128399143899998#!/pages/Animal-Aid-Christchurch-Earthquake/128399143899998

Silo Occupation Exposes Hen Cruelty

Feb 282011
 

MEDIA RELEASE 20 February 2011

The plight of New Zealand’s three million battery hens has prompted a daring lock-on demonstration on top of two silos at a battery hen farm in Tuakau, south of Auckland, at first light this morning.

Two activists, who are chained to two seven-metre high metal fixtures, say the sound of tens of thousands of battery hens in the sheds below is keeping them motivated and determined to stay overnight. One of the chained activists, Deirdre Sims, says while their occupation is unlawful they are prepared to be arrested in the interest of helping caged hens in New Zealand.

Local SAFE campaigners have joined a crowd of 20 demonstrators protesting outside the farm along the roadside. The national animal advocacy group says it wholeheartedly supports this peaceful demonstration as it coincides with its own NoCages campaign launched last week, calling for a ban of battery cages.

“We totally understand their frustration and conviction, given the scale of animal abuse happening inside factory farms like the one they are occupying. It should be the battery hen farmers being challenged by the law, not those advocating for the better treatment of battery hens,” says SAFE campaign director Eliot Pryor.

“The New Zealand public is growing ever frustrated that two decades of Government inaction and failures to adequately amend animal welfare legislation still has the majority of layer hens in cruel cages. New Zealand claims to be a world leader in animal welfare but three million hens suffering inside cages is nothing to be proud of,” says Mr Pryor.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), which reports to the Minister of Agriculture, issued the draft welfare code for layer hens on 8 February for public consultation.

“NAWAC is foolishly recommending simply replacing existing battery hen cages with another cruel system called colony cages. This is a totally ridiculous position for NAWAC to take, which is why SAFE is calling on the public to make submissions calling for a total ban on all cage systems. Over 3000 e-card submissions have been sent to the Government since the code review process began,” says Mr Pryor.

For more information contact SAFE campaign director, Eliot Pryor, on 021 1899 226.

Hen Code Proposes Cruel New Cage System

Feb 092011
 

MEDIA RELEASE

8 February 2011
The draft welfare code for layer hens, released for public consultation today, has left animal advocates outraged and questioning the logic of the Agriculture Minister’s animal welfare advisors. The code proposes to ban existing battery cages on the basis that they fail to comply with welfare standards, yet allows their replacement with equally cruel cages.

National animal advocacy organisation SAFE says that the draft code, developed by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), intends to phase out existing battery cages over a yet to be determined period but possibly not until 2030. The group is at a loss to understand why NAWAC would allow so-called ‘enriched’ cages (also referred to as colony systems) that do not provide the animals with adequate living conditions.

“These modified battery cages provide largely illusory improvements for the hens. The enrichment features, a nest box, perch and scratch pad, are of such minimalist design that the cages still do not meet the hens’ behavioural and welfare needs,” says SAFE director Hans Kriek.

”Enriched cages provide each hen only 600 square centimetres of usable space, this is smaller than an A4 sheet of paper, nowhere near enough for the animals to lead a normal life. As a result, these cages are condemned by international animal welfare agencies and are already banned in Germany and Austria. It is ludicrous to introduce a cage system that is already banned overseas on the grounds of cruelty,” says Mr Kriek.

“NAWAC would have us believe that these new, modified battery cages provide significant animal welfare benefits and that New Zealand egg producers should invest millions of dollars in these cages. These modified cages, with their token accessories, will not be accepted by the New Zealand public as a humane alternative,” says Mr Kriek.

Last year SAFE successfully convinced the Government to ban cruel sow crates. Eight out of ten New Zealanders are opposed to battery hen cages and SAFE believes that it is time for the Government to listen to the public’s concern and introduce a complete ban on the caging of all commercial laying hens.

This week SAFE launches its NoCages campaign, urging New Zealanders to make a submission calling for an immediate ban on cages for hens.

For more information, contact SAFE director, Hans Kriek: 027 446 2711.

For information on the campaign and to sign a submission visit http://www.nocages.org.nz

Animal Testing Ban Successes

Feb 012011
 

Together, we continue to save lives and stop cruel training practices! We recently learned that PCRM was successful in ending the use of rabbits and pigs in trauma training courses at two Canadian medical facilities.

In a pediatric trauma training course in Hamilton, Ontario, trainees made an incision between live rabbits’ ribs and inserted a plastic tube into the animals’ chest cavities. In another course at Hamilton Health Sciences, up to 91 pigs per year were used in a course in which needles were inserted into the animals’ chest cavities and the sacs around their hearts. Pigs were also used in a trauma training course at Saint John Hospital in New Brunswick. Both hospitals now teach these crucial lifesaving procedures with medical simulators modeled on the human body.

PCRM urged course directors and administrators at both medical centers to adopt nonanimal training methods. We also filed a federal complaint against Hamilton Health Sciences with the Canadian Council on Animal Care before the hospital confirmed that it had replaced animal use.

These victories are part of PCRM’s highly successful United States- and Canada-wide effort to replace the use of animals in Advanced Trauma Life Support courses. With your help we have saved thousands of animals from being used in these courses and advanced medical training at dozens of facilities across North America. Please help us make Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., the next program to replace animal use by e-mailing its CEO and chief of trauma.

Thank you for your continued work on this important effort and your support of PCRM.

Very truly yours,

Ryan Merkley
Manager of Research and Education Programs

Sow Stall Ban First Important Step

Dec 062010
 

The government has taken the first crucial step to improve pig welfare in New Zealand by announcing it will ban the use of sow stalls from 2016.

SAFE, which has fiercely campaigned for three-years to end sow stalls and farrowing crates, says it welcomes the announcement, although it is disappointed that the ban excludes farrowing crates – an equally cruel confinement system.

“SAFE is delighted the government has finally accepted that sow stalls are cruel and in breach of welfare legislation. The five-year phase-out period, however, still means that over 15,000 sows will continue to suffer in sow stalls until 2016. It is great to know sow stalls are finally going after so much lobbying and campaigning but we remain mindful that pigs are not yet free,” says SAFE director Hans Kriek.

“With a ban on sow stalls now in place, SAFE will focus its attention on farrowing crates, which are used by over 60 per cent of the pig industry.. The organisation will continue to lobby for a ban on farrowing crates, as research shows these confinement systems are just as cruel as sow stalls,” says Mr Kriek.

Since the government is unlikely to take further action in the short term, SAFE is stepping up its consumer focus and beginning to encourage supermarkets to take meaningful animal welfare initiatives by not stocking pork products from suppliers who continue to use sow stalls.

“It is up to consumers to get the pigs out of their cruel crates sooner than 2016,” says Mr Kriek. “Eight out of ten New Zealanders are opposed to sow stalls and farrowing crates. SAFE plans to urge New Zealand supermarkets to follow the example of Coles, Australia’s second largest supermarket chain, by refusing to buy pork from farms that still use sow stalls.”

“Supermarkets must start taking some responsibility for how animals are being raised on factory farms. Consumers don’t want pork products produced on factory farms and it is time supermarkets heeded the wishes of the New Zealand public,” says Mr Kriek.

“It is encouraging to see New Zealand following the lead of the UK, which banned sow stalls over a decade ago, but there is a long way to go before we see an end to pig cruelty in New Zealand,” says Mr Kriek.

Don’t Buy A Goat This Xmas!

Nov 152010
 

Christmas shopping, festivities and gluttony is well and truly upon us. As we think about what gifts to give our loved ones, SAFE Campaign Officer Mandy Carter reflects on the growing popularity of ‘ethical gifts’.

pigOver the last few years, several aid agencies and organisations have been offering alternative gifts for the caring consumer or the person that has it all, in the form of a donation which will provide something for those desperately in need – solar panels for the eco warrior in your life or a symbolic ‘urine bottle’ for those into activism. In New Zealand, there is Oxfam’s ‘Unwrapped’ scheme which tenders gifts for ‘Animal Lovers’, effectively offering an animal’s life as a present. You can load the gift basket with goats, ducks and donkeys! On sale are piglets for $40 each or a pair of chickens for $14. The idea is that these animals will be farmed or eaten in third-world countries, providing both an income and food for impoverished communities. Handily, the animals pictured on the website are also dressed in funky clothing just so we know they’re having a good time too!

Although these schemes may seen a great idea at first, behind the bright colours and friendly theme is a more serious issue that raises many questions. Such as, what type of situation does this pose for the animals? Are we placing the animals at risk in an attempt to help poor communities? Does this form of donation really help solve the issues? And what about the way the animals are pictured dressed up?

goatOf course many thoughtful shoppers will happily purchase these ethical gifts in the belief they’re doing some good at a time when most people are buying their least favourite uncle yet another pair of unwanted socks. However there are some important issues you should consider before hitting that ‘buy now’ button.

Quite simply, these schemes cannot offer animals a life that meets all their needs. Absolute essentials to animals are space, proper nourishment, water, shelter, access to veterinary care and an ability to exhibit their natural behaviour. Resources are in critically short supply in many third-world countries, exactly the reason why aid agencies are actively trying to help, so it is unreasonable to expect impoverished communities to be able to provide adequately for the animals in their care.

SAFE as an animal advocacy organisation will always speak up for our furry (and not so furry!) friends but this is not all about animals, this kind of gift doesn’t help people either. Livestock farming uses up agricultural land, water and other resources that could be far more efficiently used for growing food for people to eat directly. One example is it takes over seven kilograms of grain to produce less than 500 grams of edible animal flesh, making meat consumption a very inefficient use of grain. Another reason not to encourage meat eating is the growing evidence that it can cause serious diseases such as cancer.

There is something demeaning about picturing the animals dressed up also. Not only do we potentially fate them to a life of suffering, but they are humiliated at the same time – dressing up the very serious issue of dealing with world hunger in a funny wig and sunglasses. Charities must work together to make a better world, and campaign on issues which will benefit humans, animals and the environment for the betterment of all.

So what’s the alternative to ‘the alternative’ present for the ethically-minded person? I suggest still donating to your favourite charity, just check that your money is going to the campaign you want it too! Be really in-keeping with that Christmas spirit and do something positive and proactive, but costs little, such as planting a tree with your family (try Google for schemes near you, or Aucklanders visit volunteer in parks. Another alternative is the Karori Sanctuary Trust. Why not think about New Zealand’s own animals this Christmas and pledge to go veg? Check out SAFE’s new Go Veg Starter Kit. This helps not only animals and your own health and wellbeing, but also reduces the pull on the world’s resources.
Have a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful new year!

PS. If you have some spare time to give this Christmas too, please consider signing up to be a collector during SAFE’s annual appeal in December!

Govt Fails To Ban Factory-Farmed Animals

Nov 152010
 

Animal advocacy group SAFE says the Government should brace itself for a public backlash after National and Act both stymied a Private Member’s Bill that would have seen sow crates and battery cages banned within five years.

“The majority of New Zealanders will be appalled to know that the Government was in a position to ban cruel farming practices last night yet it deliberately stood in the way of those calling for a change and voted against Green Party MP Sue Kedgley’s Animal Welfare Amendment Bill,” says SAFE director Hans Kriek.

“Ms Kedgley gave a passionate speech about the importance of this Bill and how it would greatly improve the lives of tens of thousands, if not millions, of animals. Despite the Bill being supported by Labour, United Future, the Maori Party and the Green Party, the Government failed to see its importance and dismissed it without any serious consideration,” says Mr Kriek.

The Bill was intended to close loopholes in the Animal Welfare Act that allow the ongoing cruel confinement of millions of battery hens and tens of thousands of crated pigs. Speaker Lockwood Smith refused to allow a conscience vote, claiming that animal welfare is primarily an economic issue.

“The Government seemed too afraid to let MPs vote with their conscience on this important animal welfare issue, as if they were well aware that this Bill would have been voted through,” says Mr Kriek.

“The Government has passed up a great opportunity to improve the lives of millions of factory-farmed animals by siding with the vested interests of those wanting to continue abusing animals for profit. Eight out of ten New Zealanders want battery hen cages and sow crates banned,” says Mr Kriek.

SAFE will step up its factory farming campaign with the help of the recently established two million dollar Animal Justice Fund. A public awareness campaign will see consumers informed about the cruelty in the meat chicken, battery egg and pig farming industries.

“The public will be urged to boycott factory-farmed products as the most effective way to end this suffering,” says Mr Kriek.

For more information contact SAFE director Hans Kriek: 027 446 2711.

$2 million Anti-Factory Farming Fund Launched

Nov 082010
 

8 November 2010

A two-million-dollar fund is being launched today to challenge cruel factory farming practices in New Zealand in an effort to stop widespread animal suffering on factory farms. National animal advocacy group SAFE will administer the fund and says the Animal Justice Fund (AJF) will act as a national watchdog for factory pig, chicken and battery hen farms.

The Animal Justice Fund has been established to promote animal protection through strategic litigation, public awareness campaigns and the prosecution of persons or businesses who commit offences against animals on factory farms or through commercial practices.

The Animal Justice Fund is financed by former Kathmandu founder and philanthropist Jan Cameron. Ms Cameron and SAFE are confident that the AJF will have a significant impact on cruel farming practices in New Zealand.

“Ms Cameron is a passionate supporter of SAFE’s factory farming campaigns and has, over the last four years, donated more than A$35million to various human and animal-related causes in Australia and New Zealand,” says SAFE director Hans Kriek.

“The Animal Justice Fund will enable SAFE to step up its public awareness campaigns and provide a strategic opportunity to take court action against companies who mislead consumers about the origins of their products. SAFE may even challenge, in the High Court, welfare codes that allow ongoing abuse of animals,” says Mr Kriek.

The Animal Justice Fund will also provide rewards of up to $30,000 for information provided by farm workers and other industry insiders who expose animal cruelty that leads to a successful prosecution or a significant animal welfare outcome.

“In New Zealand, no routine inspections of factory farms are carried out by animal welfare enforcement agencies. This means that animal welfare standards are not properly monitored, let alone enforced, and the suffering of millions of animals goes unnoticed. The need to encourage those who witness cruelty to come forward is more critical than ever,” says Mr Kriek.

Ms Cameron has initiated a similar Animal Justice Fund in Australia where she has contributed A$5million. SAFE is extremely grateful for Ms Cameron’s generosity and willingness to help factory-farmed animals in New Zealand.

“Ms Cameron has a proven track record as an astute business woman and she will bring that same level of determination to the campaign to improve the lives of millions of abused factory-farmed animals in New Zealand,” says Mr Kriek.

For more information contact SAFE director, Hans Kriek on 027 446 2711.

Photographs of animal cruelty on New Zealand factory farms or examples of SAFE’s new ‘Animal Justice Fund Whistleblower’ advertisements, that will soon be appearing in rural newspapers, are available on request. For more information visit: The Animal Justice Fund

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