ALV Writers Group

A FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER
Issue #17 - November 21, 2005

“Speaking up for Animal Rights”

Copy and paste the below request into an email (then Help Stop 2006 Duck attach the Common Position Statement) and send to all connections/groups you know (whether environmental, Shooting Season animal friendly or political, etc) to endorse the Common Position Statement. (eg: The Humane Society International has endorsed the Statement). The more groups who endorse the Statement, the more pressure on the Government to immediately ban the recreational shooting of our native waterbirds.

REQUEST

URGENT - Endorsement of Common Position Statement on banning Duck Shooting

ALP (Australian Labour Party) Members Opposed to Duck Shooting (MoDS) has been involved in a campaign jointly with such animal welfare groups as Coalition Against Duck Shooting and Ballarat Organisation for Animal Rights to put pressure on the Bracks government to bring duck shooting to an end. First – thanks to all who emailed and telephoned The group is an internal ALP lobby group and has Erskine House and the Lorne Bowls Club expressing managed over the last 18 months to attract much media outrage after they killed over 50 native waterbirds. attention to the campaign, and to open the minds of a Laurie Levy from the coalition Against Duck Shooting large number of Labor MPs and general branch has recently advised… members on the issue. We have also presented a report to the Premier which debunks many of the myths about “The bad publicity Erskine House and the Lorne duck shooting pushed by the National Party and the Bowls Club received during this battle has stopped a Field & Game. Gippsland Caravan Park owner from doing the same. Great work everyone.” Laurie Levy The Minister for Environment, John Thwaites will be making an announcement at the end of November or At end of November, The Minister for the Environment, early December regarding whether a duck shooting John Thwaties will announce whether the 2006 duck season will proceed in 2006. We are seeking shooting season will proceed or not. NOW is the time endorsement by environmental, animal welfare groups to act. and minor parties to the attached Common Position Statement calling on the government to immediately 1) GET GROUPS TO ENDORSE COMMON ban the recreational shooting of native waterbirds. POSITION STATMENT MoDS will be forwarding a copy to the Environment Minister and the Premier.

Page 1 We request, as a matter of urgency, that your group and result in even more dogs and cats being slaughtered endorse the attached Common Position Statement. A in agony behind the doors of slaughterhouses. Please draft media release is also attached for your interest, help us to target the Minister for Health and Welfare in which will go out with the statement, once we receive as Korea to write letters of protest or sign petitions in many endorsements as possible within the next week. relation to this please sign online at this link:

Please advise if your group is prepared to endorse the http://choimimi.com/zboarde/zboard.php?id=sign document or how much time you need if the matter needs to go before a Committee by contacting Trevor Poulton at the email below. The government will be making a decision during the next couple of weeks.

Trevor Poulton Mobile 0402 987 181 Visit: www.alpmods.org.au

2) SEND A SHORT EMAIL YOURSELF

1. Send an short email (again) to the Minister for the Environment [email protected] saying the activity of duck shooting is cruel and barbaric. On cruelty grounds the recreational duck shooting should be permanently banned. Or for more info about the consumption of dog meat in Korea All who have previously written to Mr Thwaites get a http://www.koreananimals.org/dogslaughter2005.htm standard reply (‘pat on the head’) reiterating that duck shooting is legal, sustainable and safe in Victoria. It Also visit this link for more information for letters of completely misses the point we are making: That duck protest: shooting is barbaric, cruel, and the very nature of shotguns makes it inhumane. One of our writers had http://www.koreananimals.org/help.htm sent this reply back…(edited) Thank you for your help and support for Korean Dear Mr Thwaites, Animals. “…I am writing in response to your response to my regards initial letter below regarding duck shooting. You Laura Teresa basically sent a letter that told me duck shooting is legal President (Dogaid Australia) in Victoria. No kidding! That’s why I wrote to you in the P.O Box 6050 Karingal Vic 3199 first place. I'm not interested in knowing how the Department of Sustainability and Environment implements a range of strategies to ensure duck hunting is conducted in a National Animal sustainable, responsible and safe manner. That completely misses my point about the welfare of the Welfare Bill actual birds and that fact that many duck shooters will never be careful and responsible no matter what you try The Australian Senate's Rural and and implement. It's a cruel sport and (edited)..it holds Regional Legislation Committee has Victoria back.”.. J Paschke (VIC) extended the public comment period on Senator Bartlett's National Animal Welfare Bill to 30th November 2005. Sign a Petition... The Welfare Bill and How to send your submissions can be found here: If you are strapped for time, and can’t write a letter http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/rrat_ctte/ – sign a petition! animal_welfare05/info.htm and copies of the legislation can be obtained from Don Request from Korean Animals: Please add your voice to Sinnamon, whose details are below. our protest. Instead of making a law that prohibits the consumption of dog/cat meat, the Korean government is The Welfare Bill is a long read but we all have planning to hygienically control dog meat. Such a particular sections we can focus on. Some people may policy will give a sense of legitimacy to this vile trade look at the Bill feeling overwhelmed BUT it’s Page 2 manageable if we each choose one or two sections we lives. They never see daylight except when they are are passionate and knowledgeable about. Whether your loaded onto trucks headed for the slaughterhouse, by focus is live exports, puppy farming, kangaroos, battery which time they are worn out from constant breeding hens, broiler chickens, sow stalls, importing dog and cat and many are unable to walk. There is no justification, fur, mulesing, debeaking chickens, hunting, animal moral or economic, for this cruel confinement in which testing, etc – there is something in there for everyone to a sow is lucky if she can move one step back or one step make a public submission on. forward. Codes of Practice state that hooved animals become "footsore" from being confined on concrete Scroll thought the contents page at the various topics – surfaces, yet the "Model CoP for the Welfare of Animals note the section number and read the section of the Bill - Pigs" provides for just that. Sows live in sow stalls that it relates to. Make sure your area of interest is until they are due to give birth, when they are moved to properly covered in the Bill. If you want to make an an even smaller structure, a farrowing crate - and there, addition or correction, simply email your submission she cannot even reach to touch her young. This denies with the section number to: [email protected] the animals the most fundamental rights, the "Five Freedoms". Sow stalls are banned in the UK and Florida, and are being phased out in the EU. The Australian public demands that the government do the same and end this appalling cruelty. "Producers" claim that this curbs aggression - if the animals were not so grossly overcrowded, there would be no aggression issue. Piglets ears are notched, their tails cut off, their teeth clipped, and they are castrated without any anesthetic or analgesia; this would be a criminal offence if they were cats or dogs.

4. The live export trade has been denounced as the gross cruelty that it is by various interest groups, and a WA exporter is facing cruelty charges over what was a voyage "representative of the industry" (Animals Australia, 2005). Animal welfare in the trade is measured solely by mortality rates, without regard to the Below are some dot points on these issues for those who fact that for every animal who dies, countless others do not have the time to investigate them in detail. suffer appallingly - blindness, lameness, salmonellosis (a form of gastro-enteritis), starvation (inanition, shy 1. The circumstances under which egg-laying hens are feeding), and trauma from brutal handling. The kept are abhorrent in the extreme, and the public government and the industry openly state that they demands that the government addresses this issue, and cannot influence animal welfare in importing countries, all cages be phased out. De-beaking must be banned so no animals should be sent to countries which have forthwith, since it causes the birds lifelong pain. The absolutely no animal welfare safeguards in place. The wire floors of the cages cause hens tremendous pain in journey is long and arduous, on third world wrecks of their legs and feet, evidenced by footage available ships, most of which are registered under "flags of showing them trying to move their weight, within their convenience", and those unlucky enough to survive the hopelessly crammed conditions, from one leg to the journey are the victims of horrific cruelty in the other. destination countries. Review after review has failed to address these issues. The live export trade must end. 2. Broiler chicks are packed in their tens of thousands into sheds and, never see the light of day or feel grass 4. Animals in sale-yards and feedlots are often left under their feet. They are fed a diet of antibiotics to without food water or shelter (certainly in Tasmania at assist their rapid growth that causes lameness and least). They are deprived of the use of their natural crippling because their legs cannot cope with the behaviours in conditions that are usually atrocious. weight. Due to this cruelty and the threat of bird flu and Safeguards must be put into place to address the issue of antibiotic resistant bacteria, chickens must cease to be "curfews" (denial of food and water in the animals' farmed intensively. As per the Code of Practice (CoP), language), and shelter at these establishments. "Bobby" farmers must isolate and assist crippled birds who are calves and young lambs often are too weak from being unable to reach food and water instead of leaving them removed from their mothers to stand, and should never to die slowly from starvation. be loaded for transport.

3. Pigs are known to be as intelligent and sensitive as In addition, animals are now routinely being transported dogs, yet sows are confined to concrete and metal cages on trucks from Western Australia to the Eastern states - barely larger than their own bodies for most of their simply because there is no journey time limit in the Page 3 Model CoP. Clearly this is a cruel, unnecessary and Dear eBay, indefensible practice, and it must be banned. Animals Following the second listing of live kittens on the eBay should (if they must) be slaughtered as close as possible Australia website in less than a week, I am writing to to the point of production. request that you place a notice on your home page, which restates your policy on this issue. Given that Christmas is coming, this is a traditionally bad time of year for companion animals, who are often bought without any consideration for their future circumstances. Animals on eBay Shelters are overflowing and animals are often dumped after Christmas, when people go on holiday, or find that Great grassroots action by one of our writers! the animal is no longer "amusing". Please emphasise that you expect that people wanting to eBay has a policy against listing live animals on it’s offer animals will do the right thing, and find good site. homes for them. Thank you. S Manderson http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/ policies/wildlife.html Please write to eBay (www.ebay.com.au and choose contact option) urge them to take a firm stance with people who try to off load animals on eBay. By Under Animals and wildlife products: ‘Some examples’, applying the penalties (listed above.) eBay’s policy is eBay clearly states “Live Animals: Live animals and quite clear that “live animals cannot be listed on eBay.” pets may not be listed on eBay.” Suggest this policy and the penalties be clearly highlighted on their home page. Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including: eBay could do a good and responsible thing by suggesting that people looking for a companion animal • Listing cancellation “save a life and visit a shelter instead.” where steps are taken to ensure the animal is desexed and going to a • Limits on account privileges responsible home. Thanks Susan!

• Account suspension • Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings Melbourne Vegan • Loss of PowerSeller status See these fabulous ‘Melbourne Vegan’ newsletters by However someone tried to get around this by auctioning Peter Carr from Vegan Voice. Issues 35 and 36 are a tin of cat food and giving away free kittens to the packed with photos from World Vegan Day and lots of successful bidder. upcoming vegan/animal rights projects, events and social gatherings. If you would like to be on the One of our newest writers, Susan (along with other mailing list to receive the Melbourne Vegan newsletter members of the public) sent eBay a letter, reporting the link, (it’s just a link – so it wont take up much room in seller. your inbox) email [email protected]

Dear eBay, http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/melbv/web/ Re item 7725409670: This seller has attempted to get Archive351.html around the guidelines prohibiting the selling of live animals by offering four kittens free with the winning http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/melbv/web/ bid on a tin of cat food. Archive361.html Please alter your guidelines, so that auctions like this are no longer possible in the future. Frivolous attitudes such as these continue to result in animals being abused and dumped, and do not encourage responsibility with companion animals. Thank you, S Manderson Animal Law

A few days later, Susan sent a second letter... Animal law was taught at the University of New South Wales for the first time at the beginning of this year. It is great to hear that the course will be held again in 2006,

Page 4 over the first and last weekends in March. Please take a moment to add your name to this email and send it to Safeway: The course can be taken as part of a Masters of Law, or as a one-off course which means you don't have to be Visit http://www.woolworths.com.au/contactus/ enrolled in a UNSW degree. According to lecturer Geoff index.asp to fill out their feedback form by copying this Bloom, the course is designed to be accessible to people letter (or write one of your own.) with or without legal qualifications.

It is planned that there will be 14 two hour classes covering the following topics:

1. Introduction and case study on live animal exports

2. History and present status of animals as property

3. Anti-cruelty law, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (NSW) 1979

4. Ethics of human treatment of animals

5. Jurisprudence of human treatment of animals

6. History and profile of animal politics

7. Standing You may or may not be aware of the cruel cat and dog fur trade in China. Millions of dogs and cats in China 8. & 9. Agricultural use of animals, including case study are being bludgeoned, hanged, bled to death, and on pig rearing strangled with wire nooses so that their fur can be turned into trim and trinkets – including pet toys. This 10. Animal experimentation fur is often deliberately unlabelled or mislabeled as fur from other species and exported to countries around the 11. Companion animals world (including Australia) as unspecified fur. Your supermarket sells unspecified animal fur from China in 12. Zoos the form of PetLife ‘squeaky rat’ cat toys in the pet aisle. It’s quite possible these cat toys are made from cat 13. Animals in the wild and/or dog fur. Although I can’t find this product listed on your online shopping site, the products have been 14. Veterinary surgeons seen at the Malvern store (area code 3143). There are cat toys made from faux fur in your stores – why take a Anyone who is interested in attending the course is risk and sell fur that could be cat/dog or any other encouraged to contact Jenny Jarrett on animal skinned alive in a country unprotected by animal [email protected] at the UNSW Faculty of Law for welfare laws? In the interests of animal welfare and information. Comments on 'Voiceless' by attendees of compassion, please remove this product immediately, the course in 2005 seem to have been very positive. See and inform the supplier that Safeway will not sell http://www.voiceless.org.au/edulinks.html for humane products made from animal fur – only faux fur. education resources and courses. Please visit http://www.jcruel.com/catdogfur.asp? Thanks Michaela. int=weekly_enews or http://www.petatv.com/ to see video evidence of China’s shocking cat and dog fur trade.

Please inform me of your decision at your earliest Fur at Safeway convenience.

I was shopping in Safeway the other day when (yikes!) I Thank you. see a big furry rat (cat toy) on the shelf. Sure enough, the packaging said the toy was made from fur (no animal specified) and made in China. While we are protesting against fashion designers and fur coats, the stuff is still getting in right under our noses!

Page 5 -Pinosol Animal Testing -Dynamo

Manufacturer: Unilever email: [email protected] Or choose contact us option on their website: http://www.unilever.com/resources/contactus.asp

They manufacture the following products:

-Comfort -Omo -Persil -Sun -Vim -Dove impulse -Lux -Lynx -Sunsilk -Ponds This UK website www.buav.org has a lot of useful info and campaign ideas for those who’s focus is on animal testing. Even though it has a great cartoon introduction, Manufacturer: Reckitt Benckiser Plc there is one area I have decided to include in this email: [email protected] newsletter as it involves everyday products we can boycott and emails we can easily send: They manufacture the following products:

Testing household products on Animals: -Air Fresh -Airozone http://www.buav.org/campaigns/household/soiled.html -Brasso polish -Dettol Every year around the world, countless animals suffer -Down to Earth and die to test household cleaning products such as -Easy-Off cleaners toilet blocks; washing-up liquid or laundry detergent. -Finish Most household products are manufactured by a handful -Harpic of large companies: Unilever, Procter & Gamble, -Mr Sheen Colgate-Palmolive, Reckitt Benckiser and SC Johnson, -Napisan all of which conduct or commission animal testing. They produce most of the best-known brands The truth is if they really cared about ending animal Manufacturer: Procter & Gamble suffering, they could stop animal testing today by only using ingredients that have already been accepted as Go to website: http://www.pg.com/getintouch/ safe for use. But ‘continual product innovation’ (fresher index.jhtml and choose the contact us option, then smell, more appealing colour) is used to give their ‘email us’ option. brands a market advantage, in other words to sell more products and make more profit. Wash your hands of They manufacture the following products: animal cruelty by boycotting these brands. -Bounce Here are the worst companies for testing household -Cascade products on animals: -Cristal -Febreze Manufacturer: Colgate-Palmolive -Finish email: [email protected] -Mr Clean -Salvo They manufacture the following products: -Tide

-Ajax Manufacturer: S.C. Johnson -Fab website: http://www.scjbrands.com/contact/ -Palmolive

Page 6 They manufacture the following products: Russian Kangaroo

-Brillo Sausage Factory in -Drano -Glade Queensland -Mr Muscle -Pledge furniture polish In Charleville (south west Queensland) a Russian- -Raid backed kangaroo processing plant is to open by the end -Shout of the month. The Shire expects to export millions of -Toilet duck sausages to Russia (using Kangaroo as a no-name meat) -Vanish and to France, as a table delicacy! The Russians have -Windex put $7 million into this venture along with capital from local investors. You can email them using the form letter below No mention is made by any of them about the terrible I am appalled at (company’s name) continued practice cruelty inflicted on kangaroos and their joeys when of animal testing which is completely unjustifiable. shot. How do we counteract the full force of I have now joined the Global Boycott of (company’s government subsidised marketing and promotion to the name) and will continue to support the boycott and KIAA (Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia)? advise family and friends to do the same, until the What other small business gets such special treatment of company introduces a permanent ban on all animal hundreds of thousands of dollars subsidised over the testing. I have also contacted my local supermarket and years to promote the killing and eating our national advised them I will not be purchasing your products for symbol. Perhaps we can write to our local newspapers the above reason. Yours sincerely.... and ask how can we profit from a multi million dollar tourism industry, luring tourists to Australia with images of herds of kangaroos, only to hide a stinking Russian sausage factory in Queensland to grind up our national icon as some no-name meat. What a disgrace!

The Queensland Tourism Strategy (QTS) is charting an integrated whole-of-government and industry approach to achieving sustainable tourism targets. The new Strategy will improve the performance, competitiveness and structural efficiency of the industry and deliver a range of long-term benefits to both business and government. Let them know what an fly in the ointment this will be for the tourism industry once overseas You can email Coles, Safeway and BiLo advising newspapers and magazine’s become informed of them… Queenslands dirty little secret (by us) – a kangaroo sausage factory. It clashes with Australia’s image of I will not be purchasing household products from bounding kangaroos in the great outdoors and as the Colgate-Palmolive, S C Johnson, Procter and Gamble, logo of our international airline - Qantas! Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever because they test their products on animals when they could use ingredients Contact Tourism Queensland: [email protected] that have already been accepted as safe for use. Animal testing is unjustified. Please ensure there are Contact Queensland Tourism Strategy [email protected] compassionate alternatives that do not have animal ingredients and are not tested on animals. Eg: Natures See this article for details... Organics, Earth Choice and Orange Power to name a few. Yours sincerely… Kangaroo may solve Russian Go to their websites and choose the ‘contact us’ options. meat shortage www.coles.com.au CEE (central and eastern European) food industry.com www.woolworths.com.au http://www.cee-foodindustry.com/news/ng.asp? www.bilo.com.au n=63729-kyros-meat-kangaroo By Angela Drujinina

Page 7 07/11/2005 - Kangaroo, no longer merely exported as a That is why the firm has yet to do a deal for the furry toy from down under, is rapidly becoming a bouncing marsupials. popular dish in Russia as importers increasingly look to Australia to solve Russia’s domestic meat shortages.

Russians now consume one third of processed kangaroo meat, according to Australia's association of meat manufacturers, making Russia the world's biggest kangaroo importer.

The demand has become so great that Russian producers are even considering farming kangaroo in Russia itself.

Igor Gorohov, head of a Russian meat importer, said “Australia cannot cope with Russian demands. So, if we need each month about 100 containers of kangaroo meat, Australia can provide us with only 25”.

Coupled with this, more Russian meat processors are getting bogged down with the high costs of ‘traditional' Here is the link to KIAA’s newsletter meat production in Russia. The national statistics department said meat manufacture fell two per cent in http://www.kangaroo-industry.asn.au/news/ the first half of 2005. news_frame.htm (Current issue Vol 43)

Serghey Yushin, member of the National Meat Not for the weak stomached – this newsletter is pure Association, said: “Beef manufacture in Russia is not a garbage! After congratulating itself for doing a profitable business because expenses are growing. presentation to the NSW Liberal Party while serving There is also no confidence in the market's stableness. them Kangaroo meat for lunch, it goes on to thank Food This is why companies are not interested in this Industry Magazine for running its ‘Lets call Kangaroo business. But they are looking forward to growing meat something else’ competition. Then it has an article kangaroo.” about the ‘twisted thinking that motivates PETA’, and finishes with a picture of a smiling kangaroo on a Farmers in the Urals region are seriously thinking about motorcycle with a frying pan (Jamie Oliver style) urging this, according to mass media reports. people to enter a competition to create a culinary name for Kangaroo to win (that motorcycle) Yech! Some importers, however, feel that Australia could be a much bigger player on the Russian meat market than Well lets send them an entry they wont forget – like merely a source of kangaroo. ‘Murdered Marsupial’ or how about ‘Aussie shame steak’ ‘Kanga carcass’ or even ‘Slaughtered Skippy’ or Kyros, one of Russia's biggest frozen food distributors, ‘Butchered Mum of bashed joey’ recently announced a new deal to begin importing a range of Australian meat, including beef, lamb and You can print out the form and post it off to the address mutton. they provide or if you dont have a printer - I have found an email address to send it to. “Australia can become an alternative to the US for beef [email protected] and to New Zealand for lamb and mutton with gains in purchasing and sale prices, without detriment to And don’t forget to “Tell us in 25 words or less why you quality” said Kyros marketing director, Nikolay choose this name for kangaroo.” Kuznetsov. While I cannot find a contact address for the food The group has signed the deal with Australian meat industry magazine, we can contact the National Food makers during a beef deficit in Russia, after banning Industry and let them know we will not eat Kangaroo marmoreal beef from the US and steep price rises in meat and the cruelty behind shooting kangaroos. New Zealand. Russia also currently has no import quotas on Australian meat. Email: [email protected]

Kyros also said that, despite the interest in kangaroo, For facts about the brutal inhumane slaughter of other meats, such as beef and mutton, remain more kangaroos please visit www.awpc.org.au profitable on the market because consumers know them.

Page 8 This story that was on the front page of The Age newspaper today Save the Whales The long awaited arrival of Farely Mowat and S/S crew Kanga meat ruse in the works are due to arrive tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd) at Victoria Harbour in the CBD – Melbourne. Its actually right behind the Telstra Dome. Unfortunately at this stage they have not been able to confirm if it will be am/pm but will let us know as soon as able. I will send out email as soon as I know or people can call Kristy on 0408 179 394

Brendan McMahon update

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3485166a10,00.html Bestiality accused 'too depressed' to report to cops THIS summer you could well be throwing a hunk of 21 November 2005 marsu on the barbie. SYDNEY: A former Auckland man, charged with Mystified? Well, don't worry, it is just one of the animal cruelty and bestiality, failed to meet his bail suggested fancy new names for kangaroo. conditions because he was too depressed to leave his Food Companion magazine has received more than 300 house, a Sydney court has been told. entries, many from overseas, for a competition to rename the roo. Brendan Francis McMahon, 37, appeared in Parramatta The campaign, supported by the Kangaroo Industries Local Court on Saturday after failing to report to police Association of Australia, would create a "new as required by the courts on Thursday. champagne marketing name", editor Mel Nathan said. "The current name inhibits some chefs from using the McMahon is on bail on 21 charges, including product because they know people will be put off aggravated cruelty to animals, bestiality and drug ordering it," Ms Nathan said. "I was inspired when I possession. went to New Zealand and saw their name for venison — cervina. And I thought we needed to do something Police alleged when he was arrested in August that 17 similar with kangaroo meat. After all, we eat pork and dead or dying rabbits and a dead guinea pig were found beef, not pig and cow." near his central Sydney office between July and early The $200 million kangaroo meat industry is haunted by August. the marsupial's place in Aussie culture. Some suggestions for rebranding the meat, including McMahon was put under surveillance after central Marla and Wallagang, were drawn from Aboriginal Sydney pet store staff noticed he had marks consistent languages. with rabbit scratches on his face when he sought to But some entrants have not impressed the judges. "We purchase batches of the animals. have received silly suggestions, such as Cyril, Skippy and Roadkill," Ms Nathan said. "They will definitely The court was told yesterday that McMahon was too not be successful." depressed to report to police.

Journalists may be quite put off by the latest push by He was granted bail again and will appear in court again John Kelly , the KIAA and the chefs to rename on Wednesday. kangaroos.

The Age takes letters at [email protected]

Page 9 and pushed, until their these issues. Go Go execution, without the benefit of V Ortega (VIC) 13.11.05 Writers Go! being stunned first. They will see their companions die in front of them by having their To Farm Weekly throats slashed. Question - does the "West There was a report recently of Australian" ever publish Australian cattle being left in anything against the live export trucks without food or water for trade? 24 hours in harsh climate on the Israeli/Palestinian border. They Dear Sir were being urinated and The "West Australian" makes trampled on and left to die. some extraordinary claims, as These facts illustrate the usual, about the worth of the unsustainablility and cruelty of live export trade. Far from being live exports. worth $700 million, leading agricultural economists have We, as Christians concerned for found that something more Thank you to all writers who sent than the reverse is in fact the copies of their letters to: animal welfare, want to express [email protected] our horror and opposition to this case. undeniably cruel trade. The (Don’t forget to send copies of your Australian government passes Dr Selwyn Heilbron and Terry letters in, whether they have been Larkins found that, far from published or not.) laws to protect the profits of sheep farmers promptly, (by being of benefit to Australia, the imposing heavy penalties on opportunity cost of the live Live Exports animal activists), but does export trade is, in fact, $1.5 nothing to alleviate the suffering billion in lost GDP, $270 million To the Anglican Messenger of farmed animals industry. in lost household income, and around 10,500 lost jobs. The Maysora, the vessel fully laden Christians, who know the Australasian Meat Industry with up to 80,000 sheep, was Creator and sustainer of all life, Employees' Union puts this held up at the port of Fremantle should have the loudest voices last figure far higher. for one week while an accident when it comes to the injustices involving a crane was being of the exploitation of our Professor Lindner, of the Meat investigated. Soon after sheep environment and animals. Processing Industry Taskforce, fat was found washed up on the "Share with justice the resource agreed with the Heilbron and beaches. Obviously, before even of the Earth" as we say each Larkins comment that the leaving, some of the sheep were Sunday. Jesus, as the shepherd profitability of the live export sick or injured and were minced, of His sheep, should be our trade is the result of market possibly while still alive! example, as a protector and distortions, and the defender of His creatures. extraordinary cross-subsidizing The sheep on board the Maysora Therefore, our farming and of the live export trade by the will suffer extremes of heat and export policies based on profits, Federal Government, and, of crowding, and will have no should be examined from a course, State governments reprieve awaiting them at their Christian perspective. Christians provide their own incentives in destination. They will be shoved should not remain silent on Page 10 terms of lost payroll and other mention Recommendation 5 of or not proven charges would taxes. the Keniry Review), or that cause trouble for farmers. AQIS animal health and welfare Animals deserve protection The live export industry is on its officers inspected the ship prior from cruelty, whether they knees, and deservedly so. The to its departure under cover of suffer at the hands of stupid West Australian Police have laid darkness. The fact that sheep pranksters or export companies. charges against Emanuels and remains washed up on local The Act is especially relevant to two of its directors (one of beaches in the days following export livestock because they whom reportedly lost his export suggests that neither was the are being shipped long licence over the disaster that case. distances in was the "Becrux" maiden crowded conditions. Given the voyage in 2002) of cruelty It is believed that the "Maysora" embarrassing history of under Section 19 (a), (b) and (d) was bound for Jeddah. Australia's live export animal of the Animal Welfare Act (WA) welfare disasters, prosecution of (2002). In fact, the industry as a whole the companies and is remarkably quiet about this - people responsible is long Less than two weeks before this, as it is about reports of a overdue. we had the fiasco that was the number of cattle from the C Stansfield (VIC) 13.11.05 most recent visit of the "Bader III" being transported on "Maysora", a ship with some trucks from Aqaba to Israel highly adverse reports behind it being delayed for 24 hours. An already. Following a crane animal advocacy group there Whales falling off the ship onto the filmed the cattle, ill, suffering, wharf, injuring a driver and down and dying; being trampled Dear Mr John Howard, writing off a truck, the by, and urinated on, by one "Maysora" apparently another. This report from Greenpeace developed engine problems, and (Newsletter, November 2005) is remained in Fremantle, fully This is an industry that is extremely disturbing: loaded with 80,000 suffering morally bankrupt, and which A Japanese whaling fleet has sheep on board in temperatures cannot be sustained on any left for the Southern Ocean, approaching 30 degrees Celsius, grounds, including economic where it will hunt and kill for seven days. It is reported ones. The WA and Federal almost 1000 whales. The that RSPCA inspectors were governments should be directing whaling company has doubled refused permission to board the the funds and concessions its usual kill and, for the first ship to check on the animals for provided to the live export trade time, will hunt up to 10 spurious reasons to do with to expanding local processing, endangered fin whales, with safety inductions (which would and creating jobs in this country. humpbacks on their list for next suggest that perhaps the S Cass (TAS) 13.11.05 RSPCA does not in fact monitor Please, even if you don't really ANY of the ships which come care about whales and this cruel in and out of Fremantle). It has To SMH and the West Australian slaughter near our shores, at yet to be confirmed that an least the plan to hunt AQIS appointed veterinarian The purpose of the Animal humpbacks should concern you was on board the "Maysora" Welfare Act is to promote as it will affect our eco tourist during this debacle in responsible animal care and industry and we need our accordance with the Australian protect animals from tourism dollars with nature and Live Export Standards and the cruelty. The law should apply whale watching. Please, urgent, MoU with Saudi Arabia (not to to the export industry whether make sure there is a

Page 11 SANCTUARY in the Southern debeaking. Poultry are Museling should be banned as Ocean, or our waters will be red unsuitable for cages of any size, brutal and inhumane. with the blood of these and should live the outdoors endearing, intelligent creatures. where they can behave Thank you V Ortega 18.11.05 (VIC) normally. (digging, dirt bathing etc). The public should realise V Ortega (VIC) 18.11.05 the cost of poultry and eggs is so low because of the cruel Senator Bartlett's practices allowed at this time. National Animal Welfare Heritage Forests Bill Broiler chickens are fed a diet of Premier Paul Lennon, antibiotics to help them grow To Don Sinnamon, Department of Premier and quicker making them so grossly Cabinet deformed that their legs cannot I am please to be able to give a Hobart, Tasmania cope with the weight. submission for the above National Animal Welfare Bill. Sow stalls are totally cruel to Dear Hon Mr Lennon, pigs, as intelligent and sensitive I would like to recommend that animals. They never see the 2 commercial animal I am writing about my deep daylight except when they are breeders/farmers be leaders in concern for the old, heritage loaded onto trucks headed for animal welfare husbandry, and forests of Tasmania's the slaughterhouse, by which not be involved in live exports, wilderness. Gunns Ltd is time they are worn out from museling, tail docking etc. claiming damages for media constant breeding and many are They should be totally 'above statements, what they claim is unable to walk. They cannot board' in not have any vested unlawful lobbying of even interact with their babies. interest in laws that help them shareholders, customers and Sow stalls are banned in the UK financially. governments, and disruption to and are being phased out in the its logging operations. Also that is illegal to keep dogs EU. in cages for breeding purposes, Not long ago I visited Tasmania Piglets ears are notched, their and continually use them for and was overawed by the beauty tails cut off, their teeth clipped, breeding and supply for pet and ancient-ness of these old and they are castrated without shops. With the appalling growth forests, and the tall trees any anesthetic or analgesia; this numbers of stray dogs and cats that have grown for hundreds of would be a criminal offence if being euthanised each day in the years, undisturbed. they were cats or dogs. RSPCA and animal shelters, it is These forests need to be kept for totally unethical to be Live exports should be banned. future generations of continually flooding the markets Animal welfare in the trade is Australians, not just with more animals! The only measured solely by mortality Tasmanians, and should not be breeders should be registered rates, without regard to the fact pulped for any amount of with the KCC or other that for every animal who dies, economic benefits. These areas recognised breed organisation. countless others suffer are irreplaceable in our Private owners are controlled appallingly - blindness, generations, and should be held with respect to desexing etc, but lameness, salmonellosis (a form as part of World Heritage areas. not breeders. of gastro-enteritis), starvation (inanition, shy feeding), and Areas of forest that have Battery hen cages should be trauma from brutal handling. received calls for World phased out, and Heritage Nomination are still Page 12 being clearfelled and the Government has started a 5 numbers will preserve our woodchipped and their native year campaign to promote the native flora and grasslands, but wildlife deliberately poisoned meat as healthy, tasty, and also a in reality, they want to use them and shot good investment for our as scapegoats for the pressure environment. To do this, they on grazing areas, thereby I and other Australians, people are trying to convince us that maintaining or increasing who love their country and they can be consumed, without livestock densities. appreciate the uniqueness and remembering Skippy, and that value of our native fauna and they are a much loved, world Finally, the Code of Practice of flora, implore you to not let this recognised icon of Australia. killing humanely is not company (Gunns) or any other They are looking for another monitored at the point of kill, win this case against these name to market it under. but only later as carcasses in ordinary people who have the ‘chillers’. Head shots are not right to speak up against We are to believe that there have always possible. Young joeys environmental exploitation. never before been so many are dependent on their mothers kangaroos as now, and they are for 4-6 months after leaving Any woodchipping benefits in ‘plague proportions’, and their mothers’ pouches, until cannot out weight the terrible therefore their numbers need weaned. They have no expense of the loss of our controlling to secure pasture for commercial value for the irreplaceable environmental farming. industry, and they are often treasures. Please don't sell abandoned and left to die of these native trees for short term Also, the commercial kangaroo starvation or predators. This profit. They are needed for industry will benefit of our ‘small percentage’ is calculated many future generations to environment, meaning more to be about 3 million left to die a appreciate. vegetation and less erosion, is cruel death. V Ortega (VIC) 18.11.05 another myth being sold to us. The amount of revenue from the However, the facts are kangaroo industry of meat and otherwise. Kangaroos only hides is insignificant to the Kangaroos need a frugal amount of water, amount from our tourist especially compared to thirsty industry. A large part is based In reply to Name wanted to livestock needs. on our unique wild life and sugar-coat Skippy steaks natural resources. We have Jonathan Porter Kangaroo numbers follow the these assets still, despite being November 14, 2005 run of seasons and increase devastated by increased human when food is abundant and of population and industrialisation. Letter to The Australian high quality, and decrease Tourists want to see herds of through drought. In fact, counts 17 November 2005 kangaroos, not a few survivors, have shown declines in and they don’t want to have to Queensland, NSW, SA and WA Russians now consume one travel kilometres to find them in of the western greys, wallaroos, third of processed kangaroo our vast horizons. red kangaroos and eastern greys. meat, according to Australia's V Ortega (VIC) 17.11.05 association of meat The so called ‘plague manufacturers, making Russia proportions’ is propaganda to Just a reminder to Kangaroo the world's biggest kangaroo support the kangaroo killing Industry Association of importer. industry. Australia chief executive John Kelly: no "sexy twist" with Pastoralist would like us to In order to convince the public names will alter the reality of think that reducing kangaroo to include kangaroos in our diet, the kangaroo "industry" as it Page 13 exists. Call it what you will, but fool the public. same for baby calves, billions of Australians, and indeed our V Ortega (VIC) 14.11.05 chickens, pigs, deer, kangaroos - overseas visitors, are in fact pretty much any animal understandably reticent about is fair game in the human eating the national icon. bloodlust. Is it offensive Many kangaroos do not die Jamie Oliver just because you saw it? instantly from a shot to the To The Herald Sun head, but limp off into the bush It would be great to see anything that Jamie Oliver does to die a slow and agonising I must admit I was very blacklisted in this country; death. Orphaned joeys are distressed to hear that Jamie books, TV shows and cruelly killed on the spot or left Oliver slaughtered an un- endorsements if he thinks that to die, unable to cope without stunned lamb on television with his appalling behaviour is their mothers. the dubious admonition that we acceptable - but remember, your Kangaroos are an essential part are at the top of the food chain food had a face, and it felt of the ecology of this country, and thus seemingly have the hunger, thirst, fear, pain and and live in harmony with the right to be doing such things. I loneliness. environment. A tourism industry sincerely hope that people based on our wildlife is much viewing this unpalatable Meat comes from living, more valuable to our country as episode can finally see the a whole, than one based on the breathing, feeling creatures; it connection between slaughter does not come automatically continued cruelty and and meat consumption. I am exploitation present in the packaged in polystyrene and certain Jamie Oliver will be plastic. current kangaroo "industry". questioning what he has done You may choose to call it marsu, and we should all be Most of these animals have but to the public it's still Skippy questioning what we are lived all too short lives full of the Kangaroo. indirectly doing when we suffering at the hands of S Manderson (VIC) 17.11.05 purchase meat. "producers" (farmers) before (same letter was sent to the L Campano (VIC) 14.11.05 they made it to your plate. Guardian - UK) S Cass (TAS) 14.11.05

(submitted on website) Sent to the Hobart Mercury and the Advocate "Name wanted to sugar-coat Jamie Oliver slaughters a lamb on television and viewers throw Skippy steaks" I find that the current hysteria 14th Nov their hands up in horror because about Jamie Oliver's repugnant suddenly what happens to A name will not disguise the antics on a TV show to be fact that kangaroo meat comes millions of hypocrisy at its very best. The sheep,lamb,cattle,goats and from our much loved Australian appalling thing about this man's icon, the most recognised chickens every day is actions is that he was prepared happening to one small sheep in national symbol in the world. to let a lamb suffer the agony of The public hold onto is their lounge rooms. If you slaughter without first pre- cannot handle a sheep being affectionately as Skippy, our stunning it for TV ratings. own precious, unique creature, killed in front of you, why are you eating meat? Why are we and mass slaughter and possible But surely the community is endorsing the live export of our reduced numbers would be the aware that millions of baby sheep, and cattle to Middle result of having kangaroo on our lambs are slaughtered, Eastern countries where cruel menu. Another name will not worldwide, day in, day out, for treatment awaits them and a human consumption. It is the heartless death. Every time I Page 14 hear a farmer saying ,"But I love Would they not be horrified? birds at your resort. I am a my animals," I can't help but And rightly so? I think if they conservative, middle aged wonder what their definition of knew the truth, then maybe Rolls-Royce driving love is. How can you state that this world would grow to be a businessman. I mention this you love your animals, then load compassionate and humane one. because people who commit them onto a ship bound for the J Paschke (VIC) 14.11.05 these acts of cruelty often middle East without a backward dismiss criticism as coming glance? Knowing full well what from left wing greenies living will happen to them upon Sent to Herald Sun feedback off the dole. You may be arrival? surprised to discover that they "Critics lambaste Oliver" 12 are outnumbered by people with Nov05 Jamie Oliver was only good disposable incomes, but performing an action that most Inadvertently, this chef's on- we are selective where we spend prefer to keep behind closed stage cruelty has probably our dollars. I know ours will not doors. It seems hypocritical to created a few more confirmed be at your resort. me to criticize Jamie, and then vegetarians! Perhaps people Yours sincerely go down to the Supermarket and should realise that in 'growing' buy your lamb chops ,steak and I Killip (VIC) meat, they are killing animals chicken for the week. I do not that are capable of suffering and agree with Jamies' actions, but fear, just like us. Despite not then I do not agree with ANY Dear Mr Kelly stunning the lamb before hand, animals being killed for food, I I feel that I must write to you in it is taking a life and is still cruel do not agree with animals being regard to the recent killing of and unnecessary. There are factory farmed just to satisfy our our native waterbirds at Erskine many nourishing and delicious never ending appetite for meat, House resort. This really foods to eat without violience. and yes, given the choice I is unacceptable, despite the However, what is more appaling would starve rather than eat birds causing problems by than this lack of Jamie Oliver's anything that once had a face. greatly increasing in number. callasness is the fact that many E Hardy (TAS) 14.11.05 Our native wildlife are unique animals suffer extremely and precious as is all species of miserable and deprived lives in non-human creatures. To take I find the uproar about Jamie intense factory farming, where their lives is not a decision for Oliver killing a lamb (Critics they are hidden from the public us to make. lambaste Oliver 12.11.05) very in crowded sheds. Please ensure this tragedy does interesting. Are some of those Seeing this spectacle on not occur again by employing up in arms meat eaters television hopefully make other, humane methods of themselves? If so, is it the truth people more aware of their meat control, such as relocation, scare which is upsetting them so source. guns etc. much? Because animals like that V Ortega (VIC) 13.11.05 There are many animal welfare little lamb are hurt and killed organisations, in Victoria alone, every year - in the millions. Not who would be more than happy every animal is stunned before to advise on appropriate ways Ducks it's throat is sliced open. And the to manage wildlife. fact that "kids might be Dear Mr. Kelly Yours sincerely watching" just goes to show how scared we are that our My wife and I were appalled at L Bristow (VIC) children might find out how the recent decision to slaughter their dinner got to the plate. what were tame and harmless

Page 15 Dogs community. While the idea of you to ensure that our compulsory desexing and Government continues, without obedience training is to be compromise, to maintain its To The Age: Re:The Puggle commended, the breeders (of current position on the mixed breeds) go untouched and moratorium on commercial It's heartbreaking to watch can continue to operate. whaling and to reaffirm its human beings use animals like commitment to the Southern their playthings. It is a sad reflection on our laws Ocean Whale Sanctuary in the (13.11.05) They are not here to and society that puppies and Antarctic. be bred with this and that and other animals in pet shops are the other to see "what we can treated as a saleable commodity The intention of Japan to double come up with"! Such selfish for business profits, and that their 'scientific' slaughter of behavior. What about the they can be disposed of so easily minke, humpback and fin hundreds of healthy lovable when their novelty wears off the whales is totally unacceptable to dogs that are killed each day in the reality of pet ownership is the majority of Australians. That pounds because no one wants not convenient any more. Only some of these whales will be them? We're as bad as children a few lucky ones find new slaughtered in the Australian who are sick of their old toys homes, and often shelters are Whale Sanctuary makes a and just want new one. dependent on public donations mockery of Australia's pledge to J Paschke (VIC)14.11.05 to re-home them. protect these magnificent V Ortega (VIC) 13.11.05 mammals in that environment.

Dogs are not toys, or the source Japan is already blatantly of jokes for the breeding of ignoring regulations under the freakish mixtures of breeds. Bird Flu IWC. To allow the killing under Here in Australia we have IWC Special Permit in Antarctic already huge numbers of strays With the imminent threat of bird waters is condoning this heinous and unwanted dogs and cats, flu (Turkey Out For Christmas behaviour. healthy, young and uninjured, Dinner, 6/11/05) and 150 that are on death-row each day million potential deaths on out Let Japan know that Australia is due to being unwanted. doorstep (according to the 'fair dinkum' in its stance on the Councils are reluctant to give World Health Organisation) I moratorium on commercial details on numbers that are was pleased to see that whaling by taking them to the euthanised, but the percentages Supermarkets in the UK may International Court of Justice. and numbers are huge. We do not be stocking poultry this not need another 'breed' as a Christmas. When will Australia Please continue to apply novelty for a short time, then join them in realising that the pressure in the Pacific Islands have them dumped. best way to stop the bird flu encouraging the Soloman's, threat is to stop farming Turalu, Kiribati, and others who Our state governments need to chicken? have joined the IWC, to vote seriously consider regulating Alexandra Purchase against whaling. this breeding industry. While Melbourne they discuss more controls for Australia can be instrumental in private owners of dogs (and maintaining the survival of the cats), businesses that keep dogs humpback, minke, and fin in cages to continually mate and Whales whales. We have to be relentless have puppies are allowed to in the pursuit of this goal. Dear Ministers keep adding to the excess L Bristow (VIC) 6.11.05 I am writing to strongly urge numbers of puppies in the Page 16