campaign report winter 2014

8/11/2019 Campaign Report Winter 2014

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CAMPAIGN REPORT WINTER 2014S H O W C A S I N G S A F E S W O R K I N N E W Z E A L A N D

safe.org.nz

HUGE VICTORYfor the animals

over legal highs!

of people via the Leave Animals Out

website. All submissions were rejected as

the Government decided to exclude animal

testing from issues they were considering.

Nationwide marches

Everyone was incensed at the Government

inaction and soon animal shelter HUHA

and local people in Auckland arranged

marches all over the country. Thousands of

people united in standing up for the animals

making it one of the biggest national animal

marches in New Zealand history. But still

the Government refused to back down: they

would allow animal testing and that was that.

We continued to soldier on behind the scenes,

even putting up a 16-metre-long billboard in

Wellington, aimed at the political powers!

A victory worth waiting for

After months of campaigning, May saw the

news we had all been waiting for: Prime

Minister John Key, under pressure from all

areas, finally announced that no animal tests

would ever be allowed for party pill testing!

How it happened

In 2012 the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection

Society (NZAVS) discovered that the

Government intended to allow testing onanimals such as dogs and rats for party pill

regulation. Tests, to check whether party

drugs were safe for humane consumption,

would have involved extreme suffering and

cruelty to both large and small animals

leading to pain, distress and protracted

death. Our argument was simple: using

animals as the subject of tests for

recreational drugs is both unethical

and unnecessary.

Early in 2013 SAFE joined forces with

NZAVS and the RNZSPCA to prevent the

testing. Launching the Leave Animals Outwebsite together, we ran a petition which

gathered nearly 70,000 signatures in just a

few weeks. We handed this into Parliament,

drawing lots of media attention to the issue.

A submission period followed during which

the government heard from thousands

There was much happiness and excitement in

the SAFE offices: a long, hard battle fought

by SAFE, other animal groups and caring

individuals like you, had finally been won.

We could not have done this without your

support. A huge thank-you to YOU for helping

SAFE ensure animals will not suffer in these

painful and shameful tests.

Even better

This victory does not just stop at

New Zealand. The announcement will have

far-reaching international repercussions.

Other countries have been watching

New Zealands handling of this issue closely

since we are the first country in the world

to introduce legislation for party drugs.

Our decision is sure to influence legislationin other countries, saving animals from

suffering overseas as well.

Every single one of us should feel immensely

proud of this victory. Thank you for adding

your voice and playing a part in preventing

cruelty to animals.

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PIGEXPOS

In May, over 18 months since SAFE and other animal groups started campaigning

against cruel party pill testing on animals, the Government announced that a full ban on the use

of animal testing for legal highs would be introduced. This means that no animals were ever hurt

for the sake of recreational drugs and none ever will be!

It was a long, hard battle but together with caring Kiwis like you, WE WON!


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THESE PIGSNEED YOUR HELPSAFE wants this hellhole of a farm

closed down and farrowing crates

urgently phased out.

Head over to safe.org.nz to watch the

Sunday expos and urge PM John Key

to take action as a matter of urgency.

Most important of all, by boycotting

pork you will send a strong message

to the pork industry that you will

not support this horrific cruelty.

WATCH The Sunday Expos at safe.org.nz

Pig cruelty EXPOSED again

Pig farming is once again making headlines across the country for all the wrong

reasons. New footage provided by SAFE to the media shows yet again horrific living

conditions and shocking cruelty on a New Zealand pig farm.

In 2009, a campaign led by SAFE and featuring comedian and ex-pork industry

Ambassador Mike King uncovered the cruelty inherent on pig factory farms.

Now the expos on current affairs programme Sunday has shown that the pork

industry continues to treat animals in an abhorrent manner.

NEW EXPOS: OLD CRUELTY

Last year activists visited a farm in Christchurch. What they found horrified

even them seasoned investigators of cruelty. They saw young pigs in severely

overcrowded conditions, sows in farrowing crates barely able to move and a dead

pig left to rot in a filthy, damp, concrete pen. A complaint was made to the Ministry

for Primary Industries (MPI). Significant non-compliance with the pig welfare code

was found and a number of pigs were in such bad shape they had to be killed

immediately. A few months later MPI declared that improvements had been made

and that the farm now complied with the code. MPI promised to undertake regular

monitoring to ensure the ongoing welfare of the animals.

In April, exactly one year later, investigators revisited the farm. Unbelievably, they

found that conditions were even worse. They discovered squalid conditions, a sow

in a farrowing crate so tight that her newborn piglets were squashed to death,with others dying next to their helpless mother. They also found more overcrowding

of fattening pigs with dozens of rats running over them, pigs with infected eyes

and another dead pig.

We are absolutely horrified that despite our earlier complaint this farm was

allowed to keep the animals in these appalling conditions, says Executive Director

Hans Kriek. MPI can clearly not be trusted to enforce animal welfare legislation.

They have an obvious conflict of interest. They are there to protect the farmers

and animal welfare is not taken seriously enough.

Images from a Christchurch pig farm, 2014.

Hans Kriek

Executive Director

A winfor animalsThere are times when yourealise that all the work you dofor animals is worthwhile.

The Government announcement that animals

cannot be used for recreational drug testing

was one of these times. This was a massive win

for the animal movement in New Zealand and

showed that with effort we can make a

real difference for animals.

It was great to see all the different animal groups

and many individuals working so hard to stop this

cruel animal testing.

This win is not only a win for New Zealand

animals. This decision could set a precedent that

will be followed by many other countries, thereby

saving tens of thousands of animals worldwidefrom a horrific and unnecessary death.

We are now more optimistic than ever that we

will also see a permanent ban on animal testing

for cosmetics. We also expect changes to the

Animal Welfare Act that will ban any practice that

breaches the Act. 2014 may just be shaping up

to become a good year for animals in this country!

We ended last year focused on our annual street

appeal. Thanks to the support of our volunteers

and the generosity of the public, for helping us

to raise much needed funds to help the animals.

We are going to need it as this year is proving

to be a busy one.

We have already been working on various factory

farming issues, bobby calves, cosmetic testing,

duck shooting and of course, the party pill

testing issue!

On behalf of all of us at SAFE, I thank you

for your support for all animals in need.

follow us:

Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest: SAFEnewzealand

YouTube Channel: SAFEAnimalAdvocacy

Website: SAFE.co.nz


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MILA a friend at last

After nearly 40 years the ex-circus elephant

is lonely no more. It took decades of

campaigning, determination and wishful

thinking, but after 32 years of being forced to

perform and cruelly confined inside the back

of a truck, Jumbo was finally released from

the circus in 2009. Now with a new name,

Mila has found a new home with friends of

her own kind.

SAFE campaigned for over two decades

to free Mila, the last circus elephant, from

her misery. Peaceful demonstrations were a

regular feature outside the circus around the

country, reminding circus-goers that away

from the glitz and glamour of the arena there

was suffering and frustration for the animals.

Clean, green and running with blood

SAFE launched its billboard campaign as wetland homes of our native

wildlife became killing fields, with the start of the recreational duck-

shooting season in May. To some, duck shooting may seem like fun

but in reality, it means tremendous suffering for the birds, many of

them native, who are brutally shot and killed during the season.

Others are left crippled, to die slow and painful deaths. The wounding

rate in our campaign was the subject of a complaint to the Advertising

Standards Authority. SAFE based this figure on international

examples with similar conditions as there were no local figures

available and no reason to suggest it would be any different here.

SAFE's campaign resulted in a change of

attitude towards the use of animals for

so-called entertainment. During the 1990s

New Zealand was home to four touring

circuses and hosted many international

circuses that brought with them a menagerie

of animals. Now, no New Zealand circus holds

any exotic animals.

A NEW BEGINNING

Between her capture from the wild as a

baby, release from the circus, and eventualrelocation, Mila went four decades without

seeing another of her kind. Just weeks ago,

thanks to her guardians at Franklin Zoo, her

loneliness finally came to an end when Mila

joined a group of elephants in the

United States.

WHAT ELSE

CAN YOU DO?

Visit the dairy pages

over at safe.org.nz

for news about how

you can help dairy

calves and cows.

Seeing Milas first moment with another

elephant for the first timethats what

make it all worthwhile, says SAFE Executive

director Hans Kriek. We work around the

clock for the animals, and its the most

amazing feeling in the world seeing results.

Although SAFE would have preferred for Mila

to be relocated to a specialised elephant

sanctuary, (she is now at San Diego Zoo),

SAFE is very happy that Mila is finally able to

be with other elephants, and it is definitely

a big step up from being forced to performtricks and being locked in a tiny truck.

WATCH videos of Milas growing friendships

on Franklin Zoos YouTube channel.

BANNED: brutal calf bashing

After a huge public outcry, the government has been forced to

ban the routine bashing of calves to death with a hammer, or any

other blunt implement!

Most of us were appalled earlier this year to hear about the cruel

treatment of calves, both by New Zealand farmers overseas and

here on NZ farms.

The ban, announced in June, comes after SAFE spoke out in

condemnation of this cruel practice with your support. Manyof you put a submission in for this thank you. While the

announced changes will not address the underlying problems

with the dairy industry, they are a step in the right direction of

recognising that the suffering of these baby animals matters.

Because they are not needed by the dairy industry, every year

around 1.7 million calves are treated as mere waste products

with little or no attention given to their welfare. These are

bobby calves vulnerable young animals no longer

required and brutally discarded.

Along with thousands of New Zealanders,

SAFE has also spoken out against the

government legalising dairy factory farms.

The governments final decision on this

issue is still to come.

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WHAT YOU CAN DO:

ENCOURAGE YOUR FAMILYor friends to not go shooting

If shooters are in your area, KEEP AN EYE OUTfor incidences of

illegally activities (shooting birds on the water, shooting protected

species, shooting while intoxicated, shooting without a licence,

use of lead shot). Report any illegal hunting activities to the police.

RESPOND TO MEDIAreports glorifying duck shooting write a

letter to your local paper highlighting the cruelty involved.

FEED LOCAL DUCKS in your area. Many ducks will take refuge in

parks and inner-city rivers.


4/6

An end to cosmetics

testing: IN SIGHT!Our campaign against cosmetics testing on animals

has gone from strength to strength with an exciting

new amendment introduced by Green MP Mojo

Mathers. The government is now legally required to

consider banning cosmetic testing on animals in the

review of the Animal Welfare Act! The revision, if it

goes ahead, will see animal testing of cosmetics

such as shampoo or lipstick made an offence

punishable by law.

e

"For some time, the government has known that

the world is moving away from cosmetic testing

on animals. Now they have an opportunity to

make sure New Zealand keeps up," says Head of

Campaigns, Mandy Carter.

A ban will ensure that animals do not have to suffer

for the sake of cosmetics. Animal testing involves

some of the most horrific cruelty imaginable, and

there really is no excuse."

There is a growing global trend towards cruelty-

free products. Israel, India, the 28 member states

of the European Union and most recently the

Brazilian state of So Paulo, have already banned

cosmetics animal testing. Legislative measures are

under discussion in Australia, Brazil, South Korea,

the United States and beyond.

World Day forLab Animals 2014

Alone;scared;defenceless;

in pain.Just imagine being a laboratory rabbit.

April marked World Week for Animals

in Laboratories, a time when caring

people unite around the world to

remember those animals that have

suffered in experiments.

Did you know that in the last 10 years

nearly three million animals have been

used for testing and teaching in New

Zealand? And that the purpose of the

vast majority of testing is to increasethe profit of the agricultural industry?

Because animal testing is shrouded in

secrecy most of us have no idea what

really goes on.

In memory of those animals, including

birds, cats, dogs, cows, deer, horses,

guinea pigs, mice, marine mammals,

rats, rabbits, possums, pigs and

sheep, we have put together a handy

infographic, breaking down the facts.

The more we know, the more we can

make a difference.

Companiesar

enotobligated

topubliclyrep

ortthetests

theyrecondu

cting,

ALLOWINGTH

EMTO

OPERATEINS

ECRECY.

88%OVER

OF NEW ZEALANDERS

WANT TO BANCOSMETICS TESTING

ON ANIMALS

A worldwide problem:

animal tests are

scientically invalidas well as cruel.Currently, 9 out of 10experimental drugsFAIL in clinical studiesbecause WE CANNOTACCURATELY PREDICTHOW THEY WILL BEHAVEIN PEOPLE based on

laboratory & animalstudies.

90%OF DRUGSTESTED ON

ANIMALS FAIL

NEARLY 100%

OF RABBITS, RATS

& MICE DIE IN

LABORATORY

TESTS.

Cruelty-Free Companies get on board

Twenty eight cosmetics companies from across New Zealand, including major

brands such as LUSH, the Body Shop and Kiwi favourites Antipodes,

Oasis Beauty and Sorbet, joined SAFE in issuing a plea to Prime Minster

John Key. Their joint letter asked for a full ban on animal testing for cosmetics.

animals havebeen usedfor testing,

research & teaching in

the last decade.

2,904,970

TAKE ACTION

Email the party leaders at animalwelfare.org.nz and remind them that

animal welfare is a cause that is very important to you. Ask them to

support the cosmetics testing amendment by sending an e-card now!

Mandy Carter

Head of Campaigns

Animal testing involves some of

the most horrific cruelty imaginable,

and there really is no excuse.

Check out the full infographic

on the SAFE website


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DONATEYour donation ensures SAFEcontinues to campaign againstcruelty to animals in New Zealand.

FREE POST TO :

Freepost Authority Number 13366,SAFE, PO Box 13366,Armagh, Christchurch 8141

A big thank you to everyone who helps us help animals.

We could not do our much-needed work without you.

Thanks to your help, we are slowly but surely achieving

positive changes for animals. However, a lot more needs to be done

and we will continue to be a strong voice for animals for as long as needed.

We hope you will be right there with us!

YES, you have my support to stopanimal cruelty by donating:

$30 $50 $70

Other $

One-off Monthly

Name

Address

Phone

Email

Please find enclosed

PAYMENT OPTIONS :

Cheque Cash

Please debit this card

Card number

MasterCard Visa Amex

Name on Card

Expiry date

Signature

CSC#

EMAIL : [email protected]

Online banking to SAFE :

Account number

SAFE 03 1558 0005198 01

Volunteering

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT :

Leaving a gift to SAFE in my Will

To make a donation,

please complete the form on the left,

visit our website: safe.org.nz

or call 03 3799711 for more information.

We can all make

small changes

to make a

BIG DIFFERENCE

If you want to help animals but arent sure how,we can help! Follow the tips below to live a

cruelty-free lifestyle.

BUY CRUELTY FREE.Avoid products tested on animals.

ADOPT AN ANIMALrather than buyingfrom a pet shop or breeder.

DONT WEAR ANIMALS.Steer clear of leather, wool and silk.

Buy dairy and eggALTERNATIVES.

Visit animalSANCTUARIESrather than zoos.

TAKE THE PLEDGEto Go Veg.If you love animals, dont eat them!

DONT HARM ANIMALSfor fun.Avoid rodeo, circus or hunting.

FOLLOW SAFE on social media andshare posts with friends and family.

BE A VOICE for animals by writing lettersto newspaper editors, signing petitions andcommenting on articles online.

SUPPORT OUR WORK.Donate today!

campaign report winter 2014

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