GOVT FAILS TO BAN FACTORY-FARMED ANIMALS

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.

On 10 November, the National and ACT parties voted against the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill that would have put a stop to factory farming.

"The majority of New Zealanders will be appalled to know that the Government was in a position to ban cruel farming practices 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.

"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.

PIGS IN PALMY!

A dozen dedicated SAFE Palmy volunteers recently organised a day of action for pigs

The successful day-long event held at a local shopping mall, included a life-sized sow model in a stall. Lucy, SAFE's giant pig mascot, proved to be a big hit, attracting hundreds of people to the stall.

During lunchtime, volunteers handed out a cruelty-free alternative to factory-farmed ham: vegetarian ham sandwiches! Leaflets were also handed out about the pork industry's upcoming deceptive labelling campaign, and people were appalled that pork with the "welfare-approved" label could come from factory-farmed pigs.

SAFE organiser, Mary Murray, was delighted at the level of support received from the public and mall staff. The majority of people were very concerned that pigs could be kept in such terrible conditions. Great job, Palmy SAFE!

SAFE URGES BACON JUDGES TO FAIL ON CRUELTY

New Zealand's top bacon producers were recently competing for high praise and accolades at the annual 100% NZ Bacon Competition. However, SAFE was there urging judges to fail entries from factory-farmed pigs. Approximately twenty campaigners staged a noisy, yet peaceful demonstration outside the venue in Petone.

SAFE Wellington coordinator Jonathan O'Brien said the event went extremely well and had a great turn out for a Friday lunchtime. "Our message that pigs should not suffer was clearly visible to those attending the competition and surely our presence was an unwelcomed talking point during the event," says Jonathan.

"Last year's bacon competition was postponed after comedian Mike King exposed horrific images of pig suffering to the nation. The public outcry of suffering pigs on factory farms should have sent a clear message to the industry that it is time to change their practices," says Jonathan.

This year's bacon competition was being judged by supermarket managers, food writers and chefs. SAFE says since exposing the shocking state of the New Zealand pig industry, that pig welfare has become a serious and major concern for consumers.

"Unfortunately, the 100% NZ Bacon Competition still appears focused on taste and appearance rather than animal welfare. It shows the pork industry still hasn't got its priorities right and is failing to address the pressing animal welfare problems facing their industry. Surely this terrible cruelty must leave a bitter taste in the mouth of any judge and certainly should not be recognised with an award," says Jonathan.

In New Zealand over 20,000 pregnant sows are confined in crates so small they can't turn around. These animals suffer leg weakness and other health problems and exhibit unnatural behaviour such as bar biting, indicating that they are under severe stress.

PIGS IN MUD!

PIGS IN MUD took on an entirely new meaning when two brave SAFErs recently entered the Mud Sweat & Tears Challenge in Christchurch.

The two ‘pigs' waded through deep mud and cold water for five kilometres dressed up in brightly-coloured pink clothes, screen-printed with anti-factory farming messages, complete with piggy ears, nose and tails. Well done, Elly and Sacha!

PM's OFFICE GETS A GRUNTY PROTEST

By ESTHER HARWARD - Sunday Star Times

It must have been surreal - a giant pig, a plate of vegetarian sandwiches and a famous actress at the prime minister's door.

On Friday, In My Father's Den star Emily Barclay and a 2m high pig turned up at John Key's electorate office in Kumeu with 2500 messages from New Zealanders demanding an end to cruel pig-farming practices.

Key wasn't in - having been in the United States and Canada last week - but his staff were reportedly receptive to the sandwiches.

Barclay, in Auckland filming Love Birds with comedian Rhys Darby and British actress Sally Hawkins, said it was "mindblowing" that the government allowed sow and farrowing crates.

"It's not good enough, it's really horrible. In other countries it's banned. There's such a clear message from the New Zealand public and I just think it's time for John Key to listen," Barclay said.

Cruelty to pigs contributed to her decision eight years ago to go vegan. "A lot of it was to do with factory farming, a lot of my friends were [vegan] and it became impossible to ignore it any longer."

About 20,000 public submissions, gathered over the past six weeks, will go to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee this week to protest at its draft pig farming code.

The code proposes restricting the use of sow stalls before ultimately phasing them out by December 2017, but SAFE wants a ban now. It would also exclude banning farrowing crates, used for sows and their piglets, a practice that SAFE says is equally cruel.

Animal welfare advocates say sow and farrowing crates, which keep pigs in extreme confinement to maximise breeding and prevent aggression, cause the animals stress.

GO GIRLS CAST AID THE PIGS!

Go Girls cast members Bronwyn Turei, Alix Bushnell, Jared Turner and Leighton Cardno, took time assisting SAFE on Auckland's Queen Street collecting submissions against pig cruelty.

Looking fabulous in SAFE's new Say No to Factory Farming t-shirts, the four invited the public to sign SAFE's submission cards opposing sow crates.

"Members of the public were clearly excited to have the Go Girls cast asking for their help at this signing event. Some became very bashful and there were lots of laughs and squeals of recognition. This awesome-foursome certainly made it very popular and exciting to be part of this campaign," says SAFE promotions manager Amanda Sorrenson.

"The actors were surprised at how easy it was to get signatures for the cause, and were impressed with how close to the hearts of New Zealanders the subject of sow crates has become."

Bronwyn, who plays Cody, said about her experience, "As we stood on Queen Street gathering signatures with SAFE to save the pigs, I was touched by the great response and care people have for this cause."

The four stars are very keen to keep assisting SAFE in the future. The successful comedy drama Go Girls, launched its second series in March of this year.

SAFE DEFENDS PIGS

SAFE volunteers have been raising awareness of the treatment of pigs throughout the country.

In Christchurch, Leith Graydon donned a pig costume and took part in a bike parade and dress-up competition for a Climate Change Festival. Meanwhile at Hamilton Girls High School, Caitlin Kidd and friends held an eye-catching demonstration and fundraiser against the factory farming of pigs.

SAFE volunteers held stalls in Whangarei, Wellington, Auckland and in the Far North. The SAFE stall at the Waimate P & I Show in Northland was very successful, with over 100 postcards signed to be sent to local MPs and nearly $200 raised.

More stalls and actions are planned over the next month in Whangarei, Kerikeri, Kawakawa, Palmerston North, Dunedin, Hamilton, Gisborne and Queenstown. Invercargill SAFE will have 'pigs' and other 'animals' entering into their Christmas Parade to raise awareness for SAFE.

Get involved
If you live in any of these areas and can help, please click here for details.

TEAM PIGGIE!

It's pink, it's fluffy... it's a pig! No wait, it's a SAFE volunteer in a pig costume! SAFE volunteers are taking part in a phenomenon that's trotting at speed across the whole country!

The past few weeks has seen gutsy volunteers in Hamilton, Kapiti Coast and Christchurch, going about their everyday lives in full-body pig costumes, complete with piggy-nosed hood and curly tail!! They also wore signs educating the public about the cruelty of intensive pig farming.

SAFE Kapiti coordinator Jenna Williams-Gray wore her costume on a school day and got lots of attention from her fellow schoolmates. Likewise, Caitlin Kidd and a handful of her friends wore the costumes all day while at Hamilton Girls High School, and reported that they got loads of support and questions from both teachers and students on factory farming and what they could do to help. The super girl-power pig-loving team also collected donations and are already planning other activities at school.

Meanwhile in Christchurch, Sarah Wheeler, one of SAFE's latest volunteers, bravely donned her pig costume for the day which included travelling by bus to her course. Sarah says she got heaps of toots while walking around the city and during her course she had many teachers wanting to have pictures taken with her.

A massive thank you to Jenna, Caitlin and friends and Sarah, and welcome to Team Piggie!

Get active
If you'd like to join the growing list of brave individuals on Team Piggie by wearing a pig costume for a day, email Sacha at sacha@safe.org.nz.

STEPPING UP FOR ANIMALS!

Wellington supporter Kelly Adams was determined to run a marathon for animals. Her enthusiasm managed to rally together a team of 14 people to compete in the Harbour Capital Marathon in Wellington recently.

Wearing a pink polar fleece pig costume Kelly and her team clad in SAFE shirts successfully crossed the finish line in what they thought was a good time, only to learn they had won the 10km team event. They also raised $165 from sponsorship. Good on you Kelly and the SAFE team!

PIG AGM CHALLENGED

Over 40 SAFE pig welfare campaigners successfully demonstrated outside the New Zealand pork industry annual conference in Christchurch on the 20th of July.

As the Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, in his opening address accused the industry of complacency, protesters dumped a trailer load of fresh straw at the front door of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, where the conference was taking place. Meanwhile, pig-costume wearing demonstrators stood outside the hotel waving at motorists passing by tooting in support.

The SAFE action aimed to highlight the harsh treatment of intensive pig farming and send a message to the country's largest producers to support a ban on pig crates.

 "We successfully reminded pig producers they must give their animals sufficient space and be provided with nesting materials such as straw as a basic requirement," says SAFE campaign officer Eliot Pryor.

The colourful and peaceful demonstration attracted constant toots from passing motorists and featured on national television news. 

Click here to read TV1 news story

PIGS OUT IN FORCE!

Since the Sunday expose of pig cruelty in New Zealand, pig campaigners throughout the country have staged protests, actions, political rallies and public meetings, and have even cycled across the Auckland harbour bridge in pig costumes to keep the issue within the public arena. Some were so amazed at the media and public response to the Mike King exposé that they agreed to wear pig costumes for the entire week!

Campaign officer Eliot Pryor says, "It has been very rewarding for volunteers to see how the mood and attitude on the street towards the issue has suddenly changed."

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR AREA

Lots more actions are planned in the coming months so if you would like to join events in your area please get involved! Email Sacha for details at sacha@safe.org.nz