Media release: Protest against chicken cruelty

Saturday 6th April 2001

Animal rights activists are planning a protest at a Lower Hutt supermarket this morning. The protesters from Wellington Animal Action will be urging shoppers to boycott the egg industry in reponse to the mass killing of day old chicks in New Plymouth recently.

The protesters will gather outside Foodtown Supermarket in Queensgate Mall, Lower Hutt, at 11am on Saturday morning.

Spokesperson Mark Eden says the recent mass killing of day old chicks is not an isolated incident but is normal practise in the factory farming industry. He says all commercial egg farmers, including free range farmers, buy layer hens from hatcheries that routinely kill all newborn male chicks.

"The mass killing of male chicks is standard practise for an industry that cares only about money. The entire egg industry is based on cruelty. Millions of female birds are confined in tiny wire cages, and the males can't do the one thing that makes money for egg farmers (laying eggs), so they get thrown into a mincer".

"Most New Zealanders agree that battery cages are cruel and should be banned. The recent public outcry over the shredding of day old male chicks shows that people are horrified by animal cruelty and the only way the industry gets away with it is because it's all done behind closed doors" said Mr Eden.

"Egg farmers always put profits ahead of the rights of animals, and that is why the entire industry has to be abolished. The only way you can be sure you are not supporting cruelty, is to refuse to give money to these industries. Boycott all egg products".

for more information contact Wellington Animal Action on Office (04) 385 6728 Mobile phone: 021 158 6554

-- Animal liberation conference http://www.animal-liberation.org.nz
- MayDay in Wellington http://aotearoa.wellington.net.nz/mayday/

Wellington Animal Action PO Box 6387, Te Aro, Wellington, Aotearoa (New Zealand) Phone 0064 04 385-6728 or 021 158 6554

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