Departing SAFE Campaign Director Calls For Minister Of Animal Welfare

Gary Reese, the departing Co-Director and Campaign Director for SAFE (Save Animals From Exploitation), is leaving New Zealand with mixed feelings about the state of animal welfare in this country. Mr Reese, who will be taking up a new role with Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) as their Senior Campaigns Manager, has been campaigning for SAFE for the last six years. His time as Campaign Director for SAFE has seen major successes for the organisation, including the relocation of two ex-circus chimps Buddy and Sonny , and bringing factory farming issues such as sow crates to public and political attention.

"I believe that without an organisation like SAFE our animal welfare standards would be much worse. The animal welfare section of MAF (the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, who are charged with monitoring and enforcing animal welfare laws in NZ) are underresourced. If the government is serious about maintaining high animal welfare standards in this country, we now need a Minister of Animal Welfare. Our Ministers of Agriculture in conjunction with MAF are strongly biased towards animal industries and have not given animal welfare the priority it deserves" said Gary Reese.

Gary Reese has been a leading advocate for the animal protection movement in New Zealand. As SAFE's Campaign Director, Gary has seen a major shift in the mainstream acceptance of animal rights. "In the years I've been campaigning with SAFE there has been significant public and political acceptance of the animal rights movement and the issues upon which we campaign. It's an extremely positive change and I'm proud to have been part of SAFE during this time. Now it's time for the government to truly reflect public opinion and make N.Z. one of the world's most animal friendly nations." said Gary Reese.

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), is an international animal welfare organisation with a focus on farm animals. CIWF have their head office in England, with an additional eight branch offices throughout Europe. They are now campaigning in developing countries like India and Brazil as well as throughout the western world. CIWF are an internationally respected campaigning organisation that have successfully lobbied for a phase out of battery cages throughout Europe, as well as a complete ban on sow stalls in the U.K..

Gary, as CIWF's Campaign Manager will be spearheading CIWF's key campaigns; to end factory farming; stop genetic engineering of farm animals; an 'eat less meat' campaign; and to modify the World Trade Organisation (WTO) free trade rules to safeguard animal welfare standards.

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