Animal Activists Threaten Direct Action If Pork Industry Votes To Continue Sow Crates

Wellington, Monday night July 23rd 2001

Animal rights activists say a campaign of direct action will begin if the Pork Industry refuses to ban sow crates at the Industry AGM on Tuesday.

Protesters will gather outside the Novotel, 345 The Terrace, in Wellington at 11.30am Tueday 24th July as the Minister of Agriculture arrives at the Pork Board AGM.

A national campaign by animal rights groups had resulted in the Pork Board agreeing to phase out sow crates on NZ factory farms. But a few weeks ago the Pork Board indicated to the SPCA that they want to continue using sow crates.

A Wellington animal rights group is predicting an increase in confrontational protest action if the Pork industry votes to continue confining pigs in sow crates.

Mark Eden, spokesperson for Wellington Animal Action, says "The Pork Board can vote to phase out the sow crate, which will be a small step in the right direction, or they can vote to continue with the cruelty and face a huge campaign against them".

"We aim to see all factory farming abolished in this country, and we have the public support to do that with or without the consent of the farmers. If money is more important to the pig farmers than public opinion, then we will make sure the industry loses money" he said.

"Every part of the pork industry, from farms, slaughterhouses, wholesalers and supermarkets, will face disruption and direct action if this cruelty continues" said Mr Eden.

"The entire factory farming industry is unacceptably cruel. Abolishing the sow crate is just a tiny reform and if the industry is unwilling to take even one small step then more and more people will lose faith in lawful campaigning and turn to direct action and civil disobedience".

Sow stalls are so small that the pigs are unable to walk or even turn around, which causes severe stress and suffering. Over 20,000 pigs are kept in dry sow stalls in New Zealand.

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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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