December 5, 2001

Hamilton Animal Rights Defense is preparing to step up their campaign to ban sow crates, this Thursday, the 6th of November, with actions starting at the New World Supermarket on ANZAC Street in Cambridge at noon. Activists will be entering the supermarket, removing and stickering pork products, and placing them throughout the supermarket.

Michael Wise, from Hamilton Animal Rights Defense, says activists are expecting confrontation and arrests to occur as actions progress throughout the day. “We have several activists who have pledged to risk arrest to highlight the unconscionable actions of the heartless few, who deem it necessary to imprison innocent beings.”

This action, which is part of an ongoing campaign against the use of intensive farming methods, highlights the Governments’ present review of the Code of Welfare for Pigs. A campaign has been launched by several animal rights and welfare groups to encourage the public to write submissions to National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, expressing their disgust at the present use of the sow crate. “The sow crate, a metal crate in which pregnant pigs are kept for their 3-4 month pregnancy so small they cannot turn around, is used by only 29% of pig farmers.” Says Michael Wise, “This is not a necessary practice, in fact it goes against Section 10 of the Animal Welfare Act, and is therefore illegal. These animals are suffering unnecessarily, and this practice must be stopped.”

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Contacts: Michael Wise Hamilton Animal Rights Defense 021 176 0860

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