Activists set to make waves! Anti-vivisection activists converge on Christchurch

Hundreds of determined activists are descending on Christchurch in preparation for one of New Zealand's biggest demonstrations for the rights of animals, between the 18 and 22 August.

National Anti Vivisection Campaign (NAVC), Save Animals From Exploitation (SAFE), and the Animal Rights Alliance (ARA) are working together to represent the majority of New Zealand people that are opposed to vivisection. The Green Party and the Animal Rights Legal Advocacy Network (ARLAN), a national network of lawyers, are also supporting individual events during the week.

Activists are basing their activities in Christchurch because it is hosting two international conferences supporting the animal research industry .

In 1863, Frances Power Cobbe, a British woman visiting Italy heard about the atrocious activities of a vivisector and organised the first recorded body of people to protest against - in their words - "the pitiless violation" of animal life, through vivisection.

"140 years later New Zealanders too will oppose the immorality and wastefulness of vivisection upon learning of the atrocities committed on animals in laboratories throughout New Zealand", said Gary Reese, a spokesperson for the coalition.

"Vivisection has never been ethically acceptable, and now it is no longer scientifically justifiable. From next week activists will stage over 20 actions consisting of multiple-daily demonstrations, a media conference, a public meeting, and the release of the first comprehensive report into vivisection in New Zealand", said Gary Reese.

Footnotes 1. ANZCCART (Australia & New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research & Teaching) Conference, Grand Chancellor Hotel, 18-19 August, Christchurch.

ANZLAS (Australia & New Zealand Society for Laboratory Animal Science) Conference, Grand Chancellor Hotel, 21-23 August, Christchurch.

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