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New Zealand has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world. But these words stick in my throat. It's just not believable. Or is it? The sad reality is that it is true. New Zealand has enjoyed animal welfare/protection laws since as far back as 1832. After 175 years of legislation designed to PROTECT animals you would think such legislation would be able to adequately PROTECT animals by now. It fails dismally but alongside other countries, New Zealand is advanced enough to not be internationally shamed. In my 18-year history of animal advocacy I have found our animal welfare laws more foe than friends to animals. If anything, the law serves to protect those who abuse animals not the victims of abuse.

Last month I attended an international animal law dialogue in Brisbane involving some of Australasia's leading legal animal advocates. For two solid days I listened to a panel of experts deconstruct, decipher and denigrate (with ample justification mind you) the law as it relates to animals. Whilst it was an excellent weekend it was also depressing. It illustrated just how woefully inadequate the law that protects animals across the globe is.

Speaking of woefully inadequate, last week a Wellington battery hen farmer was convicted of animal cruelty and fined $20,000 and disqualified from 'owning' birds for 10 years. The case was so horrific it deserved the maximum sentence of jail time and $50,000 in penalties. Despite being a sympathetic judge he could still not justify incarcerating the farmer to a 5-star cage we call prison. He deserved to rot in a cage in the same manner he treated his hens. I look forward to the day a judge finally has the moral courage to defend a non-human animal with an appropriate conviction.

Anthony Terry
Director

















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BATTERY HEN FARM PROSECUTED

Wellington Egg Company and its director Trevor Soon Chin pleaded guilty to several charges of animal cruelty and were sentenced last week in the Wellington District Court. The company was fined $20,000 for four charges of failing to supply adequate shelter or water and was disqualified from owning or being in charge of birds for 10 years. The Wellington SPCA described a "hellish environment", with dead and live birds in the same cages and sick birds being trampled by healthier ones. more ...

MIND BODY SPIRIT FESTIVAL

SAFE held a stall at the latest Mind Body Spirit Festival in Christchurch. Despite the festival being quieter this year than last volunteers reported the public to be very interested in SAFE and very supportive of the campaign to help factory farmed pigs. "We sold lots of our brand new LovePigs shopping bags, recruited some new members and raised over $300 in the process", says campaign officer Sacha Dowell. Many thanks to the volunteers for running another successful stall at this event.

PIG FUNDRAISERS

In the last three months SAFE's fantastic volunteers around the country have collected $12,675 in donations from outside supermarkets. The money will be used to purchase further educational and promotional resources for the pig campaign. more ...

AUCKLAND VEGETARIAN FOOD AND LIFESTYLE FESTIVAL

The SAFE Auckland crew came out in force on Sunday to show their support for World Vegetarian Day (October 1st), by holding a fabulous info stall at the Vegetarian Food and Lifestyle Festival. They had a blast, enjoying tasty treats from talented chefs, picking up recipe ideas and sampling vegetarian and vegan wares. more ...

HAWKE'S BAY SAFE ROCKS!

Over the past few months SAFE volunteers have been getting out their appeal gear and collecting donations at numerous supermarkets in the Hawke's Bay area. SAFE area coordinator Donna Powell wishes to say a big thank you to all the volunteers who helped raise $3500, with special thanks to Fiona, Amelia and Emily, who have collected on several occasions. Fantastic stuff guys!

UPCOMING

West Auckland regional meeting
7pm, Thursday, 25 October at The Kelston Community Centre - Committee Room, located at the corner of Great North and Awaroa Road, Glendene.

CALLING ALL WESTIES! Come meet SAFE campaigners Hans and Sacha, who will talk to the local residents of West Auckland about the LovePig campaign more ...


WANTED: WEBSITE ASSISTANCE
A website assistant is required to assist with the upload of the SAFE email bulletins each fortnight. If you can code html and css, are competent at editing and the compression of photos (using photoshop) and can donate a couple of hours each fortnight, please get in touch. Email anthony@safe.org.nz


SAFE VACANCY
CAMPAIGN OFFICER AND OFFICE MANAGER
It is with great regret we must farewell SAFE's newly appointed campaign officer and office manager Laura Cleary. Laura has been a true champion and will be greatly missed. It does mean that SAFE now seeks a replacement that is confident, passionate, self-motivated individual to join the Auckland team in this key, permanent position. The person will be in sole charge of organising and managing events, publicity stunts, demonstrations and volunteer meetings. Must have excellent written and oral communication skills, a sound knowledge of animal rights and welfare issues, able to work flexible hours and be willing to work in an environment that embraces compassion to all animals. more...

 

3 OCTOBER 2007 #36



It's movie time!
This week we have two single passes (valued at $24) to attend a movie of your choosing at the Documentary Film Festival screening in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. If you can attend a festival in your area then enter the draw now. Draw closes 12pm Monday 8 October.

Congratulations to Roxane Vosper, Sophie Merkens, Lisa Anderson and Rachelle Rogers for each winning a vegan fudge pack made by the delectable people at Angel Foods.

MOVIE REVIEW

Super Amigos
Step aside 'Super Man', 'Spider-Man', and Batman...there are five new heroes here to save the day! They don't travel at the speed of light or drive a flying car, but keep your capes on, because these guys are masked, tough, and ready to give someone the boot. Super Amigos follows 5 modern-day Superheroes in Mexico City as they fight for social justice and human and animal rights. more ...

SHOPPING

LOVEPIGS SHOPPING BAGS
SAFE has released funky new reusable shopping bags. The black doubled-sided printed bags are eye-catching and terrific to spread the word about the LovePigs campaign. For $2 how can you go wrong! Order 10 and give to your family and friends. Email to place an order now. shop@safe.org.nz