SAFE excels at taking the message to the people. This time of the year this is particularly noticeable with SAFE volunteers frequently positioned at stalls, events and festivals throughout the country. SAFE at Pet Expo The SAFE stand at the recent Pet Expo in Auckland was a huge success raising $1,500, recruiting 11 members, 6 volunteers and signing up 40 more people for the SAFE bulletin! "The new ‘LovePigs.org.nz' badges were a big hit with the public", says SAFE's stall organiser Caro. "We were extremely successful at raising awareness as to how pigs are farmed in New Zealand and encouraged by the number of people pledging to boycott pork." Dog Pride day stall While at the Pet Expo, organisers of the Dog Pride Day were so impressed with our stand they invited SAFE to have a stall at their event the following weekend. This was another fantastic opportunity for SAFE to educate members of the public while also giving away information and selling merchandise.  Climate Change Carnival SAFE held a stall at Carnival Against Climate Change. SAFE volunteers handed out lots of information about eating meat and its adverse effects on the environment. They also talked to the public about SAFE's campaign for pigs, SAFE's cruelty free shop, and handed out placards for people to hold. "The carnival took place on K-Rd so we set up the stall right outside our shop in front of the arcade. This was a great opportunity to promote where we are located as well as highlight that New Zealand's biggest contributor to climate change is farming animals", says Caro. Body Mind Spirit festival SAFE recently held a stall at this bi-annual festival and gave out info on intensive pig farming to a very supportive crowd. Over $300 was raised from donations and merchandise sales, and many volunteers and even a new SAFE member were recruited. Thanks and well done to the SAFE volunteers who ran the stall! Go SAFE Wellington, go! The SAFE team in Wellington has been holding numerous stalls and vegetarian sausage sizzles. Venues include the Petone Fair, Cuba Carnival and Dragon Boat Festival. They are doing a fantastic job getting the message out there while raising some money at the same time, and their ‘Not-Dog' sizzles are becoming quite famous amongst Wellington vegetarians! Local coordinator Alison Wilson says "We've found that the public is supportive and that many are finding out about issues like intensive pig farming for the first time". Their volunteer group has swelled to 40+ volunteers and they are looking forward to their weekly information stalls in Manners Mall (every Saturday from 11am-3pm, with the exception of 24 & 31 March) and holding monthly social dinners. These dinners will be held at vegan-friendly restaurants on the last Thursday of the month. 13 March 2007
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