November 3, 2008 -- Activists Rescue 12 Pullets for World Vegan
Day
Animal Liberation Aotearoa received the following communique (click
here to view additional images):
"To celebrate World Vegan Day we spent the night in countryside at a
pullet farm. We rescued 12 young pullets who had spent their whole life
caged on the farm. There were destined to for a battery hen cage but
they will now enjoy a long life, full of sunshine, grass and love.
This is light years away from what life on the factory farm was like
dark, cramped and filthy. This is sadly still the reality for over three
million pullets and battery hens nationwide.
These animals have no one but you; go vegan and get liberating.
Until all are free!"
October 4, 2008 -- Lambs and Chickens Liberated
Animal Liberation Aotearoa received the following communique
(click
here for a gallery of photos from the action; click
here for video footage):
"The myth of Aotearoa's clean, green countryside masks a deadly
truth. That this countryside is home to pain, suffering and murder. When
you drive in the country what you see is land stolen from indigenous
inhabitants, hills and streams stripped of their native forest cover and
animals trapped on pastoral and factory farms. These animals are waiting
to be killed, their babies ripped away from them and their bodies
abused. This is the real truth of the Aotearoa countryside.
In celebration of World Vegetarian Day and World Farm Animals Day we
liberated two lambs, two broiler chickens and ten battery hens from a
life of suffering and an untimely death. We also attempted to rescue
ducks from the factory farm however upon entering, we found that the
whole farm was empty. Hopefully for good. The animals were rescued to
spare them from slaughter and challenge the assumption that animals are
food.
Before we discuss this action any further we would like to clear up
something that always seems to overshadow any underground actions; this
being the choice to keep our identity anonymous. It is not because we
want to appear militant or that we are embarrassed or ashamed of the
action that we have taken. We choose to remain anonymous for two
reasons; the animals and the state.
We have taken this action for the animals; it is their face that
should be seen. Our story, who we are, why we are involved and how we
feel is irrelevant. What is of the utmost importance is the plight of
the animals. Who they are and that they suffer. Often the story of the
activists involved overshadows the story of the animals. We do not want
to see any attention diverted away from the animals. Their story must be
the one that is told.
The second reason is the state. We are not naive enough to think that
the state will do anything to help the animals. The state is an enemy of
the animals and anyone who defends them. The state exists to protect the
interests of the rich and powerful; many of whom are animal abusers. As
we have seen in recently in the UK, USA and Austria the state will not
shy away from using state forces to crack down on those involved in the
struggle for animal liberation. We do not want to be martyrs and we do
not want to help the state prevent us from taking actions for the
animals. The longer we can remain anonymous the longer we can continue
our work for the animals.
Everyone loves springtime, the daffodils, the re-emergence of the sun
and cute young animals bouncing around the countryside. What people
choose to forget is that those very same lambs, calves and kids that
they stop to admire will soon be taken from their mothers and sent to
the slaughterhouse to be killed. So that the people that stopped to
admire them can eat their young butchered bodies.
Dairy cows and goats are kept alive and continually pregnant; this
ensures that they continue to produce milk. This milk is meant to
nourish their young, milk that is stolen by companies like Fonterra and
fed to humans. Humans who are only meant to drink human milk until they
are weaned from their mothers as small children. The cow and goat
mothers will often not get a chance to nurture their young. They are
sometimes induced before the calves are fully formed or the calves are
born and taken away from their mothers within a few days of birth. This
ensures that they do not drink much of the mother's milk as this would
reduce the farmer's profits. The young calves and kids are sent to the
slaughterhouse and are killed for YOUR dinner. Their mothers are killed
a few years later when their exhausted bodies can no longer produce as
much milk.
Hidden in the depths of the killing fields of the countryside are
factory farms housing pigs, ducks, turkeys and chickens. All trapped in
filthy, overcrowded sheds where they are fattened up until they are
ready to be killed for their flesh.
Battery and free range hens are also killed after being condemned to
a life of suffering and exploitation. Where they would naturally produce
20 eggs a year battery and free range hens have been bred to produce
more than ten times this in a year. Environmental manipulation also
ensures that they produce as many eggs a year as possible. This leaches
nutrients from their small bodies and when egg production drops off they
are killed for pet food and chicken stock. Battery hens are killed at an
age of 18 months and free range hens are killed at about five years of
age. Naturally hens will live very happy and fulfilling lives for over
ten years.
We are not asking for bigger sheds, no cages and better killing
practises and we are not asking for welfare advances. We are fighting to
challenge our destructive culture; we are fighting for animal
liberation. There is no such thing as ethical meat, milk or eggs. All
involves the killing of individuals and the infliction of fear, pain and
suffering.
Animals are all individuals, with personality, desires and
relationships with other animals. People do not want to see this and
they do not want to know who is suffering and being killed for their
dinner.
This World Farm Animals Day we challenge you to think about it, to
get to know those killed for your food and to open your eyes and heart
to their suffering. We challenge you to go vegan.
Live for the freedom of the earth, the people and the animals!"
August 28, 2008 -- Melbourne Zoo Vandalized
anonymous report:
"On the morning of the 27th of August, the towering prison walls of
the Melbourne Zoo were vandalised with numerous slogans, signed by the
ALF, to remind visitors that animals are not theirs for entertainment."
July 7, 2008 -- Update: Open Rescue
Update on Animal Liberation
Victoria's open rescue in solidarity with the 10 Austrian animal rights
activists in prison (see www.vgt.at ):
"The 13 hens rescued on June 22, 2008 in solidarity with the jailed
Austrian activists are all doing very well. Little Martina (named after
Martin Balluch who has been on hunger strike since May 21) was found
starving to death in the excrement pit under the cages. (see photo
below) Martina weighed only 400 grams instead of a healthy 1.8 kilos.
She has tremendous spirit, bright eyes and a zest for life, just like
Martin Balluch. Martina is a survivor and is now eating, drinking and
enjoying fresh air, sunshine and good food. As are the other survivors
(see second photo).
The Austrian activists need all the support we can give."
Please visit www.vgt.at to
learn more about the imprisoned activists and how you can contact the
Austrian authorities.
June 23, 2008 - Open Rescue In
Solidarity with Austrian Activists
"13 hens rescued
Animal Liberation Victoria's Openrescue team saved the lives of 13
battery hens from abysmal conditions inside an Australian egg laying
factory today (June 22, 2008). The rescue was in solidarity with the ten
Austrian animal activists who have been imprisoned without reasonable
cause since May 21. Some of the activists are on hunger strike,
including Dr Martin Balluch who hasn't eaten for a month and is
currently being forcefed inside the prison hospital.
Six activists literally saved the lives of many hens as well as
removing them from the putrid shed. Two hens were found near death
caught trapped in the wire and baffle plate of their cages, and eight
others were rescued from a manure pit filled with oozing excrement, dead
bodies, dying hens, beetles, rats and feral cats. When Setha, who was on
his first rescue, realised the hens were trapped in the manure pit he
immediately jumped down to help them. One of the numerous hens he saved
from a sure death of starvation and dehydration in the pit we named
Martina in honor of Martin Balluch. This hen was severely emaciated and
dehydrated and on death's door, she weighed less than half a kilogram.
Martina has incredible spirit and is slowly starting to eat again.
Others were ill and weighted down with heavy manure balls.
The last two photos feature Martina. Each Austrian prisoner has a
rescued hen named in their honor. Christine for Christian, Christa for
Christof, Elmara for Elmar, Felicitas for Felix, Jan for Jan, Jurga for
Jurgan, Keva for Kevin, Lea for Leo, Martina for Martin and Sabine for
Sabine.
ALV have carried out numerous rescues at this property over ten years
and made countless complaints to the authorities, especially about the
hens dying in the manure pits. Nobody cares.... the Austrian activists
DO! Stand up and be a voice for them and the hens.
Free the Austrian Activists & Free the Animals
Go to
this link to email the Austrian Authorities to free the activist
prisoners.
Press release (visit
kangaroolives.com to learn more about the recent slaughter of over
500 kangaroos in Canberra):
"At the Belconnen Naval Station kangaroo slaughter, security guards
have joined in herding kangaroos, witnessed by shocked protesters.
Witnesses saw security waving their arms, hitting fencing and creating
chaos to herd the panicked kangaroos forward.
The ensuing chaos and stress inflicted on the kangaroos resulted in
many violently hitting the barrier fences and breaking legs and left to
die.
So chaotic was the situation, that a joey was trampled and separated
from it?s mother, the frightened joey managed to scramble into nearby
scrub. It remained there the entire day seperated from it?s mother and
left to die or be killed by the shooters.
Fortunately for this Joey, it?s location remained constant due to the
stress inflicted by securities unlawful herding efforts. The joeys
location was monitored by protesters throughout the day.
With the location of the joey known, a motivated individual managed
to avoid detection by security, and rescued this orphaned joey that was
near death and exposed to the elements. The rescue took place without
disturbing nearby kangaroos or causing stress.
This saved joey - the very animal we proudly display on our coat of
arms, and hold as the very iconic symbol of our great nation, will now
live a long and free life well away from the killer capital - Canberra
Australia.
Protesters at the Belconnen site are now being intimidated, harassed
and systematically pursued with false allegations by security in a
clumsy attempt to have them removed from the site as witnesses to the
inhumane slaughter. Let the world know this is an inhumane slaughter and
the RSPCA ACT are doing nothing to stop it!
The ACT Government deliberately over inflating the relocation cost in
order to carry out it?s Eastern Grey Kangaroo kill policy. A number of
much cheaper non-lethal relocation proposals were submitted but ignored
by Canberra?s redneck Government. The Government stated it was $3.5
million for relocation, when the factual price is between $400,00 and
$700,000
The blood on the ground has not yet dried from this farcical inhumane
slaughter at Belconnen, and Chief Minister Stanhopes already planning
the next mass kill at Majura.
Anyone that considers themselves a patriotic intelligent Australian
should be outraged at the injustices and relentless persecution of
Eastern Grey Kangaroos taking place in the Nations Capital, and put a
stop to it.
This is our national icon!
For further shocking facts, interviews and images about this inhumane
slaughter in Australia?s national capital - Media can call 0450 409 382
Friends of the animal army"
May 23, 2008 -- Calf Rescued from Paddock of Horrors
received anonymously (click here
to view photos from the rescue):
"Four weeks ago while in the Waikato, animal rights activists stumbled
across a paddock of recently dehorned ?dairy? cattle. The faces of these
adult cows were covered in blood as were their tails, the grass, fence
posts and water trough. The practice of de-horning ?dairy? cattle is
very common because slaughter houses commonly will not take cattle whose
horns are longer than their ears. Horns can cause damage to the hide and
bruising which ?downgrades? their flesh and thus are undesirable for
economic reasons. Dehorning commonly involves the amputation of the
whole horn with guillotine shears, a butcher?s saw, embryotomy wire or
scoop dehorners (interlocking semicircular blades).
The Animal Welfare (painful husbandry procedures) Code of Welfare 2005
minimum standards require that all cows dehorned over the age of 9
months are to be administered pain relief. That said all cows under 9
months can have their horns (which have nerves and blood vessels in
them) removed without pain relief. The code also recommends that wound
dressing or medication should be applied to the cut horns to prevent
infection and excessive blood loss. In this case excessive blood loss
appears to have occurred. Many of the cows had blood dripping into their
eyes and both sides of their faces were soaked.
The activists returned to the paddock the following day to obtain video
footage but found that the cows had been moved. Instead they found a
mother cow who had recently given birth to what appeared to be a happy
and healthy calf who was drinking from her. It was not until a few
minutes had passed that the activists noticed another seemingly
abandoned calf in the paddock. His mother had not cleaned him off nor
got him to his feet. He was covering in mucous and trying to get up but
with no luck. With his mother down the other end of the paddock with her
other calf she seemed to have no interest in this boy. Sensing that the
little calf was very unlikely to survive and knowing that even if he did
he would soon be sent to slaughter the little calf was bundled up into a
blanket and onto the back seat of the car.
The little calf, who turns out to be a male Murray Grey, was whisked off
to a vegetarian landowner who had him wrapped up in blankets and hot
water bottles. He was given some homemade colostrum and thankfully made
it through the night.. Colostrum is necessary for calf health, growth
and protection from disease. The newborn calf is particularly vulnerable
to disease - in particular, pneumonia and diarrhoea (scour). The
colostrum contains extra nutrients and antibodies to help protect the
calf at this time.
A few weeks on this little guy is doing well and has made good friends
with the three dogs that he lives with. He sleeps inside and has a
little coat to keep him warm during the winter weather. In recent days
he has been put on to a nursing cow and is starting to put on weight. He
will likely always be a little smaller and weaker than other bulls
because his mother did not give him her colostrum as soon as he was born
but things look promising for him. He will live out the many years ahead
of him as a much loved member of his new family. Sadly his little
bother, who was left on the farm, will have already been sent to
slaughter, butchered, plastic wrapped and cooked for someone?s dinner.
Milk is not intended for human consumption any more than human breast
milk is intended for cows. Milk is intended for a cows calf and she will
not produce milk unless she has been pregnant and given birth, much like
human womyn. The dairy industry therefore needs cows to give birth from
time to time to keep the milk, and thus the profits, flowing. The calves
are the unwanted by-product of pregnancy?s on a dairy farm. Within 2
days of giving birth, the calves are taken from the cow and either sent
to slaughter, sold or a small number of females are kept as replacement
dairy cows. In New Zealand there are approximately one and a half
million calves slaughtered yearly in abattoirs, this does not include
calves killed on farms 'homekill' or calves aborted and killed on the
farm. Can you imagine taking a crying baby from it's mother at 2 days
old, at 4 days old herding it scared and unsteadily onto a truck,
sending it to be stunned and have its throat cut? This is the reality of
dairy farming in New Zealand, both on organic and non-organic farms. The
bobby calf meat industry relies on the dairy industry to supply it with
calves for slaughter. Without dairy cows giving birth every year, there
would be few calves to kill.
MILK IS MURDER!"
May 11, 2008 -- Mother's Day Rescue
New Zealand Open Rescue press
release (click
here to view photos from the rescue):
"New Zealand Open Rescue
Mother?s Day rescue, piglets saved from horror
New Zealand Open Rescue has conducted an undercover investigation
into an intensive piggery in Auckland, uncovering gruesome evidence and
rescuing two female piglets.
?Our investigation revealed death, cannibalism and immense
suffering,? says New Zealand Open Rescue spokesperson Deirdre Sims.
?We witnessed sows in farrowing crates anguished in extreme
confinement. These mother pigs were unable to walk or turn around, let
alone able to interact with their babies. Our team also documented many
dead piglets, one of which had been severely cannibalized.
"We rescued two female piglets from this horror, placing them into a
wonderful new home. We did this so that these young females will never
have to endure the suffering and deprivation that their mothers
experience.
?This Mother?s Day weekend, we urge the New Zealand public to spare a
thought for sows imprisoned on intensive piggeries across the country.
Boycott pork and help bring an end to this cruelty?, says Ms. Sims.
The piggery investigation and rescue documentary can be viewed here:
March 12 -- New Zealand -- ALF Liberate 130 hens in Week of Action
"This week we made our third visit to the Somerdale Poultry Lodge in
South Auckland. This farm is owned by convicted Animal Abuser Mr Van Den
Bogaart.
At this 'Lodge' the hens are kept in almost complete darkness and are
crammed into small plastic cages where they can not adequately stretch
their wings let alone dust bath, play or carry out any of their natural
behaviours.
We were able to spare 40 hens this miserable existence and they are
now recovering in loving homes. They will no longer be treated as egg
producing machines and they will be free to live as they please.
Later this week we visited a South Auckland pullet farm and liberated
90 sweet girls destined for a battery hen farm. These lucky chicks still
have many of their yellow feathers and fortunately know little of the
horrors that were in store for them. These young pullets are in good
spirits and have been placed in warm, loving homes where they too can be
free.
We would like to dedicate this action to a Suzanne Carey; our fallen
comrade. While we never met her what we heard of Suzanne has left the
impression that she was a tireless activist dedicated to the fight for
animal liberation. The animals have lost a great friend.
For Suzanne and the animals.
ALF!"
click thumbnails to enlarge
February 17, 2008 -- Piglet Saved from Slaughter
anonymous communique (click
here for
additional photographs):
"Every year through out New Zealand hundreds of thousands of pigs are
confined to sow crates, farrowing crates and fattening pens. Males in
the fattening pens live in their own excrement in cramped pens where
they await slaughter. The females are treated as machines, being
constantly confined to sow or farrowing crates where they can not turn
around, comfortably lie down or properly care for their young. Before
long their babies are ripped away from them and they are impregnated
again. They are treated as though they do not feel pain, as though they
do not matter, as though they are profit.
We recently entered a shed containing farrowing crates on an
intensive pig farm in Auckland. Along with documenting the heart
breaking conditions these mothers are forced endure we also liberated
one sweet little piglet. He has been nicknamed ?Strawberry? after his
fondness of the fruit. He was a third of the size of his littermates and
would certainly have not survived much longer on the farm, though if he
had he was destined to be slaughtered. He has since been placed in a new
home where he is free to be a pig; to run, play and forage.
Pigs are not profit and they are not food; they are thinking feeling
loving beings that deserve to be free!
Viva ALF!"
click thumbnails to enlarge
January 17, 2008 -- New Zealand -- 31 Hens Rescued in
Solidarity with Activist on Trial
Christchurch Open Rescue has announced the rescue of 31 hens from a
farm south of Chirstchurch. "The action was carried out in solidarity
with Mark Eden, an Open Rescue member in Wellington who is currently
facing charges for his role in a rescue at a Foxton farm," the group
said in a statement. "The birds have all been provided with new homes
where they can live out their lives free to exhibit their natural
behaviours.?
January 9, 2008 -- Australia -- Broiler Breeder Rescue
January 1, 2008 (ongoing undercover investigation in place so no
location identification)
Rescue Team members: Dave, Tayah, Sharon, Laurens, Amanda, Patty and
Judy
13 birds rescued, three near death who were euthanised by vet due to
poor condition."
January 6, 2008 -- New Zealand -- New Year Brings Freedom for Suffering
Hens
On New Years Eve while many were partying Animal Rights Activists
were seeing in the New Year by entering a battery hen farm in South
Auckland. Thirty hens were rescued from this farm and the conditions
documented.
This was the last in a series of raids that have formed an
investigation into the egg production process. During this investigation
activists also entered a farm during the daylight in South Auckland late
in November and a pullet farm in Northland during early December.
During the December raid 25 pullets were liberated and have since
been placed in loving homes. Pullet is the name given to young hens from
the age of eight weeks until they start laying. On this particular farm
the footage obtained shows small wire cages, similar to battery cages,
containing about ten pullets.
Video footage and photographs obtained during this investigation
shows that many of the birds were in a poor condition, having missing
feathers and inflamed red skin from rubbing on the bars of the cages;
all hens shown are de-beaked.
Auckland Animal Action spokesperson Kali Sandbrook says ?With footage
from several farms it is evident that filth, over crowding and cruelty
are unfortunately standard for this industry?.
Ms Sandbrook went on to say ?We hope that the public will use their
power to stop this cruelty and resolve to go egg ? free in 2008?.
Please note:
- The True Cost of Eggs: a documentary made from footage of this
investigation can be viewed at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sd4ikC-tBI . This is available on DVD from
Auckland Animal Action.
'For the past two months we have been documenting the cruelty
inherent in egg production.
We act because the animals who are suffering right now do not have
time to wait and hope for parliamentary change. The Government have
proven time and time again that they value business over the lives of
innocent beings.
We act out of love and compassion for our animal brothers and
sisters.
