Car fire in the city of Espoo; target: HLS/AstraZeneca.

Finnish communique:
"Espoo. Huntingdon Life Sciencin toiminnasta vastaavan henkil�n
maastoauto poltettu. AztraZeneca on Euroopan suurimman
el�inkoelaboratorion Huntingdon Life Sciencesin asiakas. HLS:n
mit��n tarjoamattomaan el�m��n tuomitut el�imet kuolevat p�ivien,
viikkojen tai vuosien tuskallisten, ja el�inten psyykkeen tuhoavien
kokeiden j�lkeen tai seurauksena.

Huolimatta el�inkokeiden laajasta vastustuksesta briteiss� valtio
on tukenut, ja suojellut niin jo kiellettyj� kosmetiikan kuin
muitakin el�inkokeita. HLS ei kuitenkaan selvi� ilman asiakkaitaan.
Valtioiden suojellessa yhti�den voittoja niihin vuosikymmenet
kohdistuneet lobbaustoimet ja muu kiltti kansalaisvaikuttaminen
ovat valuneet kankkulan kaivoon. Muut toimet ovat j��neet ainoiksi
voittoja saavuttaneiksi.

Englantilainen laboratorio on ollut paljastuskampanjoiden kohteena,
niin median kuin soluttautuneiden ty�ntekij�idenkin taholta. Yhti�n
on my�netty rikkoneen jopa alan omaan eettispesuun tarkoitettuja
s��nt�j� mm. paviaaneilla teht�viss� kokeissa yli 620 kertaa!

T�n� vuonna tietoomme tuli mm. koe jossa rottia saatettiin tiineeksi
ja pakotettiin hengitt�m��n h�yrystetty� polttoainetta.
Rotta ja muut el�imet eiv�t lakkaa kaipaamasta vapauttaan
h�kkiel�m�st�, ja k�rsimyksest�! Emme ole unohtaneet ett� jokaisen
kokeen kohteena on el�in joka kykenee monimutkaiseen tunne-el�m��n.

Vuonna 2007-2008 soluttautunut ty�ntekij� seurasi yhti�n toimintaa
aina el�inten toimittajasta alkaen:

GlaxoSmithKline:n, puollustusministeri�n ja AztraZenecan rahoittamia
kokeita varten reesusapinoita tuotiin Iso-Britaniaan Vietnamista
sijaitsevalta kasvattamolta. Makakit saapuivat 30 tunnin lento- ja
rekkakuljetusten j�lkeen suorakulmaisissa h�keiss� joissa ne eiv�t
mahtuneet edes seisomaan. Ne siirrettiin toisiin h�kkeihin ja
j�tettiin varastohalliin. Tarkastuksessa todettiin mm.
kuumetta, painonputoamista ja ruhjeita naamassa.

Testiss� SOI/0052 monet el�imet k�rsiv�t oksentelusta, lis��ntyneest�
syljen erityksest�, ja ne pissasivat mustaa pissaa.
Monet apinat oireilivat repim�ll� rintansa ihoa, ty�nt�m�ll� nyrkki�
suuhunsa, yritt�m�ll� paeta puremalla metallista ruokinta-
automaattia, ty�nt�m�ll� purua poskipusseihinsa, ja vet�m�ll�
hampaitaan kaltereita pitkin.
Yksi makaki pureksi sen sormen l�hes pois, el�inl��k�rin peitetty�
sormen se jatkoi sen pureskelua. �lykk��t mutta turhautuneet
reesusapinat my�s karkailivat h�keist��n.
Yksi naaras ja kaksi urosta joita k�ytettiin HIV -tutkimukseen
karkasivat rikkomalla h�kkiens� ovet. Kaikkien naarasapinoiden
h�kkeihin laitettiin ketjut. Ketjut olivat kuitenkin ter�vi� ja
l�vistiv�t yhden naarasapinan rinnan niin ett� se ei pystynyt
sy�m��n. Sit� pakkosy�tettiin kaksi kertaa p�iv�ss�.

Usein apinat olivat tietoisia mit� niiden ymp�rill� tapahtui koska
kokeita suoritettiin niiden h�kkien edess�. Apinat hiljeniv�t tappo
ja ruumiinavausp�ivin� j�rkytyksen ja surun vuoksi."

anonymous report:

"Mink are wild predators, who especially suffer living in cages.

This is why we wanted to give a chance at freedom to some mink, and released six males from a fur farm in Luvia.

We know that mink are predators, and their nature is to prey other animals.

We have however released the mink in suitable areas far away from each other, so that their preying won't be too much of a burden to any given area. The mink were released near water far away from people's homes.

Soon after releasing the mink started to look around their surroundings and swim.

We also know that releasing animals is illegal. From the point of view of the mink the situation is so critical, that breaking the law was justified, in a way even our responsibility. This is not a crime but a rescue."

On June 18, a truck used to transport pigs was completely destroyed by fire in Nokia, Finland. Police believe the fire was intentionally set. According to local media, an eyewitness saw a man running away from the site. (photos: aamulehti.fi)

recent actions in Finland, reported on elaintenvapautus.net:

"Helsinki - 3 windows smashed from furshop Valtonen

Helsinki - Furrier Arffman's windows painted

Tampere - Furshop Sammon turkis, window smashed

Tampere - Front of Furshop Sammon turkis decorated with red paint, locks glued"

recent actions in Finland, reported on elaintenvapautus.net:

"April

Turku - Six windows smashed from Halonen.

Helsinki - Furshop Biber, window smashed.

Iisalmi - Furniture company Jysk sabotaged, paintbombs thrown on walls and windows, and slogans painted.

(Jysk uses a lot of feathers that have been ripped from birds that are alive. Actions in Finland against Jysk are probably due to a TV program that covered Jysk's involment in that business)

May

Tampere - Window smashed at Jysk.

Turku - Furshop Angelika sabotaged with three paintbombs."

November 19, 2008 -- 600 Foxes Dyed with Henna

According to mainstream media, a fur farm in Lappajrvi was raided during the night of November 17. 600 foxes were dyed with non-toxic henna. Cages were also opened and breeding cards taken.

July 24, 2008 -- Fur Shop Attacked

Media has reported that the fur shop "Turkis Valtonen" in Jyvskyl, Finland was attacked on July 16th.
The windows were broken and walls were covered with red paint.
"EVR - The war goes on" was written on the windows.

July 11, 2008 -- Fur Shop Torched

According to local media, a fur shop in Turku (Turkishuone Rousku Markku) has been damaged by fire. Activists entered the store through a broken window, piled fur coats on the floor and set them on fire. The intials 'EVR' (Elinten Vapautus Rintama/Animal Liberation Front) were written on the window.

May 14, 2008 -- Chickens Given New Home in Open Rescue

press release by activists in Finland (translation):

"On May 11, 2008, three chickens were freed from deplorable conditions at a large egg farm in southern Finland.

Wearing protective clothing, activists entered the unlocked building and gently lifted chickens down into a box. The freed hens have been moved to a new home where they will have a good life.

'In Finland, there are approx. three million laying hens. Of these, 85% live in cages where they are provided less space than an A4 paper. In large-scale egg production it is impossible to meet the needs of chickens. Hens are deprived of their right to a good life, and they are treated as robotic egg producers rather than living and sentient individuals with intrinsic value,' says Cajsa Nykvist, one of the liberators.

'When I realized how chickens are treated in Finland, I felt morally obliged to act. It is a pity that this time we could only save three hens, but it feels good that at least they will feel the earth under their feet,' says Mathias Smulter.

'This act is primarily symbolic. I hope it works to challenge people's attitudes about animals in agriculture. For me, it is very important to act transparently, so that a legitimate debate is possible,' says Emma Nykvist."

Finnish:
"Lehdisttiedote 11.5.2008

Kolme elintenystv vapautti avoimesti kolme kanaa suuresta kanalasta Etel-Suomessa 11. toukokuuta 2008. Kanat vapautettiin, koska niiden olot hkkikanaloissa ovat surkeat.

Suojavaatteisiin pukeutuneet aktivistit nostivat kanat varovasti laatikkoon. Vapautetut kanat on viety uuteen kotiin, jossa ne saavat el hyv kananelm.

- Suomen kanaloissa on noin kolme miljoonaa kanaa. Niist 85% el hkeiss, joissa kanoille on tilaa A4-arkin verran. Tehokanaloissa on mahdotonta huomioida kanojen tarpeita. Niilt riistetn oikeus hyvn elmn ja niit kohdellaan robottimaisina munantuottajina pikemminkin kuin elvin ja tuntevina yksilin, joilla on arvo itsessn, sanoo Cajsa Nykvist, yksi vapauttajista.

- Kun sain tiet miten kanoja Suomessa kohdellaan, tunsin olevani moraalisesti velvollinen toimimaan. On sli, ett tll kertaa pystyimme vapauttamaan vain kolme kanaa, mutta tuntuu hyvlt, ett ainakin ne saavat nyt tuntea oikean maan jalkojensa alla, sanoo Mathias Smulter.

- Tm teko on ensisijaisesti symbolinen. Toivon ett se saa ihmiset kyseenalaistamaan ihmisten suhtautumista elimiin maataloudessa. Minulle on trke toimia avoimesti, niin ett asiallinen keskustelu on mahdollista, sanoo Emma Nykvist."

April 30, 2008 -- Anti-Fur Actions

reported by activists in Finland:

"2.4. Turku - Locks of five fur shops glued.

22.4. Turku - Locks of two fur shops glued and windows smashed at one fur shop

29.4. Kotka - Windows and front of Halonen shop covered in paint."

February 21, 2008 - Incendiary Devices Left At Warehouse of Fur Retailer

anonymous communique received by activists in Finland:

"Happy Valentine's day Pekka and the rest of the folks at Halonen!

We paid a visit to your warehouse in Espoo 14.2. and left some
incendiary devices there as a gift. We hope you liked our gift.

Give up fur trim.

We always win."

Note: Pekka Halonen is CEO of the Finnish clothing chain Halonen, which due to its sale of fur trim has been the target of a campaign by animal rights activists.

Finnish:
"Hyv ystvnpiv Pekka ja muu Halosen vki!

Kvimme vierailulla varastollanne Espoossa 14.2. ja jtimme teille
lahjaksi palopommeja. Toivottavasti lahjamme kelpasi.

Luopukaa turkissomisteista.

Me voitamme aina."

August 31, 2007 -- Mink Taste Freedom

Media in Finland have reported that 2,500 mink were released late on August 30 from a fur farm in Mustasaari, in western Finland. The letters "EVR" were found spray-painted on a building at the farm.

EVR = Elinten Vapautusrintama ("Animal Liberation Front" in Finnish).

January 19, 2007.  Finland Action reports.

December
Tampere - McShit's window smashed
Tampere - Two windows smashed at Halonen (fur retailer)

November
Tampere - Furshop Sammon Turkis's windows etched
Laukaa - Six hunting towers smashed, windows of hunters cabin smashed and walls decorated with appropriate slogans

October
Helsinki - Tarja Niskanen's furshops windows smashed
Helsinki - Furshop Silventoinen's windows smashed
Hankasalmi - Two hunting towers put to pieces
Helsinki - Tarja Niskanen's furshops windows smashed

May
Jyväskylä - Window of Halonen smashed"