Animal Liberation (organisation)
Founded | 1976 |
---|---|
Founder | Christine Townend |
Focus | Animal rights |
Location |
|
Key people | Lynda Stoner |
Website | animal-lib |
Animal Liberation is a nonprofit animal rights organisation based in Sydney, founded by Christine Townend and led by current CEO Lynda Stoner. It was formed in 1976, one year after the release of Animal Liberation by Australian philosopher Peter Singer. Animal Liberation's primary campaigns are to advocate against the use of animals for food (factory farmed or free range), clothing, research, sport and entertainment, by promoting a vegan lifestyle.
Activities and campaigns
Animal Liberation's activities and campaigns include:
- Petitioning for political changes to prevent cruel practices against animals.
- Public protests for various issues including animal circuses, fur, live animal export, and rodeos.
- Direct street canvassing and distribution of organisation position materials.
- Investigating animal cruelty cases through calls received on an anonymous animal cruelty hotline.
- Festival stalls.
- Educational talks in schools, universities, and community groups.
- Investigation into cruel practices against animals for TV and print media exposés.
- Encouraging prosecution of perpetrators of animal abuse.
Animal Liberation continues to oppose live export, with campaigns dating back over 30 years with original founder Christine Townend.[1]
In 1995, Mark Pearson and 32 others chained themselves to sow cages at Parkville piggery, part-owned by then prime minister Paul Keating. The result of this action was a subsequent ban on the tethering of sows.[2]
Animal Liberation maintains an active campaign against pig-dogging since its legal status was declared in 2006. In 2010, Lynda Stoner went undercover to a two-day workshop on pig-dog hunting to gather information and footage of the practice.[3] Stoner has remained outspoken against all forms of hunting. In May 2013, Stoner compared hunting photos to images of child pornography, bestiality, snuff murders, rape and torture.[4]
The organisation consistently holds protests outside circuses with performing animals, such as lions and monkeys. One goal of this campaign is to encourage local councils to amend their policies to exclude animal circuses from public land, such as in 2013 when members of Gosford City Council put forward a motion for a ban in that area.[5] In July 2013, circus campaign spokesperson Phillip Hall drew media attention to the life of captivity awaiting newborn lion cubs born into Stardust Circus.[6] The escape of a performing monkey from Lennon Bros Circus in July 2014 was also heavily criticised by Animal Liberation.[7]
Animal Liberation has spoken out against the pet industry breeding animals for profit in puppy farms, resulting in tens of thousands of dogs and cats being euthanised per year.[8]
Investigations
Animal Liberation has also conducted multiple undercover investigations on the conditions of animals raised for food in Australia.
In 2001 footage received by Animal Liberation from an unknown person contained images of the stunning and slaughter of possums at Lenah Game Meats in northern Tasmania. This was passed onto the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) who broadcast the footage. Lenah Game Meats took action against ABC, with the Supreme Court of Tasmania granting an injunction against the footage being broadcast again.[9] This decision was overturned on appeal by the High Court in ABC v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd.[10] The judgment confirmed that journalists can use material obtained illegally by others in the public interest. The case is frequently cited as a landmark decision.
In February 2012 Animal Liberation gained footage shot undercover over six days at Hawkesbury Valley Abattoir, depicting animals having their throats slit without being properly stunned, and pigs pummelled in the head with an iron bar. The footage was passed onto authorities, resulting in the New South Wales Food Authority closing the abattoir.[11]
Later the same year in August an investigation conducted over three months at Wally's Piggery at Murrumbateman captured footage of illegal animal husbandry practices, and back-room slaughter at a facility that was not an authorised slaughterhouse.[12] Animal cruelty charges were laid following a raid as a result of the footage, but all charges were subsequently dropped in 2014.[13]
In June 2012 Campaign Director Emma Hurst released footage from an investigation into duck farming sheds from so-called free range duck meat producers. The footage showed ducks confined indoors without access to sunlight or ground water.
In 2013 Animal Liberation received 140 hours of footage taken at an Inghams turkey processing plant in Tahmoor over a two-week period. The videos contained scenes of turkeys being bashed, kicked and stomped on. The footage sparked a renewed call from Animal Liberation for mandatory CCTV monitoring in all Australian abattoirs.[17]
Notable members
Current chief executive officer
See also
References
- ^ O'Sullivan, Siobhan (6 November 2012). "The live export of animals will always be a bloody business". The Conversation. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ Jensen, Erik (5 June 2010). "Going undercover to reveal the bloody truths of pig dogging". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ Taylor, Andrew (5 May 2013). "Death threats for artist and hunting model". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ Sharwood, Anthony (13 July 2013). "Cruel or kind? Emotions run roar over captive circus lion cubs". News.com.au. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ Barlass, Tim (27 July 2014). "Circus monkey escapee prompts debate about exotic animals under the Big Top". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ "The Tail End: Why are we killing so many pet dogs and cats?". Insight. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- 7.30 Report. Archived from the originalon 15 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ ABC v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 63, (2001) 208 CLR 199, High Court (Australia).
- ^ Cannane, Steve (9 February 2012). "NSW abattoir closed over slaughter practices". ABC Lateline. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ "Piggery footage reveals horrendous cruelty". ABC News. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ Belot, Harry (21 November 2014). "Animal cruelty charges dropped against now defunct Wally's Piggery". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ Herbert, Bronwyn (19 June 2012). "Disturbing footage prompts calls for duck farming changes". The 7.30 Report. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- Australian Competition & Consumer Commission. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ "Court orders Luv-a-Duck to pay $360,000 for misleading claims". Australian Competition & Consumer Commission. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ Levy, Megan (21 March 2013). "'Torture for fun': police given shocking abattoir footage". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ "Busted! Linda Stoner’s day in a real cop shop ", Television.au 21 April 1979. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- ^ "NSW Election 2015: Animal Justice Party wins seat in NSW Upper House". ABC News. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.