Animal Abusers coming to Melbourne

The ANZCCART vivisectors conference is coming to Melbourne in July, and ALV will be there sending a clear message that these apologists for animal experiments are not welcome. On the surface the conference is concerned with reducing the number of animal in experiments. But in reality this is a greenwash to hide the fact that, despite the existence of ANZCCART and Codes of Practice which call for the reduction in the numbers of animals used, statistics consistently show that animal experiments in Australia are increasing.

Are you interested in joining ALV as a voice in opposition to vivisection, to tell those animal abusers what we think of them, their practice and their futile experiments? If you are an enthusiastic activist with a (loud) voice for the animals and strong resentment of the evil of vivisection, then let us know now! Plans are underway and we are looking for a support crew to help with a range of demonstrations, media stunts, rallies and marches. This is our chance to contribute to the AR movement as well as a chance to meet activists from other States. If you can help please e-mail antiviv@alv.org.au. This conference will be held from 10 - 12 July in Melbourne.

ALV Milk Sucks Campaign Goes Global

The Dairy Industry is running scared in the face of a new ALV initiative to take our anti-dairy message into schools. Dairy representatives and MP John Vogels, Shadow Minister for Agriculture (a former dairy farmer whose sons now run the farm) are calling for ALV's planned information pack to be banned from reaching Victorian school students [read article]. ALV will be launching its school information packs to counter World School Milk Day on September 26 this year. The Warrnambool Standard featured two articles [1, 2] about ALV's proposed Milk Sucks school kit - Warrnambool is the heartland of some of Victoria's largest dairy producers and the local community is in outrage over ALV's campaign with some parents threatening to take their kids out of school if the information is distributed. Hugely popular German magazine "View" also featured a full-page image of ALV activist Jamie Yew demonstrating the unnaturalness of drinking milk (pictured). Photos from ALV's Milk Sucks launch have appeared in magazines and newspapers around the world.

The dairy industry spends millions of dollars each year to reinforce the idea that dairy products are not only healthy but essential to human health. This is utter nonsense - no other species consumes milk beyond infancy, and certainly not the milk of another species! Visit our "Milk Sucks" page for more information on how milk is bad for human health and the environment, as well as causing terrible animal suffering.

Help us Fight Battery Rabbit Farm

ALV is appealing the planning application to build a three shed battery rabbit farm near Leongatha at VCAT. Rabbits are now being kept in tiny battery cages just like hens. The does (mum rabbits) are kept pregnant and breeding non-stop and all their bunnies (kittens) are raised to market weight then slaughtered for their flesh. The farm intends to cage 250 does in each shed. Does generally have 8 litters a year and maximum kittens born are 13 per litter. This means the farm would produce 78,000 kittens a year, but generally only half survive to market weight. The VCAT hearing will be held on the 9th and 10th of July, and we seek the assistance of a scientist or veterinarian with expertise in rabbits, to possibly give expert evidence at the hearing about the cruelty of keeping these gentle animals in such restricted and deplorable conditions. If readers know of anyone who may fit this bill please contact patty@alv.org.au. You can read a recent article in the Star newspaper about ALV's objection to the proposed rabbit factory here.

Voice Your Outrage Over Pink Ribbon Caged Eggs

In a sickening marketing ploy, Farm Pride Eggs is currently selling battery cage eggs in boxes marked with the National Breast Foundation trademark pink ribbon/colours, donating 10 cents from each carton sold to breast cancer research. The exploitation is three-fold:
1) the hens suffer non-stop crammed in tiny wire cages in huge windowless sheds never being able to walk or even stand up straight. Many hens suffer prolapses from laying so many eggs.
2) the money that consumers spend with good intentions to help women stricken with breast cancer puts profits back into the pockets of the battery egg producers.
3) the donated money is used to fund cruel animal research, which means lethal experimentation upon terrified captive animals. (visit humanecharities.org.au for a list of charities that don't test on animals).
The further irony is that one of the leading causes of breast cancer (and cancers in general) is a diet high in animal protein and saturated animal fats, so the Breast Cancer Foundation is actually helping to endorse a product that they should really be warning consumers against! The Hens Need Your Help! Please email the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Thank them for their concern to help women with breast cancer but let them know that animal abuse is never acceptable. Ask them to pull their PINK RIBBON EGGS campaign (as what woman anywhere would want to permanently lock up hens in cages so small they can't move!) and to stop endorsing the consumption of animal products that are known to promote cancers, including breast cancer. Let them know that you refuse to support their organisation until they pledge to only fund research without animal experimentation. National Breast Cancer Foundation: info@nbcf.org.au

Save the Catani Possums

Thank you to the many supporters who wrote to the Mayor of Port Phillip appealing to save the Catani Gardens Possums. Mayor Janet Bolitho's reply confirmed that possums are being trapped and euthanased: "..The plan [Council Management Plan] recommends legal and ethical means of animal management and control which includes use of tree bands and euthanasia..." The possums have been living peacefully in this St. Kilda Landmark for years until the Council had the tree bands installed, now many possums are dead/gone from the Park. Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc. (PPL VIC) are keeping vigil on all developments in the Park and have obtained an agreement with the Australian Services Union (ASU) not to dispose of/or remove any more possums as "it was seen as imcompatible with their duties". ASU also agreed to respect any possible community picket of the palm trees when/if they were asked by Council to undertake further banding work. PPL VIC would really appreciate assistance by ALV members who live near St Kilda and who would be available "on call" to come to the Catani Gardens possibly only for a few hours picket in case banding is resumed. One cannot be charged with occupying public parkland so no worries there! Contact Julianne (PPL VIC) 9818 4114 or 0408 022 408 if you can help.

Bad Karma Lama - Ask the Dalai Lama to Stop Eating Meat

ALV is lending our support to a campaign asking the Dalai Lama to stop eating meat and to condemn animal experimentation. The Dalai Lama is a true hero for his work promoting peace and compassion around the world. Unfortunately he has a not so spiritual side that his followers may not be aware of. Despite publically promoting vegetarianism, The Dalai Lama eats cruelly produced veal and other animal products. He also supports invasive tests on the brains of living monkeys. Please e-mail the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and ask him to stop eating veal and other animal products, and to retract his statements in support of 'highly necessary animal experiments'. You can quote the Dalai Lama's fellow Nobel Prize winner Isaac Bashevis Singer, who said "As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people. Slaughter and justice cannot dwell together." For more information visit badkarmalama.com

ALV has moved!

ALV has moved to a new office after repeated rent increases at our previous address. The move means ALV will save about fifteen thousand dollars a year on rent and associated costs, money that can now be spent directly fighting for animals! Our new mailing address is PO Box 15, Elwood 3184 and our new phone number is (03) 8598 9460. You can contact the office via e-mail as well on info@alv.org.au. In place of the internet cafe we operated at our previous address, ALV will soon be launching an online store featuring a fantastic range of animal friendly products. Watch this space for further exciting developments.

Abolitionist-Online

The new issue of the Abolitionist is out and features several interviews with members of ALV, including the headline story on ALV President Patty Mark. and interviews with Puppy Factory Farm campaigner Debra Tranter and rescue team member Noah Hannibal. The issue features over 60 interviews, articles and reviews from around the world and is a great resource for animal rights activists.

Rap Star calls for KFC Boycott

A member of rap trio Hilltop Hoods has joined the international campaign against KFC by calling on Australians to boycott KFC. There is an article and poll on the news.com.au website where you can vote to join the boycott against KFC. It would also be great to get in as many letters to the editor as possible on this issue. You can submit your letters at the end of this article. KFC are the target of a global campaign calling for an end to the suffering of the 850 million baby chickens cruelly raised and killed for the company each year. For the last four years ALV have been holding weekly demonstrations outside KFC stores as part of the international KFC cruelty campaign. During this time we’ve handed out over a million leaflets and spoken to countless people about the broiler chicken industry. YOU CAN HELP: KFC Cruelty protests happen each Saturday from 1-2pm at the 37 Swanston Street KFC in Melbourne. If you can only make one KFC protest a month please come to the protests on the first Saturday of the month (The next big one will be on July 7).

Millions Paws Walk Report

At the 2007 Million Paws Walk ALV volunteers with giant banners, newsletters and leaflets made it clear there's another side to the RSPCA. Activists handed out thousands of information cards directing RSPCA supporters to the RSPCAwatchdog.org website. Many RSPCA supporters were shocked to learn that despite the hard work of volunteers, the RSPCA management consistently fails animals. ALV also used the occasion to ask the RSPCA to protect all creatures great and small, not serve them up on their barbecues as they were doing on the day. YOU CAN HELP change things for the better: e-mail the RSPCA (rspca@vicrspca.org.au) and ask them to stop serving animal flesh at fundraising events, just as the UK RSPCA has decided to do. Also tell them it's inappropriate for them to endorse animal products such as Otways Pork and Pace Barnlaid Eggs.