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February 2006 - ALV joined animal rights activists from around Australia to stage the largest protest ever witnessed in Devonport. The hugely successful protest included a water crew attempting to block the berthing of the live export ship Al Messilah, protestors locking down and throwing themselves in front of loading trucks and anonymous water crew activists painting the words ''Death Ship" overnight on the ship's hull. The protests against the live export of 75,000 sheep to Kuwait attracted overwhelming public support and highlighted to the world the immense suffering of Australian sheep.
The protests started when the Al Messilah was sighted on the horizon and the ALV water crew, consisting of a zodiac and two kayakers, joined by a local kayaker and the ALNSW zodiac, launched into action. The ALV 'animal rescue' zodiac manoeuvred continuously in front of the Al Messilah, in an attempt to stop the ship from berthing. It was a gutsy action with the water crew at risk of getting pulled into the giant propellers of the live export ship.
When it became clear that the ALV zodiac was holding its ground, the port authority vessel and police boat started ramming ALV's zodiac to clear a path. After being rammed several times, the police boat attached itself to the zodiac and dragged it out of the path of the live export ship. The Al Messilah was then able to berth and the next stage of protests commenced.
Activists moved on to form a blockade at the Devonport Dock, to prevent the trucks from loading sheep onto the ship. ALV President Patty Mark drove the ALV rescue van to the entrance of the dock and blocked access to the trucks, while activists locked down to the front of the van. When this was unsuccessful due to the heavy police presence, two protesters locked themselves to the front of one of the live export trucks to prevent it gaining access to the ship. Police eventually cut through the pipe lock that the activists were using. At this point the protesters started throwing themselves into the path of the trucks to prevent them going any further and the police started making arrests. In total twelve people were arrested as they tried to prevent the sheep from being loaded onto the massive death ship.
ALV activists lodged a formal complaint with Devonport Police in the wake of the protests. At the blockade an ALV protester was grabbed from behind by a police officer and now suffers from a suspected broken hand. Police also used pressure point holds on the neck of one protester, and a 79 year old woman was pushed to the ground. Inspector Avery of the Tasmanian Police said the incidents will be thoroughly investigated. ALV Vice President Noah Hannibal stated that "such actions by the police are unfortunate, but will do nothing to deter us from escalating the campaign to ban the cruelty of live export. The world spotlight is now on Australia's shame and we will continue to do all that we can to stop this cruel trade."
The actions gained fantastic media coverage for the sheep, with the story headlining the evening news and morning papers for two days running. The protests also received good coverage on the mainland, with great stories on ABC and NINE news, and numerous newspaper and radio reports.
The RSPCA pulled approximately 400 sheep from the ship as unwell to travel before it had even left harbour, this was after a 17 kilometre land trip - nothing compared to the half month at sea the remaining 75,000 sheep are to endure, crammed in horrendous conditions before being ritually slaughtered without pain relief in Kuwait.
ALV President Patty Mark stated: "we saw the intense fear on the faces of the sheep as they were trucked in by the thousands to be loaded onto the Al Messilah. I witnessed a badly injured sheep being thrown from the gangplank onto the ground as they were being loaded onto the ship. If this is what is happening before our eyes I don't dare to contemplate what is happening away from public view. This cruelty to animals is completely unacceptable and further strengthens our resolve to continue this campaign until live export is banned."
Photos: Silvia Gonzalez, Noah Hannibal, Ivana Moretti
ACTION - HOW YOU CAN HELP THE SHEEP
It is crucial to keep up the pressure on the Australian government to ban the cruel live sheep export trade.
1) Write to Minister Peter McGauran, demanding that this practice be banned once and for all.
The Hon. Peter McGauran MP (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)
House of Representatives
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
Peter.McGauran.MP@aph.gov.au
Tel: (02) 6277 7520
Fax: (02) 6273 4120
2) Write a Letter to the Editor in your state and local newspapers, this is an important way of keeping this issue before the public eye. Contact writers@alv.org.au for the latest information on letters you can write to help the animals.
Points to mention:
1.Severe emotional stress is experienced by all animals exported en masse in cruel and cramped conditions and contributes to the death and suffering of thousands of animals every year.
2.The conditions in which the animals are kept are horrendous, standing and lying in ankle deep urine and faeces for weeks on end, causing disease, respiratory distress and misery.
3.The animals suffer terribly from heat stress, the cramped conditions and searing heat of the Middle East causing indescribable misery to the animals.
4.Pellets and water are usually rationed out only once a day. Not allowing any animal free access to water is cruel, and in the temperatures and conditions experienced in mass live animal export it is akin to torture
5.Australia, one of the few countries in the world that allows live exports, is seen by the international community as condoning the cruel treatment of animals by allowing live sheep and cattle exports.
6.It is widely known that the handling and treatment of the animals once they arrive in the Middle East is appalling, including the beating of animals, throwing them into trucks, and barbaric slaughtering rituals. |
The Al Messilah is sighted, just visible on the horizon, and the ALV water crew launch into action.
The water crew manoeuvres in front of the live export ship.
The port authority boat about to ram the ALV zodiac.
The ALV water crew back on land after being dragged off the water by the police boat
A live export truck crammed with sheep, no longer useful to the wool industry, being transported to the death ship Al Messilah.
The protesters at Devonport Dock preventing a live export truck from accessing the ship
Noah getting arrested after locking down on a van blocking entrance to the dock
Local resident Cody rode his bike down to join in the protest against live export with his home made sign.
Some of the 50,000 sheep being loaded onto the Al Messilah, prior to their journey on the death ship taking them to ritual slaughter
A sheep looking back one last time before starting the half month journey towards a brutal death in the Middle East.
Water crew activists renamed the Al Messilah overnight.
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