Animal Rights
Coalition Meeting . 15th December 2002
Meetings are held every two
months, to give all campaigning groups and individuals a chance to meet up with
other active campaigners, to discuss campaigns and tactics, to plan future initiatives,
to pass on news and to seek support from like-minded people in a positive
environment.
Present at Veggies’ Sumac Centre in Nottingham were
representatives from:
Animal Aid, Tonbridge, STAVE (Scarborough), Manchester Animal
Protection, CAFT (Coalition Against the Fur Trade), Covance Campaign,
Harrogate, Shirebrook, Mansfield, Chesterfield, Nottingham Animal Rights,
Veggies Catering Campaign, Sheffield University Animal Rights, Burnley,
Stockport, Wolverhampton, ARC News, Coventry, Greyhound Action, Devon, Save the
Newchurch Guinea Pigs, Newark, Freebeagles.org
'Where do we go
from here.'
A special ARC meeting has been
proposed for February 16th with this one topic on the agenda.
It was reported that in the 80's
the movement demonstrated directly against labs and organised medium to huge
marches. In the 90's the time for big demos like Consort, Hillgrove and
Shamrock took off. Now the police have pulled their act together and we need to
do the same. We need to look at new tactics or even old ones to revitalize the
movement. We need to get together and pull ideas together.
Animal Aid have also identified
the need to get more people active, eg for school talks, stalls, local contacts
etc, and will prioritorise this in the new year. They are able to help local
campaigners (who do not have to be members), by circulating info to local
Animal Aid members on their behalf. Of their 16,000 members, 1000 responded to
a recent questionnaire, with half stating that they wished to be more actively
involved.
People need to be encouraging of
new visitors to their street stalls - examples were given of people chatting
amongst themselves when members of public were visiting stalls.
Groups should include social
networks alongside campaigning – as has been developed from successful veggie
food tasting events in Wolverhampton.
Groups should make links with
other campaigns for social justice, eg No War In Iraq and Anti-Globalisation,
as has been the case in Scarborough. In Manchester a successful ‘fayre’ was
held, with a wide range of diverse campaign groups meeting up for mutual
support. Veggies work closely with Earth First, anti-genetics and similar
groups.
ARC News are co-ordinating ongoing
debate in the lead-up to the special February 16th meeting. It was
noted that not all campaigners are on email or in receipt of ARC News, so a
direct mailing should be undertaken, using the Animal Contacts Directory.
It was suggested that a wider
animal rights debating forum is needed to discuss issues like this, eg see www.arkangelweb.org.
Click here to join in the debate in preparation for the next meeting. (You will need to register with Arkangelweb to post your comments, which can be them submitted anonymously).
The importance of the next meeting
to discuss this topic should be stressed. All groups and individuals,
especially those in the south, should be encouraged to send a rep to the Feb 16th
meeting.
It was suggested (by a Nottingham
rep) that meetings be held alternately in the south and the north, but this has
been discussed before, and the conclusion
reached that the central location of Nottingham is best all round, to
avoid a north/south divide. It was noted that reps from Devon, Kent, Liverpool and
Manchester are amongst the most regular and enthusiastic attendees.
Notes from the meetings should be
widely circulated, and the publication of extracts encouraged by other
newsletters, to encourage support for the meetings.
All:sports have been selling Helly
Hanson parkas trimmed with raccoon fur.
CAFT reported that All:sports
avoided debating the subject, but finally admit that the fur is raccoon, even
though not stated on the label. The supplier, Helly Hanson have apologised for
the offence caused and promise not to sell real fur again, although this will
apply only to the UK and they will not recall the existing stock (the trim can
be removed eg for cleaning, which is the only indication that the fur is real).
CAFT have leaflets available, with details of company head offices to maintain
the pressure.
The text of the leaflet is
available at allsport.htm.
Contacts All:sports at : cservices@allsports.co.uk
Some shops deny that fur is real
(in some cases real fur is actually cheaper than artificial). The simplest
suggestion was to look for leather at the base of the hair.
More detailed tips can be found on
CAFT website at http://www.caft.org.uk/fur-detective-main.htm
The national chain ZARA sell real
fur at the insistence of the Spanish head office, although local store staff
are often unhappy about this and might not display the fur prominently.
Continued pressure is needed to encourage local store to pressure head office.
PETA’s recent fur coat give-away
in Liverpool was discussed, and was agreed to have been a negative thing to do.
It gives the impression that homeless
people are a class that can be used as pawns in an ‘american’ group’s cause,
and that they have no right to have a moral choice on the fur issue. The
marking of the coats with paint to identify them as give-aways, has the more
sinister effect of identifying the wearer as homeless.
There had been no liaison with
other anti-fur groups, such as CAFT, or with other campaigners in the Liverpool
area.
One group reported that after many
weeks of delicate negotiation a hospice charity was about to establish a
fur-free policy in their charity shops, but that this initiative had been
scuppered by the PETA campaign.
It was felt that it was important
to express concerns over tactics that could damage the work of other
groups, and that whilst much of PETA’s work is very
valuable, it was agreed that a statement be drafted and sent on behalf of those
at the meeting strongly condemning this particular campaign.
It was suggested that other local
campaigners might also wish to contact PETA to seek assurance that this
campaign not be repeated: info@petaUK.org
A partnership of nature
organisations, English Nature, the National Trust, RSPB and the Landmark Trust,
intend to kill the 400-year established population of rats on Lundy Island, 11
miles off the Devon coast, using poison bait traps. The cull is due to
start in January, and they are hoping to have the island rat-free by Easter.
Animal Aid are tackling the issue
in the media to delay and hopefully end the cull.
It was suggested that groups could
organise demos at regional offices of English Nature. If people contact
Becky at Animal Aid she can tell them where their nearest English Nature office
is - email becky@animalaid.co.uk.
Leaflets are also available.
Details are available at http://www.animalaid.org.uk/news/2002/0212help.htm
The Ruddy Duck cull is not
happening at the moment.
Half the landowners do not support
the cull, but a decision is imminent as to whether the government will force
the cull to continue, including measures to access uncooperative sites.
Animal Aid have a (printed)
Campaign Bulletin which is available to all campaigners (members or not).
Contact Animal Aid to go on the mailing list.
An Email-News-List is also
available, covering lots of news on many campaigns – to join the list email info@animalaid.org.uk
Open green space, near the
woodland home of the only urban red squirrel population in the UK has been sold
off, without public consultation, to build a greyhound racetrack.
Letters are urgently needed to stop the track at Fazakerly, Liverpool.
The most important people to contact are: Liverpool City Council Chief Planning Officer John Hayes: john.hayes@liverpool.gov.uk and Mark Moore the planning officer who is dealing with the greyhound track application: mark.moore@liverpool.gov.uk. Quote planning application 02F/2852 and tell them why you object to the proposed greyhound stadium. Please include your name and address and ask that they pass your views on to the members of Liverpool City Council.
Full details at http://www.greyhoundaction.co.uk
A Greyhound Racing Gala night, to be held in Brighton on 26th January was announced. Contact greyhoundaction@blueyonder.co.uk for details, or watch the Animal Rights Calendar.
Greyhound Action stressed that greyhound tracks can, and have been stopped, but only by getting in very early with objections, which have to be made on planning, not moral issues.
The government is currently
debating its cowardly plans to allow hunting to continue. It is most urgent to distribute
NAHC leaflets calling for MP’s to maintain their commitment to a total hunt
ban. A supply of the leaflets was left with Veggies at the Sumac Centre. Phone
0845 458 9595 or email veggies@veggies.org.uk
to have some sent to you.
The JUDICIAL
ENQUIRY campaign reported on its
continuing campaign to pressure the BBC to end its bias in favour of
vivisection.
The public enquiry for the
expansion of primate vivisection in Cambridge, continues from January 8th.
The enquiry may take 2 month to come to its decision, and the government, in
the ‘shape’ of John Prescott, may then spend 6 months ensuring that its own
decision prevails. There is therefore still some time to continue AND INCREASE
support for the campaign, but too little time to delay.
MEDITATE TO
LIBERATE are
arranging a protest on January 18th – meet 11am at the Girton
location to walk in towards the City Centre.
Meditate To Liberate facilitates
a parallel and complimentary approach to campaigning, for quiet and meditative
protest. See the website at http://www.meditatetoliberate.org.uk
Maps for the public enquiry and the Girton location are linked from the Animal Rights Calendar at http://www.veggies.org.uk/calendar.htm
X-Cape Campaign against the Primate labs : http://www.x-cape.org.uk
Simple logos subverted form
religious symbols were displayed, intended to draw attention to sites of animal
abuse, and to highlight the lack of action on these issues by the religious
establishment.
It was noted that the Jewish faith
leaves meat-eating to individual conscience, but prohibits hunting.
It was suggested that Freepost
enveloped be used to send back animal rights literature to the advertisers, to
be read by their staff at their expense.
It was suggested that a listing be
compiled of meat workers who have gone on to murder humans too. It was felt
that many such examples could be found.
Freebeagles.org covers all legal aspects of AR campaigning, written by activists. Feedback is requested on the content and emphasis of info on the site at www.Freebeagles.org
Touring legal workshops are planned during 2003 – offers of help are needed, email beagles@protest.co.uk
It was pointed out that complaints against the police for oppressive policing of protest, wrongful detention (even if not arrested) or general bad attitude are always important as they go on record, even if not found in favour of the complainant. Complaint statistics are seen as very important by the police and those who regulate them, and they do create a better approach to the policing of protest when the stats get to be too embarrassing.
It was recommended that the legal advice booklet, available from SHAC: info@shac.net, should be carried at demos, so that correct and exact wording of relevant legislation can be quoted back to officers, who are often are not as well informed.
It was reported that Christopher Barret-Jolley, live exporter at Coventry Airport in 1994/5 and held to be responsible for the death of Jill Phipps, has been sentenced to 20 years for drug smuggling. It was suggested that he would appreciate suitable seasonal greetings.
The meeting was advised of the recent sentencing of Jonny, Gill and Sarah re Huntingdon campaign, and additional sentencing of Dave Blenkinsop.
Full details are on the Vegan Prisoners Support Group website: http://www.vpsg.org/
(prisoners list: http://www.vpsg.org/Prisoners/add_list.html)
It was reported that several of the guinea pig sheds are standing empty. The reason is not confirmed but it was speculated that either the business is being reduced follow the recent departure of another worker, or that the facilities are moving to be concentrated at a different part of the Hall family empire.
Harassment warnings, such as those being used against Newchurch campaigners, for example for banging drums, still need to be challenged in court, however it was recalled that a legal judgement recently ruled that it is acceptable for demos to cause ‘offence’ as this by definition part of what protesting is all about. This is different from harassment of an individual.
Animal Right Coalition meetings give a good opportunity for campaigners to pass on surplus campaign material, or offer stuff for sale.
‘Meat Is Murder’ rubber stamps and ‘On the 8th Day’ t-shirts can be obtained from Vernon at ARC Meetings, or email alllovandlib@onetel.net.uk
‘Under The Camouflage’ the South Devon AR and Plymouth Sabs ‘nudie’ calendar is available for £6 from Plymouth Hunt Sabs, PO Box 129, Plymouth, Devon. PL1 1RY. Please make cheques payable to: ‘A. Gill’ . see http://www.plymouth-hunt-sabs.org.uk/page18.html
Joan Court, stalwart campaigner from Cambridge, has published the first part of her fascinating autobiography, ‘In the Shadow of Mahatma Gandhi’- "a panoramic life on a journey of great compassion..." £7.99 + £2.00 p&p, from Joan Court, 74 Sturton Street, Cambridge CB1 2QA. (Enquiries: 01223 311828)
‘Vegetarian Britain’ is now available from http://www.vegetarianguides.com/
At Last! The long awaited ‘Animal Free Shopper’ (6th edition) is now available from the Vegan Society for £4.99+p&p – see http://www.vegansociety.com
John from Stockport has an unlimited supply of lightweight corrugated plastic boards, absolutely ideal for placards and display boards. A Nottingham campaigner has a supply of security stickers/tags, which prevent property such as mobile phones from being tampered with, eg whilst confiscated by police. Both available at ARC Meetings.
The next meeting will be held in
Nottingham on Sunday 16th February.
Please encourage all groups and
campaigns to send reps for the special, single topic discussion on ‘Where do we
go from here’ . Click here to join in the debate in preparation for the next
meeting.