LAST CHANCE BAN AUSTRALIAN LIVE ANIMAL EXPORT
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BAN AUSTRALIAN LIVE ANIMAL EXPORT
Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch Condemns Australia's Live Animal Export at News Corp's AGM at Last Chance for Animals' Urging!
Fully Conscious Trussed Australian Sheep Stuffed into a Trunk in Kuwait
On Friday, October 21, 2011, Chris DeRose, president and founder of Last Chance for Animals (LCA), was the only guest (non-shareholder or media), invited by Rupert Murdoch himself, to attend the News Corporation's Annual General Meeting.
The
invitation was prompted by a letter LCA sent to Murdoch threatening
civil disobedience if Murdoch did not take an official stance condemning
Australia's live animal export. Rarely are speakers allowed longer than
two minutes; Chris DeRose was given almost five, after which Murdoch
replied "yes" to all three of the following following questions:
- Will you condemn Australia's live animal export?
- Will News Corporation allow a forum for a fair and impartial voice through your media outlets?
- Can I have a contact person to talk to so that we can get that kind of dialog going in Australia?
DeRose also added, "You're the one single individual who can make a difference on the issue."
LISTEN TO AUDIO OF CHRIS DEROSE AND RUPERT MURDOCH AT THE MEETING
LCA protesting at the News Corp AGM
Rupert Murdoch, an Australian-American global media tycoon, is the major shareholder, Chairman, and Managing Director of the media conglomerate News Corporation. LCA's position is that some of the papers owned by News Corporation print defamatory and inaccurate stories that are anti-animal and anti-activist, particularly on the issue of live animal export. Murdoch is a powerful man whose voice could end the unnecessary suffering of millions of animals.
Rupert Murdoch
LCA would like to thank Rupert Murdoch for his compassionate choice to condemn Australia's live animal export.
The fight for the animals is just beginning; LCA will make sure Murdoch keeps his word!
About the issue
Watch Animals Australia's undercover footage of the live export trade
WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
Australia is the world’s largest exporter of live animals for
slaughter. Every year, millions of Australian Cattle, Sheep, and Goats
are exported live to be killed in the Middle East, South East Asia,
North Africa, and the Philippines – where animal welfare laws do not
exist to protect them. Tens of thousands of animals die before reaching
their destination. Those who survive the grueling journey are
transported, handled, and slaughtered in horrific ways.
Live animal export ship in Portland, Australia
(Photo: Animal Liberation Victoria)Multi
tiered ships hold the animals on the voyage overseas to their cruel
deaths. The decks are often enclosed without adequate ventilation, dust
and ammonia builds up and leaves many sheep blind and suffering from
severe respiratory infections. Decks that are open sided have no climate
control and leave the animals exposed to extreme weather conditions.
Voyages can last up to 24 days; cages are hardly ever cleaned, forcing
animals to stand in their own urine and feces. A shipboard mortality
rate of 1-1.5% is considered acceptable in the industry. Around 50% of
shipboard deaths are caused by starvation when sheep, accustomed to a
grass diet, are unable to digest the pellet diet they are forced to eat.
Other causes of death are infection, heat, stress, ventilation
problems, and injuries resulting from abusive handling and rough seas.
Manhandling trussed Australian sheep into trunk in Kuwait (Photo: Animals Australia)The
animals who survive the hellish journey will then be subjected to a
cruel and inhumane death. A majority of the animals will have their
throats cut while they are fully conscious, leading to prolonged pain
and terror. Undercover video taken by Animals Australia shows fully
conscious sheep flailing in agony for 30-40 seconds after having their
throats slit. For cattle the agony may last up to 90 seconds. Terrified
animals slip on the blood covered floors as they are forced to watch
their companions slaughtered. There are no restraining facilities to
control the panic stricken animals who are desperate to escape. Victims
are dragged to the slaughter area by a hind leg hit and kicked to the
ground, frequently breaking bones in the process. Video also shows
slaughterers fighting to control frightened animals by slashing leg
tendons, smashing knees with hammers, tail breaking, and eye gouging.
One animal with a broken leg was tortured for 26 minutes before being
killed.
 Australian steer beaten prior to roped slaughter in Indonesia (Photo: Animals Australia) |
 Fully conscious trussed Australian sheep awaits throat cut in Kuwait (Photo: Animals Australia) |
Many live sheep are bought for Halal slaughter (Halal describes what is lawful for Muslims to eat - animals must be alive when their throats are slashed). Undercover footage shows sheep being strung up with wire and forced into car trunks in sweltering heat for the journey to the buyer’s home. Once at their destination they are carried by their bound legs, which frequently break, and dropped onto the ground. They are fully conscious as their throats are cut, writhing in their own blood for over a minute before losing consciousness.
The evidence gathered against Australia's live animal export trade during investigations conducted by Animals Australia over the last eight years is damning. No amount of profit or excuses can justify Australia's continued involvement in live animal export and the abominable cruelty inflicted on animals. Join LCA and Animals Australia to help put an end to Australian live animal export.
Stories from Indonesia - Live Export Investigation
WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
FOR MORE VIDEOS AND INFORMATION VISIT:
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP PUT AN END TO AUSTRALIAN LIVE ANIMAL EXPORT:
1.) WRITE A LETTER TO AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINISTER, JULIA
GILLARD, LETTING HER KNOW YOU WANT AUSTRALIA'S LIVE ANIMAL EXPORT
BANNED:
Sample Letter
Your Street
Address City State, Zip
Date
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
Dear Prime Minister,
After
witnessing the horrendous treatment of Australian animals in the Middle
East, I am appalled that this cruelty has been allowed to continue for
so long. It is gut-wrenching to realize that Australia has been
supporting this trade of horror and agony.
While the Australian
government conveniently turns a blind eye to the cruelty of the live
export industry, the horrendous images of animals being brutalized have
reached US soil. Australia is gaining international attention as animal
abusers and sending the message to other nations that Australia will do
anything for a profit – including the torture and inhumane slaughter of
its own animals.
You can witness the unbelievable cruelty inflicted on Australian animals on this video http://vimeo.com/24323179.
If, after watching this video, you continue to allow the export of live
animals you should hang your head in shame – you are culpable for the
suffering these innocent animals are forced to endure.
The
only way to improve Australia's reputation with the rest of the world
is to ban the export of live animals. You have the power to protect
these animals from further brutality. End this cruel trade once and for
all.
Yours faithfully,
Your Name
2.) USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEND A MESSAGE TO AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINISTER:
Send Julia Gillard a quick note to tell her you want live animal exports banned:
On her facebook page
On twitter: @JuliaGillard
On the web form
3.) JOIN ANIMALS AUSTRALIA’S VIRTUAL PROTEST! POST YOUR OWN VIDEO!
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