1 December 2005

Animal rights activists chain themselves to a bacon truck in Wellington

Animal rights activists stopped a pork delivery truck and chained themselves to it in protest at factory farming this morning in Wellington. The truck, owned by Premier Bacon Ltd, (of Wairarapa) was stopped in Manners Street when two women chained themselves to the front bumper. A third protester dressed as Santa Claus climbed on top of the cab and chained himself there refusing to leave.

The Wellington Animal Rights Network, which organised the protest, says the pork industry is responsible for the suffering and deaths of hundreds of thousands of pigs every year, and called on the public to boycott Christmas Ham this summer.

"Hundreds of thousands of pigs spend their entire lives confined in filthy pens and cages inside New Zealands factory farms. The only time they leave is to go to the slaughterhouse where they are hung up by their hind legs and their throats are cut" said WARN spokesperson Mark Eden.

"The way to stop the cruelty is to cost the industry money. This is why we are calling for a boycott of Christmas ham. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Christmas without eating ham, turkey or chicken, all of which comes from cruel factory farms".

WARN handed out leaflets urging people to "Keep Pork Off Your Fork" and try a cruelty free vegan meal for Christmas. "There is no such thing as humane slaughter, and there is no need to eat meat to celebrate 'the season of peace and goodwill'" said Mr Eden.

Police used bolt cutters to cut the activists off and arrest them. All three have been released and face minor charges in court next week

WARN has also bought the internet domain name for Premier Bacon and has put up a website with information on factory farming and vegetarianism under that name. www.premierbacon.co.nz

ENDS

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