Activist Cracks Month Inside Hen Cage

Thirty-one days ago, Carl Scott was nobody to everyone except his family and friends within his humble hometown of Waitati. Now he has thousands of fans all across New Zealand and the world - Australia, India, Hungary, Ireland, England, Canada, United States and even Brazil.

The former territorial soldier and slaughterhouse worker's solitary protest against battery hen cages has seen him become an inspiring ambassador for New Zealand's three million battery hens.

Carl's caged protest will conclude at 12.50pm today in Waikouaiti, the home of Mainland Poultry - the largest battery egg producer in New Zealand. Carl says he is looking forward to a hot bath, a soft bed and the feeling of being free, but this gruelling experience has made him really appreciate just how harrowing and cruel cage systems are for animals.

"It is time for New Zealand to take a serious stand for the welfare of hens and ban all cage systems," says Carl.

Carl's protest coincides with the review of the Layer Hen Code of Welfare, that has resulted in over 30,000 postcard or e-card submissions against battery hen cages being sent to the Prime Minster. The submission period closes today.

SAFE director Hans Kriek visited Carl and Mainland Poultry recently and has seen firsthand the cruel current cage systems and the proposed new colony cages.

"Colony cages have been condemned by many of the world¹s most respected animal welfare agencies. They still cram hens into wire cages. Each bird still has around an A4 sheet of paper of living space. There is no way that caged hens can express their normal behaviour as required by animal welfare legislation," says Mr Kriek.

Carl's action inspires many In just 31 days, Carl Scott¹s ŒPerson in a Cage ­ For the Hens in Cages' Facebook page http://on.fb.me/personincage has received over 750,000 views and his 4,300-plus fans continue to follow his daily progress of life in a cage.

Fans continue to praise Carl as a 'hero', 'champion' and a 'king among men.' One avid fan, Lori Pipe Franklin, writes 'Carl, I never knew about you until today. I wish I knew a month ago! What you are doing is absolutely wonderful - it truly takes a real man to stand up for animals in such a selfless way."

Paula Thompson, another fan, says, "Loved listening and thinking about all you had to say. So hard to even imagine how those poor chickens feel. I think I would go so mad in a cage like that. I would wish for death. Hang in there. You are almost there and it will make a difference what you have done."

Carl has received over 7,400 encouraging posts from fans since starting his caged protest on 29 March. While the effects of severe confinement have taken their toll on Carl, both physically and mentally, he remains philosophical. "Empathy and courage are like muscles. The more we exercise them, the stronger they grow," he told his fans yesterday.

Roadside protest and release of Carl from cage A roadside protest in Waikouaiti will commence from noon today in solidarity of Carl¹s action and to celebrate his long awaited release.

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