Key points from speech from Melbourne Pig Save Rally of 13th October, 2012

1. Key Points from Speech of 13th October, 2012
Paul Mahony, Melbourne Pig Save
Living in a world of double-speak and euphemisms.
Those most affected by these warped and sinister portrayals of
reality are the animals in our food production system.
Acts of Parliament around Australia are based on the “2007
Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals”.
Those Acts permit piglets to be mutilated without anaesthetic.
They allow piglets to be castrated, have their tails cut off, their
ears notched and their teeth clipped almost to the gum line, all
without anaesthetic.
This so-called “welfare” legislation also allows pregnant sows to
be confined day and night for months on end in cages so small
that they can’t even turn around.
The double-speak continues.
Andrew Spencer: “THAT’S PIG HEAVEN. SOW STALLS ARE
GOOD FOR SOWS.”
Does that look like “Pig Heaven” to you? [POINTING AT
STALL]
Mr Spencer also said, “Sow stalls are more than okay, they’re
fantastic, and sows love them.”
Cruelty upon cruelty.
Possibly illegal cruelty (may be subject to investigation):
Wally’s Piggery, NSW (www.aussiepigs.com.au):
Mark Pearson, Executive Director Animal Liberation NSW said:
"This piggery is one of the worst examples of factory farming
where animals are treated like 'production machines' and no
thought is given to their capacity to suffer." Animal activists from
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2. Animal Liberation ACT & NSW discovered and photographed
pigs, sows and piglets living in appalling conditions. Images
also included buckets of dead piglets, a sledge hammer used to
bludgeon pigs, and sows with open sores"
Jess Ferry, Co-President of Animal Liberation ACT said:
"Hidden cameras filming over several weeks revealed sick and
dying animals, workers throwing and kicking piglets and beating
sows, and infestations of flies around and on the pigs. In the
slaughter room, the footage showed the owner of the piggery
smashing his pigs with a sledgehammer before cutting their
throat and leaving them to die in agony over six minutes,
sometimes returning to use the knife or sledgehammer again.
No stunning device was used, and workers were seen to be
drinking from beer bottles during their shift in the slaughter
room."
August 4
“Wally was tipped off the day before the investigation
During the investigation yesterday by the police, the RSPCA,
the Animal Welfare League and the Food Authority, Wally
admitted that he had been sent the longer 42 minute cut of
footage the day before, giving him enough time to prepare.
Furious, the Animal Welfare League are launching their own
investigation into how this happened.”
Desmond Sibraa, Barrister and former meat inspector for the
Federal & NSW governments:
“In the meantime the Minister must insist on the prosecution of
Valenti Perenc and his employees for the numerous offences
shown in the Animal Liberation Video. The activists are
available to give evidence concerning their activities and
observations at the piggery.
It seems that nothing has changed since the Meat Industry
Authority inspections in July 1993. The Minister could also ask
the Food Authority why no inspections had been made of the
piggery over the last nineteen years.”
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3. Awareness. We’re here today to inform the community what’s
behind their food products, including their Christmas ham, their
bacon and their fresh pork.
The ultimate doublespeak: The season of peace on Earth and
goodwill for all.
We’re trying to bring some elements of the piggeries and the
slaughterhouses to the middle of the city. What we can’t bring
you are the sounds, smells and emotions involved in death and
despair, as the trucks roll in and the slaughterhouse workers go
about their work.
Patty Mark, “Animals are not ours” demonstration, City Square,
Melbourne, 10th October, 2012: ‘‘We stand here today to speak
out for social justice and equality. Animals are not our property,
they are not our slaves, they are not our raw materials. They
are individuals. We would like people to reflect on the harmful
choices they make. We stand to encourage our fellow humans
to broaden their circle of compassion.”
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