March and Rally Against Live Exports, 6th May 2006

Despite the pouring rain, 800 protestors marched through the streets of Dover on Saturday 6th May, to voice their disgust at the resumption of live calf exports. Some had travelled from as far away as Newcastle, Preston and Swansea to take part in this heartfelt protest against a cruel and archaic trade.

The rally was addressed by speakers from several animal campaigning groups, including Viva!’s Toni Vernelli, Andrew Tyler from Animal Aid and Gerard Bane from the The Vegan Society, all of whom highlighted the underlying cause of live calf exports – dairy production – and promoted a vegan diet as the best way to stop this cruelty. Phil Lymbery from CIWF and Stanley Johnson, former Conservative MEP and long-time anti-live exports campaigner, also addressed the crowd and urged campaigners to push for a UK ban on live calf exports.

Waving placards and distributing leaflets, the demonstrators marched from Dover seafront, through the town centre and down to the Eastern Docks where a vocal, albeit very wet, protest was held. Many local people showed support for the protest, waving and beeping their horns as they passed.

If you’d like to take part in future anti-live exports protests, please contact Kent Against Live Exports (KALE) who hold monthly demonstrations at Dover’s Eastern Docks as well as impromptu protests when animal shipments go through. Their action hotline is: 01304 204688.