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Britain Takes a Big Step Towards Going foie-gras free!
Viva! Day of Action – 15 December 2007
Viva! and Exeter's Friends for Animals protest against the use of
foie-gras outside a local eatery with Viva!'s new giant duck On Saturday December 15
hundreds of animals lovers took to the streets to tell the public
about the cruelty inherent in one of farming’s most brutal
practices – the production of foie-gras. Many thousands of
postcards were sent and there were peaceful protests outside of
restaurants and establishments selling this delicacy of despair
right across the country. We are getting positive feedback that
many have bowed to consumer pressure and have taken foie-gras off
the shelves – for good! Those that haven’t are finding that
ethical consumers are avoiding them like the plague – and thanks to
Viva! supporters there’s more ethical consumers out there than
ever before.
The response from the public
was phenomenal, with many pledging not to buy foie-gras at Christmas –
or at any time of the year. The campaign was essential to building
consumer awareness – which in turn saves animals lives. If you took
part, thank you. However, it’s not too late to get involved with the
campaign to make Britain foie-gras. Click
here to find out how.
We were busy at Viva!, too.
Our new giant duck mascot Jake (fighting for bird justice everywhere!)
took to the streets and made flying protests to places selling
foie-gras in Exeter (Michael Caines), Manchester (Selfridges), London
(Fortnum & Mason), as well as petitioning the people of Bath to drop
foie-gras. Jake was also present in Bristol when we launched our
campaign to persuade the council to follow the leads of York and
Bolton by going foie-gras free. More news when we get it!
We have grand plans for 2008. We are meeting
with the heads of hotel chains to try and persuade them to dump
foie-gras. We are also supporting people who want to ban foie-gras
where they live. Click here for full details on our how to do this
(we’ve taken most of the leg work out of it for you!).
Please join us on our quest to make Britain foie-gras free!
Order
your FREE materials today.
About foie-gras
A million birds die on French farms during force feeding every year
The law in France stipulates that foie-gras can only be sold as
French if it comes from male ducklings and is the product of
force-feeding. Around 30 million ducks and (and 700,000 geese) are
killed in France each year for this purpose. As only male ducklings
are used, as many females are either gassed at a few days old or
thrown alive into electric mincers.
Birds raised for this ‘gourmet’ cruelty are force-fed enormous
quantities of food through a long metal pipe, two or three times a
day. Most are caged during this torment. This process of deliberate
and painful over-feeding continues for up to a month by which time
the birds’ livers have swelled to ten times their normal size. This
is so unnatural that around a million birds die during
force-feeding before they even get to the slaughterhouse.
Foie-gras is not produced in Britain, as the Government has made it
clear that its production would contravene existing animal welfare
regulations. The fact that we import tons of it annually into this
country makes a mockery of our animal welfare laws.
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In association with French consumer group Stop Gavage
“It’s comes from tortured ducks and geese, it’s a product of disease and it costs a fortune but some people still drool and dribble over foie-gras. It’s obtained by imprisoning birds in cages so tiny they can’t move, by forcing a pipe down their throats and force feeding them until their livers swell to ten times their natural size. There is always someone who’s ready to excuse barbarity and cruelty and that’s what those who eat it and those who sell it are doing. But there is no excuse and that’s why everyone should back Viva!’s campaign to make Britain foie-gras free. It certainly has my support.” Viva! patron Heather Mills
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