Firstly, apologies for the short notice! Many of you may have seen the recent Jamie Oliver programme, Jamie Saves Our Bacon, which aired on January 29, 2009. We were dismayed by the biased nature of the show, which came across as an hour and a half promo for the British pig industry. The welfare of pigs abroad is often awful, but to say that British pigs are treated "decently" (as Jamie Oliver does), is an insult and simply not true. Worried about criticizing a British industry, the press

	70 per cent of sows in the UK regularly suffer the torment of the farrowing crate

Viva! and Animal Aid are joining forces for a National Day of Action this Valentine's Day (Saturday, February 14). Our message: if you buy British pig meat the chances are that it will be a product of cruel intensive farming methods and the best way to help the British pig is to simply not eat him! We are encouraging consumers to vote with their shopping baskets and keep the consumption of pig meat plummeting (it fell last year by a massive 27,000 tons!).

It is not necessarily the accuracy of what Jamie Oliver said, it was what he left out that would have potentially misled audiences to believe that pig welfare is always better in this country as opposed to pig farming abroad. He quite rightly said that sows in sow stalls (banned in this country but used abroad) cannot turn around and have to defecate where they stand. He neglected to mention that 70 per cent of sows in the UK are confined to farrowing crates for four-five weeks at a time, and suffer the same problems as those kept in sow stalls.  He also neglected to say that sows stalls and farrowing crates have been banned in a number of European (and

Viva! visited pig farms across the UK in 2008. In this one we found piglets huddled together for warmth, covered in flies

comparable) countries: sow stalls are banned in the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland. Both are banned in Switzerland (surpassing UK standards) and the farrowing crate can only be used for one week in Sweden (again, surpassing UK standards). He said that farrowing crates were used in this country to protect piglets from being crushed by their mothers. However, British Pig Executive figures from 2008 show that overall mortality is lower on outdoor farms, as opposed to indoor intensive farms. Also, in Switzerland mortality rates are comparable in loose housed systems compared to farrowing systems that have now been banned there. The truth is that farrowing crates protect profits, not piglets.

The programme also neglected to mention that only 20 per cent of Danish sows are now in sow stalls. This is 20 per cent too many, of course, but not the black and white picture Jamie Oliver was painting. We also do not believe the programme made clear that almost all pigs (over 96 per cent in Britain) are raised indoors on intensive units in this country. Both Viva! and Animal Aid contacted the show's makers beforehand with footage and advice but we were all but ignored.

British pigs deserve better. I know the notice is very short, but if we leave it any longer then consumers will have moved on and the slanted and inaccurate portrayal of British pig farming will be accepted as fact by too many people. Join us out on the streets on the 14^th - or any other day that suits. If you can't make it, please order door-dropper leaflets and raise awareness that way. Also, order leaflets and the pig action packs to give to friends, family workmates and see if sympathetic shops or libraries will take them.

Thank you for your invaluable support.
 

	This is the reality for many British pigs: crammed together in concrete pens, no straw and only a metal chain which is farcically called 'environmental enrichment'

Order your materials!

Please email kate@viva.org.uk to order your materials as early as you can to ensure we can get them out to you in time for the 14^th.

Copy and paste what's below and state which materials you would like and state quantity. Also, please put you full name and postal address and telephone contact number. Also state if you are under 18. If you are planning to hand out leaflets on the street please let us know where you are going to be!

_____ So you're an animal lover? (DL) suitable for door dropping                                        

_____ Piggles leaflet (A5) not suitable for door dropping   

_____ Pig action pack not suitable for door dropping (limited supply)                                                                                                

_____ Have a Heart for British Pigs poster (A3) new  

_____ Ban Britain's Pig Slums poster (A2)  

Click here to read our response to the Jamie Oliver programme.

Click here to read about Viva!'s latest undercover investigation in British pig farming.

Viva! is entirely funded by your donations. Please consider donating to fund our work.

Click below to find out more about Viva! campaigns to end the factory farming of pigs.