Viva! - Press Release

Viva!
8 York Court
Wilder Street
Bristol BS2 8QH Tel: 0117 944 1000
Fax: 0117 924 4646

email:
media@viva.org.uk

13 April 2000

Children’s Pig Parade to Stop Animal Cruelty

Young people dressed all in black and sporting pig snouts, curly tails and big ears, will parade from London’s College Green to 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, April 18 at 12.00 noon. Their protest is against the cruelty of pig factory farming and they will be handing to the Prime Minister a 40,000 strong petition calling for it to be banned. From 11.00 am until the parade, they will make speeches and read poems in defence of pigs at College Green, Westminster.

The young campaigners, from the animal charity Viva!, claim that conditions inside most British pig farms are cruel and cause suffering and disease. To support their case they will be making available covert video footage and still pictures shot inside 16 different pig units. Their protest will take place within a stone’s throw of pig farmers campaigning for greater support!

"In their never-ending demands for handouts", says Viva!’s Youth Campaigner, Kate Fowler, "pig farmers have forgotten to mention that over 90 per cent of all meat pigs and more than 60 per cent of breeding sows are reared in stinking factory farms. Diseases are rampant and farmers’ irresponsible use of antibiotics has led to the growth of superbugs - which threaten all of us. These young people are determined to remind the British public that the pigs are suffering far more than the farmers - who at least have a choice."

Amy Erridge (13) from Eastbourne, is making the trip because she is strongly opposed to factory farming. "We have no right to put animals through such cruelty just so some people can make a little extra cash. Hens will soon be freed from the battery cages because of protests and now we have to make sure that pigs are freed as well."

Speaking of Viva!’s young supporters, Ms Fowler concluded: "They are coming from all over the country, not out of self interest like the farmers but to campaign on behalf of abused animals. We are proud of them and they offer the country far more hope for the future than factory farming ever can."

For further information contact Kate Fowler or Juliet Gellatley on: 0117 944 1000

Note to Editors - Footage and pix shot inside UK pig units are available from Viva!



Viva! 8 York Court Wilder Street Bristol BS2 8QH Tel: 0117 944 1000 Fax: 0117 924 4646 email: media@viva.org.uk	13 April 2000 Children’s Pig Parade to Stop Animal Cruelty Young people dressed all in black and sporting pig snouts, curly tails and big ears, will parade from London’s College Green to 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, April 18 at 12.00 noon. Their protest is against the cruelty of pig factory farming and they will be handing to the Prime Minister a 40,000 strong petition calling for it to be banned. From 11.00 am until the parade, they will make speeches and read poems in defence of pigs at College Green, Westminster. The young campaigners, from the animal charity Viva!, claim that conditions inside most British pig farms are cruel and cause suffering and disease. To support their case they will be making available covert video footage and still pictures shot inside 16 different pig units. Their protest will take place within a stone’s throw of pig farmers campaigning for greater support! "In their never-ending demands for handouts", says Viva!’s Youth Campaigner, Kate Fowler, "pig farmers have forgotten to mention that over 90 per cent of all meat pigs and more than 60 per cent of breeding sows are reared in stinking factory farms. Diseases are rampant and farmers’ irresponsible use of antibiotics has led to the growth of superbugs - which threaten all of us. These young people are determined to remind the British public that the pigs are suffering far more than the farmers - who at least have a choice." Amy Erridge (13) from Eastbourne, is making the trip because she is strongly opposed to factory farming. "We have no right to put animals through such cruelty just so some people can make a little extra cash. Hens will soon be freed from the battery cages because of protests and now we have to make sure that pigs are freed as well." Speaking of Viva!’s young supporters, Ms Fowler concluded: "They are coming from all over the country, not out of self interest like the farmers but to campaign on behalf of abused animals. We are proud of them and they offer the country far more hope for the future than factory farming ever can." For further information contact Kate Fowler or Juliet Gellatley on: 0117 944 1000 Note to Editors - Footage and pix shot inside UK pig units are available from Viva!