Kangaroo meat and skin Protests.

[Guest guest]

Subject:Kangamail, 29/1/03

 

Pat O'Brien [sMTP:pat]

Sent:Wednesday, January 29, 2003 8:03 AM

 

Subject:Kangamail, 29/1/03

 

Kangamail, 29/1/03

 

Feb 8th Kangaroo Protests.

 

 

On Feb 8th protests against the commercial kangaroo will take place

around the World. Details are below.

 

 

At the German headquarters Activists are all going to be wearing " death "

 

masks and wearing all the old Adidas clothes they have collected,

covered in fake blood, they a're staying outside the headquarters for

about an hour then marching through the town - which is apparently very

small and almost everyone who lives there works for Adidas, so its not

likely they're going to like it!! And at the UK HQ, they are thinking

about burning a pile of the old clothes, if it's going to be possible.

Protests will also take place in the US.*

 

 

Also, VIVA! are going to be encouraging everyone to phone, fax and email

 

Adidas to block their lines of communication on Wed 5th. Its legal to do

 

that in the UK, but in France, for example, it's illegal. Anyway - they

are asking all our supporters to keep calling and faxing them that day.

The email address for the managing director of Adidas Australia is

robin.berry - for those who want to send an email to

Adidas. *

 

 

Sydney (Australia) groups are targeting various shopping Centres around

the City. I

spent a few hours at one such venue last Saturday. They set up an

information stall, and hand out information about the kangaroo kill.

It's a very valuable way of getting information out to the public, and

while there were some who don't agree, there are many people out there

who have no idea how bad this Industry is, or what's happening to our

kangaroos. Most people approached where horrified, and agreed the

Industry should close. *

 

 

Meanwhile, Woolworth/Safeway continue to sell kangaroo meat for human

consumption. Melbourne groups held a very successful in-store action at

Safeways Prahran, on the 27th January, with good media. The shop was

selling kangaroo pet meat (as all of the Safeway/Woolworths stores do)

but also kangaroo meat for human consumption. Animals Active have also

written to Roger Corbett, CEO of Safeways, their letter, and his

response is below.

 

 

Mr. Corbett, I am informing you, on behalf of Animal Active; The

Australian Animal Rights Network,and the National Coalition to Save the

Kangaroo, that we will be launching an ongoing campaign against Safeway

beginning with a National Day of Action at Safeway/Woolworths stores on

Australia Day,2003. Our protest actions will continue and escalate both

within and outside Safeway stores until such time as your company, like

Coles, accepts that the kangaroo meat industry is unsustainable,

unregulated and cruel. Protest activities will cease the moment we have

an undertaking from you that you will no longer participate in trade

cased on the slaughter and exploitation of our native animals. To

further inform yourself about the nature of the industry that Safeway

continues to support I suggest you refer to the international

website:www.savethe kangaroo.com Yours for cruelty=free retailing

Rheya Linden, campaign director Animal Active.

 

 

In a message of reply, " Knight Michele ( CEO Office ) "

<mknight writes: I acknowledge your Email of

yesterday's date and regret to note that you intend to demonstrate

outside our Safeway stores in Victoria. We feel that this is totally

unwarranted as the issues you have raised are community issues and are

subject to the law of the country. If the processes are to be changed

then it is a matter for the community in general and the Government to

act. Woolworths will comply with whatever the legal requirements are in

the community generally. We would also point out that there are a vast

number of products that are processed with kangaroo meat including many

of the dog foods, so for any retailer to indicate that they are not

supporting the harvesting of kangaroo meat and stocking various national

 

brands that include kangaroo meat would of course be inconsistent. We do

 

not arrive at our point of view under threats of demonstration.

Woolworths' points of view on these issues are carefully deliberated on

their merits and I am happy to discuss these merits with any of your

group at any time, but would certainly never respond to threats of

demonstration. ROGER CORBETT rcorbett

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Corbett, Thank you for the response to my email, I am certain

you recognise the purchase appeal of high ethical standards in

retailing. In general patrons feel happier to support products and

services that are not cruel or exploitative. We, as consumers, expect

retailers to meet high standards rather than wait on government policies

 

that usually lag way behind community standards. We certainly will go

ahead with our Day of Action and relentless follow up protest until such

 

time as your company demonstrates an attitude of caring towards our

native animals by ceasing to financially benefit from their slaughter. I

 

do take your point about " hidden " kangaroo in products such as pet food.

 

Whilsts this is also regrettable it is not tantamount to the massive

promotion of kangaroo meat for human consumption in which, along with

the greedy Kangaroo Meat and Leather Industry, Safeway participates. The

 

National Coalition to Save the Kangaroo would most welcome dialogue with

 

you. However, this will not replace direct action until we are certain

that dialogue will yield positive results: namely