Campaigns
Live Export
THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN SHAME - Global coalition to end live exports
Every year, Australia sends around five million live animals overseas to be slaughtered. They travel on truck and boat in conditions that any Australian would find unacceptable. Many become sick and injured along the way and every year tens of thousands die before reaching their destination. Those which do disembark are transported, handled and slaughtered in the most horrific way.
The live export industry and the Rudd government call these standards world best-practice and until now have gotten away with it. But the international spotlight is now on Australia as a world leader in this cruelty.
The RSPCA has joined an unprecedented alliance of international welfare organisations to demand an end to the export of live animals for slaughter - most urgently sheep to the Middle East. This Handle with Care Coalition includes the World Society for Protection of Animals, Compassion in World Farming and Animals Australia.
Proponents of the live export industry will run the same old lines to justify the trade but the facts speak for themselves:
Live exporters say: Australia has the world's best livestock export standards.
RSPCA says: Under current arrangements these standards are effectively unenforceable. It's a sad world where best-practice is measured by the number of animals still standing at the other end and which gives no thought to the cruel fate awaiting them
Live exporters say: If Australia doesn't supply animals, other countries with worse animal welfare standards will.
RSPCA says: Australia's live export industry stopped exporting animals to Egypt during 2007 as a result of the public outcry about the cruel treatment documented by animal welfare investigators. Despite this creating a shortage of animals available for purchase during the Festival of Sacrifice (Eid-al-Adha) last December, these animals were not replaced by animals from other countries. Instead, Egypt increased its imports of chilled meat, resulting in a significant reduction of animal suffering in the country.
Live exporters say: By supplying animals to the Middle East, Australia has more leverage for improving standards in importing countries.
RSPCA says: While some improvements have been made, video footage from as recently as September 2007 shows extremely inhumane transport conditions, handling and slaughter techniques. You cannot oppose animal cruelty, whilst knowingly supplying animals to these fates
Live exporters say: Importing countries demand live animals for religious purposes.
RSPCA says: Australia already successfully exports chilled and frozen meat all over the world. We also have Halal-certified export abattoirs supplying Halal meat to the Middle East. There is tremendous opportunity for growth in this trade.
Live exporters say: Ending live exports will cost Australian jobs
RSPCA says: Global meat exports are more than eight times more valuable than live exports. An increase in meat exports would contribute to the economy by creating more business for Australia's abattoirs and meat processors.
Live exporters say: We need to supply live animals as refrigeration is limited
RSPCA says: Improved living standards are seeing an increase in refrigeration capacity (across both the supply chain and in homes) and there is a growth in western-style supermarkets selling packaged meat. When countries have not been able to access meat from imported live Australian animals, local consumers have readily accepted imported chilled or frozen meat.
The RSPCA and the Handle with Care Coalition need your support to send a clear message to the Rudd Government and the live export industry that this cruel trade will not be tolerated any longer.
To join the campaign against live export cruelty visit www.handlewithcare.tv/au.
Battery Hens
Don't make hens pay for your eggs - Choose Wisely
The RSPCA is encouraging consumers to think twice before they next reach for a carton of cage eggs, with a new national awareness campaign.
The RSPCA is hoping to provide people with a glimpse of the intense suffering faced by the millions of hens crammed into battery cages around Australia.
The challenging new television advertisement features a shopper suddenly being imprisoned inside her shopping trolley after innocently reaching for cage eggs.
Click here for more information.