Thursday, October 1, 2009

No Foie Gras National Day of Action this Sunday!‏

Join us in a national day of action against restaurants that sell foie gras!

Foie gras is the diseased liver of ducks and geese who are kept in confined conditions and force fed with a metal pipe. This force feeding can result in severe injuries to the birds throats, in a matter of weeks their livers swell up to ten times the normal size, and the birds can scarcely stand or walk. After three months of this torture they are killed.

There are events in Wellington that can be viewed here

In Auckland, we are holding a protest outside Sabato at 3pm on Sunday 4th October afternoon.

Meet at 57 Normanby Rd, Mt Eden.

Hope you see you there! Bring noise-makers and placards!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Sea Shepher Fundraiser: The Cove Film Screening

The Cove is a documentary-style investigation into the annual slaughter of dolphins in the Japanese coastal town of Naiji. A recent screening of The Cove in the Naiji sister-city Broome in Western Australia has convinced the local community there to suspend its connection in protest.

100% of all profits made from these special fundraising screenings are going to go directly to upcoming campaigns to help dolphins (organised by Sea Shepherd).

AucklandL: Wednesday 2nd of September at 8:15 pm


The Bridgeway Northcote Point

Fur Free Victory: Duchess Stops Selling Fur!


After our anti-fur campaign against Duchess, they have agreed to adopt a fur free policy. Thanks to all those who helped make this happen!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Anti-fur demo outside Duchess

A demo was held outside of Duchess again on Saturday to protest their support for the fur trade. No water was thrown on us this time, but a store worker came out holding a chihuahua claiming that they weren't selling fur. We tried to talk to him, but once again, they refused to listen and called the cops. When police arrived, they tried to tell us that we couldn't use a megaphone and that we should just stand quietly and further out on the pavement, closer to the road rather than outside their shop. Luckily, we knew our rights and didn't let them lie to us about what we can and can't do on a protest.

When the police couldn't do anything about us because everything we were doing was perfectly legal, Duchess re-located their speakers so they pointed right outside their shop towards us and blasted pop music out the speakers so loud that it made a few kids block their ears as they passed by the shop. The volume of the music was louder than our megaphone and brought us more attention from the public, and we were also able to chant along to the beats for some songs.

We received lots of supportive toots from passing cars and many pedestrians stopped by and expressed their disgust at the fur trade and showed their support for this campaign.

But our protests seem to be working, and a revisit to their website shows that the fur-trimmed coat advertised on their website is no longer there. But until they agree to adopt a fur free policy, we will be outside their store every week to remind them of the pain and excruciating deaths animals go through for the fur they were selling.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Duchess Tries to Drown Out Anti-fur Activists and Gas Goes Fur Free!

Today, AARC held an anti-fur demo outside Duchess despite the pouring rain. Instead of throwing water on us to try to shut us up, they blasted Justin Timberlake really loud on their speakers, which they directed towards us. We made light of the situation by dancing in the rain to bubblegum pop beats and chanting anti-fur and animal rights slogans in time with the music.

Not long after it began to pour down with rain, a woman from a nearby shop come out and gave us an umbrella. We also got support from cars driving past, beeping, waving and giving us the thumbs up.

The owner of Gas also came by and talked to us. Gas were stocking factory-farmed fox fur, but the owner had expressed sympathy for the animals and disagreement with the fur trade. He has consequently agreed to stop stocking fur products and to be careful to look at what is coming into their shops. Yay! Another success in the Fur Free Auckland campaign.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Upcoming Events

Fur Free Auckland demo

Where: Duchess, 47 Nuffield St, Newmarket.
When: Saturday 1st August, 12noon.

No Foie Gras demo at Sabato

Where: 57 Normanby Rd, Mt Eden.
When: Tuesday 4th August, 1pm.


AARC dinner, meeting and workshop.


Where: Golden Age Cafe, 61 Victoria St, Auckland CBD.
When: Thursday 13th August, 6:30pm.

Auckland Animal Rights Collective will be holding a meeting open to the public, for anyone that is interested in getting involved in animal rights activism, particularly the Fur Free Auckland and No Foie Gras campaign. We will be having this meeting in the newly opened Golden Age vegan cafe on 61 Victoria St, CBD, Auckland. We will also be having an informal educational workshop on identifying real fur. Come along if you are interested!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Fur Campaign Update: Duchess of Torture

For the past couple of weeks, Auckland Animal Rights Collective have been campaigning against Duchess, who have been stocking over 50 items of real rabbit and fox fur in their store. They have been approached with information, however they refused to listen and claimed that the fur they had in stock was fake and told us to leave their shop. When animal rights activists first went in, they found full-rabbit fur vests priced at over $800 each, fur-trimmed jackets. While they are still claiming they are not selling any real fur items, a quick glimpse at their website shows that they are still selling real animal fur.



AARC have had two demonstrations against Duchess. The first demonstration was quite a wet experience with an angry bald man from the shop showering us with buckets of water, claiming to be "washing the windows". Legally, this would be counted as assault, but although the police were called (by the shop owners) they didn't bother showing up. The second demonstration the angry bald man was noticeably absent. We were outside for over an hour with many pedestrians giving us verbal support. A member of AARC went inside to try to engage them in discussion about the selling of fur, but was met with hostility and denial of the sale of fur in their store.

In the past, fur shops that have agreed to remove fur from their shop have continuously put it back when we are not there. Particularly on Saturdays, shops seem to put their fur items out the back and put it back on the shelves during the week. Or they claim to have sold the item and just send it to another store. This shows us that they do not take the issue of animal abuse seriously and do not actually care about the dead tortured body parts of animals they sell as "fashion" in their stores. It is not good enough, and even if they do not display items of fur on the shelves on Saturday's when we are protesting, this does not equal to an agreement to stop selling, stocking, producing and ordering fur items. We will not stop short of a fur free policy.

Fur farming is an extremely cruel and unnecessary practice, factory farms in Asia and Europe producing rabbit, fox, mink and other animal furs involve painful and torturous processes for the animals. They are bred and raised in cages where they are deprived of their natural behaviours and develop psychological disorders that often lead to self-mutilation and cannibalism. Undercover footage of fur farms have exposed the disgusting conditions in which these animals live in and the cruel killing methods that are used, sometimes skinning animals alive. Killing methods involve anal electrocution, neck-breaking, gassing and strangling.

Help us stop Duchess's involvement and support for animal abuse!

There will be a demonstration this Saturday 12noon, outside of Duchess (47 Nuffield St, Newmarket)

If you cannot make demonstrations, you can make your opinions known by contacting them at:

Address:
47 Nuffield Street
Newmarket
Auckland
New Zealand

Phone: +64 9 5200441
Website: www.duchessduke.co.nz
Email: info@duchessduke.co.nz

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

fur campaign continues

There are still a lot of shops selling factory farmed fur this season.
There will be a fur demo this Saturday 4th July in Newmarket
Meet at the corner of 277 on Broadway and Morrow St
12pm

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Anti-Fur Demo this Saturday!

Continuing our anti-fur campaign in Newmarket, we will be having a protest against Country Theme's refusal to remove rabbit fur from their shop. Last Saturday the owner came out saying selling rabbit fur was fine because they are a "pest", she said the fur had been imported from Russia. Rabbit fur is produced through factory farming, the typical conditions of a rabbit fur farm can be viewed here:



When: 12noon this Saturday 13th June
Where: Meet at the corner of Morrow St and Broadway

See you there!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Fur Free Auckland Campaign Continues

The campaign to make Auckland Fur Free is continuing this year with regular demos being held outside stores selling fur. This week two protests were held against Orange Girl and Country Theme, both of whom are selling fur. The protests went reasonably well with quite a few conversations held by passers by. The worker at Orange Gal agreed with our cause and wants the fur removed but admitted being frightened of the owner and said no one could talk to him. This fits well with out past experience of the man who has previously tried to attack us with a metal bar. At the other store the owner told us of how she feeds a cat colony every day. Despite being disgusted at the prospect of selling cat fur she could not make the link that rabbits like cats are capable of feeling pain and there suffering is the same as any other animal – including humans.Whilst the campaign is relatively successful it looks like the fight to make Auckland Fur Free will be a long term campaign. This winter has seen a noticeable increase in the amount of fur being sold and noticeably more people are wearing it. As a result we will be doing weekly demonstrations. Please contact us if you see fur being sold in stores around Auckland.If you would like to get involved in our campaign or would like leaflets and information please contact us at animalrightscollective@gmail.com


Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Upcoming Anti-Fur and Foie Gras Protests

Fur Free Auckland

There has been several stores identified as selling factory farmed fox and rabbit fur. They have all been given letters and information about the cruelty behind the fur trade. This Saturday, we will be having demos outside of stores in Newmarket who continue to sell this product. Last weekend, a demo was held outside of Orange Gal, who have a history of selling fur. While they had removed the fur-trimmed items from display last Saturday, they have not agreed to stop selling it and will put it back and continue to sell it in the future.

Meet at 11am Saturday 6/6, outside 277, corner of Morrow St and Broadway

Foie gras

Sabato are still selling foie gras, so we need to continue this pressure. We decided week-day demos were more effective so we will be outside Sabato next Thursday.

Meet at 2pm Thursday 11/6, outside Sabato, 57 Normanby Rd, Mt Eden.


Hope you see you all there!

Friday, May 29, 2009

Fur Campaign Victory and Demo this Saturday!

Following our protest from last Saturday, Browns Ski and Alannah Hill in Newmarket have agreed to remove their factory-farmed fur and go fur free! Browns Ski were selling jackets with fox fur trim and Alannah Hill had several items of clothing with rabbit fur.
However, there is a store that have previously agreed to remove fur due to fur protests by Auckland Animal Action who are selling it again this winter. This shop is called Orange Gal. We will be holding a protest against their continued contribution to animal cruelty and fur trade.
Meet at corner of Nuffield St and Remuera Rd, Newmarket at 12noon, this Saturday.
See you there! Bring friends and noise-makers.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Fur Demo this Saturday

Hey All,

Winter is here and fur seems more prolific than ever, so what better time to have a demonstration outside some stores which participate in the cruel fur trade.
The protests this week will be in New Market, at shops who have received information from our group before, and have previously made the commitment to remove fur.
Its really important that we send a clear message to those who sell fur that the fur trade is cruel and unacceptable, so we hope everyone can make it.
When: Sat 23rd May 11.30am
Where: Meeting corner of Remura Rd and Nuffield st (this runs parallel to broadway, just across from 277)
If you want to double check its on text or call our cellphone: 021 042 8443

be great to see you all there!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Save the Beagles - 2009 Protests

Posted on behalf of Save the Beagles Campaign

Protests against Valley Animal Research Centre will be held on the last Saturday of every month from next month onwards. We will alternate protests having them in Napier one month then Palmerston North the next. Confirmed protests dates for the rest of the year are as follows:

27 June - Napier
25 July - Palmerston North
29 August - Napier
26 September - Palmerston North
31 October - Napier
28 November - Palmerston North

Now that we all know in advance it'd be great if people can try to make trips up or down to show support for the campaign.

For further info email freethebeagles@gmail.com

More info: http://savethebeagles.wordpress.com/

Tour Against Torture Report

To mark World Lab Day and Week, animal rights activists went on a tour around Auckland City on bikes and buses stopping off at companies and institutions involved in animal testing. Unfortunately due to ANZAC day, most places were closed but we held protests outside of The Body Shop (who are owned by L'Oreal), GlaxoSmithKline (a client of the world's largest contract animal testing company, Huntingdon Life Sciences), Auckland University Medical School, Liggins Institute and Unilever. We got a lot of support from pedestrians and a busker who joined in our protests.

As we were outside of the Auckland University Medical School, a nursing student informed us about the experiments on sheep that was being conducted inside the basement. Not many students even know about this, but embryonic testing is done on pregnant sheep and their foetuses. They test on 8 sheep at a time. The student said to us, "They cut open pregnant sheep, putting electrodes on the foetus and sew them back up again" to monitor the embryo. They kill the sheep afterwards because nobody wants a tested sheep. If you have any more information about this, please email us and let us know.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Tour Against Torture for World Lab Animal Day

To mark World Lab Animal Day 24th of April 2009, Auckland Animal Rights Collective are organising a "Tour Against Torture" around Auckland city has part of a public education day to expose companies involved in animal testing. Around 300,000 animals are tested on every year in Aotearoa/New Zealand. There are also many companies operating here who are involved in animal testing or clients of animal testing facilities overseas. Because vivisection is shrouded in such secrecy we do not have all the information that goes on within the walls of animal testing laboratories, however we do know the names and addresses of some of the companies profiting from this torture. On this day, we will be standing up for all the animals that are tortured, mutilated and killed in laboratories all around the world.

We will be meeting at the Body Shop at 11am on Saturday 24th of April and we would encourage everyone to bring their bike along to ride to each different place. A route will be devised so we can visit as many animal testing clients and facilities as possible. These will be quick demonstrations to make our point and leave, please bring whistles and noise-makers. If you don't have a bike, and want to get a ride or can offer a car, let us know so we can arrange transport in advance.

Contact: animalrightscollective@gmail.com

Monday, April 6, 2009

Demos Against Sabato this week - Time to Step it Up!

Despite regular Saturday protests against Sabato, they still continue to support the foie gras industry. It’s time to step it up and show that we are serious about making Auckland free of this delicacy of despair. Please come to the demos listed below:

8th April Wednesday 12noon
9th April Thursday 2:30pm
11th April Saturday 12noon

Meet at 57 Normanby Rd, Mt Eden

See you there!

Foie Gras is the diseased liver of birds that have been force feed for months usually in factory farms. During the force feeding process the birds are in constant pain with many left gasping for air and unable to move due to the amount of food they are force fed. Many cities and states around the world have banned the sale and producion of Foie Gras.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Week of protests for AARC

We have had a busy week with two protests against SABATO for their ongoing sale of Foie Gras as well as an anti fur protests.


The first Foie Gras protest was held at lunch time on Wednesday as SABATO were busy with lunch time customers. As is becoming the norm one of the staff came out and took photos of everyone that was there. The cops showed up but these ones seemed intelligent enough to realise we had every right to be there.
Saturday saw the start of out anti fur campaign with a protest outside EUM on high st. After briefly opening the store then closed for an hour as they waited for us to leave. After seeing we weren’t leaving they once again opened the store and shortly afterwards they agreed to stop selling fur! Once again another positive result in this campaign.
After the protest outside EUM we returned to SABATO and held a relaxed demonstration talking to passers by and customers. A staff member came out again and took pictures of people at the protest – no doubt to supply to the Threat Assesment Unit which has been harassing animal rights activists since its inception.

The coming week will no doubt see more protests against SABATO, email animalrightscollective@gmail.com if you are interested in finding out when they are.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Upcoming stuff

Hi everyone we have a couple of protests coming up this week which it would be great if you could make it to.

Foie Gras Demo

As part of our ongoing campaign to end the sale of Foie Gras in Auckland we will be having a protest this Wednesday

When: Wednesday the 1st of April at 1pm
Where: 57 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, Auckland

Fur Demo

We will be having the first protest of the year against factory farmed fur on saturday. This campaign has been highly successful and is important in showing the public that fur is not acceptable.

When: Sat 4th April 10am
Where: Meeting corner of High st and Victoria st

AARC Activist in Court

edit it looks like these charges are being withdrawn so you dont need to come

An AARC activist will be back in court on monday next week defending himself against charges arising from a protest during world lab animal week last year.As part of the protest two activists climbed onto part of the medical school and unfurled a large banner saying "Torturing Animals - It's Not Science".The Activist is facing a charge of unlawfully on a building and will be defending himself. Supporters are welcome to attend and would be appreciated.Photos of the action can be seen on http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/75289/index.php

When: 10.15 Monday 6th of April
Where: 65 Albert st Auckland

edit it looks like these charges are being withdrawn so you dont need to come

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Protest against Foie Gras this Saturday

Protest against Sabato this Saturday 14th March.

11am-1pm
Meet at 57 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, Auckland

Sabato are having a flat bread-tasting event at this time. Come and inform their customers of the animal abuse they contribute to and how their business profits from the torture of innocent ducks and geese.

See you there! Bring friends and noise-makers.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Foie Gras Protest this Saturday

Keep up the pressure on Sabato

The Auckland Animal Rights Collective will be holding a protest against Foie Gras this Saturday outside a Mt Eden shop. This is part of our ongoing campaign to end the sale of Foie Gras in Auckland which has already resulted in several restaurants and stores pledging not to sell it.Please come out this Saturday to show that the sale of Foie Gras is unacceptable.

When: Saturday 28 Feb midday

Where: Sabato, meeting outside 57 Normanby rd Mt Eden

Bring noise-makers!

In the mean time if you feel the need to vent your disgust at the animal abuse involved in the foie gras industry, feel free to call Sabato on (09) 630 8751 or email them at info@sabato.co.nz

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Surprise Protest at Sabato


To step up the pressure on Sabato, AARC activists held a noisy and upbeat demo outside Sabato on Thursday afternoon for over two hours. Sabato are still refusing to remove foie gras from their shelves and have sent a clear message that they care more about profit than animals.

Police were called and two officers showed up reiterating our right to protest. However, they tried to intimidate us by declaring that the use of a megaphone was 'obstruction', if we were to continue using it we would be arrested for 'obstruction'. Knowing our rights and certain case law relating to megaphone use, the police seemed stumped as to what to do. Despite using the megaphone after their warning, no arrests were made.

Keep up the pressure! Come to Saturday's demo against Sabato

When: Saturday 18 Feb midday

Where: Sabato, meeting outside 57 Normanby rd Mt Eden

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Protest against Foie Gras this Saturday

The Auckland Animal Rights Collective will be holding a protest against Foie Gras this Saturday outside a Mt Eden demo. This is part of our ongoing campaign to end the sale of Foie Gras in Auckland which has already resulted in several restaurants and stores pledging not to sell it.

Please come out this Saturday to show that the sale of Foie Gras is unacceptable.

When: Saturday 18 Feb midday

Where: Sabato, meeting outside 57 Normanby rd Mt Eden

Foie Gras is the diseased liver of birds that have been force feed for months usually in factory farms. During the force feeding process the birds are in constant pain with many left gasping for air and unable to move due to the amount of food they are force fed. Many cities and states around the world have banned the sale of Foie Gras.

To keep up to date with AARC check http://aucklandanimalrightscollective.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Foie Gras Protest this Saturday

Hey all we will be continuing our campaign to make Auckland Foie Gras free with a protest outside Sabato in Mt Eden. The demo will be held at 12pm (lunchtime) on Saturday 14th Feb outside Sabato in Mt Eden. Please come along and stand up for the thousands of ducks and geese tortured and killed every year for the production of Foie Gras

The protest on saturday will be aimed at encouraging Sabato to take the compassionate option and stop selling Foie Gras as well as pushing the wider animal rights message.

When: 12pm Saturday

Where: Sabato, meeting outside 57 Normanby rd Mt Eden

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Report from Sabato protest


Today we held another protest outsid Sabato, a Mt Eden deli which sells a lot of Foie Gras. The owners seemed less arrogant and confident this week staying inside the store for the demonstration. The turnout was really good with about 12 people by the end of the protest and in between angry chanting people were chatting and the atmosphere was rather relaxed.

I think the owners of the store may have thought we would have gotten bored after our first protest or that the police last week might have put us off. Rest assured we will be protest against Sabato until they remove Foie Gras, whether that is weeks months or longer.

The plan is to have the next protest outside Sabato next week on saturday at midday though I'm sure someone will update the blog closer to the time.






Friday, January 30, 2009

demo, sunday the 1st

When: Midday Sunday 1st February
Where: Meeting outside sabato, 57 Normanby rd Mt Eden

Friday, January 23, 2009

Sabato


A Demonstration was held today outside Sabato, a deli in Mount Eden. Information was given to the store last week, which included leaflet and footage from typical Foie Gras farm. The store was also contacted by phone when the company made it clear they would not remove the numerous jars and tins of Foie Gras.


Sabato was not receptive to the plight of the force feed geese and ducks, and less so to the picket lasting over an hour outside their premise. Auckland Animal Rights Collective held a peaceful but noisy protest this afternoon with several police cars arriving to no effect as AARC understand the law and do not wish to break it.

The representatives of Sabato who confronted protesters as they rallied outside the shops entrance came out showing pictures of Geese living in Fields in France. All Ducks and Geese on Foie Gras farms live in fields till they are about three moths old- then they are moved into factory farms, and even 'free range' Ducks and Geese are force fed. Sabato claimed that their Foie Gras were exempt from the suffering required to make Foie Gras, however, we know this is not the case.
98% of Foie Gras is produced through the force feeding of the Geese and Ducks using pneumatic tubes, neck rubbing or other disgusing practices to force grain down their throats. The other 2% is not allowed to be sold as "Foie Gras" and as far as we know none is being sold in NZ.
The protest was largely successful and had support from passers by. AARC hopes that Sabato will make the compassionate choice in removing the Foie Gras from their store and comit to not stock it in the future. Protests will be ongoing until sabato remove the fatty liver, and until Auckland is Foie Gras free.

Campaign Success

Last week members of Auckland Animal Rights Collective visited Zabo Parnel finding 5 tins of Foie Gras on display for sale. The owner at the New Market branch was notified and given the oppertunity to remove the fatty livers. We are now glad to announce that Zabo has taken the compassionate move of no longer sells Foie Gras at either of their branches.

The Barrow have also decided not to stock Foie Gras in the future following the delivery of some information by AARC members on the cruel practice.

This is encouraging, not only for the campaign but its re-assuring that busniness owners care about the lives of animals, not just profit.