WHEN: 12PM SATURDAY, 18 JUNE 2011 WHERE: Parliament House - Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide and Darwin. (WA - outside Fremantle Town Hall). Regional/Rural protesters will congregate outside Local Government (Council) buildings. Millions of Australians are calling on the Australian federal government to permanently ban the shipping of cows, sheep and other animals, to overseas destinations to be killed. We have all been shocked and outraged by the horrific footage shown on 4 Corners exposing vicious cruelty in Indonesian abattoirs in recent weeks. ALV has been working towards a ban on live export since 1980. This day of action is our opportunity to forcefully demand the ban while the broad spectrum of the Australian public is united against these atrocities. This issue has been ignored for too long owing to the political, economic and moral contentions it brings up for industries and individuals alike. Live export is a practice where ethics are ignored to enable its continuation. Ships are still in use that were deemed "defective" over 13 years ago by the Australian Marine Safety Authority. Meat and Livestock Australia have reports detailing animal "abuse" and "inhumane slaughter" that span over a decade. The meat industry is currently “suffering” a 20% decline simply because we have turned to look at it.
 Australia ships over 500,000 cows to about 100 Indonesian abattoirs every year. Plans to “improve” conditions for the animals by only shipping to approximately 25 accredited abattoirs are a fallacy. Proper training and proper equipment will not change the reality of what occurs in abattoirs not only in Indonesia, but the entire world, Australia included. A total ban on live export is a necessary step in the much larger issue of global animal exploitation. The real issue we need to look at is the use of any sentient being as a commodity. Believing that humane killing exists in any abattoir is effectively turning our backs on an unjust reality in order to preserve a way of life we have been conditioned to see as acceptable. The ban live export campaign has the power to force all Australians to question the practice of killing animals for industry and personal greed. Not just how, but why? Brutal torture occurs in abattoirs everyday, in every country. A temporary suspension to Indonesia is unacceptable. A complete ban on live export is absolutely necessary. We must send the message that this trade is not okay, it never was and it never will be. Our opportunity to end all live export is now. Make your vote loud and clear by attending the National Day of Action on Saturday 18th June.
Animals need your voice to be heard! note: This is an excellent article written on the live export/abattoir issue by Katrina Fox "We've Got to STOP Treating Animals Like Animals"
3 Easy Steps to send Ban Live Export Email
Please spare a couple of minutes to write to your local Federal MP and Senator and ask them to support a ban on live export, simply follow these 3 easy steps:
1. Find out your local Federal MP's and Senators email details or contact form: Federal MPs in Victoria - Search for your local electorate here, then look up your local MP here
Senators in Victoria - Lookup Senators details here
2. Copy the text below into an email or contact form 3. Add your name and address at the bottom of the message Federal MPs and Senators in other States/Territories:
Click here for Federal MPs and here for Senators
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Decision Maker I write to express my opposition to Australia's live export trade and to urge you to support a complete ban on live animal export. Numerous investigations have exposed the brutal treatment of Australian animals exported live to Asia and the Middle East. The recent uncovering of the cruelty inflicted on Australian cattle in Indonesia, and the fact that the Meat and Livestock Industry have known about this brutality for years evidences not only the complete failure of the live export industry but the meat industry's total disregard for these sentient animals. The Australian public is fed up with industry spin. The damning evidence from countless investigations makes it abundantly clear that the industry is not being honest with the Australian public. The only course of action is to ban this trade and prevent more animals suffering such a horrific fate. The Australian public does not want to see any more gruesome footage on TV and more importantly, it is imperative that the torment these animals suffer is stopped immediately. I implore you to support a total ban on live export and do everything you can to stop the suffering of animals in the live export industry as soon as possible. You have the support of the Australian public behind you. Please make the right decision!. Yours sincerely
[insert your name and address]
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