pyewhackett
26th January 2005, 06:19 PM
Why do people speak out about things they simply don't understand? (not an invitation to attack me! :)
Here's an article from Yahoo Aus:
Thursday January 27, 12:30 PM
Navratilova joins anti-mulesing campaign
A powerful animal rights group has enlisted the help of tennis legend Martina Navratilova in its campaign against an Australian sheep farming practice that activists say is cruel.
Ms Navratilova, who was in Australia as a commentator and competitor in the doubles competition at the Australian Open in Melbourne, has written to Prime Minister John Howard asking for an end to mulesing.
The practice involves farmers cutting away skin folds from sheeps' backsides to prevent blowfly strike and a slow and painful death from maggot infestation.
The Australian wool industry has agreed to phase out mulesing by 2010 and is continuing research into alternatives.
But the United States-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) says mulesing should end now, and the group is trying to rally major clothing retailers into a global boycott of Australian wool.
"This is a deliberate act of violence. It is pain inflicted without just cause," Ms Navratilova said of mulesing in her letter to Mr Howard.
"Do you believe such cruelty should be allowed?
"Harvesting livestock is one thing - cruel and unusual infliction of pain in that process is another. It is ethically and morally wrong."
The 48-year-old tennis star urged the federal government to introduce laws to stop mulesing, and said Australians should voice their opposition to the practice.
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader John Anderson condemned PETA's campaign last week, calling it dishonest.
PETA appears to be stepping up its campaign ahead of a case in the Federal Court next month in which a major Australian wool company will attempt to end PETA's boycott campaign.
Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) is seeking an injunction that would stop PETA from targeting clothing retailers, and damages which could amount to millions of dollars.
A hearing in Sydney on February 11 is expected to decide whether the action will proceed.
AWI chairman and former defence minister Ian McLachlan dismissed Ms Navratilova's complaint.
"She doesn't know the ramifications of what she's saying and I'm sad for her," he told AAP.
"We'll get in touch with her and her agents and tell her."
An escalation of PETA's campaign ahead of the court date had been expected, Mr McLachlan, said.
"But I don't think you could say, with all the pressure they've tried to put on the wool industry, that they've been very successful."
Major retailer Abercrombie and Fitch joined the boycott in October, while UK clothing chain George this month agreed not to source Australian wool from farms which practice mulesing.
Italian clothing giant Benetton, however, has resisted PETA's campaign and agreed to continue buying Australian wool.
PETA sent a report to the federal government this week which claims mulesing is not the most effective method of preventing blowfly strike and could be ended immediately.
The report, which also calls for an end to live exports, says there are viable alternatives to mulesing including breeding sheep which are less prone to flystrike.
"It's obvious that the Australian wool industry will never end its reign of terror over sheep without government intervention," PETA researcher Cem Akin said.
Mr McLachlan said a major research effort was continuing into mulesing alternatives, but it remained the most cost-effective treatment at the moment.
end --
I lived in outback Oz for three years. Coming from Sydney, I originally thought this practice brutal but this was an initial, ignorant judgment. PETA and co. should check out some pics of sheep that haven't undergone this procedure and have suffered a nasty death.
What kinda jumper (sweater for the rest of you) would that wool make?
Karen.
Here's an article from Yahoo Aus:
Thursday January 27, 12:30 PM
Navratilova joins anti-mulesing campaign
A powerful animal rights group has enlisted the help of tennis legend Martina Navratilova in its campaign against an Australian sheep farming practice that activists say is cruel.
Ms Navratilova, who was in Australia as a commentator and competitor in the doubles competition at the Australian Open in Melbourne, has written to Prime Minister John Howard asking for an end to mulesing.
The practice involves farmers cutting away skin folds from sheeps' backsides to prevent blowfly strike and a slow and painful death from maggot infestation.
The Australian wool industry has agreed to phase out mulesing by 2010 and is continuing research into alternatives.
But the United States-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) says mulesing should end now, and the group is trying to rally major clothing retailers into a global boycott of Australian wool.
"This is a deliberate act of violence. It is pain inflicted without just cause," Ms Navratilova said of mulesing in her letter to Mr Howard.
"Do you believe such cruelty should be allowed?
"Harvesting livestock is one thing - cruel and unusual infliction of pain in that process is another. It is ethically and morally wrong."
The 48-year-old tennis star urged the federal government to introduce laws to stop mulesing, and said Australians should voice their opposition to the practice.
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader John Anderson condemned PETA's campaign last week, calling it dishonest.
PETA appears to be stepping up its campaign ahead of a case in the Federal Court next month in which a major Australian wool company will attempt to end PETA's boycott campaign.
Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) is seeking an injunction that would stop PETA from targeting clothing retailers, and damages which could amount to millions of dollars.
A hearing in Sydney on February 11 is expected to decide whether the action will proceed.
AWI chairman and former defence minister Ian McLachlan dismissed Ms Navratilova's complaint.
"She doesn't know the ramifications of what she's saying and I'm sad for her," he told AAP.
"We'll get in touch with her and her agents and tell her."
An escalation of PETA's campaign ahead of the court date had been expected, Mr McLachlan, said.
"But I don't think you could say, with all the pressure they've tried to put on the wool industry, that they've been very successful."
Major retailer Abercrombie and Fitch joined the boycott in October, while UK clothing chain George this month agreed not to source Australian wool from farms which practice mulesing.
Italian clothing giant Benetton, however, has resisted PETA's campaign and agreed to continue buying Australian wool.
PETA sent a report to the federal government this week which claims mulesing is not the most effective method of preventing blowfly strike and could be ended immediately.
The report, which also calls for an end to live exports, says there are viable alternatives to mulesing including breeding sheep which are less prone to flystrike.
"It's obvious that the Australian wool industry will never end its reign of terror over sheep without government intervention," PETA researcher Cem Akin said.
Mr McLachlan said a major research effort was continuing into mulesing alternatives, but it remained the most cost-effective treatment at the moment.
end --
I lived in outback Oz for three years. Coming from Sydney, I originally thought this practice brutal but this was an initial, ignorant judgment. PETA and co. should check out some pics of sheep that haven't undergone this procedure and have suffered a nasty death.
What kinda jumper (sweater for the rest of you) would that wool make?
Karen.