A Note from Merv:
The Pig’s Arms is the home ground for several teams and we’re happy to allow them to put notices up on our board.
And we’re also happy to allow air time for visiting teams – unless they’re total twats.
Reuben Brand - Middle East Correspondent
Dear all,
I am launching an in-depth investigation into the live animal export trade from Australia to the Middle East at Parliament House in Sydney on March 10 – you are all invited to come along and show your support, but please RSVP ASAP as seats are limited.
For those of you in other countries or sitting at a news desk please feel free to pick up the story – all information, photos and footage will be readily available in electronic form – Please contact me directly for any enquiries.
Where: Parliamentary Theatrette, NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney
When: 10am for a 10.30 start until 12pm, Wednesday, March 10, 2010
RSVP: Limited seats available and allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please RSVP by emailing jessicaborg@wspa.org.au
Over the past seven months I have been working closely with the World Society for the protection of Animals (WSPA) and have undertaken numerous investigation throughout the Middle East regarding the Live export trade from Australia. The investigation covers five countries and highlights the undeniable cruelty these animals endure from the point of pick up in Australia, the four week sea voyage and the handling and slaughter at their destination.
On average 40,000 sheep die en route every year – but an even worse fate awaits those that survive the journey at holding pens and abattoirs.
Due to the live export trade over 700 Australian meat workers have lost their jobs in the last few months alone and are now struggling to survive.
So please come along, show your support and help put an end to this cruel trade that is not only exporting animals but jobs as well.
For more information please visit: http://www.humanechain.org.au or http://blog.humanechain.org/2010/03/come-along-to-humane-chain-public-forum.html
Kind regards,
Reuben.
Window Dresser's Arms, Pig & Whistle 
Sorry we couldn’t join in. Working tonight.
Will we get some feedback???
LikeLike
Gez was keen to attend as well, but as we have to go Sydney on Friday, we have to deal with the alpacas and cottage lettings in advance, and had to put the meeting up with Reuben in to the too hard basket…
Daughter was disappointed that we could not come a day earlier as planned, but that’s life.
We too like to hear the feedback from Reuben…
PS. Sorry about missing the chance of meeting you and Mrs B… 🙂
LikeLike
Won’t be able to make it to Sydney… but I’ll be there in spirit…
🙂
LikeLike
Gee Reuben, you take your job seriously don’t you, I mean a Macca’s drive thru attendant trying to save sheep, well done.
I won’t be able to make it but go for it mate you have my support
LikeLike
Big M:
Thank you for showing your interest.
I have to know more about why it is necessary to export live animals instead of killed meat approved by Halal certification.
Are there any other countries exporting live animals only to be slaughtered and eaten after arrival?
I know the Saudis are keen on our camels for racing but perhaps for their meat as well. We will try and make the trip to Sydney. Please, piglets, try and make it.
LikeLike
…all us piglets are hopeful not to be slaughtered before Christmas!
LikeLike
No, Helvi, I don’t think we piglets have the Halal approval, thankfully.
LikeLike
Thanks guys,
Gerard – this is exactly what we are trying to achieve. To phase out the live export trade and implement a chilled meat trade, where the animals are slaughtered humanely in Australian abattoirs under strict Halal guidelines.
This is an economically viable trade that will not only increase jobs for Australians, but also end this inherently cruel trade.
Please come along to the forum, as all will be discussed and explained in full detail.
LikeLike
Good on ya, Reuben, the world needs more people like you!
LikeLike
Some graphic video footage of sheep in agony ‘on board’ and the involvement of PETA would be helpful. Unfortunately, the countries that receive the live sheep imports are not all that concerned.
They just like to eat them and insist on their halal procedures.
There have been previous protestations about Australian live exports, but it never got enough traction. Of course when it comes to money then that speaks louder than animal cruelty.
I don’t understand why sheep meat can’t be exported to those countries under the Australian Halal Certification Authority. Can someone explain!
LikeLike
I’m with you, Gez.
I thought we could, not only avoid all this cruelty, both at sea, and at the destination, but also ‘value add’ (God, I feel like a wanker for even knowing what that means) by butchering, packaging and transporting the beasts.
If Coles, Woolies, and half the restaurants in my town can serve Halal meat (to the satisfaction of my Muslim colleagues) then why can’t we export to the same standard??
LikeLike