| July
28th 2006
“RAM-BO”
THE SHEEP JOINS LIVE EXPORT PROTEST
AACT continues protests at Roberts involvement in live export trade
Member of Against
Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) will once again be protesting outside of
Robert Real Estate office in Sandy Bay. The protest will take place between
11.00am and 12.00 noon this coming Saturday, July 29. The AACTivists will
be joined by their live export mascot “Ram-bo” with the aim
of drawing the public’s attention to the fact that Roberts (now
merged with Ruralco) is the main live export agent in Tasmania.
According to spokesperson,
Yvette Watt:
“We have already collected
hundreds of signatures from the general public on petitions asking Roberts
to end their involvement in this cruel trade. The general public is
clearly opposed to the barbaric live export trade and we want Roberts
to know that their reputation will suffer if they continue to profit
from live exports.”
The protest takes place at
a time when Australian animals are still being sent to areas of conflict
in the Middle East, despite clear risks for the animals in these shipments.
Ms Watt continued:
While Roberts/Ruralco have
not been directly involved in any Tasmanian shipments to the Middle East
since the Israel-Lebanon hostilities, there are always risks of disaster
with any shipment. Horrific ‘incidents’ continue to occur,
such as the rejection of whole shipments of sheep on the Cormo Express
in 2003, heat and humidity that kills thousands on the crowded ships,
ventilation breakdown, fires on board, and trade related disputes which
delay ships.
Conditions aboard the live
export ships are harsh. ‘Long haul’ journeys to the Middle
East – some of which take up to 3 weeks – result in the deaths
of many animals through stress, injuries, illness and disease. Those that
survive the stress of the journey, are then subjected to handling and
slaughter methods that are not acceptable, nor would they be legal, in
Australia.
“We are aware that
Miles Hampton, Managing Director of Roberts Ltd, now “Ruralco”
will shortly be replaced by John Maher. We want Mr Maher to know that
we will be continuing our protest outside Roberts offices until such
time as Ruralco cease its involvement in the Tasmanian live export trade.”
concluded Ms Watt
For more information:
AACT Coordinator, Yvette Watt: Mob: 0408 970 359
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