Nicky said
Rudd promised nothing and that is precisely what he will deliver in animal welfare. That is the real hypocrisy with these so-called "Christians".
pale replies.
Well no thats incorrect actually.
The ALP put forward their campainge and policy`s the same as the Libs.
Kerry Obrien did that interview on Land Line ABC with the full support of Kevin Rudd.

This was their agreed message to the Australian voters from ALP Rudd Camp.
Kerry Obrien is still in the ALP and So is Rudd just in case nobody has noticed.
We cant afford to let Rudd off the hook by breaking election promises to the Australian People.
Nor should we take it so lightly by saying oh well - They lied.
Rudd endorced every interview done by his party.

In fact their were very few for a federal election.

The Interview and promises made by the Rudd Government to the public must be honoured.

Letting him off the hook is not on the agenda.

A petition insisting Kevin Rudd honour his parties pre election promises is required.

"A petition insisting Kevin Rudd honour his parties pre election promises is required."

That's a good idea PALE.

However, there is a protocol for a parliamentary petition where the salutation must be correctly addressed - the details I've forgotten.

I actually do have a pro-forma, however, all my possessions at present are sealed in packing crates.

Can you advise the appropriate lay-out?

Ah you are in trouble now Belly. The girls have their broomsticks
out of their closests, so watch out ! :)

Animals Australia's petition before the Senate has about 200,000 signatures, and can be downloaded from its liveexport-indefensible pages.

PALE, I think we know politicians well enough to know that it is too easy for Rudd to now come out and say that O'Brien's comments were his opinions and do not commit the ALP to anything. If he had the slightest intention of doing anything about the live export trade, he wouldn't have appointed his new pitbull to come out yapping in support of the trade. The farmers even got to O'Brien between his "Landline" statements and the election to the extent that he started to back off. The greatest loss to the political landscape as far as animal welfare is concerned is Andrew Bartlett.

Dickie, you are absolutely right about the pigs. As if their lives are not appalling enough without the heat as well. You wonder, if people care nothing for the cruelty, why they do not care about the disease risks. I'd encourage everyone to follow the links that PF provided and do the survey there. Gestation crates are banned in the UK, being phased out in the UE, banned in some US States, and Smithfield (US) and Maple Leaf (Canada) are voluntarily phasing them out because of public pressure. Pig farmers here are crying poor about imports, when in fact, it may be that the tide is turning with public pressure, and the free-range pig farmers will be the winners (and rightly so).

Nicky

Nicky, I'd say that the pig story is quite predictable and will be
interested to see if I'm wrong.

If we look at say chicken, perhaps 20% will focus on where their
pork came from and aim to buy free range, 80% will focus on price
and buy imported factory farmed. As long as the label looks good,
they really don't care.

PF, I noticed in another thread that you provided some information about the long haul transport and live export of pigs. Could you provide a bit more detail for us please? I think your comment had to do with the ships as well - the ships ARE problems; nearly all those used are 20-25 years old, and have been converted from oil tankers, car transporters etc. I'd find it hard to believe that any are equipped to carry pigs with any comfort, although I understand that they are for breeding purposes which possibly improves things. There is loads of information about the ships at www.liveexportshame.com - search for a document called "A Disaster by any other name".

This letter was in the Geelong Advertiser 24 Dec 07

When you eat your pork, ham, turkey or chicken at Christmas, spare a thought for the animal who never got to experience fresh air, grass, or a way to express its natural behaviour. The animals who spent their short, wretchedly miserable lives so cruelly confined that they had virtually no movement at all.

Pigs, known to be more intelligent than dogs, go insane in these environments that they have to be medicated just to survive, swaying, bar biting and even screaming. When it’s time for them to be hauled out to slaughter, many are so ill they cannot walk.

Laying hens and “broiler” chickens fare just as badly. If you have never seen a hen rescued from a battery farm, you should. You place their almost featherless, frail bodies onto fresh grass and they gaze in wonderment, breathing for the first time air not rancid with excrement. Eventually they adjust, although their beaks never recover from the mutilation.

“Broiler” chickens only get to live about 6 weeks, forced to grow at a rate much more gross than their legs, hearts and lungs can sustain, in appalling conditions.

When you look at these bodies on your table at Christmas, remember these animals had faces. They felt heat, cold, pain, terror and loneliness.

Enjoy!
Suzanne Cass

Nicky