National Alliance for Animals

This organisation comes to life at every election and then goes back into hibernation!

This year too we revived the organisation for the general election. We met Ben Bradshaw, animal welfare spokesperson for the Labour party and James Paice the Conservative spokesperson.

We asked them to tell us about their policies on the following: vivisection, hunting, export of live animals and factory farming. Though both parties promised to introduce an animal welfare bill if elected, they were very cautious about promising anything radical.

The Conservative party was also committed to reconsidering the hunting ban if elected, though they promised a free vote on the issue. The Labour party was not going to backtrack on hunting and promised to ‘lead’ on the animal welfare issue in Brussels when Britain takes over the presidency of the European Union in June 2005.

The views of the two parties were passed on to all concerned – and the Labour victory cannot have disappointed the animal lobby! The National Alliance for Animals reminds the political parties that there are tens of thousands of votes at stake! Special thanks to the League against Cruel Sports for their support in this venture.

An organisation called ‘protecting animals in democracy’ also did sterling work in the election campaign.

Visit their site: www.vote4animals.org.uk

BALLOON RELEASES - HARMLESS FUN?

Mass balloons released in the sky look attractive but they pose a serious threat to many forms of marine life
when they land on the sea. The common dolphin, loggerhead turtles, blue shark and other species mistake
the balloons for jellyfish and eat them, thus endangering their lives. No more balloon releases!

Diwali without Fireworks!

Firecrackers terrify domestic animals such as cats and dogs and kill insects. They also cause immense noise and environmental pollution. Diwali should be celebrated without firecrackers