Their Indymedia post openly names several of those involved, so hopefully they will end up in court like Wellington chicken rustler, Mark Eden;
Wellington Open Rescue member Mark Eden is currently in court after being charged with "unlawfully in a building" for his role in the rescue of hens from a Foxton battery farm in 2006. He is due to appear in the Levin District Court today, Monday October 8th, for a status hearing.
The Christchurch Open Rescue collective has rescued 37 young hens from a Canterbury battery farm, saving them from living a life of misery in battery cages. The group is part of the wider Open Rescue network across New Zealand, which has rescued battery hens and documented the plight of factory farmed pigs and broiler chickens since beginning in 2006. Open Rescue members openly break the law to rescue animals from exploitation, and document the horrific conditions they live in
"These hens were destined to become some of the 2.8 million hens exploited in battery farms in New Zealand. Instead, we have given them the gift of a normal life, which they have welcomed with open arms in the days since they were rescued" said Christchurch Open Rescue member Tracey Brown. (wings perhaps-New zeal)
"The recent prosecution of Trevor Chin, the owner of the Wellington Egg Company, by the SPCA, gave everybody a glimpse into the horrifying conditions present in battery farms across the country," said Chrischurch Open Rescue member Douglas Hesp "The shameful truth for battery farmers is that this was not an isolated case of cruelty, but instead more or less the norm in this disgusting industry."
"The rescue of these 37 hens has two purposes, to give them a chance at a decent life, and also to expose the battery farming industry to all New Zealanders. We encourage everyone to think carefully about where the eggs they eat come from, and not to fall for the "farm fresh" fallacy, which is simply another name for battery cages" stated Christchurch Open Rescue member Daniel Rae, "Our group starting is just one example of the growth of Open Rescue across New Zealand, and we are committed to openly breaking the law and rescuing battery hens from their lives of misery until battery cages are abolished"
New Zeal-personally I'm no fan of battery farming, but would be quite happy to see more Open Rescue types behind confined to small tight spaces with wire grills on the windows.
Where is the middle ground on this, Trevor? You are no fan of battery farming, but the party that you are the vice president of couldn't care less about the plight of these animals. Do you buy only free range eggs? Until factory farming is legislated against in this country (which would never happen if we see a National/ACT/United coalition in 2008), people like the ones you have documented here have no alternative but to rescue these poor animals. What is the alternative? These animals cannot speak up for themselves, or complain about their plight, so compassionate people need to do it on their behalf. You do nothing to help them.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous If William Wiberforce could succeed in banning human slavery against an army of vested interests, WITHOUT RESORTING TO CRIMINALITY, why can't concerned New Zealanders work towards banning battery farming?
ReplyDeleteI can't speak for ACT on this, because we have no policy on the issue, but I think you would be surprised at the number of ACT members that might support such a ban-including this one.
Criminality will not help the cause at all.
Hey Trev
ReplyDeleteGood on Open Rescue. At least those 37 chooks will have a real life and have yummy eggs. I only buy SPCA approved eggs anyway.
"personally I'm no fan of battery farming, but would be quite happy to see more Open Rescue types (gee sounds like Mah "types") behind confined to small tight spaces with wire grills on the windows."
They were up front and honest about what they did (Open Rescue)even declared their names and filmed their stuff on UTube.
So do you use battery eggs in your bakery Trev?
Much luf (not)
Huhana
As a bit of research will highlight slavery came to be abolished for economic reasons rather than moral reasons. Im sure a lot of the exposure the slave trade got was through undercover investigations and interviews which would have breached agreements and various laws.
ReplyDeleteWould you condemm slaves liberated from their masters? If not then why condemm animal rights activists?
Because they engage in criminal acts.Pure and simple.
ReplyDeleteEither private property rights exist for everyone (even those who engage in acts you see as immoral) or they exist for no-one.
I hope that 'open rescue' are prosecuted for their crimes.
Still, at least the chooks they 'rescued' will have a chance for a happy and healthy life
Chooks don't belong in cages.
EXOCET
It seems to me that the majority of the public are against this kind of treatment of chickens.
ReplyDeleteI cannot understand why parliament has not introduced laws to give chickens greater rights around how they can be treated to prevent this from happening. Laws should also be put in place to ensure that consumers know exactly where the eggs have come from. If consumers have the full details about the product they are purchasing demand for eggs produced in this manner will decline.
However, those that think they can take the law into their own hands should face the consequences.
adam, you can pretty much bet that any egg in a container not labelled "Free range" comes from a chicken factory farm.
ReplyDeleteAnd Exocet said: "Chooks don't belong in cages."
That's the first thing he's ever written that I agree with. But I would add, Exocet, that yes, chooks don't belong in cages, and that is exactly why people are rescuing them. Feel free to help out if you have the moral courage.
Moral courage is not commit crimes to make a point.
ReplyDeleteMoral courage is making your point while still respecting the rights of others.
Trevor, I cannot and will not respect the so called rights of people who harm or abuse animals. Everyone else, yes.
ReplyDeleteso they have no right to cage the chooks like that, and the law supports the cages and people have tried to change the law. so people openly break the law and rescue them.
ReplyDeletewhat is more wrong - freeing the chooks or condemning them to a life of tight confinement?
and what are the critics of open rescue doing? not much i'd imagine
Just been reading about how the suffragete movement resorted to some very serious and highly impressive acts of civil disobedience and arson in their campaign for equal treatment of women. The civil rights movement also heavily relied on civil disobedience to get their message across.
ReplyDeleteYou imply that social change can be brought about without relying on civil disobedience, history shows that civil disobedience has been one of the most powerful tools in bringing about social change.
You also seem to have a really weird belief that the legal system somehow stands above everything else. Taking this belief to its logical conclusion would you strictly adhere to the NAZI laws? Would you break the law if you thought it would save lives? And if so why not animals?
There is no scientific evidence for the speciestic outlook you seem to adhere to, instead such positions rely on outdated religous beliefs or bigoted notions of superiority and progress.
I look forward to a detailed answer to these points.
In many places people see what they eat killed or kill the animals themselves. This is to participate in the food chain, not to espouse any superiority.
ReplyDeleteWesterners who promote animal right are displaying "bigoted notions"
I think the overall message has been lost here on some people.
ReplyDeleteCriminal damage is still criminal no matter how you dress it up. I have worked in battery farms and agree that the practice is hardly humane, but the demand is most certainly driving the industry forward.
Perhaps when the MAJORITY of NZers buy free range eggs will we see this end. But at the moment nobody can say they have a moral right to break and enter private property.
I believe the inhumanity of the industry warrants property destruction. Majority support doesnt make things right, a majority of people suppported Hitler and his genocidal policys.
ReplyDeleteIf consumers were made to face the hens every time they ate eggs a lot less would be consumed, animal liberation is about breaking the reality of the cruelty inherent in our food production systems home.
Anon: A lot of people involved in animal rights don't inherently oppose the consumption of meat instead they oppose intensive production of meat.