Achievements of the Animal Rights Movement in Austria

Transcription

1 Achievements of the Animal Rights Movement in Austria Authors: DDr. Martin Balluch Association Against Animal Factories, VGT Mag. Felix Hnat Vegan Society Austria South-East European Animal Conference Vienna 2006

2 Association Against Animal Factories VGT Austrian animal rights organisation founded in members 10 employees supports offices in 4 cities for local groups annual budget: activists 2005: 536 demos, 75 actions like blockades or runins and 47 animal rights events produces magazine: prints, 3 per year website with 2000 visitors per day

3 Outreach to Children: Animal Rights-in-schools scheme Project started in 1990 (VGT since 1995) 2 weeks teacher training each year 17 teachers nation-wide (10 professionals) 125 schools visited per teacher per year age groups: year olds Groups fund their own teachers Coordinated centrally (approval of teachers, content of AR-curriculum ) Offered to schools for free Material provided (slides, videos and worksheets) Special offer: AR in philosophy classes for 17-18y

4 Circus

5 Banned: wild animals in circuses Starting point: few circuses with wild animals; economically irrelevant 1996: Scientific report on the suffering of wild animals in circuses published conclusion: wild animal circuses should be banned : circus film produced : permanent demos at Golden Circus bankruptcy in November 1999, bears to sanctuary Arbesbach in September : permanent demos at Circus Knie; violence against protestors; bankruptcies; wild animals sold Summer : permanent demos at Cirkus Belly-Wien; massive violence against protestors; illegal elephant import flight; elephants sold November 2002 Result: no wild animal circuses left ban from 2005 onwards Remarks: no majority for ban without ban constantly new wild animal circuses as foreign guests or new restarts in Austria

6 Battery Farms

7 Banned: Battery Farms Starting point: many battery farms; economically relevant Since 1980ies: awareness campaigns on animal suffering in battery farms (schools etc.) 1995: Animal Protection Control founded; free range and barn egg production established; intensive cooperation with science 1999: EU-Laying hen directive larger cages enriched cages : 48 Battery farms filmed and reported too small cages; some open hen liberations; trials; people s solicitor 2004: massive political pressure campaign; enriched cages documented and published 2006: massive campaign against supermarkets Result: full battery farm ban from 2009 supermarkets stop selling battery eggs % fewer hens in laying hen factories

8 Federal Animal Law Starting point: 10 different provincial laws Demanded since people on demo : people s referendum (14% of electorate) 2002 elections: Conservative HQ 13 hours occupied 2003: Parliamentary Enquete : hard hitting campaign against Conservatives 20th May 2004: unanimous vote for federal law in Parliament Result: federal animal law since 2005 animal solicitors cats and dogs banned in pet shops (60% trade reduction)

9 Animal Protection in Constitution Starting point: animal protection in bylaw (since 1846); animal protection in criminal law (since 1971) March 1996: people s referendum (14% of electorate) Election 2002: primary animal movement demand : hard hitting political campaign against Conservatives 20th May 2004: unanimous vote in parliament Result: Still not in constitution Election 2006 promise by all parties

10 Ape experiments

11 Banned: Ape experiments Starting point: experiments on chimps since 1970ies; end in November : petition for ban on ape experiments End 2002: rehabilitation of 44 lab chimps 2003: ministerial commission debates issue 2004: parliamentary committee 10th December 2004: unanimous parliamentary vote 2005: bill debated, gibbons included after complaints 7th December 2005: parliamentary vote on bill Result: 1st Jan 2006 ban in place (including gibbons)

12 Animal traditions

13 Animal Traditions Starting point: animal fights, bird trapping 19th century: ban on bull fighting, bear baiting Beginning 20th century: ban on dog and cock fighting : ram fighting disrupted banned 1st Jan 2005: involuntary ban on wild bird shows 2005: massive campaign to safeguard ban 2005: 22 bird trappers reported, trapping documented, 4 scientific studies published 2006: ongoing campaign, trapping disrupted Result: 1st Jan 2005: ban on all animal fights 22 court cases against bird trappers decide issue

14 Hunting

15 Hunting Starting point: hunting very accepted Hunt sabbing since ies: ban on trapping 2004: pheasantries claimed into law 2005: Hunting excluded from federal animal law 2005: documentary on hunting Results: No real restrictions Ban on releasing wild animals for hunting, making animals pursue each other and hunting confined animals demanded

16 Pig farming

17 Campaign for pigs Starting point: pigs only protected on EU minimum standard 2000: illegal medication in pig factories : open rescues of pigs 2004: largest Upper Austrian factory closed 2005: Salzburgian factory improved 2006: 125 pig factories with pigs documented ( Election 2006: Social Democrats and Greens support demands 2007: Campaign against sow stalls, gridded floor and no bedding will start

18 Fur

19 Fur Starting point: new wealth after war, furriers, no public discussion Fur as a status symbol Animal welfare groups publisize animal cruelty successfully 1998: Ban of fur farms in Austria Backlash: product placement, seduction of youth, bribing of editorsin-chief, hiding fur in products OGPI vs. new trends (15/35 Mio.) Import ban of dog and cat fur? Labelling of real fur demanded Sucesses in the last three weeks: Schöps, Turek, Spartacus, Ferry Mossböck, (AC, GKH in Germany) Results: - production ban - approx. 130 furriers - negative image - AR movement found answer

20 Vegan Society Austria founded in 1998 small group to promote Veganism in Austria inspired by Vegan Society UK Magazine, e-newsletter, folders Activities: vegan summerfestivals, V-label and vegan trademark, talks, demos, restaurant database, plattform for exchange (forum, meetings), press releases, media support, adcampaigns, product inquiries, general inquiries

21 Veg*ism

22 Veg*ism Starting point: exotic image, no products availabe Information about animal abuse Showing films about slaughtering Providing infrastructure and infos (lists,..) Promoting products Labelling systems for products Summer festivals, events Results: Vegetarianism fully accepted Veganism partly 3 % Veggies (rising) Wide choice of products Restaurants Cheaper products