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
Association Against Animal Factories VGT Austrian animal rights organisation founded in 1992 18.000 members 10 employees supports offices in 4 cities for local groups annual budget: 700.000 200 activists 2005: 536 demos, 75 actions like blockades or runins and 47 animal rights events produces magazine: 37.000 prints, 3 per year website www.vgt.at with 2000 visitors per day
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: 4 30+ 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
Circus
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 1996-1997: circus film produced 1997-1999: permanent demos at Golden Circus bankruptcy in November 1999, bears to sanctuary Arbesbach in September 2002 1996-2002: permanent demos at Circus Knie; violence against protestors; bankruptcies; wild animals sold Summer 2002 2001-2002: 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
Battery Farms
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 2003 + enriched cages 2012 2003: 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 2007 35% fewer hens in laying hen factories
Federal Animal Law Starting point: 10 different provincial laws Demanded since 1846 8000 people on demo 1927 1996: people s referendum (14% of electorate) 2002 elections: Conservative HQ 13 hours occupied 2003: Parliamentary Enquete 2003-2004: 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)
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 2003-2004: hard hitting political campaign against Conservatives 20th May 2004: unanimous vote in parliament Result: Still not in constitution Election 2006 promise by all parties
Ape experiments
Banned: Ape experiments Starting point: experiments on chimps since 1970ies; end in November 1998 2002: 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)
Animal traditions
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 1997+1998: 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
Hunting
Hunting Starting point: hunting very accepted Hunt sabbing since 1991 1990ies: 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
Pig farming
Campaign for pigs Starting point: pigs only protected on EU minimum standard 2000: illegal medication in pig factories 2002+2003: open rescues of pigs 2004: largest Upper Austrian factory closed 2005: Salzburgian factory improved 2006: 125 pig factories with 120.675 pigs documented (www.vgt.at/schweine) Election 2006: Social Democrats and Greens support demands 2007: Campaign against sow stalls, gridded floor and no bedding will start
Fur
Fur Starting point: new wealth after war, 1000+ 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
Vegan Society Austria founded in 1998 small group to promote Veganism in Austria inspired by Vegan Society UK www.vegan.at 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
Veg*ism
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