Issue 204 – spring 2020
THE TIME IS NOW COVID-19: IT’S TIME TO FIX OUR BROKEN FOOD SYSTEM END THE CAGE AGE
MAKING IT HAPPEN
DEBORAH MEADEN WE MUST EMPOWER PEOPLE TO HELP ANIMALS
I SSUE 204
FARM ANIMAL VOICE CONTENTS
UPDATE 4 NEWS The latest farm animal updates from around the world 6 BAN UK LIVE EXPORTS Your big week of action, and how you’re taking the Scottish Government to court 16 ENDING THE CAGE AGE You’re giving animals the freedom they need for a life worth living ACTION
Is the next pandemic on our plate?
9 INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS DAY On 14th June, join the call to end the global live export trade 12 ANIMALS ARE NOT PAWNS The latest news in your fight to protect animals during new trade deals
16 Our food system, through the lens of COVID-19 RETHINK FISH
20 You’re making waves for fish welfare, right across Europe
22 MORE WAYS TO CHANGE THE WORLD Fight factory farming through the Anna & Peter Roberts Circle or your legacy of compassion 26 WANTED: ARMCHAIR WARRIORS! A flock of ways to help animals from the comfort of your own home INSIGHT & INSPIRATION 18 FACTORY FARMING: A PANDEMIC RISK For both animals and humans, urgent global action is needed to fix our food system 24 INTERVIEW WITH DEBORAH MEADEN Entrepreneur, Dragons’ Den star and, now, Compassion patron
IS THE NEXT PANDEMIC ON OUR PLATE?
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Editor Tamsin Seymour • Production Manager Sarah Bryan • Design Neo – weareneo.com Farm Animal Voice is published twice a year by Compassion in World Farming International. Compassion in World Farming International is a registered charity in England and Wales, registered charity number 1095050; and a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales, number 4590804. The registered office is at River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1EZ, UK. Enquiries: Tel +44 (0)1483 521 953 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) • Email supporters@ciwf.org Our Patrons Patrons: Professor Joy Carter • Jilly Cooper CBE • Peter Egan • Rose Elliot MBE • Jerome Flynn • Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE • Princess Alia Al Hussein of Jordan • Dame Penelope Keith DBE • Bruce Kent • Joanna Lumley OBE • Evanna Lynch • Deborah Meaden • Chris Packham • Sir Jonathon Porritt CBE • Revd Professor Michael J Reiss • Susan Duchess of Richmond • Sir Crispin Tickell GCMG KCVO • Professor John Webster Front cover image: © shutterstock
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WELCOME
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– DISPLAY – YOUR BAN LIVE EXPORTS POSTER
FARM ANIMALS NEED YOU NOW, MORE THAN EVER
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ere at Compassion in World Farming, we have been overwhelmed by your continued and wonderful support during such challenging times. Whilst COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on all our daily lives, rest assured that our shared, global fight to end factory farming continues – as strong as ever. It is as urgent now as it has always been that we stand our ground; for every farm animal who is suffering in a cage, crate, overcrowded shed or being shipped like freight. They all need our help. Farm animals need your voice. Louder than ever. I truly believe that, together, we can help the world to emerge from this pandemic with a new understanding of the urgent need to fix our broken food system. Of the need to protect animals, people and the planet. For all our sakes. Thank you for standing with Compassion. Thank you for speaking up for farm animals everywhere.
Philip Lymbery Global CEO, Compassion in World Farming International Philip’s personal blog is available at: philiplymbery.com or you can follow on Twitter: @philip_ciwf
DR RAJENDRA PACHAURI – A CHAMPION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE In February this year, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, former Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), sadly died, aged 79, from heart disease. Under his steadfast leadership, the IPCC, which records and analyses climate data, was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Dr Pachauri dedicated much of his career to studying the effects of human-caused climate change, and he furthered this cause
when he gave the second Peter Roberts Memorial lecture for Compassion in 2008, during which he urged listeners to eat less meat in order to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. A champion for the fight against climate change, Dr Pachauri will be sorely missed.
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A GROWING APPETITE FOR CHANGE
Compassion is proud to have worked in depth with 13 of the 30 companies that have improved their tier ranking this year, and with three of those that have maintained their top tier position within BBFAW.
The latest Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report, was launched in April.
The Benchmark is a longterm change initiative, designed as a guide for investors, and it is showing definite signs of progress. Although there is still more work to be done, it is promising that there appears to be both an appetite and a willingness for change within the food industry, the financial sector and crucially amongst consumers who are a key driving force behind it.
It analysed the animal welfare policy commitments, performance and transparency of 150 of the world’s leading food companies, and revealed the promising news that 60% now have formal farm animal welfare policies. The report, based on 2019 research, confirms Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Migros, Cranswick, Noble Foods and Co-op Group (Switzerland) as global leaders on farm animal welfare. It also shows that UK companies have significantly higher average animal welfare scores (64%) compared to those from other geographic areas, including the rest of Europe (40%), and North America (29%).
The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare Report 2019 Nicky Amos & Dr Rory Sullivan
PROFESSOR ARJEN HOEKSTRA – A TRUE FRIEND OF COMPASSION
COMPASSION BEHIND THE NEWS In January, The Guardian drew extensively on Compassion’s research and campaigning expertise for a whole week of articles on long distance live transport. The series took a closer look at the reality of this industry, the countries involved, and raised important awareness of the trade’s impact on the health and welfare of farm animals.
In November last year, we were truly saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected death of Compassion Visionary, Professor Arjen Hoekstra. Arjen, the founder of the Water Footprint Network, was a friend of Compassion for many years and contributed an important chapter to ‘The Meat Crisis’, which our Ambassador Emeritus, Joyce D’Silva, co-edited. His work was invaluable in publicising the amount of water required for food production – e.g. a kilo of beef compared with a kilo of vegetables – thereby making the case for reduced meat consumption in the interest of preservation of resources.
To read The Guardian’s series of articles, visit ciwf.org.uk/Guardian-Live-Exports
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The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare Report 2019
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STRICTER PUNISHMENTS FOR ANIMAL ABUSE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Voice). Compassion supported this campaign, signing the petition and raising awareness about inadequate punishments for animal cruelty. The maximum punishment for cruelty to animals is now a sentence of six years in prison; and the punishment for keeping animals in sub-standard conditions is imprisonment for up to ten years. Anyone convicted under this law will receive a lifetime ban from keeping animals. This accomplishment is a clear indication that animal welfare is a topic of ever-increasing importance in the Czech Republic.
In March, the Czech Parliament voted to instate more severe punishments for cruelty to animals. This amendment to the Criminal Code is the result of a two-year campaign led by our friends and European Citizens’ Initiative partners, Home4Pets. They collaborated closely with Czech MEP Jiri Pospisil, Plicka and Partners law office and Hlas Zvirat (Animal
MEAT ALTERNATIVES SPARK DISCUSSION On 10th March, Compassion hosted a dinner in the House of Commons, showcasing an exciting plant-based menu to MPs and other influential figures, including high-profile vet, Emma Milne, and Liz Earle MBE, who are both supporters of Compassion. The five-course meal, sponsored by Kerry McCarthy MP, included interesting options such as a vegan ‘scotch egg’ and Jerusalem artichoke ‘white pudding’.
MORRISONS LEADS THE WAY Back in February, UK supermarket, Morrisons, reached their goal of selling only free-range whole eggs – smashing (!) their own target by two years. This impressive achievement was made possible by doubling the number of free-range farmers from whom they source their eggs.
The event provoked useful discussions with policy makers, think tanks and key individuals within the food, farming and cultured meat industries. The UK’s growing appetite for meat alternatives was discussed, while taking a closer look at the benefits, risks and opportunities surrounding this rapidly expanding industry.
Tracey Jones, Compassion’s Director of Food Business said: “It’s great to see Morrisons achieving their commitment to be 100% free range on shell eggs ahead of their 2022 target. Momentum on ending the use of cages for laying hens is growing and Morrisons are leading the way. Importantly, they also have a 2025 cage-free commitment on the eggs that go into processed and ingredient foods.”
The benefits of alternative meats include the capacity to reduce our reliance on factory farming, and we are encouraged by the Government’s interest in this growing industry. We recognise that increased research and investment in meat alternatives also increases the potential we have to disrupt the current food system and encourage moves towards higher standards of animal welfare.
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Thousands of UK animals suffer like this. “We can... ban the live export of animals” – 6th December 2019
© Russell Hart/Alamy Stock Photo
Time to turn words into actions. Natasha Smith, Senior Campaigns Manager (UK), takes your call for action to London
Contact Boris Johnson now: ciwf.org.uk/BanLiveExports
Peter Egan (centre) and Mike Beckingham (right) joined Compassion’s campaigners to hand-deliver the open letter against live exports.
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Compassion’s fantastic volunteers spread the Ban Live Exports message.
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UK LIVE EXPORTS:
YOUR BIG WEEK OF ACTION Earlier this year, millions of people saw your message that the UK Government must end the shameful live export of sheep and young calves.
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very year, thousands of animals are exported from the UK for slaughter or fattening. You’ve helped reduce this appalling trade from its peak in the 1990s. But it is vital that we end UK live exports – once and for all. In February, thanks to the support of people like you, Compassion was able to launch a high-profile, weeklong ad campaign across London to draw attention to the horrors of live exports and lobby the Government to end this barbaric trade. From outer London to Downing Street, tube stations to newspapers, your voice for farm animals reached all corners of the capital. It all began with an appeal for help to ramp up pressure for Government action, following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statement that we “can…ban the live export of animals” after Brexit. Your generosity was astounding, and we smashed the £15,650 target in just five hours! Here’s what you achieved in the great London takeover…
TUBE STATION ADS Billboards depicting the stark reality of live exports appeared in prime underground stations – including those that serve Parliament and MPs. Whether rushing to the office or heading home, passengers looked into the eyes of animals who endure long, exhausting – sometimes lethal – journeys that put even the worst commute into perspective.
EVENING STANDARD ADVERT But, what if travellers had their head in a newspaper and missed our billboards? Well, we also called on commuters to join the campaign through an attention-grabbing advert in the Evening Standard – estimated readership 1.2 million!
LETTER IN THE SPECTATOR An open letter to the Prime Minister was published in The Spectator – widely read by MPs and previously edited by Boris Johnson himself. The letter was signed by 28 highprofile Compassion supporters, including Joanna Lumley, Deborah Meaden, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Alan Titchmarsh.
ON THE GROUND Dedicated volunteers hit the streets of London – handing out leaflets, adding a personal touch to the Ban Live Exports campaign, and rallying the public to take action for farm animals.
LONDON TOUR A digital ‘advan’ toured the capital, taking a visual display of the open letter all the way from Boris Johnson’s Uxbridge constituency to Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, before ending its journey outside the Houses of Parliament.
SPECIAL DELIVERY TO NO. 10 Finally, Peter Egan and Mike Beckingham – actors, activists and stalwart Compassion supporters – joined our campaigners at No.10
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Downing Street, to hand-deliver the open letter calling for an end to the ‘unjustified and horrific’ live export trade. Whether you donated to fund the adverts, took action online, or helped raise awareness of cruel live exports in other ways, thank you! Your support made all this possible.
THE WEEK IN NUMBERS • One eye-catching ‘advan’ travelled 18 prominent miles through London; • 15 attention-grabbing billboards in six central London tube stations; • 1.3m estimated readership across the Evening Standard and The Spectator; • 2,000 tweets on the day of Prime Minister’s Questions, calling for a live export ban; • A big contribution to 44,048 campaign emails sent to the UK Government; • Seven incredible days of action against live exports –
Thanks to you!
ACT NOW! If you haven’t already done so, please visit ciwf.org.uk/ Ban-UK-Live-Exports to urge the UK Government to end live exports, once and for all.
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ACTION
TAKING UK LIVE EXPORTS
TO COURT
As well as stepping up the political campaign against UK live exports (see page 6), Compassion has launched legal action against the export of young British calves. Thank you to everyone who has backed this fight!
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very year thousands of unweaned calves – often just a few weeks old – are exported from Britain to fattening farms in Spain. These animals may endure terrible conditions during transport. And, shockingly, they can go as long as 23 hours without food. Whilst calves are being reared on British farms, they must legally be fed at least twice a day. And transport legislation also states that unweaned calves cannot travel for more than 8 hours unless, after a maximum of nine hours’ transport, they are rested, given water, and “if necessary” fed. However, the ‘rest’ usually just means the transport lorry stops moving for an hour. And the calves cannot, in practice, be provided with milk substitute on the trucks. So, they aren’t fed until they are first unloaded in northern France. The transporters have unilaterally decided it isn’t “necessary” to feed these young, vulnerable animals after nine hours. And the Scottish Government backs them up… even citing the fact it “is not practical” to feed calves on trucks as a justification for current practices! So, we’ve launched a Judicial Review at the Scottish Court of Session. Our aim is a ruling that, because unweaned calves can’t be fed on trucks, it is unlawful for the
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Scottish Government to permit them to be transported for more than 8 hours. The outcome – indeed, even the completion – of our case is not guaranteed. At the time of writing, our application has been accepted by the courts, but we are waiting to hear if they’ll grant us permission to pursue the case. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has hired experienced, costly lawyers to fight their side. What is more, despite a manifesto commitment to end ‘excessively long journeys’ of animals for slaughter and fattening, the UK Government has also appointed a leading lawyer to fight against our case. This hypocrisy is astonishing. And, sadly, it adds to the risk that our costs for this legal action may escalate beyond our resources. But, until that point, we will fight on. We are determined to expose the ruthlessness of politicians as they defend the indefensible; take this battle to the media; and spread the message that exporting these young calves isn’t just morally wrong – it is illegal. The stakes are high. European Union and UK legislation on live transport is identical. So, a court ruling that British calf exports are illegal in their current form could trigger similar action across Europe.
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Ultimately, this campaign could spare young animals across a whole continent from torturous journeys. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be part of that step-change for farm animals?
YOUR COMPASSION IS OVERWHELMING A HUGE thank you to everyone who has joined our Judicial Review campaign. You’re giving farm animals a fighting chance against live exports and factory farming. If you haven’t already done so, please visit ciwf.org.uk/ Judicial-Review to make a donation. To contact the Scottish Government visit ciwf.org.uk/ Scottish-Government
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS JUNE 14TH
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n 14th June, please join Compassion and campaigners worldwide for the fifth annual International Awareness Day against live exports. Last year, 180 events across six continents showed true, global solidarity against the needless export of animals for slaughter and fattening. This year, the day of action is going entirely ‘virtual’. This is due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings, but we hope that, as a result, people who can’t usually travel to events – and in more countries than ever – will be able to take part. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that we’re all, wherever we live, intimately connected. What happens in China matters in Italy. What happens in the UK has an impact in Spain. And, as this shared virus shut down international travel for humans, the shameful trade in animals between countries has continued.
Globally, millions of farmed animals are transported over long distances every year. These animals’ essential needs cannot be met whilst cramped inside a lorry or a ship on these journeys – especially when temperatures soar in the summer months.
Both the extent of live exports, and their interconnectedness, make this a global problem. For example, when shipments from Australia stop, importers look to South Africa and Romania to fill the gap. If we are to end this trade, we need a worldwide solution.
Yet, for the sake of a profit, exporters are quick to turn a blind eye to suffering. As a result, animals face exhaustion, thirst, hunger, injuries, trampling or even death.
On June 14th we’ll stand together against the globally connected, cruel live export industry. We will show how, also globally connected – and united – we will stop it.
One stark example of how wrong things can go during live exports is the capsizing of the Queen Hind on 24th November 2019. Packed with 14,600 sheep, this cargo ship sank shortly after setting sail from Romania for Saudi Arabia. Tragically, despite tireless rescue efforts, only 254 sheep were pulled alive from the water and, ultimately, only 180 animals survived.
TAKE ACTION ON 14TH JUNE! It’s easy to be a part of this year’s ‘virtual’ International Awareness Day. Simply display the poster overleaf, or take action on social media. Visit ciwf.org.uk/AwarenessDay to find out more and join campaigners around the world. Let’s show global leaders that it’s time to BAN LIVE EXPORTS!
June 14th is our chance to stand with other individuals and organisations fighting live exports, around the world. We are not alone, and together our voices are deafening.
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INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS DAY
14TH JUNE 2020 Help end the terrible suffering of farm animals. Join campaigners around the world and take action online:
Please cut out and display
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COMMITTING TO CHANGE
FOR CHICKENS
In the latest update on our campaign to transform chicken welfare, we’re delighted to report another wave of progress by food companies – thanks to you!
HONEST LABELLING EXPANDS IN FRANCE In February, France’s first animal welfare labelling scheme received a huge boost, when a further three, influential businesses signed-up.
Carrefour, which aims to introduce the label in other EU countries. We are also working to extend the labelling to other animals: next up are pigs, so watch this space!
As previously mentioned in Farm Animal Voice, CIWF France has worked alongside two NGOs – LFDA and OABA – and leading supermarket chain, Casino, to develop the ‘Association Étiquette Bien-Être Animal’ label. The ‘AEBEA’ uses nearly 230 criteria to rank chicken products on the quality of life of the animals – giving shoppers a clear choice in store. And, now, major retailers Carrefour and Système U, and France’s secondlargest poultry producer, Galliance, have joined the scheme. As a result, the welfare label will cover more than 80 million animals a year. Over the past few months, the label has also evolved to include additional information on method of production – for example ‘improved indoor’ or ‘outdoor access’ – illustrated by a pictogram. This simple information complements the detailed animal welfare assessment, which is graded from A to E. We are hoping that AEBEA will soon extend beyond France – in particular with the support of
THE BETTER CHICKEN COMMITMENT GAINS MORE GROUND
These companies have pledged that, by 2026, they’ll rear slower-growing chickens in better living conditions. Amongst the latest companies to sign up are High Street favourite, Yo Sushi, and the UK hospitality caterer CH&CO. Meanwhile, Carrefour – in addition to joining the AEBEA labelling scheme – has also committed to this big step forward for chicken welfare. And so too have the large French catering group Bertrand Restauration and retailer Franxprix (part of the Casino Group). In January 2018, M&S was the first UK retailer to support the BCC. Two years on, they have begun to implement the changes, launching a new range of chicken that meets the higher welfare criteria. Look for the green ‘corn-fed, slower grown’ label on products in store.
In the UK, a recent RSCPA breed trial clearly demonstrated that slowergrowing chickens lead healthier, happier lives and provide better quality meat. The good news is that our latest European Broiler Forum for food businesses was vastly oversubscribed, indicating an appetite for change in the industry. And, to date, over 100 companies across Europe have signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC).
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Higher welfare chicken rearing systems that use slower growing breeds, such as ‘Windstreek’ in The Netherlands, offer multiple features for improved welfare.
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If the UK requires all meat, egg and dairy imports to meet domestic animal welfare law, this will help protect humane farming in the country and leave the door open for further improvements in UK standards.
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ANIMALS ARE NOT PAWNS As the UK’s trading relationships are transformed, you are helping farm animals to get the respect they deserve.
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ollowing its departure from the European Union, the UK is seeking to negotiate new trade deals with countries around the world. This already mammoth task has been made more complex by COVID-19. And, throughout these high-pressure negotiations, we must ensure farm animals aren’t treated like pawns – their welfare traded away for the sake of a deal. If the UK requires all meat, egg and dairy imports to meet domestic animal welfare law, this will help protect humane farming in the country and leave the door open for further improvements in UK standards. It could also benefit animals around the world by cutting demand for low welfare food. Alternatively, these deals could lead to imports of chlorinated or acid-washed chicken, hormone-treated beef, and eggs from hens kept in barren cages. British shoppers may unwittingly buy into animal suffering elsewhere, and higher welfare farmers in the UK could be threatened by cheaper, crueller competition.
Thanks to you, earlier this year, Compassion persuaded MPs to table an amendment to the new Agriculture Bill, which would have required agricultural imports to comply with UK animal welfare standards. And, following emails from thousands of Compassion supporters, 277 MPs voted for the amendment – including 22 Conservative politicians who defied the Whip and rebelled against the Government. Unfortunately this wasn’t enough to get the legislation changed. It did lead to a Government statement that ‘inspections’ would prevent the import of hormone-treated beef or chemically-treated chicken. But more concrete action is needed. The Agriculture Bill will now be considered by the House of Lords, where there has previously been strong support for protecting animal welfare standards in trade deals. So, we’ll be lobbying hard for the amendment to be reintroduced at that stage. And we won’t stop there. Last year we secured a similar change to a Bill that would have replicated trade deals the UK had, through EU membership, with
countries such as Canada, Switzerland and South Korea. However, because of the general election, this Bill did not become law. A new Trade Bill has now been published and we are once more demanding that it requires imports to meet UK welfare standards. So, in the coming months: • Compassion’s lobbying team will continue to give UK Ministers clear policy advice and set out the costs of lower welfare imports for animals and society • We will continue to help compassionate citizens to contact leaders and decision-makers • And we will publicise the truth about unhealthy, inhumane imports to show consumers that a bad deal for farm animals is a bad deal for us all. The task ahead is not straightforward but – throughout every stage of every trade deal – together, we will be the voice for farm animals.
ACT NOW! A huge thank you to everyone who has responded so generously to our ‘Animals not pawns’ appeal. It’s not too late to donate, or find out more, at ciwf.org.uk/Animals-Not-Pawns Do you receive email updates from Compassion? Visit ciwf.org.uk and click ‘sign up’ to get all the latest news and actions you can take to protect farm animals.
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Map from © Freepik.com
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AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 (WELL, ABOUT A DOZEN) POLICIES! Despite the slowdown in Government policymaking caused by COVID-19, you’re still convincing politicians worldwide to take action for farm animals. PROTECTING ANIMALS AFTER BREXIT The UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has repeatedly said the country can stop the live export of animals after leaving the EU. So, now let’s get this done! We are expecting a Government consultation on this issue shortly, and we’ll continue the call for a total ban on exports for slaughter and fattening. Pages 6-7 set out how you are keeping this crucial issue in the political spotlight. Compassion has also launched a Judicial Review against the Scottish Government’s disgraceful, ongoing approval of live exports of unweaned calves. We argue that these shipments are illegal under current law, and we’re taking the matter to court. See page 8 for more details. Meanwhile, in Westminster, Compassion was twice invited to give evidence to parliamentary committees about the animal welfare implications of the new Agriculture Bill. And, as a result of these meetings, plus our direct lobbying of MPs, a number of important amendments were tabled to the Bill. These proposed changes included prohibiting imports that don’t meet UK animal welfare, environmental or plant health
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standards. This would have helped to prevent higher welfare British farming being undermined by poor trade deals, and it gained strong cross-party support (see page 12 for more details). Another amendment would have required the Government to introduce mandatory labelling of meat and dairy products by method of production. This cornerstone demand of Compassion’s Honest Labelling campaign would give shoppers the chance to make informed decisions about the food they buy, and could transform the lives of millions of animals. The labelling amendment to the Agriculture Bill was not voted on in Parliament. However, following campaigning by Compassion supporters, when the Bill was debated on 13th May, Defra Parliamentary Under Secretary, Victoria Prentis, announced that the Government will launch a consultation on labelling after the Brexit transition period. This is a significant step forward, and we will be holding Government to account for this promise. And, finally, after a delay caused by the General Election, Parliament has now debated two petitions that each received over 100,000 signatures from campaigners like
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CIWF UK’s Senior Policy Manager, James West, reports.
you. One petition called for UK law to recognise that animals can think and feel. The other demanded an end to the Cage Age in UK farming. As you, and supportive MPs, urged, the Government committed to bringing forward legislation to recognise animal sentience – although it wouldn’t guarantee to deliver the law this year. Meanwhile, Kerry McCarthy MP began the debate about caged farming by highlighting the inherent cruelty of cages. She pointed out that “even with the best care and stockmanship” a mother pig will suffer if she is confined so that she cannot turn around. And Defra Under-Secretary of State, Victoria Prentis later made a very encouraging announcement. She stated it was the Government’s ambition “that farrowing crates should no longer be used for sows”. This is a massive step forward in our campaign to End the Cage Age, thanks to you. UK citizens have also played a key role in our European Citizen’s Initiative to End the Cage Age. Turn to page 16 for the latest news on this groundbreaking campaign.
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Politicians, celebrities and the media all stand up for farm animals during the UK Parliament debate on caged farming.
POSITIVE PROGRESS FROM EUROPE TO AUSTRALIA Beyond the UK, our campaign to improve rabbit welfare has received a boost from the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). It published a report criticising the use of conventional cages to farm rabbits for meat. It found the welfare of animals in these cages was likely to be lower, particularly in terms of their ability to move.
stalls and crates for at least 15 more years. Animal welfare groups were appalled and, thanks to continentwide petition signatures and social media campaigning, the vote was postponed. We remain vigilant, but thank you to everyone who responded to our urgent call to action.
Finally, in exciting news, live sheep exports have now been permanently banned from Australia to the Middle East during the hottest 3.5 months of the year. This hugely positive step follows relentless pressure from campaigners, including our friends at Animals Australia. See page 9 for details of this year’s Ban Live Exports International Awareness Day, and stand in solidarity with campaigners around the world.
EFSA’s advice follows a call from MEPs for a ban on caged rabbit farming, backed by 600,000 European citizens like you. So, we’ve called on the new EU Commission to better protect rabbits, and introduce new, species-specific legislation. This would be a huge win for rabbits who, in numbers, are the second most caged farm animal in the EU. Meanwhile, the French Government has announced that, by 2021, it intends to end the shameful culling of male chicks unwanted by the egg industry, and the castration of piglets without anaesthetic. There are no plans for legislation, but we welcome both announcements, and CIWF France will be sure to hold the Government to account. In February, the German Bundesrat (upper house of parliament) was set to vote on a shocking proposal to weaken a ban on cages in which sows can’t stretch their legs. The plan threatened to keep mother pigs in
Although overshadowed by COVID-19, the US presidential election still looms large this year. It remains to be seen whether a trade deal between the UK and the USA will be finalised before the election, or what effect the result will have on that process. Watch this space for news about how you can help protect farm animals on both sides of the ‘pond’.
Compassion’s German representative, Maria Guesser, lobbying to ‘Set the sows free’ outside the German Bundesrat in Berlin. In Spain, for the first time ever, there will be an animal welfare division in the government. CIWF’s Spanish representative, Patricia De Rada, identifies this as an important sign of changing political attitudes in a country that is, sadly, a hotbed of factory farming.
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For regular updates on how the world’s politicians are shaping the future for farm animals, you can follow James on Twitter @james_CIWF
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END THE CAGE AGE:
MAKING IT HAPPEN Imagine more animals living without brutal confinement, free to move, free to live a life worth living. Well, you are making this happen.
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Like you, everyone who signed the ECI believes that over 300 million caged farm animals across Europe deserve better. So, too, do over 170 organisations who’ve backed the petition and spread the word: the biggest network ever for animal welfare. And the momentum continues to build…
he signature collection phase of our European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) to End the Cage Age closed last September. The petition was a record-breaker for animal welfare, with 1.6 million statements of support.
HERE’S JUST SOME OF WHAT COMPASSION AND OUR NETWORK PARTNERS (ALL 170+ OF THEM!) HAVE BEEN UP TO ON BEHALF OF ANIMALS:
Czechia hand in 56,401 signatures
MAKING EVERY SIGNATURE COUNT After the ECI closed, Compassion’s teams across Europe, alongside other NGOs, began sorting, boxing and preparing signatures for submission. This was no mean feat – and it was vital to get right, because an ECI is not a normal petition, it’s more like a voter referendum.
Poland hand in 70,556 signatures
France hand in 106,062 signatures
SECURING OFFICIAL APPROVAL With the signatures prepared, we then submitted them to the authorities in all 28 EU Member States. It is their job to ‘validate’ the petition, checking that real people have signed, and that they aren’t being counted twice. Each Member State then confirms the number of signatures they have verified – and we look forward to revealing the final total figure later this year.
Netherlands hand in 163,192 signatures
GETTING YOUR MESSAGE TO THE TOP Whilst we prepare to formally hand-in the validated signatures, we’re also keeping up the pressure on Member States, though open letters and local campaigns. The more countries who back the spirit of the ECI, through their own policies or at EU level, the bigger the chance of securing a pan-European cage-free future.
LOBBYING PRESSURE STEPPED-UP Meanwhile, we’re lobbying Europe’s scientists and retailers. And, in November, Compassion’s Olga Kikou made the case against cages to Europe’s Chief Veterinary Officers. We’ve also commissioned a report into the economics of banning caged farming – to fight any suggestion that the EU can’t afford to End the Cage Age.
UK ECI signatures were submitted early due to Brexit, and a whopping 54,144 were validated! Thank you to everyone who signed. 16
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WHAT’S NEXT TO END THE CAGE AGE? Due to COVID-19, Compassion has adjusted our plans for the next few months – but we’re certainly not stepping back. “With industrial farming’s links to pandemics, our work is more vital than ever,” says Global Senior Campaigns Manager, Mandy Carter. “The permanent housing of animals indoors increases the risk of diseases emerging and spreading rapidly. “End the Cage Age is truly the biggest political push in the history of farmed animal welfare, and now we must continue our work to ensure our ask becomes reality.” We plan to hand in ECI signatures later this year, triggering a formal response from the European Commission and a debate at the EU Parliament. Watch this space for the next steps in your groundbreaking campaign to End the Cage Age.
YOUR CAMPAIGN FILM IS A WINNER! A HUGE thank you to everyone who voted for End the Cage Age in this year’s Charity Film Awards. With 110,000 votes, ‘Dear Humans’ stormed to victory in the People’s Choice Award! The film features a host of chatty animals – plus Joanna Lumley, Deborah Meaden and other fantastic farm animal champions. Check it out at ciwf.org.uk/Dear-Humans
LATEST PROGRESS ACROSS EUROPE
… and for British pigs! In March, the signatures of over 100,000 compassionate people triggered a UK parliamentary debate – and the Government said it was their ambition “that farrowing crates should no longer be used for sows”. See page 14 for more information about this debate.
Committee Opinion against cages - The European Committee of the Regions has publicly supported the phasing out of cage farming. This is fantastic news for our campaign, as the EU Commission will consult with this Committee on a potential ban. Morrisons go free range In the UK, Morrisons supermarkets have smashed (!) their 2022 target to stop selling whole eggs from caged hens. They are now all free-range! See page 5 for more details. A win in Slovakia In February the Slovak Government and trade bodies signed a memorandum committing to end all caging of hens by 2030. A momentous victory for people power! Positive news for Italian sows CIWF Italia have secured a commitment from the Health Ministry to discuss phasing out sow stalls and farrowing crates.
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INSIGHT
WILL FACTORY FARMING CAUSE
THE NEXT PANDEMIC? The stakes have never been higher in the fight to end inhumane, unhealthy intensive farming – and a food revolution is in our sights.
I
n the face of the devastating impact of COVID-19 and its effects on our daily lives, many have understandably yearned to get ‘back to normal’. But unfortunately, when it comes to factory farming, ‘normal’ could trigger the next global pandemic. As a Compassion supporter, you know all too well that intensive farms are the leading cause of global animal suffering, as well as being a major contributor to the climate crisis, wildlife habitat loss, and air and water pollution.
These farms are also breeding grounds for viruses and bacteria that threaten human health. Animals are often stressed, crowded, bred for unnaturally fast growth or high yields, and forced to live in their own faeces. With their immune systems frequently compromised, antibiotics may be overused to compensate for the unhealthy environment.
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All of these harmful farming practices increase the chances that viruses or bacteria will spread in animals, mutate and become deadly to humans. You know it’s time to fix this broken system – and now more people around the world are joining your call for a future free from factory farming. Through Compassion’s teams across Europe, the UK and the USA, we’ve launched a global petition, calling for a revolution in the way food is produced. We are urging influential international bodies, including the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Health Organisation, to replace factory farming with a food system that respects animals, nurtures our planet, and reduces the risk of pandemics. Farm animals should be kept in higher welfare systems that rear more robust breeds, without overcrowding.
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The focus must be on regenerative agriculture, including mixed farming where grazing and arable crops are rotated. This will enrich soil quality and biodiversity, reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and improve animal health. For humans to live within the world’s resources, there must also be a global reduction in the consumption of animal products. We need to stop feeding humanedible grains to intensively-farmed animals – who provide fewer calories and less protein than they eat – and instead move towards nutritious human diets centred on plants and plant proteins. This transformation of our food system is vital for the wellbeing of animals and the environment. It also means that viruses are less likely to spread, mutate and multiply.
INSIGHT
And healthier animals need less treatment for bacterial infections, which means life-saving antibiotics may continue to be effective for human, and animal, use. In short, ending intensive farming is essential to cut the risk of future health crises and reduce the chance of another global pandemic. It’s no exaggeration to say that, to save countless lives, together we must deliver a food revolution.
If you haven’t already signed the petition for a future free from factory farming – please do so today, at ciwf.org.uk/Pandemic-Petition
WHY IS FACTORY FARMING A PANDEMIC RISK? • According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three in four new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals. Examples include bacteria such as Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), Campylobacter and Salmonella, and viruses including Avian and Swine Influenza. • Globally, up to 70% of antibiotics are administered to farmed animals – a perfect storm for triggering the spread of drugresistant bacteria. • Industrial livestock production is a major cause of air pollution, which latest reports say can result in serious respiratory disease that makes people less able to survive COVID-19. To find out more, read Compassion’s new report, Is the Next Pandemic on our Plate? at ciwf.org.uk/Pandemic-On-Our-Plate
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U P DATE
YOU’RE CONVINCING A CONTINENT TO
RETHINK FISH BRUSSELS: MEPS SPEAK UP FOR FISH
CENTRAL EUROPE: ENDING A CRUEL TRADITION
Fish were the talk of the European Parliament in November, with a fantastic turn-out at our Rethink Fish exhibition. This week-long event saw Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from across the political spectrum take to the stage to speak up for fish – delving into the complex and wonderful world of our underwater cousins.
Compassion’s Czech and Polish offices have stepped up the campaign to stop the sale of live carp at supermarkets. This cruel practice is centred on the Christmas period, when shoppers buy the animals to slaughter at home. In late 2019, our powerful Czech ‘Christmas for Carps’ film exceeded a massive 400,000 views. Campaign posters also appeared across Prague, dedicated volunteers took to the streets, and a special ‘life of fish’ advent calendar appeared on social networks. As a result, thousands of petition signatures were secured, demanding the Czech Parliament ban the terrible live carp trade. Meanwhile, in Poland, our team is working in coalition with VIVA and the Albert Schweitzer foundation. This campaign focuses on retailers, and Kaufland is the latest supermarket chain to declare an end to live carp sales. This means four major supermarkets have now banned the sale of live carp throughout Poland!
Many MEPs also signed a letter to the influential European Parliament Committee on Fisheries, highlighting the need for species-specific legislation to protect fish on farms and at slaughter. It is truly exciting to witness the growing awareness – and enthusiasm – of EU politicians about the importance of improving the lives of fish.
THE NETHERLANDS: FISH APPEAR ON THE BIG SCREEN For two weeks last December, visitors to 34 cinemas across the Netherlands were introduced to Rethink Fish through a powerful ad campaign. Dutch supporters donated a fantastic €20,706 to show tens of thousands of cinema-goers the wonders of
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Sophie Peutrill
fish intelligence and the horrors of intensive farming. You can watch the film here: ciwf.org.nl/Cinema-Ad. It is little more than 18 months since the Rethink Fish campaign was launched, and progress so far has been phenomenal. Across a continent – at international, national and local levels – you are spreading compassion for billions of vulnerable animals. Thank you!
SPREAD THE WORD FOR FISH We know Compassion supporters understand that fish can think, feel, and experience pain. But what about friends and family who may need more convincing? Our handy guide to ‘Why Fish Welfare Matters’ explains the amazing intelligence, skills and social lives of fish, and is now WHY FISH WELFARE MATTERS: THE EVIDENCE FOR FISH SENTIENCE available in English, French and Czech – so even more people can be persuaded to Rethink Fish! © Flickr com/Taro Taylor
Global Campaigns Manager for Fish Welfare, Sophie Peutrill, reports on how your campaign to protect farmed and wild fish continues to make waves across Europe.
Find out more at ciwf.org.uk/Fish-Guide ciwf.org
ACTION
Driven by our founders’ visionary beliefs, The Anna & Peter Roberts Circle unites dedicated, long-standing champions for farm animals.
P
eter Roberts was an ordinary man with an extraordinary vision. In 1967, concerned by the impact of modern agriculture on animals and the environment, Peter and his wife Anna founded Compassion in World Farming. Beginning at the kitchen table of the Roberts’ dairy farm, this grassroots movement has grown into a powerful global organisation. But Compassion, and The Anna & Peter Roberts Circle, still draw on the same passion for a world where all farm animals are treated with respect. Our Patron Her Grace The Duchess of Richmond, kindly shared her thoughts on this special group:
“I have long been inspired by the vision of Anna and Peter Roberts, who founded Compassion upon their deep concern not only for animals, but also for the people that intensive farming harms and exploits, and the habitats it destroys. Recognising that animals have feelings and emotions is something that has seemed obvious to me ever since I was a child and, for this reason, my family worked hard to ensure that our farm at Goodwood achieved organic status and pays great attention to welfare.
As part of this special group, you’ll receive regular Circle communications, with unique insights into Compassion’s campaigns and the impact of your support. Each year we also welcome the Circle to a dedicated event to meet fellow supporters, alongside senior Compassion staff, patrons and high profile supporters.
Her Grace, The Duchess of Richmond, Patron of The Anna & Peter Roberts Circle
JOIN THE ANNA & PETER ROBERTS CIRCLE By joining The Anna & Peter Roberts Circle with an annual contribution, you’ll help drive further changes to laws, company policies and social attitudes to create a better future for farm animals around the world. There are three annual joining levels to choose from: Friend (£1,000), Fellow (£2,500) or Custodian (£5,000). (Joint option also available.)
I am proud to be a founding member of The Anna & Peter Roberts Circle and would be delighted if you joined this special group of friends to safeguard their incredible heritage and to become a pioneer of an era built on compassionate welfare, not cruelty.”
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“It takes determination and perseverance, self-sacrifice and optimism to become a true friend of animals and defender of their needs and natural life. Peter and Anna Roberts knew so much about the welfare of farm animals and put their loving kindness into action. Whenever things seem hard and hopeless, I think of them: and then the path ahead suddenly seems clearer and my resolution stronger. They are the leading lights of Compassion and I am proud to be one of the members of their Circle.” Joanna Lumley OBE, Compassion patron
To find out more and join the Anna & Peter Roberts Circle, please email Alice Windsor on circle@ciwf.org or call +44 (0)1483 521 953.
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ACTION
YOUR LEGACY OF LOVE AND HOPE
Love
is all y ou nee
d
Long after the first, terrible shock of COVID-19; long after life has returned to a perhaps adapted, but more familiar, ‘normal’; your help will still be needed to build a safer, kinder, more compassionate world.
L
eaving a gift in your Will for farm animals is one of the biggest acts of love and hope for the future that you can accomplish right now. Your legacy gift to Compassion in World Farming has never been so important. You can instinctively feel (perhaps now more than ever) the joy that dairy cows experience as they venture into a spring meadow and feel fresh grass beneath their feet. But it took years of campaigning to get legal recognition across Europe that animals can experience pain and, of course, joy. And, we’re still fighting to make sure UK law acknowledges animals as sentient beings. Throughout this dedicated campaign to protect thinking, feeling, vulnerable animals, gifts in Wills have been vital.
You know that a sow and her piglets share a bond of love, like any mother and child. Thanks to compassionate people like you, since 2013 it’s been illegal in the UK and EU to keep a pig in a cage for the full term of her pregnancy. And now we’re fighting to stop sows being forced to rear their young inside narrow, metal crates. This steadfast campaign to End the Cage Age owes so much to gifts in Wills. Leaving a legacy gift to Compassion is a very special way of showing your love of all animals. It does not cost anything in your lifetime but, without gifts in Wills, up to half of our work to end factory farm cruelty would just not be possible.
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A FREE WILL WRITTEN FOR ALL COMPASSION SUPPORTERS Compassion offers a noobligation Free Will Writing Service, which is available to all supporters in the UK. To receive an information pack, or chat to us about leaving a gift of hope for animals, please email legacy@ciwf.org or call Sally Rogers on +44 (0)1483 521 953. You’ve already shown how strongly you believe that farm animals deserve respect, care, and love. Please, show your heart-felt compassion again today. On behalf of all farm animals worldwide – thank you.
I greatly respect Compassion’s aims and the work that you do. It’s so important to educate and empower people to make informed choices and to help them understand how they can make a difference.
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INSIGHT
I’M IN Deborah Meaden – entrepreneur, TV ‘dragon’ and passionate animal welfare campaigner – has become Compassion’s latest influential patron.
W
e were absolutely thrilled when, at the start of the year, Deborah Meaden agreed to become our patron.
Deborah, a highly successful entrepreneur and well-known investor on BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den, spends her time between London and her Somerset home. She is known for speaking out when it comes to animal welfare, and has a passion for wildlife. She is devoted to her own animals: cats, dogs, horses, pigs, sheep, geese, and “my girls – the chickens”. Deborah first came across Compassion on Twitter, and regularly shares our tweets. She engages with her social media followers on a host of farm animal topics, including the wider impacts of factory farming on the environment and human health. In the last year, she has spearheaded our End the Cage Age campaign: appearing in our award-winning film, ‘Dear Humans’, and leading a 100,000-strong petition that called for a UK ban on cruel caged farming and secured a Parliamentary debate (see page 14). In conversation with Compassion’s Global CEO, Philip Lymbery, Deborah said she has been an animal person ever since childhood. “I had a snail hospital. The thrushes in our garden would smash the snail shells, so I would pick the snails up and hide them under a plank of wood – the ‘hospital’. So, I’ve always, always loved animals, but I have no idea where it came from.” She admits she is lucky to know about farming systems, having had animals, and she firmly believes that telling people to stop eating meat
isn’t an overall solution to improving animal welfare: “That isn’t going to happen. People are going to eat meat. So, we need to be a bit more progressive – we need to say, ‘okay, so how are we going to make sure that the animals have got a high standard of welfare?’” Deborah feels passionately about our Honest Labelling campaign, calling for meat and dairy products to be clearly labelled by farming system, to help consumers make informed choices. “We all want to be able to make choices, but a product that’s just got a load of labels and logos on it, doesn’t help anyone. There needs to be an understanding of what’s important to be on the product, what actually matters to people, and where can they find that information out. At the moment, I’m not sure they know where to go. They’d have to sit down for an afternoon and Google ‘Organic’, ‘Free Range’, ‘Red Tractor’ and work it out for themselves. The truth about factory farming isn’t advertised on food labels because it’s an unsavoury one but we all need to be able to make an informed choice.” On animal welfare issues close to her heart, Deborah explains: “When I think about our animals, there are two things I worry about: the life they live and the way they die. Animals should be able to exhibit normal behaviours. We shouldn’t be farming animals that cannot be kept in an environment that mimics their own and where they cannot exhibit natural behaviours. The respect they are given when slaughtered is also hugely important to me, so I welcome CCTV in slaughterhouses.
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I think there should be more local slaughterhouses too.” Which leads us on to long distance live transport: “It’s ridiculous that a farmer down the road from here, for example, has to send animals many, many miles away, just for slaughter. It’s the same as live exports: having to load them up for their last journey and take them hundreds of miles to fatten up again or slaughter, on the other side of the country or across the world. Crazy.” So what does Deborah think about the work of Compassion in World Farming? “I greatly respect Compassion’s aims and the work that you do. It’s so important to educate and empower people to make informed choices and to help them understand how they can make a difference. “The biggest question I get asked on Twitter when I show people something is ‘What can I do?’ Nobody wants to feel constantly helpless.” Whilst horrified by the treatment that so many farm animals receive, Deborah is optimistic that, as a species, we can change – and she believes education is key: “We need to teach very early on, about climate change and food nutrition. Eat less and eat better, that’s it. We throw away 30% of the contents of our fridge and then we complain that we haven’t got enough money to spend on the things that we want to do. That’s crazy! That is actually mad!”
Read more of Deborah’s conversation with Philip Lymbery at ciwf.org.uk/DeborahMeaden
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G ET I N VO LV E D
HAVE
YOU HEARD?
There are lots of ways to help farm animals from the comfort of your own home!
L
ike many charities, Compassion has seen our wonderful supporters’ fundraising efforts affected by COVID-19. Sponsored events have been postponed, street collections have been halted, fêtes and festivals cancelled. But the good news is that it’s still possible to fight factory farming without stepping outside your front door!
WANT TO GET SPONSORED FOR FARM ANIMALS? It only takes two minutes to set up a fundraising page on Facebook or Just Giving. Whether you plan to shave your head, do star jumps or hold a knit-a-thon – get sponsored online, and spread the Compassion! CONTACT US to get started.
Supporters get ‘sheared’ to help farm animals!
A GIFT OF COMPASSION Looking for a unique and meaningful way to mark a birthday, wedding or anniversary? Make a donation on behalf of your animal-loving friend or relative, and we’ll make their day special with a personalised e-certificate. Get in touch to CELEBRATE TODAY!
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP You can now fight factory farming simply by shopping online. Thousands of stores have signed up to the easy, safe, Give As You Live app. A donation is made for every purchase – at no extra cost for you. Sign-up for free, and remember to choose Compassion in World Farming as your charity! HAPPY SHOPPING at GiveAsYouLive.com
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G ET I N VO LV E D
Honey’s Real Dog Food is a family-run business based in Wiltshire, UK, specialising in raw or ‘natural’ diets for our canine companions. Their dog food is made using completely fresh, and only free-range or organic, British ingredients. The health of dogs is at the heart of their service and that goes hand-in-hand with better welfare of farm animals. Honey’s has supported Compassion in World Farming for seven years, giving 1% of sales, and to date has donated an incredible £174,800! To find out more about raw feeding visit honeysrealdogfood.com or you can contact the experts at Honey’s by email: info@honeysrealdogfood.com or phone: 01672 620 260.
BE A WINNER Did you know it’s possible to enter Compassion’s raffles online? You can help farm animals, avoid the bother of posting paper tickets AND still be in with the same chance of winning our great cash prizes! The next raffle will be open soon. KEEP AN EYE ON ciwf.org.uk/Raffle
GOT THE T-SHIRT? Compassion t-shirts and branded merchandise are available to buy from our online shop partners, Spreadshirt. This is a fun way to show your love for farm animals, spread the compassionate message and raise money to fight cruelty. WEAR IT NOW: ciwf.org.uk/shop
ARMCHAIR WARRIORS Taking online actions makes all the difference when we are lobbying MPs, Ministers and other policy makers to change the lives of animals. Subscribe to our email updates and we will keep you informed about all the actions you can take from the comfort of your own living room. GET IN TOUCH to find out more!
WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
Tel: +44 (0)1483 521 953 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
If you’d like to raise funds or take action for farm animals from home, please get in touch. We’ll help you get started and support you every step – or mouse click – of the way!
E-mail: supporters@ciwf.org
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Web: ciwf.org.uk/contact-us Write: Compassion in World Farming, River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1EZ, UK ciwf.org
THANK EWE! YOU ARE AMAZING
Compassion in World Farming International, River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1EZ, UK Tel: +44 (0)1483 521 953 Email: supporters@ciwf.org Web: ciwf.org Compassion in World Farming International is a registered charity (England and Wales), registered number 1095050.
