Farm Animal Voice 197

Issue 197 – summer 2016

ON THE FRONT LINE FOR FARM ANIMALS

OVER 85 MILLION ANIMALS SET TO BENEFIT FROM OUR AWARDS THIS YEAR WHY ENDING FACTORY FARMING IS BEST FOR FARM ANIMALS, AND US ANIMALS ARE NOT FReight

Y OF ACTION L DAION TIOOFNAACT INTERNADAY AGAINST LIVE TRANSPORT SEE PAGE 10

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FARM ANIMAL VOICE CONTENTS

UPDATE 4 News update 6 No more excuses

It’s time Europe’s pig farmers stopped flouting the law 8 Cages: cruel and unnecessary The public wants an End to the Cage Age 16 Confronting the lies on chicken

Your team in Italy ruffle feathers

INSIGHT 18 Meet your team in France

Dispelling myths and spreading Compassion 20 Why we’re talking sustainability

Factory farming is not just cruel, it’s wasteful and damaging our world

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INSPIRATION Over 85 million farm animals are set to 12 benefit every year 14 Compassion USA Kicking down the doors of factory farming

ACTION 10 International day of action against live transport Find out how you can get involved 22 Together we are stronger!

Your support is changing millions of lives

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Editor Richard Brooks Production manager Sarah Bryan Design Neo – weareneo.com Farm Animal Voice Compassion in World Farming, River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1EZ, UK Enquiries Tel +44 (0)1483 521 950 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm) Email supporters@ciwf.org Compassion in World Farming is a registered charity (England and Wales), registered number 1095050.

Our Patrons Professor Joyce Carter, Jilly Cooper OBE, Peter Egan, Rose Elliot MBE, Princess Alia Al Hussein of Jordan, Dame Penelope Keith DBE, Bruce Kent, Joanna Lumley OBE, Evanna Lynch, Jonathon Porritt CBE, The Duchess of Richmond, Sir Crispin Tickell GCMG KCVO, Professor John Webster Front cover: © Getty

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OVER 41 WINNERS BENEFITTING 85 MILLION LIVES

YOU ARE ON THE FRONTLINE FOR FARM ANIMALS

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aving had the privilege and pleasure of working for you, and alongside you, for just over 30 years, the time has sadly come for me to retire from my Compassion day job as Ambassador.

I am extremely proud to have worked alongside our founder, Peter Roberts, and to have witnessed some of the most amazing, and at times, unthinkable victories, for farm animals.

Because of you, throughout the European Union:

• Animals are recognised as sentient beings – which bolsters our argument that they should not be treated as ‘goods’; • The narrow veal crate is banned; • Sows can no longer be tethered; and will not spend their entire lives in stalls; • Barren battery cages for hens are illegal; • Factory farming cruelty is no longer a secret.

In this issue of Farm Animal Voice, you will see how your commitment to Compassion continues to benefit millions of farm animals every year, around the world, against the odds.

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But the world still needs your Compassion.

JAMIE OLIVER’S PERSONAL MESSAGE TO THIS YEAR’S GOOD FARM ANIMAL WELFARE AWARD WINNERS

To misquote an old adage: you can take the girl out of Compassion, but you can’t take Compassion out of the girl. So I shall still be doing a little part-time work for Compassion.

Although I won’t be on the front line with you in person, it is with an enormous sense of pride that I am handing over the campaigning baton to you and my wonderful colleagues. I have every confidence that you will succeed in ending the biggest cause of cruelty in the world: factory farming.

With respect, pride and thank you for all that you have done so far.

This issue of Farm Animal Voice is dedicated to Carla Lane, who sadly passed away in June this year. From Compassion we pay our heartfelt respects to Carla and we thank her for her dedicated work to improve the lives of animals.

Joyce D’Silva PS: Keep fighting!

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COMPASSION AFTER BREXIT In the past month, following the UK Referendum result to leave the EU, we have witnessed an extraordinary chain of events.

As an international animal welfare charity, our relentless focus remains on ending factory farming worldwide.

Our resolve to see change that transcends national boundaries remains unaltered.

The next steps for the British government are of course still to be determined. However, through our network of passionate UK supporters, Compassion in World Farming is ideally placed to seize every opportunity to make further gains for British farm animals, as well as fighting any potential back-sliding on existing welfare rules. We will also encourage the UK to play a leadership role in creating a better, more humane food and farming system worldwide.

In our fight against live exports, our movement has already been successful in stopping much of the trade in sheep and calves from the UK to the continent; down from 2.5 million animals a year in the 1990s to some 30,000 a year today. We have been told time and again that since animals are legally considered ‘goods’, it would be unlawful under EU regulations to ban the trade of live animals from the UK. It is therefore crucial, that if the UK becomes free from such regulations, we step up our efforts to persuade the UK government to ban this cruel trade outright, once and for all.

Just as importantly, Compassion has no intention of turning its back on the billions of European animals suffering every year in factory farms and during long distance transport. With supporters, offices and allies across the continent, and an established presence in Brussels, we will continue

to press for legislative changes to benefit these animals. And, of course, our global programme to challenge and engage with major food companies, many of whom have both UK and European operations, will continue unabated – promoting higher welfare company policies that can change millions of lives.

With your ongoing support, we will build a better future for animal welfare in the UK, and will continue to join hands with kindred spirits in Europe and across the globe to bring better lives to farm animals.

On behalf of the farm animals who cannot speak up for themselves, thank you for standing with us.

COMPASSION IS GROWING IN POLAND For the second year running, Compassion’s team in Poland (CIWF Polska) took part in Poland’s annual Open’er Festival, an event much like the UK’s Glastonbury Festival. Having impressed festival organisers and goers last year, CIWF Polska actually featured on the Festival’s official Facebook page as one of the most interesting stands!

The team’s stand focused on getting support for our two main campaigns this year: End the Cage Age and Stop Live Exports. Over 700 people signed our petitions and asked to receive communication from Compassion in the future.

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CLUCKING WITH JOY OVER UK GOVERNMENT U-TURN In March 2016, new UK government proposals – which would have posed a major threat to the welfare of chickens reared for meat – were announced. On behalf of all our supporters, Compassion in World Farming, led by our Chief Policy Advisor, Peter Stevenson, responded immediately, and by working with other concerned NGOs and politicians, forced the government to rethink.

IF WALMART CAN END THE CAGE AGE, SO CAN ASDA

British animal welfare legislation is supported by a series of ‘Codes’, which are legally binding and drawn up by government. However, the UK government decided that the Code protecting broiler chicken welfare ought to be changed to a non-legally binding document, that would be drawn up by… the British poultry industry!

In April, USA giant, Walmart – the world’s biggest retailer – announced its commitment to go cage free on eggs throughout the USA by 2025.

Walmart’s commitment covers all whole eggs in all of its US stores, and Compassion is proud to have worked with the company on this commitment alongside other animal protection groups.

PREVENTING A BACKWARD STEP The government’s proposal to scrap these statutory Codes would have been a major step backwards for farm animals – allowing industry bodies to set, regulate and inspect welfare standards on UK chicken farms with no third-party involvement.

Sadly, this incredible announcement doesn’t cover Asda, Walmart’s UK subsidiary. Compassion has launched a campaign, urging Asda to follow suit.

Not only would this have been a serious backward step for the welfare of British chickens, it would have been completely at odds with the government’s manifesto commitment to uphold ‘highest standards of animal welfare’.

TAKE ACTION NOW Visit ciwf.org.uk/asdacages and sign our online petition, urging Asda to follow Walmart’s lead.

This decision followed an overwhelming amount of media interest in the subject which helped to raise public awareness of this contentious issue.

It is fantastic that Defra has listened to public concerns and made this monumental U-turn.

They must now act quickly to update and strengthen these codes.

We must use this opportunity to push Defra to enforce its code requirements, to improve animal welfare standards throughout the food and farming industry.

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NO MORE PIGGIN’ EXCUSES! Since 2003, the law has required pig farmers across Europe to give their animals enrichment such as straw, hay, wood, sawdust etc. As demonstrated by Compassion’s investigations, much of Europe’s pig industry has been brazenly flouting this law for over a decade – instead, keeping pigs confined to barren pens where bored animals often bite each other’s tails in frustration.

In an encouraging step, new guidelines were published by the European Commission in March 2016 to help farmers enrich the lives of pigs and avoid the painful mutilation of tail docking. As a result, pig farmers no longer have an excuse for behaving as if they are above the law.

Although the guidelines are not as strong as we would like, they are helpful in stating that enrichment materials must be edible, chewable, investigable and manipulable.

With your support, Compassion is calling upon the pig sector to respect the guidelines and the legislation by providing a rich and stimulating environment to occupy pigs, therefore removing the need for tail docking. On your behalf, we will continue to monitor the pig farming industry for compliance.

NOT SO HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Millions of sows in Europe are locked up in cages when they’re having piglets. Bound by the metal bars, they cannot take care of their piglets as they would naturally want to.

As part of a national campaign against these cruel farrowing cages, Compassion’s Dutch office launched a billboard campaign in the week leading up to Mother’s Day, asking readers to sign a protest petition.

Entirely funded by generous supporters as part of a crowdfunding campaign, the touching posters showed the suffering endured by the caged mother pigs at all big railway stations throughout the country.

Compassion in World Farming is proud to support #TurnYourNoseUp, Farms Not Factories’ latest campaign, which highlights the appalling conditions faced by hundreds of millions of pigs around the world raised on factory farms.

A whole host of celebrities have lent their support to #TurnYourNoseUp, including our patron, Joanna Lumley, Dominic West, Rupert Everett, Jon Snow, Jeremy Irons and Vivienne Westwood.

The campaign film features these high profile stars, and captures their reactions to the horrific footage of pigs suffering in factory farms.

For more information visit: farmsnotfactories.org

In a short time, the petition was signed by more than 7,000 people.

Images © iStock - t-lorien

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nstead of improving living conditions for pigs, the industry’s common response to tail biting is to dock tails – usually without anaesethetic. Europe rears some 250 million pigs a year and we estimate at least 80% of pigs are illegally still routinely tail docked and reared without enrichment.

The poster reads: “Help these mothers, sign the petition against farrowing cages now!”

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I know of no other animals that are more consistently curious, more willing to explore new experiences, more ready to meet the world with open-mouthed enthusiasm.

Pigs are incurable optimists and get a big kick out of just being.

Lyall Watson in The Whole Hog

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Compassion’s End the Cage Age ‘army’ of rabbit characters march to the European Parliament to deliver 601,435 petition signatures

FARM CAGES: CRUEL, UNNECESSARY; AND THE PUBLIC DOESN’T WANT THEM Our campaign to End the Cage Age for millions of farm animals is ruffling feathers and galvanising action across Europe. United in a simple belief that no animal should be caged to produce food, supporters are cranking up the pressure for change.

End the Cage Age senior campaign manager, James West, brings us up to date with the latest news from Europe.

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RABBITS: SUFFERING IN SILENCE

the Cage Age for Europe’s 330 million rabbits.

A staggering 330 million rabbits are farmed in the Europe, and 99% of them are confined in overcrowded cages for their entire lives. Shockingly, there are no laws to protect rabbits – the second most farmed animal after chickens.

In so many countries, caged rabbit farming was an issue that few had heard of until we spoke out. Together, we have woken up the world – and now we are demanding action.

Following Compassion’s 2014 investigation into the state of rabbit farming, we launched a public petition, demanding that new legislation be introduced to protect rabbits. Just 18 months later, 601,435 citizens had signed it in support.

In May 2016, accompanied by an army of rabbit characters, Compassion delivered our biggest ever online petition to the European Parliament, calling for an End to

Thank you to everyone who signed and shared this petition.

Hot on the heels of the delivery of the rabbit petition, Compassion was invited by German MEP, Stefan Eck, to organise a four-day exhibition in the European Parliament, to bring the plight of Europe’s farmed rabbits to greater attention. Influential politicians were shown distressing, and quite frankly, unacceptable images and film footage from our investigation. As a result, at least 110 MEPs signed an Open Letter to the

European Commission, calling on it to introduce legislation that prohibits the caging of farmed rabbits.

The European Parliament is starting to listen: Stefan Eck will be writing a report over the coming months, calling on the European Commission to draft legislation on the welfare of rabbits.

The report is likely to be discussed by the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament in September 2016, and be voted on by all MEPs in late 2016 or early 2017. When that time comes, we will campaign to ensure the Parliament votes in favour of the report.

For now, thank you for your help in getting rabbits on the political agenda.

QUAIL: TINY BIRDS, IMMENSE SUFFERING called on the European Commission to ensure quail get the protection they deserve. Thousands have watched the investigation film. And, touched by the plight of this tiny, fragile bird, many have donated to ensure that no farm animal, big or small, is treated in this way. You truly are making a colossal noise for this little bird.

Rabbits aren’t the only animals caged in farms across Europe. Every year, over 140 million quail are farmed intensively for meat and eggs and, as with rabbits, there is no species-specific legislation to protect them. They desperately need our help.

In June 2016, Compassion launched the results of our latest investigation, exposing the true extent of the suffering of factory farmed quail. Our investigations team went undercover in Italy, France, Portugal and Greece, Europe’s top quail-producing countries.

Images © Compassion in World Farming

If you haven’t already done so, find out more and donate at ciwf.org.uk/fate

We witnessed millions of birds confined in crowded sheds and barren cages. There was no enrichment and nowhere for the little quail to hide. The space allowance afforded to each factory farmed quail may be no bigger than a beer mat. Torture for this shy, migratory bird who would naturally seek cover in undergrowth and forage for insects and grubs.

Your response to this ground-breaking investigation has been massive. Since the launch, over 35,000 people have

Every year, over 140 million quail are farmed intensively, yet there is no species-specific welfare legislation

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ACTION

ANIMALS ARE NOT FReight DAY OF ACTION

AN INVITATION TO EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT ANIMALS A DAY ON THE FRONT LINE On 29th August 2016, campaigners around the world will be taking part in the Animals Are Not Freight global day of action, and we’d love you to be part of it too.

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ACTION

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rganisations from more than 24 countries including Australia, the USA, France, India, Canada, Israel and South Africa have pledged to take action. A rally will take place at Sydney Harbour; in Tel Aviv, campaigners will march through the streets; and Compassion will be in London, with our own unique way of transmitting this important message to the world – an eye-catching Animals Are Not Freight photo stunt! So, put the date in your diary and join us on the front line for this one-of-a-kind event.

Although Compassion is coordinating this worldwide day of action, it belongs to everyone who cares about animals. The date is important: it marks the 20th anniversary of the worst live export disaster the world has ever seen. On 29th August 1996, nearly 70,000 sheep burned or drowned as the ship carrying them on a 16-day journey from Australia to Jordan caught fire and sank. It took eight days for a ‘rescue’ team to arrive. Too late for them all. And every year since then, many animals have died during transportation – from stress, heat, injury, dehydration and illness.

It’s clear how determined Compassion supporters are to end the relentless tragedy of long distance live transport – the response to our recent appeal was astonishing. If you haven’t already, you can help stop the cruelty suffered by animals in ships, trucks and factory farms by giving a gift at ciwf.org.uk/tragedy

ANIMALS ARE NOT FReight DAY OF ACTION

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

SIDE BY SIDE We are determined to keep the issue of long distance transport of live animals right at the forefront of politicians’ minds. That’s why Compassion is standing side by side with Eurogroup’s Stop The Trucks campaign, which demands that the Regulations are changed to limit journey times for animals.

And we were pleased to support Craig Mackinlay MP’s Private Members’ Bill which aimed to end live exports from the UK. With your help, the number of animals exported is down to around 30,000 animals per year – still 30,000 too many but a significant drop from the millions who were sent overseas in the 1990s.

Sadly, the Bill will not proceed at this time, but the issue remains on the political agenda – and Compassion will fight hard to keep it there.

On Monday 29th August 2016, join the Global Day of action to help prevent animal suffering.

Visit www.NotFreight.org to: •

Find the latest details of Compassion’s event in central London on Bank Holiday Monday

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Find out if there’s an event local to you, plus other ways to support the day of action

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Join the Not Freight selfie revolution by taking part in #MyWorstJourney : simply share details of a terrible journey you’ve had – with the hashtag #MyWorstJourney – and ask others to share their stories too. Then we can respond to your post and tell the world about farm animals’ horrendous journeys and why they have to end.

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Help create a TwitterStorm on the day with #AnimalsAreNotFreight

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Download images of animals in transit to share on social media

GOOD NEWS! The EU Parliament has thrown out a call by its Agriculture Committee for an expansion in live exports. Currently the EU exports 2 million cattle and sheep a year to Turkey and the Middle East. The animals suffer terribly during the long road and sea journeys. Some collapse on the crowded trucks, while others are giving birth and yet others lie dying. On arrival animals face cruel deaths. This trade must end.

This is a big step in the right direction, but we need to do a lot more. Please do join our global day of action on 29th of August.

WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US!

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I N S P I R AT I O N

OVER 41 WINNERS

85 MILLION LIVES Through your support, Compassion continues to lead the charge to put farm animal welfare at the heart of the food industry. By challenging and encouraging the world’s most influential food companies and brands, millions of animals will now live measurably better lives.

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n the 28th June in Berlin, food companies from all corners of the globe were recognised for their progress for farm animal welfare at this year’s Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards.

This year’s ceremony was opened with a personal video from Jamie Oliver, urging companies to ‘keep going that extra mile’. He applauded the progress being made by the main 41 winning companies from North and South America, Australasia, China and Europe.

BREAKING NEW GROUND A whole raft of ‘firsts’ were celebrated this year, including our first Good Egg Award in Chile for Ecoterra’s free-range farm, where 15,000 hens graze on irrigated pastures and dine on vegetable matter and insects in balance with their environment.

Clarence Court (part of Stonegate, one of the UK’s largest egg producers) received the very first Good Egg Award for developing their own ‘free to fly’ indoor barn system for quail egg production.

Their work with quail shows there are higher welfare alternatives to the

horrors of the caged systems which are common in Europe, where no species-specific legislation exists for the welfare of these forgotten birds.

We also celebrated the first full Good Pig Awards in Italy where the commitments and investment of manufacturers Fumagalli (who supply Waitrose) and Primavera on meeting the needs of sows and meat pigs is a truly major step forward in a country not renowned for its higher welfare standards.

Moreover, Fumagalli’s marketing and communications activities are helping to highlight higher welfare choices to Italian consumers and encouraging other companies to follow suit.

ENDING CAGED CRUELTY Your support has helped to highlight the scandal of caged rabbit farming.

In fact, worldwide, cages are the most common system used to farm rabbits. This is why Compassion was delighted to recognise Kani-Swiss (and Coop Switzerland who worked with them) with a Good Rabbit Award for their higher welfare rabbit system – and more importantly their innovative group housing system for mother rabbits.

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Extending the cage-free movement even further, French retailer Monoprix no longer sells whole eggs from caged hens, earning them a full Good Egg Award. As only the third French retailer to go cage-free, it is encouraging other retailers to follow suit through in-store advertising and social media marketing.

LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION Two big retailers – Jumbo in The Netherlands and Migros in Switzerland – each received Good Chicken Awards for going the extra mile for chickens reared for meat on a huge scale. Major French cooperative Terrena also picked up a Good Chicken Award for the incredible investment it has made to raise chickens humanely, adopted by its 3,000 farmers.

Major players in European poultry production Plukon Food Group in the Netherlands were recognised for developing a new, innovative and sustainable broiler house with numerous features for improved welfare, for which they received this year’s Best Innovation Award.

I N S P I R AT I O N

This year’s ceremony was opened with a personal video from Jamie Oliver, urging companies to ‘keep going that extra mile’. He applauded the progress being made by the main 41 winning companies from North and South America, Australasia, China and Europe.

These moves by major corporations will benefit millions of chickens farmed for meat each year.

McDonald’s picked up the Best Marketing Award for two initiatives; its TV advertising around tree cover for laying hens and its ‘Good to Know’ campaign, promoting its welfare standards for eggs and pork.

A Special Recognition Award was awarded to Whole Foods Market in the US in partnership with Global Animal Partnership for their commitment to slower-growing breeds and better living conditions for chickens in the US – a first major, specific, time-bound commitment in the US to address the negative effects of fast growth on chicken health and welfare; and an action that will eventually improve the lives of 245 million chickens each year!

The higher welfare policies and practices of this year’s award winners are set to benefit over 85 million animals each year.

In total, over 342 million animals are now set to benefit because of the policies of all our award winning companies to date.

None of this would be possible without your support.

THANK YOU.

NGOs across all sectors can learn from Compassion, but especially those working on farm animal welfare should model themselves on Compassion, and help guide, challenge and enable us [the food industry] to do better.

John Isherwood, Head of Sustainability, Pret a Manger

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COMPASSION USA: KICKING DOWN THE DOORS OF FACTORY FARMING Following years of campaigning by Compassion and the wider animal welfare community, the past nine months have seen the beginnings of a cage-free revolution for laying hens in the US. Over 120 food companies in the United States have now pledged to switch to cage-free eggs: huge progress that will benefit the lives of millions of animals.

Attention now turns to the plight of the billions of chickens reared for meat.

Nina Farley, Compassion USA, reports

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In June 2016, in what our USA Director Leah Garcés called “a momentous first step,” Perdue Farms became the first major chicken company to publish a detailed animal welfare policy that lays out their current practices and plans for improvement. This was a humble move by Perdue, coming just a year and a half after Compassion released Craig’s video speaking out against chicken factory farming.

nlike laying hens, chickens raised for meat are not kept in a cage in the traditional sense. They are housed in large barns, yet their own bodies could be considered a kind of cage.

“For decades, the industry’s focus has been on producing a chicken as big and as fast possible. Chickens are trapped by fast-growth genetics which have disastrous, unintended consequences – lameness, heart conditions, and immunity problems, to name a few,” says Leah Garcés, Compassion USA director.

After discussions with Compassion, Perdue has committed to doubling the rate of the birds’ activity within three years, and installing windows for natural light in all new chicken houses. Compassion will continue to work with Perdue to put timelines on all commitments, and to ensure all birds are given more space, natural light, enrichment, and the use of more robust, slower-growing breeds.

Fast-growth rate is the number one problem plaguing the animals that produce America’s favourite meat. And we’re not the only ones worried about the road the chicken industry is on. More factory farmers are speaking out against a system that puts animals, farmers, and consumers at risk.

At the time, we promised we’d continue to search for more insiders who could blow the whistle on ‘big chicken’.

And now, two brave farmers for Pilgrim’s Pride, the second largest chicken company in the US, have done just that.

Last year, thousands of Compassion supporters donated and sent messages of support in response to the courage of Craig Watts – a farmer from North Carolina who broke ranks to reveal the truth about the suffering of chickens.

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I N S P I R AT I O N

You can watch a video of Mike

and Eric’s story by visiting our

US site at ciwf.com/pilgrims

We gave Mike Weaver and Eric Kedrick (pictured above) cameras to film the realities of factory farming from inside their own chicken houses. The New York Times’ journalist, Nicholas Kristof, called the footage “stomach-churning,” and concluded: “To watch the video is to develop an appetite for soy.”

When those on the inside speak out against injustice, they plant the seeds for change. And change is already underway. This year, food service giant Bon Appétit asked its suppliers to address fast-growth chickens. Starbucks and Nestlé made similar announcements.

KICKING DOWN THE DOORS OF FACTORY FARMING

The biggest change will soon be seen at the supermarket Whole Foods. The animal welfare certification scheme used by Whole Foods has committed to giving chickens everything our US Better Chicken Initiative asks for: slower growth, more space, natural light, and the chance to express natural behaviours.

Actress and Compassion patron, Evanna Lynch, met up with our US team to make an exclusive video for us. It shows Evanna visiting and helping a former factory farm that has been renovated to a pasture-based model, where chickens are able to roam and display natural behaviours.

With your support, Compassion will continue to work tirelessly and change the lives of millions of animals in the USA.

To watch the video, visit our US site at ciwf.com/evanna

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U AP CD T IAO TN E

DO 6 HALF TRUTHS

MAKE A LIE? YOUR ITALIAN TEAM IS RUFFLING FEATHERS

In a country where a proud food culture is at odds with the reality of a mainly intensive livestock system, Compassion’s team is on the frontline – challenging the propaganda of factory farming.

Annamaria Pisapia brings us up to date with the latest campaign news.

LABELLING MATTERS IN ITALY

As a result, the campaign is not only being covered by Italy’s most read newspaper, Corriere della Sera, but several major national TV programmes such as Report (Rai 3), Piazza Pulita (La 7) and Matrix (Canale 5) have also broadcast the link to antibiotic overuse in low welfare, intensive farming.

A few months ago, the Italian poultry industry launched a new “information” campaign. Entitled the “6 truths on the chicken”, the industry plays fast and loose with the facts in order to make consumers feel more comfortable eating Italian chicken meat. The industry boldly claims that Italian chickens are reared to good welfare standards, without the use of antibiotics. The question we ask is: ”If Italy slaughters half a billion chickens every year, 95% of which are factory farmed; and 71% of antibiotics sold in Italy is given to farm animals, how can the statement be true?“ (see right).

As the campaign gained traction, the team then released a short video telling the story of antibiotics in factory farming in support of a public petition to the Ministry of Health, calling for public transparency and urgent action. You can see the film on our Italian site at ciwf.it/stop-antibioticoresistenza

In response, CIWF Italia is promoting the ‘six real truths’ about chicken farming in Italy. The campaign is being shared on social media under the title “Do 6 halftruths make a lie?”

In the course of researching the campaign, the Italian team also unearthed a “buried” report from the Italian Health Ministry, stating high and worrying levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Italian poultry meat.

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Italian readers can see more detail by visiting our Italian website ciwf.it

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The Italian government’s response so far?

Scandalously none. Not surprising, since its only action on this issue has been lending support to voluntary antibiotic reduction by the poultry and rabbit farming sector – plans that are being drafted and monitored by the meat industry itself!

With your support, the fight on the Italian battlefield is continuing.

Stay tuned!

The secret of getting things done is to act!

Dante Alighieri 17

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ALLEZ

LA FRANCE! France is renowned for its gastronomy, and French food is commonly associated with quality and luxury. The French themselves are pretty sure of it: the farming industry, with the help of the government, has created a label “Meat made in France”, and many people believe that this label ensures better animal welfare.

Aurélia Greff, CIWF France, tells us how together we are dispelling these myths and fighting for a French food industry we can genuinely be proud of.

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he harsh reality of farming in France is very different from the idyllic image promoted by industry: factory farms in France account for about 80% of France’s 850 millions chickens slaughtered for meat each year, 68% of the 47 million egg-laying hens, 95% of 25 million pigs, and 99% of the 37 million rabbits reared for meat.

Furthermore, France takes pride in being the leading producer of a so-called luxury dish, foie gras, and is actively trying to export this infamously cruel product to new markets around the world.

But don’t lump all the French together. It’s true, interest for farm animal welfare was very low in France until recently, but things are changing.

RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS In the last few years, the French media have started concerning themselves with the nation’s treatment of animals, and in particular, farm animals. Several Compassion investigations, funded

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by our supporters, have featured in the headlines: from rabbits to long distance live animal transport. Most recently, the French media helped amplify our investigation into caged quail farming. For each farmed species, France is a key player in terms of agriculture and production – and public awareness is mounting: our French investigation channel on YouTube has received hundreds of thousands of views.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY Despite being a small team, CIWF France has really made an impact in a small amount of time: the number of supporters has grown from 700 people in 2012 when we started campaigning in France, to 189,000 today! An amazing, and, once unthinkable, start!

SPREADING THE COMPASSION MESSAGE This is an exciting period for farm animals in France, and the team will do our very best to build on growing public interest. An important part of our advocacy resides in informing

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the public and decision makers about the reality of farming in France; and reducing the gap between what people imagine farming looks like (which is what the industry tells them) and what it actually looks like.

This summer, we’re running a crowdfunding campaign for an exciting project: screening a short film in dozens of cinemas nationwide, which aims to shine a light on the lack of industry transparency.

We will get the message of Compassion in World Farming out there – loud and clear: don’t be misled, search for the right labels and if you do eat meat, please eat less but better meat, dairy and egg products.

To find out more about our crowdfunding project, please visit ciwf.fr/cinema

MEET YOUR FRENCH TEAM Léopoldine Charbonneaux is the Head of our French team.

She was brought up to believe that animals matter. One of her aunts was a pioneer in animal protection in France. Léo is proud to be on the front line, fighting for a better life for farm animals.

Aurélia Greff is our campaigner and fundraiser. She works tirelessly to engage and encourage French citizens to speak up and donate for farm animals. A long-term animal advocate, she is committed to building a powerful movement for change and her biggest hope is to see the end of factory farming during her lifetime.

Agathe Gignoux lobbies and engages tirelessly with French politicians and policy makers.

From meeting to meeting, she advocates for sustainable food policies that respect farm animals as well as the environment.

Claire Hincelin is in charge of our communication and is our media expert. She is a mum of two children who already care about what they eat and ask many questions about their food; she is also mum of a cat who doesn’t!

Melvin Josse is helping CIWF France to deliver the most powerful campaigns possible and to engage with politicians.

Working part-time, he also works on his politics thesis on the animal advocacy movement.

Amélie Legrande engages with food companies, helping them to improve their animal welfare standards. This is not an easy job in France but she can already claim great progress, especially on hens and rabbits.

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INSIGHT

WHY ENDING FACTORY FARMING IS BEST FOR FARM ANIMALS, AND US Compassion’s Chief Executive, Philip Lymbery, explains why it is imperative that humankind connects farm animal welfare with sustainability in 2016 – and acts on it.

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INSIGHT

I

ONE STEP AT A TIME

n recent decades, farm animal welfare has taken huge strides, and Compassion has been leading the way, thanks to you, our supporters.

Improvements to farm animal welfare tend to lift animals out of bad systems like cages and crates into better systems. However, the incremental nature of the change means that these better systems tend to remain limited in scope for animal wellbeing.

LEGAL PROTECTION The issue of cruel farming is now taken seriously by policymakers who have enacted legislation outlawing some of the worst systems throughout Europe, including veal crates, barren battery hen cages, and the prolonged use of gestation crates for pigs. Once regarded as simply ‘goods’, animals are now legally recognised by the EU as ‘sentient beings’, a status which brings with it legal obligations to take animal welfare into account when formulating new rules.

Without question, better systems represent a reduction in suffering, which of course is very welcome. However, they often fall short of providing conditions where animals can genuinely experience the joy of living.

FARMING HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE WORLD Achieving the best animal welfare requires a shift beyond industrial agriculture, and comes with wider benefits.

This same fundamental shift also delivers safer, healthier food from living landscapes, where food production and wildlife go together. It also brings about a more commonsense food system geared toward feeding people rather than growing feed for factory farmed animals.

This strong policy foothold has paved the way for corporations in Europe, the USA and beyond to take a genuine interest in animal welfare; in China, the words ‘animal welfare’ didn’t even exist in the language yet huge progress is now being made there.

COMMERCIAL CONSCIENCE Today, Compassion in World Farming works with over 700 food companies internationally, each of them having pledged to eliminate cruel systems from their supply chains, collectively improving the lives of more than 720 million* animals a year.

Factory farming is not only cruel and environmentally damaging, it is also hugely wasteful of the very thing it is thought to produce: food.

As demand for food and other resources grows, so the limits of our planet’s boundaries loom ever more obvious.

The steps achieved are of course huge victories in themselves; however, they represent incremental changes to industrial farming, rather than wholesale reform.

The folly of basing our food system on a damaging, wasteful and resource-intensive model of farming is becoming ever more self-evident.

OUR JOURNEY IS FAR FROM OVER

The need for a strong, consistent and well-informed voice for change has never been more urgent.

At the same time, despite growing interest and action on improving farm animal welfare, factory farming continues to expand.

You are that voice.

Together, our mission is to stop the suffering of billions of animals by ending factory farming. In doing so, we will bring about a world where people and wildlife can thrive. Where the legacy of this generation will be something worth handing over.

Where, rather than an impoverished scorched Earth, the planet is handed over to our children and our children’s children as a better place.

Factory farming is the biggest cause of animal cruelty on the planet and comes at the expense of wildlife, the environment, public health and food quality.

*In total, 342 million animals are set to benefit as a result of our Award Winners’ policies, with the potential for more than 377 million benefitting as a result of working in partnership with leading companies.

Together, our mission is to stop the suffering of billions of animals by ending factory farming. We will bring about a world where people and wildlife can thrive.

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ACTION

SPREADING THE WORD AND CHANGING LIVES Thank you so much to every Compassionate Hero who has got active for farm animals this year. Take a look below for some great ways you can get involved too!

THE SUMMER CELEBRATION RAFFLE Would you like to help farm animals and celebrate with a cash prize? If you live in England, Wales or Scotland, don’t miss out on our new Celebration Raffle! It costs just £1 to enter, and the closing date is 20 October.

BLOOMING BRILLIANT In June, Compassion supporter, Helena Francis opened her beautiful Hampshire garden to guests, raising funds and awareness to fight factory farming. Helena baked delicious cakes and sold drinks to refresh the visitors, and raised a whopping £700 for farm animals! Thank you, Helena.

“We had two wonderful open days in June. There are so many lovely gardens that could be ‘stars’ for Compassion – I hope this might encourage others to do the same!”

Helena Francis

Order your tickets by calling 01483 521 953, emailing supporters@ciwf.org or online at ciwf.org.uk/raffle

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BIG NEW YEAR RAFFLE

WINNERS:

1st Prize £2,000 R. Kuncewicz, North Shields 2nd Prize £500 Mrs Lovidge, Cumbria Seller’s prize £500 Paula Owens, Lincolnshire Runner up prizes of £100 S. Stone, Ledbury Mrs Gewanter, London; Mr Caravagna, London; Ms Goodrum, Banbury; Miss Feest, Worthing; L. Bird, Dorset; Mrs Crawford, Dumfriesshire; Mrs Mardon, Somerset; Mr Lynch, Coventry; Ms Gordon, Hampshire.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Big New Year raffle!

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ACTION

MARVELOUS MARIO’S CLUCKING

DING DONG, MERRILY

MAD FOR COMPASSION!

TIME FLIES…

Supporter, Mario Menti, recently completed his first ever half-marathon on behalf of Compassion.

Whilst we’re (hopefully!) enjoying some summer sun, it seems far too early to be thinking about Christmas.

But our Christmas cards go on sale in September, and we’re sure the time will fly! This year we have a mixed pack, with two gorgeous animal designs.

“I set a deliberately ambitious target amount, because, as an extra-special bonus – gasp – if I hit £400, I agreed to run dressed up as a farm animal.”

And, when Mario hit his target, true to his word, he donned a chicken outfit – what incredible commitment to improving the lives of farm animals!

Each pack of 10 cards cost just £5, including UK P&P. To pre-order, call us on 01483 521 953 or visit ciwf.org.uk/Christmas

If you’d like to organise an event, or be sponsored for doing something extraordinary, please get in touch with the Supporter Engagement Team, or download a fundrasing pack from our website: ciwf.org.uk/fundraising

WHY I SUPPORT COMPASSION

by USA supporter, Pat Swain I am a photographer and lover of animals.

Perhaps because I see farm animals as the ‘common folk’, the ‘salt of the earth’, I have a strong affinity to them. I feel their gentle souls. Their profound suffering – injuries, anguished expressions, and abhorrent environmental conditions – all combine into a powerful, visual scream for help.

I feel extremely privileged and grateful that, through my photographs, I can in my small way help Compassion in World Farming to end this brutality, this torture, this extreme Existential Chicken, by Pat Swain and inhumane cruelty.

GET IN TOUCH! Compassion in World Farming, River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1EZ, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1483 521 953 (9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday).

Email: supporters@ciwf.org Web: ciwf.org.uk/get-involved 23

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WE COME TOGETHER

WE TAKE ACTION WE CHANGE THE

WORLD

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. Compassion in World Farming, 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 is a registered charity (England and Wales), registered number 1095050.