[imc-presse] [Fwd: picture aktion mastanlage]

[Anna]

-------- Original-Nachricht --------
Betreff: 	picture aktion mastanlage
Datum: 	Fri, 1 Jun 2007 11:13:33 +0200
Von: 	Liberate 8 <liberate8 at gmail.com>

	



PRESS RELEASE

Rostock, 01 june 2007

G8 action: Soy feeds factory farms - who feeds South America?

Just before the start of the G8 summit in Heiligendamm, the action group "Liberate!" has accommodated the 8 world leaders in an industrial pig farm belonging to the Dutch pig producer Straathof. A clear message has been left on the walls of the factory farm: Smash G8, Liberate!
Eye witnesses of the action saw how 8 pigs escaped into freedom. 

With this action, the activists aim to show the madness of the industrial
agricultural system, of which the G8 countries are among the main
responsables. Activist Bettina Wertheimer explains: "Factory farms like these are examplatory of this system. On the one hand, in Europe it causes the mass exploitation and slaughtering of countless numbers of animals, and environmental pollution and diseases. On the other hand, the millions of pigs, chicken and cows are fed with (mainly genetically modified) soy from South America. There it leads to a deepening of social and environmental problems such as violent land conflicts and deforestation."

Factory farming in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

The newly opened pig factory 'Quickhof Wendisch', situated near the village of
Wendisch Priborn (near Plau am See), is part of pig-giant Straathof. Straathof owns several pig factory farms in the Netherlands and Germany. Another Straathof farm, with 10.000 pigs, caused years of protests by local inhabitants and environmentalists. In the summer of 2006, heaps of pig corpses were lying rotting under the sun. Straathof has started juridical procedures for another controversial farm nearby Alt Tellin (near to Demmin). This time for 
10.000 sows who can produce up to 250.000 piglets per year. This part of Germany is quicly becoming the dumping ground of factory farms from countries like the Netherlands and Denmark, that cannot expand any further at home. The policy of the authorities of the region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, supported by EU subsidies, encourages the expansion of factory farms like these, despite the fact that it generates only very few jobs, but a lot of pollution for the local community. 

Soy production in South America 

South America produces the soy that feeds the European animal industry. Zuid-Amerika levert de soja waarvan de opbrengst terecht komt bij een kleine groep
grootgrondbezitters en agribusiness bedrijven. Soy monocultures of RoundupReady genetically modified soy do not generate jobs for people. They result in deforestation, land conflicts, and health crises related to the intensive spraying with the herbicide Roundup (glyphosaat), that kills everything except the soy that has been made resistant against it. Roundup also pollutes water and air and destroys food crops on neighbouring fields. 

Animal exploitation 

For meat consumption, millions of animals are slaughtered every year. In Europe and the US, meat production is heavily industrialised to produce large quantities of cheap meat. In Europe, every year 151 million pigs are raised and grown fat in 6 months time, and then murdered. The action group states that there is no moral justification for killing animals. 

In action

The appalling animal industry provokes growing resistance from the population. Action group Liberate! wishes to encourage everyone to take action to prevent this industry from expanding further, like here in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.  

(end of press release)

More information:

The liberated pigs are available for telephone interviews. Please call: (+49) 015207 682 938 or email liberate8 at gmail.com <mailto:liberate8 at gmail.com>.

High quality photos will be sent to you on request.

A good information source about soy and the pig industry: www.pig8soy.org <http://www.pig8soy.org>


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