Animal Liberation Victoria
Encyclopedia
Animal Liberation Victoria Inc. (ALV) is the Victoria
n branch of Australia
n animal rights
movement Animal Liberation operating throughout several areas in Australia. Founded in 1978 by Patty Mark, ALV is located in Melbourne and is recognised as Victoria's most powerful animal rights organisation. Its main aims are to abolish the property status of animals, institutionalised animal exploitation and speciest attitudes and practices; encourage and nurture animal rights education, and endorse the principle of non-violence.
that said Help the Hens which attracted 17 people and proved to be the start of ALV. In the early years of their operation, ALV set up information tables in the Bourke Street Mall, presented information discussions at schools and co-ordinated the signing of petitions. In 1993, Mark received a call about the inhumane treatment of hens at a battery hen facility in Victoria, inspiring the birth of ALV's Open Rescue division.
Animal Liberation Victoria was the first group that made open rescue
s of hens. Later, they have continued making open rescues.
They have also protested against sheep exports
, in Port of Devonport, whaling
, the killing of animals on television by Jamie Oliver
, animal deaths in Melbourne Zoo
, and the 2007 Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) conference.
ALV supports and manages the Action Animal Rescue Team, a group formed in 1993 whose purpose is "save the lives of unattended and neglected animals who are left sick and dying in factory farms" and "document (with video footage and photographs) the conditions for animals in factory farms, feedlots, live export and abattoirs."
They also offered to provide legal assistance to the students that, in May 2005, opposed the idea of a rural school to slaughter a pig and a cow that they raised. Bernie Williams, executive producer of the last Charlotte's Web
film, wrote an e-mail to the school in support of the students.
Some of some of their actions include promote veganism
in the Sustainable Living Festival
and rescue
animals.
. In March 2005, ALV found in the farm Parkhurst several injured, sick and dead hens. The police was called, and when it arrived and found the facts, Sergeant Mick Brien phoned the RSPCA for assistance, who refused to attend. Then the police arranged for ALV to remove the sick and dying hens and escorted them to Werribee Vet Clinic. Patty Mark, ALV president, said "Unfortunately the RSPCA not only refused to attend and assist the police on the night, they have failed to do an urgent inspection this morning taking other very ill and dehydrated birds to a vet or to even contact the owner. They only told ALV they would look at the place "next week". and "If the police and members of ALV can see the suffering and know it is wrong and illegal, why can't the RSPCA? Once again they have failed in their duty to protect "all creatures great and small", and it is time they were made accountable""
On 4 September 2006, ALV sent a letter to Dr Hugh Wirth, RSPCA Victoria's President, asking them to turn to strict vegetarianism their RSPCA Annual Gala Ball, as made the RSPCA UK. RPSCA Chief Executive Officer, Maria Mercurio, wrote the reply in which they refused. Among other criticisms, Mercurio said:
"We know that ALV will continue to attend RSPCA events in Victoria and target our staff, volunteers and guests. We are continually asked why ALV don't hold their own events if they truly wish to get wide attention for their issues; why don't they lobby governments and why don't they try to influence industry, instead of targeting the RSPCA?"
ALV has also criticed that while RSPCA says it's against the battery cage
s, they business with the largest battery egg producer in Australia, Pace Farms. They have also accused RSPCA of approve barnlaid sheds of which ALV claim to have documented later "overcrowding, beak mutilations, lack of perches, prevention of roosting, chronic stress and electric shock training to the hens", among many other criticism.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
n branch of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
movement Animal Liberation operating throughout several areas in Australia. Founded in 1978 by Patty Mark, ALV is located in Melbourne and is recognised as Victoria's most powerful animal rights organisation. Its main aims are to abolish the property status of animals, institutionalised animal exploitation and speciest attitudes and practices; encourage and nurture animal rights education, and endorse the principle of non-violence.
Activism
ALV was established in 1978 by Patty Mark, an animal rights activist. After reading a book on animal liberation in 1978, Mark put a notice up in the local milk barMilk bar
Milk bar is a term in some parts of Australia for suburban local shops or general stores. They are known as tuck shops, delicatessens or delis in South Australia and Western Australia, and as corner stores in Queensland and New South Wales...
that said Help the Hens which attracted 17 people and proved to be the start of ALV. In the early years of their operation, ALV set up information tables in the Bourke Street Mall, presented information discussions at schools and co-ordinated the signing of petitions. In 1993, Mark received a call about the inhumane treatment of hens at a battery hen facility in Victoria, inspiring the birth of ALV's Open Rescue division.
Animal Liberation Victoria was the first group that made open rescue
Open rescue
Open rescue is a term for a form of direct action practiced by certain animal rights and animal welfare activists. The aim of open rescue is to rescue animals in pain and suffering, generally and to give these animals veterinary treatment and humane living conditions while also documenting the...
s of hens. Later, they have continued making open rescues.
They have also protested against sheep exports
Live export
Live export is the transport of living farm animals usually across either state or national borders.Animal charities say that thousands of animals die en route from disease, heat exhaustion, thirst, suffocation, and crush injuries. The National Hog Farmer reports that 420,000 pigs are crippled and...
, in Port of Devonport, whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
, the killing of animals on television by Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver
James "Jamie" Trevor Oliver, MBE , sometimes known as The Naked Chef, is an English chef, restaurateur and media personality, known for his food-focused television shows, cookbooks and more recently his campaign against the use of processed foods in national schools...
, animal deaths in Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Zoo
The Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, commonly known as the Melbourne Zoo, contains more than 320 animal species from Australia and around the world. The zoo is north of the centre of Melbourne. It is accessible via Royal Park station on the Upfield railway line, and is also accessible via tram...
, and the 2007 Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) conference.
ALV supports and manages the Action Animal Rescue Team, a group formed in 1993 whose purpose is "save the lives of unattended and neglected animals who are left sick and dying in factory farms" and "document (with video footage and photographs) the conditions for animals in factory farms, feedlots, live export and abattoirs."
They also offered to provide legal assistance to the students that, in May 2005, opposed the idea of a rural school to slaughter a pig and a cow that they raised. Bernie Williams, executive producer of the last Charlotte's Web
Charlotte's Web (2006 film)
Charlotte's Web is a 2006 American live-action/computer-animated feature film, based on the popular book of the same name by E. B. White. It is directed by Gary Winick and produced by Paramount Pictures, Walden Media, The K Entertainment Company, and Nickelodeon Movies...
film, wrote an e-mail to the school in support of the students.
Animal Liberation Youth
They had also an offspring of ALV designed for young people called Animal Liberation Youth (ALY). It was established in 2007 and operates in a similar fashion to ALV.Some of some of their actions include promote veganism
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
in the Sustainable Living Festival
Sustainable Living Festival
The Sustainable Living Festival is a yearly festival held since 1998 in Melbourne at Federation Square and Birrarung Marr along the Yarra River....
and rescue
Open rescue
Open rescue is a term for a form of direct action practiced by certain animal rights and animal welfare activists. The aim of open rescue is to rescue animals in pain and suffering, generally and to give these animals veterinary treatment and humane living conditions while also documenting the...
animals.
Conflicts with RSPCA Victoria
They have had some conflicts with RSPCA VictoriaRSPCA Australia
RSPCA Australia is an Australian organisation that promotes animal welfare. It is funded in part by the Australian Government but relies on corporate sponsorship, fundraising events and voluntary donations for its income.RSPCA Australia defines its purpose as being the leading authority in animal...
. In March 2005, ALV found in the farm Parkhurst several injured, sick and dead hens. The police was called, and when it arrived and found the facts, Sergeant Mick Brien phoned the RSPCA for assistance, who refused to attend. Then the police arranged for ALV to remove the sick and dying hens and escorted them to Werribee Vet Clinic. Patty Mark, ALV president, said "Unfortunately the RSPCA not only refused to attend and assist the police on the night, they have failed to do an urgent inspection this morning taking other very ill and dehydrated birds to a vet or to even contact the owner. They only told ALV they would look at the place "next week". and "If the police and members of ALV can see the suffering and know it is wrong and illegal, why can't the RSPCA? Once again they have failed in their duty to protect "all creatures great and small", and it is time they were made accountable""
On 4 September 2006, ALV sent a letter to Dr Hugh Wirth, RSPCA Victoria's President, asking them to turn to strict vegetarianism their RSPCA Annual Gala Ball, as made the RSPCA UK. RPSCA Chief Executive Officer, Maria Mercurio, wrote the reply in which they refused. Among other criticisms, Mercurio said:
"We know that ALV will continue to attend RSPCA events in Victoria and target our staff, volunteers and guests. We are continually asked why ALV don't hold their own events if they truly wish to get wide attention for their issues; why don't they lobby governments and why don't they try to influence industry, instead of targeting the RSPCA?"
ALV has also criticed that while RSPCA says it's against the battery cage
Battery cage
In poultry farming, battery cages are an industrial agricultural confinement system used primarily for egg-laying hens...
s, they business with the largest battery egg producer in Australia, Pace Farms. They have also accused RSPCA of approve barnlaid sheds of which ALV claim to have documented later "overcrowding, beak mutilations, lack of perches, prevention of roosting, chronic stress and electric shock training to the hens", among many other criticism.