AstraZeneca Demo - Video Footage
June 21, 2009 – 6:35 amThere is a video clip now available from the AstraZeneca demo in May 2009. The clip can be viewed on YouTube
Astrazeneca Demo Report - Wednesday 17th June
June 21, 2009 – 5:51 amSHACTIVISTS RETURN TO ASTRAZENECA’S LUTON OFFICES
On Wednesday 17th June 09 Shactivists decided to pay AstraZeneca’s Luton offices a visit. Upon arriving in skull masks it was obvious they weren’t expecting us as there was no police welcoming party like there has been previously.
Blinds were quickly dropped as it became apparent to the workers inside that a demonstration was taking place. Three megaphones were used to make it clear why we were there. They are a customer of disgraceful Huntingdon Life Sciences…
Full report and more photos here.
SPEAK Demo and Stall Report - Saturday 13th June
June 19, 2009 – 6:24 am
This Saturday a few members of BAA decided to join a SPEAK demo, and set up a information stall against Oxford University’s new animal lab.
One member had just got in to Oxford when she saw three young girls staring at something and saying “but I don’t want it to die”. However this didn’t stop them from walking away.
When she went to have a look at what they were staring at she found a poor little baby pigeon. He was too young to be out of his nest, wounded, thin and had a swollen limp leg. She picked him up and took him to the demo where a fellow campaigner kindly offered to take the injured fledgling to St Tiggy Winkles for professional care.
(Please don’t pick up baby birds unless they are obviously injured, or you have sought the advice of a sympathetic vet/animal rescue centre - baby birds are sometimes simply waiting on the floor for mum to feed them)
Pigeon rescue completed, we joined the demo. Around 30 people gathered to try and tell the graduating students about the hidden horrors of vivisection at Oxford University. As people passed by they took leaflets, and this also included a man dressed as a turkey with his hands cuffed behind his back. We have no idea why!!
Meanwhile, at the top end of the demonstration, some supporters were holding an information stall where petitions were being signed and information exchanged.
To finish the day off, the police decided to do the official job of the university injunction servers and serve a new demonstrator a copy of the injunction themselves. They say they aren’t taking sides!! So what are the injunction servers being paid to do exactly?
For the animals
BAA
NIRAH May Lose Quest Pit
June 16, 2009 – 5:26 amThe NIRAH project looks set to suffer a further setback. It appears it may lose the land on which it was to be built at Quest Pit near Stewartby. Hanson agreed to sell NIRAH the land provided it did not affect any of their other operations in the area. The option to buy the land runs out at the end of this year and Hanson claim that, as NIRAH have failed to identify access to the site, they cannot ensure that the project would not have a detrimental impact. NIRAH have responded by issuing a writ asking the High Courts to order Hanson to complete the deal. Chairman of NIRAH, Keith Edelman, is quoted as saying ‘If we lose that land Nirah is dead’.
The full story can be read at http://www.bedsonsunday.com/bedsonsunday/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=425246
Make Animal Testing History
June 11, 2009 – 4:00 am
Council Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, is the European legislation that regulates animal experiments. It is more than 20 years old and urgently in need of updating in order to better protect animals in laboratories and to achieve the ultimate replacement of animals with more advanced, humane alternatives. A revised law has now been proposed.
The Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research, together with Four Paws & Humane Society International, have launched a Europe-wide cyber march to demonstrate public support for improvements to Europe’s law on animal experiments.
To join the cyber march or to find out more information on the campaign visit www.makeanimaltestinghistory.org
AstraZeneca Demo Report - Wednesday 27th May
May 29, 2009 – 6:36 amDOUBLE WHAMMY FOR ASTRAZENECA LUTON OFFICES
It was a wet dreary lunchtime in Luton when activists met. We were under police surveillance from the start, which was surprising as we hadn’t advertised this demo at all. Some how they knew we were intending to go to AstraZeneca’s media offices on Capablilty Green Business Park, Luton…
Full report and more photos here.
Bedford Animal Action Stall - Saturday 23rd May
May 23, 2009 – 1:55 pm
Bedford Animal Action were in Bedford town centre today holding an information stall and street collection. The day went well, definitely helped by the weather. Thank you to everyone who took an interest or made a donation. If you interested in getting involved please get in touch to find out about forthcoming events or meetings or keep an eye on this website.
Peter Jollys Circus Demo Report - May 09
May 23, 2009 – 1:45 pm
Campaigners from Bedford Animal Action joined others from Northampton and surrounding areas to protest against Peter Jollys Circus continued use of animals in their circus. Demonstrations were held on the opening night near Daventry on Wednesday 20th May and on Friday 22nd May. Peter Jollys website boaststhat they are a ‘Traditonal Circus as it should be’ with over 20 different animals including llamas, camel, horses, ponies, geese, zebra, dogs, cats and an ankole bull in its acts.
There was a excellent turn out of eigtheen protesters on both evenings to hold placards and hand out leaflets to those leaving and going in to the circus. The circus was situated on a busy road and there was lots of support from passing motorists hooting their horn against animal abuse. Bedford Animal Action will continue to fight against the cruelty of animal circuses whenever Peter Jollys or any other circus using animals is in the area.
Please help our campaign by boycotting animal circuses, spreading the word and joining us in demonstrations. To see if Peter Jollys circus is coming to a town near you check there website at www.peterjollyscircus.moonfruit.com
If you want to help there is another protest on Sunday 24th May - meet at 2pm outside the circus on the A45 from Northampton to Daventry. The circus is about one mile past the Dodford turning if travelling from Northampton.
SPEAK Stall Report - Sunday 17th May 2009
May 19, 2009 – 5:40 am
On Sunday BAA members and friends held a stall in Oxford, mainly to highlight that Oxford University has opened a new animal research lab. As usual we covered a wide range of topics from going vegetarian, boycotting companies using animal testing and general anti-vivisection information.
Despite really bad weather, we still made our presence felt in Oxford. The rain obviously dampens shoppers’ spirits but how can we complain about a bit of rain and wind when animals inside the lab at this very moment are being experimented on. We will be in Oxford, or elsewhere, campaigning for a better world regardless of what the weather is or what people chuck at us…
For the animals - B.A.A
Barclays and Staples Demos in Luton - Saturday 9th May
May 9, 2009 – 3:03 pm
To mark today’s Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) Day of Action we first visited Barclays Bank in Luton town centre. Barclays are one of the biggest shareholders in Europe’s most exposed animal testing laboratory Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). We visited Barclays from approximately 11.30am and had a good response from the public, handing out leaflets to customers and passers by; a couple of customers even told us that they would be closing their accounts with Barclays.
Many people were happy to take a leaflet and no-one seemed bothered by our presence, however the same could not be said about Barclays staff. They were unhappy about placards being placed outside the bank and, after this had been resolved, they apparently continued to complain to the police about our presence. They also thought it appropriate to laugh and make unsavoury remarks about us. Eventually they called the police again and, after reappearing from inside the bank, the officers approached us and told us that we had to move away despite the fact that we were in a public place and not on private property. When questioned they said that we were intimidating customers. We challenged this and asked them to check the CCTV footage and that of the bank’s own security camera as we were fully aware that we had not behaved inappropriately.
In order to defend ourselves from these accusations one campaigner attempted to video the encounter with the police. One of the police officers did not like this and tried to prevent us filming saying that we were not allowed to do this. When challenged he said that he had not given us permission to film him. It was pointed out to him that as he was in a public place we were within our rights to photograph and film him. This did not stop him from threatening and trying to seize the video camera. Eventually after being challenged further by us and being unable to justify their actions the police left and we continued to campaign outside the bank until approximately 3pm.
We then decided to pay a flying visit to Staples where we encountered an entirely different attitude from the store manager. He came out to see what was happening and, when asked if he had called the police yet, he said words to the effect of ‘No, we don’t phone the police, why should we, you are allowed to protest’. It’s just a pity that the police and staff at Barclays did not have the same attitude.
Overall the day was a success and we hope we’ve made lots of people aware of the suffering that goes on inside HLS and of those businesses that support this. We hope to be back in the near future in and around Bedfordshire.
For more information on the SHAC campaign visit www.shac.net