SAFE's Freedom for hens campaign
SAFE's campaign against battery cages spanning over 20 years is paying off, rejoices SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek. "SAFE has ensured a greater nationwide awareness of the cruelty behind producing battery eggs. It has resulted in dramatic consumer boycotts of caged eggs. It has prompted a demand for alternative systems that offer better welfare conditions for the birds and most recently, industry leaders have bowed to SAFE's pressure. We are achieving success!"
   Prize winning float for hens
The annual Hastings Blossom Parade in Hawke's Bay included an unusual entry this year in the form of an eye-catching SAFE float protesting against battery hen farming. The fantastic looking SAFE entry was judged the 'Most Unusual' float and awarded $500 in prize money! SAFE volunteers dressed as chickens stood inside a decorated mobile cage to represent caged hens, while SAFE's 'ex-battery hen' mascot Hetty and other ‘hens' carried banners behind the float reading ‘Free the Hens.' Float organiser Donna Powell reported that they had tremendous support from the public and received a mention in the local newspaper. Well done to our Hawke's Bay group and especially Donna who endured painful blisters from walking the long distance in the Hetty costume.
Caged hens get minor reprieveBattery cages that provide birds with 450cm2 of space are now illegal in New Zealand. As from 1 January 2008 all cages must have door openings that cover the full height and width of the cage and hens must be provided with 500cm2 of space. "While these changes do little to improve the welfare of New Zealand's three million battery hens, it is good to see these older-style cages finally disappear," says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek. "These older-styled battery cages have tormented hens for decades and would result in unacceptable levels of leg and wing injuries and broken bones caused when removing the fragile and terrified birds at the time of slaughter through tiny access panels at the front of each cage."
"Lets not make a mistake by believing that the newer cages are any better," says Hans. "These cages are still barren, overcrowded and cruel. The hens still have less than an A4 sheet of paper of floor space to live on, still have to stand on a wire or plastic netting floor and still have no access to nest boxes, soil to peck and scratch in or a perch to sleep on."
Interestingly, these same cages that New Zealand introduces as so-called ‘improved cages' will be banned by 2012 on cruelty grounds throughout Europe! While Europe appears to be ahead with their welfare legislation, the future for their hens is still looking very bleak. Despite a strong increase in free-range farming, most European hens will continue to live their short lives inside cages. Europe will allow so-called environment-enriched cages to be used as an alternative cage system. Environment-enriched cages house up to 60 birds per cage with each bird still not having more space than an A4 sheet of paper. The only improvements will be that the hens will have access to nest boxes and a perch to sleep on. Painful beak trimming will still be carried out and the birds will never experience a normal life living outdoors.
SAFE will continue to call for a boycott of all cage-produced eggs.
Egg labelling victory
Two of New Zealand's largest battery hen producers have bowed to pressure following SAFE's campaign calling for mandatory labelling of egg cartons. No sooner had SAFE presented its 51,438-signature petition to the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Judith Tizard, and Green MP, Sue Kedgley, at Parliament than Mainland Poultry and Independent Egg Producers announced they would start labelling their battery eggs. "It is the first positive move by an extremely cruel industry," says Hans. Our petition has prompted the leading industry players to introduce a voluntary labelling scheme that will see 85 per cent of New Zealand's battery eggs labelled as ‘Cage Eggs'.
"SAFE has been calling for an end to misleading labels such as ‘Farm Fresh' for years so, assuming the new labelling standards proposed by the industry are genuine, this is a triumphant occasion for consumers and caged hens."
SAFE continues to press for mandatory egg labelling legislation to prevent the remaining egg producers from confusing and misleading consumers. "Eight out of ten New Zealanders oppose battery hen farming and we expect fewer battery eggs will be sold once proper labelling clearly identifies egg production methods." Take Action Write to your local MP and ask them to lobby the Minister of Agriculture, Jim Anderton, by asking him to: Introduce a phase-out period of five years for battery cages; Explain why he has ignored the RRC recommendations; and Explain why he is ignoring New Zealanders who overwhelmingly want cages banned.
| |  Supermarket battery egg ban A supermarket in Belgium has become the first to stop selling battery eggs. Makro, an international wholesale cash-and-carry supermarket chain follows stores in Holland that have ended the sale of battery hen eggs. The move was welcomed by animal welfare group Gaia, who delivered the Germany-based supermarket chain a giant cake made from free-range eggs. Under European Union rules, battery hens will be banned from 2012. Marks and Spencer, Waitrose and The Co-operative Group are other supermarkets that no longer sell battery eggs. Internet giant quits cruel eggs America's leading internet provider, AOL, has discontinued its use of battery hen eggs for all of its corporate dining facilities that use nearly half a million eggs per year. Alan Nielsen, AOL's vice president of corporate service said: "AOL's concern for social responsibility, including animal welfare, led us to distance ourselves from battery cage eggs and switch to exclusively cage-free eggs in our dining facilities. By making a simple purchasing switch, AOL is helping improve the lives of millions of egg-laying birds."
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