PEN POWER!

In March, the government was considering resumption of the live sheep export trade. SAFE joined forces with other animal advocacy groups, flooding parliament with letters - over 26,000 of them to the PM or agriculture minister!

Due to such an unprecedented display of public opposition, this was a huge victory for animals. But TVNZ's Sunday programme last weekend showed that it's not over yet.

"Agriculture minister David Carter and Prime Minister John Key have been overwhelmed by the huge public response, and it appears that they are both reconsidering their previous stance. This makes it extremely important to keep up the pressure," says Hans Kriek, campaign director for SAFE.

For this reason, SAFE is once again recruiting for the letter-writing group. With over 100 members, it is quickly becoming a potent voice for the animals of New Zealand. If you are willing to write a short letter every few months, sign up! Contact shanti@safe.org.nz to find out more.

JOIN SAFE'S WRITERS' GROUP

In 1991, the United Kingdom faced a crucial decision - whether to ban sow stalls or not. In the end, the tipping point was simply sheets of paper. Two animal rights organisations flooded the parliament with letter after letter, securing a victory for pigs.

Now it's our turn to see New Zealand follow the UK ruling. The New Zealand government will soon be reviewing the codes of welfare for pigs and chickens. There has never been a better time to speak out against this.

SAFE is forming a writers' group, members of which are invited to write letters in support of important issues when necessary. If you doubt your ability to write, don't worry, we'll help your voice be heard. If one voice can make a difference, let's see what a hundred of us can do!

Register today by emailing Shanti at SAFE.

LETTER WRITING

A letter to the editor is an easy and effective way to raise the public's awareness of animal issues. Letters to the editor allow you to explain how animals are affected by events currently in the news or correct the facts after a misleading, inaccurate or biased article or letter. Also, some politicians see them as an indication of public feeling on an issue. Best of all, letters to the editor cost little more than some time and thought.

Always follow the guidelines of the newspaper or magazine to which you are writing. The first letters an editor will throw out are those that don't meet the guidelines. Letters should be brief, clear, and to the point. They are usually only about two to three short paragraphs (less than 150 words). This is all you need to briefly address an issue. Short letters are much more likely to be printed than long ones due to space restrictions.

Start off the letter by referencing the article in question. Mention the author and the date or issue in which it was published eg "I read with great interest the editorial/letter/article (put title here), (date printed) in which (author) said that . . .". When rebutting someone's article or letter, help them 'understand' why they are wrong. Do not attack them personally. A clever and effective persuasion technique is to be almost condescending, but not too condescending. For example: "Having over 10 years experience with chickens on our property, I feel Mr Adams is a little misguided in his statements about hens enjoying their life in cages." If you read this carefully, the person is not attacking Mr Adams personally; they are establishing their own credentials and making the original author look uninformed. That is exactly what you are trying to accomplish.

Always use facts, figures and statistics when you have them. This adds to your credibility and helps convince the reader. Only use one or two numbers in your letter. Too many numbers may confuse the reader.

Below is an example of a good letter

Today's date

Editor
The Paper
PO Box number
City/town

Dear Sir/Madam,
I read with great concern the article "Egg-layers for profit", (date) in which Mr Adams questioned whether hens needed to be provided with more space in cages. Having provided care and homes for ex-battery hens for the past 10 years, I feel Mr Adams is a little misguided in his statements about the welfare of hens.

Chickens are intelligent, social animals that have natural behavioural instincts such as foraging for food, wing flapping, preening, and dust bathing. All of these needs are denied in battery hen cages which force over 2.5 millions birds to suffer as a result.

I support SAFE in its campaign to ban battery cages on the grounds of cruelty, and question whether Mr Adams has really spent time understanding these wonderful birds.

Yours

Annie Why
123 Some St
City/town