Contact:
Michael McGraw 757-622-7382

"I wish to address a very cruel and horrific practice currently executed in your country, called ‘mulesing,’ in which slices of flesh are cut with a pair of shears from a lamb’s hindquarters without any painkillers," writes Navratilova. "This is a deliberate act of violence. It is pain inflicted without just cause. Do you believe such cruelty should be allowed?"

PETA declared an international boycott of Australian wool in October 2004 and has already gained the support of prestigious retailers Abercrombie & Fitch, J.Crew, and U.K.-based mega-retailers New Look and George.

Navratilova, 48, who began her 30th year playing professional tennis when the Australian Open began on January 17, is one of the greatest athletes in the history of sport. She was ranked #19 on ESPN’s list of the greatest athletes of the century, and she has won 58 Grand Slam titles, including the Wimbledon and Australian Open mixed doubles titles in 2003 at the age of 46. The next year, she returned to singles play at Wimbledon and won her opening round match, becoming the oldest woman in more than 80 years to win a singles match there. She has won 167 tournament titles in singles and 174 in doubles. Navratilova expects to play doubles at all four Grand Slam events in 2005, along with a full schedule of WTA Tour events.

For more information, please visit PETA’s Web site SaveTheSheep.com.

Martina Navratilova’s letter to Australian Prime Minister John Howard follows.

January 25, 2005

The Honorable John Howard
Prime Minister of Australia
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

I wish to address a very cruel and horrific practice currently executed in your country, called "mulesing," in which slices of flesh are cut with a pair of shears from a lamb’s hindquarters without any painkillers. This is a deliberate act of violence. It is pain inflicted without just cause. Do you believe such cruelty should be allowed? I ask you again, do you believe such cruelty is an acceptable practice? If not, what are you doing to stop its continuation? Can you imagine what kind of person would be able to inflict such pain upon a defenseless creature? Harvesting livestock is one thing—cruel and unusual infliction of pain in that process is another. It is ethically and morally wrong.

Today’s Australia outgrew its violent beginning. It is now on the brink of maturity. In the next 20 years, it will become one of the most industrialized countries of the world. Now is the time to set in place laws that will ensure practices such as mulesing will not continue forward. Learn by the mistakes America has made from the beginning to now. In many ways, America has lost both its moral and ethical compass in its industrial growth, and will undoubtedly find itself paralyzed by the loss of such standards. In all things, we reap what we sow. I urge you to introduce and exhibit those standards of government that will one day identify your country as one of the great pillars of success that incorporated humanitarian values into its industry.

Again, I—along with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other animal welfare advocates—urge you, Prime Minister Howard, as well as your fellow countrymen, to stop this violence exhibited in the practice of mulesing, and to maintain humane practices in the export of sheep. I urge all Australians to voice their concern over such cruel practices. If not for the animals, then for the health and welfare of families whose members would practice such cruelty. I believe in community-supported agriculture. I believe the community must play watchdog to practices similar to this, and take steps necessary to ensure their continuation is eliminated.

Sincerely,

Martina Navratilova

P.S. I have copied this letter to PETA in Norfolk, VA, which brought this horrendous situation to my attention. My hope is that your representative will contact Matt Rice at 757-622-7382 with your humane decision.