UPDATE! March 2006—Australian Government Sends Delegation to Middle East to Investigate Abuses

As a result of the release of additional footage from the Animals Australia/PETA investigation in the Middle East, which showed appalling abuses of Australian animals—the Australian government has sent a delegation to the Middle East to investigate the abuses. PETA has also sent footage of the cruelty that we found to the ministers of agriculture in Oman, Kuwait, and Egypt and called on them to adopt an exclusively chilled-meat trade with Australia. If you’ve yet to act on this important issue, now is the time! Please write to the Australian government today to demand an end to the cruel live-export industry.

Australia Suspends Live Exports to Egypt in Wake of Shocking Investigation

In late February 2006, as a result of an investigation conducted by PETA and Animals Australia, Australia’s most popular current-affairs show, 60 Minutes, aired a shocking exposé of Australia’s live-export industry and the fate of cows and sheep who are shipped to Egypt for slaughter. The investigative report confirms animal advocates’ claims that the government and industry have been paying lip service to the idea of animal welfare and have allowed animals to suffer in countries with no animal welfare standards whatsoever. In response to the investigation, the Australian government has suspended live-animal exports to Egypt.

		Dressed in traditional black burkas and holding signs reading, “Ban Live Exports,” in English and Arabic, Muslim women protested outside the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 13, 2006. The protesters aimed to show that live exports and the horrific abuses that occur during the voyages are in direct violation of halal slaughter laws as well as the words of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who taught that everything possible must be done to minimize the suffering of an animal who is about to be slaughtered. “We want to show that Muslims do not support the cruel treatment and slaughter of Australian sheep and cattle exported to the Middle East,” says Bina Ahmad, a Muslim who now lives in the U.S. but still works in the Middle East. “This abuse―these beatings and prolonged deaths―violate halal law as well as common decency, and they must stop.”

We found appalling abuses: Workers stabbed animals in the eyes and slashed their tendons—all without any painkillers—before finally slitting their throats while the animals were still conscious. In a final act of cruelty, while the animals were bleeding to death, workers used knives to slash them under their tails. The Australian government and the live-export industry have previously claimed that this slaughterhouse was a model and have held it up as a success story. Watch the 60 Minutes story and see the “success” for yourself.

Please write to Australian government officials right away and demand that they permanently ban the live-export trade. Tell them that all Australian animals must be slaughtered in Australia, under the protection of Australian laws. Please forward this Web page to family, friends, and coworkers, and urge them to write as well:

The Honourable John Howard
Prime Minister of Australia
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
+61 2 6277 7700
+61 2 6273 4100 (fax)
http://www.pm.gov.au/email.cfm (e-mail)                      

The Honourable Peter McGauran, MP
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
+61 2 6277 7520
+61 2 6273 4120 (fax)
Peter.McGauran.MP@aph.gov.au (e-mail)

Australian animals desperately need your help. Please write today.

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