Campaigners from across the country descended on Worcestershire
The agenda included a representative from each campaign from round the country, updating everyone on the latest news. Campaigns/groups covered included SHAC, SPEAK, Newchurch, Hunt Sabs Association, Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, Captive Animals Protection Society, Veggies, Realfood etc. Also included was an interesting update on the campaign against Sequani vivisection lab in Ledbury. It was great to hear how 12 collaborating companies have adopted an ethical stance by pulling their services from this deathcamp, since the suppliers campaign began! So it is not only big campaigns like SHAC that have success! See the Stop Sequani Animal Testing website for more info www.vivisection.info/ssat
The next part of the meeting focused on what local groups around the country are up to. Representatives from various groups updated everyone on the news from their area. A representative from West Midlands Animal Action spoke about the wide variety of campaigns that we have been invloved in recently - incl Birmingham fur demos, Zoo Awareness Day, circuses, SPEAK National Demo, SHAC UPS demos, Newchurch Campaign etc. And a rep from Coventry Animal Alliance spoke about Brandon Greyhound/circus demos, Jill`s Day 2005 and the successful Free Vegan Food Fair on Saturday.
The meeting moved onto other issues, including the latest news on the International Animal Rights Gathering taking place in July at a sanctuary in Kent. There will be a host of workshops and talks from prominent campaigners, and a chance to network with activists from across the planet. The event is expected to attract well over the 300 people that attended last year. More info on this can be found here http://ar2005.info/
Lastly, there was a discussion on the raft of new laws that are coming in, supposedly to deal with animal rights `terrorists`!! The government are under intense pressure from huge pharmaceutical companies like Glaxo Smithkline to take action against peaceful campaigners who are getting our message across to the general public like never before, therefore adversely affecting these companies who wish to continue proffitting at the expense of humans and animals alike!! The general feeling is that the new laws planned will seriously erode our rights under the Human Rights Act, but as usual with new legislation, the AR movement will adapt and find new ways of reaching our goal - animal liberation!
The next ARC meeting is due to take place in August somewhere in the North West.