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news release

Uncaged leads global call for animal rights

On 10 December 2010, thousands of animal rights supporters across the world will be holding candlelit vigils and other events to mark International Animal Rights Day. In addition to several events across the UK, activists in countries such as South Africa, Bahrain, Netherlands, Pakistan, Croatia, Canada, Brazil, Sweden, Mexico, Italy, France, Ireland and Spain will be uniting to remember the billions of animals subjected to deliberate cruelty and killing across the world every year. This coordinated global day of action will intensify calls for the recognition of the rights of all sentient beings to life, liberty and natural enjoyment.

The campaign is spearheaded by Uncaged. Director Dr Dan Lyons comments:

"We recently commissioned a YouGov opinion poll which revealed that an overwhelming 87% of the public here in Britain believe that the way we treat animals is an important measure of the state of our society. People across the world increasingly recognise that animals are individual beings with inherent value who deserve justice and compassion. Yet they are coming under greater threat due to the intensification of animal farming, cloning and the continuing loss of their habitats. To save animals from cruelty, it is essential that we establish basic legal rights to ensure they are treated with respect."

The aim of the campaign is to promote a public debate about the treatment of animals and achieve international recognition for their basic rights to be protected from abuse. The 10th December was chosen to highlight the inevitable progression from human to animal rights as it is also the anniversary of the United Nations Human Rights Declaration in 1948.

The campaign has been publicly endorsed by hundreds of animal protection groups across the UK and all over the world, as well as renowned broadcaster Joanna Lumley and rock legend Brian May, amongst other public figures.

Dr Lyons explains:

"All animals, not just humans, are individuals in their own right, and can suffer emotional and physical pain. We wouldn’t experiment on companion animals, or imprison them in intensive factory farms before slaughtering them, so the basic ideas of animal rights already have much greater support than many people realize. Yet we are surrounded by the most horrific cruelty and extermination, where we ceaselessly bring millions of rabbits, rats, dogs, cats, monkeys, mice, chickens, pigs, and cows into the world for the sole purpose of inflicting unnecessary cruelty and destruction upon them.

We urge our fellow citizens to stop and reflect on the relentless abuse that humanity inflicts on other animals. Animals are powerless, but we can all make a difference immediately by taking responsibility for what we eat, buy, how we vote and what charities we support. That way we can recognise the right of animals to be left in peace."

Uncaged is calling on animal advocates everywhere to unite in honour of International Animal Rights Day (IARD) with events such as candlelit vigils, information stalls or protests outside animal abusers.

If you are in the UK, click here to order a free campaign pack including leaflets, posters and petitions. If you are outside the UK, you can download leaflets and posters from here. If you cannot actively take part in IARD, please make a vital donation instead to support this historic campaign to secure justice for animals.

Uncaged Campaigns 19.11.10