Breaking News: 700 Turn Attend ARAN's Rally Against Cruelty to Animals!

“It was a life changing event for me, what an incredible experience. It was my first time attending an ARAN event, but one I will never forget and one of many more.” This is just what one kind ARAN member sent us in an email after them attending our rally on October 5th 2008 in Dublin.

When ARAN sent out a call for help you responded – in you’re hundreds! On Sunday October 5th which was the last day of World Animal Week, almost 700 people gathered to support ARAN’s massive ‘Cruelty to animals must stop. FULL STOP.’ peaceful rally held in Dublin, Ireland, a truly remarkable achievement. The morning of our event news broke on many national Irish radio stations including Newstalk, Today FM, FM 104 and many more that hundreds of people were to attend a peaceful rally in Dublin to call for tougher laws in the upcoming animal welfare bill in which the Irish government are set to update the current legislation which dates back to 1911. Weather on the day could not have been any better, sunny and warm to say the least. As the peaceful but exciting rally set off, Gardai who were helpful on the day informed headquarters in Dublin that there were over 500 people present as the rally set off down through O’Connell Street! At the height of our event attendance swelled to almost 700 people! Leading the rally was a professional banner that read ‘Cruelty to animals must stop. FULL STOP.’ whilst accompanied by many people dressed in animal costumes from our friends at CIWF Ireland and IAVS. As the marched proceeded through Dublin’s most popular district, the chant on the day was ‘There’s No Excuse for Animal Abuse’, three megaphones ensured everyone on the streets that day knew why we were there! The best news was that a camera crew from Ireland’s national television station TV3 covered the rally in a positive light stating hundreds of people were marching peacefully in Dublin to call for tougher laws for animal rights in the new Irish animal welfare bill. The footage went out to tens of thousands of people watching the news that afternoon and evening and showed our huge banner with the words ‘Cruelty to animals must stop. FULL STOP.’ The following day there was slight coverage in Irish newspapers although we got what we were looking for which was television coverage for the important issue of cruelty to animals which went out nationwide!

Shortly after the rally we organized speeches and a video of ‘The Witness’ at the MontClare hotel. Many of the speakers included Mark Glover and Nicki Brooks from Respect for Animals in the UK, Andre Menache of Anti-Dote Europe, Alan Donohue speaking for ARAN, Marianne Dutoit speaking on behalf of ARAN with words of good wishes from our colleagues at Animal Defenders International, Animal Aid, Viva, Uncaged Campaigns, National Anti-Vivisection Society, Advocates for Animals, Naturewatch and many more. Mary-Anne Bartlett spoke for CIWF Ireland, Yvonne Smalley for (IAVS), Aideen Yourell for (ICABS) and Clare Daly of the Socialist Workers Party on the Fingal Circus motion ban and of course Jim Carroll from the Irish Vegetarian Society who was also in attendance for speaking on the day.

Our event was hugely supported by our kind friends at Irish Anti-Vivisection Society (IAVS), Irish Council Against Bloodsports (ICABS) and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF Ireland) all of whom came out in full force and whose members and supporters were also present for the big event. ARAN simply cannot thank enough the fabulous work of these main Irish animal protection groups with whom played a great job of team work in the weeks leading up to the big event! A big thank you also to the Irish Anti-Vivisection Society (IAVS) for helping to sponsor half of the MontClare hotel conference room and of course their wonderful animal costumes and mobile banner which everyone enjoyed! Of course we would also like to thank many other Irish animal rescue groups like Second Chance Animal Rescue, Galway SPCA, Clare Animal Welfare, Animal Care Society, Ash Animal Rescue, Dogs in Distress, Rainbow Animal Refuge, A Liberation, ISPCA, Northern Ireland Animal Rescue, Northern Ireland Against Animal Experiments and many more for helping to support this event and of course a huge list of other people who’s support was invaluable in the run up to the event – from Animal Rights Action Network thank you.

For those that could not attend, we captured some exciting video that you can check out here:-

Video 1 and Video 2

Please continue to support Animal Rights Action Network and remember that we need your help and support in order to put an end to some of the worse abuses of animals in Ireland today. After such a busy year we are sending out an urgent call for donations, so please consider sending Animal Rights Action Network a donation either through our online website or by check or postal order, please contact us for a mailing address.

Thank you from Animal Rights Action Network.

Some of the messages of support

1. Dear Siobhan,
   
   I just wanted to tell you that I had a super day at the ARAN rally
   yesterday and to thank everyone involved for organizing it. I have never
   been on an animal rights protest before and I believe I have found my
   calling! Last night, while I was sleeping, I still had "There's NO
   excuse for animal abuse!!" going through my brain :-)
   
   I was really proud to have been involved with your organization at that
   rally and I am very impressed with the leadership that was shown. The
   speeches were great and I enjoyed the messages of positive interaction
   with the public and determined but moderate behavior. I will be wearing
   my ARAN t-shirt at every opportunity.
   
   I tried to make an on-line donation last night but the website states
   that I must email ARAN if I want to make a donation? Is ARAN registered
   with PayPal, by any chance?
   
   Kind Regards
   Nicola
   P.S. If you have any pictures, I would really appreciate it if you would
   send them on!

1. I just wanted to mention how mush I enjoyed yesterday, it was my first time attending a rally so I wasn't really sure what to expect, particularly going on my own! I wanted to commend you on your truly amazing work and thank you for making such a difference. The rally was so well organized and such a pleasure to be a part of, I will definitely be going to all rallies in the future!! Everyone there was so friendly and upbeat, it was a brilliant atmosphere and came across really well on TV3 last night.
   
   Well done and thank you again.
   Best wishes,
   Caroline.

1. Hi John & gang,
   
   I just wanted to say what a privilege it was to walk in protest with
   your group yesterday. I brought my mother, sister and niece along with
   me, and we all had a great (and emotional) day. My mum was a bit
   apprehensive about coming as she (like so many others) only know animal
   rights activists as extremists, as alot of the time that is what is
   portrayed by the media. When I reassured her that ARAN was a peaceful &
   respectable group, she trusted my judgment and came along. After the
   rally, she wanted to know where she could sign up to do more!
   
   As it was the first rally I attended, I wanted to thank you for an
   incredible experience. It was so nice to see how many people came out
   to support this very worthy cause.
   
   I hope you also enjoyed it, and that it wasn't too stressful, as I'm
   sure organizing such an event is! The coverage on TV3 was excellent and
   really got the message across, I wish ARAN every success, and will
   ALWAYS give my full support. I will continue the fight against cruelty
   to animals in every way I can, and I am confident that we will see it
   stamped out in our life time.
   
   Again thank you from me, my family
   and all the animals you represent,
   
   Ruth,
   Galway

1. Dear Animal Rights Action Network,

I have been an ARAN member for four years now and helped your organization with donations, sending letters and emails and promoting your work but this Sunday I attended your rally for the first time and I would describe it as been the most amazing animal rights event ever! I want to congratulate your fine organization on what was the most professionally organized event ever! You got the tone and mood on the day just perfect and it was so inviting and welcoming, you truly could not have done any better.

I want to devote my life to helping ARAN in Dublin and I want to know how I can get more involved in helping your truly amazing work.

Yours,

Michael Rodman
Donnybrook, Dublin

1. If there is just one word to describe your event on Sunday it would be ‘Life Changing’. Thank you ARAN for helping to bring the issue of animal abuse into my life because I am a changed person for the better, here is to many more years of changing hearts and minds.

Rodriguez Amari
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Ps, can you send me on some nice pictures for me to show my colleagues at work?