Giant 10ft 'Elephant' Leads Peaceful ARAN/ADI Protest!

On December 10th during ‘International Day for Animal Rights 2008’ a huge 10ft ‘elephant’ led a peaceful demonstration outside the Department of Agriculture in Dublin on behalf of Animal Rights Action Network and Animal Defenders International as our campaigners geared up for an important meeting to discuss the new upcoming revised Irish animal welfare bill which is due to be published during 2009.

During our peaceful event, members and supporters of Animal Rights Action Network gathered outside the Department with the ‘elephant’ and held posters and a huge banner reading ‘Stop Circus Suffering’, other members held another banner reading ‘Cruelty to animals must stop. FULL STOP.’ – Our Dublin event coordinator Rita-Marie also led the protest with a chant ‘There’s No Excuse for Animal Abuse’. Our daytime demonstration was also watched by groups of passing school children who got to see our vital message surrounding the use and abuse of animals in Irish circuses.

Later that day, ARAN & ADI met with officials from the Department of Agriculture to discuss national bans on the use of animals in Irish circuses and a ban on Irish fur farms. We also urged the Department to do a bill better than the most recent UK bill, our work to ensure this revised Irish bill actually does ‘something’ to help stamp out cruelty in Ireland continues.

Over the coming month’s Animal Rights Action Network and Animal Defenders International are launching a new series of campaign events, stunts, press launches and much more in order to expose the needless suffering of animals inside Irish circuses that has already been documented. If you live in Ireland and would like to get involved in the national ‘Stop Circus Suffering in Ireland’ please get in contact with Animal Rights Action Network and be sure to spread the word.