Unleashed Action Alerts

Educate your Education Minister.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

Have you put your foot down against dissection and still want to do more to help animals? Get in touch with the Minister for Education in your state and let them know you think dissection is unethical and unnecessary.

What to say:

Dissection continues because of tradition. There have been many advances in alternative teaching aids since it was introduced in schools and it is no longer the most effective way to learn.
Killing millions of animals just for students to experiment on enforces the idea that animals are just 'things'. Explain that you want to learn in an environment that promotes respect for life.
Dissection is unethical and causes unnecessary animal suffering and death. Tell them that you have a passion for animals but having to dissect could actually discourage you from furthering your studies in Science.

Who to say it to:

VICTORIA:
The Hon. Martin Dixon
Phone: (03) 9637 3196
Email: martin.dixon@parliament.vic.gov.au
Address: Level 1, 2 Treasury Place, Melbourne, Victoria, 3002

QUEENSLAND:
The Hon. John-Paul Langbroek
Phone: (07) 3237 1000
Email: Education@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Address: Level 22, Education House, 30 Mary St, Brisbane, QLD 4002

NSW:
The Hon. Adrian Piccoli
Phone: (02) 9228 5261
Email: office@piccoli.ministers.nsw.gov.au
Address: Governor Macquarie Tower, Level 34, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:
The Hon. Peter C Collier Phone: (08) 6552 6300
Email: Minister.Collier@dpc.wa.gov.au
Address: 10th Floor, Dumas House, 2 Havelock St, West Perth WA 6005

ACT:
Joy Burch
Phone: (02) 6205 0020
Email: burch@act.gov.au
Address: GPO Box 1020, Canberra, ACT 2601

NORTHERN TERRITORY:
The Hon. Peter Glen Chandler
Phone: (08) 8928 6553
Email: minister.chandler@nt.gov.au
Address: GPO BOX 3146, Darwin, NT 0801

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
The Hon. Jennifer Rankine
Phone: (08) 8226 1205
Email: wright@parliament.sa.gov.au
Address: GPO Box 1563, Adelaide 5001

Say no to dissection.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

There comes a time for every student where they will be confronted with a science experiment involving the dissection of an animal. But did you know that you do not have to participate if you don't want to? Yep, dissection is not compulsory in any Australian education department. And why would it be? It is outdated and unnecessary.

Dissection was introduced into schools in the 1920s. Think about how much has changed since then. If we still did education like we did back then, kids would be getting the cane and learning the box step.

Millions of animals are killed for classroom science experiments every year in Australia but research has shown that students who use computer simulations learn just as well, if not better, than those who dissect a real animal. Dissection should be a thing of the past, and in fact, it already is in some places. Argentina banned dissection in schools way back in 1987.

So here's what to do if you don't feel comfortable with dissection:

Do your research: There's no better way to show your teacher you are serious about not wanting to cut up animals than to offer some ideas of alternatives that you can do. So check out Humane Research Australia for an up-to-date list of alternatives to dissection: http://www.humaneresearch.org.au/help/alternatives
Talk to your teacher: Politely tell them that you won't be taking part in the experiment. Offer to do an assignment of equal weighting that does not use animals. It can often make this conversation easier if you can make some suggestions of alternatives -- which is where step 1 comes in handy ;)
Talk to your class mates about why you are not participating. They might feel the same way as you do about using animals but not know that they can refuse. Get a group of you to approach your teacher together to talk about why you feel using animals is unnecessary and suggest other options for future class experiments.

Want to take more action against dissection? Get in touch with your Minister for Education and let them know why you think it is unnecessary and out-dated to use dissection in schools and universities. Click here for the contact details of the Minister in your state.

Put an End to Duck Shooting!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

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Help End Jumps Racing Carnage!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

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Piggify your profile pic to fight factory farming

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

Have you heard? The National Farmers Federation (NFF) has been kicking and screaming about a little pig on a shopping bag. Sounds ridiculous, right?

To cut a long story short, the NFF is trying to stop people seeing this little pig in supermarkets. So we need your help to help her fly on facebook - to remind everyone of how their choices can help free animals from factory farms.

A few days ago, Coles announced that they would be selling Animals Australia's Make It Possible bags in stores for the month of June. The NFF kicked up such a stink that, sadly, the mother pigs who are locked in crates and the hens confined in tiny cages were being forgotten.

We weren't about to let that happen! So we've asked Coles to pull the bags, for now, and we are going to hit back even harder. Next week we're putting the award winning Make It Possible TV ad back on the air waves. Every household across the country will be reminded of the pigs and chickens who need their help.

These are the animals that the National Farmers Federation doesn't want anyone to see. So we need your help to make sure they don't get their way. What do most people use WAY more often than their shopping bag? Facebook.

You have the power to help make this little pig fly on facebook! And there's nothing that the National Farmers Federation can do about it.

It's as simple as changing your facebook profile pic to the little pig pictured below - to show your support. The more people who are exposed to the realities of factory farming, the greater the hope for animals. So help to fly this little pig across facebook and share her plea for a world without factory farming.

Right click on the image and save it to your computer
Log in to facebook
Go to your timeline and click 'Edit Profile Picture'
Upload the flying pig and 'Save'

Done this action, but still want to do more?

Share the award winning Make it Possible film on your facebook wall?

And while you're at it, why not head here to upload a Make it Possible cover photo as well?

Demand justice for Jacob: Post a piccie to the PM.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

Meet Jacob. He is a gentle steer from Western Australia. Sold into the live export trade by his owner, his life took a drastic turn for the worse the minute he stepped foot on a ship bound for Egypt.

Jacob had done nothing wrong. Yet his eyes were repeatedly stabbed, his leg tendons slashed and his throat hacked whilst fully conscious. He didn't deserve this.

Fates like this are suffered by many of the millions of Australian animals that are sold into the live export trade every year.

Thankfully, thousands of people have called for justice for Jacob. Our political leaders have been flooded with emails calling for an end to live export. Now, it's your chance to help get the message through loud and clear.

Here's how: Post a picture of Jacob to the Prime Minister. For the cost of a postage stamp, you can physically put this important issue in front of Julia Gillard.

Click on the link below and print off the personalised letter to Ms Gillard. Sign your name at the bottom and post it to the PM so that she knows how important this issue is to young Australians, like you.

Download the letter to the PM here.

Sign it. And then post it to:

The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Get your bestie on board to ban live export.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

Did you know that cows have best friends? Yep, they are very social animals and will seek out buddies amongst the herd.

Do you have a best friend? Can you imagine being separated from your mate, packed onto a ship and taken to a place where you have no protection?

Every year, millions of Australian animals are shipped across seas to places where they suffer brutal abuse and slaughter. Already in 2013, Animals Australia has uncovered terrible cruelty to cattle who were sent to Egypt and goats exported to Malaysia.

But thankfully, over 900,000 people have asked the Australian Government to put a stop to live export cruelty. What's more, there is a very easy way for you to DOUBLE your impact, and it involves your best friend.

Tell your best mate about live export. Two heads are always better than one ;)

Sit them down to show them this video (or share it on their Facebook wall): www.vimeo.com/65359857
(just make sure you warn your mate that this is graphic)
Then get them to head here to join you in the campaign to ban live export: www.unleashed.org.au/take_action/live-export

P.S. If you haven't had a chance to see the new investigation in Egypt yourself, then you might want to get started by watching the video below and heading here to take action.

P.P.S. If you're lucky enough to have a whole herd of best friends, feel free to tell all of them! Post the video to your Facebook page and get all of your buddies on board to bring an end to live export.

Put a stop to live export for good!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

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Can you help us at the Adelaide Big Day Out?

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

Are you ready to rock out for animals?! Unleashed is having stalls at the Big Day Out all around Australia, sharing the love for all animals and listening to some great tunes. All we need now is ONE more person to team up with other volunteers at the Adelaide BDO. Could it be YOU?

The Adelaide BDO is on Friday the 25th January, at the Adelaide Showgrounds. The event runs from 9am-10pm, and of course entry for you will be FREE.

On the day you will be able to organise rotating breaks with the other vollies to ensure you get time to rest, recharge and catch your fave bands ;)

If you are available on the day and interested in helping out, please reply to this email with your full name and preferred contact number. Once you are confirmed for the day, I'll send you all the details you'll need.

Fur is no fantasy for animals!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

HBO's epic fantasy series Game of Thrones has got a massive following and won heaps of awards in just the two seasons that have aired so far. Production has just finished on the third season, and even though we're fans of the show, we were shocked when we learnt the level of animal suffering that went into making it.

According to the official Game of Thrones website, over 31,000 square feet of fur and leather were used in costuming just for Season 3!! It's impossible to say how many animals were drowned, electrocuted or gassed to get that much fur, but we do know how many of them needed to die: NONE!

(NOTE: the original page has been edited with all mention of fur removed, but a screencap of the original posting can be seen here.)

Fur is an out-dated, cruel and unnecessary clothing item. The characters in Game of Thrones may live in a fantasy world, but the animals killed for their skin certainly don't.

Speak up for the victims of fur and leather by hitting up the official Game of Thrones Facebook and Twitter.

FACEBOOK
The official Facebook page is here: www.facebook.com/GameOfThrones. Use some of the following points to help write a post for the wall.
- Express your dismay at how much fur and leather was used in making Season 3. (31,000 square feet!)
- Synthetic alternatives to fur and leather are common and cheaper.
- Point out that if "winter is coming" ... animals will need their own fur!
- (Give this link so other people can find out more): http://www.unleashed.org.au/change_the_world/go_faux_yourself/

TWITTER (just click the link you prefer)
Winter is coming - so animals need their fur! Pls @GameOfThrones, use faux fur in future episodes! Find out why here http://www.unleashed.org.au/change_the_world/go_faux_yourself/

Even Hodor knows that real fur is cruel! Pls @GameOfThrones, use faux fur in future episodes! Find out why here http://www.unleashed.org.au/change_the_world/go_faux_yourself/

p.s. Make your own personal pledge to wear your own skin!

Demand action against horse cruelty!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

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You + celebs + social media = end of factory farming

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

You and I know that factory farming is the number one cause of animal cruelty. But many people still don't.

So if we're going to end factory farming we need to make some noise on social media. Animals Australia's current campaign to end factory farming, Make it Possible can only be as successful as the number of people who hear about it.

There are 3 important ways you can help maximise the impact of Make it Possible on social media:

Step 1:
Facebook it:
Share the Make it Possible campaign video on Facebook (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fM6V6lq_p0o). This video has already inspired thousands of people to make kinder choices for animals. Click here to share this video on Facebook and inspire even more people.

Step 2:
Boost Make It Possible's YouTube rating:
Every 'like' and comment that the Make it Possible campaign video receives on YouTube improves its ranking in search results and increases the chances that even more people will see it. Please click here and then click the 'LIKE' button and leave a comment. (You'll need to be logged into a YouTube or Google account to leave a comment.)

Step 3:
Get tweeting:
If you're on Twitter you've probably already been tweeting about #makeitpossible. Here's a slightly different twist for you -- one that has the potential to reach a huge audience. There are countless caring twitter celebs, who might be willing to share the #makeitpossible campaign if they were asked.
One enthusiastic volunteer has already gotten Rosanne Barr to retweet about the campaign to her 177,000 followers. Help to get other well known and well connected people sharing the campaign.

Pick out 5 (or more) of the tweeps from the list below and tweet them with this link to the campaign video (http://bit.ly/XweDeY), asking them to share the link with their followers or retweet.

International Celebs

Ellen Degeneres @TheEllenShow
Pink @Pink
Miley Cyrus @MileyCyrus
Jim Carrey @JimCarrey
Russell Brand @rustyrockets
Jason Mraz @jason_mraz
Ben Stiller @RedHourBen
Zooey Deschanel @ZooeyDeschanel
Mike Tyson @MikeTyson

Lea Michele @msleamichele
Venus Williams @Venuseswilliams
Kristen Bell @IMKristenBell
Pamela Anderson @PamelaDAnderson
Serena Williams @serenawilliams
Stella McCartney @StellaMcCartney
Rose McGowan @rosemcgowan
Colbie Caillat @ColbieCaillat
Joss Stone @JossStone

Australian Celebs

Hamish and Andy @hamishandandy
Wil Anderson @Wil_Anderson
Xavier Rudd @xavierrudd
Guy Sebastian @GuySebastian

Adam Hills @adamhillscomedy
Charlie Pickering @charliepick
Miranda Kerr @MirandaKerr
Cut Copy @cutcopy

What's so happy about a Happy Meal?

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

Meet Hope. Born on a factory farm, with little chance of ever feeling a cool breeze or natural sunlight - her future looked bleak. Unlike the vast majority of pigs in her situation though, Hope made a break for it. Her escape from a life of confinement gave her the chance to actually be a pig. Intelligent and social, she now spends her days exploring her surroundings, dozing in her wallow and charming all those she meets.

With just five minutes of your day you can make a life of difference to other pigs trapped in factory farms.

Across the country, Australians have united to speak out against factory farming. They've pledged to make changes in their own lives, and have demanded producers and suppliers of animal products do the same.

It's time to put the pressure on McDonalds and Hungry Jack's.

You can be a voice for the animals by contacting these two today. Let them know that you have seen the Make it Possible video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM6V6lq_p0o), and it has turned you off products from factory farms (or meat altogether!). They need to know that young Australians will not give their money to fast-food joints that use factory farmed products.

Send them a message using their contact forms, and hit them up on Facebook too!

McDonalds Australia: http://mcdonalds.com.au/contactus
McDonalds Australia Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/McDonaldsAU

Hungry Jack's: http://www.hungryjacks.com.au/contact-us/feedback
Hungry Jack's Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/HungryJacks

Dogs shouldn't die so humans can get high.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

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Dog abuse at Calstead Collies

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

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Horse-racing's dark secret...

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

Do you want to know horse racing's dark secret? The industry calls it 'WASTAGE'. And if you love horses, it will shock you...

WARNING: graphic content

This expose by Animals Australia member society - Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) - clearly reveals the fate of thousands of horses in Australia every year. Those who are too slow or unable to make money in racing are simply discarded like rubbish.

Defenders of horse-racing like to point to the success stories, and say how well-looked after the horses are. Real horse lovers though should insist that all horses receive care and kindness - not just the ones who win the most money.

You can make sure you don't support an industry that sees horses as disposable property, by taking the pledge to never bet on cruelty.

You can also better the odds for race-horses right here in Australia by sharing CPR's video with friends, family and anyone you know who loves horses.

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Show the world what really happens in factory farms.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

"Old MacDonald had a farm..." In fact, he had a factory farm, and the number of chickens he kept confined in massive sheds will shock you.

Most chickens raised for meat in Australia are stuck in factory farms. Each chicken in one of these places is kept forever inside with around 40-60,000 other chickens! They're denied sunlight, fresh air and access to the outdoors. In fact, the only time they'll see the outside world is on the day they are being trucked to slaughter.

Just for a moment, imagine if this was the life of a dog or cat that you know. How would you feel about that?

Cruelty at factory farms continues because people just aren't aware of what is happening behind closed doors. But you know, and you can tell others.

Share the video here on facebook or twitter. People need to know what is going on in factory farms - it's up to you to show them!

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Help end live exports with a YouTube Mission.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

The live export of animals from Australia is an ongoing disaster for the animals being sent overseas. The latest tragedy involves 21,000 sheep sent to Pakistan where they were brutally beaten, stabbed and in some cases buried alive. These sheep were the victims of the largest live export disaster in history.

The victims of this bloody slaughter and all victims of live animal export must have their story told. And that's where you can help.

By "liking" and commenting on the video below (the link will take you to it on YouTube), it will appear higher on search engine results. This increases the chance of people finding out more about the horror of live export, and helps grow opposition to the trade.

You don't have to watch the video if it is too hard, but please spend 20 seconds to help the victims of live export. Simply click the "Like" button, and leave a comment - and you'll be amplifying the calls to end the bloody business entirely.

Demand an end to live exports!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

Twelve weeks ago, 75,000 sheep were loaded onto a ship in Fremantle, bound for slaughter in the Middle East. What 21,000 of them were ultimately forced to endure shocked everyone -- even the live export industry.

The story of these sheep was finally told on national TV on the 4 Corners program. If you caught it on TV, you're probably already equal parts sad and angry ("sadgry"?). If you haven't seen it yet, you can watch it on the Four Corners website.

You can help the victims of live exports by making this campaign the biggest thing on Julia Gillard's desk. Write directly to the Prime Minister to tell her how you feel. Click here to send your pre-written letter now!

(If you're over 18, you can even ring your MP to let them know you won't be voting for a party that supports live exports.)

Once you've told the pollies about it, make sure your friends know about the cruel trade, too. Share the campaign as widely as possible to get the message out there, that live export cruelty needs to end!

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Pledge to never bet on cruelty.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1000

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