ANIMALS PARTY AT PARLIAMENT
What are the chances of cows getting voting rights in parliament? In Holland this is for real. In the UK animals will now also be properly represented through a new political party, 'Animals Count'.
The party launches in London at 12.30, 3rd December at the Kensington Town Hall. Animals Count will be the first UK party ever to put animals at the top of the political agenda.
It will encourage other political parties to raise the bar as long as they fail to protect the weaker individuals of our society.
"With half the EC budget going on unnecessary livestock subsidies, there's never been a better time to re-examine tax payers' money spent on unsustainable farming methods that are associated with poor animal welfare and human health," says Animals Count party founder Jasmijn de Boo, 31, who was a candidate for the Dutch 'Party for the Animals' in the 2004 European Parliament elections.
This party won two seats in the Dutch Parliament on 22 November 2006 in their third elections in three years . Ms Marianne Thieme (leader) and Ms Esther Ouwehand (no.2), MPs for the Dutch Party for the Animals will be present at the inaugural Animals Count meeting on 3rd December.
Public support for animal welfare is growing fast in Britain. Over 3 million people support animal charities and donations total 500 million pounds.
Due to public pressure fox hunting, fur farming and testing on animals for cosmetics have already been banned in the UK. This was followed by the enforcement of the new UK and Scottish Animal Welfare Act in November 2006.
The Acts include a statutory duty to care for animals, higher penalties for animal abuse and grants extended power to inspectors to seize animals that are suffering or in danger of suffering (preventive action).
The new Animal Welfare Act is a step in the right direction; however, millions of animals continue to be exploited every day for food, consumer products, so-called 'sports' or other forms of entertainment, and as models for human disease.
They suffer throughout their lives crammed in cages without space to perform normal behaviours, become distressed during transport and are sometimes cruelly killed.
Animals Count intends to field candidates for the 3rd May 2007 Welsh Assembly elections, targeting those seats (20) that are chosen by proportional representation rather than via the 'first past the post system'.
The media are invited to Animal Count's launch at 12.30PM, 3rd December at Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8, during Animal Aid's 'Christmas Without Cruelty Fayre'.
There will be a press conference, panel discussion and a picture slideshow. For a media info pack and interviews please contact us.