Auckland Animal Action facts for kids
Auckland Animal Action (often called AAA) is a group based in Auckland, New Zealand, that works to protect animals. It started in August 1996 when a small group of people wanted to create a local group to take direct action against animal cruelty. Since then, AAA has worked on many campaigns to stop different kinds of animal harm, like their well-known "Fur Free Auckland" campaign.
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Helping Animals: What Auckland Animal Action Does
Auckland Animal Action is an organisation that speaks up for animals and tries to make sure they are treated well. They believe in taking direct action, which means actively doing things like protests or investigations to bring attention to animal issues and make changes. Their main goal is to stop all forms of animal cruelty.
Fighting Factory Farming
AAA has been very active in speaking out against factory farming. This is a way of raising animals for food where many animals are kept in small spaces. AAA has investigated these farms and organised protests outside them. They have also campaigned against big companies, including Tegel Foods Limited.
AAA also helps share information from other groups that investigate animal treatment. For example, in January 2007, AAA helped get national news coverage for an investigation by the Animal Liberation Front. This investigation led to some animals being released from a farm.
Peaceful Protests and Civil Disobedience
In 2003, AAA used a method called civil disobedience during their campaign against Harpers Fashion. This company was selling products made from animal fur. Members of AAA peacefully chained themselves to the door of the Hartley's store on High Street. Civil disobedience means refusing to obey certain laws or demands of a government or company in a peaceful way, as a form of protest.
The Possum Fur Debate
AAA also opposes the use of possum fur, even when it's marketed as being "eco-friendly." They believe that promoting possum fur could lead to too much demand, just like what happened with rabbits and foxes in the past. In 2005, Auckland Animal Action started a campaign specifically against possum fur.
Why Oppose Possum Fur?
Rochelle Rees, who is part of AAA, explained their view. She said that promoting possum fur would create a demand that couldn't be met without harming too many possums. This would not be sustainable, meaning it couldn't continue without causing problems. AAA showed their opposition by protesting at the 2005 New Zealand Fashion Week.
However, not everyone agrees with AAA's stance on possum fur. David Farrar, a well-known blogger, has criticised their policy. He said that AAA believes "to wear a dead animal's skin is disrespectful to the animal." He then added, "Well killing our trees is disrespectful also, and the possums started it!" This shows there are different opinions on how to manage possums and their impact on the environment.
See also
- Animal welfare in New Zealand
