Activist lives in cage to raise awareness of factory farming
“Truly shocking. Not enough people know about this.”
That was the reaction of Luton environmentalist Julie Furnivall, after visiting Trafalgar Square this week.
Activist Michelle Farnham is spending three weeks in a pig farrowing crate on Trafalgar Square, to draw attention to Animal Rising’s campaign to end factory farming. For those who aren’t aware, a farrowing crate is a metal cage used to confine mother pigs while they give birth and nurse their piglets – over 200,000 mother pigs are confined in these crates in the UK every year. For months the group have been investigating pig factory farms to highlight their cruelty, potential breaches of animal welfare law, and the impact on the environment. Michelle is showing people what these animals are forced to endure.
In the initial release of their findings, one pig named Luna is the focus of a powerful 12 minute video showing the experience of mother sows kept in farrowing crates. The video shows the filthy conditions, how she is repeatedly impregnated, abused by the workers, kept in such a restrictive cage where she can barely move and cannot properly care for her babies, and soon has them taken away before the process is repeated again.
The video was recently shown at a special meeting of the Luton Green Hub, a group which meets regularly to discuss issues which effect the environment both locally in Luton and further afield, and includes members of many environmental groups. The video was followed by a lively discussion to help each other understand the issues such as welfare on farms, farm animal breeding, legal issues, the impact of farming on air and water quality, land use, and of course - what can be done to help pigs like Luna.
As part of the campaign, activists have been covering towns and cities across the country in posters and stickers asking people to watch the video showing Luna’s experience and sign the petition to Free Luna. This includes Luton where posters and stickers have been popping up around the town.
Animal Rising are calling for Luna to be freed, and for all factory farming to end by 2040.
See Luna's story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efbUsgUYUCA