Western Animal Rights Network

The Western Animal Rights Network (WARN) first appeared in 2005 as a coalition for animal rights groups in the West of England and South Wales and acted as a news service for animal rights demos and action reports. [ [http://www.sarconline.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=249 Western Animal Rights Network Launched] , "SARC", 2005] [http://www.stopanimalcruelty.co.uk/warn/network.asp The Network] , "Western Animal Rights Network".]

It re-launched in August 2007 and continued to work towards total animal liberation using direct action and protests to fulfil this goal. There was also an expansion to include not just South Wales but all of Wales, providing the country with its first animal rights national group. [ [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/380324.html Western Animal Rights Network launched!] , "Indymedia UK" ] [http://www.stopanimalcruelty.co.uk/warn/network.asp The Network] , "Western Animal Rights Network".]

The website is also used by the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) in the same way the international group use the magazine "Bite Back" to anonymously report their criminal activities. Under a disclaimer stating that the network does not "encourage any illegal activities", the group publishes claims of various forms of illegal liberation and vandalism, including acts against McDonalds, KFC and the property of hunters. [ [http://www.stopanimalcruelty.co.uk/warn/action-archive.asp?catID=3 Action Archive: Direct Action] , "Western Animal Rights Network".] [ [http://www.animalliberation.co.uk Disclaimer] , "Western Animal Rights Network".]

Campaigns/Actions

top Sequani Animal Testing

ean Kirtley

Following the arrests of the "Stop Sequani Animal Testing (SSAT)" campaigners in May 2006, when 13 animal rights activists were arrested under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA), WARN supported six of the activists who had the most serious charges against them. Similar to the "SHAC 7", six individuals who received jail sentences in the United Kingdom of between 3-6 years for using their website to "incite attacks" on those who did business with Huntingdon Life Sciences, [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/03/nyregion/03animals.html Six Animal Rights Advocates Are Convicted of Terrorism ] , "New York Times", March 3rd, 2006.] the campaigners have been called the "Sequani Six" after a seventh accepted a plea bargain. [ [http://archive.herefordtimes.com/2006/10/27/80528.html Sequani defendants appear at court] , "Hereford Times", 27th October 2006] [ [http://sequani.wordpress.com/sequani-six Sequani Six] , "Stop Sequani Animal Testing".] in 2008, Sean Kirtley was jailed for four and a half years for a substained protest campaign and David Griffiths received a 30 week prison sentence, both for conspiracy to interfere with the contractual relationships of an animal research organisation. [ [http://www.netcu.org.uk/media/article.jsp?id=348 Sequani campaign protestors receive sentences] , National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit press release. 30 May, 2008]

December March 2007

On 15 December, approximately 100-150 demonstrators marched against Sequani Ltd in Ledbury town centre. Section 12 and Section 14 of the Public Order Act were applied to limit the number of protesters then going to the laboratory to a maximum of fifteen. A spokesperson for WARN argued that the policing was heavy handed, resulting in a female protester thrown back by police for distributing leaflets. [http://sequani.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/protestors-blockade-ledbury-centre-at-sequani-march-after-police-restrict-legal-protest Protestors blockade Ledbury centre at Sequani March after police restrict legal protest] , "Stop Sequani Animal Testing", 17th December 2007.] [http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/news/ledburynewsroundup/display.var.1922432.0.five_held_after_largest_demo_in_years.php Five held after largest demo in years] , "Ledbury Reporter", Friday 21st December 2007.]

During the march, activists attempted to blockade a road near the High Street, in soliarity with the "Sequani Six". [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/12/388051.html Pictures from Sequani March & Blockade] , "Indymedia" UK, 17th December 2007.] Two activists were arrested for trying to D-lock themselves together, whilst another three locked together using arm tubes, which were then eventually cut to release the individuals. The five were arrested and released on bail later that evening until February 2008. [http://sequani.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/protestors-blockade-ledbury-centre-at-sequani-march-after-police-restrict-legal-protest Protestors blockade Ledbury centre at Sequani March after police restrict legal protest, "Stop Sequani Animal Testing", 17th December 2007.] ] [http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/news/ledburynewsroundup/display.var.1922432.0.five_held_after_largest_demo_in_years.php Five held after largest demo in years] , "Ledbury Reporter", Friday 21st December 2007.] [ [http://www.herefordjournal.com/news/publish/article_18758.php Five arrested at demonstration] , "Hereford Journal", 19th December 2007.]

Carnival Against Vivisection

It has been reported by various sources, through local media, activist based, and by the network, that a Carnival Against Vivisection is being held in Ledbury, promoted by anonymous activists . [http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/news/local/3614366.Protest_planned_outside_Ledbury_lab Protest planned outside Ledbury lab] , "Ledbury Reporter", 22nd August 2008.] [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/08/407270.html Carnival Against Vivisection] , "Indymedia" UK, 21st August 2008] [http://wordpress.com/tag/carnival-against-vivisection Carnival Against Vivisection] , tagged in "Wordpress category.] As the police call for organisers to step forward and reveal their identities, protesters say they are demonstrating in solidarity with Sean Kirtley, who was sentenced to prison in May for his part in the campaign against Sequani laboratories. [http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/news/local/3603834.Police_want_to_hear_from_animal_protestors Police want to hear from animal protestors] , "Ledbury Reporter", 18th August 2008.] [http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/3606460.Police_plea_to_protesters Police plea to protesters] , "Worcester News", 19th August 2008.] [http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20080818173648130 Police want the Carnival Against Vivisection organisers] , "Infoshop", 18th August 2008.] In the end a combination of poor weather and scant support lead to the event being very poorly attended with some press reports suggesting as few as 60 attending [http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/3651764.Animal_rights_activists_stage_Ledbury_protest/]

Activists from "WARN" and "Gloucestershire Animal Action" in the morning of 26 November 2007 visited to film the conditions there as part of an undercover investigation after a tip off from a volunteer who worked there. The video, which was released to You Tube, claimed the shelter was a "cramped, filthy hellhole" and that animals were; kept in the cold, a dog was in a kennel with urine on the floor, geese lived in wire cages, cats were kept in a caravan and that the animals went without adequate food and water routinely. [http://www.stopanimalcruelty.co.uk/sdah Swindon & District Animal Haven exposed for neglect and cruelty of animals] , "WARN", December 6th 2007.] [http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/woottonbassett/display.var.1898127.0.animal_haven_manager_lashes_out_at_activists.php Animal haven manager lashes out at activists] , "Gazette & Herald", 12th December 2007.] [http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/swindonnewsheadlines/display.var.1898298.0.are_pets_really_suffering_at_animal_haven.php Are pets really suffering at animal haven?] , "Swindon Advertiser", 12th December 2007.]

The footage was then given to the RSPCA, who did not take legal action, but gave the owner of the business a verbal warning and advice on the welfare of the animals. The owner admitted that the place was messy, but said that the video was exaggerated, "misleading" if not completely "cobblers" and that the volunteers at the centre do nothing but care for the animals. [http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/swindonnewsheadlines/display.var.1898298.0.are_pets_really_suffering_at_animal_haven.php Are pets really suffering at animal haven?] , "Swindon Advertiser", 12th December 2007.]

Following the verbal warning, an RSPCA inspector and two vets revisted the site to re-examine the conditions the animals lived in. They offered to take animals from the business to help out, resulting in three dogs described as "problematic" that were handed over. The RSPCA said that there were no specific problems with the animals, although there are some problems with the conditions, so they would continue to offer advice to the shelter. Conditions and cleanliness were issues, so a report will follow which considers the cross contamination and disease control at the site. [http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/woottonbassett/display.var.1921073.0.rspca_visits_troubled_animal_haven.php RSPCA visits troubled animal haven] , "Gazette & Herald", 21st December 2007.]

un Valley chicken rescue

On January 7, WARN reported that a chicken named "Rocky" was "rescued" from Uphampton Farm, Shobdon, Herefordshire at the second biggest poultry slaughterhouse in the UK. [http://www.stopanimalcruelty.co.uk/warn/report.asp?39 BRAVE ACTIVISTS RESCUE CHICKEN FROM SUN VALLEY SLAUGHTER LINE SECONDS BEFORE DEATH] , "WARN", 7th February 2008.] This was in response to the recent high profile campaign on the television by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver who showed their concern at some of aspects of the farming industry, including Sun Valley, the supplier where the bird was taken from. [http://www.herefordtimes.com/jobs/news/display.var.2026973.0.its_business_as_usual_at_sun_valley.php It’s business as usual at Sun Valley] , "Hereford Times", 7th February 2008.] The activists claimed to have avoided the security checkpoint, by hiding behind a transport lorry, in order to investigate the conditions [http://www.stopanimalcruelty.co.uk/warn/report.asp?39 BRAVE ACTIVISTS RESCUE CHICKEN FROM SUN VALLEY SLAUGHTER LINE SECONDS BEFORE DEATH] , "WARN", 7th February 2008.] that Compassion in World Farming said were poor at the site in Shobdon. [http://www.herefordtimes.com/jobs/news/display.var.2026973.0.its_business_as_usual_at_sun_valley.php It’s business as usual at Sun Valley] , "Hereford Times", 7th February 2008.]

The group said the conditions were so bad, that instead an individual took an opportunity to rescue a chicken, which was named "Rocky", after the film "Chicken Run", he was then allegedly chased by four security guards and a van, but escaped. [http://www.stopanimalcruelty.co.uk/warn/report.asp?39 BRAVE ACTIVISTS RESCUE CHICKEN FROM SUN VALLEY SLAUGHTER LINE SECONDS BEFORE DEATH] , "WARN", 7th February 2008.] One male was arrested and released later that night on bail for attempted burglary, the police spokesman confirmed this and said that they were still looking for another man in connection with the offence. [http://www.stopanimalcruelty.co.uk/warn/report.asp?39 BRAVE ACTIVISTS RESCUE CHICKEN FROM SUN VALLEY SLAUGHTER LINE SECONDS BEFORE DEATH] , "WARN", 7th February 2008.] Sun Valley refuted the allegations of cruelty and bad conditions saying that the responsibility they have towards animal welfare is very serious, with employees trained to ensure the highest standards possible. [http://www.herefordtimes.com/jobs/news/display.var.2026973.0.its_business_as_usual_at_sun_valley.php It’s business as usual at Sun Valley] , "Hereford Times", 7th February 2008.] The activists involved have since had all charges dropped and no further action is to be taken by West Mercia Police.

ee also

* Southern Animal Rights Coalition (SARC)
* Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC)
* SPEAK
* Animal Liberation Front (ALF)
* Animal liberation movement
* Leaderless resistance
* Animal rights
* Animal testing

References

External links

* [http://westernanimalrights.wordpress.com Western Animal Rights Network] (WARN)
* [http://sequani.wordpress.com Stop Sequani Animal Testing] (SSAT)
* [http://www.supportsean.wordpress.com Free Sean Kirtley] (SSAT)
* [http://www.smashsequani.wordpress.com Carnival Against Vivisection]
* [http://westernanimalrights.wordpress.com/warntv WARNtv]
* [http://www.sequani.com Sequani Limited] ;Videos
* [http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=3305079700393156456 Unlock the Labs: Toxicol, now Sequani Ltd] , "NAVS", investigation, 20-minute video on YouTube.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7K2BI0b80c Stop Sequani National March Footage] , "Ledbury Portal" coverage, 8-minute video on YouTube, 2007.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-H0Ib3XjI8 SHAC National March Footage] , "WARN", 3-minute video on YouTube, 2007.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCgkfzoaW0A&feature=related Letter from Heather Nicholson (SHAC Prisoner)] , "WARN", 4-minute video on YouTube, 2007.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXd4ro5bSb4&feature=related Keith Mann Speech at Huntingdon March] , "WARN", 6-minute video on YouTube, 2007.
* [http://www.vimeo.com/898419?pg=embed&sec=898419 Smart Farms / Faccenda Exposed] , "WARN", 10-minute video on Vimeo, 2008.
* [http://www.vimeo.com/898141?pg=embed&sec=898141 Smart Farms Chicken Liberation] , "ALF", 3-minute video on Vimeo, 2008.
* [http://westernanimalrights.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/carnival-against-vivisection-promo-video Carnival Against Vivisection Promo Video] , "WARN", 2008.