Animal Freedom Aotearoa Launch

Yesterday we celebrated the launch of our new group Animal Freedom Aotearoa (AFA) with a well attended launch party in Auckland.

Many of us have been involved in the animal rights movement and other social justice and environmental movements for a number of years and we saw a need for a national grassroots animal rights group that would be inclusive, non-hierarchical and effective. We want total liberation, not bigger cages or free range farming. And if we are serious about this, we need to organize together and on a national level in a way that will bring about real change for the animals on this planet. So some of us from Auckland, Palmy, Otaki and Wellington got together to set up this new group. We’ve been meeting since mid-2009 and now we are finally ready to get down to business – direct action for animal liberation!

We have active groups in Otaki, Wellington and Auckland who work on the following campaigns; Fur Free Aotearoa, Foie Gras Aotearoa, Stop Animal Testing and a new campaign Egg Free Aotearoa. Each campaign group tries to co-ordinate nationally and works within the groups guidelines but otherwise they are autonomous and free to take action and make decisions as they see fit.

As well as actively campaigning on these issues we will also be providing information to the public about the plight of animals through stalls, film screenings, workshops and factory farm visits. Each campaign group tries to co-ordinate nationally and works within the groups guidelines but otherwise they are autonomous and free to take action and make decisions as they see fit.

Our local organising groups in Auckland, Otaki and Wellington act as place of unity for the various campaign and working groups and a place to discuss issues relating to the national group and new activities, campaigns and ideas.

We also have an investigation team who work through out the country documenting the conditions in which millions of animals are suffering in Aotearoa.

For photos from our launch check them out on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/45650247@N08/sets/72157623377066996/

GET INVOLVED!!

Every day animals are suffering. We can no longer deny this fact.

They need you. So get involved!

If you agree with our guidelines, get in touch! Whoever you are, wherever you are living, there is something you can contribute to the fight.

Please contact us on info@animalfreedom.org.nz

Also check out our site www.animalfreedom.org.nz and please join up to our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=278877430357&ref=ts

GUIDELINES

AFA operates under a number of guidelines. These guidelines define our group, how we operate and what we will or will not campaign for.

Below our guidelines and explained;

• We are actively pro animal rights/animal liberation. We will actively fight and campaign for animal liberation.
• We are a non-hierarchical group. We treat one another as equals at all times. We do not have any traditional ‘leaders’ and each individual has their own equal say.
• All animals (human or non-human) are equal. We absolutely reject any opinions or actions which aim to exploit non-human animals or use them for human benefit.
• We support all forms of direct action aimed at stopping or reducing animal abuse or exploitation.
• We will always support one another in the fight for animal liberation.
• We recognise that there are a wide range of tools and tactics used by activism to fight forms of exploitation.
• We will actively enable the involvement of anyone who agrees with our guidelines. That means you! Go on! Get involved! We are here to support and help you as you get involved in the fight for animal freedom.
• We will be an accessible resource for those who wish to understand animal exploitation. We will make sure that anyone who wishes to get involved in the fight for animal liberation has the tools required.
• We feel it is vital to understand that all forms of exploitation are inter-linked. Exploitation of our natural environment, indigenous peoples, racial exploitation, age, gender and sexual preference based discrimination are all part of the system which also exploits animals. A system which we are fighting against.
• We recognise Maori as the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa and recognise their right to self-determination and freedom.

AIMS

AFA first and foremost aims to achieve animal liberation. This is our number one goal. We also have many other aims;

• To Build a national grassroots movement

We aim to build a strong and effective movement of activists fighting for animal liberation across New Zealand.

• To Get people involved and active

We want to get people involved and active, encourage new activists and show that is we stand together we can achieve freedom for animals.

• Vegan world

AFA believes in a vegan world! Where peoples lifestyles and diets cease to contribute to animal death and suffering. We will promote the fact that humans can live healthy full lives without consuming any animal products.

• Building a proper community

We will work to build supportive community for animal rights activists across the country.

• Animal liberation
• Shutting the animal abusers down – achieving liberation

AFA aims to shut down those companies which profit from animal suffering and achieve liberation for all animals.

• Educating people and clarifying what animal rights is
• Killing capitalism

AFA recognises the links between all forms of exploitation and that the capitalist system is the machine which perpetrates these injustices. We are against the capitalist system as it exploits the majority for the benefit of the minority.

• Connecting links between oppressions

Oppression of animals is akin to that of humans. The treatment of slaves is not unlike the way society currently treats non-human animals. We recognise the links between all forms of oppression.

• Promoting direct action

AFA is a vehicle to promote all forms of direct action. We will encourage people to get involved and educate about all different types of direct action.

• Democracy (in a true sense not in the parliamentary way)

AFA is a democratic group. We practise consensus based decision making and democracy in it’s true sense, not the parliamentary form.

• Really yummy and healthy food

AFA aims to promote healthy, delicious animal free food for all.

• DIY or DIT

We believe that the best way to do things is to DIY or DIT, Do It Yourself or Do It Together, and that this is especially true in activism.

• No compromise

AFA is based on no compromise. We will never compromise ourselves in the fight for animal liberation. We are committed and dedicated to achieving absolute liberation for all animals.