Gillard Must Act to Stop the Cruelty in Her Country's Wool Industry, Group Says
For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2011
Contact:
Ashley Gonzalez 202483-7382
Washington -- As Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard prepares to address a joint session of Congress, dozens of PETA members and supporters will hold a spirited protest at the Capitol aimed at Australia's practice of mutilating lambs used in the wool industry. Holding posters that feature graphic photos of mutilated lambs and signs that read, "Gillard: Stop Cruel Mulesing," PETA activists will call on the prime minister to end "mulesing," a barbaric mutilation in which farmers cut huge chunks of skin from lambs' backsides with instruments resembling garden shears in a crude and cruel attempt to prevent maggot infestation. The Australian wool industry continues to allow mulesing even though more humane options are available and in use by many farmers in Australia.
When: Wednesday, March 9, 9:45 a.m.
Where: U.S. Capitol (outside the main entrance on First Street, between Constitution Avenue N.E. and Independence Avenue S.E.), Washington, D.C.
"Ms. Gillard has the power to push for an end to mulesing mutilations once and for all," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "The prime minister may be in the U.S. on a goodwill mission, but her country's systematic abuse of tens of millions of lambs every year is condemned by caring people around the world."
PETA has successfully persuaded dozens of clothing retailers—including Talbots, Gap Inc., H&M, Limited Brands, Liz Claiborne, and Timberland—to move away from mulesed wool.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.