Where are people being branded?
FILE PHOTO: Last year, activists in Israel branded themselves
Following in the footsteps of their Israeli counterparts, Animal Rights activists in England will be branded with a red hot iron in order to raise awareness about the cruelty endured by cattle.
Claiming that farm animals and dairy cattle in particular are handled with disrespect and brutality, campaigners for the ethical treatment of animals have taken on a new form of protest in reaction to what they are calling an animal holocaust.
Last year, activists in Israel branded themselves with the number 269 on World Farm Day to highlight the treatment meted out to animals at factory farms, the number being chosen as a tribute to a calf they encountered.
The activists then made a video of the branding and posted it online to urge people around the world to go vegan, reject all animal products and play their role in combatting animal cruelty.
Inspired by their methodology, Becky Folkard decided to bring the idea into her own community. My initial reaction was admiration,” she told the Daily Mail. “I don’t see it as shocking, although I accept others will. I, immediately, wanted to be involved and thought: ‘I couldn’t do the branding, that sounds terrifying.’ But then I thought about it more and realised why not? … If one person goes away and researches a vegan lifestyle because of this, it will have been worth it.”
Becky, a senior manager at a wealth management company has found three willing volunteers who will have 269 burnt onto their bare chests.
And while the legality of this form of protest may be questioned, it has definitely got them the attention they wanted.
The idea has quickly started to viral, with cities like Berlin, Melbourne, Buenos Aires and Washington DC showing their solidarity by organising similar protests.
A “We are all 269” event has been scheduled to take place simultaneously in all the participating countries on March 21.
And the brandings are recorded and posted on their Facebook page.
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