Foie Gras at the Grosvenor
Despite promises that "we take notice of all customer comments regarding our menu. We try our hardest to source quality local ingredients in all our meals to provide customers with a wide variety of choice" (or other such nonsense) the Chester Grosvenor have refurbished and redesigned their restaurant and STILL kept Foie Gras on the menu?
I wish that hey had kept to their word, and would take notice of 150 messages from members of the public to cease trading in this vile product, but sadly it is included in their new re-vamped menu.
A demonstration took place on 15th November, and such demonstrations will continue as long as the Grosvenor continue serving this vile product. If anyone would like to help out at a demnonstration, please contact us.
Demonstration at Bobby Roberts' animal circus met with threats of violence... again...
Another demonstration was held at Bobby Roberts' animal circus where it is stationed at Tir Prince, Towyn. This circus uses animals such as camels, horses and dogs in its act, as well as dragging a 55 year old arthritic elephant named Anne round in a trailer so that they can charge the public for photos. She is in great pain, but they will not allow her to retire to a sanctuary because she can still make them money.
We were able to see Anne alone in area enclosed by electrified fencing, with no food, water, shelter or stimulation. She was pacing back and forth in the way typified by stressed animals in captivity.
We had been met with threats of violence from the owners of Tir Prince and their staff at previous demos. They rent the land from Conwy Council, and use it for a fairground and arcades. They also allow Bobby Roberts to stay there for a month every year with his circus.
Local children living at the caravan park had been very supportive at previous demonstrations, but this time they were told by arcade staff that if they were anywhere near us, their families would be made homeless and they would receive a lifetime ban from everywhere around. These people sink lower every time. One of the Williams brothers (owners of Tir Prince) gave protestors and children the finger, before setting up a camera in the arcade to record us. Presumably he has nothing better to do than watch videos of women and children being harassed and threatened.
Next, a bunch of toothless yobs caling themselves "security" turned up (we understand these to be local bouncers and circus workers) and began threatening us - they were going to "f***ing deck/drop/get/smack" us and "beat the living sh*t out of (us)". This was even said to a child doing nothing more than holding a placard. Next, a circus worker gave eggs to them to throw at us. Luckily for us (not so lucky for traffic) these all landed on the main road. The threats of violence were escalating and the men were getting wound up that nobody was interested in a brawl - it was clear that they wanted someone to get hurt - so the police were called.
At this point, many dispersed, including local councillor Adam Williams, who clearly now wanted to distance himself from the threats of violence against peaceful protestors which moments before he had been laughing at. He had even shaken the hands of those who screamed the loudest, most obscene threats.
Police arrived quickly and told the remaining thugs to back off, and that we were breaking no laws. Two mounted police and cars were stationed to stay for the rest of the protest and ensure our safety - we would like to thank them for this. The protest carried on peacefully with good support from the public.
A car load of these men attempted to follow some protestors home. Fortunately, they aren't very bright so the protestors were able to lose them fairly easily, but it is worrying to think what these creeps' intentions were upon learning where they lived.
Everywhere this circus goes, there is trouble, threats and often violence, but we will not lose sight of the fact that this circus is treating animals terribly, and that many of the thugs who make these threats are circus workers, directly responsible for taking care of Anne and other animals. Wherever this circus goes, there will be protestors and public disgust. We aren't going to leave them alone because they threaten us - it makes us more determined to put an end to these acts and let the public know about the cruelty of animal circuses.
Incidentally, even with the half price and free tickets handed out, there were only a handful of customers at each performance. We were told many times by members of the public that after visiting once, they will never return due to the condition of the animals and their housing. People don't want to see this sad spectacle, and Bobby Roberts' circus' days are numbered.
Demo at David Cameron Q&A session against his vow to legalise hunting
Animal Rights protesters were very apparent when David Cameron came to the Wirral. A number of protesters, both local and from the wider area showed up to show their displeasure at Cameron's unethical pastime. Cameron has stated that 'there is nothing in his life so exciting to him than chasing wild animals and killing them' and has pledged to his hunting pals that he will repeal the hunting act should he gain power. 76% of the British public are against fox hunting because of the immense suffering caused to the animals in the name of sport. David Cameron plans to go against public opinion and allow these violent thugs to go back to their brutal pastimes. One of the protesters was inside the venue and actually was able to pose a question to Cameron about this unethical fun of his, much to his embarrassment, at the end she then walked throughout the hall with an anti hunt banner and wearing an anti blood sports T shirt. The protesters are urging people not to vote for Cameron as a vote for him is a vote for animal abuse.
Bobby Roberts Circus demo - 9th August
Ten protestors and a number of children from the holiday camps around, who joined us to show their disgust, were at Towyn, North Wales to let Bobby Roberts circus know of our displeasure at his sad animal circus, featuring a 52 year old arthritic elephant who has been denied a home offered by Born Free at a sanctuary. Poor Anne was captured from Sri Lanka at 6 years old, and has been dragged round the country with this circus ever since.
Before the protest, two of us were able to see below one of the tents at the back of the circus where Anne was tethered. We could only see the bottom half of the tent and we could see her feet and her swinging her trunk forlornly.
Opposite the circus field was a fairground owned by a man called Billy Williams (yes, William Williams!), who rents this land from Conwy Council and has rented the field to Bobby Roberts. He came over to the non-threatening women and children, agressively insisting that we move from this private road. This is a man who allows goldfish in tiny plastic containers to be given out in his fairground. Judi Hewitt, North Wales AR founder, will be taking up the issue of council land being used for animal circuses and for goldfish to be given out at this fairground with Conwy Council.
Nevertheless we were pleased to get a great response from the public, and we had several families pledging to boycott the circus after reading our leaflets. We also recruited a new mamber to the group
Meanwhile, there were very few people patronising the circus, in contrast to the non-animal American circus the week before, which was booked out each night. It would seem that our message is getting across and this archaic spectacle of the last century loks like it is becoming as obscure as it should be.
But, we'll be back. If you want to join us, please get in touch.
Colwyn Bay Badger Demo - 26th July
The demo in Colwyn Bay against the proposed Badger cull in Wales was quite successful. It was a beautiful day and we hope that awareness was raised in the local area and that a clear message was sent to Elin Jones (Am in favour of a cull).
Brighton Chicken Rescue
We went down to Brighton for a few days to help with their chicken rescue. Chickens used for the egg industry are killed at 80-90 days old, even in free range farms. One farmer allows the chickens to be rescued and rehomed rather than killed for meat. Thousands were rescued during the week, and 24 brought up to Chester. we are hoping to rehome more locally next time, so get in touch if you would like to offer some birds a forever home.
Rally and march against Badger Culling - Saturday 28th June
Several of us travelled down to Cardiff for a rally against the proposed badger cull. The idea of the cull is to eradicate over half of the UK's badgers in an attempt to stop Bovine TB. All available scientific evidence shows that this would not work - a similar cull in the seventies did nothing. See here for more details
The demo went well, with a big group outside the Welsh Assembly building with banners and badger masks, followed by a march and meeting nearby for talks/stalls see here for press coverage of the day
Uncaged Collection - Denbigh - Saturday 21st June
Despite the wind and rain, this went well with £81.20 raised for Uncaged.
For further details of Uncaged's campaigning against vivisection, see www.uncaged.co.uk
