Viva! 8 York Court Wilder Street Bristol BS2 8QH Tel: 0117 944 1000 Fax: 0117 924 4646 email: media@viva.org.uk Visit Viva!'s Foot and Mouth Pages	1 May 2001 Burying? Burning? Shooting? Stop Killing. Full Stop. Anti-Slaughter Protest by Viva! College Green, Millbank,(opposite Houses of Parliament) - Friday, May 4 - 11.30 am Campaigners dressed in animal masks and costumes, with black balloons and accompanied by a Grim Reaper, will unfold a giant banner proclaiming ‘It’s time to go veggie’ over scenes of burning funeral pyres. A symbolic effigy of the government department, MAFF, will be cremated. The protest is not just against the slaughter of nearly two million animals because of foot and mouth but is also against Britain’s daily slaughter of 2.4 healthy animals. The protesters and their noisy demonstration will march to MAFF headquarters in nearby Smith Square and demand ‘Stop Killing - Full Stop’. Animal group Viva! has been campaigning against MAFF’s handling of the epidemic since the start, accusing it of dancing to the NFU’s tune (National Farmers Union) in order to protect its richest members. Senior Campaigner, Becky Smith, says: “Almost all the animals killed because of foot and mouth would have survived and been none the worse for it in the long run. Instead we have been forced to witness a barbaric mass slaughter and endless hypocrisy in order to protect farmers exports worth a meagre £1 billion. There could be no clearer evidence that farmed animals count for nothing. But, sadly, the slaughter will continue long after foot and mouth has disappeared. Nearly 900 million animals every year, encouraged by subsidies and financial support. “The whole barbaric business has to end. Instead of ladling out cash to livestock farmers, MAFF should start promoting organic, sustainable, non-animal agriculture. That’s why our demand is simple - STOP KILLING - FULL STOP.” For further information contact Becky Smith, Kat Koukourakis or Juliet Gellatley on 0117 944 1000