Media Release

03 July 2002 New Celebrity Video Condemns Factory Farming Some of Britain’s most-popular celebrities have joined together in a powerful new video entitled ‘Not in my Name’, launched for National Vegetarian Week, July 8-14. They passionately attack factory farming, demanding that it be ended without delay. In a series of honest, impassioned and controversial interviews, they condemn the cruelty of modern farming as ‘intolerable.’ Those taking part include actors Joanna Lumley, Martin Shaw and Jerome Flynn, musicians Sir Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde and Jeremy Cunningham, best-selling author Anne Fine, TV presenters Wendy Turner-Webster and Anneka Svenska and barrister Michael Mansfield QC. Their words are underscored by shocking covert footage shot inside many of Britain’s intensive livestock units by the animal group Viva! Martin Shaw says: "If people, before they ate their meals, were taken to a factory farm and saw the degradation and torture they are party to, I don’t think most would want to carry on". In her typically forthright way, Chrissie Hynde says: "I question anyone who brings their child up thinking that these acts of unnecessary violence should become a part of their life and that they accept them as normal. I think it’s a gross irresponsibility on the part of the parent - I think it’s shameful". Joanna Lumley adds: "We’ve got to realise that we’re creatures of this planet, treat living things with respect and the earth will show us respect back. I know this sound loony but it’s not, it’s sense!" Speaking of the Government’s claims of high welfare standards, Jerome Flynn says: "I don’t know if Britain has the best animal welfare in the world and it doesn’t matter. Politicians just use that as another means to justify waiting and not doing anything - to justify evil, to justify suffering". Michael Mansfield QC hits out at the underlying ethos behind factory farming, saying: "We are creating a society in which life simply doesn’t matter - it is much more important to create a successful marketplace." Anne Fine, author of Madame Doubtfire (filmed as Mrs Doubtfire, starring Robin Williams) looks to history, saying: "Once you are looking at Auschwitz for animals, you are in serious trouble as a society if you don’t ask yourself - is this what I want and is it in my name? My attitude is no - not in my name!" Anneka Svenska has decided to bring up her daughter Anelise as a vegetarian because: "... I was quite angry with my mother when I found out that she had been feeding me animals. I know that Anelise would also be deeply distressed if she learned that she’s been eating animals that had come from these horrific conditions2. Wendy Turner-Webster has given up all meat and dairy products and says: "I really couldn’t have it on my conscience to support either of these horrific industries." Jeremy Cunningham (the Levellers) feels similar and says: "It had a very big impact when I became aware of factory farming. I thought it was just overwhelming and decided I couldn’t have it on my conscience". Paul McCartney provides humorous encouragement, telling people that if they want to improve their health, stop environmental destruction and end cruelty to animals then they should go vegetarian. "Go veggie Dude!" Juliet Gellatley, founder and director of Viva! provides some staggering statistics - 45 billion animals slaughtered in the world last year, almost one billion in Britain and most of them factory farmed. This includes almost all pigs, chickens, turkeys and ducks while 72 per cent of eggs still come from battery cages. The video marks the launch of National Vegetarian Week (July 8 - 14) and will be screened at Viva!’s End Factory Farming rally and march on Saturday, July 13. People will be travelling from every region of Britain to take part, meeting at noon in Kennington Park, London SE11, for speeches before marching to Trafalgar Square. They will be demanding: "End factory farming - before it ends us". On the same day, Viva!’s Food for Life Festival will take place at the Camden Centre, Judd Street, London WC1 from 11am to 7pm. Participating organisations include Viva!, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, The Green Party, Compassion in World Farming and the Farm Animal Welfare Network. Copies of video available - VHS, mini DV and Beta SP copies of Not in my Name are available on request from Viva! Broadcast-quality interviews - the quotes used here are taken from much longer interviews recorded specifically for Not in my Name. Broadcast standard copies and full transcripts of the entire interviews are available by negotiation from Viva! Photographs - still photographs of celebrities and of factory farmed animals are available from Viva!. Audio CDs - radio-quality CDs of the interviews are also available. Available for interview - Jerome Flynn, Chrissie Hynde and Wendy Turner-Webster are available for personal interviews during National Vegetarian Week (July 8-14). For further information please contact Juliet Gellatley or Tony Wardle on Viva!’s main number, 0117 944 1000