Global Call To Action! Support ‘Ban Live Exports: International Awareness Day’ On June 14th

As part of the seventh annual Ban Live Exports: International Awareness Day on June 14th, the animal welfare organization Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), which started the campaign, is urging animal advocates across the globe to unite in support of a ban on the cruel trade of live animal exports.

CIWF is encouraging people all over the world to take action by joining a Tweet storm and signing a petition aimed at persuading the EU to ban this cruel and unnecessary trade.

Every year, millions of live animals, including calves, sheep, and pigs are transported by road, rail, sea, or air across continents around the world. More than three million animals are exported from the EU alone for human consumption. During this time, they often endure horrific conditions such as overcrowding and extreme temperatures, causing enormous pain and distress.

Ban Live Exports: International Awareness Day is held on June 14th every year, which sadly marks the live export tragedy that occurred on the same day in 2015 when 13,000 sheep tragically lost their lives during a long sea journey from Romania to Somalia. Along the way, thousands of sheep died from dehydration, starvation, and exhaustion.

This year, the organization also launched a hard-hitting new video featuring a spoof travel agency advert mocking the inadequacy of EU regulations to protect the welfare of farmed animals during transport.

“Compassion has campaigned for a ban on live exports for decades. Under current European Union rules, pigs can be transported non-stop in trucks for 24 hours and most sheep and cattle for 29 hours with just a one-hour ‘rest’ during the journey,” Ben Williamson, U.S. Executive Director for Compassion in World Farming said in a statement. “It is time for this awful trade to end once and for all.”

Last year’s day of action, which was held virtually for the second year in a row due to COVID-19 restrictions, received an overwhelming show of support in at least 40 countries: over 150 NGOs joined the Twitter storm to raise awareness about this awful trade, and tweets containing the hashtag #BanLiveExports received more than 62 million views.

Please sign the petition against this cruel trade urging the European Commission to take further steps to protect farm animals, HERE!

You can help all animals and our planet by choosing compassion on your plate and in your glass. #GoVeg