Day of action against long distance animal transport sees organisations unite

Sheep moving onto a ship for export
Sheep moving onto a ship for export

The Green Party will be speaking at the first ever global day of action against long distance live animal transport, 'Animals are Not Freight'.

Keith Taylor, Green Party MEP for the South East, will be speaking at the event on Monday, 29 August.

The day will see hundreds of campaigners across the globe protesting against the live export trade.

It marks 20 years since the world's worst live export disaster when nearly 70,000 sheep died as the ship carrying them burst into flames in the Indian Ocean and sank.

Keith, the Green Party's Animals spokesperson, said live exports is a "barbaric industry that must be completely abolished."

"As a Member of the European Parliament, I have written to the new UK Minister for Animals, Lord Gardiner, urging him to support the Europe-wide Stop The Trucks campaign," Mr Taylor said.

"The campaign will mount a fresh call from national governments to amend European regulations to stamp out this inhumane practice"

Millions of animals are transported long distances every year.

"The trade of live animals is unnecessary and could feasibly be replaced with a trade in meat," the Green Party said.