Thursday, January 19, 2012

MONKEYS ON A PLANE? THOUSANDS SAY NO VIA ONLINE PETITION

TORONTO, ON – Thousands of people have joined a campaign on Change.org calling on the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) to approve a proposed policy change from Air Canada that would prohibit the airline’s transportation of monkeys and other primates destined for research.

The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), a UK animal protection organization dedicated to ending animal experimentation, is leading the campaign on Change.org following the CTA’s decision to suspend Air Canada’s recently amended tariff. The amendment was prompted by a second campaign on Change.org calling on airlines to adopt “no cruel cargo” policies.

“Primates are packed into small, wooden crates and shipped as cargo by passenger airlines on extremely long journeys to laboratories around the world,” said Sarah Kite, the director of special projects at BUAV. “The treatment and conditions they endure are extremely stressful for them. They may become ill or even die in transit. Delays, poor ventilation, noise and temperature fluctuations can add to their misery. Thousands of people have joined our campaigns on Change.org demanding an end to the suffering.”

Dozens of airlines around the world have already joined BUAV’s “Cargo Cruelty” campaign following pressure from the organization and travelers. American Airlines, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic are among the many airlines that refuse to fly primates destined for research.

“BUAV’s campaign has clearly resonated with people around the world,” said Change.org Director of Organizing, Stephanie Feldstein. “In a matter of days, more than 4,000 people have clearly called on the Canadian Transportation Agency to allow Air Canada to stop shipping primates for research. The folks at BUAV won’t give up until passenger airlines are no longer flying animals destined for research in their cargo holds.”

Live signature totals from the BUAV’s campaign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/support-air-canadas-decision-to-stop-transporting-primates-for-research

Journalists interested in contacting Canadian Transportation Agency’s public relations staff should try:

Office des transports du Canada/Canadian Transportation Agency
Relations avec les médias / Media Relations
Téléphone / Telephone: 819-934-3448
media@otc-cta.gc.ca

Journalists interested in contacting Air Canada’s public relations staff should try:
Peter Fitzpatrick, Air Canada Corporate Communications
peter.fitzpatrick@aircanada.ca
+1 (416) 263-5576

For more information on British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, please visit:
http://www.buav.org/
For over 100 years BUAV has been campaigning peacefully to create a world where nobody wants or believes we need to experiment on animals. The London-based team coordinates a widely respected international network of scientists, lawyers, campaigners, investigators, researchers, political lobbyists and supporters.

For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 500,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai