Voices for the Voiceless

COMMUNITY BROADCASTING ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (CBAA)

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) were awarded the 2009 Peoples Choice grant worth $10,000, to fund the development of a series of 60-second radio segments. The project began with the formation of a Steering Committee (including members of Animals Australia, Animal Liberation Queensland, Brightside Farm Sanctuary and Compassion in World Farming), to develop a list of key issues to be promoted and to put together scripts for eight 60-second radio segments. The segments were aimed at disseminating information to listeners about how they can take action for animals in their own lives.  These segments were broadcast on the Community Radio Satellite Service and ran for six months. To supplement their broadcast, 500 information packages were developed and distributed to community radio stations, community organizations, educators and individuals. In addition, a website was also created allowing the public to listen to the audio segments, read relevant information on each key topic and take action through signing petitions, writing letters or making changes in their own lives.

Before You Buy That

LAWYERS FOR ANIMALS

Lawyers for Animals (LFA) received a grant of $15,000 to produce a series of ads to run in the MX commuter newspaper, that encouraged readers to consider the animal welfare implications associated with the consumption of animal products. The ads ran in Sydney and Melbourne, prompting consumers by interjecting with their ‘before you buy that’ slogan encouraging people to stop and think about the implications of their purchase before they make it. The campaign addresses key issues of animal welfare surrounding the suffering of pigs, chickens and dairy cows before redirecting consumers to the LFA website for further information. In time with the publication of these advertisements, traffic to the LFA website increased to an all-time high during the month of May 2010. To view two of the adverts from the series please click on the download icon below.

http://lawyersforanimals.org.au/media/before-you-buy-that-advertising-campaign/

Sponsors

BIO-DISTRIBUTORS

Website: http://lawyersforanimals.org.au

Caged Eggs: Can You Taste The Cruelty?

ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW

Animal Liberation received a $15,000 grant to develop two creative and engaging TV commercials to inform consumers about battery hens. Animal Liberation sourced pro-bono talent and professional production, aiming to capitalise on the growing public awareness around the issues of caged eggs. The powerful ads were shown on prime time morning television around Christmas and again during peak rating periods in March 2010. As a result, many members of the public contacted Animal Liberation with positive feedback.  ABC’s Midday Report ran a story about the ads featuring actual footage filmed inside a battery farm.  Release magazine wrote an article in response which were featured on the ABC’s Gruen Transfer. To view a copy of the image, please click on the download icon below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWftoTwhH_E

Decimation of an Icon

AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY FOR KANGAROOS

The Australian Society for Kangaroos were awarded a $15,000 grant to fund the administrative and production costs of a television commercial entitled ‘Decimation of an Icon’. The ad strikes a contrast between the image of a mother and her Joey, and text telling the horror of the commercial slaughter, in order to highlight the plight of kangaroos. The commercial was launched at the Voiceless 2010 Annual Awards Event held at Sydney Town Hall.  It then aired hundreds of times on commercial and community television across regional and metropolitan Australia in July and August 2011, appearing on Channel Nine, Network Ten and WIN TV.

http://www.australiansocietyforkangaroos.com/advertisement.html

Profits from Pigs: An analysis of the pig meat industry in Australia

INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

The Institute for Sustainable Futures was issued a $20,000 grant to fund a research paper titled ‘Profit from Pigs: An analysis of the pig meat industry in Australia’. The paper investigates the state of the pig meat industry through an analysis of the impact of the rise of the factory farm, challenges faced by the industry, and the power of the consumer.

Fourth Annual Sydney VeganExpo

THE VEGAN SOCIETY NSW

This grant, awarded to The Vegan Society of New South Wales, went towards the funding of their Fourth Annual Sydney VeganExpo held in 2009. Voiceless has supported this event in the past with a grant being awarded in 2007. This year, Voiceless has contributed $1,500 towards promotion of the expo. The aim of the day was to create a fun, educational and informative event with stalls, entertainment, a kid’s area and a range of speakers.To view the logo created for this event please click on the download icon below.

http://www.vegansocietynsw.com/vs/html/veganexpo2009.html

Public Opinion Poll

HUMANE RESEARCH AUSTRALIA

The Australian Association for Humane Research (AAHR) was awarded a grant of $5,000 to carry out a public opinion poll into animal experimentation. The poll found almost 90% of respondents consider that the number of animals used for research and teaching in Australia is unacceptable or could be reduced, and over half don’t believe it’s always safe to apply results to humans. Astonishingly, only 62% of the general public are even aware that animals are used in experimental research. AAHR CEO Helen Marston said, “Approximately 7 million animals are used in research and teaching in Australia every year. It’s heartening to know the majority of Australians are opposed to such archaic practice and recognize the need to seek more humane and scientifically-valid options”. The information obtained is being used to assist AAHR in determining how they can most effectively direct their work in opposing animal experiments.  To see a press release related to the survey results, please click on the download icon below.

Cardiovascular control practical: online design

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

The University of Sydney was awarded the $5,000 Humane Resources Grant for their project entitled “Cardiovascular control practical: online design”. Using these funds, Dr Laura Batavian, Senior Lecturer with the Faculty of Medicine, created an on-line and interactive practical which can be used as an alternative to classes involving rabbits thereby reducing animal-based learning whilst promoting alternatives to animal use in teaching. Although it is many years since the University of Sydney has used animals in this area of teaching, a number of other Australian and international universities have indicated they are interested in adopting the on-line version of the practical once it has been created. In an effort to encourage this, Dr Batmanian has digitised, edited and optimised the video for web playback. In addition, the content has been re-written for web use and text graphics and navigation have been incorporated. As a result of this work, the Unity of Study coordinators for Body Systems in the Discipline of Biomedical Sciences as well as the Schools of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Sydney have decided to incorporate the practical into their curricula.

Interstate long distance transports

ANIMALS' ANGELS

Animals’ Angels were awarded a grant of $10,000 towards their investigations into long distance animal transport. Animals’ Angels is an organisation focused on monitoring and documenting the suffering of animals subject to long distance transport across Australia, a practice which they believe amounts to some of the worst cruelties perpetrated upon animals in this country. This grant was used to fund an investigation into these practices which saw Animals’ Angels setting off with two professional investigators to follow trucks as they leave saleyards loaded with cattle and sheep. Despite meticulous preparation and the tracking of transporters thousands of kilometres, the team encountered unexpected difficulties in 2008 which prevented the gathering of sufficient evidence to publish a comprehensive report. Animals’ Angels remain dedicated to exposing an industry where no monitoring or controls currently exist and stated, “If you don’t do the hard yards, nothing will change”.

Compassion Trail

BRIGHTSIDE FARM SANCTUARY

Brightside Farm Sanctuary in Tasmania was awarded the People’s Choice Award of $10,000 for their project to construct a ‘Compassion Trail’. The trail leads visitors and school students through paddocks and animal habitats, giving them an insight into the animals lives, providing information and photographs detailing the cruel facts about factory farming and encouraging people to make more humane choices. The launch of the ‘Compassion Trail’ was detailed in Tasmanian newspaper The Mercury.