As part of the run up to World Day for Animals In Laboratories (http://www.wdail.org/), activists from the local area converged for a day of action against Harlan Laboratories. Harlan breed beagles for the vivisection industry, including the notorious Huntingdon Life Sciences. They also offer their clients the option of purchasing ‘surgically-modified’ animals. This means that some beagles undergo surgery on Harlan premises so they are experiment-ready before being transported to a client’s laboratory.

    Harlan operate from a farm just outside of Loughborough near Belton where in the secrecy of the countryside, behind razor wire fences and concentration camp style security systems, they breed and butcher their dogs.

Saturday 6th April saw a dozen Nottingham activists stage a peaceful protest outside Ladbrokes betting shop in Nottingham city centre, to raise public awareness about the dark side of the Grand National, and also the wider horse and greyhound racing industries. The message was that there is no such thing as a harmless flutter, as if you bet on animal racing then you are literally betting with their lives.

On Easter Sunday, activists from Nottingham Animal Rights, Derby Animal Rights and Leicester Animal Rights, converged on Twycross zoo to protest the cruel incarceration of animals from around the world, as part of the Captive Animal Protection Society's zoo awareness weekend

Read on to support Brinsley Animal Rescue - Anti-AstraZeneca demo in Macclesfield - Fur demos in Derby - Anti-Foston campaign - Peoples Kitchen in aid of anti badger cull campaign - League Against Cruel Sports - Anti Greyhound racing demo - Leicester Green Light festival - Anti Fur demos - Circus Mondao in Burton.

This month our minds are focussed on the forthcoming killing of badgers, whilst dairy cows and their calves continue to suffer unnatural and abusive practices....

McDonalds have put in a planning application to open a branch at Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NA. They tried last year but were refused (see http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Plans-pub-rejected/story-13164950-detail/story.html).

This time they've come back all guns blazing, and teamed up with KFC. Great.

Another two weeks of campaigning with Nottingham Anima Rights includes:

Fur; Eggs; McD+KFC; Greyhounds; SabsBenefit; VeganOutreach; Badgers; PetWelfare

-

Thanks to all who supported the Black Fish benefit gig at Sumac on Friday 26th March which raised £260.

The Black Fish is a European based conservation organisation that takes action on the issues of whaling, industrial fishing and marine animals in captivity. Using investigation and intervention, The Black Fish has set out on a mission to change attitudes towards our precious oceans and work to protect the unique life within them. http://www.theblackfish.org/

Read on for more events.

Two more weeks of campaigns and awareness raising, with a bit of socialising and mutual support with other movements for social change.

Welcome to 2011

Current issues includes 11th January deadline to oppose plans for Nocton Mega-Dairy; the status of Paul Smith furs sales; Secret whaling deal plotted by US and Japan; and more

Not quite so much happening over the next fortnight, but everyone can think of the animals for whom this time of the year is certainly no holiday.

Download Animal Aid's Compassionate Christmas guide to festive animal-friendly, fashion, food and fun (pdf) from http://www.animalaid.org.uk/images/pdf/booklets/xmas.pdf.

Current campaigns include tackling the reintroduction of fur by Paul Foot and preparations for the biggest Vegan Free Food Give-away yet attempted. And a whole lot more.

Read on...

Time once again to get off the net and onto the streets.
Draw a big breath, its time again for a round-up of Nottm Animal Rights events: