World Dairy Summit 2010
Report Day One and Two
Fonterra and the World Dairy Summit claims of sustainability have been challenged by the Coalition Against the World Dairy Summit over the past two days. Reports in the mainstream media say there was a record turnout of around 2200 delegates from 66 different countries, this should reflect the massive scale that dairy is currently playing in the New Zealand and global economy.
Members of the CAWDS and concerned members of the public held demonstrations outside Skycity where the conference is held, as well as at the Maritime Museum and Auckland War Memorial Museum where the dinners were held.
On Monday morning, the first day of the Summit, we were met with security, police and journalists. We handed out information to the public and the delegates about why we oppose the dairy industry. Some delegates stopped for conversations. When the reality of the dairy industry was explained to delegates from overseas, some of them were shocked to know that over 1 million calves are killed every year as a waste by-product of the dairy industry, one delegate from Brazil said they have similar problems with pollution of waterways, water usage and deforestation for the dairy industry. However, most of the overseas delegates just stopped and took photos.
Monday evening, we met them at the Maritime Museum where they were having dinner. Bus-loads of delegates come off and through the protests, fences were put up around the entry and it was heavily guarded by security. Some of the security guards event tried some homemade vegan cake and was “surprised” it had no dairy and egg products.
The mainstream news coverage of the demonstrations were minimal, although it is suspicious how one article on stuff.co.nz with the original headline, “Protestors converge at dairy summit” changed to “Record turnouts at dairy summit” later in the day and the article changed entirely censoring quotes from a CAWDS spokesperson. Meanwhile, Federated Farmers crafted a press release telling dairy protesters to “get a real job (like farming)”. Climate Camp have released a response inviting Federated farmers to take their own advice.
Today, Animal Freedom Aotearoa released an investigation into the dairy industry highlighting the exploitation of dairy cows, mass slaughter of baby calves, environmental impacts of dairy farming and health benefits of going dairy free.
Demos were held throughout the day today from morning to evening. During lunchtime, we marched from Skycity to Fonterra headquarters on Princes St and sent a message to Fonterra that we don’t accept their lies about sustainability and nutrition and that we know the whole story of milk from the view of dairy cows and calves. Afterwards, we marched back down to Queen St where a lot of people came up to talk to us, took photos and asked for more information. Many people expressed their support. We ended up running of flyers, 1600 leaflets went out in a day and half. This evening, the delegates were having their dinner at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. We gathered there early to meet them upon arrival, about 3-4 bus loads of delegates arrived at the museum and we met with chants like “dairy polluters, animal abusers” and “milk production, ecological destruction” as well as “cows with guns” blasting out from the wheelie bin stereo.
More actions next two days:
Wednesday: 8-9am outside Skycity, 12noon at 123 Carlton Gore Rd, Newmarket, 5.30pm at Auckland War Memorial Museum
Thursday: 8-9am outside Skycity
Members of the CAWDS and concerned members of the public held demonstrations outside Skycity where the conference is held, as well as at the Maritime Museum and Auckland War Memorial Museum where the dinners were held.
On Monday morning, the first day of the Summit, we were met with security, police and journalists. We handed out information to the public and the delegates about why we oppose the dairy industry. Some delegates stopped for conversations. When the reality of the dairy industry was explained to delegates from overseas, some of them were shocked to know that over 1 million calves are killed every year as a waste by-product of the dairy industry, one delegate from Brazil said they have similar problems with pollution of waterways, water usage and deforestation for the dairy industry. However, most of the overseas delegates just stopped and took photos.
Monday evening, we met them at the Maritime Museum where they were having dinner. Bus-loads of delegates come off and through the protests, fences were put up around the entry and it was heavily guarded by security. Some of the security guards event tried some homemade vegan cake and was “surprised” it had no dairy and egg products.
The mainstream news coverage of the demonstrations were minimal, although it is suspicious how one article on stuff.co.nz with the original headline, “Protestors converge at dairy summit” changed to “Record turnouts at dairy summit” later in the day and the article changed entirely censoring quotes from a CAWDS spokesperson. Meanwhile, Federated Farmers crafted a press release telling dairy protesters to “get a real job (like farming)”. Climate Camp have released a response inviting Federated farmers to take their own advice.
Today, Animal Freedom Aotearoa released an investigation into the dairy industry highlighting the exploitation of dairy cows, mass slaughter of baby calves, environmental impacts of dairy farming and health benefits of going dairy free.
Demos were held throughout the day today from morning to evening. During lunchtime, we marched from Skycity to Fonterra headquarters on Princes St and sent a message to Fonterra that we don’t accept their lies about sustainability and nutrition and that we know the whole story of milk from the view of dairy cows and calves. Afterwards, we marched back down to Queen St where a lot of people came up to talk to us, took photos and asked for more information. Many people expressed their support. We ended up running of flyers, 1600 leaflets went out in a day and half. This evening, the delegates were having their dinner at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. We gathered there early to meet them upon arrival, about 3-4 bus loads of delegates arrived at the museum and we met with chants like “dairy polluters, animal abusers” and “milk production, ecological destruction” as well as “cows with guns” blasting out from the wheelie bin stereo.
More actions next two days:
Wednesday: 8-9am outside Skycity, 12noon at 123 Carlton Gore Rd, Newmarket, 5.30pm at Auckland War Memorial Museum
Thursday: 8-9am outside Skycity
