00:00 [Music]
00:12 So today we're protesting against the co-op's use of Frankenchickens.
00:17 So Frankenchickens are a breed of chicken that have been bred to grow unnaturally quickly
00:22 and they have loads of welfare issues because of that, because they grow so quickly they get really heavy,
00:28 develop lameness and struggle to move.
00:31 So we are protesting against the use of these chickens by the co-op on their farms.
00:36 So we've organised a protest in person today because the co-op had an AGM meeting
00:43 where their members voted to support the cancelled use of Frankenchickens
00:49 and we wanted to show that there are loads of members of the co-op that don't agree with the use of these Frankenchickens
00:57 and we wanted to show that to them in person to get as many people as possible to support this.
01:02 I don't think this type of protest would be as effective done online.
01:06 It's been great to use our online presence to gather as many people as possible for the protest
01:13 but in order to show the co-op how much this means to people,
01:16 I think it's so much more effective to get these people out in front of the co-op building and show them the support.
01:24 [Music]
01:45 I attended a protest today to object to the cruelty of chickens and the appalling conditions they're kept
01:52 in and the fact that they're just used as a product and they are sentient beings.
01:56 I think the in-person importance, because there's a visibility of people seeing you in person
02:02 and can actually relate to you in person.
02:05 Online can be anonymous and can be easily ignored but when you're actually in person and speak to people one-to-one
02:11 or even they just see you, it has been more effective than just a tweet or a Facebook, even though that has its place.
02:20 So I attended today because I want to show the senior managers at the co-op that their members really do want them
02:29 to adopt the Better Chicken commitment.
02:32 They know that 95% of the members voted for them to do so and they say they're an ethical, pioneering supermarket
02:44 and we want to hold them to account for that. They want better welfare for the chickens.
02:51 So that's why I'm here today.
02:54 I think both coming out like we are here today and online activism, both have their place.
03:02 I think online activism is very accessible for people and it can spread the message far and wide online.
03:10 Coming out here today, I think it just shows even more solidarity.
03:15 People have come from far and wide, particularly here today, from the north, from the south, from local areas
03:20 and we really just want to get that message across that we're really serious about this
03:26 and we really believe in the Better Chicken commitment and we really want the co-op to sign up to that,
03:32 as their members have asked them to.
03:35 I've always had an interest in the welfare of animals, particularly food animals, how they are reared and slaughtered.
03:45 As I've become more aware, I'm opposed to intensive factory farming methods.
03:53 I much prefer a free-range farming system. I'm not against people eating meat,
03:59 but I do think humans have a responsibility to other animals, which are sentient beings like ourselves.
04:09 I suppose a lot of people find that an online protest is just as beneficial, so I suppose they could evaluate it.
04:19 It's down to the individual which is the best option for themselves.
04:26 I definitely think there's a place for online activism. I think it's really important in order to gather momentum
04:32 for different movements and to promote different activism as well.
04:39 And then that ties in with our in-person events as well.
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