PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Animal Defenders International (ADI), a leading animal protection group, has partnered with Animal ACTivists of Philly to raise awareness in protest against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which will perform with captive circus animals from February 16 – 20 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Animal ACTivists of Philly, a local grassroots organization, works within the community of Philadelphia and surrounding areas to hold peaceful demonstrations and educate the public about circus cruelty. The group is dedicated to its mission, organizing protests at every circus performance to dissuade circus goers by providing educational materials and directly engaging the public with enlightening and informative debate on the issues.
"The animals used in Ringling Bros. Circus have very sad and painful lives,” said Marianne Bessey, founder of Animal ACTivists of Philly. “For them, the circus is not family entertainment, it's a family tragedy."
Jan Creamer, President of ADI, said, “ADI is thrilled to work with groups like Animal ACTivists, who do very important and vital legwork in local communities where circuses perform. This direct public outreach gives those animals a voice, so that people can gauge the evidence and make informed decisions about circus attendance.
“Through the national Break The Chain effort, one city at a time, we speak for these helpless animals who deserve a better existence than to be doomed to suffering in traveling circus life,” Creamer added.
As the leader of the Break The Chain campaign, ADI works with animal rights and welfare organizations across the U.S. to bring awareness on a local grassroots level to the communities in which animal circuses perform. Providing campaign assistance, program guidance and educational materials to local campaigners, ADI also reaches out to local governments to communicate its scientific findings to end circus suffering.
For more than 18 years, ADI has effectively produced overwhelming and undeniable evidence of suffering of animals in circuses as a result of extreme confinement, the constant traveling nature of these shows, and cruel training practices.
ADI’s two-year undercover investigation on circus cruelty shocked the world, resulting in major changes in the U.S., South America and European countries.
Courts in many countries have used ADI’s evidence to prosecute offenders while governments have been compelled to change laws in favor of partial or complete bans, such as the recent passing of Bolivian law 4040, which prohibits any and all use of animals in Bolivian circuses.
TV presenter and famed animal rights advocate Bob Barker has generously supported ADI’s objectives as an ADI Ambassador.
Often speaking out against traveling circuses, Barker has said, “Nothing could be more inhumane and callous than forcing animals to endure a life of suffering simply for human amusement and profit.”
Though ADI opposes circuses that utilize animal performers, it remains fully supportive of arts and entertainment and circuses that use only human performers.
For more information or to become a member of the Break The Chain network, visit the ADI web site.
About Animal ACTivists of Philly:
Animal ACTivists of Philly is a local grassroots group whose primary goal is to organize opportunities where individuals can take action to help animals. Members have different ideological viewpoints but share a common respect for animals and their interests in their own lives. For more information, please call 610-733-1248.
About Animal Defenders International (ADI):
With offices in Los Angeles, London and Bogotá, Animal Defenders International (ADI) campaigns to protect animals in entertainment; replacement of animals in experiments; worldwide traffic in endangered species; vegetarianism; factory farming; pollution and conservation. ADI also rescues animals in distress worldwide. ADI-gathered evidence has led to campaigns and legislative action all over the world to protect them.
ADI’s Mission: To educate, create awareness, and promote the interest of humanity in the cause of justice, and the suppression of all forms of cruelty to animals wherever possible to alleviate suffering, and to conserve and protect animals and the environment.
http://www.ad-international.org