15/10/2010-LOCAL COWS CALL ON CHI ONWURAH MP TO BACK RAINFOREST-FREE FOOD

Newcastle Gateshead Friends of The Earth activist dressed as cows to pose with Chi Onwurah MP and a banner saying "vote for rainforest-free food". The event took place at Newcastle Civic Centre on Friday 15th October.

The cows asked her to back a new law to halt the environmental damage being caused by factory farming. Friends of the Earth Newcastle Gateshead is staging the stunt to highlight the hidden chain linking meat and dairy from British factory farms to wildlife and rainforest destruction in South America - and to raise awareness of the MOOvement for rainforest-free food -www.jointhemoovement.com.

Animals in British factory farms are fed soy grown by destroying forests and other natural habitats in South America. Friends of the Earth has introduced a Sustainable Livestock Bill and is campaigning for MPs to vote for it in Parliament on Friday 12 November.

Newcastle Gateshead Friends of the Earth Coordinator, Moise Coulon said
"Hundreds of local people have been putting their hooves down for rainforest-free food over the summer. Chi support the local appetite for planet-friendly food and farming but may not be able to support the bill on the 12th of November. We urge Chi to vote for a strong new law that supports British farmers to feed animals a home-grown diet."

Notes:
1.Newcastle Gateshead Friends of The Earth http://www.foe.co.uk/groups/newcastlegateshead.
2.Robert Flello MP tabled Friends of the Earth‟s Sustainable Livestock Bill in June 2010:
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/food_bill_24062010.html.
3.For more information on the environmental and social impacts of the intensive livestock sector, see Friends of the Earth's What's feeding our food report:
www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/livestock_impacts.pdf
4. For more information on Friends of the Earth's MOOvement see www.jointhemoovement.com
5. Friends of the Earth believes the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it. We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. Over 90 per cent of our income comes from individuals so we rely on donations to continue our vital work. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk.