"Propaganda through systematic, carefully planned misrepresentation and distortion or suppression of information by the mass media is a far more sinister phenomenon in our so-called democracies, where it goes undetected by most people, than it is in dictatorships, where the media don’t lay claim to freedom of expression, and the population takes it for granted that any news coming from domestic sources should be taken with more than one grain of salt. Whereas in our democracies, most citizens are convinced that if the information they receive from several national sources is unanimous, it must reflect the truth. But actually they are being gravely deluded"
- Hans Ruesch, Naked Empress.

"Gigantic pro-vivisection promotion, propaganda and publicity is not the only weapon being used against the growing move to abolish vivisection. Other intimidating tactics include the blacklisting for jobs of those in any way aligned to the abolitionist movement, threats and physical attacks on those who speak out against the vivisection conspiracy (Hans Ruesch’s CIVIS Foundation Report, Nr 12) and there is widespread suppression of the news… This is particularly obvious in New Zealand where it is now the accepted fact that World Day for Laboratory Animals marches of 400 to 500 people through the Country’s capital city go unreported, as have other demonstrations and campaigns on a regular basis. For example on WDLA April 24 1992 approximately 400 people bearing banners condemning General Motors for crash- testing their vehicles on animals, marched to the firm in a strong and extremely visually effective demonstration. This did not receive a mention in the media."
- Bette Overell, Animal Research Takes Lives - Humans and Animals Both Suffer

Many local press reporters and photographers were active at the above rally. One reporter informed NZAVS personnel that when he handed his story to the Evening Post it was dismissed out of hand. He was preparing a further report for the Dominion - but was due for another disappointment as it too refused to publish. TV 3 filmed the event but did not screen it. A full-page advertisement for Amuri Motors Ltd, the General Motors' Wellington franchise holder appeared in the first Wellington newspaper off the press after the NZAVS protest. A further advertisement appeared further on in the paper. NOTE: General Motors no longer has an animal trauma research activity.

"Medical giants in the abolitionist movement have long forecast that should the vivisection industry be forced, either through successful petitions to abolish vivisection, or by boycott of their products, to come up with valid methods or go out of business, those methods would surprisingly and quickly be ‘discovered’."
- Bette Overell, Animal Research Takes Lives - Humans and Animals Both Suffer

NZAVS notes that media coverage of recent abolitionist campaigns highlighting the scientific fraud of vivisection has been trivial or non-existent, with reporters not even attending let alone reporting on our demonstrations. On the rare occasions that it does occur it is usually as a footnote to ALF activities.

Vivisection must be stopped, legal channels have been blocked.
It will be no surprise if, given this situation, that the number of illegal direct actions against vivisection continues to increase.