I regret being forced to use valuable Mobilise! space in rebuttal of this ill-conceived attack on the magnificent young people in our Society. In this latest of a series of public attacks on NZAVS Hall is the loser since it exposes her desperation and lack of self-esteem. Far from enhancing the image of the group she represents she directs anger towards it. Which is a shame since I doubt that members of SAFE or its committee are aware of her personal ongoing public war on our Society.

Basically, one should never discuss, much less criticise or attack other groups in the media. This is the first lesson of the beginner. Hall's unpardonable blunders (the latest of which brought a battery of furious letters into this office) constitute more than mere breach of diplomacy, they reveal an abominable lack of elementary good manners. We should all... young and old... of SAFE and NZAVS... be questioning her motives!

(Bette Overell)

Pro-animal punks draw suspicion

The number of punk teenagers joining an animal rights group casts doubts on its credibility, a spokeswoman for another animal protection lobby, Save Animal From Experiments said yesterday.

Adrienne Hall was commenting on a recent march by New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society members which comprised more teenagers than older people.

Miss Hall said punk teenagers with their spiky hair and leather boots were joining the movement because it had become fashionable, not especially because of their concerns for animal welfare.

She said the trend also signalled a movement toward more militancy.

Many involved in animal rights work were sincere people who lived by their beliefs - not eating meat, not wearing cosmetics tested on animals, not wearing leather, and not going to circuses, she said.

Dominion 9/5/87

Punk idea that punks don't care

With disgust I read Adrienne Hall's comments (Sunday Star May 17) on "punk teenagers" being involved with animal rights groups because she says its "trendy".

She criticises them for wearing leather while being vegetarians, yet her group, Save Animals From Experiments, has Mike Moore as their patron, the man responsible for the cruel live sheep exports.

Miss Hall says we punks "are also casting doubts on the credibility of the anti-vivisection movement," yet she fails (or decides not) to realise that there are a large number of punks who give up hours of their time each week to work in the office of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society and to organise such things as library displays or video screenings.

She also does not see that animal rights (along with peace and equality) have been supported by punks for years and punk bands have played countless charity concerts donating all proceeds to animal rights groups (or peace groups, or rape crisis centres) proving that her accusations are unfounded.

Ross Gardiner
Mt Wellington

Sunday Star 24/5/87

March for animals

Sir, - I wish to reply to Adrienne Hall's statements on May 9. I would like to know just how the presence of punks in the animal welfare movement "casts doubt on its credibility".

Has she spoken with any punks? Has she heard their individual views? How dare she freely express her opinion, single out a section of the community, and point the finger in an effort to discredit such positive actions as the recent march organised by the Anti-Vivisection Society and not her group (SAFE), which does not even recognise World Day for Laboratory Animals!

She is drawing attention away from the real issues. If it were any other section of the community being singled out, Miss Hall would be accused, but she seems to back up her view making references to age: "... a recent march... which comprised more teenagers than older people."

I fail to understand the logic in this argument. Are people's opinions to be discounted if they are "not of age" (about 30)? Instead of presenting caring individuals' efforts as invalid by making reference to their younger age she should be looking at her own generation and asking why there weren't more older people there.

Well, I am a punk, and I for one also "live by my beliefs" and avoid buying anything at all (not just cosmetics) that involves cruelty to animals (as much as is possible), as well as not eating meat, etc. How dare she allege that the presence of punks makes the animal welfare movement more "militant"! And not all punks have spiky hair and wear leather boots, either - another myth. I would also think that animal welfare was so important that any support for the cause whatsoever would be welcomed - punk, or streetkid or businessman.

I would like to ask Miss Hall just how she proposes that concerned individuals should "work quietly to remove animals from organisations conducting experiments and rehabilitate them", when such organisations know full well that they are doing wrong, and have elaborate security systems to safeguard their (financial) interests.

I, and many others who are not merely observers, believe in such actions as the recent march, and the petition recently launched, in the hope of abolishing all vivisection in New Zealand.

Ania Glowacz
Hataitai

Dominion 8/6/87

Following the Punk's high profile in both preparation and execution of NZAVS World Day for Laboratory Animals' march we were attacked not as one would imagine by the vivisectors...but in the newspapers the length and breadth of New Zealand by Ms Adrienne Hall of SAFE!

Does Adrienne Hall feel threatened by the influx of punks and teenagers into our abolitionist Society?... And, if so could this be because the abolitionist concentrates on the scientific and medical fraud of vivisection rather than the moral and ethical considerations of meat-eating, circuses, leather boots and cosmetics... which would never bring abolition in a thousand years?

If this is right read: Hans Ruesch's Bullet-in Nr. 1... page 2... on:
The Conspiracy

(Simon Cottle - Abolitionist, Vegan and Punk)

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