THE SIEGE OF DARLEY OAKS, SAVE THE NEWCHURCH GUINEA PIGS (2005)

Like the current campaign to Free the MBR Beagles, Britain’s animal liberation movement has seen a few other campaigns to shut down places that were breeding animals for vivisection. In future ALFridays we will have a look at farms targeted for breeding monkeys or rabbits, but we thought Newchurch Guineapig Farm was an interesting case study for folks to learn about.

In 1999, the ALF liberated around six hundred guinea pigs from a farm in Newchurch, Staffordshire, and released a video investigation of the condition inside the sheds. The video would spark a campaign lasting six years with the only aim to Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs.

Very loud demonstrations were common in Darley Oaks, with folks attending from all around the country to keep pressure on the farm owner. Those demos would not always consist of folks with banners and drums, and in many occasions people would attempt to breach through and break into the farms, even granting police helicopters to stop them.

Slow and steady, many secondary targets gave up their involvement with Mr Hall, who would have to give up any income he was producing by breeding turkeys for the meat industry, dairy and even his crops. Interestingly he probably would’ve been left alone if he had given up the guinea pig enterprise and carried on exploiting animals in other ways, but his firm conviction to keep producing animals for vivisection would ultimately translate in the total collapse of his business.

During a period of two years, the police logged in more than 450 separate ‘criminal’ acts related to the campaign. From telephone and electricity poles cut around the farm to paint stripper and graffiti over worker’s cars, anonymous people made clear their frustration about the breeding of guinea pigs for vivisection. Twelve workers ended up quitting because of the targeted campaign, with many others installing security systems, CCTV and even metal shutters in their private homes.

In October 2004, the remains of Christopher Hall’s mother-in-law were dug up and removed. Many groups organising for the campaign publicly spoke up against the action.

By August 2005, Mr Hall announced that due to that last action he was going to shut down the farm for good.

Whilst not everybody would agree with all the factions of the campaign (underground or overground), there is no doubt that Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs, piggybacking of other campaigns like Shamrock, Consort and Hillgrove did a fantastic job at stopping that vile family from breeding for vivisection.

ANOTHER DOG TRAINING FACILITY FOR HUNTERS RAIDED. QUAIL RELEASED.

5th August, Rozzano Italy.

According to the president of the dog training facility, the ALF entered the buildings over night, leaving messages on the walls and destroying chairs and tables with an axe. The small kitchen and bar were also destroyed, and the fencing nets and cages sabotaged, releasing about a hundred quails used to train dogs into the wild.

FOURTEEN HENS LIBERATED IN SOLIDARITY WITH CAMP BEAGLE.

11th August, UK.

received anonymously via email:

“IF YOU KEEP THE BEAGLES, WE TAKE THE HENS!

14 hens liberated in solidarity with Camp Beagle, UK.

We acted fast as we only had one goal in mind: to save individuals from a life of exploitation. We walked across fields and aimed for an unknown shed. We were determined to get in. We had to crawl underneath a conveyor belt where the eggs roll on to. We got in and were surrounded by thousands of kind, caring, young hens who were locked up inside a concrete building with 50,000 others. Each one an individual with a unique personality. Each deserving of freedom. We wished that we could take them all, but until the world changes, we focused on changing the worlds of 14 hens.

They are safe. They will never be exploited. They will be pampered. No more abuse.

IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BEAGLES WHO WILL BE FREE TOO!”

UBS DOCUMENTARY 4.0 – YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD FUCK WITH THE WILD

Our comrades at Underground Badger Syndicate have released their fourth issue of their UBS Documentary. It showcases their actions during the Badger Cull in the UK during 2020 and talks about how the badger cull operates and how it is sabotaged. Give it a watch and if you can, consider supporting them in whatever way you can!

“UBS DOCUMENTARY 4.0 – YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD FUCK WITH THE WILD.

This is what happens when the wild things come at night. If you fuck with the wild, the wild things will fuck with you.

And we get creative. We watch you from the bushes whilst you’re baiting your cages to take them away as soon as you’re done. We watch you come out of your house with your rifle so we can play hide and seek in a field over night. We find your name, your business, everything you have built, and we unapologetically let you know that murdering badgers will be a very, very bad idea.

Badger Cull 2020 gave you a little taste of what was to come. In a month, the main 2021 season starts and we will be once again out on the fields in full force. You have been warned.

For anyone wanting to opose the badger cull, you are wanted and needed. Head to http://badgeractionnetwork.org.uk/ and contact them in order to organise how you can help.

And for anyone that can afford it, our missions are long. Please consider dropping some money over PayPal because without your support we would never be able to do the work we do.

FUCK HUNTERS.

LET THE WILD BE WILD. “

MAGPIE RELEASED, LARSEN TRAP DESTROYED.

4th August, Elham, Kent. UK

received anonymously via email:

“Well, well, well…….hello there elhamtreehouse.com what a quaint little tree house you rent out, what lovely grounds you have……..whats this, we can write a review? Excellent news…..
Filthy scum pieces of shit keep a Larsen trap neatly tucked out of sight, not from us……magpie released then its smashy smashy mudderfuckerz!
Dont forget to leave your reviews on Airb&b etc folks.

ALF”

MAGPIE LIBERATED, LARSEN TRAP DESTROYED.

29th July, Italy.

via: Frente de Liberacion Animal

ENG:

“The ALF destroys a larsen trap and releases a magpie in Italy.

A second trap was also destroyed and it will not be the last because we are everywhere. We have run out of patience, the traps are just the begining. “

SPA:

«EL Frente de Liberación Animal destruye una trampa larsen y libera una urraca en Italia.

Otra jaula fue destruida, y no será la última, porque estamos en todas partes. La paciencia tiene un límite, las jaulas son solo el aperitivo.»

ITA:

«ALF distrutta gabbia larsen e liberata gazza.
Un’ altra gabbia distrutta, e non sarà l’ ultima, perchè siamo ovunque. La pazienza ha un limite, le gabbie sono solo l’ antipasto.»

KEYS AND EQUIPMENT TAKEN FROM DAIRY FARM

28th July, South East UK

received anonymously via email:

“Pure nosiness took us to the office of a dairy farm at 2am. In complete darkness, with the wind howling and music still eerily playing from the radio, we rummaged our way through their cupboards to our hearts’ content. Among the Ready Brek and cow-themed calendars from years gone by, a few items peaked our interest. We chucked them in a bucket and took them with us, including the keys to their tractors. Sometimes we act in rage, sometimes in sheer pettiness. Just another idea of how to fill any sleepless nights.”

FREE THE MBR BEAGLES UPDATE.

Since the campaign started and we last wrote about it, Free the MBR Beagles has gone through quite a few things. 



For anyone who still hasn’t heard about it, MBR Acres is a British beagle breeder that sells the dogs to vivisection laboratories. After undercover footage of workers transporting beagles in crates was released, a nationwide campaign started to shut down the farm and release all animals from the premises. A camp was also set up outside of the gates of the farm, with people living there 24/7.



Last week, about three hundred people joined a demo to put even more pressure. Folks travelled from around the country just to join for the day, but also many locals who had no idea about the farm being so close to them decided to participate in the demonstration. Whilst the demo was very calm and it did not kick off, it was a good turnout that will only translate into even more folks joining the next one. 



On Sunday some information about a worker loading dogs in a car started circulating. This was big news as since camp was set up, no dogs have been officially taken out of the facility. An urgent call for support was sent and many people arrived in camp to an odd standstill between the police, the workers and folks barricading the exit. In the end, the police allowed the workers to move and so did the external barricade, and whilst folks on the ground do not believe animals were taken out on Sunday or any other previous day, it is difficult to know if workers are sneaking dogs out of the factory farm. It is unknown why anyone would take the dogs out of the factory in a personal car and the most plausible explanation is for rehoming purposes, but that is an unconfirmed guess. For that reason, more daily support has been called.

To appeal to the workers of the facility there is a whistleblower number as well as an email address for anyone to give inside information anonymously. If needed, you can find those contact details on Free The MBR Beagles. At the same time, a recruitment company has offered the workers an alternative job that matches or beats their current salary to get them out of that facility. 



From other frontlines and showing support to the campaign, the ALF released two communique in solidarity with the MBR Beagles. In one they explained how they took 33 hens from a factory farm. In another, how they liberated 400+ guinea pigs. We can only guess that ALF actions directly targeting MBR or in solidarity with the campaign will be on the rise. 



The next national demo called is on Sunday, 1st of August. It starts at 8 am and the postcode is PE28 2DT. It is organised as a protest and “funeral-vigil”, so they are asking for people to dress accordingly. Masks are recommended. 



If you live in the country, we cannot recommend you more to join this campaign. It is a breath of fresh air in the animal liberation movement that could bring back the strength and uncompromised fight that once was. If you’re not, you probably have an MBR near you. Find them, gain information about them and target them! Bring the company down! 



WE ARE NOT LEAVING WITHOUT THE BEAGLES



Video by @misartressmel, filmed during the last demo.