Liberation BC
Encyclopedia
Liberation BC is a non-profit animal rights
organization based in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
, founded in 2004. Liberation BC is run entirely by volunteers and has an e-mail
network of over 1000 supporters.
Liberation BC has been involved in several major campaigns since its beginning; from 2004 until 2007, it staged weekly demonstrations at local KFC
s in conjunction with PETA's "Kentucky Fried Cruelty" campaign. This campaign ended when KFC Canada announced that it would improve its animal welfare standards.
During the winter of 2006-2007, its focus was on clothing chain Bebe
for selling fur. In late 2007, Bebe announced that it would no longer sell fur products as of the winter of 2008. Liberation BC has also been involved in protests against the Cloverdale Rodeo, which in May 2007 dropped four of its major events after years of cruelty accusations from local animal rights groups. In May 2007, Liberation BC activists entered the rodeo ring with banners in an attempt to interrupt the rodeo, and were carried out by security guards and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP). This action was repeated in August 2008 at the Abbotsford
Rodeo.
Throughout 2008 and into 2009, Liberation BC focused on gathering support for a ban on foie gras
in Vancouver, as well as general animal rights outreach at various community festivals and events. In March 2009, the group issued a letter requesting that Vancouver's "Greenest City Action Team" acknowledge the impact that meat consumption has upon the environment, and asked that they recommend that citizens reduce their consumption of animal products. The letter was also signed by the Vancouver Humane Society, Humane Society International
Canada, Earthsave Canada, and the Lifeforce Foundation.
In 2009, the group began the Cow Ribbon Campaign for Mother's Day
. The public was encouraged to purchase Holstein
-patterned ribbons from the website and wear them to start conversations about the conditions of mother cows and calves in the dairy
industry. Online, individuals in the animal rights community placed an image of the ribbon on their Twitter
or Facebook
profiles with a link to CowRibbon.com.
In 2010, the group began to focus on building a stronger animal rights community in Vancouver, holding community dialogue events regularly and using the "Unconference" and "World Cafe" models to do so. The group also began a film screening series, titled "Eyes Wide Open", which shows free animal rights films at the Vancouver Public Library
four times a year. Volunteers are also involved in public outreach on a regular basis, holding information tables at many events in the Vancouver area, including farmers markets, environmental fairs, and local celebrations.
Since 2007, Liberation BC has also hosted the annual Vancouver Walk for Farm Animals, which raises money for Farm Sanctuary
.
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
organization based in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, founded in 2004. Liberation BC is run entirely by volunteers and has an e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
network of over 1000 supporters.
Liberation BC has been involved in several major campaigns since its beginning; from 2004 until 2007, it staged weekly demonstrations at local KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
s in conjunction with PETA's "Kentucky Fried Cruelty" campaign. This campaign ended when KFC Canada announced that it would improve its animal welfare standards.
During the winter of 2006-2007, its focus was on clothing chain Bebe
Bebe stores
bebe stores are an American clothing retailer founded in 1976. The name was inspired by, and is pronounced as in, the phrase "to be or not to be" from the play Hamlet. Manny Mashouf, who emigrated to the United States in the early 1970s, opened the first bebe store in San Francisco during a time...
for selling fur. In late 2007, Bebe announced that it would no longer sell fur products as of the winter of 2008. Liberation BC has also been involved in protests against the Cloverdale Rodeo, which in May 2007 dropped four of its major events after years of cruelty accusations from local animal rights groups. In May 2007, Liberation BC activists entered the rodeo ring with banners in an attempt to interrupt the rodeo, and were carried out by security guards and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP). This action was repeated in August 2008 at the Abbotsford
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Abbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
Rodeo.
Throughout 2008 and into 2009, Liberation BC focused on gathering support for a ban on foie gras
Foie gras
Foie gras ; French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage corn, according to French law, though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding...
in Vancouver, as well as general animal rights outreach at various community festivals and events. In March 2009, the group issued a letter requesting that Vancouver's "Greenest City Action Team" acknowledge the impact that meat consumption has upon the environment, and asked that they recommend that citizens reduce their consumption of animal products. The letter was also signed by the Vancouver Humane Society, Humane Society International
Humane Society International
The Humane Society International is the international division of The Humane Society of the United States. Founded in 1991, HSI has expanded The HSUS's activities into Central and South America, Africa, and Asia...
Canada, Earthsave Canada, and the Lifeforce Foundation.
In 2009, the group began the Cow Ribbon Campaign for Mother's Day
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
. The public was encouraged to purchase Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
-patterned ribbons from the website and wear them to start conversations about the conditions of mother cows and calves in the dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
industry. Online, individuals in the animal rights community placed an image of the ribbon on their Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
or Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
profiles with a link to CowRibbon.com.
In 2010, the group began to focus on building a stronger animal rights community in Vancouver, holding community dialogue events regularly and using the "Unconference" and "World Cafe" models to do so. The group also began a film screening series, titled "Eyes Wide Open", which shows free animal rights films at the Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver Public Library
The Vancouver Public Library is the third largest public library system in Canada, with more than 2.5 million items in its collections, 22 branches, approximately 375,000 cardholders, and nearly nine million item borrowings annually...
four times a year. Volunteers are also involved in public outreach on a regular basis, holding information tables at many events in the Vancouver area, including farmers markets, environmental fairs, and local celebrations.
Since 2007, Liberation BC has also hosted the annual Vancouver Walk for Farm Animals, which raises money for Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is an American animal protection organization, founded in 1986 as an advocate for farm animals. It promotes laws and policies that support animal welfare, animal protection and vegetarianism/veganism through rescue, education and advocacy...
.
News articles
- 華裔家庭親身示範推純素食 逾百人溫市為農場動物請命, Sept. 26, 2010
- Controversy re-ignites for bear hunting season, August 31, 2010
- A Mother's Day story about milk cows and veal calves, May 7, 2010
- Ignoring animal rights while fighting for the environment is foolish, April 14, 2010
- Check your coats--not all faux fur is fake, Jan. 21, 2010
- A little bit of veal in every glass of milk, Nov. 16, 2009
- Where's the Lack of Beef?, May 29, 2009
- Understanding "cruelty-free" eggs, March 31, 2009
- Spare the Beef, Save the Planet, March 12, 2009
- Vancouver should cut down on meat for planet: animal rights groups, March 11, 2009
- Naked anti-fur protest takes place downtown, February 27, 2009
- The cruel truth about organic and free-range meat and dairy products, February 26, 2009
- Foie gras is a cruel dish best left unserved, January 14, 2009
- Animal rights group tries to gag foie gras, July 11, 2008
- Fur flies at Aberdeen Centre, December 21, 2007
- Minister sees red over protest plan, March 5, 2007
- Fur protest forces Bebe store to close, November 20, 2006