Animal rights activists' blast at factory duck farming.Byline: Jonathan Walker Jonathan Walker (born 1799 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts - died May 1, 1878 near Muskegon, Michigan), aka "The Man with the Branded Hand," was an American reformer who became a national hero in 1844 when he was tried and sentenced as a slave stealer following his attempt to help seven ANIMAL rights activists have launched a new campaign - against factory duck farming. It follows what they say is success at raising awareness Raising awareness is a common phrase advocacy groups use to justify a particular event, brochure or even the entire organization. Raising awareness refers to alerting the general public that a certain issue exists and should be approached the way the group desires. of the plight of battery hens. They claim it is cruel to keep the birds in captivity because they need free access to water to stay clean and warm. Protesters gathered outside the Safeway supermarket in Solihull town centre yesterday waving placards and urging the store's customers not to eat duck for Christmas. It was part of a national campaign supported by Paul McCartney Noun 1. Paul McCartney - English rock star and bass guitarist and songwriter who with John Lennon wrote most of the music for the Beatles (born in 1942) McCartney, Sir James Paul McCartney and Joanna Lumley Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE (born 1 May 1946) is an English actress and former model who is best known for her roles in The New Avengers, Absolutely Fabulous, Sapphire and Steel and Sensitive Skin. . Campaigners say the animals are kept cooped up in sheds with up to 10,000 in a building. They claim the lighting is dim and on almost constantly, so the ducks can get little rest. And although they are provided with water troughs to dip their heads into, the ducks are often unable to get in and splash around Verb 1. splash around - play in or as if in water, as of small children dabble, paddle play - be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks . This means they cannot keep their feathers in good condition, making them cold and vulnerable to infection. More than 18 million ducks were slaughtered in the UK this year. Only one in 10 was free range. Most were Pekin ducks which are white 'farm' ducks and do not fly. The campaign is organised by vegetarian group Viva. Midlands co-odinator Ursula Bates Bates , Katherine Lee 1859-1929. American educator and writer best known for her poem "America the Beautiful," written in 1893 and revised in 1904 and 1911. said: "Many shoppers are aware of cruelty towards chickens but they have no idea how ducks are treated." A spokesman for the largest duck producers Cherry Valley Farms Ltd, which sold 13 million birds this year, said: "The animals are treated well, and it is in our interests that they are healthy. "They can always at least dip their heads in water. This group's claims are misleading." CAPTION(S): COOPED UP... ducks in a video made by vegetarian group Viva |
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