Events
Big E Protests
September 13-14 and 20-21, 2014

Hello Fellow Animal Advocates,

WHAT/WHY: Well, it's that time of year again, I hate to say. The Big E is back, and we'll be protesting its animals in entertainment the first two weekends.

Please sign up on Facebook, our new Google Spreadsheet (scroll down) or let me know when you plan to attend. Thanks!

* Signs and literature will be provided, but feel free to bring your own signs.

Now this year we have a PETITION - https://www.change.org/p/eugene-cassidy-end-the-use-of-wild-animal-acts-at-the-big-e#! We also have a brand NEW FLYER (see attachments) & signs, thanks to the incredible Carrie LeBlanc of Circus Protest (http://circusprotest.com/) and Compassion Works International (www.cwint.org). Thank you SO much, Carrie! Let's give her a big round of applause for all her help this year, and for all the amazing work she does all over the country with her groups. She's a western MA native too (Orange)! We're SO lucky to have her help.

We'll also be making t-shirts with WMARA funds (approved at August meeting)! See suggestions Hutch posted on our FB page...comments are welcome. They'll be ordered in about one week.

Previous Big E pictures:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105934987528470892486/BigE2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCOqlvJTt4bTN1wE&noredirect=1# AND https://plus.google.com/photos/105934987528470892486/albums/5794881445426427441?banner=pwa

This year our Big E campaign focuses mainly on:
• Commerford & Sons Petting Zoo (http://commerfordzoo.com/) - elephant, camel, & pony rides, zebra, kangaroo, lemurs, and other exotic animals. Also has animals on display in trailers ("Unicow", “Porky the Giant Pig”, "World's Largest Horse", “World's Smallest Horse”) - Animals are kept in tiny isolated trailers to be gawked at. Extremely cruel and degrading.
o Long list of AWA violations & accidents/incidents - http://www.mediapeta.com/peta/pdf/CommerfordPettingZooFactsheet_2010_11_09-pdf.pdf
• "Bear Country" trailer (no site) - Bear exhibit with 4 adult bears in one trailer 24/7 with no fresh air or daylight.
• "A Grizzly Experience" (http://www.grizzlyexperience.com/) - A full grown wild grizzly bear forced to travel most (if not all) of the year to perform shows both lack of compassion and disrespect for these majestic creatures. And as with the Bear Country trailer, this is no life for a bear. Even if the animals are "tame", they are still wild and have behavioral, emotional, physical, & health needs far beyond what such a lifestyle can provide.

Fortunately, the Big E Circus seems to be improving each year! This is the first year it has just had dogs and cats (domesticated). Maybe they've been receiving a lot of complaints? We'll still urge folks to complain about the cats & dogs, but wild animals are our focal point this year.

WHEN: 9/13-14, 1:00-3:00
9/20-21, 1:00-3:00
* Protests are weather-permitting only. Check for postponement email or call 413-374-1921 day of protest.
*** We now have a Big E Google Spreadsheet for you to either request or offer carpooling and sign up for protests - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11-hHyGedNuWS_TrNJdOtL0fvmsJJhtuwvWy-ujsv5Jk/edit. We could REALLY use carpools all four days, so PLEASE offer to help if you can. Just fill in your info. and press "share" under "files". Thanks! :)

WHERE: Outside Gate 4 (see map at http://www.thebige.com/fair/generalinfo/Map_of_Grounds.asp)

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

PLEASE try to attend at least one protest...the animals are counting on you!

Hope to see you there!

For the Animals,

Sheryl
(413) 374-1921

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