15,000 DEMAND MATSON NAVIGATION STOP SHIPPING PIGS TO HAWAII

Explosive campaign on Change.org calls on shipping company to halt transport of live pigs, citing filthy conditions, rough handling and extreme temperatures

News Release from Leilani Farm Sanctuary

OAKLAND, CA – More than 15,000 people have joined a popular campaign on Change.org calling on Oakland, California-based Matson Navigation to stop shipping live pigs from the mainland United States to Hawaii for slaughter.

Laurelee Blanchard, founder and president of Leilani Farm Sanctuary on Maui, is leading the campaign on Change.org following the release of an investigative report that uncovered the suffering of hundreds of pigs transported every week from the mainland to Hawaii. The report from the World Society for the Protection of Animal details that pigs endure stress and exhaustion, rough handling, hunger, thirst, extreme temperatures, and filthy conditions on their transcontinental and overseas journey.

"As someone who provides refuge for rescued pigs at Leilani Farm Sanctuary, I know the intelligence and sensitivity of these animals,” said Blanchard, who launched the Change.org campaign. “Matson is attempting to shift the blame to the consumer, but is indeed directly responsible for causing unconscionable suffering to pigs by continuing to facilitate this cruel trade. These shipments need to stop immediately."

As well as recruiting thousands of supporters to her campaign on Change.org, Blanchard is getting support from retailers and pig farms. Several companies have already pledged to stop supporting the transport of live pigs to the islands, including shipping competitor Horizon Lines and Hawaii supermarkets Foodland Super Market and Times Supermarkets.

“What these concerned citizens have accomplished in just a few weeks is remarkable,” said Change.org Director of Organizing Stephanie Feldstein. “From a farm sanctuary in Hawaii, Laurelee Blanchard has recruited more than 15,000 supporters from across the country, as well as the support of major retailers in Hawaii to stop the transport of live pigs from the mainland. Change.org is about empowering anyone, anywhere to demand action on the issues that matter to them, and it has been incredible to watch Laurelee’s campaign take off.”

LINK: Live signature totals from Laurelee Blanchard’s campaign

LINK: World Society for the Protection of Animals’ “No Paradise for Pigs” report

Link: PHOTOS

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