The pigs being reared at Peasenhall Primary
Peasenhall: Police monitoring primary school after threatening hate mail received over pig rearing
By Amie Keeley
Monday, March 11, 2013
9:53 AM
POLICE said last night they were “monitoring” the situation at a Suffolk primary school after it came under fire from animal rights activists for a project in which pupils rear pigs before they are sent off to slaughter.
The Peasenhall Primary School project, to teach youngsters about the food chain, has led to hate mail and hundreds of complaints from animal rights groups.
Last night Suffolk County Council said it did not accept threatening behaviour towards staff and pupils and welcomed the involvement of police.
Officers have been in touch with both the school and protesters and say they will continue to monitor the situation.
The primary school, which has only 25 pupils, started the project late last month, is standing by the scheme, which has received widespread publicity.
The three pigs, crosses between Berkshire and Gloucester Old Spot pigs, are kept in a pen and fed and monitored by the children with the help of experts from Suffolk Smallholder Society.
A policewoman from Suffolk Constabulary said: “Police have been made aware of the contact between the protesters and the school and the farmer.
“We are in regular liaison with the school and the local community, offering reassurance to both where required. We have also been in contact with the animal rights demonstrators and continue to monitor the situation.”
The scheme is run in conjunction with Suffolk-based community interest company Cook With Me Kids.
Director Emma Haines said since the scheme launched hundreds of schools from around the country had been in touch praising the project.
She said: “It’s very sad that a minority group that are so against meat eating have done this but actually this whole project is about animal welfare.
“Families, farmers and producers are all standing together supporting us and speaking to the public who are saying, yes we want this education.”
She added: “We are not stopping the project and we have had hundreds of positive emails and contact from schools who say they want to take part.”
Protests have been led by a group calling itself the Colchester Animal Defenders, which encouraged people to call the school to raise concerns, the paper added.
Head teacher Kath Cook is reported as telling a national newspaper that she has spoken to police because of the level of harassment.
A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said: “While we understand that some people might not agree with this project, we can not accept threatening behaviour towards staff and children at the school.
“We welcome the involvement of the police and would ask people to respect the fact that in a county with a strong agricultural and farming heritage, the school is trying to teach children about where food comes from. This is not about encouraging children to eat meat.”
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7 comments
DGF1 - I am not a member of the group In question, but I am a vegan and I do not believe in raising animals for food neither do I agree with the school project - feel free to ask me any questions you wish and I will be happy to answer them.
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Maerik
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I joined the Colchester Animal Defenders facebook group yesterday and asked a couple of polite questions. I was summarily blocked from the group and my comments were deleted. This is the calibre of the people, they are unable to back up their views when challenged.
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DGF 1
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
I joined the Colchester Animal Defenders facebook group yesterday and asked a couple of polite questions. I was summarily blocked from the group and my comments were deleted. This is the calibre of the people, they are unable to back up their views when challenged.
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DGF 1
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
I joined the Colchester Animal Defenders facebook group yesterday and asked a couple of polite questions. I was summarily blocked from the group and my comments were deleted. This is the calibre of the people, they are unable to back up their views when challenged.
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DGF 1
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
When you call animal rights activists cowards - you need to examine our own actions. In my opinion cowards are people who abuse the vulnerable and there is nothing on this planet more vulnerable animals. Is a ham sandwich really worth the suffering that animals endure in the meat industry. Would you buy a puppy - keep it for 6 months then send it to an abattoir allow it to be chained by its back legs, hoisted up and its throat slit. If you would I think the RSPCA might have something to say to you. Did you know that pigs are three times more intelligent and aware than dogs? Our society operates on double standards.I suggest you watch a video on You Tube called; Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows - Melony Joy. In addition, most people, including the teachers involved in this project, would most likely, rather die of hunger than enter a slaughter house, let alone kill one of the pigs in there. Is that not cowardly? Ask yourself, could you kill a pig and if not - why not?. I am sure you would prefer to get a hit man to do the dirty work for you. I have tried to talk to many adults about factory farming and what happens in slaughter houses, invariably I get the same reply 'don't tell me I don't want to know' We do not like killing animals. It requires desensitization. This process is un-healthy for adults and children. It teaches them to see animals as objects. This is is potentially harmful - Ellen and William Crain paediatrician and psychologist speak of the dangers of desensitising children to plight of animals- they include farm animals in their study. Humans need to look at the real implications of eating meat - the cruelty of factory farming. Approximately 95% of pigs across the world are kept in crates their whole lives, only to die a terrifying death. Try spening an hour in a small space without distraction! Then imagine how a lifetime of such confinement might feel. We need to consider environmental damage of meat eating - I have seen figures of 63 billion land animals each year raised for food - imagine the waste from such numbers and consider where this waste is going - rivers and oceans comes to mind? 18% of global warming is attributed to the raising of farm animals (which is incidently more than the whole transport industry in the world including planes) Health - saturated fat, increased risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity. These topics are much more relevent to a future generation than learning children how sausages are made. I do not believe in violence whether it be in a slaughterhouse or at a football match, Clearly the teachers involved in this project are upset by the numerous e-mails they have received. Animals in the meat industry do not have no luxury to be upset - or to feel - after all how can they - they are just sausages!
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Maerik
Monday, March 11, 2013
These animal rights campaigners are nothing but cowardly terrorists and this is a prime example. Why don't the Colchester Animal Defenders name their representative? When these groups campaign about an issue they will go to extreme and often violent lengths to try and make their point and end the practice they oppose. Supporting or being part of an animal rights campaign group that uses harassment, threats and violence is no different to supporting the IRA or al Qaeda.
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charlie_itfc
Monday, March 11, 2013
What cowards. There are hundreds of pig farms in Suffolk rearing thousands of pigs for slaughter, and they pick on a little primary school. They're just going for the easy target.
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Ex-IP17
Monday, March 11, 2013