16-5-02

USE WORLD CUP FOCUS TO END SOUTH KOREAN ANIMAL CRUELTY - BARRETT

John Barrett MP, the Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today
called on the international community to use the focus of the World Cup in
South Korea to end the country's cruel practices of killing 2 million
animals every year for human consumption and medical treatment.
Mr Barrett has tabled a House of Commons motion calling for an end to these
horrifying acts, which include boiling cats alive to make medicine and
beating dogs to death to increase their adrenalin levels, believed by
Koreans to increase male virility when consumed.

John Barrett MP said:

"Whilst the right of South Koreans to eat what they wish is not in question,
the cruel ways in which these animals are slaughtered is to be condemned.

"The World Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals has done much
over many years to raise the awareness of this problem. The attention that
will fall on South Korea from the International community through the World
Cup offers an opportunity for us to join with people like the President of
the Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), who has already called for
an end to these horrific practices.

"I am delighted that I have received cross party support for my
parliamentary motion. It is clear that the desire to end these appalling
acts crosses the party political divide."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

* John Barrett has tabled the following Early Day Motion to Parliament
That this House is appalled by the acts of extreme animal cruelty which take
place in South Korea in the killing of over 2 million cats and dogs annually
for human consumption or human medical treatment and rejects the defence put
forward that the practices are part of Korean centuries old tradition;
condemns the cruel ways in which most of these animals are slaughtered
including boiling cats alive to make "medicine" and beating dogs to death to
increase their adrenalin levels, believed by Koreans to increase male
virility when consumed; praises the work of the World Society of the
Protection of Cruelty to Animals (WSPA) and Korean Animal Protection Society
(KAPS) who have long campaigned for an end to these cruel practices;
believes that the commencement of the World Cup in South Korea will bring a
focus and attention on the country from the international community which
offers an opportunity for world Governments and organizations to join the
President of the Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) who, after
receiving thousands of letters from the public protesting about this animal
cruelty, has already called for an end to these appalling practices.

* The motion has received is co-sponsored by LibDem MPs,
Norman Baker and Bob Russell, Labour MP, Nick Palmer and Conservative MPs,
Peter Bottomley and Tim Loughton.