Action for Animals Austin

Action for Animals Austin and Counter Culture to host local premier screening of "Stop Circus Suffering"

Action for Animals Austin will be hosting a free screening of Animal Defenders International's documentary Stop Circus Suffering on Tuesday, August 3rd at Counter Culture.

The timing of this event is particularly relevant as it happens just weeks before the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus makes its annual visit to Austin.

What: Free screening of Animal Defenders International's Film "Stop Circus Suffering"
When: Tuesday, August 3rd.  Dinner at 7:30pm (special menu!), movie at dusk (about 8:30pm)
Where: Counter Culture, 120 E. North Loop
RSVP for the event here: Behind The Big Top Event Page

Featuring never-before-seen undercover footage, ADI's groundbreaking documentary pulls back the curtain on the realities of circus life for elephants, tigers, chimps, and other exotic animals used in entertainment at circuses around the world.

ADI's worldwide study of travelling circus practices shows:

• Tigers and lions spend between 75% and 99% of their time in severely cramped cages on the backs of trailers.
• Elephants spend 58% to 98% of their time chained by at least one leg, and generally both a front and hind leg.
• Large animals spending their lives in small 5’x7’ cages on trailers – barely larger than the animal itself.
• Elephant hooks (also known as a bull hook or ankus, which are heavy bars with a sharp hook) were used to punish elephants.
• Electric shocks were used on elephants during training sessions and while being walked to the performances.

"Since the Stop Circus Suffering campaign launch in the U.S., our team has been tirelessly campaigning for bans on the use of animals in circuses as well as doing lots of public outreach all over the U.S. We have formed alliances with other groups and activists across the country to lobby political leaders to enact bans and put an end to this cruelty once and for all. Our Stop Circus Suffering DVD along with our 38-page scientific report The Science of Suffering continues to reach more and more people to educate and inform them about the need for a ban on animals in circuses."

-- Jan Creamer, President Animal Defenders International (ADI)

Our protest of the Ringling Bros. 2009 visit to Austin drew a record-breaking crowd and expectations for 2010 attendance, based on web site requests for information, are even higher.  It is clear that more and more Austinites are recognizing that the use of exotic animals for entertainment is simply wrong.  Stop Circus Suffering is sure to open many more eyes about the true nature of the way circuses treat animals.

Take Action

1. RSVP for the event here: Behind The Big Top Event Page.
2. Post this link to your Facebook page, Twitter feed, etc.
3. Invite everyone you know!  We all have people in our lives that don't understand why we oppose the circus.  This is a terrific opportunity to invite those people to a fun event and let the film do the talking for you.

About Action for Animals Austin

Action For Animals Austin is a local, grassroots, nonprofit 501(c)3 group based in Austin, Texas. Our sole purpose is to defend and protect the rights and lives of non-human animals.  Visit http://www.actionforanimalsaustin.org.

About Counter Culture

Recently celebrating its one-year anniversary, Counter Culture is a vegan and raw foods trailer specializing in affordable, healthy, cruelty-free dishes.  Visit http://www.countercultureaustin.com.

About Animal Defenders International

With offices in Los Angeles, London and Bogota, ADI is an international campaign and animal rescue organization with a commitment to securing progressive animal protection legislation around the globe. ADI has a worldwide reputation for providing video and photographic evidence exposing the behind-the-scenes suffering in the circus industry and supporting this evidence with scientific research on captive wildlife and transport. Visit http://www.adi-usa.org.

More info: http://www.ad-international.org
               http://www.stopcircussuffering.org/usa

• Events
• Circus
• Ringling Bros