Bovine artwork for European Commission
Over 293,000 cow campaigners across Europe have been immortalised in a piece of bovine artwork handed to the European Commission in Brussels, in the finale of the year-long Supporting Better Dairy campaign calling for new legislation to improve cow welfare. The campaign – a coalition between Ben & Jerry’s, Compassion in World Farming (Compassion) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) – aims to improve welfare standards for the 23 million dairy cows in Europe.
Ben & Jerry’s, known for its campaigning on socio-political issues across the pond, has joined forces with two animal welfare charities to persuade the EU to pass legislation for dairy cows in Europe to have the same protection as other farm animals. Currently, there are no specific rules in place to protect dairy cows’ specific needs, unlike pigs and hens.
The closing of the year-long initiative is being marked by the giant artwork that has been created by UK-based street artist and typographer 17th & Oak. The 1.3m high x 12m wide work of art, which is being presented to a national expert from the Animal Welfare Unit of the European Commission ,is the width of approximately five dairy cows and is made up of the first name of supporters from across Europe. The artwork portrays one of the campaign’s key objectives: contented cows with access to pasture. Each signatory’s name has been used to create the background of the painting: the sky, the clouds and every one of the 28 European flags.
To coincide with a landmark meeting with the European Commission, the artwork represents European citizens’ support for an EU-wide directive, to ensure dairy cows can enjoy improved health, housing, feeding and be able to express their natural behaviours.
Dil Peeling, director of Campaigns at Compassion says: “European dairy cows can have widespread health problems, be inadequately cared for, and some have cramped living conditions and a poor diet. Together with Ben & Jerry’s and WSPA, we want to see specific European legislation for our dairy cows.
Ruud Tombrock , European director at WSPA, says:
“A quarter of a million citizens from every single EU country think Europe’s dairy cows deserve better. Decision makers must listen to public concern and ensure dairy cows get the same protection as other species. We look forward to continued engagement with the Commission to make sure the concerns of consumers are acted upon.”
Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, says: “At Ben & Jerry’s, we love dairy cows, but the sad truth is that many European cows aren’t happy; because there are no laws currently in place to protect them from sub-standard living conditions. As ice cream experts, we understand that happy cows and happy farmers means better tasting ice cream. We have seen the milk of human kindness for cows by the 250,000 signatories to our Supporting Better Dairy campaign. Europeans want happy cows and we hope they get their wish and that the EU Commission recognises the need to ensure a minimum standard for dairy cow farming across Europe.”
For more information about the Supporting Better Dairy campaign, visit www.happycows.eu
