Joaquin Phoenix Calls For Immediate End to the Mutilation and Live Export of Sheep

Photo Credit: StarMax

Joaquin Phoenix took time away from promoting his upcoming films We Own the Night and Reservation Road to write to former Australian Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran about the cruel treatment of sheep by the Australian wool industry.

In the letter, Joaquin urged McGauran to "step in and push the wool industry to do the right thing" and to "put an end to the two worst abuses of sheep who are raised for their wool by banning both mulesing and the export of live sheep to the Middle East."

Like most people, Joaquin admits to having previous misconceptions about the treatment of sheep raised for the wool industry. He says that he was shocked when he learned the truth about mulesing—the practice of cutting huge chunks of skin and flesh from lambs' backsides without painkillers, to address maggot infestation, or "flystrike"—and live export, which involves cramming sheep into filthy, disease-ridden ships that take them to the Middle East to be slaughtered.

The Australian wool industry claims that the practice of mulesing will be phased out by 2010, yet the industry could ban the practice now, following the lead of the wool farmers who use good animal husbandry practices to prevent flystrike. Also, alternatives that the industry is considering for farmers who refuse to provide better care may be just as abusive as mulesing.

The Australian government has done little to address the problems associated with live exports. As Joaquin points out in his letter, "These animals could be slaughtered in Australia, where laws will ensure that sheep are stunned before being killed—a practice that is both more humane and consistent with Muslim religious requirements."

You can help! Please join Joaquin and use the form below to urge the Australia's new Minister of Agriculture to put an immediate end to mulesing and live exports.

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