17th November 2011

DORCHESTER: Mayor opens animal welfare film screening

THE Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Tess James was invited to join in a double celebration for a local food and animal charity.

Councillor James officially opened a film night for Compassionate Dorset, the local supporter group for the leading farm animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming, and helped celebrate the group's second birthday by cutting a cake.

The mayor has been a supporter of Compassion in World Farming for many years and feels passionately about the importance of animal welfare, and told the event attendees she also keeps her own ex-battery chickens, before she introduced the acclaimed film “Pig Business”.

The film follows Tracy Worcester, a mother and campaigner, as she confronts the giant meat corporations that sweep across the world undermining rural communities, human health, the environment and animal welfare.

Anya Pearson, spokeswoman for Compassionate Dorset who runs RSPCA Highly Commended ethical fashion label Frank & Faith, kick started a discussion after the film.

Anya said: “The film was a massive eye opener. We must stop factory farming in its tracks. Pig Business is big business and as consumers it is all up to us to take a stance and change things by the way we shop.

“The money in our pockets is as powerful as your vote. Make your shopping decisions matter. We all get fed up with how long it takes governments to change things around, but the power of the pound is a potent tool, which we should all put to good use.”

The evening raised £70, which the group will use to fund more events throughout Dorset.

PICTURE: FROM left Compassionate Dorset's Co-ordinator Anna Celeste Watson, Mayor of Dorchester Tess James, Anya Pearson from ethical fashion label Frank & Faith and Events Co-ordinator Zoe Corbin at the Pig Business film night in Dorchester