Thomas Cook demos in Belgium
Last week activists held a great demo at the Belgian embassy
of Mauritius, today we targeted another keyplayer in the filthy monkey
trade business, Thomas Cook.
We went out to inform customers about TC's involvement in animal cruelty.
The first stop was Leuven Diestsestraat). We stood there for nearly an
hour, informing passersby and customers. One lady had planned to visit
Mauritius, but after hearing us she said she would book a holiday to another
"exotic" island. Great!
Another lady whose husband is a TC pilot, was shocked hearing about the
Mauritian monkey trade and told us she now understood why we were targetting
TC. She took a handful of leaflets with her to give to her husband and
his management. Great!
We also got positive reactions from Dutch and British tourists. We explained
that in their countries the same protests were going on and they all told
us that they were behind us. Great!
Not so great was the manager of the TC shop. After the police arrived
(which she had called), she stormed out and told the police "Finally
you arrived..." and to us "Don't you have anything else to do?"
No, collaborator with animal cruelty, we haven't and that's too bad for
you and your company!
The police told us to break up our protest because we didn't ask "official
permission" and because TC were scared because of "all the trouble
they have had with activists in the past"...
Okay, no problem, we do not want to scare anybody - we are here for public
education! So off to the second TC shop of the day, TC Mechelen (IJzerenleen).
The same story here, lots of positive reactions, interest in the dvd we
were showing about the evil monkey trade and vivisection industry, and
people telling us they would email TC.
Like in Leuven we didn't see many customers going into this shop. Something
to do with us? This shop closes at 5 pm, but for some reason the 2 employees
closed
early... only to be confronted by us with our dvd and posters.
Ladies, do something about your company's involvement with Mauritius,
ask your CEO Hans Swinnen to temporary boycott this destination until
they close their monkey farms. We're giving you the chance to do the right
thing, together we will end this evil monkey trade.
