EVERY year millions of animals die in agony after being tortured in cramped, diseased and disgraceful conditions. I am referring to Britian's farm animals, in particular broiler chickens, battery hens and factory farmed pigs. Everyone knows the appalling conditions that these creatures must live in, yet most people, especially adults, turn away.

The animals need a voice and it is up to young people to speak out on their behalf.

This is why I have joined VIVA!'s latest youth campaign, SCOFF. It stands for "Schools Campaign Opposed to Factory Farming". It is there to educate people about intensive farming and I believe it will make a real difference. Young people everywhere are helping this campaign, leafleting, putting up posters, collecting signatures on petitions and writing to their MPs, in an attempt to get factory farms banned in this country. It will be difficult but we are determined to improve these poor animals' lives.

Battery hens are crammed five to a cage. Many have the ends of their beaks sliced off with a hot blade when they are just a day or so old to prevent them harming the other birds. They are pumped with chemicals to make them grow bigger and faster.

Broiler hens put on so much weight so quickly that 80% suffer from broken legs or deformed feet due to their ballooning weight. Others suffer from heart attacks. At just 42 days old they are slaughtered, often still fully conscious.

Pigs too must live their lives in pain and squalor, denied fresh air, sunlight and the freedom to move. Pigs are as intelligent as dogs, but if you treated a dog in this way you would be prosecuted.

This is the truth behind factory farming and what SCOFF! is trying to stop. Please act now to stop these horrors and help us build a better future.

If anyone else is sickened by the treatment of farm animals and wants to see an end to this mass cruelty, then contact VIVA! for free information about the SCOFF! campaign as well as information about going veggie. Their address is:12 Queen Square, Brighton, BN1 3FD.

Howley Lane

Frodsham

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