![Protesters hold placards forming words 'End Cruel Cosmetics' on steps of old GPO](http://web.archive.org./web/20140630100940im_/http://melbourneprotests.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/imgp2638.jpg?w=584&h=387)
We chanced on this protest today:
PRESS RELEASE
15th April 2014, Melbourne
Of Beauty and Bunnies
On this Easter Saturday in Melbourne, a demonstration has been organised by the Animal Justice Party in collaboration with the Greens, and a number of Animal Advocacy Groups to end testing on live animals for the cosmetics industry.
In March, Senator Lee Rhiannon of the Greens presented the End Cruel Cosmetics Bill 2014 to the National Senate to ban the manufacture, sale and import of cosmetics that have been tested on animals into Australia.
Getting this Bill passed in Australia (following on from the example set by the European Union, Israel and India) will be a fantastic achievement and is supported by Animals Australia, Animal Effect, Animal Liberation NSW, Animal Rights La Trobe, Be Cruelty Free, Choose Cruelty Free, Humane Research Australia, PETA Australia and the RSPCA.
Many of the groups and individuals who want to see this legislation passed will be gathering in the Bourke Street Mall (outside the GPO) from 12:30 until 14:30 on Saturday 19th April.
Nyree Walshe, campaign manager for the AJP says “Ironically it is Easter time, when we all celebrate the Easter Bunny as a symbol of new life, forgetting that the beauty products we use everyday have been tested on bunnies, causing them pain, suffering and death. So we will be in bunny ears, bunny suits, and bunny masks, to let the Government know we are HOPPING MAD* about cruel cosmetics and we want this Bill passed.”
*Note the initials of the retail store that has now occupied the building [our comment].
Apart from the Animal Justice Party, who organised the event, there were representatives of Choose Cruelty Free, and no doubt also of the Greens. It was fairly busy at the time, and with the theme of Easter Bunnies much in evidence around the city, a good choice of time and place.
We were not able to stay, but according to an entry of the Facebook page of Magda V-Stopanimalcruelty Moo, co-host of the event, there was to be another animal-cruelty related protest immediately following this one:
As part of the World Week for Animals in Laboratories, Australian Antivivisection Activists will be holding an information session/demo about vivisection in Australia. We aim to educate the general public on the millions of animals who are killed each year in Australia in needless and cruel experiments. Vivisection is an archaic scientific fraud and there are many valid scientific methods which are not receiving the proper funding, due to the wastage of funds on vivisection. Tax payers should be reminded of the cruelty and the lack of scientific validation of animal testing.
We will also be highlighting the plight of animals who are transported by Air France-KLM, who are the number 1 transporter of laboratory animals in the world and are responsible for the transport of tens of thousands of animals to cruel experiments across the globe. Air France is now the only major passenger airliner still participating in this cruel trade.
See https://www.facebook.com/events/661217570593281/
Some more photos, self-explanatory:
![Protester holds placard with rabbits and blotched human face](http://web.archive.org./web/20140630100940im_/http://melbourneprotests.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/imgp2645.jpg?w=584&h=387)
![Closeup showing large red sore on rabbit's side](http://web.archive.org./web/20140630100940im_/http://melbourneprotests.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/imgp2644.jpg?w=584&h=387)
![Closeup of placard with list of barnds implicated](http://web.archive.org./web/20140630100940im_/http://melbourneprotests.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/imgp2643.jpg?w=584&h=879)