In Memory of Jill Phipps

Jill Phipps was a British animal rights activist. She lived in Coventry, England. On 1 February 1995, Jill was crushed to death under the wheels of a lorry carrying live baby veal calves into Coventry Airport in Baginton, England, to be flown to Amsterdam for distribution across Europe. 10 of the 33 protesters present had broken through police lines and were trying to bring the lorry to a halt by sitting in the road or chaining themselves to it. Jill was crushed beneath the lorry's wheels and her fatal injuries included a broken spine. Phipps' brother Zab commented: "Jill was crushed and died on the way to hospital. Our mother, Nancy, was with her. The lorry driver has not been charged, not even with driving without due care and attention."

The Crown Prosecution Service decided there was not enough evidence to bring charges against the driver, Stephen Yates. Jill's family believe that the police were to blame for her death, because the police appeared determined to keep the convoy of lorries moving despite the protest.

Veal calf exports from Coventry Airport ended months later, when the aviation firm belonging to the pilot responsible for the veal flights, Christopher Barrett-Jolley, went bankrupt following accusations of running guns from Slovakia to Sudan in breach of EU rules. In 2006 he was charged with smuggling 271 kg of cocaine from Jamaica into Southend airport. The continuing level of protest was such that several local councils and a harbour board banned live exports from their localities. All live exports of calves later stopped due to fears of BSE infection. In 2006 this ban was lifted, but Coventry Airport pledged that it would refuse requests to fly veal calves.
(from Remember Jill Phipps Myspace Page)



From a Tribute to Jill:


"Jill's peaceful protests took many forms, from providing a home to a stray dog, to handing out leaflets, to sabbing a hunt, to standing in front of a lorry load of young calves destined for a short hellish life in veal crates. When Jill stood in front of the lorry that killed her, she understood the risks but typically for her she assumed that the police and the lorry driver would respect life as much as she did, unfortunately this was not true and in the end Jill gave her life for her beliefs and for others who could not defend themselves - this is the greatest act of bravery that is possible by a human being. Jill is not a martyr, she is a hero and her actions will inspire and give courage to everyone who knew her and to many thousands of people who never met her. Jill`s bravery and compassion will go down in history and she will never be forgotten."


JILL's STORY




LINKS


http://www.jillphipps.org.uk/jillsFilm.htm
http://www.myspace.com/rememberjillphipps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Phipps
http://www.animalliberationfront.com/Saints/ARHallOfFame/JillPhipps.htm
http://www.animalethics.org.uk/i-ch6-7-phipps.html



have you ever asked yourself how far are you willing to go to honour your values and beliefs?
are you willing to talk for your brothers when they might need your help?

were you brought up into this world only for passing by like a leaf in the wind, or are your actions going to make a difference for some fellow earthlings?

it is through a conscious and meaningful life that we will make the most out of this passage on Earth, and through a life that matters not only for us.

What You Can Do to Help the Animals pt.3 - Writing Letters

Some of the greatest Animal Rights activists used to be hunters. Then they woke up. Some of the most powerful members of our movement used to work in the meat industry. Most of us used to eat meat. We changed our ways because we saw the light, not because someone insulted us. This must be top of mind as we write letters.
If we insult and alienate someone who may have eventually, even years down the line, become a supporter, then we are venting our anger at the expense of the animals.

If you are writing a complaint to a show or publication whose work you have enjoyed in the past, do not lose the opportunity to pay a compliment .
Then, gently point out the error of their current ways. Forgive the animal cliche but, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." It is human nature to care more about pleasing a friend who has been wronged than an adversary. The reader of your letter is only human.

The reader of your letter is also probably very busy. Keep notes short. Do not get sidetracked from your main point. You will seem to be waffling.
Save other points for future notes.

Use your spell-checker! Rightly or wrongly, people who can spell are assumed to be more intelligent, more educated and are taken more seriously.

Though for the sake of convenience you are sending an email, provide your full name and return address as you would if writing a letter. Thus your note is seen as coming from a real person with real concerns and cannot be mistaken for one of a mass computer generated mailing. (An exception might be if you are commending a news report aired only on local TV and you do not wish to announce to the station that you are writing from out of state.) If you are writing to a publication which publishes letters from readers you must also include your phone number so that they can verify that you are the writer.

The reputation of the Animal Rights community is improving. However, there is still some perception of Animal Right's activists as odd and angry. If our mission is to change the world, then unfortunately we must care about what people think; we must change their perceptions for the sake of the animals. Thus we must make sure that our letters are always rational, to the point, and preferably concerned or disappointed rather than outraged. Anger tends to put people on the defensive whereas concern and a rational argument can get a decent hearing. For the sake of the animals, we must be heard. We will be heard most clearly not when we are shouting loudest, but when we are communicating in such a way that people are willing to listen.


Some more important tips are offered by Peta:
GUIDE TO LETTER WRITING

&

HOW TO BUILD AN INTERNET ANIMAL WELFARE CAMPAIGN


With regard to that mission to change the world, I leave you with those wonderful words of Margaret Mead:

"Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."