Actor Sam Bunkall Supports Be Cruelty-Free New Zealand Campaign to Ban Cosmetics Animal Testing

Shortland Street actor shocked that animals still suffer in cosmetics tests

WELLINGTON (12 Aug 2014) — Sam Bunkall from TVNZ’s Shortland Street wants New Zealand to play its part in ending the global suffering of animals used to test cosmetics, by introducing a complete test and sales ban. The actor and animal advocate is supporting the Be Cruelty-Free New Zealand campaign headed by Humane Society International, the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society and Helping You Help Animals (HUHA), part of the largest campaign in the world to end cosmetics cruelty. So far, more than 60,000 people have sent Be Cruelty-Free e-cards to New Zealand’s party leaders.

Sam said: "I thought animal testing of cosmetics was a thing of the past, so I was shocked to learn that globally hundreds of thousands of rabbits, guinea pigs and other gentle creatures are still enduring painful and lethal testing for cosmetics. I was also horrified to learn that there is nothing to stop these cruel cosmetics being sold in our shops in New Zealand. I want to be able to walk into any store and know that rabbits haven't been blinded to test the products that I choose. Testing on animals is unethical and unnecessary. We have to stop cosmetics cruelty in New Zealand, so I'm supporting the #BeCrueltyFree campaign."

To demonstrate his support, Sam proudly wears a Be Cruelty-Free New Zealand t-shirt for a selfie photo being Tweeted and Facebook posted this week by campaigners to raise awareness. He is the second Kiwi actor to back Be Cruelty-Free; Michelle Langstone from Go Girls and The Almighty Johnsons joined campaigners last year to present tens of thousands of petitions to the Parliament calling on Prime Minister John Key to “hop to it” and ban animal tested cosmetics.

Be Cruelty-Free global campaign director Claire Mansfield said: “We’re thrilled to have Sam’s support at this critical stage in our Be Cruelty-Free New Zealand campaign. Animal tested cosmetics are already banned from sale across the European Union and elsewhere, but for as long as countries such as New Zealand continue to sell cruelly tested cosmetics, companies will continue to test on animals. The lives of countless rabbits, guinea pigs and mice around the world depend on countries like ours playing their part in saying no to cosmetics cruelty. The majority of Kiwis want New Zealand to ban cosmetics testing on animals so now it’s time for our legislators to act.”

A Supplementary Order Paper submitted to Parliament in March by Green MP Mojo Mathers proposes to ban cosmetics animal testing as part of amendments to the Animal Welfare Act, but legislators failed to consider it before Parliament’s final session. Be Cruelty-Free campaigners are determined to see the SOP considered thoroughly when Parliament reconvenes in November following the general election. They are also heartened by a recent pledge by the Labour Party to ban both cosmetics testing on animals and the sale/import of animal-tested products should it be voted in.

Be Cruelty-Free campaigns are leading policy change across Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, Taiwan and the United States.

ENDS

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