Welcome to the official launch of Students Against Animal Cruelty! We have been hard at work getting the website up and running, and working out all the intricacies that go with setting up a national group. Thank you to everyone who has contacted us with either support or queries, it has made us realise that this project should definitely go ahead!

We would like you to check out the website at:

www.studentsagainstanimalcruelty.org

This will always be an ongoing process, so isn't completely and utterly finished yet, but we feel you can get a good jist of the group and start having a look around the forum and seeing what we have to offer.

Please join us a member of SAAC, you will get some great benefits including discounts on veggie/cruelty-free companies, competitions with great prizes, unlimited access to the forum and so much more. Membership is free but we gladly appreciate any donations to cover the cost of the running of the organisation, however small you can afford. Thank you!

Hi people!

Whether you're starting back at school/college/university this week or during the month, it's definately time to start having a think about what you can do help the animals!

If you already have a group set up, fab and keep up the good work. We'd love to hear from you so we can add you to a list that's being compiled, allowing us to tell prospective students what options are already available to them before they think about setting up a SAAC group. Already we have had quite a few emails from people about to go to a particular college or university, who want to know more about the situation there. By sending me just 50 or so words describing your group's aims and activities, with contact details, this will really help along that process!

If you don't currently belong to a group but are thinking that's just what your place of study needs, get in touch to find out how you can make it a reality. We can supply you with ideas, contacts and more so just whack us over an email. You don't even need to set up a group if you don't want to, if you want some advice on how to go it alone, you know where we are!

I really feel that touching on this subject now, at the same time as being in formal education, is one of the best times of our lives to get involved. People's minds are open and under constant education, so what we teach them about animal suffering in food production, experimentation etc can have a huge effect. And there's always the positive side too; veggie and vegan food is not just yummy but can be made really simply and cheaply too. We're almost done with setting up a great new website, that will include recipes for anyone and everyone to try.

Good luck, and most importantly have fun with it!

Alexia Weeks
Students Against Animal Cruelty

On Facebook too? Join our group 'Students Against Animal Cruelty (national)'

Wow, things are really moving ahead now.. We are working behind the scenes at the mo, developing the new website and forum, it all looks great and should be ready soonish..

In the meantime, we've just uploaded some videos to our Myspace page, give them a look-in. Their messages are really important, and it doesn't matter how many times you've seen them, I know for me, each time I watch them it just makes my resolve stronger. You could always get someone you know to watch too, spreading the word even further!

Back 2 school/college/uni time is fast approaching, so I hope you're all ready and raring to go. We've had some great emails from students who want a little advice on setting up groups, or just finding like-minded people in their area... keep 'em coming, that's what we're here for!

Take care,

Lex and the SAAC crew
studentsagainstanimalcruelty@gmail.com

e-news July 07


Hi, how are you?!

This is the first of many e-newsletters to come, and each time I send them they should get a bit more snazzy! Right now I'm in the States interning for Peta, lots of fun and soooo much vegan food.. might need a bigger belt soon! I hope you're having a fantastic summer and remember to keep in touch.

Best wishes,

Alexia x

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We're in the process of setting up a website and it's looking fab, URL to be unveiled soon. We'll let you know when its all ready to rock and roll, and features will include:

* A forum for students to hang out, discuss ideas and inspire each other

* Information on vegetarianism, veganism, animal rights, humane education and more

* Stories from students who have set up groups, been part of one or just general personal experiences of being a student with a heart for animals!

* Literature and resources

* Links to student groups, nationals and locals

* Recipes and nutritional info

* Upcoming events and the latest news in the animal friendly/cruelty world

* Interviews with amazing people out there, including celebs and bands

* Get Active ideas for round the campus, including campaigns

Anything we've missed? Just let us know, but for a while there won't be enough capacity to include videos on the website. But of course we will link to videos that the world just has to see.

In the meantime please continue to use our MySpace pages at www.myspace.com/national_saac

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Talking of personal stories.... please send yours our way!!! It can be short or long, funny or not, whatever, but we'd love to know your experiences of being at uni, college, school etc, or maybe you haven't gone to uni yet and you're exciting about setting up a group? Either way, we think it would be great for everyone to feel part of a community and help those who may be feeling a bit alone in their beliefs.

For an example, here's mine!

"I have been into animal rights since I was ten, and was vegan when I went to uni but switched back to veggie after a few weeks. I found it hard being the only veggie, let alone vegan, in my halls. I also practically dropped out of the animal rights scene at this time. Then into my second year I remembered that one of the reasons I went to university was to set up an animal rights/veggie group and spread the compassionate word! So I spoke to Animal Aid and they sent me a pack full of ideas and I got planning. It was hard work to start with but at the freshers fair when students were coming over to sign up and pick up leaflets it felt great! Finally I was getting those lazy students to sit up and learn about animal rights! I held weekly meetings and SAAC was born! Over the year we held a vivisection debate with vivisectors and anti-vivisection scientists from around the country, a Christmas food fayre, a vegfest (free food in a hall with stalls from around the country) and socials. So much fun, and I highly recommend anyone joining a group or setting one up. You're one step away from loads more friends with similar interests and giving even more chance for animals that need us to speak up for them."

Please email them through to me at studentsagainstanimalcruelty@gmail.com

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Some news from around the country:
A FORMER hunt master is among a group of five to have been charged by horse racing officials with cheating.Charles Gundry, the former master of Middleton Hunt, has been accused of entering a ringer in a point-to-point race last year.

Horse owner Robert Tierney and his son, Richard, from Malton, North Yorkshire, have also been charged, as have Roger Marley and his wife, Ruth, from Langtoft, between Malton and Driffield. The charges were issued by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (HRA) following a six-month investigation by its officers. The inquiry centred on three point-to-point races that took place last year.

North West Hunt Saboteurs Association

http://www.nwhsa.org.uk

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Eleven breeds of dog, including Rottweilers, Bull Terriers and German Shepherds have been banned from all Dublin City Council properties, including houses, flats and estates, with immediate effect.

The council has said it will give tenants an opportunity to rehouse the animals but if alternative suitable accommodation cannot be found for them they will be destroyed.

The council has taken the step to remove all "dangerous breeds" due to the increasing numbers of complaints from tenants and because of the legal implications associated with an attack taking place on one of its properties. The ban initially applies to council housing and all public areas within council estates.

The breeds are: English Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, German Shepherd (Alsatian), Doberman, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Japanese Akita, Bull Mastiff, Japanese Tosa and Bandog. Cross-breeds of these dogs or crosses of these dogs with any other breed are also banned.

More on this, including details of where to send your protests, here:

http://www.irishdogs.ie/Forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2213&FID=1&PR=3

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There is an Uncaged annual London Wide Street Collection on Saturday 21st July 2007. If you can help in either way, please drop them a line as soon as possible at: max@uncaged.co.uk

We currently have collections taking place in: Barnet, Enfield, Ilford, Romford, Golders Green, Covent Garden, Victoria, Westminster/Waterloo Bridge, Orpington (Bromley) Sutton, Ealing, Uxbridge.

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