In December 2015, Animal Liberation groups from around Australia chained themselves to the gas chamber in the Diamond Valley Pork slaughterhouse to coincide with the release of damning undercover pig slaughter footage, while also occupying and dropping banners from the slaughterhouse rooftop, and blockading transport trucks.

The joint campaign by Animal Liberation Victoria and Animal Liberation NSW details shocking scenes from 3 Victorian pig slaughterhouses (Diamond Valley Pork in Laverton, Australian Food Group in Laverton, and CA Sinclair in Benalla) of pigs being mercilessly forced with high amperage electric prods into metal cages, then lowered into a gas chamber where they scream, thrash, kick and struggle to escape as the gas causes burning sensations throughout their bodies and they suffocate.

Most pigs in Australia, including those raised “free range”, are killed in these carbon dioxide gas chambers, which are regarded as “best practice”. The industry tells the public that gas chambers are a humane slaughter method and wants us to believe that the pigs gently fall asleep, however nothing could be further from the truth.

The investigation involved climbing down into a gas chamber while wearing an oxygen tank to position hidden cameras. The activist who did so immediately noticed their eyes burning, which led to the discovery that when carbon dioxide reacts with liquids or mucus coated membranes (like that of the eyes, nostrils, sinuses, throat, and lungs), it forms carbonic acid. From their first lungful of gas, these pigs are burning from the inside out.

The hidden camera placed inside the gas chamber at Diamond Valley Pork also captured a pig who somehow pushed through the barrier into the chamber before a gondola was in place, falling onto the gondola below and then down to the bottom of the chamber - if the fall didn't kill him, the gas would have within minutes. Diamond Valley Pork had been RSPCA accredited, however shortly after the footage was released, this text has been removed from their website so it can be assumed that RSPCA has withdrawn their accreditation.

ALV Founder Patty Mark said on the day of the action that "All activists involved in this action have taken a vow of non-violence and are putting themselves peacefully between the innocent animals and the horrific death that awaits them. We are closing down this slaughterhouse for as long as we can, not just to draw attention to this torturous method of killing, but to draw attention to the violence that is inherent in animal agriculture. This action is an attempt to bring the real concept of peace and respect for others into our troubled world. To strike at the very roots of violence and destruction.”

ALV President Noah Hannibal said while locked onto the slaughterhouse gas chamber: "Compassion is not a crime. I challenge anyone who takes issue with what we do here today to view the undercover footage at pigtruth.com. The evidence is undeniable, slaughterhouses are cruel, unethical and unnecessary. It is time to end this senseless slaughter."

Rivalea, who own the largest pig slaughterhouse in the southern hemisphere at Corowa NSW, own an 80% share of Diamond Valley Pork.

More information available at www.pigtruth.com