Matt Damon has headed an impassioned video to shed light on a Chinese festival that sees 10,000 dogs tortured and killed every year.
The Compassion Project enlists a range of emotional A-listers, also including Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix, to bring attention to the Yulin dog meat festival, which has been condemned globally for its brutal treatment of animals.
In the video, the stars talk about the ritualistic killings and the belief that torture improves both the taste and health benefits of the meat, spliced with disturbing clips from the festival.
“Whether or not you think it is something to be eaten or on the menu, cruelty and torture and violence is wrong,” says Marc Ching, the founder of the Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation. His organisation works to save the animals, many of them stolen pets, before the 10-day festival, which starts on 22 June. This week has already seen them save 29 dogs from a slaughterhouse in Yulin.
Leona Lewis has also recorded a song called (We Are All) Looking for a Home in support, backed by the Vanderpump Dog Foundation, started by Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump.
A recent petition by the Humane Society International attracted more than 11 million signatures but despite increased media attention, sales of dog meat have reportedly increased since last year’s festival.
“Because of the protests, more people know that Yulin has a dog meat festival, so everyone comes and tries it,” said a dog meat seller, surnamed Lin. “As we get closer to the dog meat festival, all Yulin’s hotels are completely full.”
