The group aims to raise awareness to the plight of the many animals living in the confined conditions of factory farms and encourage people to make food choices that bring these horrific practices to an end.

The Walk For Freedom group has embarked on a 42-day journey from Canberra to Byron Bay with stops along the way at Goulburn, Sydney, Newcastle, Ballina and other towns along the route.

They will be giving away free ethical food samples and also partaking in various silent protests near abattoirs and factory farms throughout the walk. The crew started in Canberra on the lawns of Parliament House with their animal embassy tent and a banner ‘Ban Factory Farms’.

Their aim was to send a powerful message to our leaders that could not be ignored. In factory farms, animals are kept in small, overcrowded stalls and cages, where they’re often unable even to turn around or take a step in any direction.

They are deprived of all that is natural to them, including exercise, sunlight, and even the feel of grass beneath their feet.

“We would love to see you and your four-legged animal friends participating in our Walk for Freedom,” Our Place on Earth founding director Jodi Ruckley said.

“Consumer choice is a powerful way to say factory farms are unacceptable. To stop choosing meat on the dinner plate is a way to ensure that factory farms are short lived.”

There are many compelling reasons to stop the livestock industry and meat production; including excessive water shortages, food shortages, water, air and soil pollution, deforestation, desertification, ocean dead zones and biodiversity loss.

“With two hectares of land we can either support one meat-eater or 80 healthy vegans,” Ms Ruckley said.