Posted on July 21, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
SAV Comment: We have said for a long time on this site that the UK getting away from the Junker / Tusk / Van Goethem attitudes of ‘we can do nothing’ when it comes to the environment and animals welfare should be very beneficial to both the environment and animal welfare. Free from EU shackles which really mean and do nothing to help either, because the EU does not enforce its own rules and regulations, will mean that post Brexit in just a few years time, the UK will take back control of its own laws from the EU and can work hard with NGO’s to make the all round situation much better for environment and animals.
We have some faith in Mr Gove who describes himself as an ‘environmentalist’ – which is great as he is now the newly appointed Minister at the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Environment in the UK. –https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs – as the Defra Minister, Mr Gove is the first and most important UK government person in charge of how the UK stands regarding environment and agriculture; including animal welfare
As an NGO, we are most keen to see the UK prepare to ban live animal exports as soon as it leaves the EU. We are certain this will happen as there is already a lot happening on this issue ready for the day we leave the EU and take back our own controls as a nation
We are more than happy to assist Mr Gove with our views and knowledge on some issues – especially things such as animal exports.
The EU, under Junker, Tusk and co. will simply plod on doing nothing in reality for animals and the environment. If other EU welfare organisations want things to remain as they are; which basically means having their evidence ignored; then they stay in the EU – the union of no progress or hope. If they want improvements in the environment and animal welfare, then they should follow the UK and get out of the EU – take back their own controls by their OWN governments – not that of tin pot masters in Brussels.
The other nations of Europe have their choice to leave, but will any of them do it ? – we very much doubt. So they can all plod along meeting Mr do nothing types like Van Goethem; presenting all their evidence of animal cruelty etc – and we guess they will continue to be simply ignored just like they have been so much over so many years. SAV.
Mr Gove has said in his speech of 21/7/17:
The decision to leave the European Union has been interpreted in many ways, and I won’t revisit the debates now which led to that decision being made. Now that decision has been made, it creates new opportunities, and challenges, for the British Government. And nowhere more so than in the area of environmental policy.
We now have (outside of EU controls) an historic opportunity to review our policies on agriculture, on land use, on biodiversity, on woodlands, marine conservation, fisheries, pesticide licensing, chemical regulation, animal welfare, habitat management, waste, water purity, air quality and so much more.
Leaving the European Union means leaving the Common Agricultural Policy, leaving the Common Fisheries Policy, and taking back control of environmental policy.
Farm subsidies will have to be earned rather than just handed out in future, the Environment Secretary Michael Gove has said in a speech.
Farmers will only get payouts if they agree to protect the environment and enhance rural life, he will say.
The move is part of what he calls his vision for a “green Brexit”.
He criticised the current system for giving money to some of the UK’s wealthiest landowners, for encouraging wastage, and for not recognising “good environmental practice”
Mr Gove described Brexit as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reform how we care for our land, our rivers and our seas, how we recast our ambition for our country’s environment, and the planet”.
Michael Gove says microbeads – tiny pieces of plastic that are easily swallowed by marine life – will be banned from use in cosmetics and personal care products
The UK Government will ban the sale of microbeads as part of efforts to reduce plastic in the ocean, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced.
The measures, unveiled by Gove as part of a speech on ‘delivering a green Brexit’, would mean microbeads – tiny pieces of plastic that are easily swallowed by marine life – will be banned from use in cosmetics and personal care products such as toothpastes and shower gels.
Announcing the government would follow a recent consultation with legislation to prohibit their use later this year, Gove described the effect of microbeads on marine life as “devastating”.
Gove also outlined plans to explore new methods of reducing the number of plastic bottles from entering the oceans.
Speaking at WWF UK on Friday morning, Gove said: “Eight million tonnes of plastic are discarded into the world’s oceans each year, putting marine wildlife under serious threat.
“In October 2015, the government introduced the 5p carrier bag charge. Figures released today show that policy’s enormous success – nine billion fewer carrier bags distributed since the charge was introduced, a fall of 83 per cent. More than £95million raised from the charge has been donated to environmental, educational and other good causes.
He added: “There is more we can do to protect our oceans, so we will explore new methods of reducing the amount of plastic – in particular plastic bottles – entering our seas, improve incentives for reducing waste and litter, and review the penalties available to deal with polluters – all part of a renewed strategy on waste and resources that looks ahead to opportunities outside the EU.”
Michael Gove ‘deeply regrets’ Trump’s approach to Paris climate agreement
In first speech since cabinet return, environment secretary says he hopes US president will have a change of heart.
The environment secretary said international cooperation was crucial to resolve the problem of climate change, adding: “The world’s second-biggest generator of carbon emissions can’t simply walk out of the room when the heat is on.
Gove described himself as an environmentalist in his speech in Woking, Surrey, on Friday morning. “Leaving the EU gives us a once in a lifetime opportunity to reform how we care for our land, our rivers and our seas, how we recast our ambition for our country’s environment, and the planet. In short, it means delivering a green Brexit.
“I am an environmentalist first because I care about the fate of fellow animals, I draw inspiration from nature and I believe we need beauty in our lives as much as we need food and shelter.”
Posted on July 21, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Sorry the following layout is not good but this is currently the best we can do.
Hopefully the links will work. SAV.
Click HERE to see this newsletter from our homepage.
New Sister/Friendship City Campaigns need your action!
Seoul – Over 400 dog meat restaurants and hundreds more so-called “Health Food Shops” which commonly sell “dog elixir”, are in this capital city of South Korea. This is devastating!!! Seoul had connected as a Friendship City with London, UK just a couple of years ago. Let’s ask for London’s help in fighting this horrific trade. We have added many new Sister/Friendship campaigns.
A scene has been recorded of dog meat farmers from across the country trading hundreds of dogs at a hillside of Yangsan(Gyeongsangnam-do Province). On July 11th, the Busan KAPCA exposed video of dogs, raised for consumption, being secretly traded on July 4th at a hillside in Yangsan. Dog farmers from across the country were trading these dogs.
The footage contains pictures of seven or eight large Dosa dogs in a tiny and rusty metal cage with no space in which to move. During the course of the trade, dogs that were not cooperating were jabbed with iron sticks. One struggling dog is shown being grabbed by the collar. It is estimated that there are several hundreds of dogs in metal cages that are lined up in vacant lot. The dogs were being sold for 400,000 to 600,000 Korean won each, and it was estimated that up to 250 dogs were being sold daily.
the demonstration had a great turn out but we need more activists for the Day 2 and 3. So would you please join us? Day 2: Friday, July 21, 2017 Click HERE for Facebook Event. Day 3: Friday August 11, 2017 Click HERE for Facebook Event. Where: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea 460 Park Ave, 57th Street, New York, NY 10022 Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Consulate Hours: Open • 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:30 – 4:00 pm) Posters and brochures will be provided but homemade posters, props and other materials are encouraged! We also have petitions to be signed and sent to the Ambassador of South Korea. Free t-shirts for the volunteers (while supplies last). Click HERE for all of our upcoming events.
Click HERE to join the Demo from your home – Phone Blitz.
Huntersclaim to hang dead animal heads on the wall because they are ‘beautiful’.
My mum is very attractive, but I have a photo of her on my wall ! – Mark – SAV.
Dear Mark — Founder ‘Serbian Animals Voice’,
Cecil the lion’s six-year-old son, Xanda, has been killed almost exactly on the second anniversary of his own death, which caused international outcry over the cruelty of trophy hunting.
Just like Cecil, Xanda, a young father himself, was lured away from the safety of a national park in Zimbabwe. Also like Cecil, Xanda was wearing a research collar and was an important part of a long-term study on lions.
Killing Cecil and Xanda shows a shocking display of disrespect for these imperiled animals and the unnecessary killing of these majestic creatures just for bragging rights and a head-hunting exercise.
The tide is turning against trophy hunting around the world as a result of Cecil’s death—and the killing of his son will only add to that momentum.
Andrew Rowan
President and CEO
Humane Society International
Can we rely on President Trump to be a voice of the USA against this trophy hunting ? – NO; he supports the hunting and killing of any beautiful animal by sons ‘dim and dimmer’.
Above – ‘Dim and Dimmer Trump’ proudly display their
efforts as such ‘superb hunters’;
– fully supported by environmentalist father Donald naturally !
Posted on July 20, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Hallo dear Mark,
I have found this short but very interesting article on the “business” of the EU in a very enlightened newspaper. I translated the article, but first I would like to write my first thought that came to me when I read that.
Since years, we try to get through the 8 hours of animal transports. For many years, we are trying to stop the criminal gangs in Romania, which are doing the bad business with the strays and, as known, also with EU funds. For years, we try to abolish or at least minimize the animal experiments, which are led only by greedy criminal idiots.
The answer of the EU Commission on these issues was always: “we can do nothing”.
Nevertheless, in this corrupt business, the EU Commission can do something, and even very quickly!
It can threaten Ukraine, that it will not get financial support, if it does not allow (as it wanted), that EU-Gangs rob their forests and destroy them. This is how the EU supports nature and animals!
Only those who cooperate with the EU’s Mafia Scams will get “kisses” from Juncker!
The others, we all, who try to abolish the suffering of animals, we who are trying to free the slaves of this world, we have been ignored for years with the outrageous sentence: “we can do nothing”
Only that was my first thought. And this thought has provoked a strong anger in me.
Best regards from
Venus
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The translation
The EU is happy to present itself as a community of values. The “Deforestation in Bucovina” feature illustrates what is meant by this. In 2015 environmentalists, such as Mikola Petichenko, had achieved that Kiev passed a law, prohibiting the export of timber. After the “political change” in 1991, Ukraine lost a considerable part of its tree population through the ruthless clearing of the Carpathian forests.
Criminal gangs and the buyers of their prey in the EU have benefited.
The EU immediately saw an infringement of the Association Agreement with Ukraine. Brussels argues that the regulation only favors smuggling and threatens to stop its aid payments to Kiev.
So the law was again overturned, whereupon Jean-Claude Juncker stepped up to the press and rejoiced that the promised 500 million euros would now be surrendered – that the overexploit can go on without undisturbed. This make clear what values count in the end.
Hallo my dear Mark,
In Minnesota, animal activists have liberated probably on Monday, 17. July, 40,000 fur bred animals from their Torture. I send you the link.
The system-serving Sheriffs have already started their dirty propaganda in public, so that the prisoners are caught again. Because it is about economic losses for the Farm, nothing more.
-These minks have no chance of survival
– Many of the liberated minks will not survive their liberation for long
– And many wild animals of the region will fall victims of these hungry minks who are looking for food.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office is not interested in the minks or the wild animals.
It is only interested about the economic losses of $750,000 for the farm of hell.
Old good times are reawakened today in my memory. USA was the country with the most animal liberation in the 80 years. And for many years ALF had written history with her lab and fur farms actions. The concept of “animal rights movement” got popularity and sympathy in the masses.
Today, courageous activists have shown us that the United States is not the same as Trump. And not only!
I started my day with a small portion of hope. For America, for the animals, for all of us.
And finally a few small links of our own to show how the ‘wonderful’ EU – a multitude of nations; or is that simply Mr. Junker, are treating those (like the UK which is leaving the club) that do not comply with HIS rules and regulations. Regulations of the EU exist only as words on EU bits of paper. As we have shown many times on the site, enforcement of EU Regulations is way above the EU – they are incapable of enforcing their own rules where and when it matters. They turn a blind eye to corruption, non compliance of the rules and their own enforcement of EU legislation.
Despite what is being said, the EU IS trying to PUNISH the UK for leaving the union. They will attempt to make it as hard and financially depleting as they can in order to try to prevent other nations from leaving the club. The UK has faced a lot of much more severe problems over the last century that those now trying to be imposed by Junker and crew – world wars; the blitz in London during WW2, decades of IRA bombings; terrorism on the streets – the EU is nothing but pathetic; they consider themselves to be gods whilst the normal citizens of Europe look at these fools and ask them when they are actually going to enforce their own regulations.
The UK voted to leave and it will. Brussels really hate that, but it is their inactions in the past, and now, that have led the good people of the UK to give Brussels and Junker the two fingers.
Here is a point some may like – during the old wars between the UK and France (ie Agincourt etc) many centuries ago, the English longbow men were fatal with their professionalism and accuracy. If they were captured by the French during these wars, the French would cut off the index and middle finger of the English longbow men so that they would never be able to draw a bow again.
Thus, on the battlefield, the English bowmen would often give the French enemy the ‘two finger salute’ to show that they still had their (bow drawing) fingers; could still use their weapon and thus cause them big problems. Two finger salutes as they are known is now subsequently a common British way of showing disgust to opponents – and now the citizens of the UK have great pleasure in giving the two fingers to the tin pot gods at the EU in Brussels. SAV.
In a historic move the Vietnamese government has agreed a plan with Animals Asia to finally end bear bile farming in the country.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines an agreement between animal welfare NGO Animals Asia and the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) to work together to rescue the remaining bears still caged on farms across Vietnam – believed to be around 1,000.
The document was signed and announced at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Hanoi on Wednesday 19 July.
Mr Cao Chi Cong, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, joined Animals Asia CEO and founder Jill Robinson MBE in signing the MOU.
The move follows the MOU between Animals Asia and the Vietnamese Traditional Medicine Association signed in 2015, agreeing to ensure a complete end to bear bile prescription among traditional medicine practitioners by 2020
This is anticipated to continue a significant reduction in demand and contribute towards the ending of the illegal market for bear bile.
Today’s agreement is effectively one that will finally close the loophole that has allowed bile farms to continue despite the illegality of the trade.
The MOU commits the government to ensuring no bears are allowed to be kept by private households – where illegal bile extraction can take place – and that the approximately 1,000 bears currently held in captivity around the country are moved to sanctuaries.
Animals Asia’s Vietnam Director Tuan Bendixsen said:
“This historic document ties NGOs and the government of Vietnam to a common goal – the end of bear bile farming in Vietnam.
“Crucially, the government has agreed to close the loophole that has allowed bile farming to persist for the last decade. By signing this MOU, they have agreed that there can be no bears kept on farms, because as long as they are there, they will suffer extraction.”
Animals Asia has so far rescued 186 bears in Vietnam since setting up its sanctuary in Tam Dao in 2008.
Bear bile farming has been illegal in Vietnam since 1992. In 2006, every bear in captivity was microchipped so that no new bears could be added to farms. But with the country lacking resources and expertise to build rescue centres and care for the animals, households were allowed to keep the bears on the government’s behalf having agreed not to extract bile. This loophole has effectively allowed bear bile farming to continue until now.
Since bear bile farming became a common practice in China and Vietnam in the 1980s, wild populations have been decimated to meet the demand the industry created.
A report by Animals Asia and Free The Bears released in 2016 found that wild populations across South East Asia had fallen dramatically with precious few pockets of wild bears existing in Vietnam today. It had been wrongly anticipated that farming bears would actually help conserve wild bears.
In 2005 bear bile farming reached its peak in Vietnam with over 4,000 bears in captivity, but with farmers unable to add new bears to existing stocks, numbers have dwindled to around 1,000.
Tuan said:
“This agreement shows Vietnam acknowledges that bear bile farming harms wild populations. By signing on, they’ve shown they are serious about conserving the country’s remaining wild bears and protecting the heritage of future generations.”
While the signing of a memorandum of understanding is a landmark achievement in the battle to end bear bile farming cruelty, it will not mean an overnight end to the industry in Vietnam.
Key issues such as how to fund and manage the sanctuaries and how to proceed with the transfer of privately owned bears to rescue centres will be hammered out as part of the agreement.
It’s anticipated that new sanctuaries would need to be constructed and assistance sought from existing sanctuaries run by animal conservation and welfare charities.
Animals Asia’s Founder and CEO, Jill Robinson MBE said:
“This agreement has been a long time coming with discussions beginning around 2014, so to see it finalised is a major step forward. This, of course, doesn’t end the work. Quite the opposite, but it now means we work together with a common goal – to end this cruelty.
“With all parties pulling in the right direction and in agreement about our goals we can make real progress. For the animals who have suffered for more than a decade in awful conditions the move to sanctuaries cannot come soon enough and that is the next issue – how to fund, build and manage the new sanctuaries which are necessary to rescue all bears.
“We’ve essentially sat down with the government and made a list of what needs to be completed to end bear bile farming and agreed to work through these issues together.
“It is still a huge undertaking and will require the participation of many groups, NGOs, government departments and the support of animal lovers in general to make this agreement reality, but pivotally we are all in agreement about what has to be done and now we can get on with seeing it through.”
Posted on July 16, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Breaking 16/7/17
SAV Comment – What fantastic news ! – biodegradable 6 pack can rings that breaks down in the water AND then can be used a food for turtles etc – Superb !
Now it is a case of getting the word out for others to follow this super approach to marine conservation.
A Brewery Has Created Biodegradable 6-Pack Rings That Will Feed Marine Life Instead Of Killing Them:
Most of these plastic six-pack rings end up in our oceans and pose a serious threat to wildlife. Together with Saltwater Brewery, a small craft beer brand in Florida whose primary target are surfers fishermen and people who love the sea, we decided to tackle the issue head on and make a statement for the whole beer industry to follow.
We ideated, designed, prototyped and manufactured Edible Six Pack Rings.
A six-pack packaging design that instead of killing animals, feeds them.
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So think, and take the bloody stuff home with you. Dispose of it correctly – Do not simply dump in the sea or on the beach !
Cut plastic can holders so they can never become trapped around the bodies of young turtles when out at sea, deforming them as they grow. See some pictures below which shows what happens when they are NOT CUT in all places.
I was diving in the Malaysian’s water off Pulau Tioman. My buddy spotted this drift-net with a trapped turtle. After photographing it, we call all the other divers in to cut up the nets and disposed it when we get back on land. The net measured up to about 30m in length. Sad to say the turtle did not make it.
Posted on July 15, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
PLEASE read the story about Azra, so heartbreaking. Azra doesn’t deserve this, so PLEASE anyone who might help her to continue the therapy, do it!
We have to win this battle together!
SHARE EVERYONE PLEASE!
The Story
This is Azra, the beautiful girl whose ‘owner’ obviously does not care too much about her because he allowed her to come to this situation, and the situation is following: the carcinoma of the vagina whose type we still do not know because it requires a departure to vet clinic in Belgrade, after the suggestions of the veterinarians in Bor where Azra lives, and the pathohistology has to be done.
What the veterinarian suggests is a quality surgery of an experienced surgeon, which again requires a visit to Belgrade, and for which there is no money.
Jovan Joja Cvetkovic took over the dog as soon as he found out about her, since ‘the owner’ does not want to do anything about her, moreover, after her cancer appeared he completely abandoned her and left her on her own.
I am asking you that we all together help Joja and AZRA to win this battle, not to give up on her without even trying. At least we owe it to Azra and him. By going to Belgrade and hopefully being operated, Azra has already begun receiving therapy in Bor with cytostatics, which costs a lot.
HELP for paying the treatment and Azra’s departure to Belgrade and eventual surgeries is more than welcome!
It is going to be hard and expensive according to vet, but AZRA deserves to live!
THANK YOU!
To see more pictures and donate to help, please go to:
Posted on July 15, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Hogwood Farm Update
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Watch the vigil for pigs at Hogwood Farm
Dear Mark
Our petition to close down Hogwood Farm needs your help. With over 19,000 signatures so far, we’ve made some great progress – but we need more if we’re going to succeed in getting it closed down.
On Monday, Viva! founder & director Juliet Gellatley was joined by 60 people for a peaceful vigil outside the Warwickshire farm where horrendous conditions were filmed by Viva! Campaigns.
The investigation and vigil have been covered in national and local media, leading to growing condemnation and public support. Juliet repeated her calls for the farm to be shut down. If you haven’t already, please sign the petition to make the authorities take action!
After the vigil, Juliet made a grisly discovery of dumped pig remains in a wood near the farm, on land belonging to the owner. We have reported this to the authorities and are demanding that they take action to stop this practice.
What can you do to help?
We need your support to help us end this war on animals. Thank you to all everyone who has signed the petition so far. If you haven’t signed yet, we desperately need you to help us end this suffering. Please sign the petition now and help us save the pigs at this horror farm.
The investigation and vigil have been covered in national and local media, leading to growing condemnation and public support. Juliet repeated her calls for the farm to be shut down. If you haven’t already, please sign the petition to make the authorities take action!
After the vigil, Juliet made a grisly discovery of dumped pig remains in a wood near the farm, on land belonging to the owner. We have reported this to the authorities and are demanding that they take action to stop this practice.
What can you do to help?
We need your support to help us end this war on animals. Thank you to all everyone who has signed the petition so far. If you haven’t signed yet, we desperately need you to help us end this suffering. Please sign the petition now and help us save the pigs at this horror farm.
Posted on July 14, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
This week our good friends at Farm Animal Rescue were forced to go public with a petition calling on the Queensland Government to abandon its plans to force the charity to pay $300,000 for road upgrades!
Farm Animal Rescue (FAR) is a registered charity and sanctuary for animals that have been rescued from starvation, danger, and abuse. We can’t speak highly enough of the work the team at FAR do for the animals.
The Government has made the decision to ban visitors from Farm Animal Rescue unless they spend $300,000 adding an additional lane to Dayboro Road, a highway managed by Queensland Transport and Main Roads. With the charity unable to come up with such a huge amount of money, it would mean an end to visitors like you at the sanctuary, and make the future of the sanctuary uncertain.
Please sign the petition, spread the word and keep an eye on social media for further steps you can take to help save FAR in the coming weeks!
For the animals,
Chay and the team at Animal Liberation Queensland
McDonald’s uses a staggering 3.5 million plastic straws every single day — and that’s just in the UK. Used for a few seconds, then thrown away, many end up polluting our oceans.
Small, light, and hard to avoid, it’s no wonder plastic straws dumped into the sea get stuck in sea turtles’ nostrils, lodged in the stomachs of baby seabirds, and end up in our food chain after being eaten by fish.
Just recently a UK based pub chain stopped routinely giving out plastic straws — but its 100,000 straws per month is a drop in the ocean compared to McDonald’s 3.5 million a day habit.
Just image what a difference 3.5 million straws a day out of circulation would make to our oceans and the animals that live in them.
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest threats to our oceans, and straws are one of the most common plastic items found in beach cleanups, according to Greenpeace.
A total of 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in our seas every year — that’s the equivalent to five shopping bags of waste on every foot of coastline in the world! And as a result it is estimated that every yeara million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals — such as sea turtles — die.
Plastic doesn’t degrade, but is broken up into ever smaller pieces. So if that straw isn’t swallowed whole by a large bird or turtle the bits it breaks into can be eaten by fish or fed to chicks starving to death with stomachs full of plastic.
Taking 3.5 million plastic straws per day out of use would be a major step towards cleaning up our seas and protecting wildlife from this plastic menace.
We’ve faced huge and powerful corporate players before, and we know that when SumOfUs members like you stand up for what’s right, together we can force them to change. After all we’ve done it before.
We’ve forced McDonald’s — along with companies like Starbucks, and KFC — to commit to sourcing 100% responsible palm oil. When we expose the ugly side of corporate giants — like McDonald’s — they take action to protect their brand. And in doing so we score a massive victory for our planet.
1. Bear bile does have medicinal uses but there are cruelty-free alternatives
Bear bile has been used in traditional Asian medicine for thousands of years. It contains high levels of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) known to be useful for treating liver and gall bladder conditions. However, there are now many readily available herbal and synthetic alternatives with the same medicinal properties. Traditional medicine practitioners agree, nobody’s health will suffer due to a lack of bear bile.
In the past bear bile would be obtained by hunting bears in the wild and killing them to remove their gall bladder. It would have been a particularly rare and prized ingredient at the time used sparingly for specific medical conditions. In the 1980s however, bear bile farming began to be practiced as a way of constantly extracting bile for the duration of a bear’s life. Today more than 12,000 bears are believed to be kept on bear bile farms in China and Vietnam
2. Extracting bile from bears is as cruel and painful as you would imagine
The extraction of bear bile from live bears causes unimaginable suffering and long term health problems for these physically and psychologically damaged animals.
A number of techniques exist, all of which are particularly gruesome. While the techniques vary between Vietnam and China, each involves bears being kept in tiny cages. Extraction methods range from “free drip” where the bear suffers a hole in their gall bladder, to the insertion of permanent catheters.
Crush cages and bears locked into metal jackets have now been made illegal in China – but are likely to still be used in poorer farms. Bears literally grow up in tiny cages to the point where their bodies have contorted to fit the bars. Most have few teeth left due to literally trying to chew their way out
In China some farms have breeding programmes, but also rely on these being added to by poaching bears from the wild. Many bears can be caged as cubs and never released, suffering up to 30 years of continuous torture by bile extraction.
Most farmed bears however are starved, dehydrated and suffer from multiple diseases and malignant tumours that ultimately kill them.
3. The Chinese people don’t want bear bile farming
A 2011 poll by Animals Asia found that a staggering 87% of Chinese people interviewed disagree with the cruel practice of bear bile farming
The medical community too is shunning bear bile farming, with thousands of pharmacies recently pledging never to stock bile products as part of Animals Asia’s Healing Without Harm programme.
This year the owners of Nanning Bear Bile Farm asked us to take over and convert it into a sanctuary. They were in agreement that the industry must end – because, in their words, bear bile farming is both cruel and hopeless.
Meanwhile Kai Bao, the biggest single buyer of bear bile, recently announced they were pursuing research into bear bile alternatives with government backing. The suggestion remains that the market is reducing.
4. It’s still legal in China but not in Vietnam
Unfortunately, bear bile farming is still completely legal in China – albeit with regulations aimed at curbing the worst cruelty of the industry. Regulations that are circumvented or ignored time and again – so far, with no prosecutions being made.
In Vietnam, bear bile farming has been technically illegal since 1992, but it wasn’t until 2005 that species-specific legislation was introduced banning the exploitation of these endangered animals. Sadly, bear bile farming persists in the country due to legal loopholes as well as the fact that demand still exists.
5. We won’t stop fighting until bear bile farming is ended for good
Since being set up in 1998 Animals Asia has continuously campaigned to end bear bile farming in China and Vietnam. Thanks to the staunch support of people all over the world, we have been able to take bear bile farming from a dark secret to an international outrage. We have rescued more than 500 bears in Vietnam and China from the cruelty of bear bile farms and are absolutely committed to ending this cruel trade.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your help and the help of everyone you know to condemn this barbaric industry to the history books. So please, tell your friends, share this article and support our work. Together we can end the cruelty.
Posted on July 12, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Dear Mark,
After the summit meeting G20 in Hamburg I send you my personal criticism and my subjective opinion about this fiasco.
I was also there and could judge the things myself.
Best regards from Venus
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The show with the G20 is over, at least in Hamburg.
The fact that the 19 great states (+ EU representative) have decided nothing important seems to surprise no one.
According to reports from serious journalistic sources (RT), about 76,000 demonstrators protested. Engaged, combative people from every political direction, people with Animal Liberation t-shirts were also there, social democrats, greens, citizens’ initiatives, vegans, carnivores … it was all represented!!
The police have denied elementary democratic rights of peaceful protesters and journalists, and they (protesters) were attacked with pepper spray and sticks; There have been many injured persons.
Among the protesters were not only anarchists who reject any government (of any kind). Most people knew that it was a struggle for world power, between American and European capitalists.
More or less independent were only India, China and Russia.
The interesting thing about the current development of capitalism is that the old imperialists (the G7 countries) now need the approval of other, smaller countries. What to achieve?
To keep capitalism running around the world! – After the economic crisis of 2008 they are no longer so sure of their cause.
At this meeting, Merkel understood the growing rejection of the world against Trump as an opportunity to present herself as the “leader of the free world”; The media is involved. In the G20 summit she has proved that she is capable of forming coalitions against Trump.
No matter what we will read in the final declaration of the G20 summit, the informal alliance against Trump is on the road, and everyone knows that. The German-European breakthrough in world politics has begun.
I find it terrifying that the fate of this world will be left either to a paranoiac like Trump or a power hungry Chancellor like Merkel!
LOZNICA RESCUES NEED HELP WITH THEIR VACCINATION’S, SPAYING’S AND NEUTERING’S: LET’S DO THIS RIGHT FOR THESE DOGS!
After those celebrating moments when we had your breathtaking support and we were fighting together to save as many lives as possible, came the time when isolation period was over and the need for vaccinations, testings, spaying’s and neutering’s has started.
All 49 last saved dogs plus almost 90 previously rescued are now ready for their first vaccination against infectious diseases and each every one of them needs 4D testings, ultra sounds, neutering’s and spaying’s.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF SPAYING’S AND NEUTERING’S, BUT WE WERE FORCED TO STOP AS ALL FUNDS ARE AT THE ROCK BOTTOM, CONSUMED BY THE COSTS OF THE RESCUE AND IMMEDIATE AFTERCARE AT THE VETS.
Many of the dogs who were already brutally butchered with primitive surgery in the kill shelter, need their neuter and spaying redone properly. On the top of our worries, that time of year has come and many unspayed females are currently in the heat, which makes our kennels very hard to control – and males clash.
WE CANNOT DO ANY OF THIS WITHOUT YOUR VERY KIND CONTINUED HELP AND SUPPORT .
For Your kind donations, PayPal address: humanimalserbia@gmail.com or just click the PayPal button bellow:
The cost of each vaccine is 12.50 euros, the cost of each 4D test is 20 euros and the cost of reworking the tens of botched neutering and spayings varies from 25 euros up to 90 euros for some of the badly botched females to be redone and cleared of infections, plus 20 euros for previous ultra sounds.
It is a lot when numbers add. It is a lot for anyone to do this alone. But, we are not alone!
WE HAVE YOU! THE GREATEST DOG LOVER TEAM IN THE WORLD AND TOGETHER WE ALREADY MANAGED MIRACLES TO HAPPEN. WE CAN DO IT AGAIN!
PLEASE HELP US TO DO THIS RIGHT!
We are desperate to raise the funding now to continue with what needs to be done next. Can you help them go to their forever homes. Any donation, no matter how tiny, helps a dog in our care.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT BOTH PAST AND PRESENT. YOU REALLY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR RESCUE. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
Together we took on the world’s largest tuna company and won!
With your help, we confronted Thai Union at sea, on land — in every continent it operates, and took the fight directly to its headquarters in Thailand as only Greenpeace can do.
This is good news for turtles and sharks, sea birds and tuna. It is also great for hundreds of thousands of workers at sea, many of whom have been victims of horrendous working conditions and human rights abuses.
You signed petitions, shared with your friends, and demanded that supermarkets carry better products, and it paid off.
Thai Union, the owner of global brands like Chicken of the Sea, Mareblu, Petit Navire, and Sealect, has committed to real changes that will help make its supply chains safer for both our oceans and workers at sea.
Thai Union now joins the likes of Greenseas and John West Australia as seafood companies that you’ve taken on and won against!
This is a huge win for people power – but the fight doesn’t end today. While Thai Union’s commitments are substantial, we must keep the pressure on. We must monitor Thai Union’s progress to ensure compliance and we must expand this fight to the rest of the out-of-control seafood industry.
Here are three things you can do right now to help mark this momentous occasion:
Thanks to your hard work, Thai Union is going to reduce its dependence on fishing methods that kill sharks and turtles, scale up its reliance on more sustainable fishing methods, and work to ensure all vessels in its supply chains are living up to strict standards for workers.
Not only that, the company will increase transparency so you can find where tuna was caught and which fishing method was used. It will also allow for independent observers and auditing on its vessels to help address human rights abuse at sea.
These are major changes that set a new standard for the seafood industry. But it is up to us to demand that other companies act immediately. Can you help build on this momentum and support all of Greenpeace’s important work?
For far too long, the seafood industry has profited off destruction and human rights abuses. This victory shows that people power can change the biggest seafood companies, but we need to keep up the fight.
Your work got us this far. Let’s continue the fight to protect our oceans in the years to come. We are winning!
Sincerely,
Graham Forbes
Global Seafood Markets Leader, Greenpeace
Posted on July 10, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
SAV Comment – Having been involved with live animal transport / export monitoring for over 25 years, we think it fair to say that we have noticed an excess amount of accidents involving animal transporters happen especially in Germany. Why ? – long hours for drivers; having to get animals to the slaughterhouse ready for when they open in the morning ? If we can track our past instances, then we will be adding these to this post at the end.
On Tuesday, July 4th there was an accident with a truck transport with 7,000 chickens on the autobahn in between Salzburg and Vienna.
The presumed cause: the driver is asleep !!!
Many of the animals died on the accident, others were running around, but most of them should be euthanized.
We can imagine how the animals were loaded when the number was 7,000!!!.
The organization PETA has created display against the driver. And I would also grant an indication against the morality of my fellow men, who ordered their roast chicken at the restaurant. For such accidents and victims are the direct guilty and the indirect guilty responsible!
The firefighters have complained that the other drivers on the highway did not want to leave a rescue zones. And there were also many scoundrels who just looked and did nothing!!
This made the rescue of the animals even more difficult.
Yes, of course! they are only chickens, they thought. If the victims were people?
Exactly on this question has answered Helmut.F.Kaplan, the well-known Austrian animal ethicist on his website following:
The Difference:
When people have an accident, the salvation comes.
When animals have an accident, the battle command comes.
With my best Regards to you and all
Venus
On July 6th, a truck transport with 150 pigs has also been tipped over. That was in northern Germany and the truck was on the way to the slaughterhouse, near Bremen.
Half of the animals died or were euthanized by veterinarians.
Posted on July 6, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
UPDATE 7/7/17 – Donald Tusk now speaks weasel words also.
Donald Tusk at the G20 meeting in Germany today
“words are easy but its actions that matter”
Mr ‘action that matters’ – Donald Tusk
Very true Mr Tusk – you speak fine words about live animals shipped to Turkey being covered by Regulation 1/2005; but the reality is that you never enforce the rules. You Mr Tusk, along with Junker, never actually take the actions that matter
Maybe that is why there are a lot of pissed off Europeans giving you and other idiots lots of trouble in Germany today !
Photo – EoA Netherlands
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Please have a look at the following video and then read the comments from Venus.
The EU Parliament – elected by the people of Europe through the democratic process of elections. The EU Commission, headed by Junker – the real decision making chamber of the EU though its un elected Commissioners – a non democratic process
Take live animal transport for example; the Parliament can vote and say that journey times must be reduced; but it is just one Commissioner who says there is no need and so nothing changes. Over 700 MEPs can want for change, but if just one Commissioner opposes this view, then things remain unchanged as he wants. Junker, the un elected ‘master’ of the Commission; the man who holds the keys to change but only on policy that he wants to change. When it comes to animal welfare this is why we see no real change – Junker is not interested and so AW is thrown into the bin.
Junker – the almighty god of the EU Commission
If only the same could be done with un elected Junker
The UK is getting out of the EU (Brexit) because of these very such operating principles which give the people of the EU no real voice to change things. UK / EU Brexit negotiations are currently under way for the UK to hopefully leave as a member within the next few years.
What are the other nations of Europe doing about the un elects running the show ? – well not a lot really. They continue to sit under the control of un elected Commissioners headed by Junker; and like little mice, they continue to pay in their fees and do everything that the Commission demands of them. One day when other EU nations have some guts, they will join up with the UK and send a clear message to Brussels that it is the few who are dictating to the very many citizens of the EU.
“Mr President, you can criticize the parliament, but it is not up to the commission to control the parliament, it’s up to the parliament to control the commission,” Tajani said.
EU unsure – how nations feel about the ‘master’ EU
Dear Mark,
I sent you a very “pretty” Video from EU-Parmanent, which documents a meeting of the EU Parliament.
Home artist: Junker !!
I accompany this video with the following comment:
I agree with the President of the European Parliament, Tatjani, that Parliament controls the Commission and not the Commission the EU Parliament.
In addition, Juncker should note that the EU Parliament was elected by the EU citizen, but the Commission was not, so the Juncker himself was not elected by the people of Europe.
And before Juncker starts the sharp criticism against the EU Parliament, he should try to bring his stables, the (his) EU Commission, under control.
It is at least (and also) ridiculous, that an idle bunch of well-paid and nothing-doing servants of Merkel will do nothing against the suffering of millions of animals in the EU.
I find this not only ridiculous, I find it abominable and against any form of work ethic.
What does the Commission do ? – Allegedly they claim to:
Enforces EU law
·Together with the Court of Justice, ensures that EU law is properly applied in all the member countries.
We think they must have missed the boat when it comes to enforcing EU animal transport legislation as defined in 1/2005 and as shown in the following videos. This just proves that despite its ‘enforcement’ weasel words, the Commission actually does NOTHING to enforce EU law.
The Commission is a joke, as is Junker.
Watch the videos in the following links to see just how ineffective Junker and his Commissioner gods are at allegedly enforcing EU law:
Warning – the following links contain video links to very disturbing animal abuse during transport:
Please do not tell me that people like Junker are ‘important’; he is ineffective and an utter tosser as the lack of enforcement of EU regulations above show.
Posted on July 1, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
We have some great news from Shelter Felix.
See our recent post below – do you remember that everyone was informed that Argos had lost his sight and was completely blind ? – well there is some great news – the large hematoma behind his left eye has greatly reduced in size and as a result he has his left eye vision returned ! – that is wonderful news – he can see !
Argos is still under treatment, he’s being given injections at the vet’s every day while two different kinds of eye drops are being used locally. The vet is very satisfied with the kitten’s recovery, as a huge hematoma behind his eyes has reduced in size, his left eye’s totally cleared up now and his broken jaw is healing nicely. Unfortunately, his right eye is lost forever.
Please go to the following for other ways to donate:
Environment committee decides in Parliament: No ban on wild animals in the circus
The hope of animal rights activists has thus shattered: There will be no ban on wild animals in the circus. Who voted against? Strong setback for animal friends: lion, elephant and zebra stay in the arena.
The environmental committee of the German parliament rejected yesterday the request of the left to ban wild animals from the circus. Despite the clear majority of the SPD, the Greens and the left in the committee, which all plead in their programs for a ban on wildlife, the application was rejected.
Surprisingly, the SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany) voted against the ban. According to representative surveys, however, the majority of the population is behind a ban, as the animal protection organization “Animals United” confirms.
Now the association wants to mobilize more protests for an animal-free circus.
Viktor Gebhart of “Animals United”: “Especially from the SPD, which over the past years has repeatedly made a ban, the animal friends had expected more nationwide, but the SPD fell today in their back. That is an animal welfare scandal and a clear break with the party’s own conviction, which today had the power to put an end to animal cruelty in the Manege, “he says.
My comment to this:
And so we, who fight for the rights of the animals, are once again betrayed by politics.
The SPD with the party chairman, the illiterate Martin Schultz, has no chance in the next elections. But that will not help, because the CDU (the Conservatives) are not better and will remain in power.
In short: ideology and color in politics are different – at best – only when it comes to people. When it comes to animals, prevails unanimity in slavery, exploitation, and animal suffering!
Best Regards to you Dear Mark and all,
Venus
Here’s the list of countries that have implemented bans on circuses that use wild animals:
Austria
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
El Salvador
Greece
Israel
Malta
Mexico
The Netherlands
Paraguay
Peru
Romania
Singapore
Slovenia
These countries are really showing Germany and the UK up with their progressive, compassionate policies.
Join Mr Gorilla, Bill Oddie and hundreds of people dressed as gorillas to run, jog or walk 8km though the City of London in the 15th annual Great Gorilla Run to help save a species on the edge of extinction.
Now in its 15th year, this incredible event has raised well over £2 million for gorilla conservation and poverty reduction projects in central Africa.
Posted on June 30, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
UPDATE 10-15am Friday 30/6/17.
The bears have now safely arrived at the sanctuary. Please click on the link below to see the latest and their welcoming party from the AA team. Brilliant !!
Five steps from bile farm to freedom for rescued bears
After more than 10 years on a vile bile farm, the bears have now been freed and are in the final hours of the week long journey to their new sanctuary forever home.
Watch the live feeds and videos of the final part of the trip at:
Posted on June 29, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
A few photos which I personally took over various trips I have made to the USA in different years. You can click on any of the images to see a larger version if you wish.
Places like these should never be handed over by Trump and co. to organisations who see them only for physical change and quick money making above anything else.
Please look long and hard at the photos – I see them for the natural beauty that they have which is presented to me – homes to wolves, coyotes and so many other plants and animals that deserve our help and protection.
The USA must welcome visitors to such places and the beauty that they hold, and not let a few madmen destroy these places forever in order to make a quick buck. The good folk of America need to make a stand against these proposed actions; for once it is gone, it can never be replaced.
Posted on June 28, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Class of 2017: Our Summer Studentships
We are delighted to announce that this year we will be funding15 Summer Studentships to support young scientists in laboratories across the country.
The students will be conducting cutting-edge, animal free research into a range of diseases from prostate cancer to Parkinson’s disease, using a wide range of techniques that include cell culture, gene editing and computational modelling.
This work will help to replace animals such as mice, rabbits and pigs, and help embed the importance of animal free research in the minds of young scientists.
You will be able to follow their progress on our Facebook page.
If you would like to help fund more animal free research, please make a donationtoday.
Posted on June 28, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Latest ‘fur news’ from Mark and the crew at ‘Respect for Animals’, Nottingham, England.
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Probably unlikely, but we are taking measures in advance:
This year nearly 80,000 seal pups, less than 3 months old, were brutally clubbed or shot for their fur. Worryingly in the UK, there is a risk that seal product imports could resume once we leave the EU.
Respect for Animals is asking the government to guarantee that this import ban will remain in force.
Top academics and campaigners from around the world are descending on Oxford from 23-26 July to discuss the ethics of the fur trade.
Sponsored by the Respect for Animals Educational trust, it will result in a new up to date and authoritative report intended to transform the debate around wearing fur.
Germany’s last fur farm will close down with a new Bill enforcing stricter regulations and effectively make fur farming of mink non-viable for farmers.
Fantastisch!
Thank you Germany.
Fur Farming In Europe
The fur farming ban has been effective in the UK for over 15 years now.
We were proud to have led that campaign and many of you helped make it possible. today, we use our experience and campaigning record to support campaigns in countries around the world where similar bans are being proposed and who look to the UK as an example to be followed.
It takes up to 40 dumb animals to make a fur coat
– BUT ONLY ONE TO WEAR IT !
Fur is for animals.
Thank you for your support.
Mark Glover, Director
For more news and to make a donation for campaigns, please go to:
This is translation of Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA)’s post. In an era when 10 million dogs are considered companion animals, more than one million are being slaughtered every year at 3,000 of the “world’s only meat dog farms.”
It would not be an exaggeration to call these meat dog farms “companion animal slaughterhouses.” These statistics, however, may be low and the breeding environment and slaughtering process of dogs is unregulated.
While dog meat consumption still exists in countries like China and Vietnam, South Korea is the only country with farms that breed dogs continually, and where large farms housing more than 1,000 dogs are in operation for the purpose of human consumption.
These animals are confined their entire lives to tiny steel raised wire cages before they are slaughtered and eaten. To gain an understanding of the meat dog farms that operate in the darkness of no governmental regulation, Representative Lee Jeong-Mi of the Justice Party and animal rights group Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA; Im Soon-Lye, director) requested data from the Ministry of Environment on dog farms that are required to submit reports for the livestock manure treatment facility and conducted analysis.
Based on this data, KARA conducted field investigations in sample areas including Gyeonggi-do Gimpo and Yeoju, Gangwon-do Wonju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Gimcheon for 10 months beginning August 2016 and inspected the state of the breeding conditions and livestock manure treatment status of these dog farms.
As a result, it was confirmed that there are at least 2,862 dog farms in South Korea that are over 60 square meters and therefore are required to file livestock manure treatment facility reports. At least 781,740 dogs were being bred on these dog farms, with an average of 273 dogs per farm.
NEW PETITION – Please sign! Shut down the “Hell on Earth” illegal dog farm in Yangsan Sangbuk-myeon Gongwon-ro! .
Busan Korea Alliance for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (KAPCA) investigated a dog farm located in Yangsan and reported them for violations to the local authority.
They described it as “worst they have ever seen” and they have seen many dog farms. Right now they need your help to put more pressure on their government to take action to close down this illegal dog farm.
This is a long story. I plan to work on the translation. For now I need all of you to file petition with the Korean government through e-people: http://koreandogs.org/e-people/
Posted on June 26, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Dog sobs when she sees rescuer coming to save her:
We (AAU) got a call that a dog had fallen into a deep well in a village outside of Udaipur. When we arrived we found a heartbroken dog desperate to be helped.
Watch her amazing rescue on the above link !
To donate and help more fantastic rescues like this, please visit:
Posted on June 26, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT TO KILL 200 DOGS.
SAV Comment – we do not have any more details other than those on the petition – which does not give that much of a story. Probably this lady is protecting strays and the government wants to kill them ?
Petition words:
For over 15 years this English woman called Janet has been saving these beautiful Egyptian dogs. She donated her life to this.
Janet, an English lady has committed her life to the street animals, especially dogs, in the town.
this page was formed to support her in supporting the street animals.
life on the streets is harsh and short, and for most dogs, and many cats, ends horrifically by poison or torture
Janet’s dream is for there to be no poisoned animals,
which means there should be no poison! To achieve this needs no dogs, or at least less street/feral dogs and cats, with protection for those that remain and for the foxes too.
sterilization, education, re-homing, a shelter for the homeless, negotiation with the local council, banning possession of poisons should lead to the end of poison in our town and a more pleasant life for it’s animals, residents and tourists,
NOW ALL THIS HARD WORK IS ABOUT TO END IN A HUGE TRAGEDY!!
WE MUST UNITE AND GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO SIGN SO WE GET THE PRESS TO WRITE ABOUT THIS AND HOPEFULLY STOP THIS ACT OF INTENSE CRUELTY!!!
Bears at Wilson’s Wild Animal Park—a roadside zoo in Winchester, Virginia—are confined to a concrete-floored cage, and their water trough is typically empty, leaving them with no means of cooling off during sweltering weather. We need your help to protect these bears from rising temperatures.
PETA recently sent complaints to local, state, and federal authorities requesting that they take action on apparent animal suffering at the roadside zoo, including bears who were seen panting with no means of escaping the heat. One bear was eating water- and urine-soaked food, and another repeatedly paced inside the small, barren enclosure—a sign of severe psychological distress.
The roadside zoo has been repeatedly cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for failing to meet the minimum requirements of the federal Animal Welfare Act. The violations include inadequate caging for dangerous animals, a lack of a veterinary-care program, and failing to provide primates with adequate enrichment. Eyewitnesses also recently observed deer panting in the heat, a goat with nasal discharge, an alpaca with overgrown nails, lynxes and a lion cub confined to enclosures on concrete slabs, a lynx repeatedly pacing, and birds with apparent injuries and missing feathers.
Please urge Wilson’s Wild Animal Park to provide these bears with at least natural terrain and an adequate pool to escape the heat and to consider retiring them to a reputable sanctuary.
Please take action for the bears using the link given above – thank you.
Posted on June 25, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
“Over 1 Million Dogs Being Raised for Food in Appalling Conditions”
The Korea Bizwire reported on June 23 that “On June 22, Rep. Lee Jung Mi of the Justice Party and animal rights activist group Korea Animal Rights Advocates KARA held a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido to publicly disclose the state of dog meat farms in Korea. Beginning in August of last year, an investigation into the general practices of 20 dog meat farms revealed horrifying conditions. Dogs were kept in tiny steel cages so small that the animals could not even stretch out properly.”
Please click HERE and read the article to learn more about the survey results.
Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, Israel, Iceland: Speak out against the dog meat trade at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics!
The clock is ticking towards the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, a nation of the cruel and brutal practice of eating companion animals.
We have a campaign urging National Olympic Teams participating in this event, to take a stand against this atrocious barbarity. Click below for the campaign pages:
Bucheon Mayor Kim Man-Soo publicly suggests that his city become dog meat-free.
On June 23rd, Bucheon Mayor Kim Man-Soo posted a message on his personal Facebook page asking, “How about our city going without dog meat?” Nami Kim had personally delivered our online petition signatures to Mayor Kim Man-Soo two weeks ago, and had a lengthy meeting with him discussing this issue.
Our petition to the Mayor is to thank him for all his efforts to end the dog meat trade in his city so far, which is virtually unheard of in Korean cities and government. It is very important to encourage him to make Bucheon the first “Dog Meat-Free City” in Korea. We would like Mayor Kim to be the example for other Mayors and Governors.
Sharing for LCA: Join the Two-Day Demo Against the S. Korean Dog Meat Trade
Last Chance for the Animals (LCA) is organizing 2 demonstrations at the Washington DC this week. Please join! Thank you!
South Korea’s newly elected President Moon will be coming to Washington DC next week to meet with President Trump. LCA will be having a demonstration in DC to urge him to end the dog meat trade now!
Please see details below. The demonstration will be held over 2 days and will be at 2 different locations.
FIRST DEMO WHEN: 10 am – 1 pm THURSDAY, JUNE 29TH WHERE: CAPITOL HILL Meet at the corner of Constitution Avenue and New Jersey Avenue – 10 am sharp until 1pm. LCA hope to deliver their message in person to the South Korean President Moon to ban the dog meat trade.
SECOND DEMO WHEN: 10 am – 1 pm FRIDAY JUNE 30TH WHERE: S. KOREAN EMBASSY Meet in front of the Korean Embassy – 2450 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
LCA will have posters and banners to hold.
Join us in San Francisco, New York or from your home!
Please join us at our upcoming events in San Francisco or three ‘Boknal’ demonstrations organized by The Animals’ Battalion in New York. You can also join us from the comfort of your home by picking up the phone.
Nothing will change without action and people demanding change. If you would like to hand out our leaflets in your city or organize an event in US, we would be glad to send you our leaflets.
Posted on June 25, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Hello Mark,
I send you the promised article about meat eating.
I have been inspired by the beautiful photo exhibition in Berlin, I have seen the topic from a different perspective!
Best regards
Venus
This photo, taken in 1963, was especially noticeable from me at a photo exhibition in Berlin.
Yes! So we always asked at the table at home: “Give us our daily bread today, Lord!”
The word “bread” was symbolic, in fact meat was mostly eaten.
Today, as then, we look at the corpses that are served on our table as the right food.
We prefer the clubs, the ribs, the bellies, the breast parts of massacred animals as our daily bread.
The meat industry, today as then, is particularly concerned with advertising on meat.
The turkey, the pig, the rabbit are nicely done and deliciously served in everyday life as in festivals.
But the greatest effort of the meat industry is that the life, the misery, the production of these animals remain invisible at all.
Even more invisible is the fact that the body of a turkey is actually the body of a child who dies of hunger because we want to have our daily flesh here.
“A child who dies of hunger today is murdered”, said Jean Ziegler.
By whom murdered?
By all who are involved in this system.
Because tragically, a large portion of the world’s food and land is used to produce cattle and other farm animals and as a food for the rich, at the same time 43,000 children die daily of hunger in the Third World.
We cannot say today, we do not know where the “daily bread” comes to our table.
And when some naive still pray to the god that their plates are filled with corpses every day, their morals and consciences have long since sold to the God of the meat-mafia.
Posted on June 21, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
It seems like a lifetime – Joanne, Mark and Trevor were out campaigning about this slaughter back around 19990 / 91. Very sadly, in this modern age, it still continues, some 27 years or so after they hit the streets.
Animal rights campaigners have reported details of the the latest Grindarap – an annual event in the Faroe Islands where locals round up and massacre huge families of whales.
The sea turned red as the blood of an estimated 150-200 mammals were sliced to death by hunters from the Danish islands, located in the Norwegian Sea.
The Grindarap is believed to date back as far as 1584. It is a method of whaling that drives entire pods of whales and dolphins towards beaches by trapping them with small boats and missiles.
The prey, typically short-finned pilot whales migrating through the Norwegian Sea in the summer, are then set upon other hunters armed with knives and lances.
There are usually a series of hunts in close succession to one another at this time of year. The whale meat is eaten by locals.
Various campaign groups have demanded that the practice, which is legal, be stamped out.
“The animals slowly bleed to death. Whole families are slaughtered, and some whales swim around in their family members’ blood for hours.
“Whales and dolphins are highly intelligent creatures and feel pain and fear every bit as much as we do,” PETA said.
Posted on June 21, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
We had never thought that such a little creature could steal our hearts in just a matter of days. Last Wednesday, our friends from Anima informed us that they had been contacted by a family that wished to give Argos up for adoption, as they couldn’t take care of him anymore. And it wouldn’t have been a problem as all of us are used to receiving numerous appeals for help of the kind, if Argos hadn’t been completely blind. The only reason that Anima reached to us is that blind cats need to live in a controlled environment, for the sake of their own safety.
During the first conversation with his owners/caretakers, we found out that he was a young stray living on the streets until he got hit by a car approximately a month ago, so they picked him up and took him to the local vet. They live in a small city and the vet in question didn’t seem to be very interested in an injured stray. Argos received just minimal treatment that helped stabilize him, but nothing more, so he arrived at the shelter on Thursday and was immediately taken to our vet.
He tested negative for FIV/FeLV and his blood work was more or less normal, except for his eosinophils which were low, the vet suspected he has a parasitosis, so Argos was dewormed and deflead right away. Unfortunately, he still has a cerebral contusion and huge hematomas behind his eyes. His lower jaw was broken and is currently healing on its own, so right now he can eat only liquid food and soft cat pate’. He is under aggressive treatment because of his brain edema and is being given injections every day plus two different kinds of eye drops as a topical treatment. Sadly, his eyesight has been lost forever. Had the local vet who treated Argos right after his injury done something, anything, to try and reduce his brain edema and had he been able to at least begin solving some of the numerous problems this lovely kitty boy had at the time, Argos would have had at least some chances to see again one day – but as the vet failed, Argos will remain blind for the rest of his life.
Nevertheless, he is still cheerful, lively and enjoys eating Gourmet cat pate’ and kibble for baby cats, as it’s easier on his broken jaw. He’s gotten accustomed perfectly to his new surroundings and we are almost certain he’ll soon be having fun with all of the shelter kitties. But until he recovers, he needs to spend most of his time in a cage so that he heals well, he is being taken to the vet every day and is regularly receiving vitamins and supplements to boost his immune system. As soon as he gets strong enough, he will be vaccinated, microchipped and neutered and he will finally become an owned cat.
If someone wishes to donate diapers, cat pate’, sauce/gravy and cat litter or to make a financial contribution towards this sweet little creature’s recovery, he will be extremely grateful! We are sorry you can’t see Argos purring and cuddling, as he would surely melt your hearts!!
Fittingly, today, 21st June 2017 is going to be probably the hottest midsummer day for around 40 years. Huge crowds gathered at Stonehenge to welcome the Summer sun rising on the morning of 21st. Stonehenge is considered to be a very special place for midsummer – The Neolithic monument is widely believed to be a prehistoric temple built to mark the movements of the sun, according to English Heritage. The heel stone and slaughter stones at the site are aligned with sunrise on summer solstice.
Even in midsummer the UK is often swamped in rain and the sunrise is not seen at Stonehenge. But this year it has been perfect as you can see from some of the photos.
The summer solstice occurs around the 21 June in the northern hemisphere and is the time when then sun reaches its highest point of the year at the Tropic of Cancer, resulting in the longest day.
This year the summer solstice will see the UK bathed in sunlight for around 16 hours and 38 minutes on Wednesday 21
Why is the summer solstice seen as special?
‘Solstice’ comes from the Latin, ‘solstitium’, meaning the stopping or standing still of the sun, and marks the first day of summer.
The summer solstice is marked with a number of festivals, feasts and rituals across different faiths, and strongly associated with fertility, growth and light.
The Christian feast day of St John the Baptist occurs within days of the solstice, while in ancient China, the solstice was associated with Li, the goddess of light.
The day is perhaps most strongly linked with pagans, who used it as a marker for planting and harvesting crops. It also marked the union of the pagan god and goddess, which was believed to create the harvest’s fruits, the BBC reports.
Why is Stonehenge significant to the summer solstice?
Thousands of people descend on the ancient religious site of Stonehenge in Wiltshire each year to see the sun rise on the summer solstice, with many dressed in flower garlands or druids’ robes.
The Neolithic monument is widely believed to be a prehistoric temple built to mark the movements of the sun, according to English Heritage. The heel stone and slaughter stones at the site are aligned with sunrise on summer solstice.
Posted on June 20, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
We stand united with our Chinese animal campaigner friends who are doing all they can to get the message across to the Chinese citizens and world about the suffering of the dog and cat meat trades. SAV.
Crackdown At Yulin Dog Meat Festival As Police Shut Down Stalls
The festival is going ahead – but law enforcement agencies are trying to uphold sales restriction.
A video showing police shutting down dog meat stalls at the controversial Yulin festival is being shared by activists and animal welfare charities.
More than 10 million dogs and 4 million cats are reportedly killed every year for human consumption in China, but the practice is becoming increasingly polarized, with many young people strongly opposed to it.
The last few weeks has seen lots of information emerging around the festival, with reports released that the festival itself had been cancelled – though these were later disputed, with Jason Baker, Vice President of International Campaigns at PETA, saying: “We have spoken with several people working within the mayor’s office, the food and drug administration and the municipal building and no one seems aware of a Yulin festival ban.”
These rumors were possibly the result of news that Yulin city was going to ban the sale of dog meat during the event. The ban, which was set to come into force on June 15 (one week before the festival begins on June 23) would see traders risk arrest and a fine of up to $14,500 if caught selling the contraband meat.
The ban was credited to Yulin’s newly appointed Party Secretary Mo Gong Ming.
‘Compromise’
Now according Humane Society International [HSI], a last-minute compromise deal was recently reached between angry dog meat vendors and the Yulin authorities, whereby vendors are permitted to sell dog meat, but are limited to two dog carcasses per stand – a dramatic reduction for most vendors.
But HSI’s Chinese partners claim to have seen a number of dog meat traders selling in quantities they believed was violation of the order. They reported the activity to the authorities in Yulin. This was then followed by a crackdown whereby the traders were told to close down their stands.
HSI’s Chinese activist partner, Sean Long, said: “It doesn’t look like business as usual at Dongkou market in Yulin. It’s disappointing to see dog meat still on sale, but nothing like the amount we’ve seen in the past.
“Business was slow at the market, with far fewer buyers. Some vendors we spoke with said they believed they were allowed to sell dog meat again, and hinted that some kind of concession had been gained from the authorities just in the last couple of days.
“However, other vendors expressed doubt that they would be allowed to continue selling dog meat for long and said that there was so much genuine uncertainty that they had decided not to order more dogs in case they can’t sell them.”
Enforcing the ban
HSI’s partner groups are also reporting that the Yulin police department has set up a temporary office in the main Dongkou market for daily inspections to enforce the order, and so HSI would encourage Chinese activists on the ground to swiftly report any violations they see.
These partner groups will continue to monitor the situation and assist the Yulin police in taking action against dog meat vendors who violate the order.
Dr Peter Li, HSI’s China policy specialist, said: “It is encouraging to see the Yulin authorities enforcing the compromise ban that they themselves struck with Yulin officials. It shows that while the restricted sales order is by no means perfect, it is absolutely having an impact and Yulin law enforcement want to be seen to be taking it seriously.
“Our Chinese partners share the frustration of animal campaigners around the world that change in Yulin is a long time coming, but they are keen for this video to go viral so that people can see that progress is being made and the dog traders are definitely feeling the pressure.
“This kind of crackdown is certainly causing vendors to hold off buying more dogs, and word is spreading.”
Take action now by signing the open letter calling for a ban on the trade. Please click on the following link to sign and read more:
Posted on June 19, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
SAV Comment – We all know from ‘Eyes on Animals’ investigations how cattle are slaughtered in Turkey. Pity the Irish Farmers Association does not get off its money laden backside and go see exactly how ‘their’ animals are killed. But they wont cos all they are interested in is Money !
Info supplied by export hero Jane.
Further contracts to ship Irish cattle to Turkey expected
7:00 am – June 19, 2017
Further contracts to ship Irish cattle to Turkey expected
Irish suckler farmers are holding on to the hope that further contracts, which would see more Irish cattle being shipped to Turkey, will be agreed this year.
The Turkish market has grown in importance since the first boatload of Irish animals departed for the Middle Eastern market back in the autumn of 2016.
Since the market opened to Irish cattle, some seven boatloads have departed Irish shores. The latest consignment was organised by the Waterford-based exporting company Purcell Brothers.
The exporting company has sent two boatloads of cattle to Turkey this year as part of a 20,000-head contract.
Last year, Viastar shipped more than 19,000 cattle to Turkey. The four shipments included both finished and weanling bulls. In a separate deal, earlier this year another Irish exporter also sent a consignment of 1,564 Irish heifers to Turkey.
And hopes are growing that similar contracts could be agreed this year.
In a statement last week, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) said exports to Turkey are very strong and it is expected that there will be further contracts as the year progresses.
Nearly 27,000 head of Irish cattle have now been exported to Turkey. And the added competition from exporters is having a positive impact on cattle prices in numerous marts throughout the country.
IFA National Livestock Chairman, Angus Woods, said lighter carcass weights and a strong live export trade will help to negate the impact of higher numbers for the second half of the year.
Predictions suggest that 100,000 extra cattle will be slaughtered in Ireland this year and supplies have climbed by 27,000 head above 2016 levels already this year.
In addition, Woods said, live exports have been very strong this year and are up 35,000 head to reach 116,000. Over 90,000 calves have been exported from Ireland this year, he added.
Posted on June 18, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Posted 14th June, 2017
Updated: 15th June, 2017
Author: Eduardo Gonçalves
Elections can be curious affairs. For political junkies, the polling, the projections, and the posturing are their bread and butter – but away from that there is something much deeper. Elections have a way of distilling how a nation feels and what it values.
This was supposed to be the Brexit election, but in the end, that wasn’t a major issue. To everyone’s surprise, it was usurped by a different issue: hunting.
In Conservative manifestos past, the party has committed a free vote on repeal of the Hunting Act. Previously, when only a handful of Conservative MPs supported the ban, this was barely commented on. But we know that prior to this election, more than 50 Conservative MPs supported the ban. More than that, we know that the vast majority of the British public support the ban. So it came as something of a surprise when Theresa May affirmed her own support for hunting, and a repeal of the Hunting Act. What happened next was little short of remarkable.
Like never before, fox hunting became an election issue.
That’s not my just view. Buzzfeed analysed what was being shared online during the campaign. Throughout the campaign, hunting was the fourth most-shared topic, ahead of Brexit. It wasn’t just online that it was making a stir, either. BritainThinks ran focus groups with swing voters in marginal constituencies. After social care, the most commonly mentioned manifesto commitment was the Hunting Act. YouGov said that the words brought up most during the campaign were “social care” and “fox hunting”.
Candidates – both Labour and Conservative – spoke time and time again about how fox hunting repeatedly came up on the doorsteps. Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston said Theresa May’s comments on hunting were a “turning point” in the campaign. Another Conservative MP, Michael Fabricant, said that raising the issue was “very foolish”. The victorious Labour candidate in Canterbury – held by the Conservatives for decades – said it was fox hunting that swung it.
Jim Waterson, Political Editor at Buzzfeed, tweeted that “Anecdotally and based on our most-shared data, I really think fox hunting (& ivory ban) cost the Tories some marginal seats”.
At the same time all this was going on, League Against Cruel Sports supporters were contacting their local candidates as part of the Votes for Vinny campaign. Tens of thousands of emails were sent, and in the days before polling day, thousands of people logged in to the League website to see how their candidates responded to the pledges.
Clearly, hunting is not a party political issue. No party has a monopoly on compassion. Along with those many anti-hunting Conservative MPs, over 70% of Conservative voters support the ban on hunting. Party colour was not the vote loser here – the misjudgement was pandering to a vocal minority who want to see a return to a more ignorant time.
Vinny himself was in cities across Britain, spreading the word about animal cruelty. Candidates from all parties contacted their constituents – and us at the League – to say that they opposed repeal. In the final two weeks of the campaign, an additional 30 Conservative candidates, almost all of whom were elected, said that they would vote against repeal.
So, where do we stand now? Well, it is very difficult to see a repeal vote on the Hunting Act being passed. Former Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps says it “stands absolutely no chance” of repeal.
Despite the Conservatives losing seats, the number of Conservative MPs supporting the Hunting Act has increased, and is possibly as high as one third of MPs. The election has made clear how unpopular – not to mention politically toxic – the idea of repeal is.
Yet there is more work to do. The Brexit process may open the door to weakened environmental and animal welfare legislation. That must be stopped. In the last Parliament, good progress was made towards tougher sentencing for animal cruelty. That must be seen through. It is not just politicians that should now be left in no doubt as to how unpopular hunting is. In a couple of months, ‘cub hunting’ – the illegal slaughter of fox cubs – will begin again, and hunting continues under the false alibi of “trail hunting”. Public bodies like the National Trust, the Forestry Commission, and the Ministry of Defence continue to allow this on their land. The British public do not tolerate animal cruelty, and neither should those organisations.
With a hung Parliament, the election may have had an indecisive outcome, but in another way, it was utterly decisive. The idea that the Hunting Act should be repealed has been roundly rejected and the hope now is that we can move on from any notion of repeal or weakening.
The British public believes in compassion and they believe that animals should be protected from persecution. Politicians surely now accept that. It must be time, therefore, that we seek to strengthen and extend those protections.
Many people think of the small Southeast Asian country of Laos as paradise on Earth, but for many of our four-legged friends it is truly nothing but hell.
In a recent report Laos was singled out as one of the worst countries participating in the wildlife farming industry. Where small ramshackle cages filled with tigers and other endangered animals await their fate. Usually that means they will end up on a tourist plate.
You’ll be shocked and appalled to learn about secret monkey shipments on Air France passenger flights that we’ve discovered.
The monkeys were flown 5,979 miles from Mauritius to Paris, where they were held for a further nine hours, before being flown 4,138 miles to Chicago. Their ordeal lasted over 37 hours.
Tragically, the monkeys were destined for Charles River Laboratories, a company that profits from carrying out cruel poisoning tests on animals.
While holidaymakers were enjoying their flight in comfort, they would’ve been totally unaware of the suffering just below their feet. 120 monkeys, torn from their families and imprisoned in small wooden crates, were suffering in the dark and noisy cargo hold.
Air France are the only European passenger airline still transporting monkeys for research. This must stop!
Foie Gras is not allowed to be produced in the UK on animal cruelty grounds, but is imported as a so called ‘delicacy’ by selected stores. The aim of this petition is to demand that the UK bans the importation of all Foie Gras.
Foie gras is a ‘delicacy’ made from the diseased liver of ducks or geese who have been repeatedly force-fed. Animal Equality investigations in France and Spain have revealed the extreme suffering that millions of ducks and geese endure on foie gras farms
Please sign the petition demanding a UK import ban on foie gras.
The President does not want to visit the UK until the public supports him, sources say
Donald Trump has reportedly told Theresa May that he does not want to visit the UK soon for fear of large-scale protests against him.
Ms May invited Mr Trump to Britain seven days after his inauguration. Now he apparently wants to wait until the British public supports him coming.
The US President made the admission in a recent phone call to the Prime Minister, a Downing Street adviser who was present for the call told The Guardian. The aide said Ms May seemed surprised.
Mr Trump – never a favourite among British voters – stoked outcry in recent weeks for attacking London Mayor Sadiq Khan in the wake of terrorist attacks in the city.
The President ridiculed Mr Khan’s calls for calm, and later condemned the Mayor’s “pathetic excuse” for his statements.
The comments drove even Ms May to say that Mr Trump was “wrong”. Some MPs – and Mr Khan himself – suggested she cancel Mr Trump’s visit to the UK.
“Show some bottle please PM,” David Lammy, senior Labour MP, tweeted. “Cancel the state visit and tell Trump where to get off.”
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has also expressed his support for cancelling the trip.
A spokesperson for Ms May, however, told Reuters that “the Queen extended an invitation to President Trump to visit the UK and there is no change to those plans”.
British police stopped sharing intelligence with the US about the Manchester terrorist attack after photos of the investigation were leaked to the media.
The Foreign Office was also reportedly upset with Mr Trump’s decision to remove the US from the Paris climate agreement.
Mr Trump did not visit the UK on his first foreign trip as President, choosing instead to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Vatican. He also attended summits in Italy and Belgium. The White House recently announced that his next foreign trip will include a visit Poland.
Businessman Woody Johnson has been named as the new US ambassador to the UK, but the President has yet to formally nominate him.
The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
· Oppose “climate mitigation” projects in the Gulf of Mexico that could keep mother sea turtles from nesting beaches, such as the nightmarish Ike Dike, a massive sea wall along our coast that would impact critical Kemp’s ridley turtle habitat.
· Spearhead efforts to re-establish a nesting colony for Hawaiian green sea turtles, creating a second beachhead to guard against sea level rise at their primary nesting site.
· Mobilize thousands of activists to defend national laws that reduce carbon emissions and fight against oil and gas drilling projects in our oceans.
Together over the past 25 years, we’ve stared right into the eyes of some formidable opponents to protect the sea turtles – international trade organizations, powerful governments, and vested fishing interests. And we’ve won real change.
Painted Lady butterflies to grace Alberta with rare migration
Throngs of the soft pink beauties have begun epic trip north
A rare kaleidoscope of painted-lady butterflies will invade Alberta this summer, during an epic migration that only happens every 10 to 15 years.
It’s been a dozen years since the province was last inundated with the dainty insects.
“We get used to migrating birds coming north and south every year like clockwork, but some butterflies are not like that at all,” said John Acorn, a naturalist known as the Nature Nut.
“And the painted lady is a great example.”
The colourful butterflies breed in the southern United States, parts of Mexico and Central America.
Their migration into Canada is dependent on weather conditions and the health of those southern populations, said Acorn, a professor with the department of renewable resources at the University of Alberta.
‘We expect to see our fill’
“As the population grows, the butterfly population becomes more migratory and they just stream north,” Acorn said. “The bigger the population, the stronger the migration.
“We generally see a couple every year, but this year we expect to see our fill.”
The painted lady is easily identified by pointed, salmon-pink wings, with intricate dark markings and row of five eyespots on the outer edges of the hind wing.
“The painted lady is more pinkish-orange but the butterflies that are arriving now are a little bit faded,” Acorn said. “They’ve flown who knows how many hundreds, if not thousands of kilometres, so they’re not looking their best.
“The butterflies that emerge in July will be much snappier looking.”
Taking flight
It’s not known exactly how many of the insects are expected to fly into Alberta this summer. But there will be ample opportunities to catch a glimpse of them before they fly south again or perish in the cold, said Acorn.
The butterflies arriving now will be laying their eggs on thistle flowers in a few weeks.
“I don’t know how long they’re going live, maybe a month or two if they’re lucky,” Acorn said of the butterflies soon to emerge from cocoons.
“There is some suggestion that they migrate south again at high altitudes before winter so it may be that they get out of here before it gets really ugly, although I have seen painted ladies into October and they didn’t seem to get that this is Alberta and they should get out.”
There is a great deal of rumour and counter rumour as to what exactly the real truth is regarding the Yulin festival this year.
As you will see from the many links we have provided in the above (link), much of the press and AW organisations are under the impression that the Yulin festival will be much tighter controlled this year.
But we have been informed by Animals Asia who are based in the region that things may not be as good as publicised. Please read the following statement from them. We are desperately attempting to getmore info, but it is difficult regarding the location and authorities involved. We do place a lot of belief in what AA are saying, although we desperately hope that this is incorrect
If we do get any further updates then we will be publishing on this site – SAV.
From Animals Asia –
Rumours that dog meat sales would be banned in the run up to this year’s Yulin dog meat festival have been denied by the city authorities.
Last month, rumours began circulating that this year’s Yulin dog meat festival would not be allowed to take place due to a government ban on the sale of dog meat in the week leading up to the summer solstice.
However, on the day the ban was rumoured to begin, the Beijing News reported that the Yulin city authorities had denied the existence of any dog meat ban.
Speaking to the paper, staff from the Yulin Publicity Department of the Municipal Committee claimed the event is not authorised by the government and therefore they have no right to call it off.
They also confirmed that the city authorities did not publish any policy on a dog meat ban and did not know where the rumours had originated.
The people of Yulin eat lychees and dog meat to celebrate the summer solstice. The celebration was briefly formalised by the authorities as the Yulin Lychee and Dog Meat Festival in order to boost the local economy, but due to both internal and international condemnation, the government distanced themselves from the event in 2014.
Since losing official backing, the event has continued as an informal activity.
This year, rumours claimed the ban would begin on 15 June and continue until either 21 or 22 of the same month. In 2017, the summer solstice falls on 21 June.
Animals Asia has spoken to sources in Yulin who have reported that dog meat traders in the city’s Dongkou market were publicly selling dog meat on 15 June, as they do every day.
Animals Asia’s Cat and Dog Welfare Director Irene Feng said:
“It seems likely there will not be an overt ban on dog meat sales in the city of Yulin during this year’s summer solstice. However, we do believe that the government has had enough and wants to end the global association of Yulin city with the minority practice of eating dog meat.
“The will may be there – but as long as dog meat eating is legal in China it is difficult for any one locality to issue its own ban.
“It’s possible that this year the Yulin government did indeed try to implement a soft ban and issued it verbally, but due to the leak their intentions to be discrete were made more difficult.
“In any event, what the situation crystalises is that the international attention given to Yulin for one week of the year is becoming a distraction from the much larger issue of the dog meat trade’s activities every single day of the year across the country. That is the real issue and it requires a consistent and holistic approach – it can’t be solved in a week.”
Reports of the number of dogs slaughtered during the summer solstice in Yulin vary wildly and should be treated with caution but most observers put the number between 1,000 and 10,000.
In contrast, the dog meat trade is estimated to be responsible for the deaths of 10 million canines a year across the entire country.
A long-term Animals Asia investigation into the dog and cat meat trade in China found widespread illegality and public health concerns. The investigation, released in 2015, found no evidence of any large-scale farms, fuelling long-standing accusations that most meat dogs are stolen pets and strays.
Many of these animals are poisoned during capture or have no proof of origin and vaccination histories as required by law – raising serious health concerns.
With so many pets being stolen and inadequate police action taken, vigilante violence has become common with both dog thieves and owners being killed in brutal confrontations across the country.
Animals Asia, via Ya Dong – a consultancy wholly owned and advised by the Hong Kong-based NGO – deploys a holistic approach to ending the cat and dog meat trade which runs year-round.
Posted on July 18, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Do you know what really goes on behind the closed doors of Scotland’s 35 slaughterhouses?
We certainly don’t! But we do know that welfare standards are breached time and time again, and Animal Aid’s incredible investigative work has uncovered extraordinary brutality.
I’ll be honest with you. I don’t like the idea of slaughterhouses full stop. But for as long as they are here, we have to do what we can to protect the animals from cruelty. That’s why I’m asking you to sign a petition to the Scottish Parliamentcalling for the introduction of mandatory CCTV monitoring in all Scottish abattoirs, covering all the key areas, that is accessible by independent experts.
So how bad is the problem? Animal Aid’s investigations show the horrifying cruelty in English abattoirs, and there is nothing to suggest that the situation in Scotland is better.
Data released by Food Standards Scotland in April shows over 700 breaches of animal welfare took place between 1 May 2015 and 31 January 2017, with 176 breaches happening inside abattoirs.
Some of the breaches included:
Animals being abused by workers – One worker was seen kicking a sheep and another pushing and dragging a pig by its tail.
Injured animals – Hundreds of animals were found bruised, injured, wounded or with broken bones.
Animals slaughtered while heavily pregnant – 130 animals were killed in the later stages of pregnancy.
Animals repeatedly stunned before killed – 45 incidents happened where multiple or inadequate stunning took place or where procedures didn’t work.
This shows us that clearly something is not working and that’s why we want to bring transparency to Scotland’s abattoirs. If you agree, then please sign this petition calling for the Scottish Parliament to introduce mandatory CCTV.
We have launched this petition in association with activists who successfully changed SNP policy in support of CCTV in slaughterhouses. This happened last September and we have now agreed that we need to jointly put the pressure on to see this party policy made Government policy.
The Scottish Government, like the rest of the UK, recommends the installation of CCTV as best practice. However, France has now taken the lead in the EU by announcing CCTV will be compulsory in all French slaughterhouses from 2018. If France can do it, then surely Scotland can too.
