EU; ‘Mixed Opinions’ About Where Countries Stand – and Future New Members

Posted on February 14, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

source of info: http://www.europarl.europa.eu

MEPs will discuss the European Union aspirations of Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey on Wednesday 10 February. The Foreign Affairs Committee has given a mixed opinion on where the countries stand and we asked Parliament’s followers on Facebook what they think. Read on to find out more and check out the photo slideshow.

Croatia: must combat corruption

The Committee believes negotiations with Croatia can be concluded in 2010, but it must strengthen public administration, reform the judiciary, combat corruption and organised crime, ensure sustainable refugee return and provide access to documents for use in war crimes trials in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague.

Parliament’s rapporteur Hannes Swoboda told us, “the main obstacles to Croatia’s accession are the fight against corruption and reform of its justice system. The main effort must be stronger cooperation with the ICTY. Croatia has to continue the search of the documents concerning operation ‘Storm’ of 1995.”

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: name issue should be solved

The committee found that negotiations with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia could begin “in the near future”. Issues to focus on include reform of the public administration and judiciary, the fight against corruption and the improvement of  women’s rights and inter-ethnic relations

In addition, it must “redouble efforts to find a mutually satisfactory solution to the name issue” with Greece.

Slovenian Socialist Zoran Thaler told us that “the biggest obstacle in the way to accession is the lack of regional responsibility and an understanding of how important good neighbourly relations are.”

Turkey: “Involvement of civil society” needed

Turkey was criticised for having made only “limited progress”. It should better implement existing legislation on women’s rights, non-discrimination, freedom of religion/thought/speech/expression, zero tolerance of torture and the fight against corruption and  contribute “in concrete terms” to the settlement of the Cyprus issue.

Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijten said that recent Constitutional Court rulings show a comprehensive reform of the constitution is needed to put the protection of human rights and the fundamental freedoms at the core of the Turkish State and society. “I encourage the Turkish government to resume work on that reform and I call for the cooperation of all political parties and the involvement of civil society and all minorities.”

Over 200 and counting…

Our Facebook profile was flooded with insights and strong arguments on enlargement, ranging from “aren’t we already big enough?” (Katia) and “it is too early” (Björnos) to “everyone is welcome” (Natalia). Most contributors seemed to agree that “enlargement is good thing” (Hela) and hoped that the EU “won’t close, but try to improve the cooperation between societies” (Mika). “We’d better be ready, there’s still a lot to be done, in order to practice the ideas of Erasmus, rather than those of Machiavelli” (Galina).

“As long as people do not understand that the EU is about the future (it was founded to overcome the past) and the EU itself does not know what it wants to be (a democratic federal entity or just an economic union dominated by the elites) it is too early to start any bigger enlargement projects” (Martin).

It’s all about values

EP’s fans underlined that “enlargement should be based on (common) values” (Pierre-Antoine): “All Europeans who share European values of freedom and human rights are welcome. This includes all ethnic groups. Racism, sexism, homophobia have no place and no space in the EU” (Maria).

Only fools rush in

Cybernauts think further enlargement “will take time” (Geoff) and the EU should prepare well for it: “We must take time to find the necessary balance, whether cultural, political or financial, to a successful enlargement” (Sylvie). “The EU is a wonderful political creation. Let’s not destroy it by wanting to cut corners” (Pierre-Antoine).

Some participants thought enlargement should wait until the EU sorts out its own problems “I think that it’s a bad moment to discuss enlargement. The financial crisis makes people more sensitive to changes, and many can see them as threat” (Javier).

According to Labinot, certain non-EU European countries should not “hurry or be obsessed about integrating into the EU” and should not see it as an end in itself but rather “do their homework without thinking of EU”.

Dream until your dreams come true

Where should the final frontier of the EU be drawn? Heated discussions ranged from suggestions to draw limits to enlargement to “no new Iron Curtains in Europe” (Johnny). Other wanted to bring in all the Balkans, Iceland, Norway, resolve the status of northern Cyprus, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Caucasus and even Russia – if they uphold the democratic rights of their citizens.

See how your concerns and ideas are reflected on the floor of the House. Watch the parliamentary debate live online 0830-1150 CET on Wednesday 10 February.

Further information :

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Uk: Spindles farm Horse Cruelty – Petition to Print and Return Completed by END OF FEBRUARY

Posted on February 14, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Past SAV Posts on this case:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/05/09/uk-england-five-members-of-same-family-all-found-guilty-of-neglecting-horses-and-ponies/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/england-uk-legal-victory-horse-trader-sentenced-to-6-months-prison-fined-400000-and-given-a-life-ban-on-keeping-horses-ponies-and-donkeys/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/uk-horse-trader-faces-bail-breach-charge-update/

PETITION ATTACHED –

PLEASE PRINT OUT AND FILL AS MANY AS YOU CAN, AND RETURN TO ADDRESS ON THE PETITION BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2010 ……………. THESE PETITIONS WILL BE HANDED INTO THE COURT BEFORE SENTENCING ………..  

Print out Petitions by clicking on this link:

Petition Spindles Farm 2 (1)

Please return this petition to: – Great Yarmouth Against Animal Cruelty, 11 Market Row, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 1PB

 By End February 2010

Thank You

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From the Bucks Examiner

Vet: Gray’s horses were ‘appallingly thin’

Posted by Hannah Williams on Feb 2, 10 11:53 AM in Crime

A VET has likened some of the ‘appallingly thin’ horses, ponies and donkeys owned by farmer James Gray to survivors of Belsen or Auschwitz concentration camps.

Paul Jepson, veterinary surgeon at The Horse Trust’s Home for Rest for Horses, examined 14 equines taken into the charity’s care at Speen, near Princes Risborough.
He told a court: “One gets quite used to seeing scruffy ponies but I was quite shocked when I saw these animals – shocked an appalled to be honest. What came to mind was the visions one sees on the television of Belsen and Auschwitz.

“The animals I was looking at, they struck me as appallingly thin but I think, overwhelmingly, the apathy they were exhibiting, that struck me the most.
“My stable manager, who is quite a hard nut, actually cried when she saw these animals, and that is unusual.”

Mr Jepson, who has 38 years experience and is a former director of veterinary services for the Ministry of Defence, also spoke of the progress made by the animals after they were seized from Gray’s farm in Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, in January 2008. His evidence was part of appeal proceedings held at Bicester Magistrates Court, Oxfordshire, which is sitting as Aylesbury Crown Court.

James Gray, 46, his wife Julie, 42, and their daughters Cordelia, 21, of Spindles Farm, Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, and Jodie, 27, of Park Road, Ashford, Middlesex, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, were last year found guilty of failing to ensure protected animals’ welfare needs were met.

Gray and the teenage defendant were also found guilty of nine counts of causing unnecessary suffering under the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act. More than 100 horses were removed from the farm in January 2008 in one of the RSPCA’s biggest investigations.

He told Judge Christopher Tyrer, who hearing the appeal with two magistrates, on Monday: “Within four hours their demeanour had changed significantly. They started taking a real interest in their surroundings.”

When asked by Michael Fullerton, defending, whether the equines’ thinness was because they were still growing, Mr Jepson said: “I do not accept the body condition of these animals is due to some quirky growth phase or directly due to parasitism.”

The case continues.

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Uk: ‘Valentina’ – Special Thoughts for February 14th

Posted on February 14, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

  

~ In Memory of Valentina ~

On February 14th 2009, a man walking his dog discovered a blood soaked blanket on wasteland in Iron Acton – a village on the outskirts of Bristol.

Obviously alarmed, he investigated the contents and was horrified to find a dead black female greyhound.Her ears had been hacked off to prevent her from indentified by her tattoos and even more macabre – this poor girl was heavily pregnant with six puppies.

Unlike Rusty, who was dumped on a Welsh mountainside in similar circumstances and despite months of investigations – DNA profiling, leafleting campaigns and public appeals – her true identity has never been determined and her killer(s) walk amongst us today – unpunished for this atrocious and barbaric crime.

In memory of Valentina – Thomasz Adamski has captured her spirit in a restful pose and one which is befitting to remember her by.

Please click here to view Valentina’s remembrance page and view Thomasz’s beautiful portrait of her.

http://greytexploitations.com/in-remembrance/in-memory-of-valentina 

www.greytexploitations.com

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World Wide Legal Action 4 Animal Rights

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

 

 

http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/LAAR

 

Currently has 1,168 members; why not sign up and increase the membership ?

This dynamic group is designed for people concerned and involved in promoting animal welfare legislation regardless of geographical borders, culture, race, religion or socioeconomic boundaries.

We invite all those people worldwide, who love and respect animals, those who are studying law and effectively working within the legal field to join us in a concerted effort to elevate the status of animals in our global society.

Our goal is to disseminate information pertaining to international humane legislation, post information, action alerts , to share ideas and to offer collective support to any member who is faced with an animal related dilemma.

We envision a new world order, which encompasses comprehensive and efficient legislation, to protect all animals, companion, agro, captive and wild, from the inhumanity of man. In concert with legislation, there must be the strict implementation of animal protection mandates and consequent punishment for those unobservant of the law!.

No law can be effectively observed without awareness and community involvement, so we invite you to join us and to create a new chapter in animal rights.

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Romania: This Existing EU Member State is Now Trying to Legalise Mass Killing Campaigns of Strays Again. – Sign the Petition and Give Your Objection to This

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

  

 

 

 

We need to get this sent in en masse !! – please do it – just a few seconds;

Thanks – SAV.

————————————————— 

Petition Link:

http://www.pfotenhilfe-europa.eu/petition-toetung-rumaenien.html

Please sign the petition at the end of the page of the above link.     

The petition text is in Romanian – translation below.

As many of you have heard – Romania, despite adopting laws to the contrary, is now trying to legalise mass killing campaigns of Strays again.

This mail goes to the prefect Mihai Atansoaei, to all 33 Romanian EU-representatives, to the 6 mayors of Bucharest and to different Roumanian media.

Thank you.

You only have to provide your name and your e mail address to ‘sign’ the petition – it takes seconds. 

Petitionstext: * – Petition text *

Ihr Name wird automatisch unten angefügt / Your name will be automatically filled in

Ihr Name *  / Your Name *

Ihre E-Mailadresse *  / Your mail address *

———————————————————————- 

Petition  ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Dear Sir or Madam,

with big dismay this news from Romania walks around in Europe.

 
During an interview was suggested by Mr. Mihai Atanasoaei, prefect of Bucharest that the only way to handle with the street animal problem, would be to kill again.
Large parts of your population feel disturbed by the street dogs.
It is scandalous to even consider, to legalize slaughtering again completely instead of seeking for other alternatives.
I point out to you the fact that, partly extremely brutal slaughtering methods are carried out since decades in South and East Europe without solving this problem.

One single bitch can generate in 5 years approx. 2700 descendants!
Hence, the only logical solution is the realisation of a consequently castration programme.

At the same time has to be considered that the protection of animals can create also an economically positive aspect.
The occupation “animal keeper” would create jobs at animal homes and contribute to the reduction of unemployment.
As a teaching field a clarification with a deferential and responsible contact with other living beings would take place which also contains the creation of new jobs.

Unfortunately, Great Britain with his killing methods is stated as an example for imitation, but one forget quite obviously that the UK has no problems with street animals in such magnitudes.

I would like to point out Hungary to you, because the situation there corresponds to the Romanian.

  • Hungary began in autumn, 2009 a state castration programme
  • Hungary will introduce “protection of animals” as a school subject
  • Hungary will built up “animal care” as an official occupational picture

The authorities in Hungary are certainly willing to stand aside to a neighbouring country in an advisory capacity.

 
Moreover, numerous animal welfare organisations in Romania and other EU countries are active and willing to perform assistance if your country would admit it.
Long-term seen the problem of the stray animals would be solved and Romania would be able to pursue good and responsible animal welfare.
I expect from politicians of a member state of the EU the readiness to inform themselves about this subject instead of falling back into old practise which did not prove itself.
In the name of humanity and the respect compared with other living beings I ask you to refrain from the planned law changes and to consider alternatives which are worthy to an EU member country in 2010.
Homicides are not!

Yours faithfully

…

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Turkey: A Message from Lale – Please Read and Reconsider What is Said in Your Comments

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

We have had this message from Lale regarding the Turkish situation.

Out thoughts and best wishes go out to all our animal protector friends in Turkey.

Yes, very much agree with what is said; the EU is far from perfect, and that is why we are always pushing for an EU Written declaration for the protection of stray and pet animals.  To achieve this would be a massive victory.  To date, attempts have failed as some EU nations (maybe with stray problems) do not want to support the introduction of legislation to protect stray animals.

We are watching events and will let everyone know of things if and when they happen

Thanks for the message Lale .

SAV.

————————————–

Lare says;

Please do not tar all of us with the same brush!!!

I am Turkish, I am also part of a rather large animal activist group called Let’s Adopt, which you can check out on facebook.

We try to do what we can, but as we don’t really have the support of the authorities, in fact, as, most of the time, we are working against the authorities such as the various town councils, it is a losing battle. Our biggest hope is to have the law against animal cruelty changed, so that a violation, which is now considered a misdemeanor and only punishable with a fine, will be considered a crime. That might at least reduce the number of violations.

On the other hand, Please do not think that this is a problem that is observed only in Turkey. Many countries, among them EU members such as Greece and Rumania, have the same problems. Some countries have overcome their stray animal problems through mass slaughters.

I, and many others like me, are doing our best to change things, but change doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, we have started reaping the benefits of our endeavors, albeit in a small way: During the recent inclement weather, both the governar and the mayor of Istanbul spoke on TV, asking the population to put out food for stray animals. TV channels are giving news items about the groups that are trying to help strays. Things are looking up.

I would say, by the time people start realizing that there are not bad nations, but uninformed, ignorant people, Turkey will have overcome this problem.

Keep well, all of you, and live with love,
Lale

 
 

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EU: GREAT RESULT ! – Written Declaration No. 54 for the Transportation of Horses for Slaughter in the European Union HAS Achieved the Necesary Number of Signatures

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Dear all,

The Written Declaration no. 54 for the transportation of horses for slaughter in the European Union got the necesary number of signatures of the MEPs and it was announced today by the President in plenary. It was really a great day.

Thank you to all who have been involved in making lobby by emailing and phoning the MEPs.

Many thanks to World Horse Welfare who was so involved in organizing a lobby campaign, getting updated information and succeeded also in getting an extension on it.

All the best.

Sincerely,

Carmen Arsene

TEXT:

0054/2009

Written declaration on the transportation of horses for slaughter in the European Union

The European Parliament,

–    having regard to Rule 123 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas every year approximately 100 000 horses are transported unnecessarily long distances under inhumane conditions into and across the European Union for slaughter,

B.   whereas there is well-documented evidence showing that horses are being transported over long distances, causing a variety of welfare problems such as serious injury, disease, exhaustion and dehydration, because of the inadequacies of the existing legislation,

C.  whereas there is strong evidence to suggest that Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations has not been robustly enforced,

D.  whereas a review of Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 is being carried out by the Commission,

1.   Notes the petition collected by World Horse Welfare on the long-distance transportation of horses to slaughter in Europe;

2.   Calls on the Commission and Member States effectively to scrutinise World Horse Welfare’s dossier of evidence in the context of the Commission’s review of Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005;

3.   Urges the Member States and the European Commission to robustly enforce Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005;

4.   Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Council, the Commission, and the parliaments and government of the Member States.

LINKS:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P7-DCL-2009-0054+0+DOC+WORD+V0//EN&language=EN

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P7-DCL-2009-0054+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN

Lobbying works ! –  congratulations everyone – SAV

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