Sea Shepherd Update – 22/05/12 – Greetings From Germany by Captain Paul Watson.

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

 

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2012/05/21/watch-captain-watsons-press-conference-outside-preungesheim-prison-1381

http://www.seashepherd.de/news-and-media/news-120521-1.html

May 21, 2012

Watch Captain Watson’s Press Conference Outside Preungesheim Prison
After spending 8 days in the custody of German authorities, Captain Paul Watson has been released on bail.  Immediately upon being released Captain Watson and his attorney, Oliver Wallasch spoke to the media outside the Preungesheim Prison in Frankfurt, Germany. The extradition process is still set to take place. It is an unprecedented move for a non-German national to be released on bail during an extradition proceeding.  The Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt confirmed together with the General Public Prosecutor that the authority to end the extradition proceedings belongs to the German Minister of Justice, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger.

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http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2012/05/22/greetings-from-germany-537
 
May 22, 2012
Greetings From Germany
Commentary by Captain Paul Watson

I would like to thank everyone around the world for the incredible support over the last week that I spent in a Frankfurt prison. It is greatly appreciated. The people of Sea Shepherd Germany have been wonderful and I have been happy to see so much support from supporters in Costa Rica and around the world also.

We have an excellent worldwide legal team working hard to resolve this legal issue. I am confident that this team will do the very best they can on every front involved with this case.

Although I have no reason to believe that the Costa Rican legal system would not give me a fair trial, my concern is not for the judicial system, but for the reality that the shark fin mafia of Costa Rica has a price on my head and a Costa Rican prison would provide an excellent opportunity for someone to exercise this lethal contract against me. We have cost the shark finners a great deal of money over the last two decades and they want their revenge. I would need absolute assurance that the Costa Rican authorities would not place me in the position to jeopardize my safety when I return to Costa Rica to prove my innocence in court.

There are two very important points that I would like to make. The first is that although my arrest and detention have been a focus of this incredible support the fact is that this is not about me. It is about our oceans and the ever-escalating threat of diminishment of the diversity of life in our seas. It is about the sharks, the whales, the seals, the sea turtles and the fish. 

This is an opportunity to shine an international spotlight on what is happening to the sharks and especially to illustrate that there are elements in Costa Rica responsible for a great deal of the illegal trafficking in shark fins.

Secondly, I want to make it very clear that whatever happens to me will not affect our campaigns. I have delegated the responsibility of commanding our ships to my very capable captains and they will be defending sharks this summer in the South Pacific and the whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The Cove Guardians will return to Taiji, Japan in September to defend the dolphins.

Fortunately, Sea Shepherd is now much bigger than myself and even more fortunately; the reality is that we now have a legion of passionate, dedicated, courageous and resourceful volunteers around the world. If I am prevented from serving on the front lines upon the high seas I will serve as a symbol of resistance to the destruction of our oceans from inside a prison cell.

Power and greed do not surrender easily and history has shown that sometimes prison is an ordeal that must be endured in order to shake the foundations of powerful special interests. There is no shame in incarceration as Mandela, Gandhi, Thoreau, Aung San Suu Kyi, and so many others have demonstrated. 

Power does not relinquish easy and the powers opposing our efforts are immense like the shark finning, bluefin tuna fishing, whaling and dolphin killing industries, and the governments that support this trade in death like Japan, Costa Rica, Norway, Iceland, Malta, Canada etc. Sometimes I’m surprised we have made any progress at all but progress we have made indeed, and we will continue to win victories for our clients in the sea, no matter what the obstacles thrown in our path because Sea Shepherd is not just me, it is now an international movement and our flag is becoming widely known and more and more respected and most importantly, our permanent and most proud legacy are the thousands of whales, tens of thousands of sharks, hundreds of thousands of seals and millions of fish that swim free in the sea now, that would otherwise have been cruelly slain if not for our intervention.

In the end it is about them and not about us.

We invest our passion and in return we reap the ever-enduring seeds of life.

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SAV Comment:
 

Shark Finning – the fins are cut off the shark whilst it is still alive

– then the body is thrown back in the water as ‘wastage’ – to die a terrible death.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS | Leave a comment »

France: ‘Disney’ – He will be euthanasied on the 22nd of May if not adopted – Can You Help ? – Please Crosspost.

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Contact : papillon60000@hotmail.fr

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvdN0r0uYE0

 Betreff: FW: Disney lab noir 3 ans à sauver avant le 22/05/12 (60)

Übersetzt: Big Notfall für Disney, männlich Labi der 3 Jahre alt.
Er wird am 22. Mai euthanasieren werden, wenn keine Lösung für ihn.
Disney ist wirklich bis in einer kleinen Box bleiben zugeführt. Er will sich nicht in mehr zu bekommen, und als sie ihn um die Kiste zu zwingen, weigert er sich …
Es ist der Grund, warum wollen sie ihn töten.   Bitte nicht geschehen lassen! …………………………… Kontakt und mehr Infos am Ende des Mails…..

une vidéo : http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=QvdN0r0uYE0

 

Big emergency for Disney, male labi of 3 years old.

He will be euthanasied on the 22nd of May if no solution for him.

Disney is really fed up to stay in a small box. He does not want to get in anymore, and when they force him to enter the box, he refuses…

It is the reason why, they want to kill him.
Please, do not let this happen!!!

There is video down the mail…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvdN0r0uYE0
 

Subject: Disney lab noir 3 ans à sauver avant le 22/05/12 (60)
Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 13:45:24 +0200

pour diffusion merci d’avanc
DISNEY mâle X labrador noir 3 ans eutha le 22/05/2012 (60)
Disney est né le 20/08/2008 et est au refuge depuis début 01/2012 (trouvé donc passé inconnu)
Il est pucé (250269602362428) et vacciné, pas stérilisé
Suite à 2 épisodes agressifs (grognements, pas de morsures) qu’il y aurait eu avec les employés, le refuge a décidé qu’il n’était pas plaçable et veut l’euthanasier
Il n’y a aucun souci avec les divers bénévoles qui le promènent et je pense que c’est tout simplement un chien qui ne supporte pas le box : parfois il refusait de rentrer qd il était dans un petit, là il est de nouveau dans un grand et tout est revenu à la normale
Pas de mâles, femelles probablement ok sauf pour la gamelle, chats pas franchement non mais il les regarde bizarrement donc je pense à éviter, pas de pts enfants, besoin d’un jardin, chien agréable en promenade, calme et câlin

Frais d’adoption : don libre minimum 50 €, idem si transfert asso
L’adoptant ou l’asso qui le prendra en charge devra en outre signer un document disant qu’il prend le chien en connaissance de cause et qu’il décharge le refuge de tout pb ultérieur

Si quelqu’un veut lui donner une chance c’est maintenant : ce n’est pas un monstre, juste un chien qui a besoin d’être aimé et de connaitre le bonheur d’une famille… Et personne ne peut prévoir qd il adopte un chien quel qu’il soit qu’il ne mordra pas un jour donc pas plus de risque avec Disney qu’un autre chien

Contact : papillon60000@hotmail.fr

 _____ 

Merci pour lui !

 <http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=1900&u=13407454>

une vidéo :  <http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=QvdN0r0uYE0> http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=QvdN0r0uYE0

A DECOUVRIR ! Le site  <http://www.clicanimaux.com/> www.ClicAnimaux.com permet en un clic de nourrir gratuitement un animal abandonné

Envoyez “SPA” par sms au 81039 : 1,40 ? reversé à la SPA (pour un coût de 3 ?)

Filed under: Animals Requiring Adoption or Homes - Worldwide, CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering) | Leave a comment »

Germany: 18/05/12 – Latest on Capt. Watson – German Prosecutor’s Late Motion Gives German Ministers More Time to Free Captain Paul Watson!

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

LATEST NEWS – 1800hrs GMT 18/05/12

May 18, 2012

Higher Regional Court Defers Judgment to Ministry of Justice – Bogus Extradition Process to Proceed, but Captain Paul Watson Granted Bail

In an extraordinary move by the German Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt, the court has granted the general public prosecutor’s request for Captain Paul Watson’s preliminary arrest for extradition to Costa Rica.  However, the court has also granted bail for Captain Paul Watson during the time the court considers whatever documentation Costa Rica is able to provide to substantiate their bogus allegations against Captain Paul Watson. It is expected that Captain Paul Watson will be freed on bail on Monday, May 21, 2012. Sea Shepherd’s legal team says this is an unusual, but promising move on the part of the Higher Regional Court and is further indication that the international campaigning efforts for Captain Paul Watson’s release are being heard in the chambers of justice in Germany.

In a press release, received towards the end of business hours Friday, the Higher Regional Court stated that “the question of whether or not Mr. Paul Watson will be extradited is not ultimately a decision by the Higher Regional Court but by the executive body which is the Ministry of Justice”.

Even the Higher Regional Court is stating that the Ministry of Justice in Germany can step in and prevent his extradition at any time. The international campaign to save Captain Paul Watson from a politically-motivated extradition to Costa Rica where he will not receive a fair trial, nor is it likely that he would even survive jail to see the inside of a courtroom, is having an effect. The Taiwanese shark fin mafia in Costa Rica has made threats on Captain Paul Watson’s life.

First the general public prosecutor stated in his motion to the Higher Regional Court, that the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the power to stop the extradition process for political reasons. Now, the Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt is also deferring to the Ministry of Justice.

Sea Shepherd calls on its supporters in Germany and overseas to continue writing Federal Minister of Justice Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Guido Westerwelle and expressing their concern about a politically-motivated extradition that would be the same as a death sentence.

The contact information for the ministers can be found here:

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2012/05/17/german-prosecutors-late-motion-gives-german-ministers-more-time-to-free-captain-paul-watson-1378

Sea Shepherd is planning a global day of action on Wednesday May 23, to coincide with a diplomatic visit to Germany by Costa Rican president Laura Chinchilla Miranda.

To view the current statement from the German courts (these sites are in German) click on the links below.

Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main ordnet vorläufige Auslieferungshaft gegen Tierschutzaktivisten Paul Watson an und setzt Haftbefehl gegen Sicherheit außer Vollzug
Auslieferungsverfahren gegen Tierschutzaktivisten Paul Watson

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Please ring, e mail, etc, until Capt. Watson is free.

Contact details below – Thanks – SAV.

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May 17, 2012

German Prosecutor’s Late Motion Gives German Ministers More Time to Free Captain Paul Watson!

Captain Paul Watson at the helm of the Sea Shepherd flagship, the Steve Irwin. Photo: Barbara VeigaSea Shepherd expected news on the fate of Captain Paul Watson to be announced yesterday by the German Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt but as hours passed on, no word was received from the general public prosecutor until close of business hours.  At 1800 hrs, the general public prosecutor finally submitted his motion for a preliminary extradition arrest warrant against Captain Paul Watson.  The late filing of this motion, coupled with a German bank holiday today, has given Captain Paul Watson’s supporters and allies until this Friday to appeal to German Federal Minister of Justice Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Guido Westerwelle’s standards for International Human Rights.

Lead legal counsel for Captain Paul Watson, Oliver Wallasch, had this to say about the general public prosecutor’s motion on Wednesday:

“Absolutely unusual – I never had this experience in all my practice in cross border cases – the fact that the public prosecutor stated, that the German Ministry of Justice and the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the power to stop the extradition procedure on political reasons.”

Thus the keys to Captain Paul Watson’s freedom are in the hands of the Honorable Minister of Justice and the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs. We therefore ask all supporters of Captain Paul Watson to immediately contact the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to ask them to end the unjust and politically-motivated extradition of Captain Paul Watson before a panel of judges decides Captain Paul Watson’s fate on Friday.

For days, Sea Shepherd supporters from Germany and around the world have expressed their concerns about the political nature of this extradition, as well as their concern for the safety of Captain Paul Watson, to Federal Minister of Justice Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger. Given the motion made by the general public prosecutor, it is now time to also focus attention on Minster of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Guido Westerwelle. Either Minister (or both Ministers) can take the action that Interpol has already taken and acknowledge that the case against Captain Paul Watson is politically-motivated and is a violation of Captain Paul Watson’s human rights.

Should the Honorable Ministers fail to put the brakes on the persecution of Captain Paul Watson, the extradition process will proceed and Costa Rica will have a maximum of 90 days, from the time that he was arrested, to put forward their bogus case for extradition. During this time, Captain Paul Watson would remain isolated in prison, awaiting an extradition that would be tantamount to a death sentence.

The Taiwanese Shark Fin Mafia has had a $20,000 bounty on his head for years.  We know the arm of the Taiwanese Shark Finning Mafia reaches not just to the illegal fishing industry in Costa Rica, but also to the prison system there. Sea Shepherd fears that not only would Captain Paul Watson not receive a fair trial in Costa Rica, but he would likely not survive jail long enough to see the inside of a court room.

This is our final effort to ask the Honorable Ministers to intervene before the extradition process officially begins.  We only have hours to change the minds of the German officials who can make a difference and not only save the life of Captain Paul Watson, but also save the lives of whales, dolphins, seals, and fish that he has spent his life courageously defending.

While visiting Captain Paul Watson in prison, Ship Operations Officer, Peter Hammarstedt and Director of Intelligence and Investigations, Scott West were able to obtain a handwritten note from Captain Paul Watson to his supporters, which you can read at the bottom of this article.

Please call, email, and fax the following Ministers:

Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger
Federal Minister of Justice
Deutscher Bundestag

Platz der Republik
11011 Berlin

Telephone 030 – 227 751 62
  from outside Germany dial +49 302 277 5162
Fax 030 – 227 764 02
  from outside Germany dial +49 302 277 6402
E-Mail: sabine.leutheusser-schnarrenberger@bundestag.de

Federal Ministry of Justice
Mohrenstrasse
37
10117 Berlin
Germany

Telephone: +49 (030) 18 580-0
Telefax: +49 (030) 18 580-9525

Dr. Guido Westerwelle – Minister of Foreign Affairs
FDP-Bundestagsfraktion
Platz der Republik 1
11011
Berlin

Tel.: 030 / 22771636  from outside Germany +49 302 277 1636
Fax: 030 / 22776562  from outside Germany +49 302 277 6562
E-Mail: guido.westerwelle@bundestag.de

Sea Shepherd Link:  http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2012/05/17/german-prosecutors-late-motion-gives-german-ministers-more-time-to-free-captain-paul-watson-1378

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, LETTERS | Leave a comment »

Petition – please Sign NOW – Save Paul Watson From the German Authorities – Angela Merkel.

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

PETITION

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/991/002/034/free-capatain-paul-watson/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18055030

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson ‘arrested in Germany’

According to Sea Shepherd, Watson’s arrest relates to an incident dating back to 2002

The founder of US-based anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson, has been arrested in Germany, the group says.

In a statement, it said Mr Watson was detained in Frankfurt and now faces extradition to Costa Rica.

It quotes German police as saying the arrest relates to a confrontation over shark finning in 2002.

Sea Shepherd is a controversial direct action group best known for disrupting Japan’s annual whale hunt.

In the past there have been collisions between its vessels and the whaling fleet, and its activists have also boarded Japanese vessels.

Mr Watson tweeted late on Sunday: “I am currently being held in Frankfurt on charges from Costa Rica. Court appearance in the morning.”

Attempted murder claim

The German warrant related to an “alleged violation of ships traffic” which took place in Guatemalan waters in 2002, the group said, when it “encountered an illegal shark finning operation” – referring to the practice of catching sharks, slicing off their valuable fins and returning the shark to the water where it will usually die.

On order of the Guatemalan authorities, the group says, it instructed the crew of the Costa Rican vessel in question, the Varadero, to head back to port to be prosecuted.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote
Our hope is that these two honourable gentlemen can set Captain Watson free before this nonsense goes any further”

Sea Shepherd

Profile: Sea Shepherd Cpt Watson
“While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew,” the statement claims.

“The crew of the Varadero accused the Sea Shepherd of trying to kill them, while the video evidence proves this to be a fallacy.

“To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where they uncovered even more illegal shark finning activities in the form of dried shark fins by the thousands on the roofs of industrial buildings.”

Media cite Costa Rican reports as saying Mr Watson also faces an outstanding warrant for attempted murder stemming from the same incident.

According to Sea Shepherd, Mr Watson is being assisted in jail by European deputies Daniel Cohn Bendit and Jose Bove.

“Our hope is that these two honourable gentlemen can set Captain Watson free before this nonsense goes any further,” Sea Shepherd says.

Please contact: (Please be respectful in your communications)

Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger
Federal Minister of Justice
Deutscher Bundestag
Platz der Republik
11011 Berlin

Telephone 030 – 227 751 62
Fax 030 – 227 764 02
E-Mail: sabine.leutheusser-schnarrenberger@bundestag.de

Federal Ministry of Justice
Mohrenstrasse 37
10117 Berlin, Germany

Telephone: +49 (030) 18 580-0
Telefax: +49 (030) 18 580-9525

Dr. Guido Westerwelle
Minister of Foreign Affairs
FDP-Bundestagsfraktion
Platz der Republik 1
11011 Berlin

Tel.: 030 / 22771636
Fax: 030 / 22776562
E-Mail: guido.westerwelle@bundestag.de

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Sample Letter:

Dear Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger,

I was very concerned to hear that Germany has detained Sea Shepherd’s Captain Paul Watson for possible extradition to Costa Rica.  I understand that the warrant for Captain Watson’s arrest is politically motivated and possibly due to an incident in which Sea Shepherd uncovered an illegal shark finning operation.

I support Sea Shepherd’s efforts to monitor and publicise illegal fishing and whaling around the world and recognize that some illegal fishing operations try to use international law to shut down the Sea Shepherd operations.  I urge you to consider the valuable work Captain Watson and Sea Shepherd are undertaking globally to highlight the dangers to our oceans in considering this extradition request.

Sincerely,

Your Name.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere ! | Leave a comment »

Do You Want To Make History ?

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Thanks to Joanna in London for sending this over:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6ehL18rqlM

An excellent video from the Vegan Society.

http://www.vegansociety.com/about/

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »

Serbia: Latest From ‘Felix’ Cat Shelter / Sanctuary – Photos, Info and Appeal to Help With New Building Updates Due to Terrible Winter – Can You Help Please ?

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

*** PLEASE CROSSPOST TO ALL YOUR CONTACTS – NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ***

My name is Danica Mirkovic, I’m the president of Felinologic Association Felix and the owner of Cat Shelter Felix (it’s more of a sanctuary) in Serbia.

Felinologic Association Felix is an association of cat lovers, founded by my associates and me in Novi Sad, Serbia, a few years ago. It is registered as a nonprofit organization in Serbian Business Registers Agency, ID number: 08841187, Tax Identification Number: 103793133.

We were taking care of stray cats, trying to make their life on the street easier, but our protégés were endangered all the time. I have always thought that building of a shelter would mean safety for those (and other) cats so it finally took place in 2010.

My shelter is registered as a shelter of Felinologic Association Felix in Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management, Department of Veterinary Medicine.  Cat Shelter Felix is located in a small village in Vojvodina, Serbia.

I have more than 100 cats in my shelter right now, all of them ex – strays. They are all neutered and spayed, vaccinated and checked by the vet on the regular basis and although some of them are very old or chronically ill it seems that they enjoy their life here.

In spite of the fact that my shelter is rather crowded, I can never turn my back on a cat in desperate situation, therefore they keep arriving every now and then. As the number of cats grows bigger, my expenses rise and it becomes harder and harder to defray them all, but the sight of happy kitties that are playing and running and resting completely relaxed, probably for the first time in their lives, makes all the efforts worthwhile.

The situation in Cat Shelter Felix is very dire indeed as the shelter has been damaged by unusually harsh winter. Workers are supposed to start repairing a roof and making a concrete backyard in April and it will cost about 8,500 euros.

My shelter depends of donations entirely and every kind of help is needed, welcome and greatly appreciated.

For further information please check out:

http://www.betterplace.org/en/projects/9425-repairing-the-damaged-cat-shelter

You can also read Laura’s story of Danica’s shelter on ‘care2’:
http://www.care2.com/causes/sanctuary-offers-sunny-days-for-street-cats-in-serbia.html#comments

Here (above and below) are some very recent pictures that Danica has sent to us of all the cats at the shelter enjoying the better weather now.

Please put word out to all your contacts – everywhere !
We need to get the money in to help Danica and the cats complete all the work that is needed this summer.

Whatever you can give in the way of a donation, not matter how small or large, please do it.  This is very much appreciated.

PayPal button is on both the webiste and the blog – these include both PayPal and direct bank payment details:

Blog – http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

Website  –  http://catshelterfelix.com/

Thank you very much in advance for any donation you may be able to provide.

Please crosspost this information to all your national and international contacts.

Thank you;

Danica and SAV.

Previous SAV Posts:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/serbia-post-winter-repairs-at-felix-shelter-are-costing-can-you-help-costs-with-a-donation-paypal-link-provided/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/serbia-the-felix-kitties-have-got-a-website-please-visit-and-take-a-look/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/serbia-big-freeze-across-europe-latest-pictures-from-cat-shelter-felix-can-you-help-with-a-donation/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/serbia-please-help-the-kitties-at-felix-shelter-with-a-winter-donation-thank-you/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/serbia-financial-appeal-to-help-the-cats-this-winter-at-felix-shelter/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/serbia-felix-cat-shelter-a-request-for-financial-help-please-can-you-give-a-donation-full-details-below/

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information | Leave a comment »

Italy: Activists (The 86%) Rescue Beagles Destined for Vivisection From Breeding Facility

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Source:  http://www.whitewolfpack.com/2012/04/victory-courageous-italian-activists.html

VIDEO LINK 
http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/2012/04/29/italian-activists-save-30-beagles-from-animal-testing-labs
 
Italian Activists Rescue Beagles Destined for Vivisection from Breeding Facility

In broad daylight today, as reported in the Italian newspaper Giornale di Brescia, Italian activists conducted a bold and daring raid of Green Hill, one of Europe’s largest breeder of beagles for vivisection labs, and rescued at least thirty beagles destined for painful procedures inside laboratories and eventual death from either the fatal results of experiments or the slaughter afterwards when they are deemed no longer useful.

At least 1000 activists organized by Occupy Green Hill who came from all over northern Italy started their procession in Montichiari, a city about 60 miles east of Milan where Green Hill is located.

Many of them wore signs saying “We are the 86%,” referring to the percentage of Italians polled who were opposed to animal-based experimentation. On their approach close to Green Hill they were met by police and roadblocks. Groups of activists then cut through the fields and across other streets to the fences surrounding the facility.

There, about 300-400 demonstrators tried to open gates in the perimeter as teams of mobile riot police and police who were deployed tried to contain them. On the side of the gates, however, the protesters opened a breach in the fence and broke into the farm, with others simply scaling the fence, carefully avoiding the barbed-wire.

Once inside they scrambled into the sheds and rescued at least thirty dogs, many of them being handed over the fence to waiting hands on the other side.

At the end of the day, it was reported that police had arrested 13 people. Some protesters said they had suffered violence by some officials.

So why Green Hill?

Within Europe, Green Hill is now the largest breeder of dogs destined for laboratories. Green Hill houses 5 sheds which imprisons 2500 adult dogs, plus several litters. The sheds are closed, aseptic, without open spaces and without natural light or air. Rows and rows of cages with artificial lighting and ventilation system are the environment in which these dogs grow before being loaded onto a truck and shipped to laboratories where abuse and pain await them.

Among the clients of Green Hill are university laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and renowned trial centers as the notorious Huntingdon Life Sciences in England.

Who profits from Green Hill?

Several years ago Marshall Farms Inc., an American firm, acquired the company. Marshall is infamous throughout the world as the largest “producer” of dogs for the vivisection industry. The Marshall beagle is actually a standard variety.

For about €450-900 ($600-1200) you can buy dogs of any age. For those who are willing to pay more one can also obtain a pregnant mother.

Green Hill and Marshall also offer its customers on-demand surgical treatments, such as the cutting or removal of vocal cords so “researchers” cannot hear their cries of pain.

Marshall’s dogs are shipped by air all over the world, but with the purchase of Green Hill as the European headquarters and the construction of a huge farm in China, Marshall is pursuing a plan of expansion and market monopoly.

To Green Hill and Marshall Farm, animals are merely merchandise, commodities to just breed and sell without any thought to the pain and suffering — both mental and physical — that they will suffer. Through the work of these activists, a few lives were saved from the horrors of industry, and shows to those who profit from the lives of innocent beings that oppression will not be tolerated.

FURTHER ACTIONS ******

Green Hill Farm in Italy may not be the beautiful location it sounds — according to Diana Donadei it is a prison to 2500 beagle dogs. She says the beagles are kept in rows of cages with artificial lighting and poor ventilation, only to be released to vivisection labs where they’re experimented on while still alive.

Diana was horrified after hearing about the beagles’ plight so started a campaign on Change.org calling for the immediate closure of the facility.

http://www.change.org/petitions/green-hill-montichiari-italy-close-death-factory-free-all-beagles-and-give-them-out-for-adoption#

Click here to join Diana’s campaign and send a clear message to the Italian government that they must take action to stop the breeding of beagles for vivisection.

Laura, an animal lover from London, is one of 30,000 people to have already joined the campaign and she will be delivering the petition on Wednesday to the Italian embassy on Diana’s behalf.

Will you help Laura and Diana to reach 50,000 signatures before Wednesday and increase the pressure on the Italian Government to close Green Hill Farm?

Diana and Laura know that the Italian Government care deeply about their reputation in other European countries and that they will close Green Hill Farm if there’s an international outcry, so they’re asking people across Europe to join their campaign and speak out to save the beagles.

Click here to help Diana and Laura save the beagles now.

http://www.change.org/petitions/green-hill-montichiari-italy-close-death-factory-free-all-beagles-and-give-them-out-for-adoption#

Thanks for being part of this,

Saira and the Change.org team

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