20 | March | 2013 | Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

March 2013
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UK (England): Live Exports Update Latest News – 20th March 2013.

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

UK Live Exports Update – 20/03/2013:

Please see our post of 18^th March (link as follows) for an overview of events leading to this report.

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2013/03/18/uk-england-the-story-continues-live-export-ship-due-at-dover-on-19th-march-for-berthing-trials/

Latest – Tuesday 19^th March 2013 –

Today the MV Joline owned by the consortium of Johannes Onderwater, Tom Lomas and Peter Ziolkowski arrived at Dover at 11-30am to start her berthing trials prior to returning to this port after protestors have made events too hot for her at Ramsgate.

If she does return to Dover, we view this as a victory that through perseverance we have stopped her using Ramsgate, as the stringent tests and inspections she is facing at that port makes the trade less profitable even though her berthing fees are less than a third what they will be at Dover.

The ship took nearly two hours of manoeuvring before she could get onto berth No. five within Dover harbour, time we very much doubt she will have / be given by the port authorities when in operational mode. She then attempted berth No. two, with even less success. It was later revealed that the trials were inconclusive and more modifications would be needed on the Joline before further tests could be carried out.

The ‘Joline’ arrives at Dover for berthing trials (Photo: KAALE)

This was in good weather with light winds, no swell and a rising tide in the harbour. The large and regular cross-Channel ferries (UK-France and return) were also affording her courtesy by producing only minimum wash as they entered and exited the port; usually their wash is much higher as they put on speed to exit the harbour because of their fast turnarounds.

After the tests we thought she was to lay over until Wednesday (20^th) on the Eastern Arm in the harbour; but a contact advised us that she had asked to stopover, but when told the price, she decided to move out of Dover port. She proceeded to Ramsgate harbour where we understand she is to lay off until Friday (22^nd) morning, when they intend to sail with live animals to Calais. The sailing is scheduled between 7.30am and 11.00am, but as we all know they can change their mind and we will update everyone should events change.

The Joline heads to Ramsgate after leaving Dover (Photo: KAALE)

We thought she would look very different after her modifications in the Netherlands, but the only differences we could visibly see were rubber bumpers round the entire vessel and ropes to grasp if personnel fall overboard. We understand she has also had fitted a bow thruster to make her more manoeuvrable.

The High Court has granted the RSPCA an oral hearing for its legal challenge to ban live animal exports from Ramsgate.

The hearing will be held in open court at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on 10 May. This has now been scheduled for earlier and has started today – Wed 20^th March. In January, a judge refused the RSPCA permission to bring the case to a judicial Review following consideration of court papers. But the charity appealed the decision and has won the right to an oral hearing, which could result in a full judicial review.

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said: “We remain confident in the strength of our case and that we can persuade the court to grant permission for a full hearing”. “Our challenge to the legality of the arrangements which Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) have put in place to regulate this trade deserves to be heard at a full hearing as the implications for animal welfare are very serious.” The RSPCA believes the AHVLA, which is responsible for checking consignments of live animals operating through Ramsgate port, is “acting illegally”. The charity has accused the AHVLA of failing to impose sailing restrictions on the Joline – which it described as an “open-decked, flat-bottomed converted Russian tank transporter” – to ensure that animals were “not injured or caused undue harm while being transported by sea”.

The RSPCA has established a fighting fund to help pay for the legal costs for the case. The fund has in a matter of just a few months received over £160,000 in donations to date. The AHVLA said it would not be commenting on the case while legal proceedings were still active. In December, UK farm minister David Heath announced new, tougher rules for live animal exports from Ramsgate port. AHVLA inspectors have been told to increase inspections and take a “zero tolerance” approach to any breaches of welfare regulations where unnecessary suffering is caused to animals.

Up until now the AHVLA have only inspected around 1 in 3 of all livestock transporters arriving at the port. Whilst not the official ‘competent authority’, the RSPCA inspectors have inspected every truck and its animal cargo, finding many breaches of regulations. The RSPCA have done a much better job of inspections than the government inspectors at AHVLA.

Charges following sheep deaths (at Ramsgate)

3 men and a firm are to face charges following the deaths of 47 sheep at Ramsgate. 3 sheep drowned and 44 were destroyed during an incident at the port on 12 Sept 2012.

The men, based in the UK and France, and a Kent firm are accused of loading sheep which were unfit to travel and transporting them in an inappropriate vehicle.

All defendants are due to appear before Canterbury magistrates (in Kent, England) on 2 April. The maximum punishment, if convicted, is 6 months’ imprisonment and/or a £5,000 fine.

The Farming Minister David Heath announced that every future consignment of live animals that passed through Ramsgate would be inspected (and not just 1 in 3 as has been done up until now). He said there would be tougher enforcement of welfare procedures following a review by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA). The AHVLA also plans to make sure a vet is within an hour of the port and has vowed to work with transport operators on new emergency contingency measures.

Please visit the Kent Action Against Live Exports (KAALE) web site, for which SAV founder Mark is also the EU and legal correspondent, at www.kaale.org.uk

The Joline loaded with animal transporters crosses the English Channel in heavy sea conditions (Photos: KAALE)

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UK (England): Hunt Sabs Attacked by Hunt Supporters Whilst Saving Foxes – Also Brian May’s ‘SAVE ME’

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

http://hsa.enviroweb.org/index.php/news/press-releases/414-planned-attacks-on-saboteurs-by-essex-a-suffolk-hunt-supporters

Planned attacks on saboteurs by Essex & Suffolk hunt supporters

Hunt saboteurs Association Press Release. 17th March 2013

On Saturday 16^th of March as part of a clearly planned attack saboteurs from the Essex and Suffolk group were attacked. Using sticks tipped with metal supporters of the hunt assaulted and beat the saboteurs aiming in particular for the person carrying the video camera, smashing it beyond use. Saboteurs were also kicked and punched in the head in the sustained attacked.

Following this incident the hunt chased a fox to earth into a badger sett and proceeded to dig into the sett in breach of both the Protection of badgers act 1993 and the Hunting act 2004. Saboteurs on the scene were again attacked with spades and multiple assaults were committed, resulting in many injuries such as pictured. Essex police responded to a 999 call with four vehicles and a helicopter and acted on the clearly visible injuries by arresting a saboteur for breach of the peace, although no charges were pressed. On request for action to their assaults they were told by police in attendance to report them to a police station later.

Lee Moon of the hunt Saboteurs Association stated:

“Faced with a clear breach of animal welfare law and numerous assaults to hunt saboteurs, Essex police responded by blaming the victims and ignoring the crimes against wildlife. They seem to be acting in the time honoured stance of turning a blind eye to hunt violence and animal cruelty. It’s about time Essex police started realising that times have changed and the public expects these criminal acts to be treated the same as if they were in the high street on Saturday.”

Above – UK Prime Minister David Cameron MP – PRO HUNT Supporter and person who prior to election vowed to have a vote in parliament to overturn the anti hunt legislation which is now giving more protection to UK wildlife.

Tories still working for repeal

Tory MPs are “actively working” behind the scenes at Westminster to drum up support for a repeal of the hunting ban before May 2015, a senior Minister has revealed. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told the Yorkshire Post he is “absolutely clear” that there will be a free vote on repealing the controversial ban before the next general election – but that, as things stand, the pro-hunt lobby does not have enough support to win. The Coalition Agreement signed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in May 2010 committed the newly-formed Government to holding a free vote on the hunting ban at some stage during the 5-year Parliament. But almost 3 years later, the issue has barely surfaced at Westminster. In an exclusive interview with the Yorkshire Post, Mr Paterson, a Tory right-winger and passionate advocate of fox hunting, said,

there is “more work to be done” to convince backbench MPs to vote for a repeal. “We’ve got a pretty busy programme with a lot of other issues,” he said. “But I’m absolutely clear it’s the right thing to do to have a free vote at the appropriate moment.” The problem for the pro-hunt lobby is that while many Tories want the ban repealed, the party also has a smaller number of mainly urban-based backbenchers who insist it should remain in place. With many – though not all – Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs opposed to repealing the 2005 legislation, the pro-hunters face an uphill struggle to win a free vote in the Commons. Mr Paterson, who was handed the environment brief in last year’s Cabinet reshuffle, said a group of backbench Tories have been tasked with drumming up support over the coming months.

Yorkshire Post Sat 2 Feb