Goal: Prosecute miners who attacked and killed rare uncontacted and isolated tribal community.
The government of Brazil under President Michel Temer has come under intense criticism for its ‘anti-Indian’ stance, following reports that yet another tribal community has been brutalized by outsiders.
In the most recent alleged attack, ten members of an uncontacted tribe were said to have been slaughtered by illegal gold miners, who later bragged about killing them and throwing their bodies into a river.
If true, it is believed that this attack may have wiped out one fifth of the isolated tribe’s entire population.
Please support this important petition – be a voice for these people – Thank you – SAV.
Posted on September 13, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
SAV Comment – This very morning we have had to sit and endure Junker telling the EU Parliament how the UK is going to suffer when it leaves the EU (Brexit). This is from ‘Mr EU’ – the official EU clown who has ‘EU Regulations’ on paper but does nothing to ensure that they are actually enforced. He has help with the non enforcement of the regulations from others in his circle like Mr Van Goethem – or Mr “I can do nothing” as he is much better known throughout the EU. He and Junker make a fine pair – BOTH useless to the very end. If and When other nations in the EU have the guts to follow the UK lead and exit the Union, then they can take back their own legislative control and start enforcing their own new national laws to stop live animal transport.
Above – Mr Junker and Mr Van Goethem – two useless EU peas from the same pod.
This morning, people around the world are uniting around a single idea; an end to the long distance transport of animals. Campaigners from at least 25 countries are taking action; from Australia, to the USA, to Israel this truly is a global movement to end the cruelty of the live transport trade.
We’re thrilled that so many Compassion supporters in the UK are staging events today or at the weekend. It isn’t too late to join an event but, if you can’t be with us in person, you can still make your voice count.
UK Environment Secretary, Michael Gove has suggested that Britain may end the cruel UK live export trade after Brexit.
Please email him today, welcoming this suggestion and urging him to act.
Now is the time
Compassion’s investigators have just arrived back from the Turkish/Bulgarian border, where they have been documenting the condition of animals in transit. What they found was shocking and appalling, but sadly not surprising.
Time and again we see evidence that animals suffer during long distance transport, but nothing is done. Brexit gives the British government an opportunity to take a stand. We must ensure the global trade in animals for fattening or slaughter is dismantled, a UK ban would be a historic first step.
Let’s make 13th September 2017 the date when the public stood against the cruel live export trade.
Each year the EU exports over two million cattle and sheep to the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa. Packed into overcrowded trucks the animals are sent on long road journeys to Turkey or sea ports in southern Europe. From the port they are shipped to the Middle East and North Africa.
In the Summer 2017 Compassion In World Farming investigators went to the Turkish/Bulgarian border to document the conditions for animals being transported out of the EU. They found devastating suffering.
You can find our briefing on EU live exports here.
Investigations into slaughter in the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa have shown that animals are subjected to extremely rough handling and inhumane, incompetent slaughter while they are fully conscious.
These slaughter practices are in breach of the international standards on welfare at slaughter of the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health). The long journeys often breach a judgment of the European Court of Justice. The Court ruled that EU law on welfare during transport applies even once a live export truck or ship leaves the EU – it applies right through to the destination in the importing country.
But the European Commission and the traders often ignore this ruling.
This cruel trade is also in breach of the EU Treaty. Article 13 recognises animals as “sentient beings” and requires the Commission and the Member States to pay “full regard” to welfare in formulating agriculture and transport policy. Sending animals on very long journeys to countries where they may be slaughtered with immense brutality is not paying full regard to their welfare.
Our courageous investigators spent 10 days at the Bulgarian/Turkish border in August 2017, documenting the conditions of the animals passing through. Please note, this account contains images and information which some may find distressing.
During the ten days, our investigators witnessed huge volumes of animals passing through the border. In temperatures above 30°, the animals were suffering from poor health. This was a result of the filthy and dangerous conditions on the trucks; the complete disregard for laws; and the apathy of those who were supposed to protect them.
Our investigators were able to provide us with a wealth of information, which we have passed to the authorities involved. Along with other animal welfare organisations we are making a concerted effort to get the European Commission to take action to end long distance transport of live animals.
A gruelling journey
Before the cattle and sheep had even reached the border, they had already endured gruelling journeys, measured in days rather than hours1.
Our investigators witnessed trucks loaded with sheep or cows, several tiers high. The ceilings of each tier were so low that they touched the animals’ backs2. Not only does this mean that they could not raise their heads adequately, but it left the animals uncomfortably trapped, unable to see clearly, and made it harder for them to maintain their balance.
In the middle of August, in southern Europe, the outside temperature was already high. Inside the trucks – many with broken ventilation systems – with animals pressed in on all sides, the temperature reached in excess of 35°C3.
Often the watering systems were not functioning, leaving animals dehydrated in the unbearable heat. Even when the watering systems were working, not all animals were able to access them due to the cramped conditions4.
The animals were not just at risk of injury from being crushed or walked upon by others. Some of the trucks had partitions with dangerous gaps in which the animals’ legs could become trapped. Others had sharp edges which could inflict nasty cuts on the animals unfortunate enough to fall into or be pressed against them5.
Many of the vehicles had no straw or other bedding materials provided for the animals. The animals were forced to lie in a deep layer of faeces and urine on the hard floors of the truck. Where bedding was used, it was often sparse, sodden, and filthy6.
From the dreadful conditions the animals were forced to endure, it was no surprise, but still deeply upsetting, to find some animals underweight, and others coughing and showing signs of injury and illness7. On some trucks, animals had died8, and those still alive were unable to avoid the decomposing bodies of their dead companions.
Posted on September 11, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Top man and star of so much, Ricky Gervais, who supports so many animal welfare issues, asks for your support in a worldwide ban on animal testing – see him here:
The following photos are all associated with animal testing but are not part of Cruelty Free Campaigning; they are for reference only to show what happens behind closed doors.
Posted on September 9, 2017 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and grey, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All the recent arrivals were confused and concerned. They had no idea what to think for they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had spent some time waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was happening and began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge to watch. They knew this was something special.
It wasn’t too long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung heavy and low with tail dragging along the ground. The other animals on the pathway…the ones who had been at Rainbow Bridge for a while…knew the story of this sad creature immediately. They had seen it happen far too many times.
Although it was obvious the animal’s heart was leaden and he was totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or any illness. Unlike the pets waiting at the Bridge, this dog had not been restored to his prime. He was full of neither health nor vigor. He approached slowly and painfully, watching all the pets who were by now watching him. He knew he was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He felt instinctively that the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But alas, as he came closer to the Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who spoke softly to the old dog and apologized sorrowfully, telling him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their special people could pass over the Rainbow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people…not here at the Bridge nor on Earth below.
With no place else to turn, the poor elderly dog looked toward the fields before the Bridge. There, in a separate area nearby, he spotted a group of other sad-eyed animals like himself…elderly and infirm. Unlike the pets waiting for their special people, these animals weren’t playing, but simply lying on the green grass, forlornly and miserably staring out at the pathway leading to the Bridge. The recent arrival knew he had no choice but to join them. And so, he took his place among them, just watching the pathway and waiting.
One of the newest arrivals at the Bridge, who was waiting for his special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the pets who had been there for some time to explain it to him.
“That poor dog was a rescue, sent to the pound when his owner grew tired of him. The way you see him now, with greying fur and sad, cloudy eyes, was exactly the way he was when he was put into the kennels. He never, ever made it out and passed on only with the love and comfort that the kennel workers could give him as he left his miserable and unloved existence on Earth for good. Because he had no family or special person to give his love, he has nobody to escort him across the Bridge.”
The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, “So what will happen now?”
As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the all-invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge could be seen a single figure…a person who, on Earth, had seemed quite ordinary…a person who, just like the elderly dog, had just left Earth forever. This figure turned toward a group of the sad animals and extended outstretched palms. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all were bathed in a pure and golden light. Instantly, each was young and healthy again, just as they had been in the prime of life.
From within the gathering of pets waiting for their special people, a group of animals emerged and moved toward the pathway. As they came close to the passing figure, each bowed low and each received a tender pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. Their eyes grew even brighter as the figure softly murmured each name. Then, the newly-restored pets fell into line behind the figure and quietly followed this person to the Bridge, where they all crossed together.
The recent arrival who had been watching, was amazed. “What happened?”
“That was a rescuer,” came the answer.
“That person spent a lifetime trying to help pets of all kinds. The ones you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of such unselfish work. They will cross when their families arrive. Those you saw restored were ones who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are permitted to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor pets that couldn’t place on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. You see, all animals are special to them…just as they are special to all animals.”
“I think I like rescuers,” said the recent arrival.
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 