Posted on October 29, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
I think it fair to say that the vast majority of people who strongly support animal rights / welfare also support human rights. For some time SAV has been a member of, and very much supported the work of ‘Free Tibet’, who are based here in old London town, England.
Today we want to share with you some of the work of ‘Free Tibet’ (London) and shine some light on just some of the political prisoners; mostly religious; who have been sentenced in their own land for speaking up and taking action about the Chinese suppression of the wonderful citizens of Tibet.
To find out a lot more and to become a member if you wish, please visit the FT website at http://www.freetibet.org/ – you can see and learn a lot more about campaigns and issues here.
Freedom for the people of Tibet can be compared in some ways to the long and arduous campaigns that we undertake for animals in several places of the world. It will happen one day, Tibet will be free as will there be a stop to much of the animal cruelty we are currently witnessing. You have to live and campaign in hope – as the saying goes; evil flourishes when good people sit back and do nothing.
Please take action for the political prisoners of Tibet. Visit the site at http://www.freetibet.org/ and learn much more about the Chinese domination and silencing of these most peaceful of people.
All of the following is directly repeated from the FT website with the exception that photos of all the prisoners are not included here; but they are shown on the other site.
Please give them your time and support; thank you.
Mark.
——————————-
Take action for Tibet’s religious political prisoners
Message Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche
Resistance to China’s rule inside Tibet is often led by monks and nuns.
As a result, many of them are now in jail. They may disappear for months, before facing show trials in which they are convicted for “crimes” against the Chinese state.
Many endure torture and long sentences, their illnesses are often untreated and some go years without visits from families and friends.
Send a message to Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche, one of Tibet’s jailed monks
Each month we will feature one of Tibet’s Robed Resisters and provide information about how to take action on their behalf. This month, you can send a solidarity message to jailed Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche. Find out about other actions you can take below.
Prisoner profile: Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche
Name: Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche (also known as Jigme Tenzin Nyima / Bangri Chogtrul Rinpoche)
Age: Born 1966 (49)
Reason for imprisonment: Bangri Rinpoche was convicted of ‘attempting to split the country’ after a partial confession was extracted by torture.
Detained: 1999
Sentence: life sentence, later commuted to 18 years
Location: Chushul prison, Tibet Autonomous Region
About: Bangri Rinpoche and his wife Nyima founded an orphanage for Lhasa’s deprived children in 1996 and were well-respected pillars of the Tibetan community. After his arrest, the orphanage was closed down. In justification for his conviction, authorities claimed he had met the Dalai Lama in India, accepted a foreign donation for the orphanage and had links with a man who had hoisted a Tibetan flag and then attempted to blow himself up. His wife, a former nun, was also imprisoned and released in 2006. Bangri Rinpoche’s “confession” was extracted by torture, whilst being interrogated over for five days and nights.
TAKE ACTION FOR BANGRI TSAMTRUL RINPOCHE:
1. Send a solidarity message
Write a message to Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche. Free Tibet will ensure the messages written this month will be delivered to Chushul Prison.
2. Contact the authorities
Send messages in Chinese to the regional governor of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the governor of Chushul prison to demand humane treatment and freedom for Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche. You can also send a letter in your own language if you prefer.
Regional authorities do not have the power to release convicted prisoners but the Chinese Communist Party and its officials have considerable influence over the legal system. International attention on a prisoner’s case can encourage them to press for early release or a review of the legal case.
While he remains in prison, Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche is endanger of ill treatment. Although Chinese law guarantees certain rights for prisoners, they are rarely given to Tibetans.
Robed Resistance
Monasteries play an important role in Tibetan communities and are vital in preserving and protecting Tibet’s culture and language.
But monasteries also feel the full weight of China’s occupation. Communist officials interfere in their activities and monitor for signs of loyalty to the Dalai Lama. Many have police stations close by or even inside the monastery walls. Thousands of monasteries have been shut by China, while heavily-armed security forces intimidate religious gatherings. Monks and nuns are forced to show their loyalty and even fly the Communist flag on their buildings.
Undeterred, these monks and nuns continue to brave the consequences of their opposition to China’s rule and activist monks have been at the forefront of Tibetan protests for many years. Today, many have paid a heavy price for standing up for their country, their culture and their beliefs.
Here are some of the many currently imprisoned. We will be highlighting different prisoners each month and providing more information about how to take action to help him. This month, you can send a solidarity message to jailed Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche.
Tsangyang Gyatso
Age: Unknown
Reason for imprisonment: Tsangyang Gyatso has been charged for “separatist” activities, such as – having contact with people outside Tibet and China and plotting to protest with other monks against the Chinese Communist government.
Detained: 17 March 2014
Sentence: 12 years
Location: Chushul Prison, Tibet Autonomous Region
About: Tsangyang Gyatso is a senior monk and chant leader from Drilda Monastery, Sog County, TAR
Lobsang Gendun
Age: 21
Reason for imprisonment: Official charge is unknown. Lobsang Gendun was arrested for carrying out a solo protest, during which he called for the long life of the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet. The protest took place in Pashoe County during official celebrations marking the anniversary of the Communist Party of China. He has reportedly been tortured and is unable to walk.
Detained: 1 July 2013
Sentence: 10 years Location: To be confirmed
About: Lobsang Gendun is a monk from Drongsar Monastery, Pashoe County, Tibetan Autonomous Region
Tenzin Lhundrup
Age: Unknown
Reason for imprisonment: Unknown
Detained: May 2014
Sentence: 12 years
Location: To be confirmed
About: Tenzin Lhundrup is a well-respected senior Tibetan monk from Gom Gonsar Monastery in Driru County, TAR. Known for his social service and promotion of Tibetan culture, gave talks and Buddhist teachings, helped to arbitrate local disputes and advocated vegetarianism.
Tsultrim Kalsang
Age: 25
Reason for imprisonment: Tsultrim Kalsang charged with ‘intentional homicide’ (frequently used by Chinese authorities to crackdown on self-immolation protests in Tibet). It is not known why he has received this charge, although it is possibly linked to the self-immolations of Ngawang Norphel and Tenzin Khedup, whose bodies were taken to Tsultrim’s monastery.
Detained: 1 September 2012
Sentence: 10 years
Location: To be confirmed
About: Tsultrim Kalsang is a monk from Zilkar Monastery
Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche
Age: Born 1957 (58)
Reason for imprisonment: Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche is believed to have been detained following a peaceful demonstrations by nuns from Pangrina nunnery, where he is abbot, in order to deter local Tibetans from further protests.
Detained: 18 May 2008
Sentence: 8 years and 6 months
Location: Kardze County, Sichuan Province
About: Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche is the first reincarnate lama to be charged with a serious crime since Tenzin Delek Rinpoche (recently died in prison after serving 13 years of 20 year sentence).
Karma Tsewang
(popularly known as Khenpo (abbot) Kartse (abbreviation of his name))
Age: 38
Reason for imprisonment: Khenpo Kartse is charged with harbouring fugitive Tibetans in his monastery. He is reported to be in very bad health and it is unclear whether he has been given appropriate medical treatment.
Detained: 6 December 2013
Sentence: 2 year and 6 months Location: Powo Tramo Prison, Tibetan Autonomous Region
About: Khenpo Kartse a highly respected senior monk who is well known for his advocacy of the Tibetan language and environment.
Thardhod Gyaltsen
Age: Unknown
Reason for imprisonment: Thardhod Gyaltsen’s charges are unknown but believed to have banned images and teachings of the Dalai Lama.
Detained: December 2013
Sentence: 18 years
Location: Most likely Chushul prison – to be confirmed
About: Thardhod Gyaltsen was well known for promoting Tibetan culture and Buddhism. His father was one of the thousands of Tibetans killed by China during the 1969 Driru County protests.
Yonten Gyatso
Age: 40
Reason for imprisonment: Yonten Gyatso was charged for allegedly sharing information about the self-immolation protest of Tenzin Wangmo. Detained: October 2011
Sentence: 7 years
Location: Prison in Chengdu (to be confirmed)
About: Yonten Gyatso, a senior monk from Khashi Monastery, Ngaba county was part of the Monastic Democratic Management Committee and taught Tibetan language to local primary school children and worked to preserve Tibetan culture and Buddhism.
Lomig (also known as Jo Jamyang)
Age: 27
Reason for imprisonment: Unknown. It is speculated that Lomig was detained for writing articles criticising China’s policies in Tibet.
Detained: 17 April 2015
Sentence: Not yet tried
Location: Unknown
About: Lomig is influential amongst young Tibetans in Ngaba and known for initiating debates and his writings about the situation in Tibet under China’s occupation.
Ngawang Gyaltsen
Age: 41
Reason for imprisonment: Uknown, although local Tibetans believe it to be politically related.
Detained: 24 February 2015
Sentence: Not yet tried, as far as is known
Location: To be confirmed
About: Ngawang Gyaltsen had been a monk at Shag Rongpo Monastery, where he was a well-known artist but disagreements with the Chinese government officials (running a re-education campaign for the monks and nuns) at the monastery led to officials harassing and keeping a heavy surveillance on him, leading him to leave the monastery. Authorities continued to harass Gyaltsen, who was not allowed to travel or meet with friends and family without government authorization.
Tsewang Choephel
Age: 29
Reason for imprisonment: The official reason for his arrest is unknown although local Tibetans believe it could be due to Tsewang Choephel’s presence at the self-immolation protest of fellow monk, Kalsang Yeshi, on 23 December 2014.
Detained: 18 May 2015 Sentence: Not yet tried, as far as is known
Location: Tawu County
About: During the self-immolation protest of Kalsang Yeshi, Tsewang Cauthorities. Since then he has been under constant police surveillance. Tsewang Choephel’s present whereabouts and condition are unknown.
We will be highlighting different prisoners each month and providing more information about how to take action to help him. This month, you can send a solidarity message to jailed Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 28, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
European Parliament votes against funding bullfights
Well done all you folks who took action about this – YOU HAVE WON !
Mark
Over the years Animal Equality has been working to end one of the worst forms of animal abuse in the world: Bullfighting. We have jumped into bullrings with banners, lowered ourselves from bullring buildings and other bullfighting symbols demanding abolition and launched campaigns and investigations that have gathered international media attention. Just this year we launched an international campaign aimed at the European Parliament demanding an end to EU subsidies to bullfighting. This campaign was different. It had a powerful element. YOU! You supported the campaign by being one of the 120,000 people who demanded the EU to stop funding bull torture. Your voice was heard.
Today, October 28th, the European Parliament decided to ban all subsidies to bullfighting with European funds. As a result, the 2016 European budgets will not include public aid for the breeding of bulls that will later be used in bullfights.
This is a huge victory for animals Mark as it sends a clear message: Bullfighting cruelty doesn’t belong in the European Union. It doesn’t belong to this century. It should be banned.
Thanks Mark you helped achieve this step forward for animals.
League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) news on the issue:
End of Cash Cow as Europe says ‘no’ to bullfighting subsidies
28 October 2015
Bullfighting faces an uncertain future today after MEPs voted to stop subsidies which support the rearing of bulls for fighting.
In a dramatic vote, 438 MEPs voted to end the £110 million a year pay outs given to farmers raising bulls for fighting in Spain, around £13.5m of which comes from UK taxes.
Tom Southern, Head of Public Affairs for the League Against Cruel Sports, said that the animal welfare charity was delighted – but aware that there were still hurdles to jump.
“People across Europe have spoken today, and it’s a great moment. MEPs from all countries have listened to people who are saying loud and clear – bullfighting is a barbaric and medieval pastime which has no place in modern society. There is no justification for public money propping it up, and we are delighted that MEPs have now voted to end the subsidy.
“The League Against Cruel Sports has been campaigning to end public payments towards the rearing of bulls for fighting for many years, and we would like to thank every MEP that heeded our call today. This vote will not end bullfighting immediately, but it represents a significant step forward. Members of the European Parliament should be very proud of this decision.”
A similar vote was held last year, but failed to reach the required number of MEPs for the motion to pass. In today’s vote, 199 MEPs voted against the motion, with 50 abstentions. The issue will now move onto the EU Council and Commission, where further discussions will take place.
“Although public opposition to bullfighting has been high for many years, we are starting to see some real political movement on bullfighting now,” added Mr Southern. “The arguments that it is a tradition that should be sustained are being exposed and rejected, including by the Spanish people.”
Last month, a leading travel agent in the UK announced that it will no longer send its customers to the Pamplona bull running festival, after prolonged pressure from League Against Cruel Sports supporters.
ENDS
——————————–
Topdeck drops Pamplona holidays after League pressure
16 October 2015
Following pressure from the League Against Cruel Sports, leading 18-30s UK tour operator Topdeck Travel has dropped the Pamplona Fiesta, which centres on the Pamplona Bull Run, from its holiday destinations.
Tom Quinn, Campaigns Director for League Against Cruel Sports said: “We warmly welcome Topdeck Travel’s decision to stop selling trips to the Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain.
“Tourism plays a major part in the continuation of bullfighting and the exploitation of the animals which are simply being abused and killed for entertainment. Topdeck has recognised that public attitudes to bull running and bull fighting have changed and has concluded that it is no longer commercially viable to offer holidays which are associated with blood sports.
“All credit to the League’s supporters who have worked so hard to communicate to this travel company that bull running and bullfighting are sickeningly cruel and that these barbaric practices have no place in a modern society.”
The Bull Run is often portrayed as simply a testosterone-rush for party-goers, and a bit of exercise for the bulls, but the reality is very different. Many people attend the Bull Run without realising that it is a precursor for fights in the bull ring, which lead to the inevitable death of the animals.
Each morning bulls are forced to run a kilometre down the cobblestone streets of the town, chased by cheering participants and spectators. Once released, the bulls are frightened with gun shots, electrocuted with cattle prods and kicked and hit by jeering spectators, often down concrete or cobbled streets which they slip and slide on, suffering broken legs and other injuries in the process.
The bulls are chased into a holding pen at the bull ring, to await their deaths at the bullfights, during the ‘corrida de toros’ that take place later that evening. Whilst in the holding pens some may be subjected to further ‘weakening’ which can involve the shaving of their horns (an excruciating process which leaves them disorientated and more sensitive to pain), being debilitated with laxatives, having vaseline rubbed into their eyes to impair vision, and by being drugged.
In front of jeering crowds, the bulls are then tortured and antagonised by the matadors on horseback, waving flags and repeatedly stabbing the confused animals in the neck and back. The injured, bleeding bull, weakened and exhausted, is then killed with a sword by the picador.
If the animal is not killed immediately, it is stabbed repeatedly until paralysed. When the bull finally collapses, its spinal cord is cut, but the animal may still be conscious as its ears and tail are cut off and kept as a ‘trophies’.
Topdeck joins a range of large organisations that have been persuaded by the League Against Cruel Sports to drop their sponsorship or promotions of bullfighting, including STA Travel, Ryanair, Ben & Jerry’s and British Airways. EasyJet, Thomas Cook and Brittany Ferries are among other operators that have ceased promoting the Pamplona festival.
– Ends –
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 28, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Dear Mark,
It’s sickening. Birds punched, thrown, and even sexually assaulted.
Even after all I’ve seen in the 16 years since I founded Mercy For Animals, I was still completely shocked by the horrific cruelty and violence our brave investigator just exposed at Tyson Foods—the world’s largest poultry company.
Working undercover at a Tyson Foods slaughterhouse in Mississippi, a courageous MFA investigator documented chickens being dumped, dropped, dragged, hit like punching bags, tortured for fun, and even sexually assaulted as they were violently slammed into shackles on the slaughter line. He also documented countless birds getting their heads ripped off while they were still alive and chirping.
Yesterday, MFA filed affidavits with the Leake County Court in Mississippi to initiate charges of a total of 33 counts of animal cruelty against Tyson Foods Inc. and six particularly malicious workers at the facility.
This is the third time since July that we’ve busted Tyson Foods for torturing animals, and now TV legend Candice Bergen is lending her voice to our campaign to push for meaningful changes to alleviate much of the suffering these sensitive and intelligent animals are forced to endure.
But we need your help too.
Please, take a moment to sign our petition calling on Tyson Foods to implement less cruel killing methods and other meaningful animal welfare policies to prevent the worst forms of animal abuse in its facilities.
Then please share the hidden-camera video with friends and encourage them to take action too.
And remember, the most powerful choice we can make to prevent cruelty to animals is to leave chickens and other animals off our plates.
Sincerely,
Nathan Runkle
President
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 27, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Wyoming Wolf
Dear Mark,
In Wyoming 55 wolves have been killed at taxpayer expense so far this year — many of them gunned down by Wildlife Services, the rogue government program operating from inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
We’re going directly after Wildlife Services to rein them in and shut down this needless killing. By using the government’s own rulemaking process, we’ll force the agency to reform and get in line with our nation’s laws, policies and values, ending the shameful slaughter of wolves and other important endangered species. This is the best way to stop this taxpayer-funded killing crew.
As long as Wildlife Services undermines the healthy return of wolves to the wild, we will never achieve the restoration that these intelligent, social animals need. If we’re going to protect wolves in Wyoming or anywhere else, we’ve got to put a leash on these government killers.
Please help us shut down Wildlife Services’ wanton destruction of endangered and threatened wildlife. Give to the Predator Defense Fund today.
For the wolves,
Kierán Suckling
Executive Director
Center for Biological Diversity
@KieranSuckling
Please share this message with your social networks:
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, HUNTING - Primarily UK and Germany | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 24, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
We have a Facebook site for Serbian animals as well as this site you are visiting here now; currently SAV Facebook has over 1,200 members. Why not join the site and increase membership – its free !
On SAV Facebook, supporters and animal saviours are free to publish whatever they want about animals that they have rescued and have in their care.
There are many appeals to help with financial donations via secure sites if you would like to support any of the causes.
Sometimes we publish a few appeals on this site also, but in general SAV Facebook is an open forum to help animals further – by passing having to visit this site.
And see some great work being done by some brilliant people with very little or no financial support.
They all need help, and you can read their stories and choose to help by visiting
Please join the site – and see a lot more about Serbian animals !
Please support me and all my friends on SAV Facebook
Filed under: Animals Requiring Adoption or Homes - Worldwide, CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SUPPORTERS, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 21, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Dear Mark
Next week, on Wednesday 28th October, the European Union will vote on budgets for 2016. Each year the European Union provides an estimated £100 million through Common Agriculture Policy payments to farmers who breed bulls for bullfights.
You will be horrified to learn that YOUR hard-earned tax is helping to support this barbaric industry, with £13.5 million coming from the UK alone!
Next Wednesday, your MEP will have an opportunity to support and vote for an amendment to prohibit the use of European funds to support farmers who breed bulls for bullfights. Last year, a similar amendment fell just short of an overall majority, but the tide is turning against bullfighting. 76% of Spanish people are opposed to public subsidies for bullfighting, and only 29% support bullfighting at all.
The European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes is clear: Animals should not suffer pain, injury, fear or distress. Farmers breeding bulls to be tortured slowly for public display can never comply with these conditions and therefore should not be eligible for agricultural subsidies.
Bullfighting relies heavily on the backing of European funds and also funds from Spanish Administrations. Without these payments, trends show that this bloodthirsty industry would be on the brink of collapse.
We need to demonstrate political and public support against the use of our taxes being used in this way. Last year we came so close, and all we need is a few more MEPs to turn up and vote.
Please contact your MEPs TODAY and urge that they vote to stop European subsidies for bullfighting on Wednesday. You can choose to contact any or all of your MEPs that are listed as there may be several representing your region. We have provided some suggested text for you to use if you wish, however personalised emails have a greater impact so please add your personal comments.
Thank you for your support.
Mark McCormick
Senior Communications Officer
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 20, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Carmen tells and EU journalist about her very recent meetings in the EU regarding the situation for stray animals in Romania.
When Carmen returns to Romania we may make contact with her over the issue of Serbia and its treatment / policy against stray animals.
Before she left Romania for her meetings at the EU, we contacted Carmen to give her our full support. We asked her to also mention the situation for strays in Serbia when she met the EU personnel, and this she promised us she would do.
When we have more information from Carmen on her return to Romania we shall publish it. In the meantime, please watch the video for a review of events.
See also:
Janusz Wojciechowski MEP: Killing dogs in Romania
Filed under: Animals Requiring Adoption or Homes - Worldwide, CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 