Posted on May 14, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Stop Crystal Towers Cape Town (African Pride Hotels Group) from selling Foie Gras!
WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!
Thanks again everyone! Please note I am now “going after” a different restaurant in Cape Town: The Taste Kitchen. Please SIGN!
About the original Petition – which has now stopped.
Please click on the above link for the new campaign.
Original wording:
Towers Restaurant at Crystal Towers Hotel in Cape Town is selling foie gras!!!!
The production of foie gras (the liver of a duck or a goose that has been specially fattened) involves the controversial force-feeding of birds with more food than they would eat in the wild, and more than they would voluntarily eat domestically.
According to Peta.org this is what occurs:
“Foie gras is made from the grotesquely enlarged livers of ducks and geese who have been cruelly force-fed. Although France is the primary producer (and consumer) of this so-called “delicacy”—France produces more than 20,000 tons of foie gras each year—force-feeding takes place on a few duck farms in the U.S. too.
Although foie gras has historically come from force-fed geese, most foie gras farms now raise ducks—mule, Muscovy, and genetically manipulated, sterile birds called “moulards.”
Farmers have found that they can sell more than just the ducks’ fattened livers: Ducks’ legs, breasts, fat, and skin are all marketed for (mostly French) specialty foods. The bodies of geese, however, age too quickly to be used for some of these foods. Today, in France, only 4 percent of foie gras comes from geese. It is common, however, for geese to be raised for their down as well as for foie gras; birds with white feathers are preferred for this purpose.
Force-Feeding
Birds raised for foie gras spend the first four weeks of their lives eating and growing, sometimes in semi-darkness. For the next four weeks, they are confined to cages and fed a high-protein, high-starch diet that is designed to promote rapid growth. Force-feeding begins when the birds are between 8 and 10 weeks old. For 12 to 21 days, ducks and geese are subjected to gavage—every day, between 2 and 4 pounds of grain and fat are forced down the birds’ throats by means of an auger in a feeding tube.The Washington Post reported that the tube “is pushed 5 inches down their throats, and more food than they want is gunned into their stomachs. If the mushy corn sticks … a stick is sometimes used to force it down.”The birds’ livers, which become engorged from a carbohydrate-rich diet, can grow to be more than 10 times their normal size (a disease called “hepatic steatosis”).The mortality rate of birds raised for foie gras has been found to be as much as 20 times higher than that of birds raised normally, and carcasses show wing fractures and severe tissue damage to the throat muscles”.
you have the power to create change.
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Posted on May 12, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Each year, elephants are forced to fight in front of crowds of howling spectators at the Suwori harvest festival in Assam, a northeastern state in India. The elephants are mounted by riders, traditionally called mahouts, who beat their heads with sticks in order to force them to charge forward and attack a rival. The matches last until one elephant pushes the other out of a circle drawn on the ground.
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Posted on May 12, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
THIS IS VERY EARLY NEWS THAT WE ARE GETTING THROUGH – UNCONFIRMED BUT WE ARE WORKING TO GET MORE INFORMATION. WE HAVE JUST HEARD THAT THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES WERE VERY SUPRISED BECAUSE ALL THE ANIMAL WELFARE NGO’S WORKED TOGETHER AND MADE VERY STRONG CASE. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION AT PRESENT; BUT FROM OUR 10 YEARS PAST EXPERIENCE; THE GOVERNMENT HAVE NEVER LISTENED TO OUR SUGGESTIONS TO DATE, SO WHY WOULD THEY NOW ?
– WE WILL GIVE MORE NEWS WHEN WE HAVE IT.
Latest news in from another source: 2050hrs GMT 12/5/15.
I can say that it seems to me after reading the feedback from the associations present at the joint meeting on Monday, that the ministry has finally seen united voice from all animal protection associations and few NVOs present. This came as a surprise to them and the fact that all present were very knowledgeable of the law and situation in general and what doesn’t work, how to correct it…
We shall see what happens next.
Disappointed to hear that there is not much support from the enlargement commissioner!
Mark please tell your members that not all is lost that we had a very positive feedback so far!
Kind regards
Vesna
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1045hrs GMT 12/5/15.
We have just had the following information sent to use via our ‘Contact’ route.
Everything you read here; including the link is what we have been given. We will now have to decide what route we are going to take – it may be to pull away from ALL Serbian animal activities because no matter what you do and what info and links you supply; people who should be demanding change; such as the EU Enlargement Commission; appear to be doing very little to enforce Serbia to clean up its act with regard corruption and the rules of law as set down by the Constitution.
So you have to ask yourself; if you cannot rely on the ‘important’ people at the EU, then what is the point of doing anything ? – the EU is utterly useless in most EU citizens eyes; and this situation is yet another issue which supports this. The EU Enlargement Commission can never bother to contact us about anything; yet they spend OUR money propping up a corrupt government within Serbia !
—————————————————————
Name: Marina Morozov
Website: https://www.facebook.com/KoalicijaZaZivotSrbijaNoKillCoalition?fref=ts
Message: We, animal lovers and supporters of animals in Serbia want to inform whole world that, regardless all complaints of animal welfare, in spite of all emails, in spite of all fake meetings government
arranged, where animal welfare suggestions were refused, in spite of everything, against The Consitution, Government of Serbia will introduce Kill policy in shelters, fur farms in the country, barbaric treatment of all animals, which will support corruption.
Animal welfare in Serbia won’t exist any more.
It will be dead letter on the paper.
Time: May 12, 2015 at 7:40 am
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Posted on May 9, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Cholita the Abused Circus Bear Enjoys Her First Steps to Freedom
Video footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHUvB9wWy48
Just a few weeks after we heard about the heartbreaking plight of Cholita, an abused circus bear in Peru who desperately needed a new home, her rescuers have successfully brought her to safety and are giving her the love and care she deserves.
Cholita, who was nicknamed the real-life Paddington bear, is an endangered Andean bear, but it’s hard to tell by looking at her.
Images and video of Cholita previously taken by Animal Defenders International (ADI), the organization behind the effort to bring her to safety, are heartbreaking and tell quite a story about her abusive past in entertainment.
Her fingers had been cut off to remove her claws and her teeth were smashed to leave her unable to defend herself, according to ADI. She should be covered in thick fur, but her body is bald as a result of alopecia, which her rescuers believe was caused by stress.
She had been confiscated by authorities and placed in a zoo until a permanent home could be found for her, but there was nowhere for her to go in Peru. ADI heard about her during a rescue it was participating in at a nearby circus and stepped in to save her.
They took custody of her from the zoo and after a two-day journey traveling in her former circus cage to ADI’s rescue center in Lima, Cholita is finally getting to enjoy some of the simple comforts that were denied to her for so long.
According to ADI, for the first time in her life she’s been able to make nests, enjoy good food and play in a bath.
“Cholita has taken her first steps to freedom and is clearly enjoying herself at the ADI rescue centre, making cosy deep straw nests and eating her favourite foods, especially grapes.” said ADI President Jan Creamer. “She is elderly and quite frail so we are keeping her under close observation to monitor her health. With the public’s continuing and heartfelt response we can give this sweet bear the brighter future she deserves.”
While she’s now safe, she’s only part of the way through her journey to her forever home at a sanctuary.
Following Peru’s ban on wild animals in circuses, ADI has rescued nearly 80 animals in a months-long mission dubbed Operation Spirit of Freedom. Last week, 39 monkeys, coati mundis and kinkajous saved during the operation were finally released into their new sanctuary home in the Amazon rainforest.
The next step of the operation involves transporting Cholita, along with 33 lions and a tiger, on a flight to their new home at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado next month where they will all live out their days free from their past lives.
As we continue to oppose the use of wild animals in entertainment, more and more countries are taking a stand against their abuse by banning them from circuses. Help wild animals in the U.S. have a future like this by signing and sharing the petition urging Congress to take action on their behalf by banning them here too.
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Posted on May 9, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Same article in full:
CAMERON RE-ELECTED: THE FIGHT FOR ANIMALS CONTINUES
Posted 8 May 2015
A statement by Animal Aid Director Andrew Tyler
In the run-up to the election Animal Aid’s clear view, based on an objective assessment of the evidence from the past several years, was that another Tory government – or a Tory-led coalition – would be dreadful news for animals.
By way of illustration, the Tories are avid promoters of hunting, the badger cull and shooting, and they have also failed, against the public’s wishes, to end the use of animals in circuses, as well as presiding over an increase in the use of animals in experiments, despite a promise to drive down the number.
A Labour-led government would have been on the right side of most, if not all, of those issues.
While Animal Aid is determined to gain as much ground for animals as we can through the political process – and that means engaging with the new government, its ministers and back-benchers – we know the best prospects for advancing the cause of animal protection lie not with politicians but where they have always resided: amongst the general public.
When Animal Aid looks at its most significant advances over the years, they have invariably had little or nothing to do with politics. They have resulted from our success in rousing a great many people to demand progressive change, and that change has come because business and commerce have not been able to resist the will (and more importantly the purchasing power) of the public.
One example that comes to mind is the ending of Britain’s largest exotic bird fair, at which were sold large numbers of wild-caught birds taken from their homelands in South America and Africa, who ended up living the rest of their lives caged and isolated. We also played the leading role in defeating Cambridge University’s plans for a monkey research centre that would have been the size of two supermarket superstores. The UK-wide Focus DIY chain was retailing animals like pots of paint. Many of them were reptiles, with highly complex needs. Our long-running campaign convinced Focus to stop all such sales.
A shorter but equally decisive campaign ended the shooting club that had been run by the John Lewis Partnership for decades, for which a large number of ‘game birds’ were intensively bred to be shot for pleasure, principally by senior management.
In the field of horse racing, our determined, thoroughly researched exposés of the use of the whip forced the industry’s regulatory body to introduce far tougher rules on the use of that instrument of punishment. Clearly that work, and the work on the other issues referred to, continues – as does our determination to see mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in all slaughterhouses. The progress we have made so far on that front is impressive (all leading supermarkets now demand that their slaughterhouse suppliers have cameras). We still need across-the-board compulsory installation with proper monitoring.
None of what we’ve described above could have been achieved without the help of our wonderful supporters. We will need you at our side in the future, and many more like you.
And so, while the election result cannot be declared good news for animal protection, Animal Aid sees undiminished scope for continuing our battle to reduce the suffering of animals, enhance their standing in culture, commerce and law, and in so doing change this country for the better.
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Posted on May 7, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
I signed the petition: “Stop Killing Stray Dogs With Acid”
Please consider signing:
See our post of 24th April regarding live stray dogs being injected with ACID !!
Please support this new petition – thank you.
WATCH THE DISGUSTING VIDEO ON
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Posted on May 7, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Today, 7/5/15; we have a General Election here in the UK to elect a new government for the next five years.
The current government is a coalition formed by the Conservatives; headed by David Cameron (Prime Minister); and the Liberal Democrats led by Nick Clegg (Deputy PM). The major opposition called the ‘Labour Party’ is headed by Ed Milliband.
Ed Milliband – Labour Party Leader.
There are many other smaller parties who currently have MP’s at the House of Commons; including the ‘Green Party’.
Carloine Lucas is a Green MP, and some of you will remember we worked in the early days with Caroline on the issue of Serbian strays; before she stopped her position at the European Parliament to become a British (only) MP. Caroline was always very supportive of our work and helped us very much. We remember this.
Above – Caroline Lucas MP.
Things are very close between the Conservatives and Labour at the moment. Whatever the outcome, neither will work with each other to form a coalition. Therefore, even if they do not win a majority of votes, Labour for example, could work in coalition with the Greens and other smaller parties to form the next UK government. David Cameron and the Conservatives do not know what animal welfare means; that is why we want them out today and a new pro-animal welfare government (including the Green Party) formed.
David Cameron – Prime Minister.
As you know, we have worked a lot with Green Party (European) MEP Keith Taylor for several years now regarding the issue of Serbian strays.
Keith Taylor MEP – Green Party
We very much hope that today the Green Party in the UK will win several more seats in the next parliament; and more importantly, will be included in forming a coalition government with what we hope will be Labour and Ed Milliband.
A Labour led coalition government including the Greens can only lead to animal welfare improvements from what the UK has at present. We have good legislation for animals, but the Conservative led government has ignored the wishes of the animal welfare lobby for the past 5 years. The badger cull which was organised by them, and which has been opposed by the vast majority of the UK citizens, is just one example of where the Conservatives have ignored the wishes of the public.
We have covered the UK badger cull on this site many times – here are just a few links. You can access more by putting ‘badger cull’ into the search box at the top of the site if you wish to read more on this very controversial issue here in UK.
We will be supporting the Green Party today in the General Election. By voting Green there is so much ahead that will be so much better for animals and their welfare. If the greens are hopefully in coalition with a labour led government; it can mean only one thing; that Green MP’s will push for much more improvement to the very good animal welfare legislation we have here in UK.
And why do we support the Greens ? – see a copy of their manifesto via the following link for their approach to animal welfare: – see pages 15, 16 and 17 particularly:
It is now only lunchtime here in UK on the 7/5. The polling stations will close at 10pm tonight. By tomorrow sometime we will have a result on what the next government situation will be.
We hope it is NOT Cameron and the Torties – failing animal welfare for 5 years and still doing nothing about the badger cull; the use of animals in circuses; long distance transportartion and the rest. We don’t need them and we do not want them for another 5 years !!
Lets hope the Green Party has big gains this time round. Whatever; under a Labour led government coalition; the future for animals in the UK can only look much better !
Mark – (The Dogs Mouth !) .
Related links to the election:
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Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 