The 8 Hours Maximum Journey Time Campaign

Visit the EU wide 8 hours site at  http://www.8hours.eu/  for news on the EU wide maximum 8  hour transport campaign.

 Other SAV live export links associated with the 8 hours campaign for a maximum journey time of 8 hours:

For English supporters action only:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2013/06/17/for-english-supporters-only-do-your-meps-support-the-campaign-for-8-hours-maximum-journey-time-across-europe/

For UK and all EU citizens:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2013/07/10/europe-all-eu-citizens-your-meps-in-europe-do-they-support-the-8-hour-limit/

ACTIONS:

You can E MAIL the Dover Harbour Board (DHB), UK Minister David Heath (the government person responsible for allowing the trade in animals out of Dover) and also the main Dover using regular ferry companies (who do NOT carry live export animals on their ships) to ask them not to remain involved with the trade, or to (in the case of the ferry companies), put more pressure on the Harbour Board and Minister Heath.

E mails to:

For Dover Harbour Board (DHB) the e mail address is

pr@doverport.co.uk

For David Heath – UK government Minister for agriculture, there are two e mail addresses

mailto:david@davidheath.co.uk

and

defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk  – for this one please put in the subject box

‘for the attention of the Rt. Hon David Heath MP’

This is the sample letter that can be sent to the DHB and Mr Heath MP / Minister:

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Sir/Madam,

My family and I would like to protest about the sailings from Dover port of the Live Export ship ‘Joline’, and the refusal of the port (DHB) to allow the RSPCA to monitor the animals before they are loaded onto the ship ‘Joline’ for export to Europe. We understand that government reps ‘Animal Health’ (AHVLA) are present at each sailing, but we do not trust them to do an decent job.  This was proven at Ramsgate port in the recent past.

We believe this is an unnecessary and cruel trade that brings shame on Dover port and the town of Dover. That the trade is legal we do not dispute, but believe that the exporters should be discouraged from shipping these animals live and concentration instead should be given to a carcass only trade.  Exports ‘on the hook’ rather than ‘on the hoof’.

From recent incidents at Ramsgate port it is obvious live animals cannot be transported on long journeys without fear, stress and even pain being caused to them; and even though they are going to slaughter.  We, as allegedly humane and compassionate beings should be looking for ways to minimise these conditions and the suffering imposed on defenceless animals which are sent live for export.

We believe that a carcass only trade would not only save animals but would also create more British jobs in a time when we are fighting for our economic stability.

The ‘processing’ of animals could be undertaken here in the UK rather than exported with the animals into Europe.

Mr Cameron the Prime Minister (Conservative); promised an open government that will listen to the opinions of the general public, and we know many people feel as we do.

Dover Harbour Board prides itself with a prestigious port that is the gateway to the UK. How does this trade in the export of live animals, which no other port in the UK wants, help maintain this image?

Your comments would be appreciated!

Yours Faithfully

xxx xxx

This is the sample letter that can be sent to the main Dover using ferry companies, asking them to put pressure on the DHB: 

IMPORTANT – Note that these ferry companies have ALREADY STOPPED carrying live animals on their ships to Europe for slaughter; they are simply very major users of the port and its facilities.

E mails to:

For P&O ferries

customer.services@poferries.com

For DFDS ferries there are two

mailto:dover.pax@dfds.com  and

customerservices.dover@dfds.com

For MYFERRY

clientservices@myferrylink.com

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Sir/Madam,

As you are probably very aware Dover Harbour Board (DHB) are now accommodating the Live Export ship ‘Joline’ for transporting live animals for slaughter to the mainland continent of Europe.

This is a very contentious trade which most of the British public find repugnant.

My family and I understand that you, as one of the principal regular users / customers of the port of Dover, do not ship these animals on your vessels and we thank you for this.

However, we are asking you, as one of the main users of the (Dover) port to use your voice and influence in asking the Harbour Board to do everything in its power to discourage the live animal exporters from using Dover.

That this live animal trade brings disrepute to Dover port is without question, but we believe this will also impact on your company services as people will instead choose the Channel tunnel to avoid the possibility of seeing these unfortunate creatures being transported in this manner from Dover on the ‘Joline’.

After recent incidents at Ramsgate harbour that proved without doubt that live transportation causes animal fear, stress and sometimes pain, the exporters have turned their gaze once again back to Dover in a bid to avoid the scrutiny of the general public and the RSPCA who found very many infringements in this so called ‘legal trade’ operating from Ramsgate.

We beg you to help with your undoubted influence in the port of Dover and complain to the port authorities (DHB) about your businesses being brought into a bad light because of this little live animal transporting ‘barge’ that should be without doubt judged unsuitable to cross the busiest shipping lane in the world; the English Channel.

We believe that a carcass only trade would not only save animals but would also create more British jobs in a time when we are fighting for our economic stability.

The ‘processing’ of animals could be undertaken here in the UK rather than exported with the animals into Europe.

Export animals ‘on the hook’, not ‘on the hoof’ !

Thank you;

Yours Faithfully,