Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Michael Tucker

It is with the greatest of sadness that I have to inform everybody over the passing of Michael Tucker, on March 2nd in a North London hospital.

I first had the pleasure of meeting Mike whilst taking part in the daily CIWF (anti) live export vigil held in Whitehall, London, run by great friend Liza, outside of the Ministry of Agriculture (then MAFF) offices during the early 90s.

Anyone who ever attended those Whitehall vigils will always remember Mike. A very smart, well-dressed man, Mike became a visual ‘celebrity’ because each and every vigil day, throughout each week, he would arrive with mop and bucket in hand; put on his ‘Ban Live Exports’ bowler hat, and proceed to start washing down the outside walls and steps of the MAFF offices; his simple message being, “MAFF, clean up your act regarding live animal exports”.  The bowler hated mopper was a real campaign ‘attention-getter’, especially with all the London visitors and tourists.

With all his posters and placards on display along the MAFF outside walls, showing the suffering of farm animals undergoing long-distance (export) transport, Mike was paramount in obtaining the backing and new support of so many visitors and London workers into the big live export campaign and the issue of long distance live animal transport. His more than friendly approach to visitors and workers gained him so much respect for something that he so passionately believed in – that live international animal transport is both unnecessary and very cruel in the suffering it inflicts on sentient beings.  Mike played a very important part in gaining public support in London against the trade in live animal exports.

As the MAFF offices were located in Whitehall, a very busy part of central London; over the years of his campaigning, Mike became friends with many of the London bus drivers who used to stop at the bus stop adjacent to where his posters were located.  He always got the thumbs up from them in support of his tenacity on the export issue. His friendly nature with people saw him being constantly provided with cups of tea and coffee, fruit and biscuits by many passers-by who had become his friends over the months.

Mike has severe health problems throughout most of his life, but this did not stop him from making the daily train journey from his home in Harrow, Middlesex, down to Whitehall where he was a constant voice for the animals. As a young man Mike had begun his training with the Parachute Regiment, but this was brought to a sudden end when he was involved in a very serious motorcycle accident, riding pillion with his brother. The head injuries that resulted from this accident left Mike with severe walking problems; but despite this, the Harrow-Whitehall journey to the live export vigil became his daily target.  He worked as a gardener around Harrow for many years prior to his retirement; then moving over to being a full time vigiler.

I had the pleasure of becoming very good friends over the years with this Stalwart hero of live export campaigning. Many times I have the enjoyment of his company whilst staying at my house in Kent for a few days. Whenever possible, I would try to drive Mike down to Dover; especially to meet up with another regular campaigners at the harbour, and occasionally to be in the position where he could actually witnessed the live animal transporters taking livestock on the horrendous journeys from the UK to mainland Europe.  We both shared a love of military aircraft; with the Spitfire being his all time favourite.  I was really pleased that during one of our trips to the Kent ports; I took Mike to the Spitfire Museum at Manston airport; where he was able to get ‘close, down and dirty’ with his favourite flying machine.

Mike sometimes made the long journey from his London home down to Shoreham when the animal exports were being organised from the port.  His many visits to Shoreham in all weathers resulted in Mike contracting pneumonia at one stage – but after recovering he shrugged this off and continued with his fight for animals undergoing long distance transport.

For the past few years, Mike’s disability meant that he was unable to attend demonstrations; but he and I kept in very regular contact, and I kept him well informed of the work being done by many of us to try and permanently stop the live animal trade from Kent ports.  Mike was a member / supporter of KAALE www.kaale.org.uk  and helped us considerably with financial donations and support for the printing costs associated with our EU report (with Animals Angels, PMAF and Eyes on Animals) into the transportation of Irish calves to mainland Europe via Cherbourg, France.

Mike was a person who had complete and utter respect for all life.  He was also a campaigner who put pen to paper when physical problems no longer allowed him to get right into the action.  Live animal export campaigning was his thing, and as such, I am proud to say that Mike was very much a real hero in the massive reduction in live animal exports we are now witnessing from the Uk.

The photo attached shows Mike, complete with another of his ‘tools’; a cut down road cone which he used as a loudhailer at many demonstrations.  This picture is from ‘The Independent’ national Uk newspaper, published on Wednesday 2nd February 2000; and shows Mike doing his stuff at one of the demos at the NFU conference at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London.

I am proud to have known Mike for so many years in an issue which we both consider(ed) to be our No. 1 campaign.  The only regret I have is that Mike was unable to witness a complete cessation in live animal exports from Kent and all Uk ports before he passed on.  I am sure that he is still looking down on us all and giving us his full support on the current issue of exports from the port of Ramsgate; our remaining hurdle which hopefully will then see a complete stop to animal exports from  the Uk.

Rest in peace Mike and on behalf of all your friends in live animal export campaigning, thank you for being such a voice for the animals over so many years.  You will be very much missed, but it was great to have known you as a great mate and to be able to call you a real campaigner friend.

Mike was 83 years of age.

Mark Johnson;
EU Correspondent – Kent Action Against Live Exports (KAALE) and Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) Founder.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

Nearly 3,000 Cattle Die On A Stranded Ship – ** UPDATE 13/03/12 ** 

SAV previous post link:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/austraila-usa-live-export-latest-news-and-ag-gag-from-the-usa/

Care2 link:

http://www.care2.com/causes/nearly-3000-cattle-die-on-a-stranded-ship.html

Nearly 3,000 Cattle Die On A Stranded Ship

by Sharon Seltzer

March 9, 2012

One of the worst live export tragedies is finally over leaving 2,750 cattle dead out of 5,600 on board a Brazilian ship headed to Egypt. The remaining animals are on land, after being stranded in the Red Sea for a week.

Animal welfare group, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) said the Gracia Del Mar was carrying 5,600 animals from Brazil to Egypt to be slaughtered for food. The ship first got into trouble after running into bad weather. Later the converted livestock ship had problems with its ventilation and food systems. The combination of these complications caused half the cattle on board to suffer and die.

Animals Australia called the incident, “one of the worst shipboard disasters the live export industry has seen in many years.” The animal rights group pleaded with the Australian government to send resources to help the surviving cattle.

When the Gracia Del Mar arrived at Port Said, Egypt which should have been the end of their journey, they were refused permission to dock because of the dead animals. The captain made the decision to sail through the Suez Canal to the Red Sea and try three more ports in Djibouti, Sudan and Eritrea, but they were turned away again.

Ultimately the ship became stranded in the Red Sea with the suffering cows inside.

Animals Australia reported that authorities considered moving the remaining cattle onto smaller boats in the Horn of Africa and then sailing them to shore. Activists urged officials that this was inhumane and to unload the cattle directly onto dry land.

Finally on Tuesday, word was received that all of the live animals had been taken off the ship. Animal groups are now trying to learn the whereabouts of the cows.

“We have been unable to verify the latest reports but are continuing in our efforts to find out what is happening with the surviving cattle and trying to ensure their humane treatment after the harrowing journey they have been forced to endure,” CIWF said.

“What is clear at the moment is the incident is another example of why long distance travel for farm animals should be ended.”

Lyn White, Director of Animals Australia worried about the consequences to the animals if the ship had “broken down on the open ocean.” “It would have caused a catastrophe,” she said.

Peter Kane of the Australian Live Export Council condemned some of the guidelines of the Brazilian cattle export business, but touted the many safeguards and high-standards his country has in place to protect the animals being shipped overseas for slaughter. He assured the public this sort of situation would never happen to Australian cows.

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SAV Comment:

Mr. Kane – these may be cattle from South AAmerica, but have you ever seen the abuse of Australian cattle in Indonesian slaughterhouses ? – yes you have for sure, and still you export.

Have a look at the AA Footage and then tell us this kind animal abuse would never happen to Australian cows – all a result of the Aus live export trade.

You may think the Aus live export trade is squeaky clean; but the real world knows otherwise.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/cattle-export-chiefs-had-prior-cruelty-controversies/story-fn59nm2j-1226289875739

Cattle export chiefs had prior cruelty controversies

by: Milanda Rout
From: The Australian
March 06, 2012 12:00AM

A DIRECTOR of the company that sent cattle to one of the Indonesian abattoirs filmed abusing steers had an export licence suspended over animal welfare concerns in 2003.

The company was also involved in the Cormo Express debacle where 5691 sheep died onboard a ship refused entry by multiple Middle Eastern ports.

http://www.beefcentral.com/p/news/article/1329

Animal groups ramp up anti-live export campaigns

By James Nason05 Mar 2012

Activists have ramped up anti-live export campaigns over the weekend, illegally boarding a livestock vessel in Fremantle to obtain footage of animals on board and seizing upon an unfolding animal welfare crisis on a Brazilian owned vessel in the Red Sea to increase calls for a trade ban.

Police yesterday arrested an 18 year old woman who had chained herself to the rail of Wellard Rural Exports’ MV Ocean Shearer as it was loading livestock in Fremantle Port.

She was among a group of protesters representing the Forest Rescue group that climbed on board the ship at 3am carrying video cameras.

Accounts on social media sites said the activists secured 45 minutes of footage on the ship.

“One activist brought the footage to shore, another chained down, she was cut out, but her thumb was injured in doing this and she’s been taken to hospital. The third activist is still on board,” one message posted on Animal Liberation Victoria’s Facebook while police were attending the incident read.

The protest did not disrupt the loading of the vessel.

Police have confirmed the 18 year old may face charges.

Wellard Rural Exports said that while it respected the right of people to voice their opionion, they should operate within the law.

“Wellard Rural Exports respects the right of people to protest in the same way we respect our livestock,” a company statement issued this morning read.

“However everyone needs to abide by the law. The action yesterday was illegal and is now being dealt with by the police.”

Stranded livestock

Meanwhile Animals Australia has used an unfolding animal welfare crisis involving a Brazilian live export ship currently stranded in the Red Sea to further its calls for a trade ban.

More than 2700 cattle are reported to have died on the recently converted livestock export vessel the MV Gracia Del Mar since it left South America a few weeks ago, with ventilation problems currently being blamed for the fatalities.

The ship has been anchored at sea for a week after being refused port in a number of countries, including Egypt, where its cattle were supposed to be offloaded.

Take action now with CIWF in the Uk:  click on the following link to send a message to Prime Ministers:

http://action.ciwf.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=119&ea.campaign.id=13982&ea.tracking.id=05bb9ddb

“This is nothing short of an animal welfare disaster. If remaining cattle are not offloaded more of these animals will suffer appalling deaths at sea. We are appealing to authorities in Egypt to offload the remaining cattle at Al Sohkna, as was originally intended,” Animals Australia said in a press release sent to media yesterday.

“Australia also exports cattle to Al Sohkna Livestock company in Egypt. Whilst we have an MoU with Egypt which should ensure the offloading of our animals, it has never been put to the test. The Egyptians thus far have flatly refused to allow the MV Gracia Del Mar to dock despite the mass suffering of the animals on board.

“If they continue to refuse to allow the surviving animals to be unloaded it would provide little confidence that the non-binding agreement with Australia would be honoured if a similar incident were to occur on an Australian livestock ship.”

In response Australian live export industry leaders have emphasised that Australian exporters comply with world’s best practice governing animal welfare.

“We’re aware of the situation and we hope it is resolved very quickly and expeditiously,” Australian Livestock Export Council chief executive officer Alison Penfold told Beef Central from Jakarta this morning.

“We understand the vessel in question does not service the live export trade out of Australia and does not meet the stringent standards set by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

“For example in terms of ventilation systems, Australian vessels require a back-up power system, so if the system fails there are secondary generators to power the ventilation system, and that is standard set for vessels servicing Australia and I don’t believe it is a standard that is set elsewhere.”

US state ramps up penalties for illegal video recording of livestock

The illegal boarding of the MV Ocean Shearer coincides with the passing of a bill in the US state of Iowa last week which makes it a crime to surreptitiously enter agricultural operations to record images and video footage.

Iowa is the nation’s leading pork and egg producer, with more than 19 million pigs and 54 million egg-laying chickens in barns and buildings.

Its farms have been heavily targeted in recent years by groups seeking to publicise animal handling practices such as confining sows and chickens in small crates.

The Iowa measure is specifically targeted to stop a ploy by animal rights campaigners to pose as job applicants on farms. The law establishes a new penalty for lying on a job application to get access to a farm facility.

Legislatures in seven other states – Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York and Utah- are also reported to be considering similar laws to enhance penalties against those who secretly record video of livestock.

 ** UPDATE ** 5/03/12

http://www.mfablog.org/2012/03/shame-on-iowa-governor-signs-ag-gag-bill-to-protect-animal-abusers.html

Shame on Iowa: Governor Signs Ag-Gag Bill to Protect Animal Abusers

 

Despite the valiant efforts of MFA supporters nationwide, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has bowed to pressure from “Big Ag” and failed Iowans, Iowa’s farmed animals,and the American people, by signing into law a bill that makes criminals out of undercover investigators who expose cruelty to animals, corporate corruption, dangerous working conditions, environmental violations, or food safety concerns at factory farms.Click here for a statement from Nathan Runkle, Mercy For Animals’ executive director.What are pro-factory farm interests in Iowa trying so desperately to hide? See for yourself, and then help expose Iowa’s dirty secret by sharing this video with the world:

Not a single federal law protects farmed animals from abuse or neglect during their lives on factory farms and Iowa specifically excludes farmed animals from protection against even some of the worst forms of factory farm cruelty. But instead of strengthening its pathetic laws to protect animals and consumers, Iowa lawmakers are attempting to silence undercover investigators who expose cruel and even criminal activities at factory farms.

Undercover investigations by Mercy For Animals and other groups have led to landmark corporate animal welfare policy reforms, new and improved laws to protect farmed animals and the environment, felony convictions of animal abusers, increased consumer protection and food safety initiatives, and the closure of particularly corrupt facilities. Without undercover investigations, there are oftentimes no effective watchdogs protecting animals from egregious cruelty in these facilities.

It is now more important than ever before to expose the cruel and corrupt practices of factory farms nationwide.

MERCYFORANIMALS.ORG

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »