Bosnia and Herzegovina: Justice for Dog Whose Face Was Blown Off By Fireworks by Intoxicated Youths.

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
 
Justice for Dog Whose Face Was Blown Off By Fireworks!
PLEASE SIGN AND SPREAD!!!!!!!
 
 

Please Facebook SHARE Vucko’s story.

SARAJEVO — Two intoxicated youths duct-taped a firework in a German shepherd’s mouth and blew off his face. But the torture didn’t stop there. The poor dog, known as Vucko, wandered for five days, unable to eat and with maggots infecting the meaty pulp of his ruined face. Vucko was finally picked up by authorities and euthanized after vets were unable to perform reconstructive surgery.

Here is EXTREMELY GRAPHIC footage

of Vucko being examined by vets. Notice the firework’s shell casing still embedded in the dog’s head.

We must bring the animal abusers to justice and ensure that this inhumanity is never repeated. Sign this petition to urge Bosnian authorities to hunt down the guilty parties and expose the severity of animal abuse. Don’t let Vucko die in vain!

Pas Vucko je uzasno stradao kad neki su zalepili vatromet za usta od psa I zapalili to. Od explozije je pas tesko bijo ranjen u lici. 5 dana se vrtio u ulice od Sarajevo dok su ga nasli. Na zalost nista nije se moglo ucinit da se ga spasi i Vucka se trebalo eutanizirat. Te ljude koji su ucinili tu uzast bi trebalo da se osudi

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150360954166227

Filed under: BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA (Capital - Sarajevo), CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering) | Leave a comment »

England (London): Animal Aid’s Annual Christmas Fayre – Sunday 4th December 2011. 90+ Stalls, Vegan Cafe, Childrens Workshop, and Lots More.

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

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

Serbia and the EU: Does the EU Dog Wag the ‘Environmental’ Tail, or the Serbian Government (EU Accession) Tail Actually Wag the EU Dog ??

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Letters of protest please to the following EU Contacts:

Nicholas.Hanley@ec.europa.eu, 

Madalina.IVANICA@ec.europa.eu, 

janez.potocnik@ec.europa.eu, 

This is the current situation regarding the EU and the subject of ‘Stara Planina’, Serbia.

On 30th March this year, Nicholas Hanley at the EU responded to SAV regarding their original letter regarding environmental destruction taking place by the Serbian authorities at ‘Stara Planina’.

Mr. Hanley responded with the following mail to Mark Johnson, SAV founder:

————————————————–

From: Nicholas.Hanley@ec.europa.eu

To:  Mark Johnson

Cc: Madalina.IVANICA@ec.europa.eu

Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 2:57 PM

Subject: Stara Planina

Dear Mr. Johnson,

I would like to thank you for bringing to our attention the information on the situation of the sites Stara Planina, Kopaonik and others in Serbia. The European Commission can only formally register complaints regarding non-respect of EU legislation in EU member states.

Serbia, as a potential candidate country to the EU, is not bound by EU legislation yet, so we are unable to take any legal action regarding complaints on environmental matters. However, the Commission is always open to receiving information from the public on the situation of environment in non-EU member states.

The Commission is aware of the situation of the Stara Planina and we are addressing this issue in the context of the EU enlargement process. In this context and in order to receive updated information from the Serbian government, we are going to raise the question on the situation of the Stara Planina site at the next EU – Serbia Sub-Committee Meeting that will take place early April in Belgrade. I will be able afterwards to come back to you with more information.

I would also like to take this opportunity to assure you that we are working with the authorities of Serbia to help them bring the environmental policy in the country up to EU standards.

Yours sincerely,

Nicholas Hanley
Head of Unit

———————————————–

By July 20th, SAV had still not been informed (the ‘comeback afterwards’) of anything regarding an update relating to Stara Planina or the result of the early April meeting in Belgrade.  Because the EU / Mr. Hanley had provided no response, SAV founder Mark Johnson wrote again to Nicholas Hanley on 20th July 2011 in an attempt to obtain further information.  A copy of his e mail is shown below:

—————————————————- 

From: Mark Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 4:17 PM
To: HANLEY Nicholas (ENV)  Nicholas.Hanley@ec.europa.eu
Cc: Dragan Jovanovic; Zoran Karic
Subject: Re: Stara Planina

Dear Mr. Hanley;

I write regarding your e mail which is provided below – regarding the situation of environmental (flora and fauna) destruction at Stara Planina in Serbia.

I note from your mail that the specific issue of Stara planina was to be addressed with the Serbian government at the EU – Serbia Sub-Committee Meeting that I can only assume actually did take place early April in Belgrade.

As I have not been provided with any information relating to the April meeting, and being asked of potential results by many associates within Serbia, I would be very grateful if you could provide me with an overview of the meeting, specifically relating to the Stara Planina issue, and what actions, if any, were proposed by the government of Serbia.

As you say in your mail, ‘we are working with the authorities of Serbia to help them bring the environmental policy in the country up to EU standards‘; I therefore trust that the Serbian government was informed at the April meeting about the environmental destruction they have taken at Stara Planina and that in order to rise to ‘EU standards’ when they become a member state, they are making necessary changes to their environmental destruction approach, which has been clearly demonstrated at SP.

When you have time; I would appreciate an update on the situation of Stara Planina and the information provided by the Serbian government.

I would like to provide my international supporters http://www4.clustrmaps.com/counter/maps.php?user=9b44b4e0  with an update of the current situation of / at SP.

Many thanks,

Regards

Mark Johnson

Founder – ‘Serbian Animals Voice’ (SAV) – Kent, England, Uk.

————————————–

As a result of asking these questions (to the EU) about the Belgrade meeting and what actions for same were proposed by the Serbian government at the meeting; the following mail was forwarded to SAV founder Mark Johnson from the EU on 29th July 2011:

——————————————- 

From: Madalina.IVANICA@ec.europa.eu

To:  Mark Johnson

Sent: Friday, July 29, 2011 4:19 PM

Subject: RE: Stara Planina

Dear Mr. Johnson,

On behalf of Mr. Hanley, I would like to inform you that we have raised the issue of Stara Planina during the meeting with the Serbian authorities in April 2011. However, due to the heavy agenda and the limited time available for the discussions, it was agreed that information will be submitted to the Commission in writing.

We will keep you informed once we have received more information from the Serbian authorities.

Best regards,

Madalina Ivanica

———————————

So, the EU Environmental people are too busy to deal with environmental issues which affect potential future EU member states ?

As a result, SAV founder Mark Johnson yet again responded to the EU on 31st July 2011, expressing major concerns that the EU really has no power, or does not appear to hold any power, with future EU accession member states (Serbia), and that the EU is simply powerless and is being completely dictated to by those who are causing environmental destructions as seen at Stara Planina, namely the Serbian government. 

The mail from Mark Johnson to the powerless and un-informative EU institution of which Mr. Hanley is ‘department head’, can been viewed below:

—————————————————

From:  Mark Johnson

To: Madalina.IVANICA@ec.europa.eu

Cc Nicholas.Hanley@ec.europa.eu

Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2011 2:04 PM

Subject: Re: Stara Planina

Dear Madalina;

I thank you for your mail of 29 July, as shown below.

“The main role of the European Commission’s Environment Directorate-General (DG) is to initiate and define new environmental legislation and to ensure that agreed measures are put into practice in the EU Member States“.

From the site of Janez Potočnik – European Commissioner for the Environment – http://ec.europa.eu/environment/index_en.htm

Despite what you say and with all the good intentions; I find your response completely unacceptable.

The information which I was provided with on 30 March 2011 by Mr. Hanley declared:

“The Commission is aware of the situation of the Stara Planina and we are addressing this issue in the context of the EU enlargement process. In this context and in order to receive updated information from the Serbian government, we are going to raise the question on the situation of the Stara Planina site at the next EU – Serbia Sub-Committee Meeting that will take place early April in Belgrade. I will be able afterwards to come back to you with more information”.

Your mail of 29 July can provide me with no further information other than to say that you have left the issue of Serbian flora and fauna destruction in Serbia with those who are performing Serbian flora and fauna destruction – namely the Serbian government.

If my experience of attempting to deal with the Serbian government over environmental / animal welfare issues during the past 7 years has taught me anything, it is simply that Serbian government officials are bent, corrupt and will do everything iin their power to avoid having to respond to you, me, anyone about Stara Planina until all the destruction has been done; flora / fauna species have been depleted and certain Serbian officials havve money rolling in – to their personal backs pockets one would guess.

The EU is supposed to be fighting to stop environmental destruction at facilites such  as Stara Planina.  What we see as a result of your last meeting in Belgrade appears to be another ‘back burner job’ with the Serbian authorities setting the agenda and dictating to you when you will be getting a response about the environmental destruction that they are doing at Stara Planina. 

I guess that is very much a case of the Serbian government telling you what you wish to hear in order that the EU Accession door is kept wide open for their membership in the near future.  Animals and plant species coming a very poor second.

If anyone, either you (the EU) or the Serbian government, does care about environmental destruction in Serbia at locations such as Stara Planina, then can I suggest that your oh so busy time limited discussions should have been extended to consider such issues as environmental destruction in Serbia.  Possibly you will learn to allocate more time for your next Serbian meeting so that Serbian environmental issues, which so many exiasting EU citizens have big concerns about, can actually be addressed and sorted out there and then, rather than simply being jotted down on notes, and responsibility for further actions being put back in the hands of corrupt politicians – those running Serbia.

Please look at the photographs I am attaching and take time to ask yourself – is this something which should be left with bent and corrupt officials on the back burner of meetings with the EU ? – more continued destruction until the next important EU / Serbia meeting ? – then to be put off once again ? – I suggest not.  Obviously you feel differently.  So what power to the ‘EU man’ on issues such as this ?

Lets say that if I have not had further response from the Serbian government and also yourselves on the issue of Stara Planinna by Monday 22nd August, I will be informing all global supporters to my site that the EU has left the issue of Stara Planina environmental destruction in the hands of those who are responsible for this exact thing; a bent and corrupt Serbian government.

I hope and very much trust that you will inform the Serbian authorities that the issue of environmental destruction (by them) at Stara Planina is still being monitored by EU NGO’s, and that every attempt to expose the environmental destruction at this facility will continue to a global audience.  Can I suggest that you provide me with a written copy of the Serbian government response on Stara Planina by Monday 22nd August, as I have no faith in being led up the written / verbal path that some future meeting of yours in Belgrade sometime in the distant future is going to do anything to halt the killing of species of wild animals and plants in the SP sector of Serbia.

I very much look forward to your / Serbian government response by Monday 22nd August; otherwise it will then be necessary to make public, to EU government and international press, the failings which have taken place at the Belgrade meeting of April 2011.

If there is no response by the Serbian government on the issue of Stara Planina by 22 August in relation to the April Belgrade meeting; then I consider this a failure by all parties concerned. 5 months is long enough for the Serbian authorities to respond;

I very much suggest that they do and that you and Commissioner Potocnik ask them to act; and quickly.

Regards – Mark Johnson.

Founder ‘Serbian Animals Vioce‘

Kent, England, Uk, EU.

E mail Copy to  janez.potocnik@ec.europa.eu

Janez Potočnik is the European Commissioner for the Environment; who declares on his site:

“The Directorate-General for the Environment is one of the more than 40 Directorates-General and services that make up the European Commission. Commonly referred to as DG Environment, the objective of the Directorate-General is to protect, preserve and improve the environment for present and future generations. To achieve this it proposes policies that ensure a high level of environmental protection in the European Union and that preserve the quality of life of EU citizens.

The DG makes sure that Member States correctly apply EU environmental law. In doing so it investigates complaints made by citizens and non-governmental organisations and can take legal action if it is deems that EU law has been infringed. In certain cases DG Environment represents the European Union in environmental matters at international meetings such as the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity”.

———————————————————-

With all this past history and the complete lack of real involvement by the EU authorities to become involved, or take on board the issues raised about Stara Planina in Serbia; a potential new EU accession member state, it has been left to the NGO institutions such as Serbian campaigners and SAV to investigate further.

Regarding his e mail of 30th March, and the declaration by Nicholas Hanley (EU) that “I will be able afterwards to come back to you with more information”; SAV have been provided with nothingapart from excuses as to why there has been no progression regarding EU awareness on the issue of Stara Planina.

In our opinion, the EU are doing very, very little regarding the issue of Serbian environmental destruction with the Serbian government, who at the same time, ARE wishing to become EU members !

THE CURRENT SITUATION – 13th NOVEMBER 2011.

Despite asking the EU for a Serbian government response on the issue of Stara Planina by Monday 22nd August; now on 13th November 2011, the EU (Mr. Hanley) has provided no further information to SAV.

So much for his March 30th declaration of :

“I will be able afterwards to come back to you with more information”. 

SAV would suggest that Mr. Hanley wishes to keep Stara Planina on the back burner; no urgency from him to follow up with answers from the Serbian government, whilst the EU environmental commission sits by and lets flora and fauna be destroyed at Stara Planina.  If this is not the case, then where is our EU mail informing us of the situation ?

The promise of – “We will keep you informed once we have received more information from the Serbian authorities”.

EU and the Serbian government; – Does the dog wag the tail or is the tail wagging the dog ?

Unlike being given any update for months from the EU, we at SAV have now been provided with an update by Dr.Miroslav Demajo, who has been a campaigner / adviser relating to problems associated with the Zvezdara forest in Belgrade.  Despite being a protected area, and a long fight by environmentalists to stop road construction through the forest, there is still no result from the Belgrade City parliament, who should have voted on this issue way back around April 2011.

Through environmental campaigners in Serbia, we can now focus again on the environmental situation at Stara Planina and the complete ignorance of the EU to really address the situation.

The following are copies of the two documents issued by the Serbian authorities.

 

Below is the information provided to SAV by the Serbian environmental campaigners.

Attached are both documents, records of the inspection from the year 2009 and final answer – response of the public prosecutor of the municipality of the town Zajecar.. The response was after 2 years in order to be outdated and not valid anymore. The police investigation was opened in the police station in Knjazevac, police headquarters No. 230-75/09, ie in the year 2009 and continued after only one year ie. 20th Sept. 2010, and another two times, purely curtiously, 8th of April 2011 and 24th of October 2011, and according to this, they concluded (this we will ask for an insight, to get copies of these police actions and what they have written) that there is no basis for activating the procedure for a criminal offence which is subjected to be processed by official duty.

In the records of the inspector, which they overlooked, IS stated the criminal offence as well as economic breach ie. feloney , so this was not processed as it should have been.

All this they stopped and that is it. While writing the report, the inspector applied the then current rules and laws and at the time, this was to be further processed according to the then contemporary laws. Later they changed all of this, and this is it, the result, not valid anymore.

This is an excellent example of how even when the inspector acts as he should, the prosecutor does not act or vice versa, in any way, it is the aim not to react.

According to this, in case we are not satisfied and we consider that a law is infringed, they often write that we may complain that the law has been broken, in this case a protected natural region which belongs to all Serbian citizens, and that we may submit a private accusation / prosecution against whom we consider responsible and start a law suit process concerned with criminal acts etc. 

It is all Serbian citizens are damaged by these actions and government rulings which have not been undertaken correctly.

These law suits are extremely costly and we do not have money for such activities, especially as all the inspector did as the official organ and as official duty, we would have to accuse the inspector also and all this as a private law suit. All this is happening as they do not know what to do with us as all trials to bribe us failed, we are immune to pressures, we always only try the application and respect of current Serbian laws, nothing more and nothig less, this is basic.

As a consequence of not applying Serbian laws, one of the condition of Copenhagen Documents and EU membership, that every country must apply and respect current laws, in order to avoid violation of human rights, we consider that our human rights are threatened as the country usually does not apply them, it does not respect and process laws, thus we live in a jungle where the rules are the stronger rule, by those who steal the money and undertake other criminal activities.

It is not a secret that Serbia is highly ranked in corruption, and that political parties are in deals with rich businessmen (who amounted riches thanks to the period from 1991 up to now).

Translations of two original documents follow :

1.

Republic of Serbia

Principle Public Prosecuter

KTP-873/128.10.2011.

Zaječar

                          Alliance for Animal Rights

                                                                                                Subotica

                                                                                                Street Matka Vukovića No 9

DSIV

There is no basis for processing the criminal act under the accusation submitted by the Alliance for Animal Rights from the 4th of Augustn 2008, concerning the construction in the ski center „Stara Planina“, located at Babin zub within the Nature Park „Stara Planina“ based on the report of the Police Station Knjaževac from Police Headquarters under No 230-750/09 dated 20th Sept.2010, 8th April 2011 and 24th Oct. 2011, this being a criminal act to be processed on official line of duty.

                                                                        Deputy Public prosecutor

                                                                        Dragana Sibinović

                                                                        (Official Seal placed here)

2.

 

Sector for Control and Supervision

No. 353-501-sl09-04

Date 20.08.2009

Niš

Alliance for Animal Rights

                                                                                    Subotica

                                                                                    Matka vukovića 9

 Subject: Announcement

According to the complaint forwarded to the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning concerning the construction of ski lifts on Stara Planina and other constructions, we inform you that all legal measures have been taken into account.

Due to the clear forest cutting with the purpose of constructing the ski lift, an official criminal offense accusation was filed against the Serbian Public Company “Srbijašume” (Forest Company, translation) for ski lift construction contrary to the conditions set by the Sebian Inst. For Nature protection, with prosecutions filed against 2 other subjects on the basis of economic felony, Public Company “Putevi” (Roads, translation) and Directory for Town Construction Zaječar for not complying to the conditions set by the Serbian Inst, for Nature Protection. For using explosives inside the Nature Park, prosecution was filed against Company ’Zaječar’ from  Zaječar.

Concerning the placement of nets on the ski path and consolidation of dam, all conditions were met as set by the Inst. For Nature Protection. Also The Study on the Evaluation of Environmental Impact  for the above objects was obtained.        

I also note that the Program for the Management of Nature Park ’Stara Planina“ (the end date for this set by Decree, article 11) is prepared as well as the definition of new Park boundries changed by the new Decree (Official Gazette, Rep. Of Serbia, No 23/09).

 

Respectfully                                                Republic Inspector

                                                                     Dragana Šelmić

 

                                                            (Official Seal, placed here)

————————————————–

How very typical that Mr. Nicholas Hanley at the EU and his senior Commissioner have failed to undertake all the necessary investigations and actions associated with Stara Plannina and Serbian EU accession regarding the ‘rule of law’; implementation of which is a fundamental requirement for both existing member states and those currently seeking EU accession, such as Serbia.

In this case, the EU has failed and failed well.  As we have said in the past, Serbia is bypassing the rule of law and simply making up its rules to benefit its own, corrupt government and corrupt system.  And all the time, the EU ignores the warning signs as we have presented to Mr. Hanley; instead it talks tough, actually having as much clout with future EU accession member state governments as a damp feather waved in a hurricane.  But despite this, all the time, animals are being killed and the environment destroyed.

The EU has failed on the issue of Stara Planina.  Hopefully, this report will bring an all too late response from Mr. Hanley; but even a late one is better than the ‘nothing’ we have had to date from the EU relating to actual EU progressive action with the Serbian authorities at Stara Planina.

Months and months of broken promises by the EU and a bent, corrupt Serbian government which wags the ‘EU Dog’. 

It is now time to move on and expose the lack of EU action regarding Stara Planina. This (post) information is now being presented to the Uk national press with the hope they will investigate further and ask Mr. Hanley the question

– ‘what is the EU actually doing about future EU accession states such as Serbia and the implementation of the rule of (environmental) law ?’.

We suggest this can be answered in one word by the EU – ‘NOTHING’.

Previous posts associated with the Stara Planina environmental campaign:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/eu-serbia-are-they-both-leading-us-up-the-environmental-garden-path/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/serbia-does-it-now-realise-that-law-implementation-is-a-serious-issue/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/serbia-stara-planina-update-the-governments-illegal-environmental-destruction-continues-full-news-and-pictures-in-this-post/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/serbia-campaign-for-the-protection-of-zvezdara-forest-in-belgrade/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/golema-reka-draft/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/240809-global-launch-of-campaign-to-save-stara-planina-animals-and-plants-international-supporters-your-individual-help-is-essential-please-copy-and-send-letter-given-in-post-below/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/serbia-save-stara-planina/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/serbia-campaign-to-save-flora-and-fauna-at-stara-planina/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/serbia-more-major-environmental-destruction-planned-your-help-needed-to-raise-global-awareness/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/serbia-beautiful-environmental-region-of-serbia-to-become-ski-centre-please-read-and-take-action/

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

Uk (England): What the Majority of Brits Want – Uk Circus Owners to Be Prosecuted for Abuse to Anne the Elephant.

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15675102

 

Anne is now safe and free from the circus – living at Longleat Wildlife Park

Elephant cruelty case: Bobby Roberts’ Circus owners charged

Anne the elephant was moved to Longleat Safari Park earlier this year

Two circus owners have been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an elephant.

Action was originally brought by Animal Defenders International (ADI) which investigated the elephant’s welfare at Bobby Roberts’ circus in Peterborough.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it had now taken over the prosecution of husband and wife Bobby and Moira Roberts, who run the circus.

The elephant, Anne, was later moved to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire.

Mr and Mrs Roberts will appear before Corby Magistrates’ Court, in Northamptonshire, on 16 November.

Shock and dismay

They are accused of keeping the 58-year-old elephant chained to the ground at all times.

They are also accused of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly beating Anne.

The elephant was brought from Sri Lanka to The Bobby Roberts Super Circus in Peterborough in the 1950s.

A CPS spokesman said: “Given the public concern over the case, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has now agreed that the CPS take over and continue the legal proceedings against the Roberts.”

Moira Roberts told the BBC News website: “We are shocked and dismayed, we honestly felt this would get thrown out.

“We’ve done nothing wrong. It’s been the worst year of our lives.

“We’ve been in business a long time and financially and mentally we’ve had the worst year of our lives.”

The ADI, a worldwide animal welfare organisation, carried out an undercover investigation between 21 January and 15 February this year and filmed the elephant in a barn in Polebrook, Northamptonshire.

Jan Creamer, ADI chief executive, said: “We are delighted that the CPS are taking on this prosecution and will assist them as necessary.”

CPS STATEMENT ON ANNE THE ELEPHANT

The Crown Prosecution Service has today agreed to take on the prosecution of Bobby and Moira Roberts in relation to the mistreatment of their circus elephant “Anne”.

The prosecution was originally brought as a private prosecution by Animal Defenders International (ADI), a worldwide animal welfare organisation which carried out an investigation into Anne’s welfare at the Roberts’ circus in Peterborough during the period of 21st January to 15th February 2011.

Earlier this month, the CPS was approached by the legal representatives in the case with a view to the CPS taking over the prosecution. Given the public concern over the case, the Director of Public Prosecutions has now agreed that the CPS take over and continue the legal proceedings against the Roberts.

Mr and Mrs Roberts are jointly charged with the following offences:

1. Causing the elephant to suffer unnecessarily, by requiring the elephant to be chained to the ground at all times, contrary to section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
2. Failing to take reasonable steps to prevent their employee from causing unnecessary suffering to the elephant, by repeatedly beating it, contrary to section 4(2) of the same Act
3. Failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of the elephant were met to the extent required by good practice, contrary to section 9 of the same Act

The private prosecution was commenced by ADI on 18th July 2011 at Northampton Magistrates Court. Now that the CPS is prosecuting the case, the adjourned first appearance will take place at Corby Magistrates Court on 16th November. At that hearing the court is likely to give directions in preparation for the trial.

Anne is a 58 year old female elephant brought from Sri Lanka to The Bobby Roberts Super Circus in the 1950s. Anne was subsequently transferred to a safari park with the owners’ consent. These defendants have the right to a fair trial. It is important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice their trial.

SOURCE:
Animal Defenders International
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London SW1P 4QP, UK.
Tel.  +44 (0)20 7630 3340
Fax.  +44 (0)20 7828 2179

ADI calls for Anne the elephant’s plight to become symbolic of UK wild animals in circuses ban

Source: Animal Defenders International – press release

Sir Paul McCartney pledges support for ADI’s campaign

Following the announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service that it has agreed to take on the prosecution of Bobby and Moira Roberts in relation to the mistreatment of their circus elephant Anne, Animal Defenders International (ADI) is now calling for her plight to become symbolic of a UK wild animal circus ban.

And Sir Paul McCartney has pledged his support to ADI’s campaign.

Sir Paul said: “I hate to see wild animals in circuses. It is heartbreaking to see these poor animals confined in small cages and carted around the country with little respect for their welfare and well-being. I have made my feelings known previously on this subject and I believe an outright ban is long overdue.”

Jan Creamer, ADI’s Chief Executive said: “We are very grateful to Sir Paul for supporting our campaign and helping to highlight the plight of wild animals currently languishing in UK circuses during this crucial time.

“Government has recently announced that a ban is not an immediate possibility and has decided to proceed with a licensing system instead. This decision flies in the face of what MPs and the British public demand and it is high time that this Government started listening to the will of the country.

“Let’s make Anne the elephant symbolic of a UK ban and ban the use of wild animals in circuses for good.”

In June this year, a backbench debate saw over 50 MPs from all of the major parties vote unanimously for a motion tabled by Mark Pritchard MP, calling on the Government to ban the use of wild animals in circuses by July 2012.

Following the Parliamentary recess, MPs have continued to put pressure on the Government, with cross-party MPs tabling Parliamentary Questions on the issue of wild animals in circuses and ADI is continuing to work with them.

Zac Goldsmith, Tory MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston said: “A motion calling for a ban passed unopposed through Parliament, and is backed by a big majority of people. I sincerely hope the Government will take steps now to implement that ban for the sake of the animals involved.”

Adrian Sanders, the Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay said: “The will of parliament as expressed on the 23 June 2011 is not being actioned by the Government through its proposed licensing system. It falls well short of the welfare standards parliament demanded.”

Kerry McCarthy, the Labour MP for Bristol East said: “A ban on the use of wild animals in circuses is long overdue. The old fashioned practice of removing wild animals from their natural environments for the purpose of entertaining an audience is inhumane and cruel. Behind the curtains the brutality that these wild animals receive is utterly deplorable and should have no place in our society. I am urging the Government to act now, the overwhelming support this campaign has received demonstrates that the public agrees that this outdated and cruel form of entertainment should be banned without delay.”

Earlier this year, ADI released the results of its independent online poll carried out by YouGov, which asked impartial participants aged over 18 to what extent they would support or oppose a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. A massive 72% of the public backed a ban with only 8% against – almost 3 out 4 members of the public therefore wanted a ban.

In 2010, a public consultation by Defra (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) resulted in a huge 94.5% public support for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

National measures to prohibit or limit the use of animals in circuses have already been adopted in Bolivia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, Singapore, Costa Rica, India and Israel and similar laws are being discussed in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Greece.

Jan concluded: “All of these countries have looked at the evidence and then taken the right decision for animal welfare and protection.

It is time that the UK Government now did the same.”

ENDS

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

Romania: The Proof That PDL Paid People to Gather Signatures for the Killing of Strays.

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Our recent SAV post:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/10/30/romania-unprecedented-killing-dogs-campaign-by-pd-l-party-romania/

——————————————————————————————-

The proof that PDL paid people to gather signatures for the killing of strays

http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-po

litic-10601635-audio-poveste-stranie-tineri-simpatizanti-pdl-acuza-partidul-abondonat-munte-dupa-excursie-spus-nu-intereseaza-descurcam-cum-putem-sum-rudele.htm

English Translation of the article:

A strange story.  Young PDL supporters accused the party of abandoning them at a mountain… camp: “They said it’s not their business to take us home. We should manage ourselves how we can, call our relatives to pick us up”.

Several young supporters accuse the organization of PDL Sector 4 Bucharest, 18 college and its president, municipal councillor Calin Murg, as they went on a trip to Bran that was supposed to be “all inclusive”, but has turned into a “big mockery”. “We didn’t had enough space in the room, we slept in shifts, we were not given enough food, and the departure we had nothing to go back. They said it’s not their business to take us home. We should manage ourselves how we can”, it’s Cristina Gimba’s declaration, one of the young supporters  that went on the mountain trip.

Radu Mihai, the man who was in charge of organizing the trip, (OTPDL District 4)  contacted by HotNews.ro, denied the allegations: “There are people who have something with me. They are lies and do I do not understand their purpose and really do not know why .. . At any time there is political tension and jealousies. ”

“The camp was organized by Mr. Calin Murg from PDL.  

The camp was a reward for the group of young people who have served the party tents for gathering petition signatures for stray dogs on euthanasia.

Camp took place between 25 and 30 October in Bran, “said Cristina Gimba, one of the young people who participated in the trip to Bran.

According to the girl, young people were informed that “the road round trip, accommodation and food” were provided, but during the trip occurred “problems one by one.”

“I were staying 4-5 persons in a room for two people. We sleep in shifts’

“The first problem was sleeping in the rooms. We were 15 people and I got to sleep in shifts  or 4-5 persons slept in one bed. The room was a double bed. Another problem was the food, there were suppose to be three meals a day. After that there are times when food was announcing served, food was insufficient and came less than how many people we were in the group. We were 15 people and only 8-9 food plates were served, sometimes up to 10 “, Cristina Gimba told us.

The girl’s story is supported by Ion Samoil,  the one who organized the PDL mountain trip in District 4,  College 18.

“We got there. We were staying even 4 people in each room. We sleep in shifts. The food was very, very little. You got to eat for breakfast only if you were the first one to wake up. I had colleagues who remained didn’t got to ete even the small breakfast and lunch, “said Ion Samoil for HotNews.ro.

“At departure they said we have they had no means to take us back and we should handle ourselver”.

The big problem, according to two of them, occurred at the departure when Radu Mihai, the trip organizer of the party announced that they will have to return to Bucharest on their own.

“Sunday morning, on leaving, we had no transportation to leave with. Let’s see with what can we leave, minibus, bus, for all that you must have money, but Mr. Murg assistant shrugged and said he doesn’t cares. Everyone asked “what do we do in this situation?”. He said he does not care, he did not know, he can not solve this problem and he will leave. And than  left. We said how we handle eventually we would call relatives. The situation  seemed the most awkward and I think a big mockery, “Cristina Gimba told us.

According to Cristina Gimba, the young people who participated in the trip to Bran “were mostly students. They are sympathizers of the party and helped with the tents for a week to gather signatures for the PDL petition for euthanasing the stray dogs. As far as I know, some are members of youth organizations and others are simply sympathizers. Camp was a reward for the work the young people served at the tents. ”

The organizer of the trip: “They lie. There are some people who think about them they are very smart and have something with me ”

HotNews.ro contacted by telephone and asked about the situation, the trip organizer, Radu Mihai, the youth organizations PDL District 4, has denied all accusations, qualifying them as lies.

It is not true. How to do this? They lie. There are some people who think they are very smart about it and tried to make me seem evil. Do they have something with me. I wanted to do good and they seem like …. liyng. There are just lies and I do not understand the purpose and I really do not know why …”, says Radu Mihai.

“In every rooms there were just 2 persons, just in one room 3 people were staying together but because they wanted it that way. At each table there were two servings each plus and were provided three meals a day. It is true what they say. Everything was provided. People have returned with carriage paid, not their money. When we returned back by train and bus and much of them returned with their cars. Return travel was provided. There the payment was young, “said Radu Mihai.

Asked about the trip and municipal councillor Murg Calin, Mihai Radu said the trip “is a youth project. It was financed by Mr. Calin Murg trip. Mr. Murg had nothing to do with this trip. I do not think she knows this. ”

PDL District 4: Funds for the trip came from donations made by seniors from the College 18

Ask by HotNews.ro of the money was funded trip and what it cost, PDL District 4 representatives stated that the funds come from the seniors of the College 18, but could not say how much money was spent.

“It was a social meeting organized by her young. Funds for the trip came from donations on behalf of the College 18 seniors. The young people are doing a social project, we propose and, if funding is found, it’s approved. Mr. Calin Murg is President of the College 18, PDL District 4, but he didn’t personally financed the trip “, said District 4 representatives PDL.

The organizer of the trip: “In any moment there are political tensions and jealousies. I suppose that is the case here”

In a subsequent discussion, this time worn by e-mail to request, trip organizer OTPDL from District 4, asked what he had with people who criticize the trip, Radu Mihai said that “any time there are tensions and political jealousies. I suppose that is the case here.

“I can only say that the trip was a successful time for at least 15 young people who were transported to the camping trip and bacl home, staying and who have received pre-set conditions,” said Radu Mihai.

The young PDL man also said there is no conflict between himself and any participant in the trip “If you have a person that I can bring any a person who can accuse me of anything, bring evidence also, not just words and inventions, I would like to nominate me. We live in a rule of law and each is responsible for what they say and do, “said Radu Mihai.

Asked about what motivated the young people to criticize the organization and would have to lie about the trip, Radu Mihai said: “For scandal, affirmation, tabloidisation. I do not know if one person or more, but the team works hand than I do, well organized many successful actions, and that bothers some less capable persons. “

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

Romania: Unprecedented Killing Dogs Campaign – by PD-L Party (Romania).

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Dear all,

Opposition/disapproval from Romanian Parliament of the parties PSD and PNL, the opposition of some colleagues party (PD-L) and of the coalition, resulted in PL 912 for dog management (turned into mass killing by PD-L amendments) don’t go through, such as the party in power, meaning PD-L, has every time decided the vote to be postponed. That it is happened in October 18 when, realizing that if they would vote, the project would fail, PD-L has decided to postpone the debate (for 2 November)

Under the title “Bucurestiul fara maidanezi” (Bucharest with no stray dogs), 10 days ago, PD-L has launched in Bucharest, a dirty incredible campaign and unprecedented in the history of Romania, for MASS KILLING OF DOGS, which stretches for several days across the country (especially in areas where the mayors are PD-L), under the title “Elibereaza-ti orasul” (“Clear out your town”):

–          lay-out tents where signatures pro killing are collected

–          people studded on all subway stations, in markets and crowded areas, sharing flyers

–          they illegal use the state institutions (General Inspectorate schools, the Romanian Post), by which the flyers are distributed and signatures are collected. The people do not receive pension, unemployment wages, if they do not sign on the list brought by the postman

–          the flyers (two types) include:

I.     populist slogans, false information aiming arousing people’s aggressivity against stray dogs wishing thus, as outraged citizens finally opt for the death of dogs

II.   false information that creates the impression that “PDL law” requires human management of stray dogs by sterilization, oral information given by representatives of the PD-L are the collecting signatures is for sterilization and / or sheltering, so that under deceitful, false slogans, by manipulating images, most of the citizens who signed the lists do not accept under any circumstances euthanasia as a method of management of stray dogs and they don’t know they actually signed for killing dogs

–          To create a favorable image and to create the illusion in the eyes of the signatories that this campaign would be in line with EU policies, PDL has associated its image with the EPP – European People’s Party (whose Membership is) to create the impression their criminal action against street dogs is agreed by the EPP. Thus, the header of lists where the signatures are collected contains EPP logo. Public opinion from Romania, NGOs, the great mass of animal lovers are outraged that EPP is part of this mendacious campaign that instigates to murder.

(attachment: PD-L tent; lists with signatures where EPP logo is; I dis not attach the flyers as they are in Romanian (if you would like please, let me know)

If mass killing of over 10 years did not get any result in the street so why this fight for a failed method??

The sustained fight in which PD-L sends in the street an entire artillery with an impressive ammunition, lists, flyers a.s.o to determine people, by false slogans, by manipulating text and images, is a new indisputable evidence of a mega business with killing dogs:

–          The local authorities (and those behind them) allocate huge budgets – just on paper, reporting fictive consumption for sheltering, feeding, sterilization, identification, euthanasia, incineration – ‘legal’ frauds on public money

–          profits by selling the dog food and veterinary medicines, that are supposed to be used for the stray dogs

–          dog catchers who, to not take the stray dogs protected by the people, require a “protection fee” (around 25 Euro/dog)

–          costs of incineration at PROTAN (a controversial company) per kg dead body and the transport for dogs is very expensive

The stray dogs, that incur the state no costs to live on street, are hunted by another type of mafia. Their killing, starvation in the town-halls extermination camps bring profits to a “fat” business up to 500 millions Euro just in the first stage!

Please, send your protest, contact (email, fax, phone) EPP – European People’s Party to show your indignation for their image association (probably EPP does not even know about it) with the dog killing campaign launched by its member-party, PD-L (Democratic Liberal Party) in Romania.

EPP President: Mr. Wilfried Martens

EPP Headquarters: rue du Commerce 10, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Switchboard: +32-2-2854140, Fax: +32-2-2854141,

Email:   info@epp.eu  

info@epp.eu, alopez@epp.eu, ckremer@epp.eu, spe@epp.eu, osb@epp.eu, sob@epp.eu, id@epp.eu, cb@epp.eu, Mdermerci@epp.eu, lvandeputte@epp.eu, ks@epp.eu, bfurniere@epp.eu, nbriec@epp.eu, efarris@epp.eu, jjimenez@epp.eu, mdursin@epp.eu, gfomenchenko@epp.eu, jmagaz@epp.eu, smuresan@epp.eu, iprainsack@epp.eu, mprzysiecka@epp.eu, kmilheiro@epp.eu, bd@epp.eu, chelbig@epp.eu, dlamal@epp.eu, pheymans@epp.eu, ytorres@epp.eu, jzalutskaja@epp.eu, spaeme@epp.eu, gvolckaert@epp.eu, bcunj@epp.eu, adzemidzenka@epp.eu, rz@epp.eu, eppwomen@epp.eu, eppwomen@epp.eu, jyrki.katainen@kokoomus.fi, pasi.rajala@kokoomus.fi, kd@kd.fi, peter.ostman@kd.fi, damien.abad@europarl.europa.eu, janos.ader@europarl.europa.eu, gabriele.albertini@europarl.europa.eu, magdicristiano.allam@europarl.europa.eu, laimaliucija.andrikiene@europarl.europa.eu, roberta.angelilli@europarl.europa.eu, antonello.antinoro@europarl.europa.eu, alfredo.antoniozzi@europarl.europa.eu, pablo.ariasecheverria@europarl.europa.eu, sophie.auconie@europarl.europa.eu, jean-pierre.audy@europarl.europa.eu, pilar.ayuso@europarl.europa.eu, joseph.daul@europarl.europa.eu, jaime.mayororeja@europarl.europa.eu, corien.wortmann@europarl.europa.eu, jozsef.szajer@europarl.europa.eu, manfred.weber@europarl.europa.eu, vito.bonsignore@europarl.europa.eu, othmar.karas@europarl.europa.eu, paulo.rangel@europarl.europa.eu, ioannis.kasoulides@europarl.europa.eu, gunnar.hokmark@europarl.europa.eu, jerzy.buzek@europarl.europa.eu, rodi.kratsa-tsagaropoulou@europarl.europa.eu, inga.rosinska@europarl.europa.eu, daniela.buehrig@europarl.europa.eu, aleksandra.heflich@europarl.europa.eu, anthony.teasdale@europarl.europa.eu, marek.evison@europarl.europa.eu, fredrik.reinfeldt@moderat.se, per.schlingmann@moderat.se, eva.gustavsson@moderat.se, goran.hagglund@kristdemokraterna.se, acko@kristdemokraterna.se, sofia.damm@kristdemokraterna.se,

Thank you.

Sincerely
Carmen Arsene

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

Japan: ‘Gas Chambers in Japan’ by Bonnie Snider – Dont Let It Happen Here !

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Gas chambers in Japan; don’t let this happen here

By Bonnie Snider – Animal Advocacy Examiner

October 30, 2011

Video footage:

http://www.examiner.com/animal-advocacy-in-national/japanese-gas-chambers-warning-graphic-content-video

Article Link;

http://www.examiner.com/animal-advocacy-in-national/gas-chambers-japan-don-t-let-this-happen-here

Over the past week I’ve written articles about the horrors of gas chambers in use in our country to kill unwanted shelter animals.  In the United States, there are still states where gas chambers are in use, but thankfully it’s not the majority. 

It’s another story entirely for Japan.  An investigation conducted by the Sunday Mirror exposed the fact that over 250,000 animals die in what the Japanese disgustingly call “dream machines”; the government-run gas chambers.  Source.

“Designer dogs” are all the rage now in Japan, with massive breeding going on for those types of dogs.  Pet store windows are crammed full of puppies, but once too old or not considered worthy for sale, they are killed.  These animals are considered like any other impulse buy; once tired or bored with the animal, the buyers toss them away without another thought.  Puppy mills are now thriving there, with conditions as bad or worse than those in the US.  

The reporter for the Sunday Mirror called the Japanese gas chamber system a “conveyor belt of death”.  The animals are piled into the chamber, the gas turned on and the agonizing process of death begins.  Richard Jones, the Sunday Mirror reporter described it this way: 

“As the deadly gas slowly fills the box it takes 10 minutes for the barking inside to die down into heart-breaking whimpers. And as the dogs writhe in agony, it takes another 20 minutes before their twitching bodies are finally still. “

Once this gruesome process of death is finished, their bodies are sent down a chute and into an incinerator, where they are burned.  Nobody knows if any survived the gassing, so some of these innocent animals could end up being burned alive.  These machines of death murder an average of 550 innocent animals every day.  

The nightmare of gas chambers seems to know no bounds.  This kind of killing machine is barbaric and sick and there simply must be something done to stop it.  We must stand up and be heard to end this nightmare for all animals.  

So far, no petitions have been started in connection with the gas chambers of Japan.  But there are very important petitions related to this issue in the United States.  The one directed at the White House will close on October 31st, so signatures are needed by then.  Another has been opened at Care2, as well as another directed at Congress, with ongoing signatures needed.  All are linked below. 

Please take a moment to sign these critical petitions.  These are living breathing beings with emotions and who feel fear and pain just as we do.  To kill them in this manner is beyond cruel and must end.  They have no choice about being where these machines run, and they have no voice other than ours to stop it. 

We’ve seen in the past that our country has used other machines/practices from Asian countries as models to implement in our own.  If we’re not careful, these “dream machines” could become a reality right here in our own back yards.  Please don’t let that happen. 

Click here for the We the People petition.

Click here for the Care2 petition.

Click here for another petition to Congress to ban gas chambers.

Click here for the Take Action – Ban Gas Chambers Facebook page.

Click here for the Take Action Ban Animal Gas Chambers website.

Click here for the first prior story about gas chambers.

Click here for the earlier story about gas chambers.

Bless all of the hearts who care about the animals. 

Follow me at Animal Advocacy Examineron Facebook.

Do you like reading articles that are written from the heart?  Then please click Subscribe Icon.  It’s completely free, and you’ll be notified of each new article that I’ve published. 

Thanks so much for reading and for sharing.   

Have an idea for a story?  Send it to bvelvet@comcast.net

 

 

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), VIDEOS | Leave a comment »

« Previous Page — Next Page »