FOUR REASONS TO CRY: RESCUED ELEPHANTS BEING FORCED BACK INTO CIRCUS
On May 27, 2016, four abused elephants who were blind, chained, injured, and forced to perform illegally were rescued in Pune by your Government. For this action, we applaud your leadership and compassion.
Regretfully, I have just heard that the Precious Four elephants rescued from Rambo Circus have been ordered to go back and resume a life in chains. On behalf of these four elephants. I feel great outrage on this miscarriage of justice. These four elephants, who have survived decades of cruelty, were finally allowed a few weeks of freedom and peace after their rescue. For the first time they received veterinary care, baths, and nutritious food. Nothing could be more brutal and cruel than sending these elephants back to a life of misery and toil in the circus. For such cruelty to prevail in India — the land of ahimsa and compassion — would be seen as shameful internationally.
I implore you to use your authority under Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and other relevant laws to take action on behalf of the Precious Four elephants. On behalf of Lord Ganesh, please show mercy.
Posted on June 29, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
We had to include this flag just to show what a complete joke EU animal welfare is.
UPDATE 30/6/16 – – we have now had confirmation that our message asking Mr Van Goethem to resign has been received and read. Will anything happen ? – most probably not; but until the useless EU steps up to the plate and takes action we will continue to hassle.
Your message
To: VAN GOETHEM Bernard (SANTE)
Subject: Resign now and dont let animals continue to suffer !
Sent: 29 June 2016 16:50:34 (UTC+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris
was read on 30 June 2016 11:59:52 (UTC+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris.
Your message
To: PRATS MONNE Xavier (SANTE)
Subject: Resign now and dont let animals continue to suffer !
Sent: 29 June 2016 16:50:34 (UTC+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris
was read on 29 June2016 16:51:27 (UTC+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris.
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Below you will find a typical useless EU example of why many people in the UK decided to leave the EU. Bernard Van Goethem and the others are people who in reality do nothing, whilst at the same time preach the rules of EU Regulation 1/2005 on the welfare of animals in transport. All the time animals suffer whilst these incompetents are in charge.
We call on Mr Van Goethem to resign from his pathetic no action position immediately.
You can send a copy of this post directly to him at
Bernard.Van-Goethem@ec.europa.eu
Copy to xavier.prats-monne@ec.europa.eu
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Dear Bernard van Goethem, and for the attention of director general of SANTE Mr. Xavier Prats Monne,
Since 2010 we have been sending detailed reports, photos and videos to the Commission of our observations of livestock consignments coming from throughout the EU and trying to enter Turkey and warning that this route is a mess.
On June 3rd 2016, roughly one month ago, York Ditfurth, Director of TSB|AWF and myself, Director of Eyes on Animals, met with you and your team in Brussels to again explicitly ask for your help to do everything in your capacity to put an end to the on-going non-compliance and suffering of animals on this route.
As you knew, the only control post in Bulgaria was again closed, this time due to Lumpy Skin disease and the one in Romania would be full. We informed you of the frustration officials from Member States felt, not receiving clear and prompt instructions from the EU Commission on what action they could and should take. You promised to improve and increase communication with the Member States to instruct them on what to do to avoid any crisis again this summer.
For the past week Eyes on Animals and TSB|AWF have been at the Kapitain Andreevo (BG)/Kapikule (TR) border. We are still there now. Since arriving on June 23rd there has not been a moment of rest. The situation is the worst it has ever been. Just yesterday 55 EU animal trucks passed the Bulgarian Exit Post. Four pregnant heifers from Germany have already given birth on board the trucks and many animals from different origins are dead inside the trucks. We have seen several journey logs with this scribbled on them, in Bulgarian:
“Journey time exceeded! Planning not adhered to! Due to the complicated epizootic situation in Bulgaria, the animals continue the journey in accordance with art. 23 of Reg. 1/2005.”
It is totally unacceptable for the Bulgarian authorities to ignore breaches of 1/2005 that have taken place and that will probably take place once the animals leave the EU by relying on Article 23 on a regular basis.
Article 23 is designed to deal with emergencies; Article 23.2(d) should not be used to regularly allow non-complaint consignments to continue to their destination in Turkey.
It is impossible to comply with 1/2005 at the border. Article 3(a) provides that all necessary arrangements must be made “in advance to minimise the length of the journey and meet animals’ needs during the journey”. Article 3(f) provides that the transport must be “carried out without delay to the place of destination and the welfare conditions of the animals [must be] regularly checked and appropriately maintained”. Article 22.2 provides that “If any consignment of animals has to be detained during transport for more than two hours, the competent authority shall ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for the care of the animals and, where necessary, their feeding, watering, unloading and accommodation.” As it is impossible to comply with these provisions Member States of departure should not at this stage approve journey logs for export to Turkey.
We politely insist that you take immediate personal contact with the Bulgarian authorities so that, as of immediately, no more EU livestock trucks are allowed to exit the EU at this border crossing, leaving the animals to a horrendous fate beyond the EU control.
The letter you sent out only yesterday to the CVOs is sadly too late, and we are worried that the bureaucracy of leaving communication of such an important nature to emails will result in more delay to get any significant changes in the field now. This route cannot handle the volume of animals, and the temperatures are soaring and the infrastucture lacking.
I would like to request a response at your earliest convenience,
Lesley Moffat
Lesley Moffat, MSc Ethology Eyes on Animals – Director
Posted on June 28, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
No matter where in the world you are, you can make a difference for live animals in transport. They ARE NOT freight. Support the crew at CIWF by signing your team / group/ whatever ? for the day of action in August.
Full contact details for Kate and a link to the new website are included below. Regards SAV.
Dear Friends, The worldwide Animals Are Not Freight day of action (August 29th) has been joined by 33 groups in 23 countries.
And it’s not too late for you to pledge your support, too. The website is almost ready to be made public, but I can share it with you now: http://notfreight.org/wp/
All we ask is that you commemorate the day in some way, such as: * Social media posting * A photo stunt for the media * A demonstration * A vigil for the animals who have died And we will put your event / action on the website, and your logo on the front page.
This is a day when groups around the world will come together to oppose long distance animal transport. Can you join us?
Kate Fowler
PS.
Groups in these countries have confirmed they are taking part: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, India, Iraq, Italy, Israel, Liberia, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK & USA.
Posted on June 28, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
It all started while I was working with abused children in grouphomes. There, I witnessed the severity of emotional pain and suffering and helped the young generation express their pain and heal through hip-hop music – by running a music therapy program for abused children.
Abused animals are much like abused children.
They hurt. They suffer. They cry. They show their teeth when they are forced in a corner and pushed beyond their limits. They feel, they laugh, they love. Just because they cannot express themselves in a way that the world can easily understand it does not mean they are dumb, unemotional and undeserving of normal life.
They deserve freedom, dignity and love as much as anyone else on this planet.
I speak for the animals but also for all those who care about them. There are many of us who love animals and take action to help them. We refuse to view animals as human property. We don’t eat animals, we feed them. We don’t abuse animals, we protect them. And we do our best to stop those who hurt them. We respect animals’ coexistence with us on this planet.
From what we see and hear in the UK today, Article 50 can only be started by the nation which is leaving, not by the EU.
They can pressure the leaving country, but they cannot start Article 50. It has never happened before – the UK leave is the first time.
Juncker is attempting to put the UK under pressure because he is aware that there is a lot of bad feeling throughout the EU member states about the way in which the EU is being run and where it exactly is going.
At the same time, leaders fear that Brexit could trigger a domino effect as the bloc without Britain becomes less attractive to liberal, rich northern states such as Denmark and the Netherlands, where demands are growing for copy-cat plebiscites.
This management is his responsibility and he does not want to be seen as someone who does not have control – hence the ‘marching orders’ he is now giving. Note he is not implementing Article 50; because as we say, that is started by the leaving state only when it is ready to implement. Each day that Article 50 is NOT implemented, more people become aware of the massive failings of the EU and those controlling it. Junker does not want the world to see this, hence his tone. See below to get our view (twice – live Turkish exports and Serbia) to see just how the EU IGNORES the wants of the EU citizen. The EU does nothing – no wonder Junker does not want the world to see this !
Well, the UK will implement Article 50 when the UK is ready – and Mr Junker will have to face the music until that happens, which could be another 3-4 months, only when a new Prime Minister is elected in the UK and ready to take up the very important negotiations of leaving.
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24/6/16
Well it has all been happening here (in the UK) during the last 18 hours. We cannot post on all events as things are happening so quickly.
The UK has now voted to leave the EU and we saw the Prime Minister David Cameron say that he is resigning at around 8am this morning.
The UK has now sent a clear message to Europe; and to be honest, we don’t think the EU was really expecting a UK leave. Everyone has been taken by surprise; especially EU leaders as the UK vote out now sets a precedent for In / Out votes in many other EU nations – Denmark, The Netherlands and France to name just 3. Angela Merkel is attempting to play down the situation as expected, but it can be said that the UK exit vote is not going to do her political campaigning in the EU any good at all.
Many UK citizens who voted to leave the EU based their decisions on a few facts:
– They are not listened to by the UK (their own) government
– They are never listened to by un elected hierarchy at the EU – Commissioners and others
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We sent a letter to the EU Enlargement Commissioner (Hahn) regarding Serbian strays and other animal welfare issues for future new EU member states. This is what we got back:
Your message
To: HAHN Johannes (CAB-HAHN)
Subject: UK In Out ?
Sent: 19 May 2016 23:06:35 (UTC+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris
was deleted without being readon 20 June 2016 08:03:08 (UTC+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris.
The bankers at the city of London have been responsible for the 2008 crash which put the country into recession. The bankers were bailed out to whatever they needed by the government; the man on the street was not. So now the man on the street is getting his revenge – at both the UK government, The EU politicians and the London City bankers.
And the common man of the UK has won – with major resignations in government and the city bankers going into total mayhem.
In the UK today we have a new ‘Independence Day’ – freedom from the useless regulations of the EU and its non elected importants. Why worry EU, soon you will have Serbia to calm all your concerns.
The Human Liberation from the EU has started!
The German Chancellor is outraged.
Who would have thought?
The loss of her strongest partner is reality.
And when all this was not bad enough, Cameron, her faithful servant, announces his resignation.
The dirty German media already starts the day with catastrophe reports: the Dax falls by ten percent off! The market is about to crash!
As if the average citizen would have made a gain in the DAX ever make a profit.
The Netherlands sign indirectly as the next exit candidate and Norway also looks not good.
Merkel made a statement, calling the 27 EU Member States “to analyze and evaluate the situation with calm and reason”.
The number 27 is only on paper, because the three mighty already met.
“The EU is strong enough” ends the Chancellor her favorite “1001 – Nights” tales for useful idiots.
We, who fight for the rights of animals, tried to help EU. We have given her time, we have shown tolerance and understanding, when and where the lengthy processes have demanded it. We have been waiting for a response years, we have given EU time. We got in response indifference, ignorance, contempt.
Certainly are thousands of people who voted for the Brexit, the same people who signed for the 8hours campaign. They feel betrayed, cheated and exploited by the EU.
The EU has understood after the Brexit that we have lost confidence in it.
And it has done everything that this confidence finally disappears. Our struggle for exploited, suffering, mistreated animals has been ignored and betrayed. The suffering of animals, especially the “livestock”, proves in transports, in slaughterhouses, on farms, that the EU has no right to exist.
It is the Hangman of the animals.
Brexit has been just the beginning.
There will be others as well, and they come soon!
The time of useful idiots is over.
Posted on June 23, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
23/6/16 – well voting has now commenced in the UK regarding its future in or out of the EU.
Reporting restrictions have been enforced until the polls close at 10pm tonight. A result should be known by breakfast time (or soon after) on 24/6/16.
We have had several mails from Members of the European Parliament (MEP) who want us to remain in the EU and inform us how fantastic the EU is for animals welfare. There are some issues (cosmetics and seal fur for example) where EU wide legislation has made a difference.
But UK groups have fought, are fighting, and will continue to fight for animal welfare improvements ANYWHERE whether the UK is in or out of the EU – and that is a simple fact.
Many UK major groups have histories which go back to being formed 100 years ago or more – pre EU days; so we are not going to pack our bags and go home to watch the tv now. The campaigns continue regardless; in or out.
On a more personal / group level, we are really not witnessing anything positive for animals in transport, or for Serbian animals when it comes to the future and what the EU could do for them. Hopefully we have shown this a bit over the past 11 years on this site. For example, the situation for live EU animals being exported to Turkey is disgusting; and we feel for Lesley that her meeting with the EU Commission did not go a lot better last week.
Good EU citizens in their thousands (millions for live export 8 hours) want change; but the non elected EU Commissioners say ‘no’ – so that’s how it remains; the wishes of one person as opposed to the wishes of several million.
At the heart of this campaign is a petition calling for an end to long-distance transport and a reduction of the maximum overall journey time to 8 hours. Organisations large and small as well as many committed individuals all over Europe helped to collect signatures.
The petition was handed in to Brussels in June 2012, signed by 1,103,248 EU citizens.
The EU is out of touch with the real world. On the following link you will find Mark’s new letter to Alan Smyth MEP (in Scotland) regarding our views on the e mail he sent to us asking us to ‘remain in for animals’. Lets be clear – Mr Smith is a very GOOD animal welfare person who works hard for welfare. He is an MEP, but for UK membership we cannot agree with him on how brilliant the EU has been for animals. We hope that Mark’s letter makes this fairly clear.
We have sent our response to Alan Smyth, but do not expect a reply soon as he is obviously very busy with referendum work. We have in this instance a difference of opinion, but we can still work together for improvements for animals (in our outside of the EU) and we can still have full respect for each other. It just happens that in this current case, we do not agree with what the EU has done.
