Posted on November 5, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
BBC
Today, November 5th is known in England as ‘Bonfire Night’.
Across the land, large fires are lit and firework displays take place
to commemorate an event in ol’ London town from the year 1605.
Guy Fawkes is also known as
“the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions“
– many today would still say this is very true !
As the English say – “remember, remember, the 5th of November – a gunpowder treason and plot; there is no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot”.
Why ? – to celebrate the ‘Gunpowder plot’ –
or ‘Guy Fawkes night’.
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.
The plan was to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of England’s Parliament on 5 November 1605, as the prelude to a popular revolt in the Midlands during which James’s nine-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, was to be installed as the Catholic head of state.
Guy Fawkes, who had 10 years of military experience fighting in the Spanish Netherlands in suppression of the Dutch Revolt, was given charge of the explosives.
The plot was revealed to the authorities in an anonymous letter sent to William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle, on 26 October 1605. During a search of the House of Lords at about midnight on 4 November 1605, Fawkes was discovered guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder—enough to reduce the House of Lords to rubble—and arrested. Most of the conspirators fled from London as they learned of the plot’s discovery, trying to enlist support along the way. Several made a stand against the pursuing Sheriff of Worcester and his men at Holbeche House; in the ensuing battle Catesby was one of those shot and killed. At their trial on 27 January 1606, eight of the survivors, including Fawkes, were convicted and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered.
A gruesome death
To be hanged, drawn and quartered was from 1351 a statutory penalty in England for men convicted of high treason, although the ritual was first recorded during the reigns of King Henry III (1216–1272) and his successor, Edward I (1272–1307).
Convicts were fastened to a hurdle, or wooden panel, and drawn by horse to the place of execution, where they were hanged (almost to the point of death),emasculated, disembowelled, beheaded and quartered (chopped into four pieces). Their remains were often displayed in prominent places across the country, such asLondon Bridge. For reasons of public decency, women convicted of high treason were instead burned at the stake.
SAV Comment – many people were behind the views of Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators – he was an explosives expert for his time. His actions were betrayed by a letter sent in secret.
There is a saying in England today – “Come back Guy Fawkes; all is forgiven !”. With the political system as it is now, many feel the need for a major overhaul of the system.
HAVE A GOOD BONFIRE NIGHT ! – SAV.
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Posted on November 5, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
UPDATE 6/11/15
Please go to the following
to get a complete overview of the debate; including footage of the debate, the excellent speech by Mr. Flello MP and also a full Hansard transcript of the debate.
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Dog Meat Trade
Published Tuesday, November 3, 2015
In many parts of Asia – particularly in countries such as China, the Philippines, Vietnam and South Korea – it is culturally acceptable to eat dog meat. These are not the only countries that eat dog meat around the world, dog meat is also eaten in Switzerland, Mexico and the Arctic and Antarctic, however most western cultures consider the practice “taboo”. In many Asian countries dogs have only relatively recently been kept as pets and so the animals are viewed very differently to the way they are viewed in the west. However, several animal charities draw attention to the condition in which the dogs are often kept prior to being killed for human consumption. Some animal welfare charities argue that dogs are often tortured before being killed because of a belief that it causes their meat to be tender. There are also concerns that most of the ‘meat dogs’ are in fact stolen companion dogs and strays who are kept in terrible conditions while being transported from country to country.
A particular concern for many charities is Yulin Dog Meat Festival which is held in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, every year. News articles estimate 10,000 dogs are killed at the festival, having been inhumanely transported from other countries in tiny cages, often without food or water, before being beaten to death. There is a huge social media campaign to stop this festival, though its effectiveness has been questioned.
Although it is illegal to commercially slaughter and sell dog meat in many countries around the world, law enforcement is weak and it continues being a popular dish even where it is prohibited. There are no international laws prohibiting the consumption of dog meat. The UK Government is not therefore able to intervene or take trade measures against countries where the consumption of dog meat is regarded as culturally acceptable.
UK ambassadors and Foreign Office officials have, however, raised the issue with the governments of China, the Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam in the past.
On Thursday 5th November 2015 MPs will take part in a debate on the dog meat trade.
Commons Briefing papers CBP-7360
Author: Elena Ares
Download the full report
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »
Posted on November 4, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Russia has announced that it will send four rhesus monkeys on a suicide mission to Mars in 2017.
During this mission, the monkeys will likely endure inhumane tests, dehydration, and emotional upset.
We need to take action today to preserve the physical and emotional health of these exceptional animals.
Please sign the petition using the above link, thank you.
Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere ! | Leave a comment »
Posted on November 4, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Posted on November 3, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Posted on November 3, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Dear Mark,
This week, for the first time ever, the UK Parliament will hold a debate on Asia’s dog meat trade.
The debate will urge the House of Commons to call for an immediate end to dog meat cruelty in Asia, and will acknowledge and support our campaign to end the trade.
It will also call for action by the Chinese government to cancel the horrific annual Yulin dog meat ‘festival.’
Please take urgent action today and ask your MP to attend this life-saving debate!
HSI is a proud member of the Asia Canine Protection Alliance (ACPA) who’ve fought hard to get MPs to speak out against this brutal trade. This is our opportunity to ensure that the UK government sends a clear message that this is not an issue we’re prepared to overlook; that as a nation, we won’t turn our backs on millions of suffering dogs.
We need as many MPs as possible to attend. It’s critical we make it clear to our own government and to the countries involved that this issue matters to the British public.
Thank you for all that you do for animals!
Sincerely,
Claire Bass
Executive Director
Humane Society International/UK
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 31, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
