Posted on December 18, 2014 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
The 1914 Christmas Truce – German and British Soldiers Stop Fighting In The Trenches And Play Football Against Each Other.
From The Illustrated London News of January 9, 1915: “British and German Soldiers Arm-in-Arm Exchanging Headgear: A Christmas Truce between Opposing Trenches”
WW1 Christmas truce marked in army football teams match
The Christmas truce (German: Weihnachtsfrieden; French: Trêve de Noël) was a series of widespread but unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front around Christmas 1914.
In the week leading up to the holiday, German and British soldiers crossed trenches to exchange seasonal greetings and talk. In areas, men from both sides ventured into no man’s land on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to mingle and exchange food and souvenirs.
There were joint burial ceremonies and prisoner swaps, while several meetings ended in carol-singing.
Men played games of football with one another, giving one of the most enduring images of the truce.
However, the peaceful behaviour was not ubiquitous; fighting continued in some sectors, while in others the sides settled on little more than arrangements to recover bodies. The following year, a few units arranged ceasefires, but the truces were not nearly as widespread as in 1914; this was, in part, due to strongly worded orders from the high commands of both sides prohibiting fraternisation.
Soldiers were no longer amenable to truce by 1916. The war had become increasingly bitter after devastating human losses suffered during the battles of the Somme and Verdun, and the incorporation of poison gas.
SAV Comment – Football NOT Killing !!
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Posted on December 18, 2014 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Thank you to everyone who has already donated to help pay for the veterinary treatment necessary for little Marko. But the target which is needed to cover his costs are still a long way off.
We have happily donated to help this little guy; and if everyone gave just a few dollars we would get there in no time at all.
The donation link is given below and although it is an expensive time of year; please try to give this little guy something special for Christmas by making a donation – even if it is just a few dollars – they all add up.
The donation site is completely secure and you can donate either via Paypal or just using a normal card route.
Marko – Young, alone and injured…left to die. This poor little guy has had a really rough start to his life. Barely 4 months old puppy was found on the side of the road in town of Subotica. He came in with multiple puncture wounds, Demodex mites, chemical burns and a painful body. Currently he is in medical boarding while we try to get him comfortable and treat his wounds and skin. Marko deserves so much and we are committed to him but we need your help!
We need everyone’s assistance to help this poor little dog. No donation is too small and it will all go towards his ongoing medical care. Please help us help this amazing baby!!
We Thank You from the bottom of Our Hearts Your help is appreciated!
Volunteers from “Alex Subotica”, animal rescue organization & first no-kill shelter in Serbia.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on December 17, 2014 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Why are some people so cruel ???
Young, alone and injured…left to die. This poor little guy has had a really rough start to his life. Barely 4 months old puppy was found on the side of the road in town of Subotica. He came in with multiple puncture wounds, Demodex mites, chemical burns and a painful body. Currently he is in medical boarding while we try to get him comfortable and treat his wounds and skin.
See our (SAV) recent post on shelter Alex at:
Danas smo pronasli malog, maleckog pincha. Jako je mlad. Tek menja zubice. Bio je u ranama koje su delovale strasno. Na svaki dodir bi bolno zacvileo. Odneli smo ga odmah nasoj veterinarki u Libero. Rane lice na opekotine. Ima ih nekoliko po telu. Na uhu ima ujede. Da to ne bude sve, prisutan je demodex u ranoj fazi. Na srecu nema lomova.
Ne mozemo zamisliti sta se desilo Marku i kakvu je nesrecu u svom bebecem zivotu preziveo do ovoga trenutka. Zasto bi ga neko zeleo zapaliti i ostaviti na ulici da umire polako u mukama i da ga napadaju drugi psi??? Oporavak ce teci polako ali je najvaznije da je Mark sada na sigurnom u privremenom smestaju. Nakon oporavka mu trazimo dom.
Dragi prijatelji, ako ste u mogucnosti pomoci oko troskova za malog Marka volonteri azila Alex ce vam biti zahvalni! Donacije mozete uplatiti putem kredit kartica. Hvala vam! I molimo vas dijelite ovaj post!
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Young, alone and injured…left to die.
This poor little guy has had a really rough start to his life. Barely 4 months old puppy was found on the side of the road in town of Subotica. He came in with multiple puncture wounds, Demodex mites, chemical burns and a painful body.
Currently he is in medical boarding while we try to get him comfortable and treat his wounds and skin. Marko deserves so much and we are committed to him but we need your help!
We need everyone’s assistance to help this poor little dog. No donation is too small and it will all go towards his ongoing medical care. Please help us help this amazing baby!!
We Thank You from the bottom of Our Hearts Your help is appreciated!
Volunteers from “Alex Subotica”, animal rescue organization & first no-kill shelter in Serbia.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on December 15, 2014 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Hi all;
Before anything we must ask you please to ensure that you have signed the petition for Sasha and his dogs.
Full info at the petition which can be found at:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/399/617/989/450-dogs-to-be-evicted-on-christmas-day-massive-international-protest/
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I have had the pleasure of working with Lesley on some live transport investigation work in the past.
She is a wonderful person.
The following is a video link which has been set up by Lesley who runs ‘Eyes on Animals’ based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Mark has worked with Lesley several times before regarding the transport of live animals within the EU. You can read more about the investigation report which was produced in 2010 by visiting serbiananimalsvoice.com/about-us/ – scroll down past the many photos of livestock transporters at Dover, England – the section starts:
“During 2010 – In addition to the daily running of SAV, Mark worked with the same Dutch investigator friends at ‘Eyes on Animals’ http://eyesonanimals.com/ , as well as with Animals’ Angels http://www.animals-angels.de/startseite,en_ORG.html and PMAF http://www.pmaf.org/ to produce a 125 page investigation report for the EU Legal Affairs team in Brussels, Members of the European Parliament (MEP’s) and UK Parliamentarians, a report which investigated live animal (calves) transport between certain, specific (EU) member states”
Mark and Lesley have put a lot of effort into the improvement of conditions for animals in transport within the EU. Clearer signage for emergency rescue and the fitment of much larger access doors on all livestock trailers has also been a very important issue which has been campaigned for.
Here are a few links from the past:
The importance of good access to animals during road transport – also here you can access a link to the EoA report on the importance of access during transport:
The message from Lesley to go with her new video re Turkish slaughterhouses is as follows:
Dear friends of Eyes on Animals
I have made a video-message that I would like to show you. The video is about our efforts in Turkey.
We regularly send our teams to Turkey to try and help improve the conditions inside the slaughterhouses there. And we have had really promising success, particularly with a change of attitude among the slaughter workers and Ministry of Agriculture inspectors.
In my video, I explain further about our work there. My dear colleagues and I would really appreciate it if you watch it, so that you can see how urgent our efforts are there and what impact we have had so far.
I have to warn you, some of the footage is disturbing. But it shows what the animals have to go through, and what the inspectors from Eyes on Animals are trying to change.
When you have watched the video-message, please would you consider making a donation towards this project? We would so very much appreciate it, because we really need to continue working on this project for at least another 4 years in order to bring about long-lasting change. Together, we can really reduce the suffering of animals at Turkish slaughterhouses!
Eyes on Animals bank account information:
IBAN: NL73TRIO0212364219
BIC: TRIONL2U
Triodos Bank
Zeist, Nederland
On behalf of everyone at Eyes on Animals, I wish you peaceful and happy winter holidays,
Lesley Moffat
Directeur en inspecteur Eyes on Animals
Other ways to donate? Please see: Donate
Read more SAV posts in relation to EoA work in Turkey:
Regards Mark
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, DOCUMENTS, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Posted on December 14, 2014 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Hi all;
Before anything we must ask you please to ensure that you have signed the petition for Sasha and his dogs.
Full info at the petition which can be found at:
Please crosspost to anyone and everyone that you know – we have very limited time on this.
Now, here is the main issue of this post; a message from Danica that the first gas has arrived at the shelter.
Danica writes:
The first tank of gas purchased this winter has arrived at last, thanks to the amazing Laura Simpson, The Great Animal Rescue Chase & Harmony Fund, and the simply outstanding support of our friends!
Although the days are dark and gloomy, with freezing rain and a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, there’s luckily no snow yet and the gas delivery truck pulled into the shelter with no problems at all.
Our gas tank has been filled up with 1500 liters of gas, and the central heating is finally on. All of the kitties are enjoying the warmth of their home and will continue doing so over the next two and a half months! 🙂
Thank you just doesn’t seem enough to express our gratitude to all of you who have all pulled together and generously contributed towards the costs of the heating fuel!
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on December 13, 2014 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Please note this petition is now closed:
Dear Mark,
On Dec 13, 2014, you signed the petition “450 Dogs to Be Evicted on Christmas Day – Massive International Protest”. The petition author , Laura Simpson, has now closed the petition and wanted to share this message with you:
We reached an amazing 240,000 signatures, and in the end the dogs were allowed to stay!
With just days to spare before dog catchers were scheduled to invade the sanctuary, municipal officials announced that the dogs could remain on their property for the time being. Thank you SO much for your signature. You can read about the success here: http://www.care2.com/causes/care2-success-almost-250000-people-save-dog-sanctuary-from-eviction-on-christmas.html
On behalf of Care2, thank you for making a difference. Care2 hosts thousands of petitions like this one. Click here to create a petition of your own and have an even bigger impact.
See also our post with the good news –
serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/12/24/serbia-wonderful-news-about-sashas-dogs-the-eviction-notice-suspended/
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Hi all;
You can see from the SAV link below that Sasha has now been threatened by the municipality of Nis to remove over 450 dogs from his shelter within the next few weeks.
A petition has now been set up to try and prevent this; this is urgent – please crosspost to all your contacts – we need to make this a big response, but we have little time.
The petition link is as follows:
Petition Target: Premijer Republike Srbije, Aleksandar Vučić (Prime Minister of Serbia), Predsednik Republike Srbije Tomislav Nikolić (President of Serbia), Prof.dr Zoran Perišić (Mayor of Niš)
The petition overview / wording is as follows:
Sasa Pesic runs an absolutely breathtaking cage-free dog sanctuary in Serbia. The dogs eat, play, run and sleep together peacefully. People come from far away countries just to visit this unique place. But today Saša is facing a major crisis and the peace here is about to be shattered as the municipality of Nis has ordered the dogs to leave the sanctuary by December 25th.
Suddenly officials have decided it is more profitable to use the land for other purposes. We stand united in our request to:
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STOP THE EVICTION: Immediately reverse the decision for the sanctuary dogs to be brutally rounded up by dog catchers on Christmas. Relocation for so many animals would require many months and massive costs.
2.ASSESS THE VALUE: This shelter has independently provided food, shelter, veterinary services and care for hundreds and hundreds of strays who formerly roamed the city. All of this was done through private donations and in keeping with best practices for animal welfare. The city has benefited immensely from this free service.
3. MAKE IT BETTER: Rather than attack the very people who are trying to resolve the suffering of stray dogs in Nis, Serbia, we ask that the government take this opportunity to help improve operations at the shelter and to strive to make it one of the first in the country to meet standards set forth by the European Union.
The SAV link with information is as follows:
The petition link is as follows:
URGENT – PLEASE SIGN AND CROSSPOST TO THE WORLD !!
Thank You.
HOW NIS ACTS ON ANIMALS
DISGUSTING ABUSE OF DOGS.
The WORLD WILL BE INFORMED until Serbia changes its ways with animals !
SAV Links to past Nis city actions – dogs drowned and then hung from trees – (please see photographs below) – these are the people we are dealing with here. Ask yourself – Serbia – EU candidate – do you want politicians who authorise this in the EU ????
Does the EU want to gain this kind of reputation ? – it will if it allows Serbia to join without implementing animal welfare legislation which does exist. The government and authorities conveniently ignore it.
So instead, we will remind you (and them) of what they have done in Nis in recent years:
All the above information is being provided to EU Enlargement Commission first thing on 15/12/14, to show them the situation they are dealing with in Nis.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on December 11, 2014 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
The 3 stages of truth:
1 ridicule
2 violent opposition
3 acceptance
Well I am sitting here on the outskirts of Old London town in the first few weeks of December. The last few weeks have been; well, very mild considering what a typical November day in England usually brings, namely lots of rain, snow and biting winds from the North; instead, I have been outside most days wearing just a T shirt and a very thin thermal top; watching and feeding the birds and looking at the plants and flowers, who still really don’t have a clue where they are in the year ! – I think many would point the finger at those causing massive climate change; and you can include me onto that list of names !
When I look back at this year and what has happened; I guess that there is nothing that really sticks out. The only ‘good news’ that we can call, is the letter from the EU Enlargement Commission which arrived with us some time last week.
After discussions with some other Serbian NGO groups campaigning for better animal welfare; I think it fair to say that we consider the letter from Myriam Ferran is a very positive one for ‘our’ side. From the day some 10 years ago when I first founded SAV, I always worked on the policy that if Serbia (one day) wishes to become a member state of the EU; then it needs to work strongly to ensure that there is much better and longer lasing applications of Serbian animal welfare laws within Serbia than they have at the moment.
Serbia already has some very good animal welfare legislation. The main problem; and our problem as just one NGO of many campaigning for animals in Serbia, is that the laws are hardly ever enforced by the regional and national governments. Have we not seen this clearly exposed to the world with the very recent case of Nani deer ? – legislation exists to protect her; by law, the Minister has a limited number of days in which to respond and make a decision; what do we get ? – nothing in over 2 months past the decision date ! – 2 months outside of Serbian law – is this the ‘application of the rule of law’ that new EU member states have to show is being enforced within their country before they join ?
Well now we have it clearly documented from the EU Enlargement Commission (to the Serbian government) letter that EPAR Serbia has filed a formal complaint regarding failures to apply Serbia’s own 2009 law on animal welfare. In addition, the EU also points out that we, as NGO’s, have never received any formal responses to our written complaints from the government in the past; and that this is something which also includes our English MEP Mr. Keith Taylor who wrote to the government on our behalf also.
We were very pleased to witness that the EU also ‘encouraged’ the Serbian government to ‘engage in dialogue with NGO’s’ on the issue of improving Serbian animal welfare. Slavica, myself and several others are happy for this to commence; after all; it is what we exist for; we now await action from the government who currently have the ‘action’ ball well and truly in their court when it comes to moving things on. Obviously the government has a lot to go back over regarding its past failures to enforce legislation, and we do not expect immediate action. But we do now expect action and some form of dialogue; and if this does not happen, then we will return directly to the EU to justify this.
As the letter also says, NGO’s are asking that Nani deer be returned to Mrs. Mitic for long term safekeeping. We all hope that this will be given priority now and that very soon we can announce that Nani has been returned to the Mitic family; the very family who should never have had her taken from them in the first place !
Are we currently encountering Stage 2 with the Serbian government and authorities ? – Opposition ??
The most recent problem we have had; which was just yesterday; is additional retribution, or you could call them ‘threats’ by the authorities regarding Sasha and his dog shelter. You can see more about this facility and this extraordinary animal friend at serbiananimalsvoice.com/2013/05/16/serbia-sometimes-dreams-do-come-true/ Rather than go on repeating the story once again, I think it best to refer you to our recent post of 10/12/14 which covers lots of the latest news and events concerning Sasha and his shelter. Please click on:
We have been in direct contact with the EU Enlargement Commission about this; and we have been working with Serbian animal people over the last day or so to give them a crash course on the requirements of joining up as a new member state of the EU; which Serbia wants to do. One requirement which any aspiring new member state must show the EU is that back at home, they are enforcing all of their ‘rules of law’; or national laws and legislation.
When it comes to Serbia and animal welfare legislation, we all know that the law is almost never enforced by the authorities. So by adopting this attitude, you could say that the rule of law is not enforced and as a consequence, Serbia’s request to become a new EU member state must be put on hold until we witness ALL existing Serbian animal welfare legislation being rigorously enforced.
So you could say that at the moment it is a game of cat and mouse between the Serbian authorities and animal welfare NGO’s trying to help animals. The authorities are making threats at shelters such as Sasha’s; but we are keeping the EU Enlargement Commission (who decide who will join the EU in future) informed of things, especially the fact that the authorities are not enforcing the rule of law when it comes to adequate shelter facilities in all regions for animals. By law, the killing of strays is forbidden, and yet the authorities refuse to accept the findings of the Constitutional Court – September 2012 – “The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Serbia – comprising 15 judges, made a verdict that the 3. Community document of Subotica (town in Serbia) regarding the matter of the treatment stray dogs/cats is illegal; it is unlawful and it must be changed”.
So, things just go on and on; we keep up our work with all the other excellent Serbian campaigners and groups; and we hope for a positive outcome regarding many issues; especially as the EU are continually being informed of situations and what is happening. As stated in her recent letter to the Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Ms Ferran at the EU Enlargement Commission suggests the government actively engages in ‘dialogue’ with us and other animal welfare NGO’s. At the moment, all we see is people like Sasha being told they have 2 weeks to get rid of 450 dogs at his shelter ! – to where we ask ? – there are no regional shelters, despite what the law and courts require !!
As an NGO; we, and all the others are very happy to engage into dialogue with the Serbian authorities; but since the EU letter of early November, we have not heard a single word from them.
Finally, I wish to thank you all for your visits to the site this year; for your very supportive comments on the site; and I hope that we have given you an overview of the struggle there is at the moment for animal welfare campaigners in Serbia.
I wish you all a good Christmas and great year in 2015; and look forward to seeing you all again at this site in 2015.
The work and the campaigning goes on as always !!
I would be the worlds best liar if I said things were not often difficult; but as the late, great John Lennon said – “there are no problems; only solutions“;
Maybe we have some animal welfare solutions on the Serbian horizon !
Regards Mark.
Sometimes in life, you just have to stop it and get off;
– that ‘Long Dead Train’.
Catch the animal rights one instead !
The Viking ship you see 15 seconds into the above video is one which exists at Ramsgate in my home county of Kent, England.
The Kent coast was a regular invasion patch for Viking raiders.
The ship celebrates their time and was originally rowed across the North Sea to Kent, England, from Scandinavia.
Fly Straight With Perfection;
My friend he was the Raven.
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