http://www.projectcoyote.org/action/actionmaine.html

ACTION ALERT

SPEAK OUT AGAINST COYOTE KILLING ‘TOURNAMENT’ IN MAINE

Right now in Northern Maine (Jackman), predator hunters are killing coyotes as part of a contest “tournament.” Sponsored by the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerce, the “kill” runs from December 16th through January 30, 2010. Prizes are awarded for those hunters who kill both the most coyotes and the largest individuals. Ethics aside, random coyote killing will do nothing to protect Maine’s deer herds, as tournament sponsors contend. A copious and growing body of literature shows that coyote population reduction efforts through lethal control are futile, given the species’ resiliency and ability to biologically rebound.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1- Contact the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerce and express your concern about this hunt. Points to convey:

• Let them know that their name as a Chamber of Commerce will be deeply tarnished by their support of this blood sport.
• The principles behind tournament/bounty systems are ecologically and socially flawed, and no federal or state wildlife agencies endorse this as a viable coyote management strategy.
• If you live outside of Maine, convey that you will not be spending your tourist dollars in Jackman until they stop sponsoring coyote/predator killing contest hunts — and that you’ll encourage your friends and family to do the same.
• Let them know that you believe that this “tournament” is ethically indefensible, ecologically reckless, and counter to sound scientific wildlife management. It is important to point out that this coyote slaughter is not hunting, and is in direct opposition to Maine’s long tradition of sustenance hunting.
• As an area that prides itself on being a “working forest”, the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerce should support forestry practices that will support adequate wintering habitat for deer – not scapegoating coyotes. As confirmed by state biologists and researchers, deer are suffering in Northern Maine from a loss of wintering habitat- not from predation.

Contact information:

Jackman-Moose River Region
Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 368
Jackman, Maine 04945
Email: mooserus@jackmanmaine.org
Phone: (207) 668-4171 or 1-888-633-5225

2- Cc your letter/comments to (and call) Governor John Baldacci; urge him to tell the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerce to call off the coyote killing “tournament” — in perpetuity (in 2005 Governor Baldacci came out against a coyote contest hunt in Washington County and directed the state Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to tell “tournament” organizers to cancel the event because it was not an effective way to control the coyote population).

Contact information:

Gov. John E. Baldacci 
Office of the Governor
#1 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0001 
Email: governor@maine.gov (or share your views directly through the Governor’s website:www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/contact/index.html ) 
Phone: 207-287-3531

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Project Coyote is a non-profit fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute that promotes educated coexistence between people and coyotes and advocates on behalf of coyotes and other native carnivores. We depend on our members and supporters to help us continue our work on behalf of America’s native “song dog.” Please join us today! All donations are tax-deductible. Visit us at www.ProjectCoyote.org.

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

Come on World ! – where are you ???

We are dropping back with getting support for the two very important petitions we are running at the moment on the Care2 site:

·         A Request for Royal Intervention to Save and Protect the Animals of Morocco

·         Existing EU member nations requiring proof of Balkans states application of democracy and the rule of Law

Please, please spread the word to the moon and back; we really need additional support for these.  Please take action and get signatures rolling in for us.

Thanks – SAV.

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SAV Post Link:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/morocco-new-petition-launched-asking-his-majesty-king-mohammed-vi-of-morocco-to-intervene-and-help-moroccan-animals/

** Petition Link ** :

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Royal-Intervention-to-Save-Moroccan-Animals

Petition Wording:

A Request for Royal Intervention to Save and Protect the Animals of Morocco

Target:

His Majesty King Mohammed VI Of Morocco

Sponsored by: 

Serbian Animals Voice https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/ 

To request direct intervention by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to prevent the terrible suffering of animals throughout Morocco.

With intervention by His Majesty to greatly improve animal welfare in Morocco, we feel that this would greatly attract many more tourists to the country – tourists who have recently been shocked by the terrible treatment of animals and who will never return because of what they have seen.

To request direct intervention by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to prevent the terrible suffering of animals throughout Morocco.

With intervention by His Majesty to greatly improve animal welfare in Morocco, we feel that this would greatly attract many more tourists to the country – tourists who have recently been shocked by the terrible treatment of animals and who will never return because of what they have seen.

Your Majesty King Mohammed VI,

Many of the signators of the petition which is presented here are citizens from around the World who have visited Morocco for their holiday(s).

Whilst very much enjoying their stay in Morocco, many of them have been deeply shocked by witnessing the terrible suffering inflicted on many animals %u2013 donkeys and horses are left standing and hobbled in the midday sun while their owners rest in the shade; and the terrible condition of harnesses which these animals are fitted with, very often comprising terrible wooden homemade yokes which are not adequate or suitable for the work which the animals are expected to undertake.

Animals are also regularly seen to have ulcerated eyes and open and festering wounds to many parts of their bodies; despite this, they are still beaten by the owners with wooden sticks the thickness of a young childs arm.

Cows are tethered on the back of trucks with ropes less than 6 inches (15cm) long; they are left standing in the blazing sun for hours at a time, crying out for water and shade.

Throughout most towns and cities in Morocco, street animals (cats and dogs) suffer most terribly.  Local authorities are poisoning stray dogs and cats on a nightly basis using Strychnine poison put onto scraps of food to lure (bait) the animals.  They die long and terrible deaths as a result of eating this bait.  Please see petition photo which shows a dog in the City of Khenifra that has been poisoned using Strychnine.

Dogs and cats very close to Marrakech (within a 30km radius) are now being killed with Strychnine poison.  In several cities, dogs are also being killed by gunshot.  Unfortunately, some of them are still alive when they are buried.

We call on you sir, Your Majesty, to please act immediately and stop the daily abuses suffered by the majority of animals throughout Morocco. 

Your majesty, you are a kind and compassionate man; we ask that your compassion be given to other living beings.

We have faith Sir that this petition will result in your intervention which will help the animals of Morocco being treated with more care and respect.

Thank You very much, Your Majesty.

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SAV Post Link:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/eu-balkans-sav-launch-new-petition-asking-eu-to-act-in-advance-of-balkans-states-eu-membership-accession-please-read-and-sign-petition-link-in-text-below/

** Petition Link **:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/EU-Investigate-Balkans-Animal-Welfare

Petition Wording:

Existing EU member nations require proofof Balkans states application of democracy and the rule of Law

Target:

European Union Enlargement Commissioner: Olli Rehn

Sponsored by: 

Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)  https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/

Several Balkans states are now seeking either full membership (Accession) to the European Union (EU), or are attempting stronger links with the EU.

These include:  Republic of Macedonia,  Montenegro,  Serbia,  Bosnia
and Herzegovina,  Croatia and Kosovo.

Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) has been campaigning for the improved welfare of Balkans animals for several years.  We have extensive experience and data relating to the terrible daily suffering inflicted on animals, despite existing Balkan states national legislation which should legally prevent much of this.  There is very little evidence to show political and municipal authority enforcement of animal welfare legislation. %u2013 details of this on a %u2018nation by nation%u2019 basis can be seen via our site at https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/

In October 2009, SAV wrote to Commissioner Olli Rehn; EU Commissioner for Enlargement, expressing our deep concerns regarding an apparent lack of existing national animal welfare legislation implementation and enforcement by governments throughout the Balkan states.

Over 25 prime evidence links from the SAV site were provided to Commissioner Rehn, each of these containing many sub links, showing extreme Balkans animal suffering video footage which relate to our concerns.  A few examples are shown in the following links –

**WARNING Graphic Animal Suffering**:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZSXlSH4pEA&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sewZvVbQro0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAEfxbysd_Y&feature=channel

We have expressed our concerns to the Commissioner, that even when provided with such evidence, clearly showing extreme animal abuses, nothing with regard investigation and prosecution is being followed up by the Balkans authorities to press charges; to enforce (the) often existing national animal welfare legislation.  In Serbia for example, the Public Attorney appears to be dismissing all evidence provided by animal welfare campaigners; instead, they themselves are themselves being accused of obstructing them (the Public Attorney) from getting on with their legal work.

In our letter, we have reminded Commissioner Rehn that (on his website) his very own words declare:

The European Union currently has 27 Member States. The Western Balkan countries, Turkey and Iceland may also join once they meet the conditions for membership. The aim of enlargement is simple: to extend the area of peace, stability, democracy and the rule of law, and prosperity and well-being throughout Europe. 

We draw particular attention to the statement by Commissioner Rehn of – democracy and the rule of law, as it is felt that despite Serbian animal welfare campaigners providing large amounts of evidence to Serbian legislators, no action appears to ever be taken by Serbian authorities to apply the rule of law, a fundamental condition necessary for EU membership.

If no action (in the form of prosecutions against animal cruelty) is being shown to be taken by Serbian legislators following the production of evidence and documented requests by animal welfare campaigners, then we declare that Serbia is not meeting some of the necessary and fundamental aims of EU enlargement with regard showing the implementation of both democracy (ie. requests by animal welfare campaigners) and the rule of law (ie. by not prosecuting perpetrators of causing animal suffering), even when evidence is provided. 

As a consequence, Signators of this petion request that Commissioner Rehn now fully investigates if there is actually any animal welfare legislation enforcement by Balkans states requiring EU membership prior to them being granted official EU membership.  Or is animal welfare legislation implementation simply being ignored.

We request the implementation of democracy and the rule of law for all animal welfare issues within Balkans states at all times prior to their EU Accession.  Where this is not happening, we rquest the EU demands it prior to accession.

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