YOUR MEP’s in Europe – do THEY support the 8 hour limit ?

 Researched and compiled by Mark Johnson – Founder ‘Serbian Animals Voice’ and EU Correspondent – KAALE – www.kaale.org.uk

ALL Photographs by Valerie Cameron and Bill F. of KAALE (England, UK) and show live animals exported from England to mainland Europe for slaughter.

A personal message from Mark.

As you will see by clicking on the ‘About Us’ tab on this site, I have investigated and campaigned against the global live animal export trade for many, many years.   It is ‘the’ issue which is most in my heart; and over those years I have, unfortunately, seen a lot of animal suffering packed into trailers on the roads of Europe.  It has been time for change for many years as things are not good enough at present; it still is time for change for the future, and you (if an EU citizen) can help before May 2014 by writing to all your MEPs that represent your nation / region and ask them to support the maximum journey time of 8 hours for animals in transport throughout the EU.

There is no excuse for animal abuse, and believe me when I say that there is a lot of animal abuse going on with animals being hauled by road across Europe.

Please support this by taking on what I ask below – the animals deserve better; ad we can make that difference.

Regards Mark. 

With thanks to my good English campaigner friends Val and Bill, who’s photos are used here.

—————————————————————————————————————————-

If you are a European citizen AND SOMEONE WHO VOTES ?, then please take a look via the following link to see who your national / regional MEPs (Member of the European Parliament) are. Select ‘your’ country from the euro map from the link to then be provided with a full listing of your national MEP’s.  Then, use the ‘Constituency’ drop down at the top of the page to find which MEP’s represent your specific region / area of the country.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/map.html

You can click on any MEP name and should then be taken immediately to their individual page which provides a contact e mail address and phone numbers for them – this is usually on the right hand side of the page.  These are the e mail addresses which should be used for direct contact, in conjunction with the sample letter given below.

Important Note – you should ONLY make contact with MEP’s who represent your region.  Please DO NOT contact all MEP’s from all regions; just your own.  Use the ‘Constituency’ drop down at the top of the above link to find which MEP’s represent your area of the country.

The 8 Hour Campaign

Web link:  http://www.8hours.eu/

Today, too many animals are transported under unacceptable conditions on European highways.  The most important issue is the duration of many of the transports. Current EU legislation allows for animals to be transported for up to several days. This has to be changed. Live animals for slaughter should never be transported for more than eight hours. 

This is the aim of the 8 hours campaign – to make any journey for animals last no more than a maximum of 8 hours.

Why 8hours?

Every year millions of animals are transported along European highways, and too often under unacceptable conditions.  In 2002, the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare published the report “The Welfare of Animals during Transport” concluding that animal transports, as a ground rule, should be as short as possible.

This recommendation is, however, NOT reflected in the current EU legislation.

According to current legislation, animal transports which can last up to several days are acceptable as long as the haulier fulfils simple demands concerning rest, feeding and watering of the animals etc. These demands are detailed in the current Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 of 22^nd December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations.  A copy of this regulation can be viewed at:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32005R0001:en:NOT

Select your language of choice from any of the yellow colored boxes.

The 8 hour campaign does not think this (up to several days journey) is acceptable.

It is now time for a major change in animal transport regulations throughout Europe.  And this is importantly where YOU can help to change the legislation.

For a long time, European-wide societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, concerned EU citizens and politicians have argued that something has to be done. Animals for slaughter should never be transported for more than eight hours.

The following link provides a full listing of all current MEP supporters for the 8 Hour campaign across the EU.

http://8hours.eu/mep_supporters/

 This needs to be vastly increased – and can be done with your help and support by you making contact with your national / regional MEP’s and asking them to support.

 The following is the 8 hours campaign web site statement:

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for 8hours

This is a list of Members of the European Parliament (MEP’s) who HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE 8 HOURS CAMPAIGN  as a whole.

This is NOT a list of MEPs who have signed Written Declaration 49/2011 – there are over 300 of these, but we are not allowed to make their names public – but of supporters of the campaign and of its aims as a whole. In fact, some of the MEPs listed on this page have not signed Written Declaration 49/2011 because they don’t sign Written Declarations in general, but they are supporting the review of Regulation 1/2005 to include a maximum journey limit of 8 hours, whenever possible in the relevant parliamentary bodies. – See more at:

http://8hours.eu/mep_supporters/

 

 

2014 Euro Elections

– Things could be on our side in the coming months.

This is why we have to act now !

 Between 22^nd and 25^th May 2014, the next European Elections will arrive, this is where all of the MEP’s representing your country and region, throughout the EU,  are elected.  So if current MEP’s in your region have not supported the campaign and will be standing for re-election next May, then you, as a European citizen, and as a voter, can mail or write to them ask they either support the 8 Hour campaign (by adding their name to the listing), or you (as a voter) may decide to take your vote elsewhere at election time.

This is your opportunity to request of MEP’s what you wish to see – after all, they are there supposedly in the European Parliament to represent you, their regional electorate.

 You could copy and send the following sample mail to all your currently non supportive regional MEP’s asking them to give their support for 8 hours.

SAMPLE MAIL

Dear ??  MEP;

As one of your Euro constituents, I notice from information that I have access to that you are currently NOT a supporter of the 8 Hours campaign as a whole.  Supporting 8 Hours as an official MEP supporter on the web site is different to the signing of Written Declaration 49/2011 which you may or may not have given your support to.

 Today, too many animals are transported under unacceptable conditions on European highways.  The most important issue is the duration of the transports. Current EU legislation allows for animals to be transported for several days. This has to be changed. Live animals for slaughter should never be transported for more than eight hours.  This is why the 8 Hour campaign was founded.

 May 2014 sees the next European Elections at which ALL MEP’s are elected.

I, as an animal welfare campaigner who fully supports the need for a maximum journey time across the entire EU of 8 hours maximum, write to ask if you will add your name to the list of MEP supporters for 8 hours.

I have heard concerns from some quarters that it would not for example, be possible to move animals under these time regulations.  I ask you to not accept this argument, as special derogations would be structured by the EU for any such special circumstances.  This 8 hour limit is one which would apply to the long distance live transport of live animals within / across the main EU.

If you are unable to support this campaign with the addition of your signature, then I am afraid I will have to consider giving my vote at the Euro Elections to an MEP / Political Party which ARE much more supportive of this specific issue.

Thank you for your consideration of my request. I am keen to hear your response.

To become a full signed up MEP supporter of the 8 hour campaign, please go to http://8hours.eu/mep_supporters/ for further details.  You can contact the 8 hour team and add your name via http://www.8hours.eu/contact .

I very much hope that you will consider becoming a signed up member of the 8 hour campaign which will lead to my support and vote for you in may 2014.

Yours Sincerely

VERY IMPORTANT – Add your name and importantly, your address to show that you are from the country and national region represent

 

PLEASE CHANGE THE LEGISLATION THROUGHOUT EUROPE,

CALL ON YOUR MEP’S TO GO 8 HOURS MAXIMUM

TAKE ACTION IN YOUR COUNTRY / REGION NOW !!

 

 

All Photos – Valerie Cameron and Bill F.

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