Posted on October 20, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Carmen tells and EU journalist about her very recent meetings in the EU regarding the situation for stray animals in Romania.
When Carmen returns to Romania we may make contact with her over the issue of Serbia and its treatment / policy against stray animals.
Before she left Romania for her meetings at the EU, we contacted Carmen to give her our full support. We asked her to also mention the situation for strays in Serbia when she met the EU personnel, and this she promised us she would do.
When we have more information from Carmen on her return to Romania we shall publish it. In the meantime, please watch the video for a review of events.
See also:
Janusz Wojciechowski MEP: Killing dogs in Romania
Filed under: Animals Requiring Adoption or Homes - Worldwide, CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 20, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Our recent post on this site said – “The Serbian government / Ministry are claiming that animals were NEVER exported from Serbia in the first place and that we are wrong in what we say”.
Well it would appear that upon further investigation at our request by the EU, the EU Commission has been informed by the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture that the animals did originate from Serbia; in direct opposition to what was said to us earlier.
When Serbian campaigners questioned the Ministry about this issue in the recent past they were informed that they were ‘wasting Ministry time’.
But as a result of campaigners continuous “questioning” to the Ministry on the issue; they were then threatened with closure the shelter “Alex” (for stray dogs and others) as some kind of vindictive revenge for asking normal questions about the export consignment.
Now it appears that the Serbian Ministry are telling the EU that the animals did originate in Serbia; and that they were shipped to Israel in accordance with EU Reg 1/2005 and all IATA standards. We cannot currently prove or disapprove this at the current time. Possibly all was correct in the air; but why did the Serbian Ministry deny any involvement with the export consignment ?
Yes we agree, the photos on the posts were only taken in Israel; we have never denied that and make that clear in our posts.
But this does prove that the Serbian authorities will make threats to close down animal shelters within Serbia if questions about their work is asked by welfare campaigners. Suddenly we have a letter from the EU informing us that the lambs that we were informed ‘Serbia had no dealing with’, have suddenly been ‘exported from Serbia by air in accordance with all the regulations’ – and a threat made by the Serbian authorities to close down a shelter (Alex) if we kept on ‘wasting Ministry time’ !
Here is the EU letter we have just been sent to confirm the situation:
Past links and photos:
Was our persistence a waste of time ? – we think not.
But the very worrying aspect of this is the threats made to welfare groups by the Serbian Ministry when outsiders question them or anything they do – a shelter could have now been closed and animals back on the street to be killed by shinters and authorities.
As EU citizens and investigators, Do we continue to investigate (and take the Serbian Ministry threats for shelter closure) or do we just shut up and let them continue without any programme of stray animal management – just like Romania ? – see the above link.
Crunch time folks !
Serbia – if you are going to join the EU; then clean up your animal welfare policies and enforce them; as EU welfare groups from across the continent will be hot on your heels all the time to show where you are failing – and report you as a consequence.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 20, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
The title could and should also be for the killing of dogs in Serbia as well as Romania.
President of the EU Wojciechowski animal welfare intergroup Janusz Wojciechowski MEP gives a very interesting and informative interview on the dog situation in Romania; the huge finances involved (supplied by the EU) which are NOT being put into sterlilisations and other areas of good animal welfare control. Instead it is going into authority corruption; just as we have said and shown in Serbia over many years of work.
Everything said by Mr. Wojciechowski in the video which can very easily also be applied to the stray animal killing and corruption which is going on in Serbia. Remember that Serbia is currently going through EU accession !
We have learned a lot from this interview and we will now be looking at also taking the same issues to the EU authorities; Commissions and animal welfare Intergroup regarding Serbia’s disgusting treatment of stray animals.
The people at the EU Enlargement Commission responsible for Serbian accession have completely ignored all the data we have presented to them. They are never in response to us – we and all of our evidence are simply ignored.
So now we have to move on and take alternative action(s).
We will aim to also use ‘Public Health’ across the EU as the basis for our evidence. We know that Serbian campaigners can also put pressure on their national authorities about this issues – especially as Serbia wants to join the EU !
As Mr. Wojciechowski declares; the non implementation of providing basic shelters and sterilisations for all stray animals by the Romanian authorities in “very bad”. It is seen that between 250 and 500 Euros of EU money – almost double the monthly wage for Romanians; is being paid by the authorities for the killing of every single stray animal in Romania; whist the same authorities are putting not one Euro into shelters and stray animal sterilisations to reduce animal numbers in the long term.
Oh how all of this stinks of the very same actions by Serbian government and ministry, and regional authorities. Corruption is the big player in Romania, as has now been exposed to the EU Commission and authorities – and the very same thing is happening in Serbia.
We have been trying to expose the corruption and lack of progress by the Serbian authorities for many years. Now the EU is waking up to what is happening in Romania; we have an obligation to provide the EU with all the on going evidence we have regarding the situation in Serbia.
As Mr. Wojciechowski says in the video; Public Health is an EU wide issue, not a national issue as the Romania authorities want everyone to believe. Everthing can be mirrored directly into the Serbian authorities actions and what is being said by the Serbian government and authorities.
The coming months will be interesting !
Video link – Janusz Wojciechowski MEP: Killing dogs in Romania:
Spot the connection:
Romania below
… and here we have Serbia
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Further update 20/10/15.
The above post, including the video link, has now been sent to the EU Animal Welfare Intergroup; members of the EU Enlargement Commission (for Serbia) as well as to Enlargement Commissioner Hahn at the EU.
Our first formal report should finally be produced within the next week and we will provide a link to it on this site for all to see. The report, if necessary will be the first of several detailing the evidence we and others have provided to the Enlargement Commission as well as information from other organisations and groups undertaking animal welfare in Serbia.
If the EU Commission is unprepared to enforce the Serbian authorities to act within Serbia for stray animal legislation; then we are now preparing to take our case to the European Courts. Our report(s) are / will be produced in order to provide full details of what lack of action the EU Enlargement Commission is taking in Serbia regarding enforcement of ‘the Rule of law’; which they at the EU proudly promote and inform us is a paramount requirement for any new state seeking EU accession.
This has now gone beyond ‘Serbia’ national legislation. With the money the EU is providing to Serbia; just like Romania, for alleged animal welfare; none of it is being used to the benefit of animals.
If we have to show this to the EU courts, then we will.
Over the next few weeks we will consider what way we are now to move on, and how we will do it.
For the above video link, replace ‘Romania’ with ‘Serbia’ – this will form the basis of our case. Corruption at the expense of animal deaths.
Public Health in Serbia will now become an EU issue for the new EU member state called Serbia that wishes to join.
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Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Posted on October 9, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Or
Name: Susanne Heitz
Message: Dear Animals Voice-Team, would you be so kind to share/spread support this petition to Romanias President Klaus Iohannis.
It ends end of Oktober!!
Thank you very very much
In this group you will find the german original as well as an english, romanian and french translation:
Best regards Susanne Heitz
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Posted on September 30, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
ENGLISH
Dear all
The financial interest, ignorance, and corruption of the officials in Romania regarding animal rights and the constant abuse of animals make a real change almost impossible. Moreover, they completely ignore a more humane and comprehensive approach to the management of stray dogs. Therefore, our appeals to EU institutions by asking them to put real and official pressure upon Romanian authorities in any way whatsoever are extremely important!
Ever since the beginning of summer I made several requests to the European Parliament for the opportunity to give a presentation and make EP (and other EU institutions) conscious of the reality in Romania (and in other Member States) regarding the stray animals. Finally, more than I had hoped, was obtained: a presentation about the Stray dog situation in Romania and a section for Stray dogs in Romania within the Intergroup on the Welfare & Conservation of Animals in the European Parliament.
Therefore, on 8th October, at European Parliament, in Strasbourg, I will present “Current Dog Management Practices in Romania. Towards a Sustainable and Humane Solution?” that will include:
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The reality in the public dog shelters (versus the legal framework)
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The stray dog business – inefficiency, corruption/actions of authorities responsible with the control and enforcing of animal legislation
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Inefficiency of stray dog management by mass killing
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The effects of Romanian legislative provisions on: Rabies control and the stray dog population
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Animal abuses as a psychological stress factor
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Call for EU control/interventions on Romanian officials for a humane, correct, and effective way of stray animal management
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Call for European legislation for stray animal management that considers and reflects the social interest, ethical values and principles of the European civilization
On October 14th I will be able to inform you how the event was received!
In case you have special concerns regarding this issue, please feel free to send them to me until Thursday evening – as I am leaving Romania earlier because after October 3th I have some meetings in Germany, too.
Thank you!
All the best
Carmen ARSENE
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DUTCH
Ihr Lieben,
Das fehlende Interesse, die Unwissenheit und die Korruption der offiziellen rumänischen Behörden in Sachen Tierschutz und die ständige Mishandlung von Tieren machen eine richtige Veränderung fast unmöglich. Dazu kommt, dass die Behörden eine mehr humane und umfassende Vorgehensweise in der Verwaltung der Streunerhunde total ignorieren. Aus dem Grund sind unsere ständigen Gesuche an Institutionen von der EU, auf jede mögliche Weise tatsächlichen und offiziellen Druck auf die rumänischen Behörden auszuüben, so wichtig!
Seit Anfang des Sommers habe ich das Europäische Parlament mehrmals um die Chance gebeten, einen Bericht zu geben und das EP (und andere EU Institutionen) auf die Realität in Rumänien (und anderen Mitgliedstaaten), was Streunerhunde angeht, aufmerksam zu machen. Und endlich wurde mehr erreicht, als ich erhofft hatte: eine Präsentation über die Lage der rumänischen Streunerhunde und eine Sektion für Streunerhunde in Rumänien in der Intergruppe für Wohlfart& Schutz von Tieren im Europäischen Parlament.
Deswegen werde ich am 8. Oktober, in Europäischen Parlament, in Strassburg “Der derzeitige Zustand der Verwaltung von Hunden in Rumänien. In Richtung auf eine nachhaltige und mehr humane Lösung?” präsentieren, wo Folgendes angesprochen wird:
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Die Realität in den öffentlichen Sheltern (im Gegensatz zu den gesetzlichen Vorschriften)
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Das Geschäft mit Streunerhunden – Inkompetenz, Korruption beeinflußt das Handeln der Behörden, die mit der Kontrolle und der Vollstreckung der Gesetze für Tiere beauftragt sind
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Massentötung als inkompetente Methode zur Verwaltung der Streunerhunde
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Die Auswirkungen der gesetzlichen Regelungen auf: Tollwutkontrolle und Bestand der Streunerhunde
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Tierquälerei als Einfluß auf psychologische Belastung
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Aufruf für Kontrolle und Eingriff von Seiten der EU auf rumänische Behörden für eine humane, korrekte und effektive Ausführung der Verwaltung von Streunerhunden
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Aufruf an die europäische Gesetzgebung in Sachen Streunerhunde-Verwaltung, damit das soziale Interesse, ethische Werte und die Prinzipien der europäischen Kultur da einbegriffen und bewahrt werden
Am 14. Oktober kann ich euch mitteilen, wie die Veranstaltung empfangen wurde!
Falls jemand von euch ein besonderes Anliegen für dieses Thema hat, sendet es mir bitte bis Donnerstargabend – ich verlasse Rumänien schon früher, denn ich habe einige Termine in Deutschland nach dem 3. Oktober.
Vielen Dank!
Alles Gute,
Carmen ARSENE
NEXT STOP – ? SERBIA ?
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013, SHELTER - Information, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 28, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Link and petition:
Romania: stop the assault on Europe’s last pristine wilderness
Bears and wolves still prowl the ancient forests of the Carpathian Mountains. Yet their days are numbered: organized criminals are illegally clear-cutting entire hillsides to supply European timber companies. Tell the Romanian environmental ministry to put a stop to the destruction.
Illegal logging is rampant in Romania. Since the fall of Communism in 1989, no less than 400,000 hectares of forest have been cleared there without permission, mainly for export as parquet, laminate and fuel pellets. “One of the last remaining virgin forests in Europe is cut being down to heat homes in Austria and Germany,” says Alexander von Bismarck, head of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).
An Austrian company, Holzindustrie Schweighofer, is playing a key role in the destruction of Romania’s forests. Schweighofer has been at the heart of a scandal in recent weeks involving forged delivery notes, bribes and dubious concessions.
An EIA video documents Schweighofer’s practices. In it, von Bismarck negotiated with company representatives posing as a foreign investor seeking to sell timber. The environmentalists concluded that Schweighofer deliberately and consciously buys – and indeed, pays bonuses for – illegally harvested timber. CEO Gerald Schweighofer called the video “misleading”.
By contrast, a leaked letter Schweighofer sent to the Romanian prime minister leaves no room for misinterpretation. In it, he threatens to sue the Romanian government in international courts if it does not amend its forestry laws to the company’s advantage.
Schweighofer is now building a new €150 million sawmill in Reci. Work has gone ahead without an environmental impact assessment and Romanian environmentalist Hans Hedrich therefore considers it to be illegal. He believes that the “Schweighofer system” would collapse if the sawmill can be kept from going into operation: “It would be the first step toward rescuing the forests.”
Tell the Romanian Ministry for Environment, Waters and Forests to deny the Reci sawmill an operating permit and to do everything in its power to combat the illegal timber trade.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013 | Leave a comment »
Posted on May 25, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
English and Deutsch versions
Just a very small part of images/ Ein kleiner Teil der Bilder:
Dear All,
One and a half years have gone by since Romania began to kill its dogs in massive numbers. Even during the time period when the methods of the application of the law were suspended, the dogs continued to be killed in some cities, especially Bucharest. The Service for the Management of Stray Dogs in Bucharest, ASPA, periodically organizes press conferences where they brag about the number of dogs that have been killed, as if this was some glorious action that brings great merit. In some areas of Romania the municipalities mention the topic of stray dogs only in the context of the number of dogs killed.
The situation in Romania puts us under immense pressure and keeps piling up more and more problems. It’s a race against time, and it was almost impossible for me to provide you with updates. But a wonderful event happened: in many cities all over the world a huge action took place on 16th of May: the fourth international PROTEST against dog killing in Romania. Under the banner of “YES WE CARE”, in about 25 cities in Germany, Austria, Italy, UK … (and of course, in some cities in Romania as well) people gathered to voice their strong displeasure.
I want to thank all the wonderful people in many countries who organised and participated in protests against the animal cruelties from Romania, some having to drive hundreds of kilometres, and to all of you who tirelessly help the animals in Romania by all of your actions!
All the best
Carmen ARSENE
Ihr Lieben,
Die massenhafte Tötung der Hunde in Rumänien spielt sich jetzt schon seit anderthalb Jahren ab. Sogar während der Zeit, als die methodische Ausführungweise der Gesetze zeitweilig aufgeschoben wurde, werden die Hunde weiterhin ermordet, besonders in Bucharest. Das Amt für die Verwaltung der Streunerhunde (ASPA) organisiert immer wieder Presse-Konferenzen, wo sie damit prahlen, wieviele Hunde schon getötet wurden, als ob das etwas wäre, worauf sie stolz sein könnten. In manchen Gegenden von Rumänien werden Streunerhunde nur im Zusammenhang mit der Anzahl von ermordeten Tieren erwähnt.
Die Situation in Rumänien übt einen intensiven Druck auf uns aus, und bombadiert uns mit mehr und mehr Problemen. Es gibt nie genug Zeit, und deswegen war es fast unmöglich für mich, euch auf dem Laufenden zu halten. Und dann passierte ein ganz großartiges Ereignis: in vielen Städten auf der ganzen Welt fand eine Riesen-Aktion statt am 16. Mai: der 4. internationale PROTEST gegen die Tötung der Struenerhunde in Rumänien. Unter dem Motto von “YES WE CARE” (JA, WIR SORGEN UNS), kamen Menschen in über 25 Städten in Deutschland, Österreich, Italien, England… (und natürlich auch in einigen Städten in Rumänien) zusammen, um gegen die Tierquälerei zu protestieren.
Ich möchte all den wunderbaren Menschen in so vielen verschiedenen Ländern danken, die Demonstrationen gegen die Misshandlung von Tieren in Rumänien organisierten und daran teilnamen, manche mußten hunderte von Kilometern fahren, und euch allen, die ihr so unermüdlich mit all euren Aktionen den Tieren von Rumänien helft!
Alles Liebe!
Carmen ARSENE
Just a very small part of images/ Ein kleiner Teil der Bilder:
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Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 