Posted on July 22, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Please support all of the following.
Note that petitions MUST be signed by 24th July – Thank you – SAV.
Importance: High
Please sign petitions by 24 July
PLEASE SIGN, CIRCULATE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE, PUT ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER ETC. AND SHARE
Petitions:
Donations urgently needed to help the strays and other animals in India – thank you
Eileen Weintraub
Founding Director
Help Animals India
Seattle, WA USA
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 20, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
All photographs shown following are just some from the SAV / Serbian campaigner archives and show the past situation at the Loznica ‘shelter’ and the surrounding area.
Please send this appeal by separate email to the Town and the Ministry as per all the e mail addresses below:
Appeal to all officials regarding the animal shelter LOZNICA; we ask that they:
STOP the suffering and mistreatment of animals in the shelter of Loznica –
EXCHANGE the brutal members of the shelter staff
Ensure that the shelter is run according to the Serbian animal welfare laws.
CITY ADMINISTRATION LOZNICA:
Mr. Vidoje Petrović – Mayor of Loznica
Mr. Jovan Todorović
mail sekretarice: Mrs. S. Mirkovic
Mrs. Vesna Stefanovic
Mr. Zoran Erić – načelnik inspekcijske komunalne delatnost
Republički vet inspektor je
Director of Animal shelter : Naš dom Mr. Milan Jakšić
Please copy and send the sample letter below to all of the following:
EMAIL ADDRESSES:
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
In spite of the city administration’s public denials there is irrefutable evidence that the animal shelter in Loznica is a place of sheer horror.
It is massively overcrowded – the space originally designed for 100 – max 150 dogs is now housing around 300 dogs – and members of the current staff resort to the most brutal treatment to keep the animals under control – from hitting them with shovels, stomping to death newborn puppies, pushing water pipes down the dogs throats and turning on the water fully, so the dogs almost choke to death to an alcoholic warden who relishes in mistreating the animals.
Thrice too many dogs are crammed into the shelter, unneutered males and females are mating, animals are malnourished, fresh water is scarce, animals fighting for their survival are being bitten, injured, left to die or killed by their fellow creatures. Dead dogs lying around among other dogs and puppies. Many dogs have diseases from parasites, infections are not treated and spreading. Seriously ill and injured dogs are left untreated.
All this has been regularly reported to you by the local animal rescue organisation Ljuna over years and recently documented by the independent dog trainer Mr. Bojan Stojanovic. He visited the shelter and immediately realized that the dogs are being terrorized and mistreated. The shelter staff admitted this saying they have no other way “of controlling the overcrowded shelter”. Ref. https://www.facebook.com/loznicki.psi
For years the organisation Lunja Loznica and a number of Austrian and German organisations have helped the shelter with sponsoring dog houses, vaccinations, tick treatment and medication against parasites and most of all a steady food supply.
But all requests to cooperate with the city and shelter administration and all offers for free-of-charge castrations and medical treatment of the animals have remained unanswered so far. Till yesterday a meeting with independent animal experts trying to enter into a serious conversation with the city administration has been postponed indefinitely. All the city administration of Loznica so far has offered are misrepresentation of facts and ignorance.
This is not going to improve matters. We urge all concerned to immediately exchange the brutal staff members, and enter into serious talks with all Serbian and European animal protectors who have been offering their advice and help unconditionally and free of charge. They are willing and able to provide better sanitary and medical support and are keen to improve the overall conditions in the shelter. Almost every South European country has 2.5 Million strays they need to take care of. No country can master this task alone, this is a truly European challenge. You can make a start by seriously considering to cooperate with all those who have offered help.
Member states of the EU should act better than this – your membership is currently not welcome if you continue to abuse animals as we see here. Shame on you.
We look forward to hearing from you,
(your name/organisation) …………………….
(your city) …………………………
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 16, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Posted on July 14, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
14/7 – Message from the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) regarding the David Cameron U turn today. The BBC are calling it the government’s “turn your back and run away” moment.
Dear Mark,
Following the SNPs announcement that they would vote against the Government’s proposed amendments to the Hunting Act, and the fact that there was substantial cross party support to keep the ban, the government has decided to drop the vote. But we don’t think this is the last we’ll hear about it.
The Government knew this was a vote they would lose. Increasing numbers of MPs from all parties now oppose re-introducing bloodsports and the Government has recognised that public opinion is overwhelmingly against hunting.
So it would be a mistake for the Government to return to this issue in the future, and any attempts to repeal the Hunting Act by the back door would clearly be wrong.
Not withstanding all the other issues facing the country, it has becoming increasingly clear that most of the UK is against the cruelty of hunting. With 8 out of 10 people in both countryside and urban areas against hunting, any attempt to bring it back would be deeply unpopular whenever it takes place.
We had hoped that a vote would go ahead tomorrow and that debate about hunting would finally be consigned to history. Nevertheless, we are resolved, whatever the Government does, to continue to highlight the cruelty involved in hunting and undermine any suggestion that hunting has anything to do with wildlife management or fox control. I encourage you, Mark, to carry on speaking out against hunting and continue to make your concerns known to your MP.
We are pleased that the Scottish government have recognised that the ban in Scotland needs examining. This is actually as a result of a recent League investigation into hunting in Scotland! You can view the investigation at www.league.org.uk/scottishhunts and take a look at this new footage we have released today.
We are looking forward to working with the Scottish government to ensure the law is as strong as possible, and those who break the law are brought to justice.
Mark, as always we are doing everything that we can to protect the Hunting Act. I say this in many emails that I send out to supporters but I truly mean it when I say none of this could be possible without people like you. Its my pleasure to extend a heartfelt thank you from everyone at the League.
Together we are making a difference for animals.
Kind regards,
Mark McCormick
Senior Communications Officer
P.S. As I said the threat to the Hunting Act remains. We will keep you updated on developments but in the meantime why not get in touch with your MP with your thoughts on today’s developments? You can do this by going to the website www.writetothem.com. Enter your postcode, scroll down until you see your MP, click on their name and write to them.
U Turn Dave
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, HUNTING - Primarily UK and Germany, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 14, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Today, 14th July 2015 we have been contacted by our animal buddies in the Caucasus ! – they have a big ‘Eurasian Animal Rights Gathering 2015’ several day event planned in Georgia 0n the 23-25 August this year.
It looks as if will be a fantastic event, and you can see all the planning and events in the following information.
In the true tradition that animal welfare campaigners have no boundaries, we want to wish our friends all the very best with their gathering in August. As they state below:
Aim
The following text is taken completely from the description of International Animal Rights Gathering, which inspired us to make this event in the Eastern part of the continent: «We will meet for a weekend of workshops, talks, discussions, films, information stalls, entertainment and networking. The aim of the Gathering is to promote and improve co-operation and co-ordination between activists from many different countries, with the aim of building a strong coherent global movement to fight animal exploitation and spread compassion. This is particularly important bearing in mind that most animal exploitation and abuse is an international business which operates across international borders, so it’s vital that we as a movement also learn to think and work globally too».
If that is not a reason to support this event, then what is ?
Wishing them the very best for what sounds like a great meet – we hope that post event we will be able to bring you more news on it as well as showing some photographs.
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Georgia information –
Location:
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Europe
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Status:
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UN Member Country
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Capital City:
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Tbilisi
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Main Cities:
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Sukhumi, Kutaisi, Rutsavi, Batumi
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Population:
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5,472,000
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Area:
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70,000 km2
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Currency:
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1 lari = 100 tetri
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Languages:
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Georgian, Armenian, Russian
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Religions:
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Georgian Orthodox
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Check out the following for some of the recent news:
PLEASE SHARE AMONG YOUR VEGAN FRIENDS AND AR ACTIVIST COMRADES!
Welcome to EARG 2015! (It’s not in USA! It’s in Caucasus!)
The Eurasian Animal Rights Gathering 2015 (taking place in Georgia on 23-25 August) is a second annual international event, which aims at bringing together activists from all over the world — particularly from Eastern Europe and Asia, because in countries of that regions AR activism is not connected well to the international network and exists more or less in an isolated form. Plus the problems that unite AR movement in Eastern Europe and Asia differ from the problems, that our comrades in Central and Western Europe and Northern America have to face, which makes the discussion and the unifying of the efforts essential for our cause.\
Aim
The following text is taken completely from the description of International Animal Rights Gathering, which inspired us to make this event in the Eastern part of the continent: «We will meet for a weekend of workshops, talks, discussions, films, information stalls, entertainment and networking. The aim of the Gathering is to promote and improve co-operation and co-ordination between activists from many different countries, with the aim of building a strong coherent global movement to fight animal exploitation and spread compassion. This is particularly important bearing in mind that most animal exploitation and abuse is an international business which operates across international borders, so it’s vital that we as a movement also learn to think and work globally too».
Schedule
There will be also an action (http://www.end-of-speciesism.org) in Tbilisi centre before EARG, so we will be happy if you come beforehand and take part in it as well. And after the gathering everyone who want can go with us to Georgian sea coast to volunteer in animal shelter for about a week. So the schedule of events is:
• 22 August — Action in Tbilisi (Antispeciesist Day)
• 23 August — Going to EARG campsite and arriving there
• 24-25 August — EARG events
• 26 August — everyone who wants go to Batumi to volunteer in animal shelter; others go back to Tbilisi or any other place smile emoticon
Organization
EARG will locate in countryside, in the bosom of fabulous nature of Georgia. The events of the gathering will be held in the open air. Participants of the gathering are to stay in the tent camp; there will be also sleeping accommodations in a building (if by some reason the campsite doesn’t suite you, please inform organizers about that in advance, because the quantity of sleeping accommodations is limited). ATTENTION: participants take tents, sleeping bags and all other stuff for staying in tent camp with themselves!
Participants
On security grounds for the participation in the gathering one needs to obtain the personal invitation of the organizers OR any invited participant of the gathering. If you want to take part in the gathering but you do not know any participant, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the organizers: earg@riseup.net
Costs
We make the costs (for catering) of participants minimal. The costs for all three days for each participant are 20 lari (8 euro). The absence of financial possibilities won’t be an obstacle for participating in EARG, just let the organizers know in advance. On the same time if any participants would like to put more money in the box, the organizers would be happy, because there are already forecasts for the lack of money. Even if the expenses of EARG will be covered, the money will go for AR activism in Georgia.
Transportation
Transportation from Tbilisi to EARG location will be managed by means of hitchhiking and public transport. Participants will get all the directions and tips from organizers and the maximum help with getting to the place easily.
Catering
Three vegan meals daily will be provided by the organizers. If you have any special medical requirements for food please inform the organizers about them in advance. Please take a table spoon, a soup plate and a cup with you!!!
Security
Organizers take on responsibilities for the security of the gathering participants on the campsite.
Photo, video equipment and mobile phones
The use of any photo or video equipment and mobile phones is not allowed on the campsite. Organizers will provide a place for safekeeping of valuables.
Discrimination
Racists, nazi(onalist)s, sexists, homophobes and adherents of all other forms of discrimination/supremacism are not welcome at the gathering. EARG is a peaceful event for the people of different attitudes and lifestyles, so the absence of the persons with the discriminative views is caused by safety considerations, which is #1 in the list of organization priorities.
Activism
Organizers kindly ask the participants to refrain from holding any kind of spontaneous actions before, during and after EARG on the territory of Georgia. If you have any practical suggestions on activism during your stay, please discuss your ideas with organizers for the avoidance of causing problems as to organizers, so to other participants.
Workshops
We highly welcome your initiative towards workshops, discussions, movie screenings and entertainment at EARG, so if you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to take into account all the feedback and make the gathering useful, interesting, comfortable and memorable. If you want to make your workshop at EARG, please contact the organizers before 15 August.
After EARG
Once again, if you do not want to leave Georgia right after the gathering, organizers will provide interesting, useful and pleasant activities (volunteering in animal shelter in sea area of Georgia) for all comers during several days after EARG. If you feel interested in this kind of pastime, please write us in a good advance, so we could plan accommodations.
If you’d like to take part in EARG or have any questions/suggestions, please contact the organizers: earg@riseup.net
P.S.: Please share this information with your friends and comrades!
In cooperation with IATLG.
Further News:
AR activists blocked all the exits of Tbilisi city hall
6 April one more action against the bloody draft law concerning stray dogs took place in front of Tbilisi city council
This day the council was discussing and voting for this law on the territory of the capital.
About 500 people groupped in front of all the Five exits from the building thus blocking for the officials the possibilities for leaving. The security called forces intense of policemen. They had to press back the activists and and organize the corridor for authorities representatives.
During four hours activists chanted “Freedom to animals!”, “Let’s Help the Helpless!”, “Killers!” etc. Despite the powerful protests the bloody law was passed, which means a new stage in confrontation to arbitrary rule. Tomorrow activists will bring legal proceedings against the city council.
4 April the march against the bloody law went along all Tbilisi center up to the president palace gathering several hundreds of people.
30 March few hundred activists held an action in front of the city hall as well, appliying to the nation by the means of TV news live broadcast.
31 January activists of Vegan Base (facebook.com/veganbase) in Tbilisi, Georgia, took part in the protest action against the construction of the ‘Panorama’ complex, which is to be built on the place of the wild nature resort close to the capital’s downtown. The complex should include the aquarium with sharks and other fishes.
Two sharks already died in the residence of Bidzina Ivanishvili, georgian millionaire, the main author of ‘Panorama’ project. The complex itself will ruin the unique wildlife piece of the nature situated just half an hour walking from Tbilisi center. That’s why activists of the coalition ‘Ertad’ (‘Together’), formed for the sake of demolishing the project, coined the “SOS” with their bodies on the place where the tree cutting already started.
30 December one of the activists of Vegan Base was detained together with three other green guerilleros in front of the entrance to the city council. Activists had passes for the session on the subject of taking the status of the sanctuary away from the place of the planned construction of ‘Panorama’, but the security didn’t let them in. So they blocked the entrance for the deputees as well and were arrested. They were charged according to three articles, including the one of the criminal code. As a result of the court hearings they got only verbal warnings.
Vegan Base is a social Center created in Tbilisi in November. It holds free lectures, movie screenings, workshops and different actions in the city – starting from the protest demos and ending with walking out the shelter dogs and picking up the garbage in parks.
Published on 23 Dec 2014
21 December animal rights activists held an action of protest against Tbilisi Zoo. It was conducted partly as an art project: activists were holding painted photos of the animals, taken in this very zoo. For the sake of educating people about the problems of this exact zoo and the misery of the phenomenon of animal
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, SUPPORTERS, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 13, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
100 activists took over and blocked the entrance to a major Israeli SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Date: Sun, Jul 12, 2015 at 1:08 PM
Subject: [AR-News] 100 activists took over and blocked the entrance to a major Israeli SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Incredible video: early this morning, 100 activists took over and blocked the entrance to a major Israeli SLAUGHTERHOUSE, preventing the trucks carrying the helpless victims from getting inside.
You can show your support to the activists on their Facebook page
Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 12, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
SAV Comment – we have always been a pro-EU organisation; after all, I (Mark) was involved with a fighter jet manufactured by a European consortium back in the 80’s. (See more on ‘About Us’ – https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/about-us/ Now, the EU is getting very much out of control – the EU DOES NOT LISTEN to its own citizens and undertake the changes that they request. They do not have any voice – instead non elected self admirers named ‘Commissioners’ now run the whole show whilst giving the two fingers to the EU citizen demanding change. Normal people don’t want to change the world, they just want changes for the better – in our case mainly animal welfare.
The article below is very much a typical example of the stupidity / ignorance of the EU. It is 2015 for Gods sake, not 1815; people know good from bad and they want changes to happen – now ! We are told the never ending story that we have an EU Parliament with MEP’s who will always address our concerns. Sorry but that statement is complete and utter ‘tosh’. For example, for many years, EU citizens have had big concerns about the abuse of animals in Spain for the very reasons outlined below – so called ‘;traditions’ which go back to the middle of time; whilst ignoring the fact that we have now moved on and (most of us anyway) do not get a kick out of causing suffering to animals. But because it is tradition in Spain to pull the heads off live birds, or bullfight, or set light to bulls horns, the EU can do nothing about it.
Sorry but that is crap. It is 2015 and Spain needs to get in touch with the modern world, not live as animal abusers still in the dark ages.
And what actually are our huge MEP membership actually doing about the abuses in Spain ? – answer – nothing. They should, and this ignorance is what simply raises the anger of most European citizens. The Commissioners say ‘shut up’, and so we must all shut up; simple as that. The way the EU is going at present; certainly not working in defence of animals anywhere quickly enough; we will probably give our support to getting out of the EU in the 2017 referendum as promised by the UK government to UK citizens; let the UK people decide on their future in the EU.
The EU and its politicians are failing them, so who wants to remain surrounded by an institution who say that they can do nothing when the reality is they could; but probably don’t want all the trouble of doing it – an easy life I think they call it.
If we get out of Europe, the abuse will continue; but it does regardless of our position in or out anyway. Lets (the UK) leave and get the EU masterclass to fumble their way through doing nothing except getting bigger salaries and further taking on the new abuses of Serbia, Romania and the rest. Quite often you get to a point where no matter what you try to do to improve animal welfare, you just get kicked in the balls. The EU and its politicians are doing this to EU citizens today, as they will tomorrow and the day after.
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Spanish Festival Season Set to Claim 60,000 Lives for Our Entertainment
Each year in Spain, more than 16,000 local and national fiestas take place which involve the torture, mutilation and murder of over 60,000 animals.
Despite annual protests, high profile animal rights campaigns and worldwide media attention, many of these cruel festivities are now receiving new legal protection and are more popular than ever before, which begs the question: When will it end?
Local Traditions Don’t Die Easy in Spain
One of the first things to understand about Spain is that many of its people are fiercely loyal to their local town or village. Having developed over many centuries, and often being closely tied into religious ceremonies, these local fiestas are a showcase of local identity, bringing the community together in celebration.
An abuser holds up the severed head of Goose which has just been ripped from the body.
Many of the cruel and inhumane practices that have developed would never be tolerated outside of these events and are definitely in violation of the (albeit lax) animal rights laws in Spain. Yet, when it comes to fiesta time, almost anything goes, and the scenes which can be witnessed up and down the country defy belief.
Some of the horrors which take place at different fiestas include geese having their heads ripped off, pigs having their throats slit on the streets, bulls having their horns set alight with burning tar, goats being dropped out of bell towers, and rats being thrown around the town.
These sickening events are not just tolerated, they’re celebrated and enjoyed by all sections of society, including families who bring their young children to join in. This is not a shaming session of the Spanish people, but an observation on the power of tradition and culture in blinding us to the reality of what’s really happening.
If any of these events were to take place under different circumstances, in a different cultural setting, they would cause shock and outrage, and would certainly be stopped in an instant. But because these events have been happening for generations, it’s a different story.
Why Isn’t the Law Protecting the Animals?
Given the cultural background to these disturbing practices, you might think that progressive modern animal welfare laws would protect the animals from suffering this horrific abuse and torture for our yearly entertainment, but the opposite seems to be true in many cases.
While some activities, such as the Andalucian festival where a live turkey is thrown from a church tower, have been made illegal due to pressure from animal rights campaigners, this has not prevented the event from taking place. Locals in the village are so intent on hosting this barbaric fiesta, that they are willing to group together to pay the 2,000 Euro fine, with the local mayor Juan Balbin Garrido stating that “if they tried to stop the turkey throwing, people would riot.”
Many of the higher profile events, especially those involving bulls, have received new legal protection in recent years, in an attempt to protect Spain’s cultural heritage. Bullfighting, the burning bull, the running of the bulls and other events are world renowned and closely tied in with Spain’s cultural image, bringing in tourism and helping the economy to thrive. Any attempts to undermine this for animal rights reasons are now being overruled at the highest levels of government. When will the suffering end for these poor animals?
History Needs to Be Left in the Past
There’s no doubt that modern day laws, created without the backdrop of Spain’s violent and bloody cultural heritage, would save almost all of the 60,000 animals who are mercilessly abused, humiliated and murdered for our entertainment each year.
It’s time for civilized societies to judge our actions by a new moral compass and not be swayed by what has gone before.
Change EU, stop the animal abuse jargon, and do it very soon, or we in the UK say one thing to you:
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Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 