Vietnam: From Cargo Containers to Freedom for 19 Bears

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

 

 

 

 

 

From cargo containers to freedom for 19 bears

I’m thrilled to be able to bring you the exciting news that yesterday morning we rescued 19 moon bears that have been held in appalling conditions on a farm in Binh Duong province, southern Vietnam. These bears, whose bile was being milked illegally, have been surviving a bleak existence, trapped inside 40ft cargo containers that were divided into even smaller compartments.

This is a particularly exciting rescue for Animals Asia – it is our biggest in Vietnam to date, and it’s also significant because it was instigated by the forestry officials themselves – both the central government’s Forest Protection Department (FPD) and the Binh Duong FPD.

Pictures – AA

Bear bile extraction was made illegal in Vietnam around 15 years ago, but farmers were allowed to keep their bears to display them to tourists. Sadly, around 4,000 bears remain on farms throughout the country, and because of a lack of enforcement, many of them are still subjected to the brutal bile extraction process.

So it’s a huge breakthrough to see the central and local forestry officials working together of their own initiative to confiscate the bears and close down this awful farm. Please let me thank you for your part in this rescue too. It’s taken us many years to get to this stage and to build up such trust with the officials. We couldn’t have done any of it without your ongoing support and kind donations which, together, have enabled us to reach the heart of the problem and bring these bears home.

We still have a long way to go, but this rescue has given us renewed determination and hope. Please stay with us through this important year as we repair the damage inflicted on these poor animals and convince more provinces throughout Vietnam to release their bile bears into our care. Each of these bears needs surgery and extensive rehabilitation. Whatever you can donate to help in their recovery will be greatly appreciated.

Sadly, I won’t be able to meet our 19 new residents until Thursday when I arrive at Tam Dao. But Chinh, our Education Officer in Vietnam, who is part of the team travelling “home” with the bears, is kindly recording the trip. He’ll be sending the first of his Rescue Diary entries soon so you can follow the journey from torture to freedom for these lucky 19 bears – and please, give generously so they can have the life they so much deserve.

For more information, click here.

Bear hugs,

Jill

Jill Robinson MBE
Founder and CEO
Animals Asia Foundation

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Serbia: Light in the Tunnel – The Big Problem IS IMPLEMENTING Existing Legislation

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

 

 A follow up article on the ‘new serbian animal welfare’ legislation implementation has now been published on BAS.  Please click on the following link to view the article:

http://balkansanimalsuffering.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/serbia-light-in-the-tunnel-the-bigger-problem-will-be-implementing-it-serbian-animal-welfare-legislation/?preview=true&preview_id=413&preview_nonce=6da3ae002e

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, DOCUMENTS, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

Serbia: Possibly Some Brighter Light in the Tunnel ?

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Also visit us at  http://balkansanimalsuffering.wordpress.com/  and the select from ‘BROWSE’ and ‘Monthly Archives’ on the right hand side.

Lots of additional photos and Macedonia campaign letters to copy and send.

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Source:

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2010/01/14/feature-03

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2010/01/14/feature-03

A pair of new laws aimed at improving the life of animals in
Serbia brings the country closer to EU standards.

The legislation has been hailed by animal rights activists.

Some activists are working to add a provision on the
well-being of animals to the country’s constitution and are
gathering signatures to support the initiative.

Danica Drobac, of the animal rights NGO European Initiative
17, said Serbia was among the last countries in the Balkans
to adopt the Animal Wellbeing Law, only doing so last
summer. The Veterinary Medicine Law was passed in 2005 and
the new Criminal Law in 2006.

“These laws have brought positive changes to the animals’
benefit and have raised the level of awareness of animals
and their treatment. For example, the Criminal Law defines
not only the killing but also the abuse of an animal as a
crime and foresees the penalty of prison,” Drobac told
Southeast European Times.

She adds, “The Animal Wellbeing Law [though] imperfect,
introduces practically revolutionary changes regarding the
treatment of animals.

The [Wellbeing] law orders all local governments to build shelters for abandoned cats and dogs, which will undoubtedly result in the end of the horrific
torture of innocent homeless animals in rural regions.”

Bringing Serbian legislation in line with EU regulations on
animals rights, she said, added greatly to the changes.

Another animal rights organisation, Orca, also welcomed the
new laws. The group’s president, Elvir Burazerovic, said the
measures are pro-active in defending animals.

“Amendments and addendums to the criminal law have increased
prison sentences for the abuse and murder of animals from
six months to one year, while [organising animal fights is
now] a crime that carries the sentence of between three
months and three years,” Burazerovic told Southeast European
Times.

The law on raising awareness of animal rights went into
effect in September, 2009 and has been implemented in
Serbia’s school system.

“This provision will allow education about the wellbeing of
animals to be included at all levels of education,” said
Burazerovic. “More important than legal norms is to make
animal owners more responsible, so as to prevent cases of
people being bored of a dog after a bit of fun and play and
throwing it out onto the street.”

This content was commissioned for SETimes.com

——————————————————————————————-

From one activist in Serbia, the following response:

Unfortunatelly , there is nothing better and nothing new for poor serbian animals, even the situation is worse, and rolling public money in these all is bigger , but not for animals but for humans advantage .

There are present here laws – and some of them even from 2.11.2005.,but authorities : local and republic authorities don`t implement valid laws.

The fate of stray dogs and cats, and all rest animals in Serbia is HORRIBLE . Corruption and exploitation animals by using them for advantage of vets and dogcatchers firms- now for bigger public money – is in opposite to laws and serbian Constitution, unlawful and go unpunishment ,because republic inspections and public attorneys all over Serbia don`t do their own job – because high level of corruption ,or because some other reasons.

No one city in Serbia and Belgrade too, doesn`t implement laws.  Shinters teams work all over Serbia.  The killings and throwings out to the streets without food and water , poisoning slaughtering, shoting by hunters – all these go all over Serbia – no one of responsible authorities of shinters teams was not punishment although Article 269, paragraph 2 of Serbian Criminal Code is very clear , proof are very clear , names of acters are welknown – nobody implement laws, nobody is jailed or punish by laws.

Nice sentences in media, good articles of some laws – but at the same horrible fate of animals – these all is too big hypocrisy . Why they use future like gramatical form in their sentences in media – these laws are here from 2.11.2005.; 1.1.2006.; 10.6.2009.  Everybody who say that it is here better for animals – said LIE , and what is their reason for giving false information to the public – you must ask them .

 
 

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

EU Written Declaration: Please help to end the long distance transportation of horses to slaughter in Europe.

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

 

 

 

 

Please help to end the long distance transportation of horses to slaughter in Europe.

Dear Supporter,
 
Thank you for your help. As a result of your efforts, 173 MEPs have so far signed Written Declaration 54/2009, tabled in the European Parliament.

The Declaration calls for an urgent review of the Regulation which governs the transport of horses to slaughter.

Now we are asking for your help once again to help end these cruel and unnecessary journeys.

We only have until 21st January to ensure that over half of the Members of the European Parliament sign up to review the current Regulation.

Our campaign has been successful in the UK, with the large majority of British MEPs signing the Written Declaration.

Our efforts are now focused on MEPs representing the constituents of OTHER European Parliament Member State countries.

How you can help:

If you are based in the UK please forward this email to friends, family or colleagues who live in Europe and ask that they join our campaign.

Click here to forward this message to a friend

If you are a resident of another Member State please click on the link below to download a template letter to send to your MEPs, which is available in 21 European languages.

Every single MEP’s signature we can add at this stage is critical.

Written Declaration 54/2009 is the best supported Declaration in the European Parliament at present but we need more support from MEPs to ensure our voice is heard.

Thank you again for all of your help.

   
 
 

 

 
 		  

 
 
Click here to find out more

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

Greece: Horse Dragged Behind Car for 2km – Protest Sample Letter, Petition etc – Please Act and Demand Justice !

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

On Sunday 3rd January 2010 in the town of Olympia, Greece, a horse was dragged behind a car for 2km before being thrown into a ditch. Still alive and screaming in pain both the horse’s forelegs were broken and it was completely skinned on one side with deep wounds exposing it’s intestines. A vet later destroyed the horse humanely.

People who witnessed the incident reported it to police immediately and the person responsible apparently laughed and boasted about it. We are told by our counterparts in Greece, that police so far have not taken it seriously and have not apprehended the person who openly admits commiting this crime.

WHERE TO SEND YOUR PROTEST LETTERS:

Mayor, George Aidonis: aolympia@otenet.gr

Please also CC your email to the following authorities:
infopar@parliament.gr
service@dorg.minenv.gr
kbatz@otenet.gr
dpse@hch.culture.gr
a.gkerekou@parliament.gr
gramproedrou@gnto.gr
a.gkerekou@parliament.gr

The only way I could send emails was on individual lines, but feel free to try the group as my email program is fussy:

Group email:
To: aolympia@otenet.gr
CC: infopar@parliament.gr; service@dorg.minenv.gr; kbatz@otenet.gr; dpse@hch.culture.gr; a.gkerekou@parliament.gr; gramproedrou@gnto.gr; a.gkerekou@parliament.gr

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Mayor Aidonis,

It has come to my attention that another savage act of animal cruelty has created one more animal victim and an additional public outrage. On January 3, 2010, in the town of Olympia, a horse was dragged behind a car for two kilometers. The horse suffered severe bodily trauma, including broken legs, severe lacerations and skinning causing the exposure of his intestines, and multiple organ stress, but despite such significant injuries, he was alive and left to die in a ditch; a veterinary later euthanized him. Although the physical injuries demonstrate the abject cruelty inflicted upon him, no words could adequately describe the fear and terror he certainly felt, and I am shocked to learn that the alleged guilty party has boasted openly of the crime, and that law enforcement has ignored this case. I am therefore writing to respectfully request that you allocate the necessary resources into investigating this crime, arresting the guilty party, and prosecuting the offender in accordance with the most severe penalty.

When I try to imagine what possible motive animal abusers entertain for subjecting their animal victims to such malicious, heinous acts of brutality, I fail, but I am thankful for a lack of cognitive understanding and rationalization. To engage in such vicious behaviour absolutely suggests sociopathic and sadistic tendencies. The person who deliberately and sadistically harmed and killed this horse demonstrates an absolute lack of morality regarding other living beings and a gross disrespect for the law. In fact, a person who shows such a remarkable lack of compassion towards animals has, disturbingly enough, the ability to show such indifference towards humans. This link between animal and human abuse has been established, and if you excuse this criminal behaviour you would be serving an injustice to both animals and society.

I am hoping that you will take an unyielding position against animal cruelty and apprehend and subsequently hold the offender accountable by applying the maximum penalty. These sentences are typically remarkably inadequate given the gravity and severity of animal abuse, fundamentally inequitable based on an egotistical precept that humans are superior to animals, and I hope this case will cause you to review the legal inadequacies regarding animals and make necessary modifications. Considering animals as lesser beings irrespective of our similarities is fundamentally unethical and inhumane. Humans adopt these false perspectives to validate the cruelties to which animals are subjected, and when we embrace such egotistical viewpoints to provide personal moral forgiveness, we intentionally ignore the intrinsic limitation of such inane assertions: that animals are not commodities but living beings who, like humans, possess sentience and have the capacity to experience emotion and thought, desire lives free from exploitation and suffering, and fear the manifestation of death.

Allowing animal cruelty by permitting it to go unpunished only desensitizes humans to suffering, which inevitably leads to immunity against all cruelty, human and animal. We need to teach our children that our society does not excuse, allow, or enable cruelty against animals or humans, and it is imperative that we demonstrate in both word and action that the human essence of empathy does not exist to excuse maliciousness: it exists to provide compassion and justice to the brutalized and punishment to those who willingly deviate from this capacity. If we do not do our duty to provide this, we harm animals and invite injustice into our society.

I know your time is limited and I want to thank you for your attention and consideration.

YOUR NAME AND COUNTRY HERE>>>>

 

————————————————————————–

PETITION – PLEASE SIGN:

Subject: Greece : horse dragged to his death – please sign , (police did nothing!)  

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/horse-dragged-to-its-death

On Sunday 3rd January 2010 in the town of Olympia, Greece, a horse was dragged behind a car for 2km before being thrown into a ditch. Still alive and screaming in pain both the horse’s forelegs were broken and it was completely skinned on one side with deep wounds exposing it’s intestines. A vet later destroyed the horse humanely. 

People who witnessed the incident reported it to police immediately and the person responsible apparently laughed and boasted about it.

We are told by our counterparts in Greece, that police so far have not taken it seriously and have not apprehended the person who openly admits commiting this crime.  

—————————————————————————-

ADDITIONAL INFO AND ACTIONS:

he also has a fan page in fb.con leave him a msg here:

http://www.facebook.com/chrisochoidis?ref=mf

this is from http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33911998809

Dear all, regarding the horse that was dragged and killed by his owner we are leaving messages at the minister’s page who is the superior of greek police. Here is the link. We demand justice for the dead horse and punishment for the police officers that reported the abuse as an accident. If you feel like it leave your personal message in his page. Thank you.
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In case this is news to some of you, a few days ago a horse was dragged behind a car for 2km and thrown into a ditch with both forelegs broken, completely skinned on one side with deep wounds exposing its intestines, but still alive and screaming in pain. A vet later destroyed the horse humanely. The person who did this apparently laughed and boasted about it.

We believe the person who did this was a retired policeman and the horse was a pregnant mare.

Thanks for your time and for making a difference.

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

Uk: International Appeal / Photo Competition for Flooded Animal Shelter in Spain

Posted on January 10, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

INTERNATIONAL APPEAL UPDATE   ‘Sighthound Welfare Trust’ in the UK- photo competition in aid of the appeal for a flooded animal shelter in Spain -‘Ciudad Animal’-  

Competition open until 13th January 2010.

Please help the dogs by supporting this special appeal.

HUGE thanks again to SWT for their greyt support!!!

Please see below full details of the SWT competition

Many thanks Greyhound Crusaders/SWAP team UK  

—– Original Message —– From: Sighthound Welfare Trust – Online forums 

 Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 9:42 AM

Subject: SWT Photo Competition ( Sighthound Welfare Trust – Online forums )

Photo Competition

Sighthound Welfare Trust is currently running an online photo competition.  All monies raised will be used to support Ciudad Animal, a shelter in Spain.

The Shelter has been flooded; the dogs are standing in inches of water without being able to get out onto dry land. 

There will also be issues with sanitation and feeding and a host of problems once the water subsides with bacteria.

There are four categories for the Photo Competition;

‘best unwrapper’,

‘most uninterested in presents’,

‘dog most full of Christmas fodder’

and ‘winter wonderland’. 

Entries are £1, but there is one free category for supporters to enter.  There are some great prizes up for grabs in this competition.

For full details on prizes and entering, please see the fundraising area of the online forums; http://www.sighthoundwelfaretrust.org.uk/forums/index.php?&showforum=13

The competition will close on Wednesday 13th January.

For more information on the appeal for Ciudad Animal, including details of how to donate, please see here; http://www.sighthoundwelfaretrust.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=14952

Best wishes
 

Sighthound Welfare Trust

Charity No. 1114709
SWT is working towards the end of abuse, neglect and exploitation of sighthounds
www.sighthounds.org.uk & www.sighthounds.org.uk/forums

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

Uk (Scotland): Worst Weather Conditions for 50 Years Causes Untold Suffering to Livestock

Posted on January 10, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Animals are now being left to starve and/ or freeze to death on Scotland’s farms due to weather.

Contact the Scottish Govt. Animal Health and Welfare Directorate on: 0131 244 6015 and ask what’s being done about this situation while Minister Richard Lochhead is working out a plan that ensures this won’t cost either farmers or the SNP administration any money. Please give them your full details and ask for complaint to be logged and for a reference number.

You can also contact Richard Lochhead here:

scottish.ministers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

The Scottish Government
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ

Subscribe to our RS feed and be kept up to date with news: http://iloapp.scotlandforanimals.org/blog/blog?RSS

Livestock being frozen to death in their thousands

Published Date: 07 January 2010

By FRANK URQUHART, ALASTAIR DALTON AND MARK SMITH

THOUSANDS of farm animals face being frozen to death as Scotland experiences its worst winter weather in almost 50 years, farmers have warned.

As heavy snow brought more chaos to Scotland yesterday, upland sheep farmers in particular feared that their flocks could be killed as a result of the longest cold spell to hit Scotland’s agricultural industry for decades.

The prolonged Arctic blast is now the worst seen in Scotland since 1963, according to First Minister Alex Salmond, who praised workers for keeping key roads open, despite widespread anger that many roads and pavements remain ungritted.

The cold spell is now threatening the lives of thousands of farm animals across the country.

Upland sheep farmers fear that their flocks could be killed as a result of deep snow. Those in hilly areas of the country, where snow drifts are already up to 4ft deep, are finding it increasingly difficult to get vital feed to their herds of cows and flocks of sheep.

Pat Withers, the chief executive of the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland, told The Scotsman: “We have some fields where farmers are looking out and can’t get to their flocks. They can just see the heads of their sheep poking up above the snow. One more snowfall there – and a bit of wind picking up – and they will lose them.”

Mr Withers said the problem was particularly acute in the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire and the Borders.

Some farmers have been unable, for up to eight days, to get vital supplies of supplementary feed to their livestock. They are also being hit by delays in suppliers reaching them along treacherous rural routes.

Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead, who is being kept fully briefed on the deteriorating situation, said: “Scotland is in the grip of the harshest winter weather conditions in decades, which is adding to the weight of challenges faced by farmers at this time of year.

“I have been in contact with farmers and industry organisations to keep abreast of the problems created by this unusually bad weather.”

Schools and roads all over the country were closed yesterday, with the Borders, North-east and Highlands bearing the brunt of the bad weather.

Last night, several hundred homes in the Kelso and Duns areas of the Borders were without electricity after heavy snow brought down power lines.

A ScottishPower spokesman said engineers were trying to restore supplies as quickly as possible.

Heavy snow and temperatures as low as -11C caused further disruption to roads, railways and airports across the country.

A woman died in a car crash in Shetland, while a 59-year-old pedestrian was seriously injured when he was hit by a car in Aberdeen. Both accidents are believed to be weather-related.

The Met Office said its predicted low of -20C by the weekend would hit sheltered inland areas such as Braemar, with parts of the Central Belt down to -11C by tonight.

The Borders was worst hit by yesterday’s snowfall, with major routes such as the A7, A68 and A702 blocked or extremely hazardous.

Police said drivers should not take to the roads “unless it is a life-or-death situation”, while all the region’s First bus services were cancelled.

The A9 – the main route to the Highlands – reopened, but conditions were “atrocious” and other roads in the north and North-east remained blocked.

Farmers’ fears

ABERDEENSHIRE farmer Tom Johnston spoke of the concerns facing farmers.

Mr Johnston, North East regional chairman of the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland, said: “With the volume of snow there is no feed (for animals] except for the feed that you are taking out to them. With lambs and ewes it’s important to keep them on a good ration and you have to get feed out on a daily basis. The job is extremely difficult because of the snow and ice.

The danger is that if we get windy weather and the snow blows you get drifts and sheep can actually be buried in the snow.”

http://news.scotsman.com/news/Livestock-being-frozen-to-death.5961813.jp

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

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