Europe: All EU Citizens – YOUR MEP’s in Europe – Do THEY Support The 8 Hour Limit ?

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 22nd 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/

 

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2014 Euro Elections

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

This is why we have to act now !

 Between 22nd and 25th 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.

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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 !!

 

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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 »

Canada: Graphic photos taken inside embattled zoo spark RCMP investigation, outrage

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Canada

News video footage link: http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/graphic-photos-taken-inside-embattled-zoo-spark-rcmp-investigation-outrage-1.1358831

 

Graphic photos taken inside embattled zoo spark RCMP investigation,

Julia Parrish, CTV Edmonton
Published Monday, July 8, 2013 5:42PM MDT
Last Updated Monday, July 8, 2013 6:45PM MDT


Graphic images and video have surfaced on the internet, depicting the apparent living conditions some animals living in an embattled central Alberta zoo, and they’re photos that have put the facility under fire again.

The photos and video were posted by an animal rights group, Council of Concerned Albertans for Animal Welfare and Public Safety, and it’s believed they were captured at the Guzoo Animal Farm near Three Hills over the Canada Day long weekend, by an anonymous whistleblower.

The images have a number of animal rights activists outraged – it shows what looks like dead dogs in a pile of garbage, and animal food infested with maggots.


“The video footage inside the bird and baboon cages show gross neglect,” Bonnie Farion told CTV News. “The accumulation of feces and filth and the rotting food, that’s a huge concern.”

The animal rights group said the photos outline exactly how bad conditions at the Guzoo are.

“They have over 400 animals, and they have less than five staff members,” Farion said. “They just don’t have the ability to take care of the animals like they need to be taken care of.”

It’s not the first time Guzoo has come under fire, although owner Lynn Gustafson wouldn’t confirm if the images were taken on his property, but admitted they have a pit where garbage is burned, and all of the images were taken in an area that’s off-limits to the public.

“If you go to the Calgary zoo, you could see dead animals of you trespass,” Gustafson said. “So this is an area off-limits.”

In one photo, a tiger appears to be in the pit where garbage is burned, however, Gustafson said it was a plush tiger – the owner also said sometimes dogs are euthanized if homes for them can’t be found.

The owner also admitted some food may have become infested with maggots, but that food wouldn’t have been fed to the animals – he said officials have also inspected his property recently.

“As far as the pictures go, we have been vindicated as far as I’m concerned,” Gustafson said. “The SPCA was here on Friday…and there was no problem.”

Gustafson told CTV news he had filed a complaint with the RCMP, saying these types of incidents are a violation of his privacy, and raise concerns for his family’s safety.

RCMP confirmed they are investigating.

In the fall of 2012, Guzoo was almost decommissioned, before the provincial government gave the farm the go ahead to continue operations.

However, the animal rights group said any changes made in recent years to the facility have been aesthetic, and numerous zoo standards are being broken – the group said they believe the animals are not being fed species specific diets, and their enclosures are not cleaned regularly.

With files from Nicole Weisberg

 

 

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), VIDEOS | Leave a comment »

USA: Horse Killed at NJ Rodeo – Reno Rodeo Violates its No-Shock Promise

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

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See the video footage at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdDHm-RcFB8&feature=youtu.be

 

Horse Killed at NJ Rodeo – Reno Rodeo Violates its ‘No-Shock’ Promise

To meet minimum common sense welfare standards for former wild horses…

Do these Meet the Standards?

Animal Protection Group Calls Out Reno Rodeo President, Rodeo Vet For Abuse Denials

 
July 2, 2013

 Reno, NV – SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) is calling out Reno Rodeo President John Tipton and rodeo veterinarian, Dr. Joe Coli, on their denials that a horse was struck with a wire rod and electro-shocked in the anus, and endured other abuse during the Friday, June 28 rodeo performance.

 Tipton and Coli were both quoted in the Reno Journal Gazette on 7/1/2013. According to the story, Coli said, “it is unfathomable that anyone would stick a wire rod into the anus of a horse.”

 And further, “I cannot for the life of me even begin to imagine someone doing that at a rodeo, especially at Reno with the rules they’ve got in place. I am not sure what the woman saw or what she thought she saw, but I cannot imagine that is what actually took place”.

 Coli is not only the veterinarian for the Reno Rodeo, but in what can only be seen as a conflict of interest, has been a member of the Rodeo Association since 1983. He has also worked closely with PRCA Stock Contractor, Cotton Rosser who is notorious for electro-shocking horses.

 That article can be found here: 

http://www.rgj.com/article/20130701/EVENTS10/307010008/Woman-claims-she-saw-horse-abused-Reno-Rodeo-see-photos-?nclick_check=1

 

Video documentation by long time Reno residents Ellie and Stephen Lopez-Bowlan leaves no question that the abuse occurred.

SHARK is releasing a video of that footage slowed to half speed.

 The video can be seen here:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phHOLCmXaPg&feature=youtu.be

 

 For lots more on this story, plus loads of other issues, visit SHARK at:

 http://www.sharkonline.org/?P=0000000942

 

 

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), VIDEOS | Leave a comment »

Germany: Bestiality Brothels Are Spreading Through Germany.

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

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Link:  http://govtslaves.info/bestiality-brothels-are-spreading-through-germany/

Bestiality Brothels Are Spreading Through Germany

Bestiality brothels are spreading through Germany faster than ever thanks to a law that makes animal porn illegal but sex with animals legal, a livestock protection officer has warned.

Madeleine Martin told the Frankfurter Rundschau that current laws were not protecting animals from predatory zoophiles who are increasingly able to turn to bestiality as a ‘lifestyle choice’.

She highlighted one case where a farmer in the Gross-Gerau region of southwest Germany, noticed his once friendly flock of sheep were beginning to shy away from human contact.

Shock discovery: Ms Martin told of one case where a farmer rigged a CCTV camera in the rafters of his barn after finding his normally friendly sheep refusing human contact, to discover multiple men sneaking in in the dead of night to sexually abuse his beloved livestock

So he rigged a CCTV camera in the rafters of his barn to discover multiple men sneaking in during the night to sexually abuse his beloved livestock.

’There are now animal brothels in Germany,’ Martin told the paper, adding that people were playing down the issue by by describing it as a ‘lifestyle choice’.

Armed with a host of similar case studies, Ms Martin is now calling for the government to categorically ban bestiality across the country.

Defenceless: There are even ‘erotic zoos’ which people can visit to abuse animals ranging from llamas to goats

Last November German authorities said they were planning to reinstate an old law forbidding sex with animals after a sharp rise in incidents of bestiality along with websites promoting it.

Parliament began debating changes to the national Animal Protection Code with the agricultural committee of the Bundestag pledging fines of up to £20,000 for a first offence.

Bestiality dropped off the statute books as a crime in 1969 but in recent years the number of people believed to be participating in such acts has increased significantly.

There are even ‘erotic zoos’ which people can visit to abuse animals ranging from llamas to goats.

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Wales (UK): Horse Trader Convicted and Sent to Prison for Animal Cruelty Charges.

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

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Story – BBC Link:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-wales-23201997

More pictures via above link.

Horse trader Tom Price jailed for cruelty and Asbo breach

Vale of Glamorgan horse trader Tom Price has been convicted of 57 animal welfare and cruelty charges.

A horse trader has been jailed for eight months and banned from keeping horses for five years after being found guilty of 57 animal welfare and cruelty charges.

Tom Price, 48, from Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan, caused unnecessary suffering to 18 horses and received a six month sentence at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court.

It will run concurrently with an eight month sentence he received for a breach of an anti-social behaviour order.

The RSPCA believe he has 2,500 horses.

The horses were found at five locations in south Wales and the court heard 12 animals had been “left to die” in a Bridgend barn.

Price’s 26-year-old son, Thomas Hope Price, was also found guilty in June.

‘Shocking and horrendous’

The court was told the conditions Price and his son kept horses in almost beggared belief

On Friday, district judge at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court Bodfan Jenkins ordered the pair to pay £43,000 each in court costs.

It comes after the RSPCA found evidence of neglect and unnecessary suffering to horses in five locations across Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Mr Jenkins said both men had both been involved in a large and wealthy concern breeding gypsy cobs and the conditions they were kept in were shocking and horrendous” and almost beggared belief.

Thomas Hope Price received a shorter sentence of 23 weeks because he had pleaded guilty to the offences before the trial.

The five year disqualification for keeping horses was suspended for six months to give the Prices and their company, Glamorgan Horse Traders, time to sell or dispose of their stock.

‘Powerless’

Landowners were powerless to deal with your fly grazing activities and they were virtually intimidated by you”

District Judge John Charles Sentencing Price

Speaking after the case, the RSPCA said it did not have the facilities to re-home the huge numbers of horses involved and was looking for a partnership between local authorities and the Welsh government to address the problem.

Price was sentenced separately for the breach of the Asbo between the 6 and 22 December, 2012 by District Judge John Charles.

He was fined £1,000 in costs and the judge told him: “There was a harassment of landowners targeted by you. You’ve not shown a shred of respect for anybody and not shown any remorse.

“Landowners were powerless to deal with your fly-grazing activities and they were virtually intimidated by you.”

After sentencing, Acting Supt Marc Lamerton from South Wales Police said he hoped the sentence would bring an end to the illegal practice of fly-grazing and Asbo breaches are taken seriously.

Principal trading standards officer for the Vale of Glamorgan Council Christina Roberts-Kinsey said: “His actions have caused a great deal of suffering to his horses. But in allowing the horses to fly-graze, straying onto public roads and residential areas, he could also have risked the safety of the public.”

She said Price had repeatedly denied ownership of the horses and failed to cooperate with the council’s requests.

Ms Roberts-Kinsey added: “Despite the terms of the Asbo, Tom Price has continued with his illegal practices and has breached the order several times.”

More on This Story

Related Stories

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14 JUNE 2013, WALES

09 NOVEMBER 2012, SOUTH EAST WALES

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Global (On Line) Animal Petitions – Links For You To Take Your Pick !

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

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Below are a few (online) petitions you may wish to sign.

The video footage and the actions of the police in the following video are ‘disturbing’ to say the very least.

http://www.change.org/petitions/police-unlawful-arrest-and-animal-brutality-prosecute-the-corrupted-hawthorne-cops?utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

There are many dozens of animal petitions on many dozens of sites.  We have included links to some of the main ones in the links which follow these few specific petitions.  Thus you can review anything and sign up to those which you personally feel need extra support.

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Petition Link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/facebook-executives-ban-sadistic-pages-of-wildlife-torture

Facebook Executives: Ban Sadistic Pages of Wildlife Torture

Facebook’s own policy dictates that graphic violent photos should not be posted just for sadistic gratification — there is absolutely NO purpose in posting horrendously killed and half dead animals on facebook pages.

Petition Link:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/159/008/880/justice-for-the-death-of-bijlee-the-elephant/?taf_id=9660353&cid=fb_na

Justice for the Death of Bijlee, the Elephant

Bijlee, a 58 year old female elephant, lost the fight for her life after being found in critical condition, abandoned on the side of the road in a suburb of Mumbai, India on June 11. Bijlee had been kept strapped on a crane as she could not stand or sit due to weak hind leg bones. Her body was bleeding at several places, as she has abrasions and maggot infested sores due to lying on the ground. Despite the voice of animal welfare activists, several veterinarians and experts from different parts of India to revive Bijlee, her condition progressively deteriorated and she passed away on June 30th.

Petition Link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-australian-government-stop-this-cruelty

The Australian Government: STOP THIS CRUELTY!  

Factory Farms are self-regulated. This means that they can make the rules as to how they treat the animals which are ‘processed’ through their factories. In reality, it means that they can clip the teeth of piglets with pliers, cut off their tails and if they are male, castrate them. This is done while they are CONSCIOUS and without pain relief.

Petition Link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/united-states-federal-government-enforce-animal-abuse-laws-by-forming-federal-animal-police-harsher-punishment

United States Federal Government: Enforce animal abuse laws by forming federal animal police & harsher punishment

It’s a known fact based on studies and research that a person practices abuse/torture on helpless animals to move on to harming innocent people. There is also more behind all this animal abuse and dog fighting, such as gangs, illegal drugs, illegal ownership of firearms, etc. That can be stopped if we enforce animal abuse laws by forming federally funded undercover animal police investigators and create harsher punishment for violators.

Petition Link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/police-unlawful-arrest-and-animal-brutality-prosecute-the-corrupted-hawthorne-cops?utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

This video clearly shows the man video taping the police, which is NOT breaking any laws. He was ILLEGALLY arrested, and then his dog was shot. If he hadn’t been detained, the man’s dog wouldn’t have jumped out of the window to run to its owner. You can also see the man telling his dog to back off, and the dog was listening to it’s owner, until the Hawthorne Police Officer decided to shoot the poor dog.

There are dozens of animal petitions on Care2.  Here are the main links to the different categories as detailed.  Please just click on any link of your choice to then gain access to all animal petitions relating to that sector.

Care2 animal petitions:

Animal Abuse:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/animal-welfare/animal-abuse/

Animal Research:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/animal-welfare/animal-research/

Farm Animals:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/animal-welfare/farm-animals/

Pet Animals:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/animal-welfare/pets/

 

Change.org link for animal petitions:

http://www.change.org/topics/animals

 

Animal Aid petitions:

http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/ACTIVE/petitions/

 

Go Petitions – animal welfare:

http://www.gopetition.com/petition-campaigns/Animal-welfare/

 

Animals Australia petitions:

http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/petition.php

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

UK (London) – Raja Update and ‘Elephant Family’ Link. Please Donate for ‘Raja’. Please Also Sign the Petition.

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Indonesia

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Above: Innocent Raja

Below:  What Was Raja’s Home – Forest Destruction for Palm Oil Production

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By Mark Shand

PUBLISHED: 21:02 GMT, 29 June 2013 |

UPDATED: 08:07 GMT, 30 June 2013

In all the 30 years I have been working in Asian elephant conservation, I thought I had seen it all – blatant corruption, the rape and total disregard of our beautiful planet and sickening wildlife atrocities, to name but a few. All due to the most dangerous animal of all: homo sapiens.

Not much shocks me any more, but something happened in recent weeks that shook me to the core when the charity Elephant Family and the Ecologist Film Unit set out to document the environmental genocide that is out of control on the island of Sumatra,  Indonesia.

Sumatra is special to me because I spent a lot of time there on expeditions when I was younger. It was a paradise – vast pristine forests, intact coral reefs and abundant wildlife.

All this has changed now and their elephants are the most endangered on the planet. In a single generation, the population has been cut in half, with countless other animals disappearing at breakneck speed.

During the filming, a helpless, emaciated baby male elephant called Raja, who was barely a year old, was found in a village, shackled with heavy chains to a tree. He had been taken hostage by the villagers, who were demanding compensation from the Sumatran  government for the damage his family had done to their crops.

Can you believe that we are now  living in a world where people are actually holding baby elephants to ransom? It is almost unthinkable. But just look at the photographs – look at Raja, as he strains against his chains, waving his little trunk for food and reassurance. He is bellowing in desperation for his mother.

I have heard that sound of distressed calves many times in my life. It never fails to haunt me. But it is his eyes that haunt me more than anything – pleading for help – innocent, desperate and helpless.

A war is being waged across Asia. In the face of relentless deforestation, elephants are being forced out of their natural habitats and they have no choice but to share their living space with humans. As the elephants’ forest home is destroyed, stressed and starving herds flee from the chainsaws straight into villages.

They demolish everything in sight, trampling crops, flattening houses and often killing people. Frankly, you really cannot blame the villagers for taking such drastic steps in the sheer desperation to survive and feed their own families.

Capturing a baby elephant and holding it to ransom is grisly and depressing, but it is reality as humans and elephants fight for space.

People need to know why this is  happening. They need to understand what is driving this madness.

The cause is an innocently named product called palm oil. It’s a constituent part of almost everything that we use and consume – biscuits, margarine, ice cream, soap, shampoo. The list is endless.

And the blame lies firmly with the greed of the large corporations in the East that produce it as a cash crop to fuel the insatiable consumerism of the Westernworld. 

The thirst for palm oil is apparently unquenchable and its cultivation is ripping out the last great rainforests.

Although forest destruction and its lethal impact on endangered species are plain tosee, palm oil is practically an invisible ingredient, listed under the generic term ‘vegetable oil’.

April, Duta Palma, Sinar Mas and Sime Darby may not be household names, but these are just some of  the companies producing palm oil in Indonesia and selling it on to the  market for about £500 per ton.

L’Occitane, Ferrero, Cadbury, Ginster’s pasties, Clover margarine, Pringles, Kellogg’s, Haribo, Nestlé and Mars are just a few of the more familiar names of those that use palm oil.

All the major supermarkets use palm oil in their own-brand products. Some are better than others in getting palm oil from responsible sources, but the point is that it is everywhere and in everything. It is a silent assassin. Not until 2014 will there be a legal requirement for manufacturers to label palm oil on their products.

And, to make matters worse, the only certification body to monitor the production of so-called ‘sustainable’ palm oil is immensely flawed. Consumer industries are hiding behind a fallacy.

The verdant rainforest of Aceh in North Sumatra is one of the largest left in South-East Asia. It is the only place in the world where elephants, tigers, orang-utans and rhinos all still live together – a real life Jungle Book.

But, right now, the Aceh government is close to adopting a plan that would see hundreds of thousands of hectares of this forest opened up for the cultivation of palm oil. This ironically titled ‘Spatial Plan’ is nothing more than a deforestation plan – an extinction plan, seeking to legitimise the illegal felling that is already happening.

Environmentalists agree that we need to protect about 65 per cent of Aceh’s forest if we are to save its biodiversity. The government plan would allow for only 45 per cent to be protected – that’s a difference of way over a million hectares, or more than a million football pitches. The result would be a death blow for wildlife.

Ecosystems are cleared for oil palm plantations in Aceh Tamiang. This area is where the habitat was for Sumatran elephants, tigers and orangutans.

Not only will these iconic species be pushed to extinction, the local communities that rely on this forest will be even more exposed to natural disasters. Devastating landslides have already washed away buildings, including entire schools.

They will become unrelenting and vast areas of land will flood.

Wildlife will be forced into ever greater conflict with people, and elephants like Raja won’t stand a chance.

Sadly for him, it is too late. He died alone, still chained to that tree, though Elephant Family worked tirelessly for a week to negotiate his release.

Already we’ve discovered that another calf, this one just a month old, has been captured and held to ransom by local farmers. Everyone is working around the clock to make sure that this little calf survives. I am doubtful.

But in the grander scheme of things there is hope. If there wasn’t hope, I would have packed up my bags a long time ago.

If we can protect these forests and stop the new plan in Aceh from going ahead, then we’re taking a giant step in the right direction.

Hundreds of supporters have already written to the Aceh government  urging them to stop destroying their forests. But we need help. We need everyone to write.

Increased knowledge of palm oil and compulsory labelling will finally allow shoppers to make informed choices about what they buy. We need to push food manufacturers and retailers to support a transformation of the industry towards genuine sustainable palm oil, and we need to do it quickly.

I know for a fact that there is a truly powerful will to save these forests and these animals.

On July 9 in London, Elephant Family are holding a magnificent masked Animal Ball to raise urgently needed funds that will help us continue our work in Sumatra and across Asia. More than 600 guests are attending in support.

I know I should be excited about the ball. In many ways I am, because of the great opportunity it presents for conservation, but on the night I know that I will not be able to get Raja and others like him out of my mind.

The Asian elephant barely ever makes the headlines but this is one of the greatest wildlife stories of our time. We are close to losing one of the most enigmatic, iconic and ecologically vital species on the planet. The clock is ticking.

Please help us save Sumatra’s  elephants by contributing to the Raja Fund at

http://www.elephantfamily.org/ 

Elephant Family is a registered charity in England (no 1091671).

17-18 Hayward’s Place, London EC1R 0EQ. T: +44 (0)20 7251 5099  E: info@elephantfamily.org

http://www.elephantfamily.org/what-we-do/

Donations:  http://www.elephantfamily.org/donate

PETITION

The magnificent Asian elephant is of environmental, cultural and spiritual importance. But tragically, this iconic animal is on the brink of extinction due to massive habitat loss. It is simply running out of space and time.

Please sign our petition to make your voice heard by those who can act now before it is too late.

Petition:  http://www.elephantfamily.org/sign-our-petition

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

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