Animal activists stage protest in Beijing against China’s barbaric annual dog meat festival which sees tens of thousands of canines beaten to death and cooked

By TRACY YOU FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 11:16, 10 June 2016 | UPDATED: 19:24, 10 June 2016

“Nobody will die if dog & cat are taken off the menu!!!”

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT 

• Around 30 animal campaigners carried out the protest today in bid to stop Yulin dog meat festival in China
• The controversial festival sees as many as 10,000 animals butchered and eaten on summer solstice  
• A petition signed by over 11 million people has been submitted to the authority, animal charity claimed
• During the event, activists called Yulin in rural Guangxi Province a ‘scumbag’ and ‘a total embarrassment’ to China
  
  

A group of animal activists staged a protest today in Beijing in a bid to stop a Chinese dog-eating festival set to occur later this month.

This must stop: A group of around 30 animal activists staged a protest today in Beijing in a bid to stop the Yulin dog meat festival

The demonstration, initiated by three animal protection groups, submitted a petition allegedly signed by over 11 million people, calling on the Chinese authorities to end the Yulin dog meat festival.

The annual festival, which takes place in south China’s Guangxi Province, sees tens of thousands of animals beaten to death, cooked and sold on the market to celebrate summer solstice.

Around 30 activists carried out the protest outside of the Yulin government office as the petition was presented to the authority by three animal charities: Humane Society International, VShine and Beijing Mothers Against Animal Cruelty.

Pictures from today’s event show animal campaigners, many of whom brought their own pet dogs, holding signs saying ‘Scumbag of China’ in English and ‘Shame on Yulin’ in Simplified Chinese.

Wendy Higgins, the Director of International Media at Humane Society International, said over 11 million signatures had been collected worldwide through the internet to demand the festival to stop.

The petition also included signatures gathered by four other international animal welfare organisations. They are RaiseURPaw in Canada as well as the Duo Duo Project, Care2 and Avaaz from the United States.

The petition has been accepted by officials from the Yulin government in Beijing, according to Ms Higgins.

Peter Li, the China Policy Expert at Humane Society International, attended the protest in Beijing today.

Mr Li told MailOnline:

‘There was a huge presence of police, but our hand-in went very peacefully. It was a great feeling to join with our Chinese partner group activists in Beijing today, there was a tremendous sense of determination to get our voices heard to the global media, and to let the world know that many people across China want the brutal Yulin dog meat festival shut down.

He added: ‘We gave a show of strength and defiance against the dog thieves and the blatant animal cruelty, to say loudly – you will not steal our best friends! 

‘I hope that the authorities listen, they really should do as the strength of public upset about Yulin and the trade here in China is really growing.

‘Next stop for me is Yulin, where I have been a number of times before, for the grim task of visiting the slaughterhouses before the festival starts.’

Sickening feast: Residents in Yulin tucked in their dinner made with dog meat during last year’s festival. Many of the animals, which were caged and beaten before being slaughtered, are thought to be stolen pets!

Xu Yufeng, founder of Beijing Mothers Against Animal Cruelty who were also present at the protest, said: ‘Yulin is a total embarrassment to China. 

‘Its failure to stop mass dog slaughter and mass dog consumption shows that the local authorities are not doing their job to protect the people, especially young children.

‘We urge the Yulin authorities to stand on the right side of history and to end the “festival” in the interests of public security, food safety, social morality and China’s reputation.’ 

Another member of the protesters, Pan Danyang from China-based small animal protection group VShine, said:

‘This is the third year of our participation in the nation-wide campaign against the Yulin dog meat festival. ‘Since we have over the last few years helped accommodate dogs rescued from the dog meat trade, we know Yulin’s dog meat market relies on dogs from suspicious sources. ‘I hope that Yulin authorities will take actions to stop the dog trucks from going into their city so that the mass slaughter on the summer solstice day won’t happen.’

Visitors play with rescued dogs at a shelter ran by Yang Xiaoyun in Tianjin, China, July 8, 2015. Yang said she spent 300,000 RMB (48,248 USD) to purchase 500 dogs to rescue them from dog meat dealers at Yulin’s annual dog meat festival last month. She keeps more than 1,000 dogs in her shelters, mostly abandoned or she purchased from dog meat traders. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

 

To learn more & signn other petitions, please visit the following, just a handful of sites that contain very informative material:-

•  https://twitter.com/2016yulin
• http://stopyulinforever.org/
• http://blog.change.org/gb/feed/more-than-19million-people-back-petition-calling-for-an-end-to-the-yulin-dog-meat-festival
• http://www.wildlifeplanet.net/stop-the-yulin-2016-festival.html
• http://www.wildlifeplanet.net/400-dogs-and-cats-saved-from-slaughter-at-the-yulin-dog-meat-eating-festival.html
• http://dailycaller.com/2016/06/08/activists-to-picket-chinese-embassy-over-massive-dog-meat-festival/

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3634923/Animal-activists-stage-protest-Beijing-against-China-s-barbaric-annual-dog-meat-festival-sees-tens-thousands-canines-beaten-death-cooked.html

 

UPDATE: Circus Malta: Petition Supporting Animal Circuses Gains 5,000 Signatures

Thursday 9 January 2014

Most animal charities & the public want to see a ban worldwide of wild animals being used in circuses. Now the owner of this circus is circulating his own petition to keep his Malta circus open. So please if you don’t agree with animals performing degrading tricks, kept behind bars & of course the cruelty that has been documented in circuses: PLEASE SIGN THE PETITIONS BELOW. We can’t let this circus continue, if it does through its petition, the flood gates for circuses using wild animals may open again; that would be tragic after all the hard work has been done to stop them!!

Circus promoter says 2013 could be last year for animal circuses in Malta due to the proposed ban.

But circus promoter Silvio Zammit has collected 5,000 signatures as part of a petition to overturn a proposal to ban animal circuses.

The circus has now moved to Ghajnsielem, Gozo, where Zammit hopes to continue collecting more signatures. The petition will then be passed on to the competent authorities.

Zammit, who has been bringing circuses to Malta for the past 16 years, said he could not allow the banning of animal circuses from Malta without taking any action.

“It was a personal initiative after finding out that the government had moved on to publish a White Paper proposing to ban animal circuses,” he said.

See all the animals, such as, Long horn cattle, Donkeys, Lama, Camels, Lions, Tigers, Zebra, Elephant, Giraffe, Baboon, Horses, Ponies, Donkeys performing pitiful & degrading acts; acts they would never do in the wild. The animal acts stop at 12 mins; then the human artists perform!I believe the only thing not seen is the Hippo; but is in a video below!!

Circo Orfei Floriana Malta 1st January 2012

Uploaded on 2 Jan 2012 – By levelone12

He argued that only 390 persons took part in the consultation process initiated by the government, of which 49% said they were against such a circus.

“We know that the majority of these were NGOs, and NGOs do not reflect popular opinion. I am doing this petition on my own. I know that there are many others who would like to sign it, but I have neither the time nor the manpower to go on a nation-wide petition,” Zammit said.

He said he was “very happy” with the number of signatures collected: “This shows that the Maltese do love the circus. They won’t flood the streets of Valletta with placards to support the circus.”

He also said that a number of MPs from both sides of the House visited Circo Orfei this winter. “Some came with their children while others accompanied their grandchildren. They thanked me for the level of the show and all said they had fun,” Zammit said.

He however refused to name them.

The debate as to whether Malta should ban animal circuses for good has been going on for a number of years, with animal rights NGOs insisting that circuses solely operate to maximise profits while completely disregarding the safety of the animals and the adverse effects they may impose.

Animal Rights Coalition said veterinarians only attend to the animal’s physical needs and as a result, the psychological issues brought about by the circuses are not being addressed.

With a number of countries moving to ban animal circuses for good, Zammit said in Italy alone there were 800 circuses. He said the UK was one of the countries which will stop animal circuses as from next year. “But this was the result of many circuses caught mistreating their animals,” he said, adding that the circus he brought to Malta did not see animals performing any tricks and only a minimal part of the show was dedicated to animals.

Zammit argued that the circus animals were born in captivity “and therefore they do not know otherwise. Their trainers threat them like their pets”.

He said Animal Welfare Department officials and veterinarians made regular checks to verify that the animals were well-kept.

Circo Orfei’s travelling team is made up of 60 people, whose living depends on the shows, Zammit said.

“This is their life. They are a community who live on the road and have been doing so for years on end. This is how they earn a living… their bread and butter,” he said.

The Animal Rights Coalition has also called for a full ban on dolphinaria and aquaria. The coalition has said it was unjust to deny dolphins the right to roam free in their natural habitat and called for the ban on dolphinariums as these restrict the creatures to a mere pool.

The Coalition also said that this should extend to aquaria as in this case, animals are likewise being “confined to cages and restricted from roaming in their natural habitat”.

Protesters outside circus. Image from http://www.timesofmalta.com –

But Zammit feels that two weights and two measures were being applied when talking about animal circuses and aquaria.

He also said that circuses gave people the opportunity to see animals which would otherwise require them to travel abroad to zoos or safaris.

He insisted that a proper discussion was required and said he agreed that animals like elephants, pandas and monkeys should be banned. “What we have in our circus are horses, ponies, donkeys and tigers,” he said, adding that tigers in captivity lived for an average of 25 years while those in the wild lived for 12 years.

Circo Orfei also has a hippo and an emu as part of their travelling repertoire. 

News Link:–http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Petition-supporting-animal-circuses-gains-5-000-signatures-20140108

Petitions to ban wild animals in circuses:-We must get the ban in place before this circus succeeds with their petition to continue

• http://www.thepetitionsite.com/114/712/149/ban-animal-circuss-in-malta/
• http://www.thepetitionsite.com/971/361/878/ban-the-use-of-wild-animals-in-us-circuses/
• http://www.change.org/petitions/dolphins-don-t-belong-in-traveling-circus
• http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/animalslavery/
• http://www.thepetitionsite.com/112/127/279/stop-brian-boswells-circus/
• http://www.thepetitionsite.com/903/573/553/no-bears-at-the-bolshoi-circus/
• http://forcechange.com/91545/commend-ban-on-wild-animals-in-circuses/
• http://www.stopcircussuffering.com/ – Petition is within the link

Published on 7 Jan 2013 – This video shows the hippo in the ring, but its towards the end of the video, after the trapeze act! What the hell is a hippo doing in a circus? Bloody outrageous!! Search Circo Orfei on You Tube to see all the animals when not entertaining  :-http://youtu.be/GEMx3YVIRmg 

Published on 10 Jan 2013 – Tiger & Lion Act:-http://youtu.be/aHeMPaW_d20

Published on 6 Sep 2013 – This is about the lions & tigers in the outside enclosure plus RARE WHITE LIONS & TIGERS?? Are they interbreeding??:-http://youtu.be/K40RjOFsX4c

My previous posts on circus in Malta etc.:–

• https://preciousjules1985.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/last-two-animal-circuses-in-malta-before-ban-imposed-petitions-to-sign/
• https://preciousjules1985.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/animal-circuses-may-be-banned-in-malta-by-end-of-the-year-petitions-to-sign/

Australia Takes Japan To The International Courts Over Killing Whales

I just received this & wanted to share it, whales have to be saved. They don’t produce young like dogs or cats do, if it doesn’t stop soon, our grandchildren won’t see wild whales; swimming freely in the ocean !!

July 16, 2013

Dear Julie,

In a landmark case, Australia has taken Japan to the International Court of Justice over its ‘scientific whaling’ program—one that kills hundreds of whales every year in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary. Japan, Iceland and Norway all continue their whale hunts, despite the fact that these gentle ocean creatures already face increasing challenges posed by marine pollution, climate change, ship-strikes, bycatch, and more.

Urge nations to make their waters whale-friendly.

While the court’s decision on Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean is expected by the end of the year, there has never been a more opportune time to pressure whaling nations to stop the cruel practice of commercial whaling.

Make your voice heard today.

Whales Need Refuge

In 1986, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling; yet even today, several countries continue the cruel practice. Why? Because under the 1946 IWC Convention, two loopholes allow countries to kill under the pretense of “official objection” or “scientific whaling.” However it’s labeled, whales are dying for commercial gain.

There is no excuse for continuing to allow this barbaric and outdated practice, especially as other threats to whales such as pollution and climate change increase. It is time to call on all nations to safeguard whales from this cruel and unnecessary threat to whales in their waters.

Join us in calling on world leaders to make their waters whale-friendly by banning commercial hunting and the transit of whale products, thereby giving whales needed refuge everywhere they feed, breed and migrate. No exceptions.

Please sign:-http://action.hsi.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=104&ea.campaign.id=21617&ea.tracking.id=email&ea.url.id=156007&ea.campaigner.email=KmIGskm9q9s8Id8OlpmXxz%2BUx/5a9CUY&ea_broadcast_target_id=0

No Room For Whaling in the 21st Century

  Published on 28 Jun 2012

Whales face so many substantial threats–including climate change, pollution, entanglement, ship strikes–and all of these pale in comparison to hunting by Japan, Norway, and Iceland. These hunts are inhumane and unsustainable. What’s worse, the meat isn’t selling. Get involved, join us and help us protect these magnificent animals who really need our help! http://www.hsi.org/iwc

‘Rescue Sanctuary’ Family Convicted of 16 Animal Cruelty Offences

“Animals coming out of abusive homes, go to these places, expecting the best care, to aid in their recovery! But this just proves, yet again, anybody can set up a sanctuary; yet be capable of inflicting serious harm to animals, because they don’t love them!!. Don’t these places have to be licensed & inspected regularly?? If so, what happened?? It’s sad to say but some people see animals as an easy way to make money….they don’t love animals & have no interest in aiding animals to recover; they are just a means to an end!”

“I have no sympathy for those who abuse or neglect animals in their care & believe as a business, scamming everyone; they should receive the most serious of charges! How would you feel, if you had donated money to a sanctuary, only to learn that it mistreat’s its animals? terrible I’m guessing. So before you part with your money, even if the place has a flashy internet site etc…make your own investigations before you part with any donation. I think these so-called sanctuary’s need a lot more intervention from animal society’s like the RSPCA or HSI etc., depending where they are in the world…they need to be verified, that they are taking care of the animals in their charge; as they should!! Certainly no animals should have to be rescued from a so-called sanctuary; as in this case!!”

“Think about this, hotels are given star ratings, after being approved…yet animal sanctuary’s can pop up anywhere, with no interest what so ever in taking care of the animals…to them it’s just a money maker…wanting your donation!! Perhaps animal sanctuaries should be star rated to reflect the level of care the animals receive. Shame there were no pictures of this uncaring, selfish family. But similar folk are around us all, animal lovers must be vigilant & fight together to stand up for the rights of animals; if we don’t who will. Your local council representatives & governments are supposed to listen & work for their constituents; if they have no interest in animal welfare & don’t care….make some noise & get them booted out!!”

A family who ran an animal sanctuary in Oxfordshire have been found guilty of 16 offences of cruelty.

More than 100 animals, including 14 horses, were removed from Crunchies Animal Rescue Sanctuary, near Abingdon, in January 2012.

Eight people — Angela Russell, her carer Daniel Bunyan, father Fred, son Robert, daughters Kirsty and Louise, her brother Peter and niece Abigail McHugh — went on trial in April at Bicester Magistrates Court. They were charged with 16 offences, including failing to provide inadequate nutrition and veterinary care.

On Monday (24 June), all bar Peter Russell and Daniel Bunyan were convicted of all 16 offences at at Bicester Magistrates Court.

District judge Tim Pattison said: “I echo the words of RPSCA inspector Douglas Davidson that Crunchies was ‘an animal welfare disaster’; a sea of mud and faeces and, in short, a rescue centre from which animals needed to be rescued.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (27 June 2013)

News Link:- http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/family-convicted-of-animal-cruelty-offences/#98wbvdMzcbEdAGSE.99 

Police: Florida Man Kills, Then Cooks Family Pit Bull

“WTF…If this sick bxxxxxd doesn’t get prison, then what’s the point in having a justice system for animals?”

Tampa, Fla. (WTSP-TV) – A Tampa man is facing animal cruelty charges after he allegedly killed his family’s pet dog, and then cut the animal up for future meals.

Killed Pt Bull, cut it up & cooked it

Investigators say 25-year-old Thomas Elliot Huggins strangled the young pit bull mix pup on Thursday morning, and then cut the animal into quarters and put the remains in the freezer.

A family member called police after learning what happened. Arriving officers say they found the dog’s ribs cooked in a pot on the stove, and the animal’s head was in the garbage.

An investigator with Hillsborough Animal Services tells 10 News that Huggins “expertly” cut the animal apart, and this may not be the first time he’s done this.

Huggins was taken into custody and charged for the inhumane and cruel killing of the dog, and is currently in jail on $2,000 bond.

Animal Control took possession of the remains.

News Link:-http://www.13wmaz.com/news/article/237229/155/Police-Florida-Man-Kills-Then-Cooks-Family-Pit-Bull

Graphic Images:Toro Jubilo Fiesta: Where It Is Legal To Set A Bull On fire: In The Name Of Entertainment

“If there is a way to torment a bull (amongst other animals) or inflict pain, whilst calling it a tradition, therefore a part of culture; you can count on some countries to do so. Spain being one of them for allowing this particularly horrific show.” 

IF you thought bullfighting was bad, prepare to be even more revolted. These shocking images of a bull with its head engulfed in flames are of the Toro Jubilo, an annual festival in the town of Medinaceli in central Spain.

The bull is burnt alive and taunted by the public before it is butchered/ solarpix

Celebrated every November, the twisted revelry centres around the prolonged torture of a bull by attaching flares of burning pitch to its horns and then goading it as the poor creature thrashes around in terror and desperate agony.

All in the name of tradition and entertainment. Yet ludicrously the Spanish insist that it causes no distress to the bull. “Then let them replace the bull”

This year’s fiesta began at 11.30pm on Saturday and attracted 1,500 people – a crowd almost twice the town’s population. Small children clapped and cheered along with their parents as 30 men dragged the bull into the town square by a rope wound round its horns.

The square had been scattered with sand to turn it into a makeshift bullring. Men then lit a circle of five bonfires to complete the transformation while a brass band played in the background.

Image for Ref. Only

The bull – a three-year-old named Liebro – had arrived in Medinaceli an hour and a half earlier on a lorry from Gallur ranch in the province of Aragon. Now it fought with every muscle in its body as the men forced it to the ground, tied it to a wooden post and strapped a wood and steel frame to its horns.

Attached to this grotesque headdress were torches soaked in pitch – a mixture of turpentine and sulphur. The men then smothered the bull’s face and neck in mud to stop its fur catching fire before igniting the torches.

When they were aflame the bull was cut free from the post and began to run around the ring, furiously shaking its head as red hot droplets fell from the torches on to its face.

Young men played at matadors, taunting the bull with coats spread open like capes. When the animal charged they leapt over a safety fence, the spectators cheering them all the way.

Can you see the shear terror & agony on the face of that bull??? Who could carry on such barbarity??

After 40 minutes the bull was exhausted as well as petrified. It came to a halt with breath steaming out of its nostrils, saliva dripping from its mouth and the hide on its flanks charred black.

When the torches finally burned out, hundreds of fire crackers were set off, terrifying the bull further before it was led out of the ring to be slaughtered. The locals then celebrated by partying until 6am. The fiesta of the Toro Jubilo (jubilant bull) is said to date back 400 years but the dictator General Franco banned it in 1962 after the British press revealed its cruelty to the world.

However, the ban was lifted in 1977 and the festival revived in Medinaceli, which lies 100 miles north-east of Madrid.

” This is nothing but sadistic torture, if someone has to see this sadistic evil torture to have fun, there is something seriously wrong with them!”

A petrified bull stands as the hot liquid flows down the bulls face, blooded mouth from running into objects desperately trying to stop the suffering!….Really is that what they call entertainment…suitable for children?

THE FESTIVAL has been accorded special cultural status by the authorities of Castile and Leon in Spain and the municipality of Medinaceli is applying for it to be awarded Intangible Cultural Heritage status by Unesco.

“This is part of our cultural heritage,” argued Walter Jesus Moreno, 33, one of the participants. “The bull doesn’t suffer at all.” No the bull doesn’t suffer, just look at the above picture, the bull is having a great time…NOT “Let him say that after someone straps lit flames above his head, ignorant bxxxxxd”

But animal rights groups in both Spain and Britain are campaigning to have the festival banned. Mark Jones, a vet and UK executive director of the Humane Society International, told the Daily Express: “This barbaric festival causes the animal phenomenal stress and fear. The animal would be incredibly frightened by the whole process.

In this day and age people shouldn’t be using animals in this way for their entertainment and they shouldn’t be using culture as an excuse for cruelty.“ Well said Mr Jones”

Spanish animal rights groups say there are numerous fiestas based on animal cruelty around the country. “In the province of Valencia alone there are 6,000 festivals involving cruelty to bulls. It is barbaric and has to stop.”

The Toro Jubilo fiesta which took place in Medinaceli last year had been banned between 1962 until 1977 after some British reporters denounced the fiesta and the authorities responded by banning its celebration, but now times have changed.” We have done it before, so lets do it again & stop these heinous forms of entertainment”

“Medinaceli Town Hall has this year started the application for the ‘Toro de Fuego’ fiesta to be recognised by UNESCO to obtain ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ protection for the practice which has been going on for hundreds of years. I just hope amongst the panel who say yea or nea or some animmal”

“UNESCO purpose is to contribute peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science, and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the UN Charter.”

“Do you seriously think the right to torture animals via so called traditions; can be included in the above?”

Spanish animal rights groups say there are numerous fiestas based on animal cruelty around the country.
In previous years they have organised demonstrations in Medinaceli to protest against the festival but they have had no effect in deterring the locals who see it as their cultural right.

Now they are concentrating on pressuring politicians into banning the fiesta. Silvia Barquero, spokeswoman for PACMA, a political party campaigning for animal rights, said: “In Spain, there are hundreds of festivals involving burning bulls and thousands more involving other forms of cruelty.

“In the province of Valencia alone there are 6,000 festivals involving cruelty to bulls. It is barbaric and has to stop.”

This poor bull looks like he just wants to give up, enough of the pain & torture!!

“I have never seen such pain captured in single images as these have done. They should make all those who support this cruelty, feel so ashamed!!!

“Honestly…can anyone look at that poor bull without conscience, without feeling its unrelenting pain, through burning flesh, his poor eyes singed & scorched so much by the heat he can barely see; the poor beast  runs into walls, through the fires set alight around the arena”.

Exhaustion: Gasping for air, the bull reaches a state of exhaustion after nearly 45 minutes of torment and is soon dragged out the ring by villagers.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article-2232031/Toro-Jubilo-The-grotesque-Spanish-bull-burning-festival-animal-rights-campaigners-want-banned.html

“Well if you can’t muster up any sympathy for this, then I would prefer you to clear off my blog; you best go nosy around someone else’s, who doesn’t care about how animals are treated by human beings.”

Blood flows from the bulls mouth & nose where it tried to ram walls to put the fire out & end it’s nightmare!!

News Link:-http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/357709/Bull-is-set-on-fire-and-tortured-for-entertainment-in-Spainish-traditionrrrrrrrrrr

“This is a festival of animal abuse, showing you children that’s it’s ok to treat an animal with such heinous acts of barbarity”

Uploaded by talibanser on 13 Nov 2011

Translation

One more night of animal abuse. PACMA complaint with a video of an animal suffering during the so-called ‘Toro Jubilo’, in which the bull by the horns remains tied to a pole to more easily set you an iron frame on which capture calls “fish balls “made ​​with oakum, turpentine and sulfur.

“Please sign the following petitions to stop this horrific torture:”

• http://www.change.org/petitions/live-bull-to-be-set-on-fire-spain-action-needed
• http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/firebull—stop-the-burning-of-live-bulls/
• http://forcechange.com/33843/stop-setting-live-bulls-on-fire-in-spain/

Brian May heads to Bristol for badger cull rally

Queen guitarist to front event that marks launch of national campaign called ‘Stop the Cull’ led by animal welfare charities opposed to cull

Queen guitarist Brian May will be in Bristol next week as part of a rally against government plans to introduce a cull of badgers.

The rally marks the launch of a national campaign called ‘Stop the Cull’ – led by animal welfare charities opposed to the cull, including the RSPCA, League Against Cruel Sports, Save Me and Humane Society International (UK).

Campaigners will wear badger costumes at the free event. The charities are urging local people to come along and demonstrate their opposition to the cull.

The pilot culls are designed to reduce tuberculosis in cattle. Farmers and the government say the disease, which can be spread by badgers as well as among cattle, has become a huge cost to the industry. In 2010-11, nearly 25,000 cattle were slaughtered in England at a cost of £91m in government compensation.

But the charities say scientific studies have shown that culling would be of little help in reducing the disease and even suggest that it could make things worse in some areas.

Research undertaken by the Independent Scientific Group that took nearly a decade, cost approximately £50million and the lives of 11,000 badgers concluded “badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain”, they say.

The Stop the Cull campaign is pushing for the government to rethink their policy and implement a vaccination programme, along with increased levels of testing, improved farm biosecurity and stricter controls on the movement of cattle rather than culling 70% of the badger population, the vast majority of which are disease free.

Gavin Grant, chief executive of the RSPCA said: “The RSPCA and many other organisations oppose the cull of badgers for both scientific and animal welfare reasons. The campaign is rapidly gaining public support and over 100,000 objections to the cull have been recorded to date. The Government should look at the science, the results achieved in Wales and change their policy to one of vaccination – let’s cure and not kill.”

Meanwhile, their campaign has drawn cross-party support from Bristol, including leading Conservatives. Bristol24-7 reported in March that the Conservative Party spokesman in Bristol West had urged the coalition government to scrap its controversial plans.

Graham Godwin-Pearson’s statement came after Conservative think-tank the Bow Group unveiled a major paper saying the culls were likely to be more costly and less practical to conduct than ministers believe.

Mr Godwin-Pearson, the principle author and Tory spokesman in the Bristol West constituency, added the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) focus should be on vaccination instead.

The rally on Tuesday will take place at College Green from 4.30-7pm.

News Link:–http://www.bristol247.com/2012/09/07/brian-may-heads-to-bristol-for-badger-cull-rally-81576/

HM Government Petition:-http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257

Kill the Cull, Not England’s Badgers

Published on 5 Sep 2012 by HSI

Time is running out for England‘s badgers — 7 out of 10 are slated to be shot in two trail areas; if the full policy is then rolled out up to 130,000 badgers in England could be killed. Not only is the government’s policy misguided, HSI is greatly concerned that many thousands of badgers could be injured and left to suffer a slow and painful death. Live in the UK? See how you can help

http://www.hsi.org/issues/badger_slaughter/?utm_source=desc090412&utm_med…

What can you do?

Hundreds of supporters attended the successful badger cull public meeting hosted by the League in Taunton on Friday 20th July read more>>. A second successful meeting followed on Wednesday 25th July in Tewkesbury.

Sign our petition against the cull. You can alsodownload a paper version of the petition to get your friends and family to sign.

If you can help out the campaign by joining one of our local groups, holding a street stall, talking to your MPs or writing letters to the press then please get in touch with our campaigns team.

If you live in one of the cull areas of west Gloucestershire or west Somerset then please sign our declaration stating that you will not allow the cull on your land.

 

 Why are they going to cull badgers?

The trials are part of government efforts to tackle the spread of bovine tuberculosis amongst cattle. The disease has a devastating affect on farmers and tens of thousands of cattle are slaughtered each year as a result.

Badgers were discovered to be infected with bTB in the mid 1970s and they have since been implicated in the transmission of infection to cattle.

Following a ten year study in which 10,000 badgers were trapped and culled to establish whether localised culling of badgers helps to reduce bTB the Independent Scientific Group (ISG) who carried out the experiment concluded that ‘badger culling cannot meaningfully contribute to the future control of cattle TB in Britain’.

Read some of the scientific arguments from both sides about the effectiveness of badger culling.

What will happen in the trials?

The trials are designed to test the effectiveness, humaneness and safety of the controlled shooting of badgers. If after a year free-shooting is ruled out, then farmers will be legally obliged to continue the cull on a much more costly ‘trap and shoot’ basis for the remaining years of their licence.

If the trials go ahead then shooting will start in autumn in two areas the first in west Somerset, partly in Taunton Deane and the second mainly within the Forest of Dean and Tewkesbury, and partly in the districts of Wychavon, Malvern Hills and west Gloucestershire. The trials will take place over six weeks.

The shooting will take place at night, and will be carried out by trained marksmen using high-powered rifles. Their remit will be to kill at least 70% of the badgers in each of the trial areas. The killing will be non-selective, but the majority of those killed will be healthy. Of the small percentage of badgers which may be carrying bovine TB, very few will be infectious and therefore capable of transmitting the disease.

News Link:-http://www.league.org.uk/content/643/Badger-Cull

Petition from The League Against Cruel Sports:-https://www.e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=122&ea.campaign.id=12310

Can you help the Badger cull ? YES YOU CAN…

Please only sign this declaration if you live in the pilot areas of west Gloucestershire and west Somerset. 

You can Downloadable materials that can help you, help them!

There’s plenty of other things you can do to fight the badger cull, write to your MP (find out who represents you here), collect petition signatures or even display a window poster!

Download some of our materials using the links below.

• Petition
• Sample letters
• Downloadable window poster
• Infographic
• Q & A
• Leaflet

Petition:- Urge David Cameron To Stop The Cull:–http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/wildlife/stop-the-cull?source=CAMP_Badgers_030912%20remainder&utm_source=Campaigns&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ButtonTakeAction&utm_campaign=CAMP_Badgers_030912%20remainder&spMailingID=4750847&spUserID=MTQ2MTQ0OTMwOTkS1&spJobID=285750438&spReportId=Mjg1NzUwNDM4S0

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION ON ANIMAL WELFARE

 

“As a follow on from the previous posts, nothing will change unless we make it change…I see animals  as sentient beings…but I have to convince others of it too! Why, because too many people think animals are only there for human consumption, human ridicule, human torment, human entertainment, garden ornaments, throw away items etc. Truly understand the meaning of ‘sentient’ which is; capable of feeling! So if it breathes & bleeds, just like animals sent to slaughter… it can feel pain…just like we can!!” 

“Hard to believe but it’s true, so please, do the right thing by signing the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare…because  farm animals, horses, etc. feel exactly the same feelings as your pet dog or cat, some may not be as smart, but they hurt all the same…they are sentient beings… just like us!!”

Please support the campaign to achieve a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) at the United Nations.

In principle, the Universal Declaration will call on the United Nations to recognise animals as sentient beings, capable of experiencing pain and suffering, and to recognise that animal welfare is an issue of importance as part of the social development of nations worldwide.

The campaign to achieve the UDAW is being co-ordinated by the World Society for the Protection of Animals, with a core working group including Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Humane Society International (HSI).

A Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare would be an agreement among people and nations that:

• Animals are sentient and can suffer
• Animals’ welfare needs must be respected
• Animal cruelty must end for good.

View the draft declaration ( 65KB)

What will it achieve?

The adoption of a UDAW by the United Nations would:

• Establish animal welfare as an international issue
• Encourage governments to improve and enforce national animal welfare legislation by providing a benchmark
• Recognise that animal welfare is a key factor in humanitarian and environmental policy making
• Encourage industries which use animals to keep welfare at the forefront
• Acknowledge the risks to animals caused by environmental factors such as climate change, habitat loss and pollution
• Create a more compassionate global attitude to animal welfare, including their needs and habitats

A declaration would also enhance the lives of over 1 billion people who rely on animals for their livelihoods, and the countless others look to animals for companionship.

You can support this campaign by signing the “Animals Matter to me” petition:

Visit the petition website and sign the declaration

Link:-http://www.ciwf.org.uk/animal_sentience/universal_declaration_on_animal_welfare/default.aspx

 

New Report Documents Yahoo! Profits From Killing Endangered Whales and Dolphins

Internet giant urged to ban all sales of whale and dolphin products

Hundreds of whale products for sale on the Japanese website of Internet search engine company Yahoo! show how the California-based company profits from the venture, according to a new report released today that can be found by clicking here.

“Killing for Commerce,” released by the Environmental Investigation Agency, in conjunction with Humane Society International and the Natural Resources Defense Council, details how the website Yahoo! Japan facilitates the sale of meat and other products of endangered whale in Japan. EIA tests have also turned up evidence that products derived of dolphin are sold.

“Yahoo! continues to ignore international outrage over the sale of whale and dolphin products via its Japanese website, even as it continues to profit from the slaughter of whales and dolphins,” said EIA President Allan Thornton.

Although Yahoo! has banned the sale of endangered and protected species from all other Yahoo! sites, EIA, HSI and NRDC are deeply concerned that the company has made no significant effort to persuade its Japanese subsidiary to end the sale of whale and dolphin products.

The report shows how in March, Yahoo! Japan was found offering 249 whale products, including sashimi, bacon and canned whale meat, for sale on its fee-based sales and auction sites. That’s around 100 more listings of individual products than Amazon’s Japanese website was found to be selling when it was exposed earlier this year. In response to pressure from around the world, Amazon swiftly announced a ban on all such sales.

The report also confirms that many of the products are from internationally protected great whale species including fin, sei, minke, sperm and Bryde’s whale – all of whom are protected under the moratorium on commercial whaling established by the International Whaling Commission in 1986 and have the highest level of protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. In one example, despite the international trade ban, seven companies on Yahoo! Japan’s website were selling endangered fin whale imported from Iceland.

“Yahoo! should respect international laws rather than offering market access to those who want to profit from flouting these protective agreements,” said Kitty Block, vice president of HSI.

Moreover, whale products sold via the Japanese website have been found harmful to human health. EIA commissioned laboratory tests on 10 products purchased from the website and found that five exceeded Japan’s guidelines for mercury levels in food for human consumption. One product was 16 times the “safe” limit.

“We appeal to Yahoo! to follow Amazon’s lead and stop the sale of all whale and dolphin products,” said Taryn Kiekow, staff attorney for NRDC. “By selling these products, Yahoo! Japan is condoning the slaughter of internationally recognized endangered and protected species. Whale meat is not only unsafe for human consumption; it is a travesty for the biological diversity of our oceans.”

News Link:-http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2012/06/yahoo_whales_dolphins_060612.html