THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IS FAILING EUROPEAN ANIMALS

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When meat is imported into the European Union the law stipulates that the animal must have been slaughtered in line with EU legislation.

However, when EU animals are exported, the same rules are not afforded to them and instead they can face brutal treatment and long drawn out slaughter.

Every year three million European animals are sent on long, stressful journeys to be fattened or slaughtered outside the EU. A vast number of these go to the Middle East where Compassion’s recent investigation, in partnership with Animals Australia, has uncovered immeasurable suffering.

Please take a moment to watch the film and slideshow below to find out more about this deplorable trade. Be warned; some of the film is distressing to watch, but it’s essential concerned citizens find out where European animals are ending their journeys.

Take action against the EU’s cruel live animal export trade

 

Published on 27 Feb 2014

Every year three million European animals are sent on long, stressful journeys to be fattened or slaughtered outside the EU. A vast number of these go to the Middle East where Compassion’s recent investigation, in partnership with Animals Australia, has uncovered immeasurable suffering.

Please take a moment to watch the film and find out more about this deplorable trade. Be warned, some of the film is distressing to watch, but it’s essential that concerned citizens find out where European animals are ending their journeys.

Watch, share and take action herehttp://goo.gl/tEQQ2R

Please take a moment to watch and share our investigation. Warning: Due to its upsetting nature, you may need to verify that you are over 18 to watch the film.

When European farm animals are exported to non-EU countries every shred of protection they once received in their place of birth is rendered meaningless.

After enduring long, exhausting journeys by land and sea they may face terrifying ordeals at slaughter.

Animals are dragged by their limbs, bound up with ropes, pinned down by groups of men, beaten with metal rods, suspended upside down for extended periods of time, and eventually slaughtered in unacceptable ways that leave them conscious for many minutes after having their throats cut.

The European Commission has the power to take steps to stop this, but as each day passes without action more and more animals continue to suffer.

  • The European Commission must work towards ending the live export trade and if necessary replacing it with a trade in meat.
  • While a trade in exporting live animals continues, the European Commission must implement a scheme that will guarantee exported animals are treated in ways that prevent the worst of the suffering.
  • The European Commission must provide practical support to countries that import live animals from the EU in order that they can improve transport, handling and slaughter methods. This will not only improve the welfare of EU animals but also of any other animals slaughtered in those countries.

Please take action today. Email the Commission and call for an end to this suffering.

News Link:-http://action.ciwf.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=119&ea.campaign.id=25833&ea.tracking.id=7774353c&utm_campaign=transport&utm_source=actionemail&utm_medium=email&ea.url.id=204606&ea.campaigner.email=KmIGskm9q9s8Id8OlpmXxz%2BUx/5a9CUY&ea_broadcast_target_id=0

Please sign the petition at the above link Or below

http://action.ciwf.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=119&ea.campaign.id=25833&ea.tracking.id=7774353c&utm_campaign=transport&utm_source=actionemail&utm_medium=email&ea.url.id=204606&ea.campaigner.email=KmIGskm9q9s8Id8OlpmXxz%2BUx/5a9CUY&ea_broadcast_target_id=0

Please also take a moment to share the results of this investigation and call on others to take action with you!:-www.ciwf.org/EUliveexports

Media Gallery

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Best Petitions To Sign: Ban Bestiality…You Can Help!!

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“I first published the article on bestiality back in July, it didn’t really get any interest…until now…with the interest shown on Twitter…please bear with me, I’m not at my best & in a lot of pain…but so many of you want answers…so I have posted the best of what I know…apologies if some are repeated sites etc.”

“If there is only one thing you take from this…please read the very last postA Message from an Angel”

“Petitions may be repeated, but it won’t do any harm to click & make sure you signed them. I’m glad people are listening & seeing it for what it is…Sadistic Neanderthals…Raping sentient beings, without consent. In a court of law, rape is considered rape if either party did not consent!!! Animals can’t bloody speak…so how are they supposed to consent?”

“We have all seen a dog at some point hump a cushion or someone’s leg, & we laugh about it…but when it is that dog that is being humped…there is a big bloody distinction…the person doing it is physiologically disturbed…that will then manifest itself into other abhorrent crimes!!”

“Think about it, for every story you hear about bestiality there are 100 more that you don’t. People get away with this because it’s behind closed door’s. Only if a dog was harmed, like the post I did recently about Gina, the dog that died from being constantly raped, will it get any attention  But, if that dog wasn’t taken to the vets; the rape would still be going on!

“The animals are helpless victims and have no ability to stop the incredible pain and suffering being inflicted upon them. It is up to advocates everywhere to speak out and be heard in order to end this atrocity”

“Not all vets have to contact police if they suspect an animal has been raped…but I would hope to dear God their conscience would make them do so!”

“So, as far as I am concerned, throughout my research, these are among the best petitions to sign regarding Bestiality. Most of the human crime, especially the rape of small children…come from those who start off with animals. Which is why it is imperative that a Animal Abuse Register is created alongside the Sex Offenders list”

IF YOU ARE AS SICKENED & REPULSED AS I, THEN …PLEASE SIGN…ALL”

EU: please ban bestiality

 Bestiality is a worldwide occurrence and Europe is not free from it.

​In some countries members of the European Union raping an animal carries no punishment, and in Denmark it is even perfectly legal to run animal brothels. Although the legality of bestiality has been questioned on a number of occasions, a Danish parliament majority believes that it is not necessary to ban sex with animals. The fact that defenceless animals can be legally raped in Denmark in a thriving business where their owners profit from inflicting pain, stress, fear and even death on animals, is a disgrace to the entire country, to say the least.

​In Germany the law making it a crime (§175b StGB) was removed in 1969. Bestiality is legal in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, and Sweden where it was formerly illegal, but made legal in 1994. In some countries, sex with animals is legal as long as long as no physical harm is made to the animal, but it is in the nature of the case that animals are often victims of injury, stress and suffering in connection with sexual acts with humans.

While the world looks upon Europe and especially upon the EU as a model in terms of civilization, a simple search on the internet about animal rape cases that had been reported in Europe – ranging from raped dogs to horses – brings many shocking search results. But the reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg – the number of animals that are regularly being raped by their owners, be it at home or in so-called animal bordellos, being unknown. The suffering of these animals goes on behind closed doors, largely ignored because of its shameful nature and as it seems, even by our politicians who fail to address the problem and to create laws that protect animals from this kind of abuse. Because abuse it is. Photos of small animals killed miserably during rape are abundant on the internet.

Sexual abuse of animals is one of the most trivial and obscene expressions of human behaviour  one of the sickest practices that can be thought of and we believe it is truly deplorable that there are no EU-laws in place that prohibit and severely punish such sadistic behaviour in order to protect defenceless animals.

The undersigned of this petition are calling for an EU wide ban on bestiality, including a ban on zoophilia pornography, making both a punishable crime against animals under EU wide laws.​

Please sign here:-http://www.change.org/petitions/eu-ban-bestiality#

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

On date of 26 September, 2012 the EU has confirmed the official registration of this petition. The petition is now registered under the number 812/2012 together with the petition started by the Italian organisation AIDAA (the Italian animal welfare and environmental protection association).

Furthermore, we have received confirmation that the European Parliament decided to ask the European Commission to conduct a preliminary investigation of the various aspects of the problem, and that the Committee on Petitions will continue its examination of petition 812/2012 as soon as it is in receipt of the necessary information.

In our request to the EU, we had also included the implementation of an animal abuser registry. This part, however, has not been specifically acknowledged by the Committee on Petitions, so that we have decided to start a new petition about this topic that we have also submitted for registration.

The petition asking for the implementation of an animal abuser registry can be signed at the following link: Please sign…

http://www.change.org/petitions/european-parliament-implement-an-animal-abuser-registry

 Ref:-http://occupyforanimals.wix.com/petitions-to-the-eu#!bestiality/c1xrt

PETITION TO DENMARK: Bestiality is Very Dangerous to Public Health due to Zoonotic diseases

Petition to sign:-http://www.change.org/petitions/petition-to-denmark-bestiality-is-very-dangerous-to-public-health-due-to-zoonotic-diseases

American law

There is NO FEDERAL LAW AGAINST BESTIALITY.  Federal authorities do not have the power to shut down bestiality pornography sites–because they can’t.  Dogs are plentiful in America and since bestiality porn is so widespread, logic dictates so is the practice-the animals just can’t report it.  19 States bestiality is entirely legal; the majority of the 31 States only have some kind of minor misdemeanor offence against humans having sex with beasts.

Petition to sign:- http://www.change.org/petitions/petition-federal-definition-of-bestiality-as-obscene-and-federal-crime

“Below is the best way I have found, to find out state legislation etc. Just click on the link to show a map of the United States etc. The legal status of eacg state will tell you what you wish to know regards animal abuse.”

“Bestiality statutes occur as part of the criminal code; thus, each state determines the terms and penalty for the activity”

Overview of State Bestiality Law:– http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovuszoophilia.htm

Click here for interactive map, then click a state to view the law within that state:- http://www.animallaw.info/articles/armpstatecruelty.htm

More Petitions to sign:-

Click here to sign the petition: Outlaw Bestiality Brothels in Germany.”

Click here to sign the petition: PETITION TO DENMARK: Bestiality is Very Dangerous to Public Health due to Zoonotic diseases.”

Click here for the petition: “PETITION: Federal Definition of Bestiality as Obscene and Federal Crime.”

Click here to sign the petition: “Prohibition of Bestiality video creation and distribution; other protections against exploitation.”

Click here to sign the petition: “Ban Bestiality.”

Click here to sign the petition: “Bestiality in our State is an embarrassment.”

Click here to sign the petition: “Stop Military Bestiality!”

Click here to sign the petition: “Protect Animals From Being Raped and Make Bestiality a Felony in Ohio!”

Click here for the petition: “Governor: Make Bestiality Illegal in Connecticut.”

Click here for the Facebook page: Furries against bestiality and animal abuse.

Click here for the August 2011 article: “States where bestiality (sex with animals) is legal.”

“Please, read the story below, for every tear you shed, it is an animal that has passed over Rainbow Bridge.  WE…have to be their voice…so please let the tears that fall be a reminder that your voice needs to be heard…along with everyone else’s!!”

PLEASE SHARE CHARITY’S STORY:

With the Benefit so close, we will be sharing the story for those who do not know. Thank You for bearing with us and for your prayers, love and support. YOU SUSTAIN US.
Also… we are trying to get extra fans for the kennels. When we changed to the kennels, it is a bit harder to keep the dogs cool outside. We need about three or four more fans. We have found that the smaller ones work best. They are 99.99 each (+ tax) at Big Blue. We also go through a lot of kibble so any help is appreciated:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=CF7XNPKP9QFWE
You can also purchase food at Big Blue for us. They will hold it until we pick it up. The number is 910-645-2222. We use River Run 21%.
A Message from an Angel:My name is Charity. Though I did not know or understand when I was first born, because of my breed (APBT) I was born considered “guilty” of some unknown crime by many. I was one of a litter of several and knew nothing of the world or the people in it. I knew my mother and warmth and hunger. I knew one day something was wrong when I was ripped from my mother with two of my sisters.We were hurt in ways we did not understand and could not make sense of what was wanted or expected of us. You see, we were born American Pit Bull Terriers and those who may not understand; we are a very loyal breed. We want only to please those who feed and care for us. Ideally, we would be nurtured and our sharp instincts used for wonderful things, like rescuing small children who have wandered away from a campground, or tunneling through debris at a World Trade Center when bad men do horrid things. But I was born into a world that does not understand us. The most decorated military dog ever was my kind, and now… well… now some people want to kill us all because of the things men do with us.

I am not so sure what it is that makes people hate us so. I know we grow into dogs with a powerful bite and we can do a lot of damage. But, basically, we will do what it is we are trained to do. If we are with a kind person, and we learn kindness from an early age, we can be the best friends ever. Some of us have an instinct that makes us what is called animal aggressive, and I know that is not such a good thing when we need to get along in a family. I was never aggressive. I never harmed anyone or anything… and neither did my two sisters, Faith and Hope. But because of what we are, bad people like to take us and make us do bad things. And those bad people make a lot of other humans hate us for what we are trained to do.

But that is another story, sort of… though that story is the reason why things happened to us as they did. Our birth was brought about by one of those bad people with bad intentions. And the more people hate us, the more those bad people want us and the worse they treat us. And it is ok because we are just “Pit Bulls” and “Dumb Dogs.” They do not seem to understand that we feel pain, we feel when someone hates us, and we do not want to be hurt.

So … that is the world we were born into, but we did not understand all of that then. We just understood we had been ripped from our mother; we could not eat because we had no teeth; and, worse … the man who bred us had a teenage son that was doing really bad things to us. I later learned that it was called sexual molestation, sodomy, or bestiality. I just knew that it hurt and I could hear my sisters crying when he would hurt them.

Faith was so small and I tried really hard to protect her. I cannot tell you how many times this happened, though it could not have been many or we would not have lived. But it was enough to hurt us. One day the boy was seen hurting us and his father saw what was happening too. He rushed us to this place called the County Animal Shelter. I think we were supposed to be killed there and no one would ever question what happened, because most “Pits” that go into a place like that do not come out alive.

But this was a good place with people who did care. The man told them the big dog down the road had “gotten to us.” I guess they figured that is how we got all those bite marks all over our bodies where the other dogs were allowed to hurt us. But they noticed there that we were very, very still, huddled together … and we would not eat. I was very worried about my sisters. And they seemed to look to me. Then this woman and man came and got us and took us to a place called The Eagle’s Den.

After that, things changed. They call it rescue, and I am glad we were rescued. I wish all of my kind could be because it gives us a chance. But… anyway… we saw a vet and he sort of guessed at what had happened to us. But the man was not punished, nor his son. All I know is there is something called an investigation into all those bad people and they really want to catch them all. They should. And I hope one day there will be some justice for me and my sisters. But the people will have to work that out because well… we are just dogs. And our story has not ended.

Well, mine has, at least there where it hurt every time I went to the bathroom, but where life was so good I did not let on that I was hurting. You see, one day when I was 6 months old, I just felt funny and then I went to sleep. I can remember wet tears on my face as the man and woman held me and I knew they were going to try and save me again. But I was just so tired. After having been in pain for so long and knowing my sisters were I just went to sleep. I was in a coma for a very brief time and that is when my “mom and dad” held me close and told me if I was tired and if it was too hard to fight, I could let go and rest. They promised they would love me forever as their tears wet my face. They also promised they would take care of Hope and Faith and fight for justice for all animals. I finally could be free from the pain and the torture that had plagued me since I was first abused. I went to sleep at long last and came to a place called Rainbow Bridge.

It is very nice here. I have a lot of friends here. There are all kinds of dogs and many of my kind, many that were hurt like I was, and killed. And I can watch over Faith and Hope here. They have had surgery now to help them. After I came here everyone knew we were not alright. We were rambunctious pups, yes. And we were scared pups because of all we went through. All we really wanted was a friend and to play and be happy.

I am rooting for Faith and Hope now and I watch over them from here. They had the first surgery they needed to fix the pain. They may not understand the pain they are in right now, but it will get better now. People care so it will get better.

There are a lot of people upset because of what happened to us. And I am very glad they are upset. If I could tell them anything that would help: make it stop; but not just this man. Make it all stop. Get the people who make laws to write some that will protect us. What happened to us is against the law. That is a fact. But there are no federal laws to help us, and they get away with it time and again.

Anyone who wants to see how often this happens, just type the word Canine sexual molestation into your computers and look. But you only see the cases that get reported. And not much happens in those cases. Even when they kill us, not much happens. So if you want to help, if you want it to stop … there is only one way. Make it illegal all over the United States. Make uniform laws so that all animal abuse carries mandatory sentences. Other countries protect their companion animals.

If those of you who have prayed so hard and whose love I feel so strongly want to help … make it stop. Make them hear you. They have never heard us. Faith’s surgery went really well, even though she was the sickest. Hope had hers and she is doing ok now. Ironically, Hope may have already been here at Rainbow Bridge, but some of the abuse actually saved her. When they did her surgery, they found a piece of metal in her intestines, surrounded by flesh. It was blocking a tear. They had to cut off a lot more of her intestines than they did Faith’s, but she will be ok now … I HOPE.

That piece of metal stopped poison from spilling into her body at least, even though it did damage, it helped her to stay alive long enough to get the surgery to save her life.
(Brief Update)
Both Hope and Faith continue the fight to live a quality life. They are loved and respected now and they have all of you. They have both had to return for more surgery and they will always need to be monitored closely to make sure they are not in pain and that they are doing well.

Eagle’s Den, Faith, Hope and all the other animals there need your help to survive. For so many of the animals there, this is not a second chance, but the only chance they have ever been given. They need your understanding, your love and your prayers. Also, Eagle’s Den survives through donations, and 100% goes to the care of the animals. Things have been really tough over the last year with Faith and Hope needing so much medical care, as well as several others that came in hurt, abused and tortured by sub-humans. You can help Faith & Hope continue their fight for their lives with your prayers and your donations. Your donations will also help many others at the Den who need you. They each have a story to tell and somewhere in their past they were abused, dumped, unloved and forgotten. If you can help Eagle’s Den care for them, your donations go to pay for medical care as well as their daily needs. Your prayers, love and compassion are always appreciated and needed. If you can help, you can donate here:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=CF7XNPKP9QFWE

I am watching, and I am hoping this will make people wake up and realize what goes on with us when we are bred for all the wrong reasons. I hope people will stop punishing our breed for what these people do and realize what we go through. I wish they all could be rescued. I wish there was no reason to rescue. There is one more thing I have seen since I came to Rainbow Bridge. All of you are very caring and good people. My sisters were able to have their surgery because people cared enough to help them live. They have a long way to go, but thank you for helping them. I’ll be watching… and one day I will see all of you here at the Bridge; because I am everyone’s dog who had a part in saving my sisters.

Thank You.
Thank You for Loving Us,
Charity

RSPCA – Live transport – Take Action

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Almost all farm animals will be transported at some point in their lives. Some animals are transported to different areas of the country or to different farms or buildings to fit in with the changing seasons or their stages of growth. Some farm animals are also transported to livestock markets to be sold, and most are eventually transported to an abattoir (slaughterhouse) to be slaughtered/killed.

If animal welfare is not a priority during live transport, there can be a high risk of animal suffering. The handling during loading onto and unloading from vehicles can be stressful, and during transport animals may be faced with strange sights, movements, noises, smells and unfamiliar animals.

Heat stress, lack of good ventilation and long periods without food, water or rest can add to the welfare problems.

Zero tolerance to welfare breaches at the ports

We believe that live transportation must be kept to a minimum. Animals should be slaughtered close to the farms where they were reared and long-distance transportation of livestock for slaughter should be replaced with a ‘meat carcass-only’ trade.

During transport, higher welfare standards should be used and the animals looked after by competent and caring staff.

We are working in a number of different ways to improve the conditions in which all animals are transported.

The Campaign

Every year millions of animals including calves, sheep, dogs and horses are transported all over the EU.

Since the live export trade from Ramsgate re-opened in 2011 many thousands of animals including calves, sheep and horses have suffered being shipped overseas through its port. We’re monitoring the trade from Ramsgate and have concerns on the boat being used. We’re urging the government not to issue licenses if there are concerns that transport times laid down in law will be broken. We want to see:

  • An end to long-distance transport of live animals in favour of a ‘carcass-only’ trade
  • maximum eight-hour journey time for all animals travelling for slaughter or ‘further fattening’
  • Better enforcement of the current rules on live transport across the EU – including more frequent and thorough checks.

How can I help?

We’re outraged that the European Commission has rejected the ‘8 hours’ petition with over 1 million signatures against long distance live transport. Take action now and urge the Commission to accept the signatures and act on this urgent issue!

Petition Link:-http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/farm/livetransport/takeaction

News Link:http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/farm/livetransport/-/article/CAM_livetransportation

 

 

Some Lie Dying – Please Sign the 8 Hour Rule For Live Transport

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“Following on from the previous post, this was filmed in 2010! Not much has changed has it, yet we were promised the animals would be better cared for, hence this video…I don’t see that do you? Please read the letter below then go to the link to sign it, 8 hours live transport, would you be thirsty & hungry??  If so, please sign below!”

Viewer Discretion is Advised 

Uploaded by  on 15 Sep 2010

Each year millions of sheep, pigs and cattle are transported across Europe, often on extremely long journeys.
© http://www.ciwf.org.uk/ 
*** For more info: http://www.animal-tv.org ***

Please support the 8 hour rule:-http://www.8hours.eu/8hours_en

Why 8 Hours?

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.

Read more about the current EU legislation here .

According to current legislation animal transports up to several days are acceptable as long as the haulier fulfills simple demands concerning e.g. rest, feeding and watering of the animals. We do not think this is acceptable.

For a long time, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, concerned citizens and politicians have argued that something has to be done. Animals for slaughter should never be transported for more than eight hours.

– Most of what you see in the video is illegal in the EU – Yet it goes on, education & awareness is the only thing that will help these sentient beings. Please sign the petition for the 8 hour ruling…this is the letter, you just have to sign it at the link below or here:- http://www.8hours.eu/letter_to_dalli/  2 minutes of your time could save 2 million animals from suffering, please sign it for the animals.”

Dear Commissioner John Dalli

On the 8hours website I listened to your statement in which, on Thursday 7 June 2012, you announced that ‘by 2014 the Commission will publish a legislative proposal’. This proposal, according to what you said, would include animal transport. As you told the delegation of MEPs and animal welfare organisations in the meeting that preceded the hand-in of the 1,103,248 signatures of the 8hours petition, this proposal should lead to reductions in transport times too. You know that such steps are necessary, and you publicly affirmed in the press conference conference on that same day that ‘some species of animals require a much lower figure than 8 hours’. 

You then denied your own words less than a week later! 

How can European citizens trust their institutions if their opinion – and that of their elected representatives – can be so blatantly disregarded, and if there are even attempts to claim that those words were never pronounced? 

Commissioner Dalli, it is my understanding that the European Commission has a duty to represent the interests of all European citizens, not just those of a few people who profit from animal suffering. 

In your specific role as Commissioner responsible for animal welfare, you should feel compelled to do your best to put into practice the mandate of Article 13 of the EU Treaty that says that ‘In formulating and implementing the Union’s agriculture (…) policies, the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals (…)’. 

You are aware of the fact that some rules have been in place for over 20 years and never been enforced. One more promise that they will be enforced in the future – rather than a commitment to change them, and especially to limit transport times – is simply not credible, and fails to tackle the huge problems suffered by transported animals on European roads. It is also offensive to all Europeans who care about animal welfare. 

I am therefore writing to you to ask that you not only maintain the laudable commitment you made publicly on 7 June on the occasion of the hand-in of the 8hours petition, but commit yourself to bringing forward effective legislative proposals before 2014, taking into account the mandate of Art. 13 of the Treaty, and respecting the right of European citizens to be fully represented by their institutions. 

Yours faithfully 

http://www.8hours.eu/letter_to_dalli/

And ask your friends to do the same. 

Europe closer to ending long-haul horse abuse

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The European Commission now agrees that EU legislation on long-distance transport of animalsto slaughter needs to be reviewed.

The European Commission has agreed on the need to review EU legislation on long-distance transport of animals to slaughter. © World Horse Welfare

Late last week,  the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli, agreed with welfare groups that the present Transport Regulation cannot adequately protect animals on long journeys and must be reviewed.

The charity World Horse Welfare said the statement constituted an important change in the position of the Commission, which until now had maintained that enforcement of the present rules would address serious welfare problems still experienced by tens of millions of animals, including 65,000 horses, transported on European roads for slaughter or further fattening every year.

Dalli made the statement after meetings with members of the European Parliament and animal welfare groups in Brussels at the handover of a petition signed by more than one million EU citizens calling for a maximum journey limit of 8 hours for these animals.

He agreed with the participants that existing transport regulations were not sufficient to guarantee an acceptable level of welfare for animals during transport, and announced that the commission will propose a review of EU legislation that will include – among other things – a reduction of transport times

Read the rest:-http://horsetalk.co.nz/2012/06/11/europe-closer-to-ending-long-haul-horse-abuse/

INVESTIGATION: LIVE CALF EXPORTS FROM THE UK TO SPAIN

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Earlier this year, when Joanna Lumley launched our bus advert campaign against live farm animal exports from the UK, she also announced our plan to trail a shipment of British calves to Europe.

Thanks to the generous response of supporters like you, we were able to follow through on this plan. So, today, I want to share the findings of our undercover investigation, and update you on our One Way Ticket campaign. Please bear with me – this will be a long email, but there is so much to tell you.

Can you help?

To mark one year since live exports began through Ramsgate, local campaigners are staging a rally in the town on 20th May. And, using the findings from our investigation, Compassion will again be backing the call for a complete end to this trade.

But we know that the buck doesn’t stop with UK politicians. We know that every year long distance transport causes immeasurable suffering to millions of farm animals, across Europe and around the world.

Please will you consider making a donation today? Your support could help us:

  • Continue our face-to-face work across Europe, persuading policy-makers to acknowledge the cruelty of long distance transport.
  • Step up the public pressure on the World Organisation for Animal Health, who recently so spectacularly failed to protect the hundreds of cows who died aboard the Gracia Del Mar.
  • Demand tighter, properly enforced global regulation of animal transport to ensure that disasters like that on the Gracia Del Mar simply cannot happen again.

The good news is that, through the efforts of Compassion supporters and EU campaigners, over half of all MEPs recently signed Written Declaration 49/2011 on the transport of animals. This means that, in March 2012, an 8-hour limit on journey times was adopted as the official position of the European Parliament. Now, more than ever, we must keep up the pressure. We must persuade the European Commission to introduce legislation banning long distance transport. And then we must ensure that the rest of the world follows suit.

Together we can keep up the momentum. Together we can end the needless, desperately long journeys forced upon farm animals. With your donation, together, we can end this suffering

Exporting Calves to Cruelty: Ramsgate Investigation

Published on 9 May 2012 by 

In late 2011 Compassion in World Farming initiated a series of investigations into the export of live farm animals from the UK. And, in early 2012, generous donations from Compassion supporters enabled our team to continue the campaign, trailing a lorry carrying calves from the UK, through France and into Spain — simply to be fattened for the veal trade. These young calves were loaded on a farm in the west of England and transported, over a period of almost 60 hours, to a farm in northern Spain.

Find out more about the issues here: http://www.ciwf.org/transport

http://www.ciwf.org.uk/what_we_do/live_transport/investigation_live_calf_exports/default.aspx?appealcode=WE0512

EU ZOO INQUIRY WELCOMED BY COMMISSION

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Following the success of the EU Zoo Inquiry exhibition at the European Parliament last week, an oral question was tabled in response to the overall findings ofthe EU Zoo Inquiry to ask what steps the Commission is taking to ensure a more effective implementation of the EU Zoo Directive.

ALDE MEP Chris Davies (Liberal Democrats, UK), who tabled the oral question in the Environment Committee, said:

“We have many excellent zoos but also hundreds that make no contribution towards the protection of species and where animals are kept in miserable conditions. The problem stems more from ignorance than cruelty.

“No one wants to see animals that are suffering. The Born Free Foundation has identified the extent of the failures and we must now work to ensure that standards in zoos everywhere are raised to match those of the best.”

ALDE MEP Bill Newton-Dunn (Liberal Democrats, UK), who hosted the EU Zoo Inquiry Exhibition in the European Parliament, added:

“The three year intensive research by the Born Free Foundation has shown the urgent need to raise the standards of many of our zoos not only in terms of improved living conditions for animals but also with regard to education and conservation. There is a real case for facilitating the exchange of best practices across Europe and for modernising the law.”

Daniel Turner, spokesperson for the EU Zoo Inquiry (commissioned by The Born Free Foundation and ENDCAP) said:

“We have been very clear that The EU Zoo Inquiry is the first step towards positive change. We hope to secure the support of Member State Governments, together with that of the European Commission, to ensure enforcement agencies have the means to effectively enforce the law. Many animals in European zoos are suffering needlessly, and without assistance from the European Community the shameful problems we have found are likely to continue.”

The European Commission welcomed the work of the Born Free Foundation and announced that it was to prepare a Code of Best Practice for zoos across Europe.

The following link will take you to an overview of the project and a short film (6 minutes), which was shown at the event, and describes the overall project and its outcomes:www.euzooinquiry.eu

For your information, there are more details on the EU Zoo Inquiry REPORT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS here.

The Born Free Foundation would like to thank the European Commission, ALDE and particularly MEPs, Bill Newton Dunn, Chris Davies, Julie Girling, Daciana Octavia Sarbu, Keith Taylor and Jill Evans for their on-going support.

While the Born Free Foundation seeks to phase out zoos in favour of keeping wildlife in the wild, it is recognised that there is the need in the short to medium term to eradicate unnecessary suffering.

News Link:- http://www.bornfree.org.uk/index.php?id=34&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1024&cHash=08468e6a6d&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BornFreeNews+%28Born+Free%3A+Latest+News%29

Born Free – The EU Zoo Inquiry

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“If you want to go see a wild animal, we live in an era where it is possible to see almost any animal in its natural habitat, either on land or sea. I can guarantee you will get a much better experience along with better pictures, because the animals will be smiling!”

Launch of New Report: European Zoos Fail to Protect Animals. Three year study exposes failures of zoo regulation throughout Europe.

Published on 24 Apr 2012 by 

The EU Zoo Inquiry, an extensive investigation conducted by the Born Free Foundation, in association with the European coalition ENDCAP, involving 200 zoos in 21 EU countries. It’s clear that the poor conditions witnessed during this investigation have taken their toll on the animals.

Brussels 24th April 2012Summary findings of The EU Zoo Inquiry, the most comprehensive investigation into the licensing and performance of zoos across the EU, reveal that, across Europe, zoos are doing little to guarantee the biological and conservation needs of animals. The majority of zoos are failing in their legal obligations to species conservation, public education and animal welfare, as required by national and international legislation.

Today, a new exhibition opens at the European Parliament highlighting the findings of The EU Zoo Inquiry,which confirms that across the European Union there has been a systemic failure by governments, competent authorities and enforcement agencies to ensure that Europe’s zoos are meeting their legal obligations, as required by the EC Zoos Directive. As a result, thousands of animals in hundreds of zoos are being kept in poor to appalling living conditions that fail to meet their welfare needs. The findings indicate that none of the 20 countries surveyed are without fault.

Acclaimed actress and animal advocate, Virginia McKenna OBE, Guest Speaker at today’s launch said, “To date, and despite the European Zoos Directive, wild animals in captivity have been largely marginalised. However, I hope this exhibition and the findings of The EU Zoo Inquiry will ensure animals in European zoos are no longer forgotten.”

Daniel Turner, spokesperson for The EU Zoo Inquiry described the study, “It has taken 3 years, evidence from an assessment of 200 zoos in 20 EU countries, direct communications with numerous national governments and a ground-breaking and comprehensive review of national zoo legislation to come to the incontrovertible conclusion that the zoos across Europe are neither meeting expectations nor the legal standards required of them, and that the EC Zoos Directive is not being adequately applied.” 

Turner continued, “We have been very clear that The EU Zoo Inquiry is the first step towards positive change. We hope to secure the support of Member State Governments, together with that of the European Commission, to ensure enforcement agencies have the means to effectively enforce the law. Many animals in European zoos are suffering needlessly, and without assistance from the European Community the shameful problems we have found are likely to continue.”

Published on 24 Apr 2012 by 

Zoo Check Charitable Trust (now the Born Free Foundation), 1993.

Video observations by the late Bill Travers, taken over 3 years in over 100 zoos in Europe, North America and the Far East, the Zoochotic Report raised serious concern about the effects of captivity on wild animals. The Report helped form the philosophies for the Foundation and its animal welfare objectives.

“In every zoo I visited when compiling the Zoochotic Report, I witnessed some sort of abnormal behaviour” Bill Travers, Co-Founder of Zoo Check

Since 2005, all zoos in EU Member States have been required to meet the basic requirements of EC Directive 1999/22 and, through a licensing and inspection process, implement a series of measures to conserve biodiversity, educate the public and maintain their animals in conditions that meet their species-specific needs.

Although the Directive has been transposed into law in each Member State, these national laws often lack detailed provisions to sufficiently protect individual animals, conserve species and encourage meaningful public education. The 20 separate investigations that form The EU Zoo Inquiry (published onwww.euzooinquiry.eu), and highlighted in the Report Findings and Recommendations, confirm that the majority of European countries rely almost exclusively on the relatively ambiguous requirements of the Directive, which has led to inconsistencies in interpretation, widespread non-compliance and continued sub-standard levels of animal care.

Since the investigations, many Member States are already making necessary changes to their zoo laws and planning further training for their enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the European Commission has, in response to the evidence provided by The EU Zoo Inquiry, decided to develop a Preferred Code of Practice relating to zoo regulation.  Animal welfare training for veterinarians is already being delivered with Commission support. These are important first responses to the findings of The EU Zoo Inquiry.

Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundation, the NGO which fully-funded and initiated The EU Zoo Inquiry, welcomed the news, but expressed the need for caution, “We have worked to improve the provisions for animals in zoos for over 20 years, including undertaking the first review of European zoos in the late 1980s. Although there have been some improvements, overall, the widespread neglect, deprivation and suffering I saw then still endure today. The EU Zoo Inquiry provides incontrovertible evidence that the impoverished quality of public education that was so prevalent all those years ago is still widespread. This report also reveals that the promises of a commitment to conservation made by Europe’s many thousands of zoos remains, in far too many cases, just that – a dream.”

Born Free is calling for the European Parliament to support a requirement for EU countries to greatly improve standards. Bill Newton Dunn, ALDE MEP, the host of the Parliamentary exhibition, said; “Born Free have been doing great work to improve the conditions for animals within zoos around the EU and I hope this Exhibition will bring to the attention of other MEP’S and government officials the inherent problems that still remain in many of Europe’s zoos.”

Read all the reports here

News Link:- Born Free Zoo Inquiry 

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Hong Kong – Shark Fin Street – YouTube

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Sea Shepherd Hong Kong captured this shocking footage on March 1st, 2012 in the Sheung Wan district of Hong Kong. Thousands of sharks were discovered drying on a sidewalk which is quite rare even for Hong Kong. This normally occurs behind closed doors and in secret locations.

via HK Shark Street.mov – YouTube.

UK Fisheries Minister Champions Shark

Thursday 15 March 2012

UK// As Europe debates the future of the EU ban on shark ‘finning’, the Shark Trust shows the UK Fisheries Minister the strength of public support from the Great British Public for closing the loopholes.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), every year millions of sharks are finned worldwide. Finning is the wasteful practice of removing shark fins on board fishing vessels and discarding the carcass at sea. The current EU regulation, adopted in 2003, bans finning but is too lenient to ensure that the practice is not continuing undetected and unpunished.

Shark fins are the key ingredient in a traditional and expensive Asian soup. The EU, particularly Spain, is one of the world’s largest suppliers of shark fins to Asia.

The European Commission has proposed ending special fishing permits, still granted by some member states, that allow fishermen to remove shark fins at sea and bring bodies and fins to port separately. The UK ceased provision of these permits in 2009, whereas Spain and Portugal continue to issue them, to their extensive long-line fleet. As expected, the Spanish industry is leading the opposition to the Commission’s proposed improvements in the finning ban which would require all sharks to be landed with their fins ‘naturally attached’.

Ali Hood, Director of Conservation for the Shark Trust said, “The Shark Trust strongly supports the Commission’s proposal for a fins naturally attached policy. The Trust is working closely with the UK Government, and members of the European Parliament and Council to secure a shark finning policy with no compromise or exceptions.”

Read more here:- http://www.sharktrust.org/content.asp?did=37875

The government must act now to ban wild animals in circuses – Ann Widdecombe

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Having served as a member of parliament for more than two decades, I’m well aware that there can be genuine constraints that affect the speed at which certain issues progress. The government’s failure to ban wild animals in circuses, however, has me, along with much of the country, utterly baffled. The British Veterinary Association has stated unequivocally that the complex needs of animals cannot be met in a circus environment. Other highly respected organisations, including Peta, the RSPCA, Born Free and the Captive Animals’ Protection Society, have all been calling for a ban, and the vast majority of the British public is also in favour. In a rare show of unity, even parliament went so far as to direct the government to introduce a regulation prohibiting wild-animal acts last June, and yet here we are, eight months on, and no further forward.

It’s clear the government was biding its time to see the outcome of Circus Krone’s challenge to Austria’s ban, but the Austrian constitutional court staunchly defended the legality of the ban and, in December, threw out the application to have it overturned. An elephant expert who worked in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for eight years has called the lack of action on this issue “completely barking mad” and said circuses were “fundamentally unsuited” to keeping elephants, big cats, bears and other wild animals. The European Commission has twice affirmed the validity of national bans on animal circuses. Even Greece introduced its own national ban last month. It’s unconscionable for us to deny wild animals in British circuses their freedom, and while Defra dawdles, these animals continue to endure cramped cages, whips and ankuses.

Who could forget the gut-wrenching undercover video footage of Anne, the elephant who was hit with a pitchfork and a club while she was chained up and unable to escape? The abuse of Anne at Bobby Roberts Super Circus is not unique.

I created a petition on Care2 regards Anne with over 3,500 signatures; so I am very familiar with this case. I have also been proactive regards trying to get a ban on circus animals in Britain”.

“I have written numerous letters to Defra, Lord Henley & the government etc. regards imposing a ban on wild animals in UK circuses; If Greece can impose a bill, so can Britain… below is one reply to a letter sent”.

The Government claimed earlier this year that there were legal impediments to a ban, and cited the upcoming Krone case – even before it had been lodged. (Just like the above reply I received)

Animals do not belong in circuses period; have you seen the way young elephants are trained? performing stupid tricks is both detrimental to the health of the animal & also degrading!

Now, the Government’s last so-called ‘impediment’ has gone. The Austrian Court told ADI that it: “could not find that such a ban would encroach on the applicant’s right “to practice every kind of gainful activity” guaranteed by the Basic Law of 21 December 1867 on the General Rights of Nationals in the Kingdoms and Länder represented in the Council of the Realm. Though the ban was interfering with this right, this interference was based on public interest (namely the protection of the animals) and both necessary and appropriate for the legislator to reach this goal. Thus the interference with the applicant’s right was justified and proportional.” 

Jan Creamer, Chief Executive of ADI said: “This case proves that there are no obstacles at EU level that will prevent the UK from enacting an immediate ban.

http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2432&ssi=10

via The government must act now to ban wild animals in circuses | Ann Widdecombe | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk.

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