Month: November 2018

Environmental, General News

EU: No Rainforest In My Tank – The EU subsidises palm oil as a “green biodiesel” Please Sign Petition Now – Important !

 

zerissene EU-Flagge am Stock

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Affe, der aus Regenwald getrieben wird

 

Mark,

Palm oil deforestation is an environmental catastrophe in Asia, but most people don’t know that the EU subsidises palm oil as a “green biodiesel”.

Even though it’s THREE TIMES worse for the climate than regular diesel because of the rainforest destruction it causes.

Europe has two months to stop this. In February it could outlaw palm oil in biodiesel, but we’re up against the huge palm oil lobby that wants to keep its lucrative subsidies.

Sign the petition to tell the EU: No rainforests in my tank! Stop subsidising palm oil biodiesel.

The EU has been under the thumb of palm oil lobbyists for years, disguising this destructive industry as an ‘eco’ option to replace fossil fuels, and deceiving European drivers into burning, essentially, rainforests in their tanks.

Millions of acres of rainforest, and orangutan habitat, have been destroyed –– replaced by huge palm oil plantations to feed Europe’s cars. Deprived of their natural habitat, orangutans starve. When they feed off palm fruits on plantations, they’re shot.

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And if we continue, soon orangutans, among the smartest, sweetest and closest relatives of ours, will be extinct.

We can protect the orangutans and the rainforest from palm oil destruction — but we have to act now. Please sign the petition to put an end to palm oil in biodiesel:

Tell the EU: No rainforests in my tank! Stop subsidising palm oil biodiesel.

Last May, close to 100,000 of us pushed the EU to adopt a breakthrough law to stop subsidising ‘high risk’ food crops such as palm oil in biodiesel. But unless the EU clarifies that palm oil is ‘high risk’ by February, palm oil lobbyists could pressure it to keep dirty palm oil in our tanks.

European drivers would be forced to continue to burn up billions of litres of palm oil.

This is a critical moment to save the orangutans and protect our rainforests.

Right now, the EU is being lobbied hard by the Indonesian and Malaysian governments and palm oil barons to continue subsidising palm oil biodiesel, or risk not signing trade deals.

We have just two months to stand down these powerful biofuel and palm oil lobbyists. Please sign the petition to tell the EU that you don’t want rainforest destruction for fake ‘green fuels’.

Tell the EU: No rainforests in my tank! Stop subsidising palm oil biodiesel.

The good news is, SumOfUs members are making strides in cleaning up the dirty palm oil industry. This month, 240,000 of us helped win breakthrough sanctions against Pepsi’s palm oil business partner Indofood — finally holding it to account for labour abuse on palm oil plantations.

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And last month, Nestlé responded to our people-powered pressure by ending a 13-year old Joint Venture Partnership with palm oil villain Indofood.

Getting the EU to take palm oil out of our tanks could be our biggest palm oil victory yet. Almost all the growth in the use of palm oil in 2017 was due to biodiesel, driven by an EU law that obliges governments to blend vegetable oils in diesel, while Indonesia’s rainforests (literally) went up in flames to clear land for more palm oil.

Can you sign the petition to make headlines and launch a huge people-powered campaign saying no to palm oil in our tanks?

 Sign the Petition 

Thanks for all that you do,
Rebecca, Fatah and the team at SumOfUs

 

More information:

Up in smoke: Europe’s cars driving deforestation in Southeast Asia, Transport and Environment, 6 June 2018
Palm oil producers are wiping out orangutans – despite multinationals’ promises, The Guardian, 10 May 2018

General News

CoverGirl Becomes Largest Cosmetics Company Ever to Go Cruelty-free!

CoverGirl Becomes Largest Cosmetics Company Ever to Go Cruelty-free!

Posted by Kristen Arnim | November 12, 2018

 

CoverGirl makeup just went cruelty free! Thousands of animals will now be spared a life of suffering in a laboratory merely for our own vanity.

As consumers grow more and more conscious of the rights of animals, in food as well as all the other products that appear in our daily lives, companies are forced to become more transparent and make shifts in production. CoverGirl is now the largest makeup brand to eliminate animal testing and will be an important example for others!

The “Leaping Bunny” certification from the organization Cruelty Free International guarantees that no animal testing occurs in the creation of CoverGirl’s cosmetics. Every step of the way is cruelty free, meaning products and ingredients from third party companies must not use animal testing as well as the brand itself. It took CoverGirl months to prove qualification, assuring that hundreds of suppliers were also cruelty free.

In a statement from CoverGirl’s chief marketing officer of consumer beauty, Ukonwa Ojo, the importance of this move is illustrated. “If we can do it with our size and with our capability and with our complexity … every brand can do this.”

Coty, CoverGirl’s parent company, also owns Max Factor and Rimmel and plans on those brands eventually becoming cruelty-free as well. Once consumers start choosing brands based on whether or not they test on animals, other major brands are likely to follow suit.

Testing on animals has been a long-standing and cruel practice in cosmetics. Animals such as mice and rabbits are used to test for short term and long term effects from the chemicals in makeup. Innocent creatures are subjected to ailments from skin and eye irritation to cancer. Toxic substances are rubbed into eyes and shaved skin or force fed to test reactions. Even amounts strong enough to cause death are administered. No pain relief or the chance at a comfortable life are offered to these animals. Once their usefulness as test subjects has ended, they are killed and disposed of.

Watch out for brands that claim to be cruelty free but don’t have the certification. LadyFreethinker reported on instances where companies claim to not test on animals, but don’t actually check up on their suppliers.

 

 

 

General News

USA: SIGN: Justice for Maltese Cruelly Electrocuted and Dumped in Garbage.

 

USA-Flagge

SIGN: Justice for Maltese Cruelly Electrocuted and Dumped in Garbage

 

SIGN: Justice for Maltese Cruelly Electrocuted and Dumped in Garbage

Posted by Carly Day

 PETITION TARGET: Butler County District Attorney Richard A. Goldinger

A man in Butler County, Pittsburgh, reportedly electrocuted his girlfriend’s seven-year-old dog to death in a deliberate and horrific act of animal torture.

While his girlfriend was not home, 40-year-old Paul Plakidas took the innocent pup down into the basement, filled a small cooler with water, forced the Maltese inside, then used a live wire to electrocute the animal before dumping the body in a garbage can outside the house.

Upon learning about the murder of her beloved dog, the woman contacted police to report the incident and press charges, stating that Plakadis had not taken his prescribed medication recently and was intoxicated that evening.

Plakidas has been arraigned on double felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and has been released on his own recognizance to await trial.

Authorities must act to ensure no more animals suffer such a horrific fate. Sign this petition urging Butler County District Attorney Richard A. Goldinger to treat this case with the severity it deserves, and ensure this dog’s attacker is never allowed near an animal again.

 

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Petition Link – https://ladyfreethinker.org/sign-justice-maltese-dog-brutally-electrocuted-death/

 

 

 

General News

Toro jubilo: Primitive sadists of extra class!

 

Spain

 

For some time I had talked about the barbaric tradition of “Toro Jubilo” in Spain.
Here is a nice, short article about it, taken from the internet:

Despite strong security measures (against animal rights activists), a team of the Spanish-Latin American animal welfare organization Anima Naturalis managed to bypass the barriers and the location of the event, the public celebration or the execution of “Toro.” Last weekend in the notorious Spanish Medinaceli (Soría) Jubilo “(Cheer bull, also known as” Toro Embolado “, Fireball Bull). Once again, it was possible to document one of the most barbarous and satanic cruelty to animals in Spain, which is celebrated as a folk amusement for primitive sadists of the extra class – and, of course, praised as a protected, traditional cultural asset.

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For this purpose, a young bull is tied to a stake by about 20 helpers.
One then places on its horns a wooden frame with two cloths soaked in pitch of combustible liquid, which are shaped like spheres.
These are then lit, and the bull is left free by capping the head tie rope.
Everyone enjoys themselves deliciously, as the animal, who goes crazy with burning pain, runs off in panic. The horns and very often whole body parts (because of drip nodding) are burned.

Not infrequently, the bull commits suicide by racing against any obstacles or deliberately back against the binding post (documented last year).

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In addition to some pitch-black, backward regions of Spain, find such fire bull amusements held just in Catalonia, where by means of referendum and against the wishes of the Spanish national government even the classic bullfighting (corrida de toros) has been abolished. Altogether more than 3,000 bulls are described each year in Spain as above, as fire or cheering bulls set on fire.

As usual, the Catholic Church has nothing against such cruelty to animals, after all, they usually even in honor of Christian “saints” instead. Animals are after the official church doctrines soulless creatures, which one can torment for human pleasure, also at will. As is well known, Pope Francis himself is a bullfighting fan and, in this regard, resistant to petition.

Author: Gerhard Heybrock

https://www.animal-spirit.at/news/martinsfeuer-auf-spanisch

My comment: If ones inspires and enjoys how innocent and utterly defenseless animals suffer and are tortured to death, this one is no more than a miserable monster and has not earned something like his own human rights in any way. If torture, mistreatment and exploitation of innocent defenseless creatures is culture for Spain, why are the Spaniards no longer burning witches? This was sad culture in Spain too? Would be a good deal.

They hold a tradition that was proven by Jitanos and invented during the darkest period of our earth, namely in the time of the Inquisition. Bullfights and bullfights violate every ethic of modern civilized countries and societies.

My best regards, Venus

 

Farm Animals, General News

France: Force Feeding Is Not Festive.

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Force-feeding isn’t festive

Dear Mark,
To our amazement, many foie gras farms in France offer public tours. We recently visited one to witness the production of this cruel ‘delicacy’ first hand. We were welcomed onto the farm and witnessed terrified, panting ducks crammed into tiny, filthy cages and geese struggling to escape as a vast amount of food was pumped down their throats using a large metal tube.

Actor and animal advocate, Peter Egan and TV veterinarian, Emma Milne joined us on the visit to ‘La Ferme Turnac’ foie gras farm in France. They were both shocked that the farm was happy to put this horrific cruelty on display for families to watch. The harrowing investigation is featured in today’s Mirror newspaper, and we’re using this as an opportunity to launch a new aspect to our #FoieGrasFreeGB campaign.

Over 115,000 people have now signed our petition calling for a foie gras import ban as soon as we leave the European Union. However, while we’re still in the European Single Market, a ban isn’t yet possible. That’s why we’re calling on restaurants and shops to impose their own ban on this extremely cruel product now, starting with a protest at Tate Modern in central London today.

Ironically, many restaurants — like the Tate Modern’s — only offer foie gras on their Christmas menu as it’s seen as a luxury, yet there is nothing festive about force-feeding birds until their livers become fatty and diseased. If you see a restaurant serving foie gras this Christmas, please let us know and we’ll pressure them to drop it from their menu.

Many thanks,

Toni Shephard

 

The following pictures are not associated with this campaign – but they do show the reality of foie gras.

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General News

Responsibility!

 

 

“The Boss, showing us that despite there is a road running through, this is still his jungle.”

And if I consider, that we enslave as little kids such animals, with such qualities and personality and incarcerate them in a zoo jail, where, the only function they have is to entertain the offspring of stupid, underdeveloped parents …
… then I believe the evolution did not work for the human species.

We are still caves residents.

My best regards, Venus

 

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

November 2018: Scottish Farmers Now Exporting Calves Via Ramsgate (England) With Help From Dutchman ‘Oderwater’.

 

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Published on 12 Nov 2018

Our first time bearing witness to the live exports that happen at Ramsgate Port. 4 week old veal calves crying for their mum. I was not prepared for how small they were. They are the byproducts of the dairy industry. We can consume oat, soy, hemp, almond, hazelnut milk instead. We don’t have to be a part of this

 

 

Bearing witness to live export calves from Scotland to Spain Ramsgate PortBearing witness to live export calves from Scotland to Spain Ramsgate Port

 

 

Archive footage – Published on 9 May 2012

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

Farm Animals

Reality slaughterhouse: Kicked, tormented, torn alive.

 

Germany

 

In Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, is one of the largest cattle slaughterhouses in Germany. Its name: Standard-Fleisch GmbH & Co. KG.

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The german animal welfare office has collected around 600 hours of video footage taken with a hidden camera. (To see the video please click on the link):

https://www.tierschutzbuero.de/realitaet-schlachthof/

And what you see there makes everyone shudder.
The resulting videos show how a large number of cattle and disused dairy cows were insufficiently and improperly stunned, and although they were apparently conscious, were still stung alive and killed. The animals are kicked in the slaughterhouse, tortured and torn alive.

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In addition, the animals were treated with electric shock gun up to 28 times unlawfully abused, with driving spurs or forcibly forced out of their pit and unnecessarily exposed to injury hazards.

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An excerpt from this horror scenario in the slaughterhouse Oldenburg was broadcast on 06.11.2018 at 17:00 and at 19:00 clock on ZDF (Central German Television).

Jan Peifer, chairman of the board of the German Animal Welfare Office proves with videos that many animals still live as they are tapped. A video surveillance in slaughterhouses, preferably already in the animal transports, would be absolutely necessary.

The states, of course, has the German animal welfare office immediately reported to the relevant prosecutor! Now it is up to the competent authorities to close this horror slaughterhouse immediately! Otherwise, in the future, unbelievably many animals will suffer from the conditions in Oldenburg. Because the slaughterhouse is not one from many, but belongs to the ten largest cattle slaughterhouses in Germany (2016: Rank 8)! According to their own data, the annual slaughter rate is over 90,000 cattle. The slaughterhouse has also BIO certification!!

The uncovered conditions in Oldenburg are another case in a series of extreme scandals in German slaughterhouses in recent months. To date, five slaughterhouses have been closed temporarily or permanently for animal cruelty and other violations of the law after animal rights activists have carried out undercover research.

Please sign the petition for closing of this slaughterhouse:

http://www.tierschutzbuero.de/realitaet-schlachthof/petition/?fbclid=

 

My comment: if you look at the video … a hell on earth!

Screams of death – and the animal still moves its head vertically and horizontally and wriggles in circular movements.

More horror can not exist. How is it possible that the majority of people accept this?

Finally, the case came on the biggest German channel, I wonder: what did the people feel when they saw that? And what else do the Meat-eaters want to see, so they stop torturing defenseless animals with their second-hand consumption?

The hope for an end to such crematoria is the pressure on corrupt politicians who are inactive against such serious crimes. Animal rights must become a political issue.

https://www.change.org/p/schlachthof-oldenburg-sofort-schlie%C3%9Fen-realit%C3%A4tschlachthof?

My best regards to all, Venus

 

 

 

 

Environmental, General News

Canada: Petition for Whales and Dolphins. USA: BLM Drops Cruel Sterilization Experiments on America’s Wild Horses.

Canada

SIGN: Pass Bill to Finally End Cruel Captivity of Whales and Dolphins

PETITION TARGET: Bardish Chagger, Canada’s House Leader and Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister

The lives of captive whales and dolphins hang in the balance as, after three years of an uphill battle, the Canadian senate has passed Bill S-203: the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act. The bill is now going to the House of Commons. We must urge them to pass this bill, which would finally end the unimaginable cruelty inflicted on intelligent, social animals forced to live in aquariums for human entertainment.

The bill was introduced by senator Wilfred Moore in 2015, but was attacked by conservative politicians for years. This is a paradigm-shifting bill  that reflects the will of the public, who no longer want to see animals tortured for profit.

These whales and dolphins are forcefully stolen from their families to live lonely, purposeless lives for our amusement. They are physically and psychologically molded to be compliant and obedient, causing tremendous damage that greatly shortens their lives. Their natural instincts are stifled as they live with a sense of isolation that few of us could comprehend.

Should this act be passed, Canada’s captive marine mammals will be sent to live in a seaside sanctuary — finally free of the stress of their current confinement.

Sign this petition to urge Canada’s house leader, as well as the president, to fully support this bill and make it a top priority to pass it into law. It’s time to take a stand to make cruel marine mammal captivity a thing of the past.

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Petition Link – https://ladyfreethinker.org/petition-ban-cruel-captivity-whales-dolphins-canada/

 

 

 

USA-Flagge

VICTORY! BLM Drops Cruel Sterilization Experiments on America’s Wild Horses

Posted by Carly Day | November 12, 2018

After months of fighting, campaigning, and finally, a court case filed by a coalition of animal welfare groups, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced they will cancel their plans to conduct shockingly inhumane sterilization experiments on a herd of wild horses in Oregon.

The planned surgeries for Oregon’s Warm Springs herd — known as ovariectomy via colpotomy — are highly invasive procedures with great risk of complications such as prolonged bleeding, infection and premature birth or abortion.

The decision comes mere days after a US District Court Judge issued a preliminary injunction to stop the controversial research — due to begin on November 5th — pending the outcome of the court case, which he predicted would go in favor of the coalition.

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), The Cloud Foundation, and wildlife photographer Carol Walker were all plaintiffs in the case against the BLM.

LFT also strongly opposed the barbaric research, covering the issue as it progressed and hosting a petition which garnered over 18,000 signatures.

In their lawsuit, the coalition argued that the BLM was in violation of the US Constitution and three federal laws, stating that the experiments were cruel and dangerous and that the BLM hadn’t given enough consideration to more humane population control methods.

This is the second time the BLM has been forced to back out of plans to surgically remove the ovaries of wild mares. Two years ago, AWHC and TCF also successfully sued in order to get the experiments halted.

“We are gratified that the BLM has nixed these cruel experiments on federally protected horses, but it should not take two lawsuits over two years to convince a federal agency that America’s beloved wild horses deserve humane approaches to population management,” said Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., equine program manager for AWI.