Month: October 2019

Environmental, General News

Brazil: Amazon deforestation has almost doubled this year.

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Amazon deforestation has almost doubled this year

 

The destruction of the world’s largest rainforest has grown for the fifth month in a row, revealed new government data. So far this year, an area twice the size of Greater London has been destroyed – an estimated 3,032 square miles – as loggers grow increasingly emboldened under right-wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil’s leader has pushed for the Amazon to be developed and threatens to scale back the powers of environmental agency Ibama, said environmentalists on Friday. Tasso Azevedo, coordinator for the deforestation mapping initiative MapBiomas, has blamed the alarming figures on Bolsonaro. He told Reuters: ‘Deforestation is continuing at a pace that is double that of years past. ‘I think this is because of the messages the president continues to send.’

 

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Bolsonaro and environment minister, Ricardo Salles, blamed ‘previous governments’ for the rise in deforestation. They said budget cuts had been made to agencies such as Ibama before they took office on January 1. The human-caused devastation is all the more troubling given the region was struck by the worst forest-fires this decade, which torched through the Amazon in August. Brazil’s response to the fires provoked global outcry and left many world leaders questioning why the South American nation did not do more to protect the rainforest.

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Scientists believe fires are linked to deforestation, with people often clearing timber and then setting the remains alight to clear land for ranching or farming. The rate of deforestation is expected to recede with the onset of the wet season, which traditionally begins in October. Paulo Barreto, a researcher affiliated with the non-governmental organisation Imazon said: ‘The big question now is what will be done to prevent this next year.’

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Metro London – https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/12/amazon-deforestation-almost-doubled-year-10906508/

 

Brazil burning

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Fur and Fur Farming, General News

USA: Victory – The California Fur Ban Is Now Law.

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Hi Mark,

5 years ago, I started organizing small fur protests every winter and at that time, I thought that in 5 years we would have 1000 people protesting with us. But I was wrong. Because 5 years later, we don’t even need to protest fur in California anymore. This morning, the Governor of California signed the first statewide fur ban in the country into law!

People said I was dreaming too big, but I wasn’t dreaming big enough. Animal rights history is happening before our very eyes because people around the world are working together. So I want to give you a huge thank you for making this victory happen! And I would like to ask for your continued support. Right now, all new monthly donors are earning DxE a bonus $100 from a matching donor.

Will you become a monthly donor today to help us take on factory farming next? 

The fur industry is just the first to fall in California, and we have our sights set on Big Ag next. As trials begin for myself and other animal rescuers in the coming months, we’re hoping to establish the legal right to rescue animals from farms and slaughterhouses. People might say we’re dreaming too big, but we’ve heard that before.

Priya

 

… and more good news ….

 

Bratislava: Last week, the National Council of Slovak Republic (Slovak parliament) discussed in the first reading the proposal to ban fur farming in the country. It has passed the first reading with overwhelming support of 120 votes out of all 150 MPs, which means that 80 % of all MPs supported the proposal in its first big step in the legislative process.

The ban was proposed by Eva Antošová (SNS – Slovak national party) after the country has seen the second-largest online campaign in the history called Ide o chlp and conducted by an NGO Humánny pokrok, which has collected more than 76,000 signatures in under 6 months. The campaign followed publishing of investigation footage from a fur farm in northern Slovakia, which had exposed horrible conditions of minks without proper access to water, with open wounds, repetitive behaviour and signs of cannibalism. The public had responded with outrage and after a couple of months, the first ban proposal was introduced to the parliament.

Slovakia is one of the countries in Central Europe which still has no fur farming ban in effect. There is one operational mink farm with a capacity of up to 5000 animals and 8 farms breeding rabbits for fur. The proposal introduces a ban on farming and killing of all animals farmed exclusively or primarily for fur, with exception for rabbits farmed for fur by individuals for their personal use. The ban would go into effect immediately and would ban establishing of new fur farms in the country while providing a 3 year phase-out period for the existing ones.

Slovakia has seen fur farming ban campaigns in the past but without success. In the meantime, their neighbouring countries have seen a lot of progress, including fur farming ban in Austria and recently in the Czech Republic, and with vivid ongoing campaigns and political discussions in Poland and Ukraine. “The time has come for Slovakia to stop lagging behind the rest of Europe and to deal with this cruel and obsolete industry. The public is clearly requesting a quick and effective solution and we aim to deliver it in the upcoming months. Politicians shouldn’t ignore the call of more than 76 000 citizens to end this excessive and unnecessary cruelty and we are happy to see the first important steps taken in parliament on the path to the end of fur farming in Slovakia”, added Martin Smrek from Humánny pokrok.

In the upcoming months, the proposal should be discussed by parliamentary committees and approved by the European Commission. Afterwards, the second reading is planned and the final vote should take place during the last session of the current parliament, expected to take place at the beginning of 2020. The last step will be signing of the law by the president, who already voiced her support for the fur farming ban shortly after the launch of the campaign. After that, Slovakia would become the 14th European country passing a ban on fur farming.

http://www.respectforanimals.org/slovakia-is-heading-towards-fur-farming-ban/ 

 

FUR

 

 

 

 
 
General News

USA: Animal Abuse Link to Domestic Violence Highlighted As Cruelty Cases Rise in Michigan.

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Animal Abuse Link to Domestic Violence Highlighted As Cruelty Cases Rise in Michigan

Animal Abuse Link to Domestic Violence Highlighted As Cruelty Cases Rise in Michigan

Coinciding with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Michigan State Police (MSP) have released data showing a huge rise in the number of animal abuse reports in the state.

Incidents of reported animal cruelty in Michigan soared from 93 in 2016, to 202 in 2017 and 297 in 2018 — an increase of a staggering 301% in just three years. In addition, animal abuse crimes rose by about 100 cases annually in the same time period, according to MSP’s Michigan Incident Crime Report, “Crime at A Glance.”

These rising figures are worrying in themselves, but there is further concern because animal abuse has been linked to domestic violence, with individuals who hurt animals being far more likely to carry out domestic violence offenses as well as other violent crimes.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence says there is a clear link between these two areas of crime, it explains that individuals who abuse their partners frequently have a history of animal abuse that precedes their domestic violence offenses. It also highlights the fact that “abusers demonstrate power and control over the family by threatening, harming or killing animals.”

In its “Pets And Domestic Violence” report, the organization states that 13% of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence, and a massive 71% of pet owners who enter a shelter say their abuser had previously threatened, hurt or murdered a family pet. In addition, the investigation of reported animal cruelty within a household often leads to social services discovering hidden domestic abuse in that household.

If you need help regarding animal cruelty or domestic abuse, you can contact the American Humane Association on 303-792-9900 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE.

 

 

General News

USA: Petition – Justice for Echo, Dog Who Lost His Eye After Being Brutally Beaten with A Log.

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SIGN: Justice for Echo, Dog Who Lost His Eye After Being Brutally Beaten with A Log

Image Credit – Northwest Indiana Times/Courtney Gutowski

 

SIGN: Justice for Echo, Dog Who Lost His Eye After Being Brutally Beaten with A Log

 

PETITION TARGET: Porter County District Attorney Gary Germann

Sweet dachshund and beagle mix Echo of Valparaiso, Indiana lost his right eye after his family’s neighbor reportedly brutally beat him in the face with a log, fracturing the helpless dog’s skull.

Even emergency surgery could not save poor Echo’s eye after the vicious attack.

Police arrested Ronald Johnson Valparaiso for this act of abuse — but despite the horrific nature of the attack, Johnson soon bonded out for a mere $1,500.

According to Echo’s guardian, Courtney Gutowski, this wasn’t the suspect’s first attack on the innocent dog. Earlier this year, Johnson repeatedly and aggressively struck Echo with large ice pellets, but due to a lack of physical evidence, this crime went unpunished, says Gutowski. It is troubling that after two reported cases of abuse, Johnson is roaming free and officials have not taken stronger and more immediate action.

It is essential that the court treat this case with the severity it deserves, to ensure Echo’s safety and the safety of the community.

Sign this petition to urge Porter County’s District Attorney Gary Germann to prosecute Johnson to the fullest extent of the law. The court must make it clear that animal abuse will not be tolerated, to save dogs like Echo from suffering at the hands of people who believe they can harm animals without consequence.

 

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Petition Link – https://ladyfreethinker.org/sign-justice-for-dog-who-lost-his-eye-after-being-brutally-beaten-with-log/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email

 

 

 

General News

France: finish medieval bear shows!

 

❌Urgend: We urgently need your support to enforce a ban on the cruel medieval bear shows in #France

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Like many other bears in France, 🐻Valentin has to serve torture shows all over the country.

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He and many others of his kind must spend hours performing silly tricks in front of gaping spectators, like running on a ball or jumping over hurdles.

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Together with Aves France and Fondation Brigitte Bardot, we are campaigning for a legal ban on these medieval bear shows. Help us, sign our petition:

https://help.four-paws.org/de-DE/hilf-frankreichs-traurigsten-b%C3%A4ren?fbclid=IwAR38Mmc_N3UcWYFw6xeMHKzZhmnPIJ7tBHUmiq-Uvo08k2x0J_klHIgoPsQ

➡️ http://bit.ly/TraurigsteBärenFrance
#saddestbears #saddestbearsFrance
📸 © AVES France | FOUR PAWS / Fondation Brigitte Bardot

 

My comment:This is a kind of fascism, as well as any enslavement and exploitation of defenseless animals.

And this kind of fascism is even celebrated in public … in the markets … at events and folk festivals and nobody is indignant, who stands by it … on the contrary! it is still clapping and laughing ..

What a primitive idiot must be one, to have fun and enjoyment in the middle of a civilized country, France, when a bear is treated in chains like a piece of shit by a tormentor….

 

tanzendes Bär

 

My best regards to all, Venus

 

Vivisection

Germany and the death lab LPT in Hamburg

 

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The monkeys run backwards in a circle in their small cells. One always makes a somersault. Others run from left to right, from right to left. The animals are housed in bare cages, in which a monkey does not even have a cubic meter of space. This is much less than the law requires when animals stay in cells for longer periods of time.

That’s in Germany, not in China!

The images are from inside the Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, LPT for short.
It is considered one of the larger private laboratories in the country and employs 175 people. In the rooms tests for the approval of drugs are carried out. The photos were submitted by the animal rights organizations SOKO Tierschutz and Cruelty Free International to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and the “ARD Fakt magazine”.

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An animal rights activist has been working as a caregiver in the lab for several months and has recorded scenes showing that some of the monkeys are housed in tiny cages. They show dogs that bleed heavily, captive monkeys who seem to be resisting fixation, and cats whose blood is taken by force. The pictures also show how roughly employees deal with animals.

fakt-affe eingeklemmtpg“Of course we have a large amount of legal animal suffering here. It should not be overlooked that animal experiments are largely excluded from the Animal Welfare Act. In LPT  they can do things with animals that would normally put them in jail” says Friedrich Mülln, the board member of the “SOKO Tierschutz”.

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“This leads to such absurd situations that a pharmaceutical company from South Korea causes monkeys in Lower Saxony to be tormented, or dogs from the USA are taken to Hamburg for a laboratory to suffer a cruel death from severe bleeding for medication” so Mülln.

friedrich-muelln-106-pgFriedrich Mülln

 

At the request of “FAKT” and the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”  the lab LPT stated that the company was conducting preclinical studies before substances would be tested on humans. So far, there have been no complaints from the authorities on animal husbandry (!!!).

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The Veterinary Office Harburg has instituted proceedings against the LPT laboratory (Laboratory Pharmacology and Toxicology) for violations of animal welfare law.
After “FAKT” and the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” have submitted to the authority pictures that have been created in the institution.

The federal government is under pressure. Since the summer of 2018, a so-called infringement procedure against Germany is ongoing.
Germany has to improve the anchoring of animal welfare in the law, so the accusation from Brussels.
20 points are on the list of deficiencies. It is objected, among other things, that the expertise of researchers sharing in animal experiments need not be proven.

https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/panorama/deutschland-muss-gesetzgebung-zu-tierversuchen-nachbessern-100.html

 

My comment: As soon as undercover investigations reveal an illegal barbarity and animal cruelty in the name of the research, then the authority determines.
Until then, the authorities have tolerated it hand in hand with the lab.

The veterinarians know that, but nobody wants to know anything about it, until a search forces everyone to confess that  all they cooperated in such crimes, even though they knew it.

According to the Federal Government, 2.8 million animals were used in animal experiments in 2017. 80 percent of them were rodents, such as mice or rats. Also listed in the balance sheet are 3,500 monkeys and half-monkeys. The numbers from 2018 are not yet available.

Surely the statistics would look different if this corrupt coalition government had implemented the EU’s intrinsic standards in dealing with animal experiments.

The deadline for this was 2012 (!!!)
On the one hand, the rules should limit the experiments with animals to the essentials and on the other hand promote alternative research methods.

Germany is practically the EU, and if the EU Commission since 2012 demands that Germany finally fulfills its obligations in animal testing lines, then even the stupidest can understand who has the power here.
Added to this is the ridiculous infringement procedure, which runs for over a year.
Here Brussels can count on success only by a miracle.

My best regards to all, Venus

Fur and Fur Farming, General News

England: Respect for Animals launches online database detailing the use of fur on university fashion courses.

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Respect for Animals launches online database detailing the use of fur on university fashion courses

 

We are delighted to launch our new campaign to kick fur off campus by unveiling a database of UK fashion college policies towards the use of fur.

Using Freedom of Information requests, Respect for Animals has contacted every university in the country running fashion courses, regarding the use of real fur and what, if any, policies are in place on the subject. This includes both the use of fur as a material by students and any co-operation agreements with sections of the fur trade.

The responses have been collated and published on our website, with each university given a degree-style grading according to their position in the use of real fur: the best colleges (those refusing the use of real fur backed up with a formal fur-free policy) receive a ‘First’, while other institutions receive a grading accordingly: 2.1, 2.2, 3rd and the worst rating, which is a FAIL.

Many people have a moral objection to the use of fur in fashion and this resource will allow potential students to make a fully compassionate and principled decision about their education and future careers.

More information, including access to the database, can be found here: http://www.respectforanimals.org/fur-free-fashion-courses/  .

Mark Glover, Campaign Director at Respect for Animals, said:

“The morally abhorrent fur trade must be consigned to the dustbin of history. There is no need for fashion courses to continue to use this product of cruelty, or to take blood money from the fur trade. Thankfully, many university departments have told the fur trade where to go, but there are others who continue to work with this morally bankrupt industry.

The future of fashion is fur-free. The fur industry has never improved animal welfare and never will. Meanwhile, fashion that rejects real fur continues to innovate in the most exciting ways- just look at Stella McCartney’s latest collection unveiled in Paris.”

Click here for the full list:

Fashion Colleges List

 

Read more : http://www.respectforanimals.org/respect-for-animals-launches-online-database-detailing-the-use-of-fur-on-university-fashion-courses/

 

 

 

fur is dead

Live Transport

EU: aid to animal mass murder

 

Pro-Brexit supporters burn an EU flag during a UKIP demonstration in central London

 

Animals’ Angels visits numerous local wildlife markets in the Middle East where sheep and goats are sold.

Overall, the markets are relatively neat and all animals get at least water and food. There are shadows in all paddocks and the fans are running. Most animals come from the region – but today we also find sheep from Romania!

In the past, Australian sheep were sold here instead. But since this year, Australia has at least during the hot summer months, an export ban in the Middle East pronounced. But what is the EU and its member states doing? Instead of following the example of Australia, EU countries – such as For example, Romania -use this “gap” and export their animals to the Middle East. Europe should be ashamed!

We are shocked by the condition of the Romanian sheep: they are extremely dirty from top to bottom, their fur is completely stuck to excrement. Some sheep cough or have nasal discharge. The heat and high humidity make them even harder to manage. Some pant with their mouths open or lie exhausted on the ground.
We do not want to imagine under what bad conditions Liviu and the other sheep were transported by ship from Romania, that they look so dirty and miserable.

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Adding to all the suffering, there is another paradox: actually, the sheep do not want anyone here. They are later sold off as “cheap meat” for the guest workers, which does not even cost a third of the price that is demand for local sheep.

We complain against the EU and its Member States, which once again failed to ban animal transport at least during the hot months. Instead, they seek profit at any cost, throwing any ethics overboard.

 

https://www.facebook.com/animalsangels/

 

In the EU idiots or corrupt have the say.
Disgusting and incompetent at the same time is this EU gang and its servants.
We pay these to legally and deliberately demand the crimes of the meat mafia.
And in shame they are all the same.
They insult our intelligence, our empathy, our understanding of the law, they despise us, they ignore us, they cheat us.
They take from the idea of ​​animal welfare and the legally recognized animal rights, every validity, every power.
They repeat the ridiculous farce, they can not do anything.
We mean, they do not want to, but both are a valid reason to abolish this gang.
The EU must be abolished, the EU has not improved in the least, it pulls itself into EUXIT every day.

My best regards to all, Venus