Commentary by Peter Hammarstedt (Sweden) – captain of Sea Shepherd
Europe kills the fastest shark in the world, while African countries struggle to save the shark from extinction.
Last week, Senegal and Canada submitted an application to the International Atlantic Tuna Conservation Commission (ICCAT) for strict guidelines to protect the shortfin maco after a 2017 study showed that the world’s fastest shark species, itself if the catch rate was zero, there would only be a fifty percent chance of recovering. Gabon, The Gambia and Liberia supported the application, which provides for a ban on carrying short-fin makos on board, even if they were “accidentally” killed. The three African coastal states conduct patrols at sea together with Sea Shepherd.
dead mako sharks in Liberian waters
The participants in the convention of the Washington Convention on the Protection of Species had previously voted for a trade ban on short-fin mako products. To our horror, despite the efforts made by the African bloc, the application was smashed by the European Union and the United States. These made a weakened countermotion, which contradicted the best scientific recommendations.Unfortunately, this is not surprising since European fishing vessels are largely responsible for catching shortfin macos.
The failure of the application is devastating, but it gives me hope to see how our African partner countries play a pioneering role in the question of better shark protection measures. I am proud of Gabon, The Gambia and Liberia, who are fighting for the shortfin mako, and I trust that in future African coastal states will increasingly work for shark protection at international gatherings and conferences.
In addition, although the country is the largest market for shark fins, China has voted for measures to protect the short fin maco.
Sea Shepherd thanks the Gambia, Gabon and Liberia and the other 13 supporters of Senegal’s application for their strong commitment to nature conservation at the ICCAT meeting.
Up to 11,000 sharks are killed by humans every hour. Shark populations have decreased by 90% in the past century and a quarter of all shark species are threatened with extinction.
The supporters of Senegal’s application understood the urgency of shark protection and the importance of better protection measures for the heavily exploited shortfin mako.
https://sea-shepherd.de/2818-usa-und-europa-blockeren-haischutz My comment:“In their 400 million year evolution, the Mako sharks became the perfect hunter and even survived the dinosaurs, ”said marine biologist Ralf Sonntag for the International Animal Welfare Fund (IFAW).
And now they were brought to the brink of extinction by humans because of a shit soup!
The Mako shark is also known as the “cheetah of the oceans”. It can reach a speed of 69 km per hour. It is the fastest shark in the world.
Unlike other fish, sharks breed only slowly. Females only reach sexual maturity from the age of 18 and only have a few cubs every few years.
Spain is the main exporter of Mako sharks. European, especially Spanish and Portuguese, fishing vessels are responsible for 65% of the reported shortfin mako catches between January and June 2018.
The sharks are on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as highly endangered!
The human animal should be on the red list as the most dangerous animal in the world.
I had invested high hopes on the Corona Virus that he would kill some millions of us, humans. So that the animal and natural world can recover a little.
But obviously he’s a weakling.
The company had been supporting the race—which forces dogs to run about 1,000 miles through Alaska’s rugged terrain and extreme temperatures—for at least 40 years.
This victory follows PETA’s behind-the-scenes meetings with officials, pressure on social media, protests outside the airline’s headquarters, and e-mails from nearly 100,000 of our members and supporters like you.
This is how sled dogs were warehoused for 40+ years in the mountains of Colorado
Urge Chrysler and Others to Stop Sponsoring the Cruel, Deadly Iditarod
Dogs in the Iditarod are forced to run approximately 1,000 miles in under two weeks. On average, they must run 100 miles a day, with only a few brief periods of rest. They’re subjected to biting winds, blinding snowstorms, and subzero temperatures. Many pull muscles, incur stress fractures, or are afflicted with diarrhea, dehydration, intestinal viruses, or pneumonia.
During the 2019 Iditarod, more than 230 dogs were pulled off the trail—likely because of exhaustion, illness, or injury. Just one day after crossing the finish line, Oshi died from aspiration pneumonia—probably from inhaling her own vomit, which is the leading cause of death for dogs who don’t survive the race.
In late 2018 and early 2019, a PETA eyewitness worked at two dog kennels owned by former Iditarod champions and found widespread neglect and suffering. Dogs were denied veterinary care for painful injuries, kept constantly chained next to dilapidated boxes and plastic barrels in the bitter cold and biting wind, and forced to run even when they were exhausted and dehydrated.
Please send e-mails to the following executives urging them to end their support of the Iditarod:
GCI CEO Ronald Duncan at rduncan@gci.com
Matson CEO Matthew J. Cox at mcox@matson.com
Then, use the form below to ask Chrysler and Donlin Gold and its parent companies—Barrick Gold Corporation and NOVAGOLD Resources, Inc.—to sever their ties with this abusive race, in which dogs are run to their deaths.
In Romania, a large pig breeding facility again fell victim to the DanishDanBred group of African Swine Fever (ASF). The population of around 42,000 animals was culled immediately after the disease had been diagnosed in 23 pigs (!!!).
Last year, two other factories with more than 29,000 pigs had already been cleared from the company. According to the national veterinary authority, a large pig farm in the central southern region in the Argeş province, about 80 km west of the capital Bucharest is also affected. 23 pigs died of the deadly animal disease. The ASF also broke out in 37 backyard poses.Around 200 pigs were affected there.
Battles on the sidewalk in a small town: The picture was taken just before Christmas 2017 in southern Romania. Image rights: Annett Müller-Heinze / MDR
In the now culled facility there were over 3,000 sows as well as the piglet rearing and part of the fattening.Image: Google Maps
In terms of area, more than half of the country is affected.
In addition, more than half a million pigs have been culled since the first ASF case in July 2017.
Map of the EU Commission on the spread of swine fever in Eastern Europe (status at the end of November 2019).
Part I (blue) stands for risk due to the proximity to the infection,
Part II (pink) are wild boars infected,
Part III (red) are areas where domestic and wild boar are affected. Image rights: EU Commission
Ukraine also reports outbreaks of domestic pigs again. After a first case of ASF in a back yard in Greece in early February, no further outbreaks have been reported from there so far. The measures there seem to have taken effect.
Because Romania does not get the situation under control, the country has been banned from exporting to many foreign markets. However, this has no effect on the domestic price. This has even doubled due to the slump in domestic production and is now around € 4 per kg slaughter weight.
Experts anticipate that a price of over € 6 could be possible in the foreseeable future.
Home slaughter in Transylvania, 2013. Image rights: Annett Müller-Heinze
Some of the domestic producers are currently not allowed to export pork to the EU due to the disease in the country. The Union wants these conditions to prevent the virus from spreading to other countries.
My comment: 42,000 healthy animals killed!
Because 23 pigs were infected with it?
The people who are most afraid of swine fever are the ones who let the pigs be slaughtered anyway: pig keepers.
Because if swine fever precedes them and even only one animal of their “herd” becomes infected with the disease, all animals must be killed prematurely. A losing business for the farmers, because they only make money from the death of the pigs in the slaughterhouse..
And how is it in Germany?
Although in Germany there is not a single pig infected with the plague, the hunters “preventively” kill 600,000 wild boars per year.
Because the hunters blame these animals for the main bearers of the African plague.
Most farmers are also hunters and receive a special shot bonus.
Slaughter money / shooting money.
What more do you want as a pig farmer?
Why is no vaccine being developed? “It is very difficult to put laboratory results into practice,” say us all those who tortured the animals in laboratories to develop the vaccine. But the “preventive killing” of 600,000 wild boars is cheaper and fun for the hunters.
So far, 157 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Germany.
Could someone come up with the same idea of “preventively” kill based on these 157 cases …
WAV Comment – This is so very important – the animals are literally relying on you at the moment for keeping them supplied with medication; and also for their food.
Please give whatever you can afford to this very much needed appeal at the moment – Thank you WAV.
Violent acts towards animals have long been recognised as indicators of a dangerous psychopathology that does not confine itself to animals. “Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives”, wrote humanitarian Dr Albert Schweitzer.
Robert K Ressler, who developed profiles of serial killers for the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), states, “Murderers … very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids”. Studies have now convinced sociologists, lawmakers and the courts that acts of cruelty to animals deserve our attention.
They can be the first sign of a dangerous pathology that threatens humans as well.
Animal abuse is not just the result of a minor personality flaw in the abuser but rather a symptom of a deep mental disturbance. Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals don’t stop there; many of them move on to their fellow humans.
The FBI has found that a history of cruelty to animals regularly appears in the backgrounds of serial rapists and murderers, and the standard diagnostic and treatment manual for psychiatric and emotional disorders lists cruelty to animals as a diagnostic criterion for conduct disorders.
A study conducted in the US by Northeastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA found that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. The majority of inmates on death row in California’s San Quentin State Prison “practiced” their crimes on animals, according to the prison’s warden.
As a child, serial killer and rapist Ted Bundy – who was convicted of two murders but was suspected of actually killing more than 40 women – witnessed his father’s violence towards animals, and he himself later tortured animals.
Earl Kenneth Shriner, who raped and stabbed a 7-year-old boy, was known in his neighbourhood for hanging cats and torturing dogs.
David Berkowitz (aka the Son of Sam), who pleaded guilty to 13 murder and attempted murder charges, once shot a neighbour’s Labrador retriever.
Brenda Spencer, who opened fire at a California school, killing two children and injuring nine others, had repeatedly abused cats and dogs, often setting their tails on fire.
Serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer impaled the heads of dogs and cats on sticks.
Suspected US High School Shooter Has Reported History of Animal Abuse
Stephanie Bell, senior director of cruelty casework at PETA US, has commented in response to reports that the suspected gunman in the tragic Florida high school shooting previously used animals for target practice:
It is no surprise to PETA that before he allegedly massacred 17 people at a school in Parkland, Florida, Nikolas Cruz is said to have talked about shooting small animals, including lizards, squirrels, frogs, and a neighbor’s chickens, and reportedly sent his dog to a neighbor’s house to attack the pigs there.
The FBI has identified cruelty to animals as a warning sign of more violence to come, and many school shooters and serial killers have a history of abusing animals. While the issues of gun control and mental health rage on, one simple way to prevent future acts of violence are for local law-enforcement officials to pursue the strongest penalties possible in cruelty-to-animals cases – for everyone’s sake – and for those who hear about or witness animal abuse to report it.
The FBI is the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is roughly equivalent to India’s Central Bureau of Investigation.
Predictably, the man who killed 59 people and injured more than 500 others at a country-music festival in Las Vegas last year had a history of violence against animals, too. In India, the notorious Veerappan was both a poacher and a serial killer, and the Noida serial murders of children occurred at the home of Moninder Singh Pandher, who was fond of hunting. And they weren’t the only ones who hurt animals before moving on to hurting humans – so, too, did all the serial killers listed here and many others.
In India, cows are sacred to many, yet dairy consumption is on the rise.
Our country is also a top beef-exporting nation, second only to Brazil . Coincidence?
Absolutely not. In episode 107 of PETA US’ The PETA Podcast, author Poorva Joshipura reveals a connection between the beef and dairy industries that may surprise you, provides a first-hand account of the slaughter system, and explains why a quick meal is never worth a lifetime of suffering for cows, chickens, or other animals.
EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: Safari bosses have pulled their sickest stunt yet – by encouraging children as young as four to shoot and kill exotic African wildlife with military-grade sniper rifles
Bloodthirsty parents are paying for kids as young as four to slaughter exotic animals in Africa – as safari bosses sink to new depths with depraved “U10s go free” trophy hunting packages.
One shocking photo shows a nine-year-old girl standing on the corpse of a zebra (Image: John X Safaris)
One shocking picture shows a bloodstained schoolboy grinning as he stands over the antelope he slaughtered just moments before with a military-grade sniper rifle.
A Daily Star Online investigation revealed that he was among dozens of kids taken on “family friendly” hunting trips to the African subcontinent – with trophy hunting firms offering bespoke deals for youngsters in a desperate bid to “inspire the next generation of hunters”.
Some let children under 10 hunt for free, while others throw in free taxidermy so they can mount their conquests on their bedroom walls.
Rosedale Safaris helped this five-year-old shoot a “huge” Blesbuck
Others offer to hire professional videographers to film first kills in HD, or offer huge first-time discounts.
Several of the firms rake in hundreds of thousands by giving punters the chance to kill elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos.
Four-year-old Gerhard was filmed blasting a Kudu from point-blank range (Image: cheetahsafarissa/instagram)
The endangered beasts are slaughtered with rifles and crossbows before their corpses are harvested for trophy mounts.
Ricky Gervais said the pictures were ‘depressing’ when we showed them to him last night
He raged: “I don’t see sport here. I see abuse.
“There are studies that show the link between the effects of violence on animals and the legacy it imposes on children.
“Serial killers start with animals. Why would any parent take these pointless risks with the psychological wellbeing of their children?
“Kids will do anything to gain approval and respect from their role models – even killing a beautiful wild animal for fun.”
South Africa’s Cheetah Safaris helped the four-year-old to shoot a Kudu from point-blank range.
Sickening pictures posted on Instagram reveal that his eyebrow was split open by the scope’s recoil.
The caption read: “Gerhard became a real hunter and shot his first kudu today at four years old!
“Had to deal with hunter consequences and got a scope eye. Now nothing is safe!”
Founder Pieter Bothma also runs a firm with a “big five” combination deal where millionaires can slaughter an elephant, a lion, a white rhino, and a cape buffalo on the same trip.
The sick offer is so exclusive that the full price is only available on request.
South African hunter Carl van Zyl – who offers millionaires the chance to shoot elephants, lions and white rhinos – offers to cover the fee of any U18 who wants to kill.
His John X Safaris firm lets kids hunt dozens of at-risk species in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Cameroon, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Congo and Ethiopia.
Van Zyl vows to match the “investment” of any parent who wants to hunt with their children.
Texan surgeon Toby Risko took his nine-year-old twins to shoot gazelle and zebra (Image: abjc.net)
He wrote: “We’re passionate about the next generation of hunters.
“In fact, we’re so passionate we’ve taken it upon ourselves to match your investment in their hunt, ultimately our hunting future, by matching the cost of getting them to Africa.
“We figured if you were willing to buy the flight we’d be happy to sponsor the day fee.
“As hunters we need more kids out in the field each day. Bring them along on safari to Africa and help us as we inspire the next generation of hunters.”
Some safari operators throw in free taxidermy (Image: mahlitzane/instagram)
Texan surgeon Toby Risko booked a ‘spring break’ hunting trip through the company for his family of four last year.
He paid extra for a “state of the art” production company to film his nine-year-old twins slaughtering gazelle and zebra.
Got The Shot productions claim their “broadcast quality” package will ensure each hunt is “immortalised for generations.”
Shocking footage from the resulting 45-minute film shows his daughter gunning down a zebra with a tripod-mounted sniper rifle.
She stands triumphantly on its corpse as a guide gushes: “She’s small but feisty and tough. She’s going to be a great huntress.”
Others have ‘kids go free’ package deals (Image: 1shotsafarissa/instagram)
In a testimonial for John X Safaris’ glossy annual magazine, she says: “My favourite part was shooting my zebra stallion because he is so pretty and big.”
Her twin brother added: “I liked that I was able to shoot so many animals and I’m only nine.”
Rival company Rosedale Safaris charges £20,000 to shoot a leopard, £2,100 for a giraffe, and offer “unlimited” monkeys as part of a £2,600 package deal.
Its owners Charl and Julia La Roux helped a five-year-old boy shoot a “huge” Blesbuck for £310.
In a testimonial on the firm’s website, his father gushed: “The highlight of the hunt was when Charl guided my five-year-old son to his first animal ever.”
In 2015 American dentist Walter Palmer sparked international outrage when he paid £35,0000 to kill Cecil the lion .
Two local hunters illegally lured Cecil from a protected area to hand Palmer the kill.
And Golden Safaris put on a 10-day bonding package for dads and their sons.
The “exceptional value” deal includes a stay at the luxury Free State lodge – where hunters can tackle some of Africa’s most endangered wildlife.
The site boasts: “If hunting plains game does not get your heart racing, four of the Big Five (buffalo, elephant, lion and white rhino) are also available.
“The father and son hunting package strives to offer dads wishing to enjoy an African hunting experience with their sons a cost-effective and enjoyable safari experience.
“The trophies in the package are to be shared by fathers and sons.”
Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, told Daily Star Online: “These pictures are heartbreaking.
“More and more trophy hunting operators are getting children to shoot and pose with animals they’ve killed.
“This is a sick and immoral industry in every way. Somehow, though, they have managed to hit a new low.
“We should not be indoctrinating children that it’s ok to take the life of something for “This is a sick and immoral industry in every way. Somehow, though, they have managed to hit a new low.
“We should not be indoctrinating children that it’s ok to take the life of something for entertainment.
“Some of the world’s worst criminals started out as animal abusers, including Jon Venables – one of the murderers of Jamie Bulger – and Ian Huntley, the Soham killer.
“Trophy hunting has been linked to a host of other violent crimes including domestic violence.
“If we want to breed a new generation of murderers and wife-beaters, then this is the way to go about it.
“Daily Star Online readers will be horrified at these images, and rightly so. These kids are barely old enough to walk and already they’re being brainwashed by bloodthirsty animal killers.”
Downton Abbey actor Peter Egan added: “Trophy hunters are killing huge numbers of animals, many of them threatened with extinction.
“We should be stamping out all forms of abuse and so-called ‘sport’ hunting.”
We Remember ! – WAV.
Time to get away from young killers Psychoville – here is a bit of decent relief from one of my favourite bands – ‘The Cure’ (England) – Regards Mark
Arosa village prohibits advertising for fur products.
The sophisticated holiday resort in Graubünden, Switzerland, known for guaranteed snow and wonderful ski slopes is now making headlines because the municipality has decided to ban all advertising in the village for fur products in the future.
FOUR PAWS congratulates the Arosa municipal board on this decision and congratulates on this courageous, innovative and far-sighted action. Arosa is a holiday resort in the Alpental Schanfigg in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The place is known for its lakes, ski slopes and hiking trails such as the “Squirrels Way”.
This means that Arosa has a lot of tourism all year round.
The holiday destination is therefore very trendy. Because even large luxury brands such as Chanel, Burberry and Gucci have been doing without furs for some time.
FOUR PAWSsees the ban on advertising fur products as an important signal for other tourist locations to do the same to Arosa.
Pascal Jenny,Arosa’s tourism director, explains the decision for fur-free advertising in the village as follows: «Arosa is a pioneer and already shows with the Arosa Bear Country how animal welfare and tourism work together in an exemplary manner. This advertising ban is a logical next step on this path. »
In the opinion of FOUR PAWS, the decision shows that ethical fashion and animal welfare have also become enormously important in tourism. Instead of real fur cruelty to animals, modern consumers today also want sustainability and innovation in this area.
«It is really a forward-looking message that Arosa is no longer advertising fur products. Hopefully many Swiss tourism destinations and municipalities will follow this example. Arosa advertises with sustainable tourism and shows impressively that it can be put into action ». Alexandra Mandoki, Country Head of FOUR PAWS Switzerland.
The fur industry kills more than 100 million animals each year. Mink, fox and raccoon dogs suffer on fur farms in tiny wire cages, other species die a cruel death by falling. High amounts of dangerous chemicals are used to process fur for fur fashion.
FOUR PAWS has been working internationally on the subject of fur for many years and is committed to an import ban on fur products in Switzerland.
And I mean…Thanks to responsible for tourism in the village Arosa.
Switzerland has banned the hobby of hunting in the canton of Geneva since 1974, with a popular vote.
Since then they have only received positive results on the regulation of wild animal populations in the canton.
In Zurich, animals have lawyers! that is the Swiss Antoine F. Goetschel, who officially has the job of the animal advocate for the Canton of Zurich.
The Swiss have banned transito animal transports through their country, I quote from the Swiss Transport Regulations: A transit ban applies for the transit of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses and poultry by truck through Switzerland.
In the Hessian city of Hanau, nine people were killed and six injured. The police find the alleged gunman and another person lifeless in an apartment. The killer had previously killed his mother (72). A letter of confession and a video are currently being evaluated.
According to police circles and tagesschau.de,the man has a hunting license and a corresponding gun possession card.
Ammunition and magazines were said to have been in his vehicle. In addition, he is said to have been active as a sports shooter. According to initial information, it should be the 43-year-old German Tobis Rathjen.
All victims, except the perpetrator’s mother, have a migration background. Five of them were Turkish citizens. The rest of the people came from Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Bosnia. Some also had the German passport.
According to information from security circles, a letter of confession has been found.
The man was convinced that he would be monitored in all possible phases and areas of life – by “an organization that operates on the basis of a secret service but does not appear officially by name”.
The wild animals have a terror problem from the right for decades.
In his “essay” there are also various right-wing extremist and xenophobic statements – in his opinion it is not enough to identify certain ethnic groups because their existence is “in itself a fundamental mistake” (typical hunter’s ideas – see for example foxes or neo-zoos– Editor’s note). A number of peoples must be “completely destroyed”,including half of Asia, various ethnic groups from North Africa and Israel.
Whoever gets the hunting license always receives two things: a license for killing and a license for stupid.
Many hobby hunters are gunmen and active in shooting clubs. In addition, amateur hunters also commit a striking number of violent offenses in Germany, but only the tip of the iceberg appears in the media.
A look at the hunting statistics also shows the full extent of the culture of violence in the milieu.
And I mean…As long as his victims were from other species, he was allowed to continue murdering and nobody was interested.
Now he kills 11 human animals and everyone is horrified.
dead mako sharks in Liberian waters
Battles on the sidewalk in a small town: The picture was taken just before Christmas 2017 in southern Romania. Image rights: Annett Müller-Heinze / MDR
Home slaughter in Transylvania, 2013. Image rights: Annett Müller-Heinze
Tobis Rathjen.
World Animals Voice 