Day: June 24, 2020

France: The hidden side of Roquefort

Roquefort is produced from sheep’s milk. To produce this milk, the sheep must give birth to one or two young each year. Thus, more than 500,000 lambs are born each year for the production of Roquefort. In excess, three-quarters of them are sent to intensive farms where they will be fattened for meat. As is the case in this Aveyron farm, SARL Grimal, one of the largest farms in France.

Flag of France, hand drawn watercolor illustration

The lambs are crammed into pens without access to the outside. Some are dying slowly in the farm and die before reaching 4 months when they are sent to the slaughterhouse.

Mortalité

Some of these lambs were killed at the Arcadie Sud-Ouest slaughterhouse near Rodez. Some receive electric shocks that are thought to numb them and cause a heart attack.

Here, the process is not controlled by the employees, so that animals receive the shock without being dizzy. Others are slaughtered alive. Lambs see each other die.

Many are still hanging on the slaughter line.

roquefort 6

These serious offenses had already been noted in a veterinary report in 2016. Four years later, nothing has changed. Let us demand the closure of this slaughterhouse.

 

 

An overwhelming 2016 veterinary report

Already in 2016, the practices of killing animals at the South West Arcadia slaughterhouse were disastrous. A detailed veterinary inspection had confirmed several “major non-conformities”.

In particular, the report reads that animals see those who precede them die because of a “lack of masking curtain at the killing post”, and that they are “systematically hoisted conscious”.

 

The slaughterhouse is given the worst assessment: “major non-compliance” for the killing of animals!

No protection for 3/4 of the “Roquefort” lambs

Continue reading “France: The hidden side of Roquefort”

England: Viva! Undercover Expose Pig Farming By Morrisons Supplier. One Of Top 5 UK Supermarkets. Disturbing Video Footage.

England

 

Viva! - The Vegan Charity

VIVA ! – A very well known in UK animal rights group – especially for their recent campaign against Hogwood –

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva!_(organisation)

 

https://www.viva.org.uk/

 

 

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/08/28/england-the-hogwood-victory-truth-is-now-on-video-donate-to-support-the-campaign/

 

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/08/20/england-formal-announcement-by-juliet-at-viva-re-hogwood-victory/

 

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/06/20/england-hogwood-a-modern-horro-story-coming-to-you-very-soon/

 

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/02/27/england-hogwood-a-modern-horror-story-film-launch-in-house-of-commons-london-26th-march-2020-watch-the-sneek-preview-here/

 

Juliet and the crew at Viva !   have now undertaken another major investigation – this time pigs at Morrisons.   For our non UK visitors; we are fortunately not talking Australian PM here; but a UK supermarket chain; probably in the top 5 in the UK. You can see from this link how many stores they have: https://my.morrisons.com/storefinder/

The following is copied directly, without amendment; from Viva !:

 

Bowser view linkhttps://mailchi.mp/viva.org.uk/morrisons-pigs-appeal-2020?e=26c03356b8

 

Or here is the wording:

 

MORRISONS EXPOSED

Disturbing footage from our latest undercover investigation into two British pig farms exposes shocking conditions at farms supplying Morrisons. Workers were filmed brutally killing young pigs, mutilating others and leaving dead animals out in the open.

  • Calvesley Farm is a pig breeding facility operated by Winterbrook Farm Partners. Up to 400 poor piglets are born in this hellhole each week.
  • Whiteshoot Farm is a rearing and fattening facility also operated by Winterbrook Farm Partners, housing more than 8,000 pigs.

The investigations took place over the course of three weeks, using hidden cameras to reveal atrocities both inside and outside the farms’ sheds.

READ THE DAILY MAIL EXCLUSIVE

 

and see the video footage.

 

Shocking mutilations

Each newborn piglet is pulled from the farrowing crate and ruthlessly thrown into a metal trough. Investigators captured workers using a barbaric hot knife to slice the piglets’ tails back to a bleeding stump and a pair of pliers to clip away their teeth – all without pain relief.

These cruel acts are supposed to prevent tail biting, a behaviour that manifests from distress and lack of stimulation.

One of the most distressing scenes captured by Viva! Campaigns shows a farm worker ‘knocking’ young piglets – killing them by slamming their tiny heads onto the concrete floor.

It’s a brutally cruel act, which is followed by the worker dumping the bodies aside – presumably because these animals were considered too small to be profitable.

 

Incinerating public health

As if all this wasn’t bad enough, our team also stumbled upon the farm’s incinerator in an open-ended shed. Most days there were piles of dead piglets – some in empty feed sacks, others dumped on the ashes from previous burns – discarded like rubbish. The door had been left wide open. Next to the shed there were more dead piglets awaiting their turn to burn, writhing in maggots.

One of the most distressing scenes captured by Viva! Campaigns shows a farm worker ‘knocking’ young piglets – killing them by slamming their tiny heads onto the concrete floor.

It’s a brutally cruel act, which is followed by the worker dumping the bodies aside – presumably because these animals were considered too small to be profitable.

These practices are in complete violation of the government’s guidance on how to handle ‘fallen stock’, which states: ‘While waiting for your fallen stock to be collected, you must ensure that animals and birds cannot access the carcase.’

 

 

How you can help

Your funds not only provide us with vital equipment to carry out investigations but also the budgets to launch major publicity stunts and campaigns:

  • £10 will buy our investigators additional 32GB SD cards
  • £20 will buy our investigators much needed biosecurity and PPE
  • £50 will buy our investigators additional power packs for hidden cameras
  • £60+ will buy our investigators additional cameras, which often need replacement due to stress of use or damage

As part of our overarching End Factory Farming campaign our major action plan includes:

  • An innovative YouTube ad campaign, featuring a range of footage from our undercover investigations
  • Greater social media promotion with targeted messaging on how and why to go vegan
  • The launch of our brand-new seven-day vegan initiative, V7
  • And a range of billboards throughout the country, as and when lockdown allows for maximum impact

We know times are tough and as ever we appreciate every contribution made, no matter the size. Mark, together we will end factory farming, before it ends us!

 

Yours for the animals

 

Juliet Gellatley, Founder & Director, Viva!, and Nutritional ...

 

Juliet Gellatley
Founder & Director

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juliet_Gellatley

 

WAV Comment: Link to undercover investigation videos; select any of the videos shown here:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Viva+undercover+investigations

 

 

 

China: Update Yulin 24/6 – They Say Dog Meat ‘Wards Off Disease’. We Say ‘Covid 19 and Coronavirus’ ?? – Who Is The Liar ?

china

yulin new 3

 

The 10-day annual festival in the southwestern city of Yulin usually attracts thousands of visitors. Cat meat, fresh lychees and liquor are also sold at the festival. It began in 2009 to mark the summer solstice. Eating dog meat in the summer months is traditionally believed to be good for health.

It can ward off diseases and increase sexual performance in men, according to some. The custom can be traced back at least 400 years in China and around 10-20 million dogs are killed every year for consumption.

 

https://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/yulin-dog-meat-festival-kicks-off-in-china-amidst-covid-19-pandemic-what-is-it-and-how-did-it-start/611028

 

yulin new pic 1

 

 

China dog meat festival goes ahead despite coronavirus visitor decline

https://hongkongfp.com/2020/06/23/china-dog-meat-festival-goes-ahead-despite-coronavirus-visitor-decline/

 

 

In Fight to Ban Dog Meat, China’s Activists Find an Ally: The Coronavirus

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/world/asia/china-dog-meat.html

 

 

Chinese market vendors chop up rows of slaughtered dogs while locals enjoy meals on the ‘dog meat street’ as Yulin celebrates notorious festival despite coronavirus pandemic

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8450311/Yulin-market-vendors-chop-rows-slaughtered-dogs-celebration-festival-amid-COVID-19.html

 

 

GRAPHIC WARNING: CHINA’s notorious dog meat festival has opened in defiance of a government campaign to improve animal welfare and reduce risks to health highlighted by the coronavirus outbreak, but activists are hopeful its days are numbered.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1299750/china-news-dog-meat-festival-yulin-2020-animal-cruelty-wet-market-covid-19-latest-update

 

 

Scotland (UK) Gets Tough for Animal Abuse and Its Abusers. Up to 5 Years Imprisonment and Unlimited Fines.

scot

 

 

WAV Comment – up to 5 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine – well done Scotland (UK) for sending the clear message out that animal abuse will not be accepted. Lets hope this policy (and punishments) are adopted in many other places !

 

Scotland to introduce five year jail term for animal cruelty

Scotland will have the toughest penalties for animal cruelty in the UK – thanks to a new Bill passed in Parliament this week.

 

MSPs have supported increased penalties for the worst animal cruelty cases.

And Finn’s Law will also give new legal protections for service animals such as police dogs and horses, removing a legal defence of self-defence for attacks on service animals in the course of their duties.

The Animals and Wildlife (Scotland) Bill will increase the maximum penalty for the worst animal cruelty crimes to five years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Animal welfare enforcement agencies will also be given innovative new powers, allowing animals taken into their care to be quickly rehomed – without the need for a court order.

Mairi Gougeon, Rural Affairs Minister, said: “This Bill is an important milestone in Scotland’s long tradition of protecting our animals and wildlife.

“The increased maximum available penalties reflect the seriousness of some of the very cruel crimes seen against domestic and wild animals, although these cases are, thankfully, rare.

“Finn’s Law, named after a police dog brutally injured in the course of its duties, recognises the important role service animals play in protecting us in sometimes very difficult circumstances.

“The Bill also provides new powers, described as ‘transformative’ by the SSPCA, that will allow animal welfare enforcement agencies to quickly rehome animals in their care.”

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals welcomed the government’s decision.

Scotland’s animal welfare charity, which is reponsible for investigating animal cruelty and rehoming animals seized on welfare grounds, said the law will be game-changing for both animals and the organisation.

 

Continue reading the full story at:

https://www.motherwelltimes.co.uk/news/crime/scotland-introduce-five-year-jail-term-animal-cruelty-2890311

 

 

 

 

 

USA: Will SeaWorld Stay Afloat ?

american-flag-120402148

 

WAV Comment — we have heard this morning (24/6/20) that there are currently 56 actions against SeaWorld by companies who are trying to get their money back.  Not confirmed, but we have found the following.

 

Seaworld orcas

 

SeaWorld raises cash to stay afloat but can it survive prolonged park closures due to coronavirus?

 

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/tourism/story/2020-04-21/seaworld-raises-cash-to-stay-afloat-during-prolonged-park-closures-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic

The theme park company says it was seeing record attendance during first two months of 2020 before the coronavirus shutdown hit

By Lori Weisberg

In a move to shore up its finances during a pandemic that last month forced it to shut down its 12 theme parks, SeaWorld Entertainment announced Tuesday it is raising $227.5 million through a private offering that it can use to help pay its bills.

While the company reported it had seen record attendance and revenue during January and February of this year, the good news quickly soured the following month when it closed all its parks on March 16 and later furloughed 95 percent of its workers starting the first of this month.

Read more at the link above.

 

 

As SeaWorld Parks remain closed because of COVID-19, the company has taken proactive financial steps to protect its customers, employees and animals.

 

SeaWorld Entertainment has taken financial steps in response to lockdown measures that are still in place accross America. Interim CEO, Marc Swanson, said that the steps they have taken “will provide us with significant financial flexibility and liquidity to operate in this unprecedented and highly uncertain environment.”

 

Reducing expenditure

Seaworld Entertainment has reduced its executive officers’s base salary by 20% until its theme parks resume normal operations. Furthermore, the company has substantially reduced its marketing and advertising spending.

 

Read the full article at:

https://blooloop.com/news/seaworld-financial-response-covid-19/

 

 

 

SeaWorld CEO resigns amid coronavirus furloughs

 

Marc G. Swanson serving as interim CEO at least through reopening of parks

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/04/06/seaworld-ceo-resigns-amid-coronavirus-furloughs/

ORLANDO, Fla. – SeaWorld has named a temporary chief executive officer following the resignation of Sergio D. Rivera, according to the news release.

Rivera, the most recent chief executive officer of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. notified the company of his decision to resign last week, days after SeaWorld announced 90% of employees would be furloughed amid closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. Company officials said Rivera also stepped down from his duties as a member of the company’s board of directors.

According to the release, Rivera said his resignation was due to disagreements over the board’s involvement in the decision making at SeaWorld.

Rivera was on the job for less than five months.

 

Read the full article via the above link.

 

seaworld kills 3

 

Holland: shutdown of the fur farms, in a hurry: by the end of the year !!!!

For a good start to the day!

niederländischen-flagge

After the coronavirus outbreaks in Dutch mink farms, all of this type of farm in the country should, according to the will of Parliament, be closed by the end of the year.

minkmink-1

A corresponding proposal from the Social Democrats and the Party for Animals was passed yesterday.
The Parliament also called on the government to ban the breeding of animals “susceptible” to the coronavirus.

The Dutch authorities had more than 1,500 minks killed in the past few weeks after the virus appeared in nine farms. At least two employees of the farms contracted the pathogen.
The authorities assume that the virus has been transmitted from the mink to the employees.

According to the animal welfare organization Humane Society International, there are currently 128 mink farms in the Netherlands. The breeding of mink fur was fiercely controversial in the country even before the virus broke out.

VIER PFOTEN_mink pg

https://orf.at/stories/3170818/

 

My comment…And since we have failed miserably as a species, we would like to thank the pandemics for intervening and perhaps doing what we are currently not able to do – namely abolish fur farms.

It would be optimal to abolish the torture farms of ALL breeding animals, and the current mass infections in slaughterhouses can be a good start in this direction.

Over the years we have learned to be patient and therefore we look forward to small successes too.

My best regards to all, Venus