Germany,Brazil, and the Portuguese EU Council Presidency are pushing for the trade agreement to be concluded quickly.
We have to prevent that! Greenpeaceis working to ensure that the toxic deal does not materialize.
The trade agreement between the EU and the South American Mercosur countries Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay is about to be concluded.
The Gran Chaco – stretches across the border region of Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Nowhere in the world is clearing for the cultivation of soy progressing faster than here for soy planting.
The deal aims to lower tariffs on agricultural products like beef. For these products, more and more rainforest is being destroyed in the Amazon region – often by slash and burn.
The huge biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest and the Pantanal is threatened: jaguars, sloths, and many other animal species are displaced or die in the fires.
Amazon: Jaguar
Customs duties on pesticides “made in Germany” should also be dropped.
This would deliver even more toxic chemicals to South America that cannot be used in the EU.
There they poison the soil and water and kill plants and animals – and also endanger the health of the people who are exposed to them.
Environmental protection also means wise trade policy !!
Humans destroy and poison important natural areas and CO2 stores.
Unique habitats such as the Amazon rainforest and the Pantanal are at risk, and reckless policies give land robbers additional encouragement.
As a result, more fires are burning in Brazil than there have been for years. The intensive industrial agriculture depends on the drip of pesticides, the massive use of these poisons leaves its mark on people and the environment.
We are destroying our best allies against the climate crisis – the last primeval forests on earth and poisoning the habitat for all living beings.
Amazon
Consistent nature conservation and the expansion of protected areas are life insurance for people and animals. Because the well-being of humans is linked to the well-being of other living beings and entire ecosystems.
We have to see ourselves as part of nature instead of continuing to destroy it!
International trade must focus on people and nature – and not on corporate profits. If EU-Mercosur cuts tariffs on agricultural products such as beef and poultry as well as pesticides and cars, the agreement will further fuel the destruction of nature and the climate crisis.
That mustn’t happen! Greenpeace is therefore working to ensure that the deal does not come about.
And I mean…The EU has been negotiating with Mercosur for twenty years, with no result. And now, with Bolsonaro of all people, everything suddenly happened very quickly. Chancellor Merkel in particular has pushed for this quick deal.
European cars, that is, industrial goods, against South American beef, poultry, and raw material
That is essentially what was agreed with the deal.
Business is business and the rules of capitalism do not include the protection of the environment, the climate, and human rights.
This leaves Bolsonaro’s devastating policies on the Mercosur deal with no consequences.
It’s fatal.
Europe must not look the other way when human rights, the environment, and the climate are trampled on. We have to pull the emergency brake and stop the conclusion of the EU-Mercosur agreement in this form.
We, therefore, urge the Federal Government and the EU Commission: No “keep it up” !!
Stop working on the current EU trade agreement with Mercosur.
During our campaigns in the Southern Ocean, our crews often had nice encounters with penguins. They are definitely one of our favorites among flightless birds.
But the idyllic images are often deceptive – unfortunately penguins don’t have it easy either: climate change, overfishing, and the destruction of their habitats are affecting penguin populations all over the world.
There are 18 species in the world and in the video you will meet some representatives who we have already run into during our missions.
(Text on the Video): there are 18 different species of penguins some are small and some are large
they cannot fly
but are very good swimmers
and very good at waddling
we fight to protect the penguins
and all marine life
And I mean…Every year on April 25th is World Penguin Day.
It is therefore important to remember the day because it should draw attention to the fact that litter in the oceans and climate change are a threat to animals.
These sea birds are critically endangered.
Because the warming of the earth causes the sea ice to decline, the penguins find fewer and fewer krill, the small crustaceans that they mainly feed on.
Plastic garbage – the garbage from human animals – causes them – like all marine animals – great difficulties.
Humboldt penguins are among the most threatened species. Twice as many of them now live in zoos and animal parks as in the wild.
Humboldt penguins
By the way, not all penguins are the same.
Because of ice: not every penguin feels comfortable there, according to the WWF. Some species live in warmer regions, such as the little penguins in Australia.
penguins in Australia.
Penguins can withstand up to -70 degrees. Their water-repellent feathers and the layer of fat protect them from cooling down.
Penguins are considered monogamous and loyal.
We love these wonderful animals and want to continue fighting against the loss of their habitat.
There are people who argue that animals are happy in zoos, or are at least content. Are they? Keep reading to learn about zoochosis and what it tells us about the degree to which captive animals suffer.
Zoochosis is a form of psychosis that develops in animals held captive in zoos. Most often, it manifests in what are called stereotypic behaviors, or stereotypies, which are often monotonous, obsessive, repetitive actions that serve no purpose. Stated plainly, zoochosis is mental anguish made visible by abnormal behavior, and it’s a common indicator of poor welfare.
Animals evolved in the wild, where they could roam freely, interact socially, problem solve, and in general live a rich sensory life. Captivity, whether in zoos, circuses, aquariums, or elsewhere, denies them all of this and more. As a result, animals suffer.
Thousands of different species are kept in zoos, and each one has specific physical and psychological needs that can never be met in captivity, even with the best husbandry practices. The most common stereotypies seen in captive animals can depend on species, and individuals, but often include:
Animals in captivity are restricted in countless ways. They live lives of extreme sensory deprivation. We restrict what they can do and with whom they can socialize. We often separate them from their families and friends. We decide with whom they can mate, or deny them access to a mate entirely and artificially inseminate them using sexually abusive and invasive procedures. We limit their movements, their behaviors, their decision to have offspring, and their ability to fully realize their higher order needs, such as the desire to live autonomously, to make decisions, to do meaningful work.
Research has found the effects of captivity so detrimental, it can actually cause physical changes to brain structures, which can alter health and behavior.
When animals are denied the ability to live sensory rich lives, and their experiences are limited to the dullest, most blank canvas, mental illness develops.
Is Zoochosis a Sign of Suffering?
Definitely.
Again, stereotypies are a concerning sign of poor welfare that clearly show us animals’ stress and frustration over not being able to engage in instinctive behaviors. Some facilities have gone so far as to administer antidepressants and antipsychotics to a range of different kinds of animals, but that doesn’t solve the underlying cause of their chronic distress, which is confinement.
Don’t take our word for it, look for evidence of this in nature. You won’t find it. As already stated, animals in the wild who are able to live full lives do not demonstrate stereotypical behaviors. Animals who live in captivity do.
Is Zoochosis a Disease?
Yes.
According to Wikipedia, “A disease is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism, and that is not due to any immediate external injury.” This definition is inclusive of both bodily and mental disorders.
That said, zoochosis is not a disease in the sense of an abnormal condition that stems from within, such as from one’s own body getting sick. Zoochosis is instead a disease that stems from outside forces, from the extreme sensory deprivation that zoos and other forms of captivity impose upon animals.
Zoochosis is a mental disorder that manifests in abnormal, and often unhealthy, physical behaviors. It is largely, though not necessarily exclusively, caused by psychological factors induced by physical captivity and sensory deprivation.
That said, many animals held captive in zoos are the product of breeding programs that result in inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity. So it is certainly possible that in some cases — though certainly not all — there is a biological component to zoochosis.
How Many Animals Get Zoochosis?
We don’t know.
As with all mental conditions, zoochosis is surely suffered to varying degrees by different individuals in different circumstances. In addition, zoochosis manifests in different ways across different individuals and different species. In some animals it may not be noticed by humans at all. So we cannot determine precisely how many animals in captivity suffer from severe mental illness.
There are 240 zoos in 13 countries accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, with 217 being in the U.S. alone. Collectively, they confine 800,000 animals from 6,000 different species, and that’s still only part of the picture globally, which doesn’t even account for roadside zoos, private possession, or other settings for captive animals, such as agriculture and research.
Accordingly, it is safe to assume that there are many millions, if not billions, of animals worldwide who are held in captivity and live lives of mental anguish.
If I Don’t See Signs of Zoochosis, Does That Mean Everything is Okay?
No!
Perhaps you have known someone in your own life who is suffering inside but bottles up all their emotions. Research is clear that this happens in nonhuman animals, too.
If someone looks sick in a way we recognize, we assume they are not well. But when we see an elephant or a bear in captivity swaying incessantly back and forth, most of us don’t understand how and why they are suffering.
How Can We Prevent Zoochosis?
Do not keep animals in captivity. It is as simple as that.
If you have to keep the animal locked up to prevent them from escaping, that animal is held captive.
With the exception of real sanctuaries accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), and cases of urgently needed medical care, it is a safe bet that captive animals everywhere are being held captive for the benefit of their human captors, not the animals themselves, and exceptionally rarely, “for the benefit of the species” at extreme cost to the individuals.
Animals, just like us human animals, want to be free. They do not want to live their lives behind bars any more than we do.
What you can do:
Do not visit zoos, aquariums, or circuses or roadside attractions that use and therefore exploit animals unless you’re documenting abuse.
Inhumane Treatment of Bua Noi & Primates in Pata Zoo
Pata Zoo license comes up for renewal this month June 2020 It must not be renewed ! For years animal activists have been raising issues on the inhumane treatment of Bua Noi in Pata Zoo a privately owned zoo located on top of a department store Pata Pinklao in Thailand.
An offer from The Aspinall Foundation of moving Bua Noi to a Sanctuary facility. They have the experience and capacity to facilitate it and can fund the transfer at no cost to the owner Mr. Kanit Sermsirimongkol.
They’ve been running gorilla rescue and release programmes in the neighbouring Republics of Congo and Gabon for over 35 years, and have released over 70 gorillas during this time.
Such a transfer would have significant welfare benefits for Bua Noi, and sends a powerful message about protecting wildlife and habitats in the countries of origin.
Bua Noi has been held in a department store since 1987 that’s 33 years of suffering in captivity, how she was brought into Thailand is questionable the paperwork doesn’t add up she could have possibly been a fallen victim of wildlife trafficking.
• In March 2015, it was reported that Thai authorities charged Pata Zoo for breaking several laws and ordered the removal of all large animals (sadly NOTHING HAS HAPPENDED!!!! )
Then the DNP responded by declaring it could not withdraw the licence of Pata Zoo as the zoo had not done anything against the law. The DNP director-general argued that the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act did not forbid animals from being caged in high-rise buildings and, therefore, Pata Zoo did not violate the law by maintaining a zoo on top of a building
The conditions Bua and other primates are forced to live in • Small Spaces • Barren Concrete and steel cells (outdated) • No natural environment (no sun, no grass , no plants, no soil ) • Suffering mentally • Isolation
Just this year in April 2020 a fire broke out in the zoo , to think of the mental state of the animals during this horrifying time! This should have prompted the government to shut the zoo down it’s unsafe the zoo and the building is old and dilapidated
The zoo is currently on lock down with the rest of the world due to the pandemic and the effects are taking it’s toll to humans, imagine Bua Noi the last gorilla in Thailand living in complete isolation .
This is the time the government must look at this issue with compassion and recognize that there is no conservation in allowing Bua Noi continued suffering !
Please Sign her petition Pata Zoo license must not be renewed to learn more about her story and other primates watch Stolen Apes .
How can we allow this type of suffering to continue ?
‘Teeming with biodiversity’: green groups buy Belize forest to protect it ‘in perpetuity’
Conservation organisations purchase 950 sq km biodiversity hotspot, helping to secure a vital wildlife corrido
“These logs are historic,” says Elma Kay, standing in Belize Maya Forest, where she has been doing an inventory of felled trees. “These are the last logs that were cut here, for mahogany and other hardwoods, left behind by the previous logging company.”
The last felled trees in Belize Maya Forest. Photograph: Handout
“These logs are historic,” says Elma Kay, standing in Belize Maya Forest, where she has been doing an inventory of felled trees. “These are the last logs that were cut here, for mahogany and other hardwoods, left behind by the previous logging company.”
Trees will no longer be cut down in this 950 sq km (236,000-acre) area, after the land was bought by a coalition of conservation organisations to save one of the world’s last pristine rainforests from deforestation. “The forest will now be protected in perpetuity,” says Kay.
The news is timed to coincide with Earth Day, the annual event established in 1970 to mobilise action on environmental issues.
The newly named Belize Maya Forest is part of 150,000 sq km (38m acres) of tropical forest across Mexico, Belize and Guatemala known as the Selva Maya, a biodiversity hotspot and home to five species of wild cat (jaguars, margay, ocelot, jaguarundi and puma), spider monkeys, howler monkeys and hundreds of bird species.
This means we get to safeguard our biodiversity, from iconic jaguars to endangered tapirs
Elma Kay, Belize Maya Forest Trust
“The minute you start driving through the forest, it’s teeming with biodiversity,” says Kay, one of the directors of the locally run Belize Maya Forest Trust. “I can’t tell you how many ocellated turkeys we saw on the drive in – more than 50. For Belizeans, this forest means we get to safeguard our biodiversity – from iconic jaguars to critically endangered Central American river turtles to endangered tapirs – which is the lifeblood of our economy and our cultural heritage.”
Combined with the adjacent Rio Bravo Reserve, Belize Maya Forest creates a protected area that covers 9% of Belize’s landmass, a critical “puzzle piece” in the Selva Maya forest region, helping secure a vital wildlife corridor across northern Guatemala, southern Mexico and Belize.
Protecting large areas of pristine rainforests will help mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis. “Forests like these hold vast amounts of carbon,” says Julie Robinson, Belize programme director for the Nature Conservancy, one of the partners behind the acquisition. “We’re at a tipping point, so it’s really important to try to reverse the trend we’re on.”
The area was owned by the Forestland Group, a US company that had permits for sustainable logging. When it came up for sale, the Nature Conservancy and others, including Rainforest Trust, World Land Trust, University of Belize Environmental Research Institute and Wildlife Conservation Society, saw an opportunity to buy the land.
“If it wasn’t bought for conservation, the most likely buyers would be for large-scale, industrial, mechanised, monocrop agriculture,” Kay says. “That’s the threat to forests in Belize, especially central Belize, the country’s agricultural belt. What we saved this land from is full-scale deforestation and conversion.”
Since 2011, the Maya Forest corridor, which connects Belize’s Maya mountains and the northern Maya lowland forests shared by Belize, Mexico and Guatemala, has faced high rates of deforestation, driven by land clearances for industrial-scale agriculture. “For decades, the Belize government, Belizeans and conservation organisations wanted to see this area protected,” says Robinson.
Despite the name, Mayans, whose civilisation once stretched across Belize, Guatemala and parts of Mexico, have not lived in the area for many years. Today, their descendants in Belize mainly live in the south. According to Robinson, indigenous peoples were not displaced to make way for industry, as has happened elsewhere in Latin America, but the private land was closed off. “At the time of the Forestland Group’s purchase, there were no people living on the property,” says Robinson. “However, there are local communities all around the property. They didn’t have access to the land.”
Belizeans have an incredible connection to nature. We refer to our country as the ‘jewel’
Julie Robinson, the Nature Conservancy
“There are archaeological sites on the property that date back to AD800,” Robinson adds. “There are also more than 25 cenotes [fresh water sinkholes], the sacred pools of Cara Blanca, which hold incredible Mayan treasures. Very few Belizeans have ever been to these areas. Those cenotes were also being threatened by agriculture. Culturally, it’s important to preserve those elements to reconnect Mayan communities to sacred sites, and also find ways of generating income through them for the communities and the country.”
Now the land has been acquired, Kay is leading the Belize Maya Forest Trust’s consultation process with local communities. Collaborative plans are likely to include low-impact eco-tourism. There may also be some sustainable agriculture, as well as scientific research. The only thing not on the table is the extraction of natural resources, such as timber.
“What surrounds Belize Maya Forest is a multi-ethnic society, including people like me, of mixed Mayan and European descent, and people from neighbouring Central American countries, German Mennonites,” says Kay. “We’re engaging all the different communities to participate in a conservation action plan. Most livelihoods are based on agriculture. One objective will be making agricultural livelihoods more sustainable, so there will be more climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry systems, systems that are restorative for soils.
“We recognise people need to make a livelihood, but it’s about doing that with values that protect the Maya Forest and safeguard it for all Belizeans.”
The Belize Maya Forest is home to five species of wild cat, including endangered ocelots. Photograph: Sergi Reboredo/Sipa USA/PA
As the world’s climate and biodiversity crises worsen, philanthropic buying of land for protection could become more common. “It’s absolutely the way forward,” argues Robinson. “But it’s important to do it in collaboration with communities. It can’t be that we just buy a property, lock it up and say ‘this is now protected’. That’s not going to work.”
Belize has launched several initiatives in recent years to protect its natural resources. In 2018, oil drilling off its coast was banned to safeguard marine environments and the lucrative diving industry. Nearly 40% of the country’s land mass is also under some form of protection. “Belizeans have an incredible connection to nature,” says Robinson. “We refer to our country as the ‘jewel’.”
But the government’s environmental policies are also pragmatic, based on the value nature brings, from food and water supplies to tourism, one of the country’s largest generators of income. “People realise we need to have biodiversity and nature, but we need to use it in a sustainable way,” says Robinson. “Development is absolutely important. Belizeans support development and agriculture, but in a way that is in balance with nature”.
The Gran Chaco – stretches across the border region of Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Nowhere in the world is clearing for the cultivation of soy progressing faster than here for soy planting.
Amazon: Jaguar
Amazon
Humboldt penguins
World Animals Voice 