In some of the photos you will see a plain white ‘box trailer’ which looks simply like a normal refrigerated trailer. It is not; this is a trailer which is packed full of live sheep; crammed in and with no outside ventilation slats or access (to all the animals) by the driver; access to all animals which is (allegedly) officially a requirement of EU Reg 1/2005 on the ‘protection’ of live animals during transport should they become ill or need veterinary treatment. These vehicles, and the fact that the authorities allowed them to be used despite the limited access and endless complaints by us campaigners, shows what a complete farce the EU regulation is in reality; something which we have always said. EU weasel words in a document that actually means nothing when out in real world ‘on the road’ reality.
VITA – We named her ‘Vita’, or ‘Life’ in Latin / Italian.
She passed through Ramsgate at 1625hrs on Friday 9th September 2011.
Carried on a transporter of haulier ‘Wilson McCurdy’ from Northern Ireland.
Our report compiled at the time (we did a report for every sailing) for that particular sailing described this vehicle as: “Carrying very smelly sheep, crammed in as if they had been ‘poured in’ from all angles”. Photographer Val captured her suffering on the transporter.
We do not know her origin; we don’t know her final destination; alas, she will no longer be with us.
But ‘Vita’, as we have named her, was the inspiration for our logo; – for hers was a life witnessed for mere seconds at Ramsgate as she passed us by going to her death; but who, for those few seconds, will now always be remembered in so many ways as a symbol of what we are campaigning for.
She is ‘Vita’; providing new life to campaigners.
References:
Live Transport – World Animals Voice
England: Live Animal Exports 28/12 – Campaign Memories By Mark. – World Animals Voice
England: Live Export Memories. – World Animals Voice
EU: NGOs and MEPs protest against live animal transports in the EU. – World Animals Voice
EU: A European Commissioner for Animal Welfare? 70% of Europeans want it. – World Animals Voice
Please do not let anyone (especially politicians at the EU) tell you that live animal transport is ok; it is not. This abuse continues on the rads of Europe each and every day; and endless EU animals are also exported live to 3rd world nations such as Turkey. Hopefully these photos will prove that; I have many hundreds on archive file, bad memories of bad times. Hopefully with the changes to the law in the UK which we hope to see very soon, things are now different.
Regards Mark – an issue like this takes a long time to achieve results; but it is always worth fighting for !
If you feel what you are doing is right; then do it, regardless of what others may say !
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