Day: February 13, 2022

General News

UK- “Mia has now freedom and a loving home” (ALF)!

Received anonymously by Animal Liberation Press Office:

Animal Liberation Front unit “Las Zorritas” claims responsibilty for the rescue of a female German Shepherd on 19 January from the yard of the Greenwood pub in Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, where she was being kept in appalling conditions as a “guard dog”.

Three activists kept watch while a fourth carried out the rescue.
The dog, whom we have now learned was called “Mia”, has been given a health check and spayed by a sympathetic vet, and is safe and happy in a loving home

We keep a constant eye on businesses premises for “guard dogs” kept outside in conditions of cruelty and neglect, and this was just one of several rescues we have carried out in recent months.

We do not normally claim responsibility, so as to avoid putting the rescued dogs at risk, but we feel we have to on this occasion, because well-intentioned animal rights campaigners and “dog lovers” have presumed Mia was stolen by dognappers for nefarious purposes and have posted appeals about her all over social media and on dogs lost websites!!

We would call on those people to please immediately remove all such posts, as they are putting Mia’s safety, and that of her rescuers, at extreme risk.

We have put together a video of Mia’s rescue from pub CCTV footage taken from social media and our own recording of the appalling conditions she was being kept in.

Until all are free!

https://animalliberationpressoffice.org/NAALPO/2022/02/01/german-shepherd-rescued-by-alf-from-abusive-pub-uk-2/

And I mean…Yes! Well done!
This is the only way to be sure that Mia is saved.

If the VET office had been informed, and if the officers had deemed the case important and had come, the usual reaction would be endless discussions and excuses so that the animal abuser would eventually be found NOT guilty:
– – We’ll leave the animal with him because he promised to improve the husbandry
– – He has no criminal record, so only a fine (if at all) comes into question.
– – He was overwhelmed with the farm and its farm animals, he could not properly take care of the dog, but there are no bad intentions
And so on.

We are all familiar with the perpetrator-friendly judiciary.
That is why we are interested in effective justice
Direct action works best.

Many thanks to the activists on behalf of Mia and we wish her a happy new life

My best regards to all, Venus

Environmental, General News

Great News – Italy Enshrines Protection of Animals and Environment in Constitution.

11 February 2022

LAV

On the 9th of February, the Italian Parliament voted to include the protection of animals and the environment in the nation’s constitution.

The Chamber of Deputies approved, by slight a majority of two thirds (468 votes in favour, 1 against and 6 abstaining), the Constitutional Bill. Thanks to this Reform, animals have now been granted full rights by the constitution, joining just four other countries worldwide in doing so.

Prior to the amendment, article nine of the constitution protected the “natural landscape and the historical and artistic heritage of the Nation.” Now, the article includes a mandate to protect the environment, biodiversity, ecosystems, and animals “in the interest of future generations.” Article 41 previously stated that economic enterprise could “not be carried out against the common good or in such a manner that could damage safety, liberty and human dignity” The language now requires that economic activities not “cause damage to health, to the environment.”

The reform represents a milestone and concrete tool towards effective protection of animals at legislative and jurisdictional level.  

We certainly would have liked to go further but, given the current unstable political conditions, we think we can consider the result a miracle because the new provisions do not only apply to cats and dogs, as LAV requested, but also to all animals, in full compliance with the anti-speciesist principle that has always driven our commitment. This Reform fills an unacceptable gap in the Italian Constitution. However, it should not be considered as a point of arrival but a jumping-off place, a coming back to a new square one with more fervour and strength. So that animals will more easily obtain protection and respect, in the forthcoming Laws and in future court rulings. Thanks to this Reform, Italian citizens, associations and volunteers, will have more resources and opportunities to promote and protect animal rights.

Gianluca Felicetti, President of LAV

Read more at source

LAV

Regards Mark

General News, Uncategorized

Sir Mark Todd has issued a grovelling apology after he hit a horse with a branch ten times.

WAV Comment:  Seems as if, certainly here in the UK, more people are now prepared to release information about sportspersons allegedly abusing animals; as the following article comes just days after the Kurt Zouma cat abuse saga.  You can read about that here by just scrolling down and finding Kurt Zouma – or go here:

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/?s=kurt+zouma .

“The company Equiwarehouse said their Mark Todd products would no longer be available as a consequence”.

Just like Zouma losing his Adidas contract.  Seems like the message is now becoming a clear one to all; and we dont just mean sportspeople, and that message is:  don’t mess with animals, cos if you do and we have the evidence on media, we will spill the beans and possibly bring you down.

Watch out those who consider themselves above all this; the well known and famous – we suggest your every move is probably being watched and also probably filmed.  Do the best thing, keep a clean sheet and don’t abuse animals; or ‘karma’ may rear up and get you !

Has the Zouma / Todd incidents within the last week not shown that ?

The video footage showed Sir Mark Todd repeatedly striking the horse with a branch
© chceventing/TikTok The video footage showed Sir Mark Todd repeatedly striking the horse with a branch

Sir Mark Todd issues grovelling apology after footage of him whipping horse with branch

Sir Mark Todd has issued a grovelling apology after he hit a horse with a branch ten times.

Footage of the former Olympic champion’s actions was widely shared after it appeared on TikTok.

The clip, by horse rider Chloe T, showed Todd, 65, striking the horse during a training session.

The shocking video, understood to be two years old, resurfaced this week and in it the animal is about to cross a water obstacle.

However on the approach it suddenly stops and appears reluctant, as it begins to back away.

Sir Todd, who earlier admitted it is him in the clip, dashes forward with the branch and strikes the horse on its rear.

The decorated equestrian hits the horse ten times before it moves into the shallow water.

As it does so, people can be heard cheering in the video, filmed at an unidentified location.

Sir Todd, a double Olympic gold medallist, issued a statement in response to the “training incident.”

“I wholeheartedly apologise to the horse and all involved for my actions in this video clip,” he said.

“One of the main things I preach is about establishing a mutual respect between horse and rider and that patience and kindness is the best way to get results.

The horse appeared reluctant to enter the water, as shown in the TikTok clip
© chceventing/TikTok The horse appeared reluctant to enter the water, as shown in the TikTok clip

“I believe this is one of the main attributes along with a great empathy with animals that has enabled me to have a long and successful career in eventing.

“I am very disappointed in myself that I did not adhere to that in this case.”

Social media users criticised his actions, while the company Equiwarehouse said their Mark Todd products would no longer be available as a consequence.

Sharing the video to its Facebook page, a spokesperson said: “With no regret at all, we will no longer be selling any Mark Todd clothing, horse wear or feed.

‘Mark Todd Eventing you should be utterly ashamed of yourself, vile ‘professional’ and disgrace of a human.

Sir Mark Todd retired from eventing three years ago and now trains racehorses
© PA Sir Mark Todd retired from eventing three years ago and now trains racehorses

Others were upset and angry at what they viewed online.

One person said on TikTok: ‘Absolutely heartbreaking to watch, i’m so sorry you both had to go though that.’

Another wrote: ‘That is no way to treat any animal.’

A third social media user commented: ”I literally can’t even watch this. i have to pause it every time.’

The poster of the clip, Chloe T, said she was ‘scared of backlash,’ when questioned about whether she had sent it to the International Federation for Equestrian Sports ((FEI).

Sir Todd, who runs a successful thoroughbred training business, spent 22 years as an eventing and showjumping rider.

He scooped two Olympic gold medals at the Los Angeles and Seoul Games.

His long list of achievements include three bronze medals, plus winning the Badminton Horse Trials four times and Burghley on five occasions.

In 2016, Sir Todd became the first New Zealander to contest seven Olympic Games.

He retired from eventing three years ago and launched Mark Todd Racing in Wiltshire, celebrating his last winner on the Flat 57 days ago.

His 2021 campaign in the sport was his best yet, with 13 winners from 80 runners – and his team earned £121,000 in prize money.

Sir Todd and his wife Carolyn have also had success breeding horses, including multiple champion in South Korea, Tahamkke.

The Mirror also contacted the FEI, British Equestrian and the British Horse Society for comment.

Source:

Sir Mark Todd issues grovelling apology after footage of him whipping horse with branch (msn.com)

Regards Mark

 

General News, Vivisection

USA: 15 of 23 monkeys who have been planted with Elon Musk’s Neuralink chip have reportedly died.

Elon Musk’s neurotechnology company Neuralink has become the subject of a US federal complaint and lawsuit after “invasive and deadly brain experiments” were reportedly carried out on 23 monkeys – leaving 15 of them dead.

The Tesla billionaire’s firm – which aims to help paralysed individuals “by giving them the ability to control computers and mobile devices directly with their brains” – partnered with the University of California, Davis on the research, with $1.4 million allegedly given to the institution in funding.

However, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) claims the university has violated the Animal Welfare Act and has complained to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

It has also filed a lawsuit ordering the release of videos and photographs of the animals, which the university is refusing to provide because they belong to Neuralink – a private company exempt from the Public Records Act.

Jeremy Beckham, research advocacy coordinator with the committee, said: “UC Davis may have handed over its publicly-funded facilities to a billionaire, but that doesn’t mean it can evade transparency requirements and violate federal animal welfare laws.”

The move comes after the PCRM obtained close to 600 pages of documents about the experiments through an initial lawsuit in 2021.

“The documents reveal that monkeys had their brains mutilated in shoddy experiments and were left to suffer and die,” Mr Beckham added.

According to the PCRM, the macaque monkeys weren’t provided with “adequate veterinary care” when they were dying, suffering infections, “facial trauma”, seizures and “recurring infections” in parts of the brain where the chips were implanted.

Meanwhile Insider, who have viewed the complaint filed with the USDA, describe one instance where a monkey was missing fingers and toes “possibly from self-mutilation or some other unspecified trauma” as part of the research, which is understood to have been carried out from 2017 to 2020.

In a statement to The New York Post, a spokesperson for the University of California, Davis said: “We strive to provide the best possible care to animals in our charge.

WAV Comment – !!! Best possible care ?? – Bullshit.

“Animal research is strictly regulated, and UC Davis follows all applicable laws and regulations including those of the US Department of Agriculture.”

They also told the outlet that they finished working with Neuralink in 2020.

It isn’t the only instance of monkeys being implanted with the company’s chip, as the organisation shared a video of a macaque named Pager playing a game of MindPong with the technology in April last year.

In December, Musk tweeted that “progress will accelerate” with Neuralink “when we have devices in humans … next year”.

Indy100 has approached Neuralink and Elon Musk for comment.

15 of 23 monkeys who have been planted with Elon Musk’s Neuralink chip have reportedly died (msn.com)

Regards Mark