Month: February 2024

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

Australia: Federal Department of Agriculture Rejects Application To Re Export Thousands of Cattle and Sheep – The Reason; Failure To Meet Animal Welfare Requirements In Importing Country.

We’ve just been informed that Australia’s live export regulator has rejected the application to re-export thousands of sheep and cattle trapped on the MV Bahijah after a month at sea.

As you know, 16,000 cattle and sheep have been languishing inside the live export ship after it was forced to turn back to Western Australia due to increasing conflict in the Red Sea.

The live export industry expressed its intention to re-export the animals, forcing them to endure an even longer and more gruelling route around Africa.

Tonight, the Federal Department of Agriculture has announced that it will not approve the application, citing the failure to meet animal welfare and importing country requirements.

Our immediate feeling is one of immense relief. The complexity of the work we’ve done behind the scenes Mark may not have made headlines, but it gave the regulator reason to reject the export permit application. 

I am also so very grateful to our legal team who worked day and night to find avenues to prevent these animals from facing 60-plus days at sea. And our thanks also to our colleague groups, both here and abroad, who have so exceptionally represented these animals. 

It is important to note though that we do not see this as a ‘win’ but instead, a reprieve.

It’s unclear what will happen to the animals now, as this situation is unprecedented. One possibility is that the exporter will unload the animals, rest them and in weeks to come, re-apply for another export permit, meaning these animals may still face further export.

I know you’ll agree that the thousands of surviving sheep and cattle who remain inside the MV Bahijah have endured enough — they should never have to set foot on a ship again.

For now, we take a breath — and we work on next steps. Stay tuned, and as always, thank you for making our work on behalf of animals possible.

For the animals, 

Lyn White AM Director of Strategy (AA)

and Diana and Mark (WAV)

Farm Animals, General News, Uncategorized

Italy: Animal Rights Activists Interrupt Papal Service In Rome.

ROME (Reuters) – Two women from an animal rights group interrupted a vespers service presided over by Pope Francis at a Rome basilica on Thursday, shouting and holding up banners against bullfighting before being taken away by guards.

An activist from the animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) protests against bullfighting, as Pope Francis attends the Vespers prayer service to celebrate the conversion of Saint Paul, at St Paul’s Basilica in Rome, Italy, January 25, 2024. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane© Thomson Reuters

Photos below – WAV Archives.

Video and pictures showed the two women at the back of the centre aisle of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where the pope and other Christian leaders were taking part in a traditional annual service for Christian unity.

One of the women held up a banner reading “Stop Blessing Corridas” and wore a T-shirt with the same slogan in Italian. Corrida is the Spanish word for a bullfight.

It was not clear if the pope heard the women, who were at the back of the church, which is in Rome’s outskirts.

The ceremony, which was attended by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the world’s Anglicans, went ahead without interruption before about 1,500 people. Both the pope and Welby went on to deliver their homilies.

The women were from the Italian branch of the organisation People for the Ethical Treatment (PETA), witnesses said.

Members of the same group gathered near the Vatican last July in red capes and fake horns to urge the pope to denounce what they see as the barbaric practice of bullfighting. The practice does not exist in Italy.

Animal rights activists interrupt papal service in Rome (msn.com)

Justin Welby usually has such a lot to say – but remains quiet on this issue !

Regards Mark

Environmental, General News, Uncategorized

USA: Animal rights protestors rally outside of LA Zoo to call for elephant’s release to sanctuary.

Asian elephant Billy at the Los Angeles Zoo. Getty Images© Provided by CBS Los Angeles

Animal rights activists gathered outside of the Los Angeles Zoo on Sunday, calling for the release of an elephant who has spent more than three decades in the facility’s care. 

The groups, made up of members from Guardians of Los Angeles and Los Angeles for Animals, calling for Billy, an Asian elephant who has been at the zoo for about 34 years, to be released to an animal sanctuary and that he should be freed from what they called “incarceration.”

“The few elephants that have been removed from this kind of situation and placed into a sanctuary often will recover mentally and physically,” said LA City Councilman Paul Koretz, who joined protestors on Sunday. “After all the years he’s spent at the LA Zoo, he deserves to be an elephant near the end of his life.”

They say that deaths of two elephants at the zoo over the last year, including 53-year-old Asian elephant Shaunzi, are due to the “unnatural and neglectful conditions and confinement for male elephants” that are part of the reason that the zoo has earned a spot on the Defense of Animals’ 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants list.

A Los Angeles city committee voted to send Billy to a sanctuary, but the resolution has not yet been approved by the LA City Council. 

The zoo responded to Sunday’s protest with a statement that read:

“The health and wellbeing of all animals in our care continues to be our top priority, and our expert animal and veterinary teams provide the highest standard of care. The small number of activists campaigning to move Billy to another animal holding facility are basing their message on misinformation, untruths, and intentional mischaracterization of the L.A. Zoo elephant care program, and the Los Angeles Zoo categorically disagrees with their characterization of the care and welfare of Billy and Tina.”

Animal rights protestors rally outside of LA Zoo to call for elephant’s release to sanctuary (msn.com)

Regards Mark

General News

South Korea: KARA Director Jeon Jin-kyung Advocates for a Paradigm Shift in Animal Rights and Welfare.

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Korea Bizwire) –

In a recent interview with Yonhap News, Jeon Jin-kyung, the director of Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA), shed light on the complex emotional world of animals, emphasizing their ability to experience a wide range of feelings such as frustration, fear, pride, and shyness, much like humans.

She criticized the cruel treatment animals often endure in the food industry, where they are disassembled on conveyor belts while conscious and sometimes buried alive to prevent disease outbreaks. The desperate attempts of mother pigs to escape pits and the bewildered looks of piglets highlight the brutality of these practices.

Jeon argued that if animal slaughter and culling are deemed necessary, they should be conducted with minimal suffering and in a humane manner. She pointed out that animals endure significant pain not only during slaughter but throughout the farming process, suggesting that reducing meat consumption is a fundamental solution to this problem.

Born in Seoul in 1964 and a graduate of Ewha Womans University’s College of Pharmacy, Jeon transitioned from a corporate career to running a pharmacy in Seoul.

Her involvement in animal protection began with caring for stray cats and later pursuing a graduate degree in Animal Behavior Ecology at Ewha. She was a founding member of KARA’s predecessor in 2002 and began her full-time commitment to the organization in 2014, becoming its director in 2021.

In the interview, Jeon addressed the skepticism some people have about prioritizing animal welfare when human welfare itself is a challenge, stating that protecting animals creates a society where humans are also protected.

Jeon Jin-kyung, the director of Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA)

She emphasized her personal commitment to animal welfare due to the lack of attention it receives compared to human-centric causes.

Reflecting on her experiences in animal welfare activism, Jeon shared how working with animals has enriched her life, providing mental strength and resilience.

She has become more detached from human affairs and less easily shaken by ordinary challenges, attributing this change to her involvement in animal rescue and advocacy.

Jeon discussed the depth of emotions that animals exhibit, citing examples of dogs showing pride after being groomed and displaying guilt after unintentionally hurting a child.

She also touched on the intelligence of animals, mentioning experiments with chickens that demonstrate their ability to make decisions based on delayed gratification.

Addressing the intelligence quotient (IQ) of animals, Jeon noted that certain breeds of dogs and dolphins have IQs comparable to humans, challenging the notion that humans are inherently superior.

She criticized derogatory expressions that compare people unfavorably to animals, suggesting that in some cases, animals demonstrate more ethical behavior than humans.

Jeon also questioned the anthropocentric view that humans are the “crown of creation,” arguing that animals possess abilities in which they surpass humans, such as in hearing, vision, and intuition.


Continue reading at  KARA Director Jeon Jin-kyung Advocates for a Paradigm Shift in Animal Rights and Welfare | Be Korea-savvy (koreabizwire.com)

Regards Mark

Check out all our South Korean posts at:

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/?s=south+korea

Environmental, Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News, Hunting, Live Transport

Vote for Animals: placing animal welfare at the heart of the EU Elections.

1 February 2024

Press Release

The Vote for Animals campaign, launched by Eurogroup for Animals, aims to place animal welfare at the core of the upcoming EU Elections. The campaign encourages candidate MEPs to take a pledge for the animals, while informing citizens about the importance of these elections for progress on animal welfare in the EU, helping them to choose candidates that share their values and encouraging them to vote.

Candidate MEPs are being encouraged to sign a pledge stating a clear commitment to work to improve animal welfare if they are elected to the European Parliament (EP). The pledge, composed of ten asks, addresses live animal transport, imports of animal-based products, welfare of aquatic species, non-animal science and the conservation of wild animals, among others.

By taking the pledge, candidates commit to represent EU citizens’ demands for better animal welfare legislation. European citizens have been very vocal in demanding the EU to do better for animals. Six of ten successful European Citizens Initiatives are related to animal welfare, of which 1.5 million citizens have asked for a Fur Free Europe, and 1.4 million asked for a transition to cage-free systems. The last Eurobarometer, showed that over nine in ten Europeans believe that it is important to protect the welfare of farmed animals, while an overwhelming majority expressed the importance of better protection of kept animals during their entire lifetime.

Elected MEPs have the competence to drive animal welfare issues forward, by working to ensure it remains a priority on the EU agenda, being vocal on issues that need addressing, and voting in the interest of animals. During the current term, a significant number of MEPs have brought to light critical issues including the delay in the publication of the animal welfare legislation, the horrific nature of live animal transport and fur farming.

Elected representatives also have the opportunity to join the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals, which provides a cross-party platform for MEPs to discuss and exchange views on animal welfare issues and to initiate and promote related  initiatives  in the EP. 

The Vote for Animals campaign page is translated in all official EU languages, and citizens are encouraged to send a message to their representatives, asking them to sign the pledge. 

MEPs can serve as catalysts to push for better animal welfare legislation. The Vote for Animals pledge is our commitment to do our utmost to make sure the European Commission comes forward with ambitious legislation on critical issues that need much attention. If I am given the trust by the public, I promise to continue to place these issues at the core of my work, representing the demands of citizens to do more in this aspect. I encourage other candidate MEPs to take the pledge.

Niels Fuglsang, MEP (S&D, DK)

With so many EU citizens asking for more action on animal welfare, the European Parliament must be representative of these interests, to drive forward much-needed progress. This campaign provides both citizens and MEPs the opportunity to shape an institution that keeps animals at the core of their work.

  • Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals

Elections

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU / Morocco: Nearly three weeks of suffering for bulls trapped on trucks at the Moroccan border.

 

31 January 2024

Two live animal transport vessels containing bulls from Portugal were detained for 19 days in the Moroccan port of Tangier-Med.

The bulls were confined in extremely unhygienic conditions, which only worsened over time. Forced to stand ankle-deep in their own excrement, many of them developed respiratory problems and inflamed eyes. It was reported that one bull died onboard, his corpse left to decompose inside the vessel where it was trampled on by the other animals. 

The root of this suffering was bureaucratic, with the bulls apparently having been detained due to current import duties and high customs tariffs. Their clearance was said to be contingent on the adoption of new customs regulations. In the meantime, no thought was given to their welfare, with the Moroccan authorities appearing unconcerned with their rapidly-degrading state, and unmotivated to act in the best interest of these sentient beings (for instance, by unloading and quarantining them at their destination or in another stable).

Trade routes should not be entertained with third countries, as it is extremely difficult to influence how transported animals are treated once they leave the EU’s borders.

This incident further highlights the need for a robust revision to the Transport Regulation, as it is a reminder that transported animals are very vulnerable. Measures must be taken swiftly to ensure they experience the least amount of stress possible directly before, during, and after their journeys.

With a recent data leak showing the scale of suffering in the live animal transport industry is much vaster than is recognised by official records, the European Commission must not delay on making these critical sector changes happen.

This week, Eurogroup for Animals, together with four other animal protection organisations, sent a joint letter to the veterinary organisations highlighting the poor welfare experienced by animals during these long journeys, as well as the risk of inhumane slaughter on arrival. 

Veterinary officials are tasked with inspecting the health of animals for export, but are often put in a difficult position as they have a contractual obligation to their employer, which might conflict with their ethical one to safeguard the wellbeing of animals. 

The letter calls on the veterinary community to use their influence to ban the export of live animals to non-EU countries.

Regards Mark

General News, Uncategorized

USA: Iditarod – 30 Days To Go.

30 Days to go until start

The 2024 Iditarod dog death race is just around the corner. The winner of last year’s race dragged exhausted dogs along the trail.

What a loser.

Thanks to PETA supporters like you, the 2023 Iditarod sponsors and organizers were overwhelmed with compassionate pleas to help dogs! Let’s make sponsors think twice about supporting the 2024 race. Please visit our Iditarod Action Center to contact them:

Take Action

https://www.peta.org/action/the-iditarod-is-killing-dogs/?utm_source=peta::e-mail&utm_medium=alert&utm_campaign=0224::ent::peta::e-mail::289800::watch-last-years-iditarod-winner-drag-dogs-along-trail::::aa-em

The Iditarod Is Killing Dogs

Regards Mark

Photo – © CCI Entertainment

Our past Iditarod posts – https://worldanimalsvoice.com/?s=iditarod

China Cat Torture, General News

China: Break Its Legs, Electrocute; Then Strangle To Death. Be Sure To Get A Close Up Of The Face.

“Is anyone taking this order?”

Somebody posted a request from a “client” – a person who offered to pay to have cats custom-abused – in a public telegram channel. The client asked for the making of a video where the cat should die in a specific way. What a twisted world!!

When will this cat torture ring be put to an end?

How can this be allowed to go on for such a long time?

Cats are dying from the most excruciating methods everyday!

We’d like to ask media groups to cover this horrible event happening in China, on Telegram, now.

Please DM us if you can help.

TAKE ACTION LINK IN BIO @feline_guardians