Category: Environmental

Russians kill innocent animals and shamelessly flaunt their deeds in photos – animal rights activists.

WAV Comment – Real Men always wear Combat Trousers !! ?

All Photos – UAnimals

Uanimals, a Ukrainian animal protection organization, has shared information that Russian soldiers have been killing animals in the occupied Kherson Oblast and proudly displaying their deeds in photographs.

The organization received the photos from a member of the volunteer community depicting Russians from the occupied part of Kherson triumphantly posing with the lifeless bodies of various animals.

Russian soldiers are shown holding dead hares and birds. Another picture shows a Russian posing next to a slain deer, a UAnimals associated at the Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology confirmed.
While the exact locations of these gruesome acts cannot be pinpointed, an analysis conducted by the organization validates that the photos were indeed taken in Kherson.

Before the invasion, deer thrived within the Askania-Nova Reserve and the Azov-Syvash National Park, both now under Russian occupation.

Read also: Russian occupiers pillage Askania-Nova Nature Reserve, committing ecocide

“These images are further evidence that Russians are killing everything alive in Ukraine and committing a true ecocide,” the organization said.

The left bank of Kherson Oblast has remained under Russian occupation since February 24, 2022, with military forces establishing an occupational “administration” within the Askania-Nova Reserve.

Ukrainian military personnel have reported that Russians are destroying natural reserves in the occupied Kherson Oblast. They deploy equipment, establish training grounds, and hunt unique animal species there.

Sick !!

Regards Mark

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/russians-kill-innocent-animals-shamelessly-141700369.html

I need something good after all this shit;

Time out – Enjoy – Brilliant Nige !!

EU: European Parliament votes to address welfare through the Common Fisheries Policy.

25 January 2024

Last week the European Parliament issued a resounding call to the European Commission, urging the Common Fisheries Policy to improve the welfare of aquatic animals.

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) encompasses both the aquaculture and fisheries sectors and is pivotal in establishing the foundational objectives for the management of fisheries and fish populations in the EU’s waters, along with the market and financial aspects of aquaculture. It ensures both sectors are ecologically, economically and socially sustainable. 

On 18 January, the European Parliament (EP) voted on what the next steps of CFP implementation should include, adopting a new report laying out the achievements and shortcomings of the CFP since its last reform, over a decade ago. 

However, the report calls for updated legislation, ignoring the fact  that the key reason that the CFP is not resulting in sustainable fishing in the EU is because Member States consistently set fishing quotas above scientific advice. The priority should be better implementation and enforcement of the CFP, in line with the latest science. 

A critical flaw in the policy is the absence of any consideration of aquatic animals’ welfare, despite billions of them being farmed or fished and ultimately slaughtered every year in the European Union. Although Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union requires fishery policies – among others – to “pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals”, the CFP is the only EU policy which deals with living animals but contains no animal welfare provisions.

Last Thursday, the Members of the European Parliament asserted the need to change this, calling on the European Commission (EC) to take into account the welfare of farmed and wild-caught fish in the CFP. This move aligns with the sentiment expressed by European citizens, as over 90% of respondents in the 2023 Eurobarometer indicated a demand for farming and breeding practices to adhere to basic ethical requirements.. 

This vote follows-up on scientific recognition of the sentience of fish, as confirmed by the European Food Safety Authority) and the European Commission, and aligns the EP with the Council of the European Union which, in June, also urged the Commission to enhance aquatic animals’ welfare through the CFP.

In the same vein, Commissioner Sinkevicius also made a promising statement during the debate – “I (…) recognise that future research and innovation is required, in particular on species-specific welfare parameters (…)” – gives us hope that the European citizens’ demand for better animal welfare conditions – including for aquatic animals – will be heard.”

Regards Mark

Trophy hunting helps conservation? The industry’s biggest myths debunked.

18 January 2024

Four Paws

Despite the ever-growing biodiversity crisis, it is still legal to hunt endangered species for trophies, with elephants, rhinos, leopards, lions and polar bears often falling victim to this cruel practice.

The EU is the second largest importer of hunting trophies worldwide, with nearly 15,000 hunting trophies of individual animals imported between 2014 and 2018 alone. The industry often uses misguided messaging to justify their actions, but a new report, published by 30 NGOs from across Europe and Africa, scientifically addresses these myths. Here are just a few:

Myth: Trophy hunting helps in conservation efforts

Fact: It negatively impacts populations of endangered and protected species

Hunters often target large or strong animals, jeopardising the gene pool of a population and negatively affecting long-term survival. This also undermines efforts by local communities towards conservation and co-existence, as it normalises the killing of animals for personal pleasure.

Myth: It benefits local communities

Fact: For communities it is a lose-lose situation

The trophy hunting industry is riddled with corruption and mismanagement, maximising profits for hunting officials, hunting tour operators and government officials. Local communities benefit by as little as USD 0.30 and USD 5.90 per capita per year, depending on the country. Often, hunting fees do not even reach local communities.

For most communities, trophy hunting is a lose-lose situation. They lose their wildlife to the rifle of foreign hunters, and fail to profit from the money produced by this deadly business. Trophy hunting not only exploits wildlife and nature, but also robs local communities of their heritage and future existence.

Nick Clark, Wildlife Programme Leader, Eurogroup for Animals

Myth: Trophy hunting prevents poaching

Fact: Poaching and illegal practices are rampant in hunting areas

Evidence shows high poaching incidents in hunting areas, leading to depleted animal populations. This has been especially evident in the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania, the largest

hunting area in Africa, where approximately 55,000 elephants were poached between 2007 and

2014, leading to a population decline of 80 %. In some instances, animals migrate from protected areas to reoccupy empty territories in hunting areas, only to end up victims of trophy hunting.

Myth: Trophy hunting reduces human-animal conflicts

Fact: Trophy hunting exacerbates conflicts between humans and animals

Trophy hunters often target large and more mature males, which often disrupts social dynamics, exacerbating conflict with people. As an example, elephants from populations that have been subject to illegal hunting over a period of time often become more responsive towards humans, and may express aggressive behaviour. Hunting can also encourage predators to venture more frequently into human settlements, preying on farm animals as an easily available food source.

There is increased opposition to trophy hunting from the public, member states and NGOs.

The European Parliament has called for an import ban on trophies from protected species, and Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Finland have already implemented, or are in the process of, import restrictions. 81% of citizens from major European trophy importing countries oppose the practice and call for an import ban.

Regards Mark

England: 18/1/2024 Goldfinches.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/goldfinch

18/1/24. Went out into the garden this lunchtime with my camera whilst waiting for someone to arrive.

Beautiful Winters day – very cold, but clear with fantastic blue skies. I decided to take some photos of the Goldfinches that come into the garden each day to feast on the Sunflower hearts I put out for them in the feeders, and which you can see packed into the clear feeder tubes in the pictures. Got some ok photos which you can see below. Goldfinches are one of my favorite birds; colours are just amazingly beautiful.

Regards Mark

UK / England: UK RESIDENTS ONLY – Can You Help By Taking Part In The Big Garden Birdwatch ? One Weekend, 1 Hour No Record All Birds In Your Area. Join 300,000+ Others To Date.

Photo – Pauline

When – 1 Hour Between 26 and 28 January

What is Big Garden Birdwatch?

I (Mark WAV) have tried to attract Goldfinches – See Picture below; into my garden. It worked after a few months of trying; now I get up to 6 on the feeders at the same time. They are beautiful birds as you can see – a host of colour !

Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers like you take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring.

It’s easy to be part of Big Garden Birdwatch. Simply choose an hour between 26 and 28 January and count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony, or in your local park. Only count birds that land. Then tell us what you saw. Even if you saw nothing, it still counts.

Big Garden Birdwatch FAQs (rspb.org.uk)

Telling us what you saw

When do I need to send you my results?

Please tell us what you saw at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch before 18 February. By giving us your results online, you’re helping us to spend more on saving nature as it reduces our costs. However, if you prefer to post us your results, you can print and complete the form found in the guide, and send it back to reach us by 13 February. Please take a look at the guide before printing, as it may be that you don’t need to print it all. Every piece of paper saved is better for nature!

Free Guide and ID chart

You can take part in the Birdwatch by simply counting the birds for one hour then going online to tell us what and how many you saw. However, we know some people prefer to use a guide. You can download this year’s free guide below.

big-garden-bird-watch-how-to-english.pdf

Birds of conservation concern

The UK Red list for Birds keeps track of population trends in 245 species, with birds listed as ‘Red’ deemed most at risk. In 2021,Greenfinches moved onto the Red List for the first time. 

Photos – Pauline

Back in 1979, when Big Garden Birdwatch began, Greenfinches first came in at number seven, but in 2023 they were down to 18. This demonstrates the devastating population declines seen in these charming little finches, caused by a disease called trichomonosis. We now know that Chaffinches are affected too. 

You can help stop the spread of this disease by removing old food and cleaning your bird tables, bird baths and feeders weekly. Check here for guidance on cleaning feeders to keep you and your garden birds safe.

Big Garden Birdwatch | Register (rspb.org.uk)

Regards Mark

Who knows what else you might see ?

Photo – Pauline

EU: End the Cage Age: Ombudsman opens inquiry on European Commission’s failure to act.

8 January 2024

The European Ombudsman has opened an inquiry into the European Commission’s (EC) failure to publish a legislative proposal to phase-out and ultimately ban cages for farm animals, in line with its official answer to the End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI).

Eurogroup for Animals and numerous other animal protection organisations wrote to the European Commission in October after it unexpectedly backtracked on the commitment to bring forward legislation banning cages in 2023, and did not provide any clarity on when it would be published.

In June 2021, the EC promised that by the end of 2023, it would put forward a legislative proposal to phase out and finally prohibit the use of cages, a commitment which it re-stated and reinforced on numerous occasions. The EC had generated considerable legitimate expectation among citizens that legislation would be forthcoming, creating a case of maladministration. 

After not receiving a response from the EC, in November 2023, Eurogroup for Animals and several of its members made an official maladministration complaint to the European Ombudsman against the EC for failure to uphold its commitment to an ECI in which 1.4 million citizens asked for a ban on cages and failure to appropriately communicate its u-turn on this promise.

The complaint raises the issue of the EC undermining the rules that govern ECIs and the very credibility of the democratic participatory process they represent. In the run up to the European elections in June of this year, this is a particularly poor signal to send to citizens.

The European Ombudsman has now asked the EC to send an official reply to Eurogroup for Animals and all the other complainants by the end of January. 

The opening of the inquiry of the European Ombudsman sends a clear signal that the democratic tool of the ECI should not be undermined. Citizens are using the tools at their disposal to make their voice heard on issues that matter. We expect the European Commission to follow through on its commitment, and we continue asking for a timeline indicating when the promised proposals will be published.

Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals

Regards Mark

England: 02/01/23 – New Year of Campaigning.

Best wishes for the new year to everyone.

I hope that you stick with me and together we can try and do better for the animals.

I am starting the new year with some beautiful pictures of a Kingfisher which have been sent to me by Pauline.  I am sure you agree that they are wonderful.

If you want to view all of Pauline’s other photos then click on this link – Search Results for “pauline” – World Animals Voice

New year; fresh start to campaigning; lets go !

Regards Mark

UK: Leave the Fur On The Bears; Not On Guards Hats !! – Ministry of Defence (MoD) Still Refuses To Stop Killing Despite Faux Fur Now Available That Meets MoD Standards.

The King’s Guards are still donning Canadian bearskin caps as ‘greenwashing’ defence officials have used a ‘meaningless’ ethics scheme to ignore suitable faux fur options, animal rights campaigners have claimed.

The Ministry of Defence, who pledged to drop fur once an alternative was found, have now revealed their use of a controversial fur industry marketing scheme to justify the continuing use of fur in the uniform.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have accused officials of using ‘Furmark’ a scheme branded ‘meaningless’ by former British Fur Trade Association CEO Mike Moser – ‘Luxury faux fur manufacturer ECOPEL has created the world’s first faux fur that looks identical to the animal-fur cap and is easily rendered 100% waterproof. It has met all of the MoD’s requirements. We urge for the MoD to adopt the new caps.

‘We believe there is no justification to continue using the fur of Canadian black bears for the ornamental caps, when an excellent alternative exists.

‘They cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands every year and using real fur conflicts with public opinion on this issue.’

Luxury faux fur manufacturer ECOPEL has created the world’s first faux fur that looks identical to the animal-fur cap and is easily rendered 100% waterproof. It has met all of the MoD’s requirements. We urge for the MoD to adopt the new caps.

Read more:

Fur flies as animal rights activists accuse King’s Guards of ‘greenwashing’ | Daily Mail Online

Pathetic – Yes they still use the skins of real bears for the hats !

Regards Mark