Category: Environmental

Environmental, General News, Uncategorized

NGOs call for root causes of pandemic prevention to be put at centre of new pandemic treaty

NGOs call for root causes of pandemic prevention to be put at centre of new pandemic treaty

7 March 2023

Twelve leading NGOs have written to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its Member States emphasizing that to prevent future pandemics they need to put animal welfare at the center of the WHO Pandemic Treaty currently being negotiated between the 194 Member States.

The treaty, which is being developed in light of the devastating impacts of COVID-19, will be the first legally binding international agreement designed to protect the world from future pandemics. 

NGOs are stressing the need for the treaty to focus on preventing future pandemics by tackling the root causes and drivers of zoonotic outbreaks at the human-animal-environment interface. The implementation of a holistic, unifying One Health approach, which addresses the interdependence of the health and well-being of people, animals and ecosystems, can significantly reduce the risk of pathogens emerging, mutating in animal populations, and spilling over from animals to people, which can lead to pandemics.

By tackling high-risk activities such as habitat destruction, wildlife trade and consumption, and intensive animal agriculture, and transforming our relationship with animals and the wider environment, governments and international institutions can achieve equity for the most vulnerable communities that are most at risk, and by doing so protect us all from future pandemics.   

The letter follows the publication of the Zero Draft of the Pandemic Treaty in early February. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which is tasked by the WHO Member States to draft and negotiate the Pandemic Treaty, is due to meet in Geneva between 27 February and 3 March 2023, to discuss the draft.

As it stands the current Zero Draft will not protect us from the next pandemic. It is a solid foundation to build from, but it lacks teeth.  This is not the time to be timid, but to be bold, because there may only be one chance to ensure the world gets this right. As we have seen with COVID-19 and now with the outbreak and spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, time is not on our side. It must be much more rigorous when it comes to setting effective preventive measures, compliance and implementation.”

Nina Jamal, Head of Pandemics at FOUR PAWS

There is a large body of irrefutable evidence and a growing consensus amongst scientific, conservation and animal welfare experts confirming the association between ecosystem degradation, exploitation of wild animals, intensive farming and emerging infectious diseases and other negative impacts on human, animal and environment health. Around 75% of emerging diseases in humans originate in animals. COVID-19 brought the world to a screeching halt and we must learn our lessons. Incorporating sound approaches to animal health and welfare, including that of wild animals, at the very centre of the treaty is vital to its success.“

Iris Ho, Head of Campaigns and Policy at the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance

Wild animals are disrupted, collected, farmed, transported, exported and traded in huge numbers, more often than not enduring appalling conditions. Crowding, stress and injury among such animals provide the perfect environment for pathogen introduction, spread and mutation; cross species transmission and the close proximity to people when they are traded and consumed creates the opportunity for human transmission. Addressing the risks from wildlife exploitation and reducing our impacts on wild animals and their welfare must be essential components of efforts to prevent future pandemics.”

Veterinarian Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy at Born Free Foundation

Late last year, two key publications by leading scientists provided “compelling evidence” showing that a seafood and wildlife market was at the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak. The analyses indicate “that the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) occurred via the live wildlife trade.” Reducing human interaction with wildlife is a key component of preventing and mitigating the risk of pandemics. Intensive livestock systems are also a dangerous breeding ground for viruses to evolve and mutate and have been associated with the transmission of zoonotic diseases in the past. 

The letter was signed by:

Born Free Foundation

Brighter Green

Ecoflix

Eurogroup for Animals

Farm Forward

FOUR PAWS

Jeremy Coller Foundation

Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime

Pan African Sanctuary Alliance

Proyecto ALA

World Animal Protection

World Federation for Animals

2022 Scientific COVID-19 Studies:  

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abp8715

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abp8337

Regards Mark

Environmental, Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News

EU: European Citizens Made it Clear: It’s Time for a Fur Free Europe – Over 2 Months Before Official Petition Closes !

European citizens made it clear: it’s time for a Fur Free Europe

1 March 2023

Press Release

The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Fur Free Europe closes earlier than its official deadline thanks to a record number of signatures collected. In less than ten months more than 1.7 million citizens signed to end this cruel practice, sending a strong message to the European Commission (EC).

Fur Free Europe was launched in May 2022 by Eurogroup for Animals and received the support of more than eighty organisations from all around Europe. The ECI calls for a ban on fur farming and on the placement of farmed fur products on the European market. 

Successful from the get go, Fur Free Europe collected 50,000 signatures on its launch day and now, 2,5 months before its official closing deadline, 1,701,892 signatures have been collected, offering a safe margin for the achievement of 1 million validated signatures. The ECI also successfully reached the signatures threshold in twenty one Member States, three times the minimum requirement of seven Member States. 

The decision to close the ECI earlier has been taken due to the potential impact that it could have on the upcoming revision of the EU animal welfare legislation, as part of the EC’s Farm to Fork Strategy. 

By the end of 2023, the EC will publish a proposal aimed at improving the EU’s animal welfare legislation to align it with the latest scientific evidence. While it’s possible to improve welfare standards for domesticated animals, science has clearly shown that this is not possible for wild animals on fur farms. Consequently, a ban on fur farming should be included in the proposal.

Moreover, since imports of animal products should follow EU standards, the ECI also calls for a ban on placing farmed fur products on the European market. Indeed, the organisers didn’t want to export cruelty to third countries but aimed to definitively end the suffering created by the fur industry in Europe.

I could not be prouder of our joint efforts. This citizens initiative gained momentum from day one and proves that European citizens, represented by all the organisations involved, are sending a crystal clear message to the European Commission: it’s high time for a Fur Free Europe. Fur farming represents a massive moral blind spot and, with the new animal welfare legislation coming up, the EC has the opportunity to end this unnecessary suffering once and for all.

Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals

It’s exciting to see that Fur Free Europe didn’t need the full available year to collect the required signatures, proving that the issue is clearly a priority for European citizens. After the validation process is over, the Parliamentary one will start. As chair of the Fur Free Europe working group at the European Parliament, I am honoured to lead the process and make sure that citizens demands are heard and we can finally put an end to fur in Europe.

Anja Hazekamp MEP (Party for the Animals, NL) chairwoman of the Fur Free Europe working group, Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals

More info:  Fur Free Europe | Eurogroup for Animals

Regards Mark

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Uncategorized

Vietnam: Urgent Appeal To Rescue 5 Bile Bears and Send Them To The Animals Asia Sanctuary.

Further update 2030hrs GMT

This link is not associated with any scam – it is a direct link to the ‘Animals Asia’ donation site.

At the bottom of the donation link there is both a telephone number and also an e mail address.

Donations can be made using this number directly if you wish to donate by card. This is for the UK office.

Email: info@animalsasia.org
Phone: +(0)1752 224424

I will give the donation link once more:

Animals Asia | Make a donation today

Both the links given will take you to the same donation area; you can use either.

Here is the international site link of you wish to donate via this instead:

https://www.animalsasia.org/

—————————————————————————————————————————-

We’ve received a call from the Forest Protection Department in Vietnam alerting us to five bears who need rescuing immediately.

Will you join our Bear Rescue Team and help bring them home to safety?

Between these five bears there has been over 100 years of torturous bile extraction, without a second of freedom.

Right now, that’s all we know about them.

Two decades of abuse will have taken an enormous toll on their minds and bodies. It’s crucial we reach them as soon as possible. Please, will you help?

Welcoming these bears home to our sanctuary in Tam Dao, Vietnam means we’re now at full capacity. But you must know, this will not stand in the way of us rescuing them. Nothing will.

Please will you donate today? Your gift could help rescue five desperate bears and prepare our second sanctuary for the arrival of the hundreds more still waiting.

Donate via this link:

https://help.animalsasia.org/page/90010/donate/1?utm_campaign=fivebears&utm_source=edm1&utm_medium=email&utm_content=uk&supporter.country=GB

And I promise, with you by our side, nothing will stop us from saving more bears who desperately need us. Will you send an urgent donation today and help bring them home? We can’t do this vital work without you.

Every single second counts for the bears waiting to be saved from these terrible farms.

I’m beyond grateful for your support and dedication to the bears. Thank you for ensuring that no bear is left behind.

Jill Robinson MBE, Dr med vet hc, Hon LLD
Founder and CEO

PS I’ll be joining the team on the rescue so I promise to keep you updated as much as I can but in the meantime, it would mean the world if you could donate to these precious bears.

Donate via this link:

https://help.animalsasia.org/page/90010/donate/1?utm_campaign=fivebears&utm_source=edm1&utm_medium=email&utm_content=uk&supporter.country=GB

Regards Mark

Environmental, General News, Hunting, Uncategorized

USA: Snipers In Helicopters To Shoot Down 150 Feral Cattle.

Feral cattle terrorising hikers to be taken out by helicopter gunmen (msn.com)

Feral cattle terrorising hikers to be taken out by helicopter gunmen

Snipers in helicopters will this week shoot down up to 150 feral cattle that have terrorised hikers in New Mexico.

The US National Forest is stepping in amid complaints from environmentalists that the beasts are wreaking havoc in the Gila National Forest, a 2.7million acre wilderness in the southwest of the US.

A helicopter carrying a shooter will fly over the forest, with the operation due to start on Thursday.

The herd’s territory is close to wilderness trails popular with hikers and the lack of a mobile phone signal in the wilderness means it would be difficult to summon help if somebody was injured in a stampede.

Hikers have reported being charged by wild bulls, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (907kg), officials said.

The Forest Service service said the cattle also posed a “significant” danger to natural resources.

“This has been a difficult decision, but the lethal removal of feral cattle from the Gila Wilderness is necessary to protect public safety, threatened and endangered species habitats, water quality, and the natural character of the Gila Wilderness,” said Camille Howes, Gila National Forest Supervisor.

“The feral cattle in the Gila Wilderness have been aggressive towards wilderness visitors, graze year-round, and trample stream banks and springs, causing erosion and sedimentation. This action will help restore the wilderness character of the Gila Wilderness enjoyed by visitors from across the country.”

An array of federally protected animals have been under threat from the cattle, including narrow-headed garter snake, Gila trout, loach minnow, spikedace, Mexican spotted owl, southwest willow flycatcher, and Mexican grey wolf.

Environmental groups had complained that the cattle were damaging streams and rivers.

“They are part of a herd of at least 150 that’s ripping up this monument and scaring the heck out of folks who cross paths with them,” Terry Anderson, a board member of the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep told the LA Times

“They also can transmit disease to native bighorn sheep. So, they need to be removed — and I’m all for lethal removal. They don’t belong here.”

Jack Thompson, desert regional director of the adjacent Whitewater Preserve added: “It’s Jurassic Park just a two-hour drive east of downtown Los Angeles.”

According to the US Department of Agriculture, the problems date back to the 1970s when cattle were abandoned by a rancher.

“Having been born in the wild and never domesticated, they are extremely hard to catch and survive in the rough backcountry that is difficult to access,” it said in a memo.

Not everyone was so enthusiastic about the cull on social media.

Marina Bolotnikova, a journalist and campaigner against factory farming wrote on Twitter: “Feral cows should be celebrated as refugees from the meat industry and given sanctuary, not gunned down from the sky.”

Ranchers have also condemned the move as cruel and were opposed to leaving the carcases to rot.

The New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association has voiced doubts about the tactics. Tom Paterson, chair of the association’s wildlife committee, called for a solution which did not require the cattle to be shot.

“Our society should be better than this. We can be more creative and do it a better way where you’re not wasting an economic resource,” he said. However, the service said the culling was “the most efficient and humane” way to carry out the cull. 

Feral cattle are not unique to the Gila National Forest.

Regards Mark

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News

Italy: New Report Reveals the Minimal Cost of Fish Welfare.
Essere Animali – Organizzazione per i Diritti Animali

New report reveals the minimal cost of fish welfare

14 February 2023

Essere Animali

A new report by Essere Animali finds that stunning fish before slaughter in aquaculture could have very little impact on production costs.

The Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry has developed a new “Sustainable Aquaculture” certification scheme in collaboration with sector associations. Unfortunately, key elements affecting the welfare of farmed fish are not addressed by the certification, despite the fact that the EU Strategic Guidelines for Aquaculture 2021-2030 treat animal welfare as an independent and priority topic.

According to Essere Animali, the most glaring shortcoming of the certification scheme is that, in total contradiction to the developmental directions taken by international regulations and certification standards, the Ministry’s specifications do not include the requirement for effective stunning before slaughter, effectively failing to guarantee animal welfare even during the end-of-life phases.

Currently, the vast majority of fish bred in Italy are subject to slaughtering practices that seriously affect the welfare of these animals. For example, sea bass and sea bream are commonly stunned by immersion in mixtures of ice and water, where, due to the thermal shock, they are immobilised even though it can take up to 40 minutes before they lose consciousness. 

Stunning methods more respectful of fish welfare already exist and, as the report produced by Essere Animali in collaboration with Animal Ask shows, applying them would have little impact on the production price.

For trout, the use of effective stunning methods would only account for 3% of the total production costs and would lead to an increase in the production price of 6 € cents/kg.

The same applies to sea bass and sea bream, where the use of effective stunning methods would only account for 1.2% of production costs with an increase in the production price of around 6 € cents/kg.

Selene Magnolia / We Animals Media

Even taking into account the initial investments needed to purchase the machinery, the increases in the production price would still be manageable (16 cents/kg for trout and 11 cents/kg for sea bream and sea bass), without considering that these investments could be financed within the 340 million euro coming to Italian aquaculture in the 2021-2027 plan of the Common Fisheries Policy, whose objective is precisely to support the development of systems with better animal welfare standards and more value for production.

The figures are similar to those in the European Commission’s own study from 2017 which found that stunning would increase the cost of seabass and seabream in Greece by around 5 cents/kg, and reduce the cost of trout in Italy by around 6 cents/kg.

By the end of 2023, the European Commission will present a package of four new proposals including a regulation on animals at the time of killing. This regulation is an opportunity to finally deliver European-wide rules for more humane stunning and slaughter provisions for fish.

Apart from the obvious shortcomings during the breeding stages, it is particularly serious that the certification does not even guarantee fish the reduction of suffering at the time of slaughter, an element that has been guaranteed for years to terrestrial species and on which there is already a European Regulation not fully implemented in our country. The European Commission has officially recognised that farmed fish need greater protection and it is extremely worrying to see not only that these indications seem not to be implemented in the ‘Sustainable Aquaculture’ specification, but that this has major negative repercussions for both fish and consumers, who are not fully guaranteed clear and transparent information.

Elisa Bianco, head of Essere Animali’s Corporate Engagement office

Download the reports for Italy and Greece below. 

Economic evaluation of humane slaughter methods for farmed fish in Italy

File

Italy_Humane Slaughter for Farmed Fish_0.pdf6.33 

Regards Mark

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

New Zealand: Fonterra Orders An End To The Killing Of Bobby Calves On Dairy Farms.

I think we have shown in the past that the dairy industry is a grossly sick industry.  Cows, which should produce milk for their baby calves have it stolen from them in order to feed humans.

Above – Male Calf in Veal Crate.

In order to produce milk, cows must give birth to a calf. Male calves are generally considered a low-value waste product by the industry and as they do not replace female animals in the dairy herd are usually slaughtered at around five days of age. The RSPCA is concerned about the potential for poor treatment of these ‘bobby calves’ on farm, during transport and at slaughter.

For years in the past, British male calves were exported to Europe to be incarcerated in the dreaded veal crate system.  Despite the British government not allowing veal crates to be used in the UK; they were banned due to their cruelty, they did allow British calves to be exported and put into such systems in mainland Europe – was that not hypocritical ? !

Calves are normally separated from their mothers within 24 hours of birth, mainly to reduce the risk of disease in the calf and to ensure the calf is fed adequate colostrum. Cow-calf separation is a practice which is very stressful for both cow and calf.

The option: dont support the murder of baby calves.

New Zealand:

One of the world’s biggest dairy companies, a New Zealand-based co-operative orders an end to killing bobby calves on dairy farms

Fonterra has ordered its farmers to stop killing bobby calves on their farms unless there is a humane reason for doing so. The company said they should be raised for beef or slaughtered for calf-veal or the pet food market.

The mistreatment of bobby calves has previously come under scrutiny after being killed on farms because they had no financial value, and mistreated by contractors who picked them up to transport them to meat works.

Continue reading at:

Fonterra orders an end to killing bobby calves on dairy farms | Stuff.co.nz

Regards Mark

Remembering dear John:

England: Another Terrible Loss – John Callaghan. – World Animals Voice

Time out:

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News

USA: The federal government is investigating the possible human trafficking of children who cleaned slaughterhouses.

The federal government is investigating the possible human trafficking of children who cleaned slaughterhouses

There is no indication that the sanitation company is under investigation for trafficking the children who worked there.

Federal investigators are looking into whether 50 children — some as young as 13 — who were allegedly illegally employed cleaning Midwestern slaughterhouses were victims of labor trafficking, three officials from the Department of Homeland Security told NBC News.

Homeland Security Investigations agents have interviewed children who worked cleaning a JBS Foods slaughterhouse in Grand Island, Nebraska, the officials say.

There is no indication DHS is investigating the company that hired the children, Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI, for human trafficking. Instead, said two DHS officials, DHS is investigating to rule out the possibility that outside traffickers may have forced children to work for PSSI and profited off their labor.

Continue reading at:

The federal government is investigating the possible human trafficking of children who cleaned slaughterhouses (nbcnews.com)

Regards Mark

Environmental, General News, Hunting

Malta: Quail Hunting Competition Must Not Go Ahead – From 3/2/23). ? More to come when we get info.

Malta – A quail hunting competition scheduled to take place at L-Aħrax, Mellieħa tomorrow (this was Friday 3/2 –  Mark) must not go ahead, three animal rights organisations have insisted.

FKNK, GħKNK Mellieħa and KRPE are organising a ‘field trial’, a competition which will see hunters search for some 180 quails that had been bred in captivity, using their dogs to flush them out before shooting them.

An international jury will judge the kills and issue prizes for a number of categories, with a focus on the dogs’ performance and obedience, in line with international rules for field trials.

Regards Mark

Continue reading at:

‘Stop The Slaughter’: Animal Rights Groups Insist Mellieħa Quail Hunting Contest Must Not Go Ahead (lovinmalta.com)

Environmental, General News, Uncategorized

Brazil: Sinks Warship in Atlantic Despite Maritime Pollution Concerns.

Brazil sinks warship in Atlantic despite maritime pollution concerns

Brazil on Friday sank a decommissioned aircraft carrier, the Navy announced, despite environmental groups claiming the formerly French ship was packed with toxic materials.

Though defense officials said they would sink the vessel in the “safest area,” environmentalists criticized the decision, saying the aircraft carrier contains tons of asbestos, heavy metals and other toxic materials that could leach into the water and pollute the marine food chain.

Read the full article at:

Brazil sinks warship in Atlantic despite maritime pollution concerns (msn.com)

Regards Mark