It’s a few weeks since Bidelia was murdered and her tiny calf, Shriya became an orphan. Bidelia was found with her head and horns trapped under a cattle gate – her neck had been broken. Shriya, who was born blind, was traumatized and alone, trying to suckle from her dead mothers body.
This is Eilin ( Shriya), Bidelias beautiful calf. She is home with us now so we can care for her round the clock.
We housed the Irish cows in a rented barn close to the Sanctuary as we simply didn’t have enough housing here to accommodate everyone whom we were asked to save from slaughter last Winter. Nothing beats the security and comfort of being at Hugletts Wood. That we have learned, first -hand at the cost of sweet Bidelias life. Still reeling from the horror of it all, we have decided the safest move for us all is to improve the facilities we have here and bring everyone home, where they can be protected and cared for 24/7, as has been the case since 1995. We need to raise and renew an already massive roof, re-build and re-clad walls and utilize every inch we have available to ensure we have enough shelter for everyone, come Winter.
We urgently need to start work, to get everything finished and ready in time. We can do the work ourselves, as we usually do but after the most challenging of Winters, where our feed bills trebled and the haulage costs of bringing fodder from the North (as there was nothing available in East Sussex), have wiped us out financially, we simply cannot fund it.
Your help is needed to cover the cost of the basic materials, which will total £15,500, ( £15,506.90), with discounts applied.
Whatever you can donate will be much appreciated.
Together we can make this happen and ensure the memory of Bidelia lives on in the barn that will bear her name.
While we carry out the work, we plan to house the 20 cows in the other two barns so that they are no longer away from here whilst their usual residents are out grazing. This is only temporary, and we must be finished in time for Winter 2021.
Thank you for your support. It is never taken for granted and very much appreciated.
Musician Annie Ko of LOVE X STEREO worked as a translator for Humane Society International in South Korea.
During that time she discovered horrors of the dog meat industry. On one visit to a dog meat farm, she met and rescued DeeJay and their lives changed forever.
We are working tirelessly to fight the dog meat trade across Asia but change only manifests when it comes from within the hearts and minds of locals like Annie.
The majority of South Koreans are AGAINST the dog meat industry and with their support and activism, the end to this trade is in sight.
Together, we can and are making a difference for animals in Asia!
HSI is working tirelessly to fight the dog meat trade but change only manifests when it comes from within, which Annie exemplifies. Together, we can and are making a difference for animals in Asia and beyond.
Ask China to end dog and cat meat trade horrors including the Yulin festival
Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2021 will take place between 21 – 30 June (06) 2021.
Yulin Dog Meat Festival (or Lychee and Dog Meat Eating Festival) as it is sometimes known, is a controversial festival held in Yulin, Guangxi, China, during the summer solstice – the longest day of the year, in June. Even though the festival started as recently as 2009, eating dog meat is believed to be an ancient Chinese tradition.
Chinese practitioners of folk medicine thought that dog meat is the best solution against the summer heat, although there is no physiological or medical evidence to support it. Some also believe dog meat can ward off diseases and heighten men’s sexual performance.
Cat meat, fresh lychees and liquor are also available at the 10-day event.
During the 10-day festival, dogs and cats are exhibited in metal cages and wooden crate before they are skinned, cooked, and eaten by visitors of the event.
It is a terribly disgusting event as you can see from the photos we are publishing here. As many as 15,000 dogs are tortured, killed and cooked to be sold every year.
On the eve of the festival, many activists are protesting in China or in front of Chinese embassies, while hundreds of volunteers make an effort to stop the trucks transporting the dogs to the festival and rescue the animals.
Activist groups in China can legally intercept dog meat trucks and confiscate dogs if the drivers don’t have the paperwork proving that they own them. The dogs which are found in these trucks often turn out to be stolen pets and are returned to owners, others are made available for adoption in China and other countries.
For example, a shelter from the state of New York took in 200 dogs, a San Diego rescue center took 18 dogs to Southern California, while the center in Massachusetts saved five animals.
Yulin is a major campaign issue across the world with animal rights people. Thanks to international pressure the number of dogs slaughtered during Yulin Dog Meat Festival has dropped considerably, and there is hope the festival will be banned completely.
From ‘Notodogmeat’;
End Yulin 2021 Notodogmeat is Sending Activists to Yulin This Weekend
Yulin Dog Meat ‘ Festival’ is likely to take place next week (21 – 30 June) 2021. Our hearts are broken. We have been campaigning for ten years to end this cruelty and saved hundreds of dogs and cats.
New animal welfare regulations and also concerns about the pandemic gave us hope Yulin City will see sense. People eat dog meat in this south China province all year round, and tourists love to come on Summer Solstice, get drunk and feast on dogs. They don’t care.
As soon as we got word that trucks were on the move, we knew we had to act. Our activists, led by Mr Zhao, who runs our big China shelter, will make the 3000 km trip to the region in the next few days.
They will attend and protest, documenting all health violations and produce a report that the Ministry of Agriculture cannot deny.
We will also rescue whatever pups we can (without paying high prices) and shame traders and revellers.
This action is powerful because our team is made up entirely of Chinese animal lovers and volunteers.
They know how hard you have all worked signing petitions and writing letters, and they are ready to make sacrifices in the boiling heat to do their bit.
Like us, they cannot bear the idea of dogs packed in cages, no food, water, or shelter. Blood, urine, faeces everywhere. It is a horror show. Terrified eyes, pleading for their lives.
We need your help to make this happen. As a small charity, we rely on your donations. Please chip in what you can to help pay for the activists trip and cover veterinary and associated expenses so we can save as many lives as we can.
There are some wonderful, brilliant animal activists in China trying to stop this, and we wish them every success with ALL thier work. Here below are some from ‘Notodogmeat’.
We are putting out this info now; and hope to publish more reading / action links later;
Regards Mark
UPDATE 1430GMT
Hi all; I have tracked down the following video clips for you to see if you want. They are disturbing for animal people, any normal person; here they are in case you want to know more – Mark
Dog Is Sheep Is Cow Is Pig Is Boy Is Girl Is Cat – None should be abused for the want of the human tastebud !
Other articles related to Yulin – the first below from the ‘New York Post’ is very interesting – I have reproduced courtesey of the NYP and outlined the main in RED. – Regards Mark
New York Post – New law could end China’s infamous dog meat festival, says advocacy group
Animal activists are celebrating a new law in China that regulates the mass trafficking of feral dogs into Yulin, in the Guangxi region, which has an annual dog meat festival.
Yulin’s agricultural officials confirmed the news on May 1, Jam Press reported. The new law would ensure that animals are raised and quarantined together before being transported and sold for slaughter — a move that will ultimately strengthen public health efforts, and potentially save thousands of dogs.
…. That and the country’s “wet markets” have long been regarded as sources of disease and, indeed, linked to the virus that causes COVID-19.
Last year, China cracked down on the nation’s wildlife trade, including a move to reclassify dogs as “companion animals” instead of their previous “livestock” designation, in response to what was then still an emerging pandemic that many experts believe originated in a Wuhan meat market.
The plan ensured that dogs would no longer be found on the legal meat trade, though the law does little to mitigate the animal black market.
Homùn, Yucatàn, (May 20, 2021).- The people of the Maya town of Homún municipality of Yucatàn win another legal battle against the mega pig farm. This May 19, the First Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) confirmed the definitive suspension of a pig farm in favor of the children of this community of Yucatán.
According to a statement from “Kanan ts’ono’ot”, representatives of the groups known as “Childhood of Homún and Indignation”, the vote was unanimous, with which the ministers confirmed the definitive suspension of this farm, which must remain closed until the final verdict is issued by the Supreme Court.
The operations of this pork farm have been paralyzed since October 9, 2018, due to the suspension granted by Judge Miriam de Jesús Cámara Patrón from an injunction promoted by six girls and boys from Homún, a Maya town in Yucatán located in the Geohydrological Reserve of the Cenotes.
“The decision of the SCJN once again agrees with the Maya people of Homún, particularly the Maya boys and girls who, through the aforementioned injunction, managed to paralyze the farm of 49 thousand pigs since October 9, 2018, when the suspension was granted ”, indicated the groups.
The decision of the highest court, according to the organizations, allows the protection of the right to health, the environment, and dignified life for the children of the Maya town of Homún. At the same time, it lays the foundations for the final resolution, which is yet to be resolved in the Second District Court of the State of Yucatán.
New Jerseyans believe strongly in the humane treatment of animals. For years, voters have told lawmakers that they want us to take a stand against a particularly cruel practice used by some pork and veal producers. We have heard their voice via polls, phone calls and letters in the opinion pages. This issue has hung over Trenton for long enough, and it is time to finally pass commonsense reform into law.
At the center of this storm are “gestation crates,” metal cages used to confine mother pigs. Simply type the term into Google Images and you will understand why gestation crates raise such strong concern. Made of metal bars, these crates are so small the pigs cannot walk more than a step forward or backward, nor can they turn around.
Similarly, “veal crates” are used to confine calves fated to become cutlets. These newborns are taken from their mothers shortly after birth. Both gestation and veal crates have been denounced by animal welfare experts as unnecessarily cruel and archaic.
In a time of a global pandemic, most conversations around the dinner table are now about disease and living a new lifestyle because of it. This issue of gestation crates and veal crates brings an added level to this issue, as cramming animals side-by-side in tiny cages presents ideal conditions for dangerous pathogens to breed, multiply and mutate.
The United Nations cites intensive animal agriculture as a likely cause of future zoonotic disease. Prohibiting cruel crates helps tip the balance away from reckless industrial agriculture and toward more sustainable, ethical farming. Simply banning these extreme confinement methods greatly benefits public health, the environment and the animals.
Fortunately, the tide is turning away from these cruel practices. Both pigs and calves can be raised more humanely in larger pens alongside other animals of their own kind.
Under consumer pressure, Smithfield Foods, the nation’s largest pork producer, and Hormel Foods, producer of SPAM, are dramatically reducing their use of gestation crates. A long list of mainstream fast food, restaurant and grocery chains are purging gestation crates from their supply chains — and top veal producers are following suit.
Change is happening but ultimately it is not happening fast enough for the animals still suffering in these crates.
We can support and hasten positive changes like those made by the aforementioned businesses by passing corresponding laws. Ten U.S. states and the European Union have already outlawed gestation crates while nine U.S. states have banned veal crates.
Many of the states acting on this matter are major agricultural producers. For example, Kentucky has banned veal crates and Ohio has outlawed gestation crates. New Jersey has less to lose than these states and would hardly be sticking our neck out by following suit.
We would, however, be sending a message that this type of cruelty has no place in our state and that it is time for the “cage age” to come to an end.
We are grateful to our legislative colleagues for their previous support on this issue. The time is right to finish the job by sending this bill to Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk for a signature.
It is long past time we give these suffering animals the relief they deserve and have our state join the many others moving in the responsible, right direction.
Assemblyman Raj Mukherji represents the 33rd Legislative District and state Senator Vin Gopal represents the 11th Legislative District.
Now and again; as with any site relating to just about any issue or subject; you expect, and sometimes get, negative comments, even abuse.
We can handle that no problem; part of running a site we guess; if people have something negative to say, then fine, we review it and if necessary attempt to respond, giving our perspective; our views, justifications etc.
A message ‘greeted us’ this morning; and in unison; we immediately had no argument with deleting the comment; as it was more than pitiful and we do not feel it is even worth showing – why give an asshole publicity we ask ? – but we shall say it was nasty and vindictive towards the death of Regan. From someone in the business we ask ? – and do they want to start an abusive series of ‘ping pong’ between us and them ? – we the answer from us is ‘No’; and for the turd from the gutter that wrote it, there is now only one place to archive it – in the TRASH, as both they and their comment both should be.
So in response to Mr Primary Jerk; from us, and by clicking on the following link, you can gain access to all of our past posts relating to Regan and her work to save animals:
Regan died taking action to help suffering animals, she did not hide in saying what she was involved with – campaigning for and saving lives, and where she came from. Now the world knows her story and her name, unlike the psycho jerk that sent this mail to us and who boasts about killing animals. We suggest firstly, he slithers back down the crack he originated from, secondly, he attempts to get some kind of a life, and thirdly, that taskes up a hobby that does not involve killinganimals, as he proudly boasts he does in his comment. What next – children ?
We will not even publish his reply, because, like him, IT IS UTTER PREMIUM SHIT.
We, like all fellow activists out there, continue with our respect to Regan again for paying the ultimate in her actions to be a voice for suffering animals. Her name will never be forgotten.
WAV Comment – What with proposed action on the banning of intensive cage systems; maybe the EU is beginning to listen to the wants of its citizens – most who have demands and positive aspirations regarding positives in animal welfare; but who also need authorities to listen and act ! – Maybe now they start to act after so many years of ignoring the cries; human and animal.
BUT, we still need much better legislation and enforcement of regulations regarding the transportation of live, sentient beings. Here the EU always has failed big time.
Positive Progress for animals! The European Parliament adopted ambitious Report on the EU Biodiversity Strategy
9 June 2021
Press Release
The European Parliament’s report on the EU Biodiversity Strategy, adopted 8/6/21, demonstrates the clear commitment of the Parliament to ensure the effective implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 by securing adequate financial resources, binding objectives and adopting new legislation. The Parliament is urging European Commission and Member States to turn the present crisis into an opportunity and move away from “economic growth at any cost”, ensuring a real green recovery.
Thanks also to our Stop Pandemics? Start here campaign, the joined efforts of our members, and the support of many MEPs, most of our recommendations to block amendments on the ENVI report were taken into account, and yesterday the vote in Plenary clearly demonstrated the European Parliament’s support to ensure the effective implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030.
The strategy has the potential to bring the necessary change to protect our planet’s biodiversity, ecosystems and environment, and to prevent future pandemics and spread of zoonotic diseases, ensuring that the tools and resources are made available to make that ambition a reality, with important effects on animal protection:
Acknowledging that both the illegal and legal trade in, and use of, wildlife significantly contribute to biodiversity decline, calling on the European Commission (EC) to jointly address legal and illegal trade in the review of the EU Wildlife Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking.
Highlighting that the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking should receive adequate funding, including assistance to wildlife rescue centres and sanctuaries.
Calling on the EC to propose EU-wide wide positive lists of species permitted for import, keeping, breeding and trade as pets as soon as possible, also to prevent the introduction of new invasive alien species.
Calling on the EC and the Member States (MS) to lead efforts to end the commercial trade in endangered speciesand their parts.
Recognising ecocide as an international crime.
Highlighting that EU agriculture should be transformed to make it sustainable and ensure high animal welfare standards, setting the benchmark in terms of standards for sustainable food systems.
Acknowledging that fur production can significantly compromise animal welfare and increases their susceptibility to infectious diseases including zoonoses, as has occurred with COVID-19 in mink.
Calling on the EC and the MS to take adequate measures to facilitate the coexistence with large predators, such as preventive and compensation measures, ensuring their protection.
Recognising the importance of cetacean protection, and the need for the EU to take action with regard to whaling.
Recognising that catching fish to feed carnivorous farmed fish is a driver of marine biodiversity loss.
“We applaud the Parliament for their commitment to animals which comes after a year-long campaign to prevent future pandemics and improve animal protection at the same time. We trust the Commission will listen to the Parliament’s calls and use the Biodiversity Strategy to introduce EU wide Positive Lists for exotic pets which would be a total gamechanger for the animals but also for human health”.
On 10/6/21, the European Parliament massively supported a resolution endorsing the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) on banning cages and calling for future measures to apply to imports. Just earlier this week, the US notified the World Trade Organisation (WTO) about the coming Californian ban on cages, which also prevents sales of such products in the State, showing the world that the EU will have support once it adopts its own ban.
The resolution adopted by an overwhelming majority of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) calls on the European Commission to revise the outdated EU General Farming Directive to phase out cruel cage-based systems in animal farming in the EU, and, more importantly, to apply these new rules to all products placed on the EU market – including imported ones.
Ahead of the vote in the European Parliament, Commissioner Kyrikiades noted that applying EU cage-free standards to imported animal products would reflect the demands expressed by EU citizens and she showed openness to explore this option: “I heard the many points raised regarding imports, and we will look at the application of the same standards to imported products as well as labelling in compliance with WTO rules to satisfy citizens’ demands for high welfare for imported products of animal origin”, she concluded.
The EU should not shy away from adopting comprehensive measures on cages and to apply them to imports. Firstly, if crafted properly, there is no doubt that such a measure would be compatible with WTO rules. Secondly, the EU could even count on the support of the US.
Indeed, the US notified other WTO members about California’s proposed ban on cages on 8 June 2021. This proposal emerged in 2018 with the adoption of the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative, also known as Proposition 12. The text suggested a ban on cages for laying hens, pigs and calves, and a ban on the sales of products derived from cage-based productions, regardless of their origin. The legislative process has now started, and if adopted, the measure will impact trade with California and ultimately the US.
This news was a turning point, confirming that the EU’s decision could even be supported by important allies. Moreover, it will pave the way for discussions at the WTO on possible bans – including the EU’s – on animal products that would not comply with cage-free standards and, looking at the objectives described in the legislation and in the notification, it also strengthens the EU’s rationale that such a ban would be WTO-compatible based on ethical reasons.
In addition to respecting citizen’s views, applying cage-free standards to imports would also be a huge incentive for producers around the world to improve animal welfare standards, and to shift to more sustainable food systems as they would then gain access to relevant markets. The life and wellbeing of millions of animals around the world could be positively impacted.
Shocking new investigation in Italy: Cruelty and violence against pigs at Zema slaughterhouse
10 June 2021
Animal Equality
10/6/21, Animal Equality Italy released terrible images that demonstrate the multiple violations of animal welfare legislation committed by Zema, a leader in the meat distribution sector in Italy.
The investigation shows acts of brutality committed on pigs inside an industrial slaughterhouse in Lombardy. The footage depicts mistreatments and systematic violations of the rules on animal welfare.
The slaughterhouse is owned by Zema S.R.L., a company in the province of Cremona that has been involved in the slaughtering and processing of pork since 1987, as well as one of the many Made in Italy labels.
Of the more than 800,000 pigs raised per year in the Cremona area, about 150,000 are killed in this slaughterhouse.
Although the company promotes itself as mindful of animal welfare, the investigation carried out by Animal Equality at its facility shows a very different situation.
The footage shows many mistreatments of the animals, such as:
● Animals mutilated even before stunning due to ineffective or inefficient methods (some pigs are put on the conveyor belt with their trotters partially detached and mutilated)
● Animals slaughtered inadequately or while conscious
● Multiple animals placed in stunning cages at the same time, in violation of animal welfare rules
● Animals falling from trucks, pushed by the operators themselves, and an absence of ramps for unloading animals
● Operators mistreatmenting animals (kicks, blows with rods, animals dragged by the ears or feet), systematic violations and cruelty
● Operator who repeatedly hits a pig in the head with an iron rod, throwing the animal against a wall and throwing the body of the dying animal over the fence
The analysis of these images by veterinarians and law experts in animal welfare demonstrates a lack of controls and compliance by the operators, at all stages of meat production (from the arrival of the animals to their death).
Although Animal Equality has already filed two complaints with the Prosecutor’s Office and one for misleading advertising to the AGCM against Zema S.R.L. since April 2020, nothing seems to have changed and there has been no feedback from the authorities.
Our investigation has highlighted once again the mistreatment and brutality suffered by the animals involved in the agri-food chain together with the total lack of adequate controls and compliance with the animal welfare laws. We cannot accept that this situation remains unchanged and we will continue to fight so that animal rights are truly protected
Alice Trombetta, director of Animal Equality Italia
Starting from December 2017, Animal Equality has launched a petition addressed to the Ministry of Health and to the Ministry of Agriculture to put an end to a series of systematic cruelties that occur every day in Italian slaughterhouses. The campaign, supported by the findings of investigations conducted in Italian slaughterhouses, has surpassed 200,000 signatures from Italian citizens calling for tighter controls, the installation of surveillance systems such as CCTV, and the mandatory stunning of animals with no exception.
Purely coincidental that we had news through, today, on ‘Ban Live Exports Day’ – where global awareness and demonstrations are focussed towards ending this abhorrent trade in the transportation of live, sentient beings.
We welcome the great campaigner, speaker, writer and all round activist for so many causes, especially animal rights – Mr Philip Wollen, as our first WAV Patron.
Philip kindly responded to our request to be our Patron within a matter of hours, after
Like many of you, our friends and supporters; we have respected and admired so much about Philip over the years; the Ex Vice president of Citibank, who decided to get out of the race and put his money, knowledge and efforts into supporting good causes around the world.
We are delighted to have ‘Phil’ on board with us and welcome him into the World Animals Voice team. We know this friendship will be effective and long lasting; especially as we as anti export campaigners and animal rights activists; like Phil; still have a lot to say and do with efforts to end this trade and so many other global animal abuses.
So, Philip; Mark warmly welcome you into our WAV fold, and us being welcomed into yours.
Here is a link directly into the site run by Philip and his wife Trix, Winsome Constance Kindness :
You can read more about the work of the organisation by clicking on the above link; but here below is a summary of Philip Wollen as written for an introduction transcript for an MC (Master of Ceremonies) at a recent charity event:
Introducing Philip Wollen –
Philip Wollen, at 34 was Vice-President of Citibank. The Financial Press named him in the “Top 40 Brightest and Best” executives in Australia.
During his travels, by age 40 he’d witnessed cruelty so egregious he decided to do all he could to alleviate suffering, and give away everything he owned, with warm hands, and die broke. He jokes “So far, we are right on budget!”
Today, he is a “Venture Capitalist for Good Causes”, supporting some 500 mission-critical projects for children, animals and the environment in 40+ countries. Promoting “Ahimsa” (non -violence) and Veganism is his main interest.
He provides money for Children, Animals, & the Environment with schools, orphanages, animal protection, shelters, clinics, medicines, biogas plants, ambulances, bore-wells and films; sponsored a married couple (cancer survivors) to run one marathon a day for 366 consecutive days around Australia’s coast, funded marine vessels, whale & seal rescue centres, primate sanctuaries, food, disaster relief, homeless people, victims of domestic violence, scholarships, the arts, health, forests and oceans, undercover anti-poaching operations through his operational “silos”, Kindness Farms, Kindness House, Kindness Oceans, Kindness Kids, Kindness Streets, & Kindness Mobile Restaurants for the Homeless.
Philip awards the annual Kindness Gold Medal & $20,000 Cash Prize to people who have devoted their lives in the service of others. Past recipients include Sir David Attenborough (UK), Dr Professor T. Colin Campbell (USA), Dr Ian Gawler OAM (Australia), Dr Jane Goodall DBE, Smt Maneka Gandhi MP (India), Captain Paul Watson (Canada), Dr Jill Robinson MBE (China), Dr Christine Townend (Australia), Captain Peter Hammarstedt (Sweden), Mr Christopher DeRose (USA), Rev. Dr Andrew Linzey (Oxford), Mr Damien Mander (Zimbabwe), Sri Pradeep Kumar Nath (India), Dr Chinny Krishna (India).
He has delivered speeches in the Parliament in The Hague, the Knesset Parliament in Israel, the European Parliament, the Parliament of World Religions, Universities, & international congresses and has discussed ethics with Presidents, Prime Ministers, Members of Parliament, Nobel Laureates & religious leaders from all the major faiths.
He is the Patron and Ambassador for many international groups; he has written Forewords for books by eminent authors on animal rights, health and ethics. His words have been read by millions around the world and his speeches have gone viral on the internet with over 60 million viewers and independently translated into over 20 languages.
Philip likes to be invisible.
The National Australia Day Council wrote: “Essentially a private man, Philip seeks no personal publicity. But he is not afraid to step into the limelight for a just cause”.
Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers accurately described him as “Reclusive”.
He has received the following awards:
The Order of Australia Medal in The Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Australian of the Year (Victoria).
Honorary Fellow of the Oxford Centre of Animal Ethics, UK.
Distinguished Alumni Award from The University of Adelaide.
Australian Humanitarian Award, Australia
Supreme Master Shining World Hero Award, Asia
Cottonian of Eminence Award, India
Humanitarian Award McKee Project, Costa Rica
Sea Shepherd Volunteer of the Decade, Australia
The Albert Schweitzer Award, USA
The Peter Singer Prize and Medal, Berlin, Germany
So here we are; ladies and gentlemen; Mr Philip Wollen – Patron of ‘World Animals Voice’. We look forward very much to working with you in the future to end animal suffering.
World Animals Voice 