Category: Farm Animals

Farm Animals, General News

Tönnies will slaughter in China in the future

The Tönnies group of companies is building a slaughterhouse in China for up to six million pigs a year.
The company is convinced of growth in Asia.

Together with the Dekon Group, a subsidiary of the West Hope Group, the Tönnies slaughterhouse will set up a slaughtering and cutting center for initially two million pigs in the Sichuan region.

In a second step, this can be expanded to up to six million pig slaughterings per year. The corresponding contract was signed by the partners this week.

The joint venture started in September last year with a joint letter of intent between the two companies. Construction and technical implementation should begin in a few months.
The Tönnies group of companies is aiming for its first production site outside of Europe.

Tönnies: Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany

“This joint venture is a milestone for our international development,” said Clemens Tönnies, the managing partner of Tönnies Holding.

Total investment of 500 million euros

In the first step, Tönnies is investing a double-digit million amount in the joint venture. The money goes mainly into construction and technical development.

The joint venture has an even majority of 50 percent each. The total investment volume amounts to around 500 million euros, a large part of which goes into agricultural production.
The Dekon Group currently fattening around two million pigs annually in China.

“The demand for pork in China and many other Asian countries is great and will continue to grow in the coming decades,” says Clemens Tönnies.

China-swine fever

The Chinese food market is currently in a state of upheaval. African swine fever (ASF) has culled stocks in parts of the country.
Small farms and backyards are now being replaced by farms that meet Western European standards in terms of biosecurity.

https://www.agrarheute.com/management/agribusiness/toennies-baut-schlachthof-china-559430

And I mean…Tönnies operates large slaughterhouses abroad, for example in Poland and Denmark, and is Germany’s largest butcher.
He also has plans to build a very modern slaughterhouse in the Spanish province of Aragon.
At least that’s what the Spanish newspaper “Helaldo” reports.

The meat cutting process should be fully automated and supported by robots. Up to 625 pigs could be slaughtered per hour. That would be 70,000 animals a week. Tönnies wants to invest 75 million euros there and create up to 1,000 jobs.

The slaughterhouse in Aragon has been planned for some time. According to the newspaper, the city council of Calamocha has been in talks with Tönnies for five years (!!!)

At the request of the “Handelsblatt”, the company said the project was still at a very early stage. There is a “Letter of Intent”, the contract planning is still ongoing.

According to “Heraldo”, the meat from calamocha is to be marketed primarily in Spain and the EU.
Spain has recently become the world’s largest exporter of pork.

The planned meat factory in Spain is to be built by 2024 at the latest

Tönnies’ grand plans in China are not just expansion. Because of the outbreak of African swine fever in German wild boars, China, an important customer of Tönnies, has stopped importing pork from all over Germany for the time being. That is why the company wants to build large slaughterhouses in a joint venture with the Dekon Group there.

Everyone who eats meat, regardless of its type and origin, should be ashamed to collaborate in such businesses.

This applies to all meat eaters… in China, Spain, Germany, Poland, Australia …

For their own enjoyment or profit, they let others do the killing for them and with their consumption they help animal killers to do the bloody business with animals in the billions.

Factory farming is nothing more than legalized cruelty to animals.

Anyone who buys animal products signs the contracts with, for this cruelty to animals – everyone and in every country !!

My best regards to all, Venus

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

World Health Organisation Disease Specialist Warns Live Animal Export Must Stop.

World Health Organisation disease specialist warns live animal export must stop

World Health Organisation disease specialist warns live animal export must stop | Animals Australia

World Health Organisation epidemiologist Professor Mary-Louise McLaws has warned of the danger of live animal exports, saying the trade poses the risk of a “ghastly” disease outbreak.

The disease expert, who is a Professor of Epidemiology at the University of New South Wales and Health Emergencies IPC Preparedness, Readiness and Response to COVID-19 Advisor to the World Helath Organisation, was interviewed on Channel 10’s The Project and had some strong words to say about the continuation of live animal exports.

While people and animals across the world continue to suffer the impacts of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, scientists and academics are increasingly drawing attention to humanity’s broken relationship with nature and animals as a major cause for alarm and risk of future pandemics. 

A recent report from the United Nations warns that a stream of diseases can be expected to jump from animals to humans in coming years, while the global demand for meat — and the resultant deforestation and intensification of animal farming — continues.

The live animal export industry forces animals into close confinement in unnatural surroundings which can lead to extreme stress, injury, sickness and death. Live export ships are essentially factory farms on water — taking animals like cattle and sheep from open pastures and confining them to pens for weeks at a time, exposing them to cruel conditions including extreme heat and rough seas. 

Even during this time when so many people’s movement is restricted to try to stop the virus from spreading, this industry has been allowed to continue to operate — to the detriment of both humans and animals.

As if there weren’t enough reasons to end the cruel trade… not only does live export condemn millions of animals to terrible suffering, but, according to this disease expert, it’s putting human lives at risk too.

Farm Animals, General News

South Korea: Dog Farming – Call for Action: Kia Must Speak Out Against the Brutality of South Korea!

Call for Action: Kia must speak out against the brutality of South Korea! 

Click on the following for full news and actions:

https://r.newsletter.koreandogs.org/aig4pwodtht7e.html?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=_Call_for_Action_Kia_must_speak_out_against_the_brutality_of_South_Korea!_&utm_medium=email

South Korea’s Conglomerates (called “Jaebol”) have an enormous power and influence over their government and people because they make up the majority of their economy and employ millions of people combined. When the Kia Management speaks, the President of Korea will listen. How disappointing and shameful it is, therefore, that despite its wealth and influence, Kia shows no interest in helping to fight the horrific and diabolic practice of dog and cat meat cruelty in their own country. These evil meat trades are a blight on their people and their homeland – for numerous reasons. So, why doesn’t Kia feel any social responsibility to take action? Why are they content to do nothing to help end this abhorrence?

And here is another very good reason to NOT buy a Kia: 👉 🔥🔥🔥 Kia, Hyundai recall cars due to possibility of catching on fire.🔥🔥🔥

It’s time for Kia to speak up and do their part to bring an end to this illegal and unethical practice of brutalizing and eating man’s best friends. Please write to the management of Kia today!

Call for action – Kia:

Kia must speak out against the brutality of South Korea! – Stop the Dog and Cat Consumption in S. Korea! (koreandogs.org)

Call for action – Samsung

Samsung must speak out against the brutality of South Korea! – Stop the Dog and Cat Consumption in S. Korea! (koreandogs.org)

Call for action – Hyundai

Hyundai must speak out against the brutality of South Korea! – Stop the Dog and Cat Consumption in S. Korea! (koreandogs.org)

Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News

Danish Mink (Fur) Farmers To Now Set Up Business In Sweden ?

Info from contact Hans in Sweden:

Shocking HSI investigation reveals terror, suffering of foxes and mink on Finland's fur farms · A Humane World
Pic – HSI

BREAKING NEWS regarding the mink farming issue in Denmark. Now, it appears that it will be in Sweden instead. Because mink farming is banned in Denmark for 2021, Danish mink farmers now want to start up their buisness again. Not in Denmark, but in neighbouring country Sweden instead where it’s still legal despite pandemic!

Sweden could very well become the new Denmark, with tens of millions of mink farmed and killed every year. As it is now, there are about 40 fur farms in Sweden. The introduction of Danish fur farmers in Sweden is “warmly welcomed” by the Swedish mink industry for “job opportunities” in Southern Sweden. Out of the 8 parties in the Parliament of Sweden, 6 supports fur farming and would welcome this addition to the Swedish fur industry.

https://www.expressen.se/kvallsposten/danska-minkodlare-vill-starta-farmar-i-sverige/?fbclid=IwAR12sF1b1OfLSorEaNLbud6lrrFLRjmvaNP3EbLumhzzwUqdXz8OAlD5uSw

Google translated article:

“The mink industry is wiped out and banned in Denmark after the corona mutation that led to a mass death of 15 million minks.

Several of the country’s mink breeders are now looking to Sweden to start again.

– We are obviously very positive about it, says Jörgen Martinsson, CEO of Swedish mink.

The news about the Danish minks has received international attention during the autumn.

It was when a mutated variant of the corona virus was discovered on several mink farms in the country that a professor went out and warned that Denmark could become “a new Wuhan”. The government acted forcefully and demanded that all minks in the country – about 15 million – be killed.

In November, the next blow came to the mink industry. The Danish government then banned all mink industry from being conducted throughout 2021.

– Danish mink industry as we know it is gone. It is a grief without its equal and a shocking decision for the mink industry in Denmark but also in the rest of Europe, says Jörgen Martinsson, CEO of the industry organization Swedish mink.

Most farms in southern Sweden
Recently, about ten Danish mink breeders have contacted Swedish mink to review the possibility of establishing their operations in Sweden instead, says Jörgen Martinsson.

– We are of course very positive that Danish breeders are interested. Partly because we have had a lot of collaborations and exchanges with Danish breeders for a long time, partly because they have long experience and great competence in this.

The discussions have been both about taking over existing farms in Sweden but also starting their own farms on Swedish soil.

– It is mostly in southern Sweden, this is where the best opportunities are, says Martinsson.

Last fall 15 September
The mutation that was discovered on mink farms seems to be extinct – the last confirmed case was on 15 September.

Since the first outbreak, about 15 million minks have been killed. Anyone who has not yet killed their mink must do so by 15 January, but the mink breeders are still waiting for the promised financial compensation from the government.

– It is still chaos in different ways. A political chaos which, of course, entailed great uncertainty. How is the Danish mink industry feeling today? It is not possible to answer because it does not really exist anymore, says Jörgen Martinsson.”

Farm Animals, General News, Uncategorized

‘Veganuary’ Expects More Than Half a Million Participants Worldwide in 2021.

Veganuary Expects More Than Half a Million Participants Worldwide in 2021

Every year, nonprofit organization Veganuary encourages people to choose plant-based food for January and beyond. For 2021, the group aims to attract more than half a million participants around the world!

The COVID-19 pandemic has only highlighted the urgency of plant-based eating, as raising animals for food can promote the creation and spread of dangerous diseases. Consumers are growing more aware of this connection, with sales of plant-based meat jumping 35 percent from April to May 2020. Tofu is also flying off the shelves. According to Nielsen, tofu sales in the first half of 2020 were a whopping 40 percent higher than last year. And Google searches for tofu recipes have nearly doubled since March. Actor and Veganuary supporter Alec Baldwin said:

During the pandemic, we have cooked all our meals at home and have moved to a completely plant-based diet in this house. When you prepare your own food, it’s interesting how your tastes change. And any animal products become less appetizing when you prepare them, from start to finish, yourself.

Last year, Veganuary expected 350,000 participants and ended up with more than 400,000 from 192 countries! Among participants were rock legends Brian May and Meat Loaf. Veganuary also launched the first-ever vegan advertisement for mainstream U.K. television.

Since Veganuary was founded in 2014, over a million people have participated. Of those surveyed, 47 percent said they were committed to staying vegan, while 77 percent of those not committed said they were “very likely to try veganism again.”

People who take the Veganuary pledge get support through emails, social media content, and membership in a Facebook group. Veganuary also encourages brands, manufacturers, and retailers to expand their plant-based options. In fact, several huge companies, including Yelp, Mendocino Farms, Tofurky, Follow Your Heart, and Violife, have agreed to offer Veganuary promotions, giveaways, special menu items, and more.

Programs like Veganuary are a powerful way to introduce people to plant-based eating. Get started on your New Year’s resolution by taking the pledge, and order a FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide for recipes and tips!

Vegan Faces
Farm Animals

Betta fish-the gruesome delivery from Thailand

Betta fish are vibrant and colorful, but they’re also extremely complex animals.

At Petco stores around the country, they’re confined to tiny plastic cups with scarcely a couple of inches of water inside that are stacked on top of one another.

Thailand: The eyewitness who took the photo saw a bucket of dead and live fighting fish. These animals were considered unprofitable because their caudal fin was damaged. One employee said they would be thrown into a canal or pond.

Scores of customers have complained of finding dead, sick, and injured bettas floating in filthy water on the chain’s store shelves.

PETA’s investigations of the pet industry have uncovered appalling neglect of betta fish even before they reach stores.

They’re often starved for several days during transport and are confined individually to tiny bags that are stuffed into boxes stacked up high in massive wholesale warehouses. Many fish die before and during transport to retailers, which can take days, as they’re shipped all over the country. Industry insiders have confirmed that this system is a common practice for some retailers.

Each captive betta fish requires a regularly cleaned aquarium with gallons of water heated to between 76 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, a good filtration system, and enrichments such as caves, rocks, and live plants in order to thrive.

Selling them in tiny bowls or cups perpetuates the harmful myth that they’re nothing more than pretty “starter pets” who should be kept solitary. In fact, female bettas can live together, and while male bettas will fight with other males, they can be placed in a “community” aquarium containing other species of fish.

In some branches, fighting fish are kept in tiny plastic cups that only contain a few centimeters of water.

While some bettas are captured in the wild, the vast majority of those sold in the U.S. come from breeding farms in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia, where it’s common practice to keep them in small bottles.

When it’s time to pack them for transport, fish are haphazardly dumped into baskets covered with nets and scooped up into tiny plastic cups. Then, they’re packed up to be sent to the United States.

While workers sorted the fighting fish for transport, the animals were out of the water, writhing and gasping for air.

Segrest Farms, a Petco fish supplier, admitted that it sources bettas from Thailand.

In addition to being forced to endure cramped conditions, these fish are denied everything that’s natural and important to them, which can cause them to become depressed. According to Victoria Braithwaite, a professor at Penn State University who studies fish intelligence, depression is likely prompted by a lack of stimulation.

In study after study, fish are defying stereotypes: Some use tools, and others can recognize individual human faces.

Male bettas have devoted fathers who build bubble nests for their young with their mouths and fiercely protect their babies from predators. In his book What a Fish Knows: The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins, ethologist Jonathan Balcombe notes that bettas stop killing each other and instead exhibit cooperative group behavior when they’re released from the “artificiality of captivity.”

Most fish are shipped in small plastic bags that have just enough water to cover the animals’ bodies. Countless fish die before they even arrive at the pet shop.

Yet these sensitive fish continue to suffer greatly in the pet trade, where they’re subjected to inadequate care from the time they’re born on breeding farms to when they’re transported to pet stores to when they’re sold.

Take Action!

Despite the cruelty inherent in the “pet” betta fish industry, Petco continues to sell these animals in tiny containers. No fish should be forced to live and die in a tiny bowl. Urge Petco to end the sale of betta fish immediately!

Betta Fish Are Suffering by the Millions | Take Action Today

 

Additional Information: Thailand is one of the world’s most important export countries for fighting fish.
In 2019, an eyewitness from PETA took a look around Thai fighting fish farms that supply the global pet trade – including the German one. What he found was shocking conditions and cruelty to animals.

Many of the animals had died in the breeding tanks and were simply not removed.
At a Petco supplier, the eyewitness came across a bucket full of dead and live fighting fish.
One employee said these animals were not profitable because their caudal fin was damaged. She admitted that they would just dump them in a nearby pond or canal.

The eyewitness looked at a total of 10 establishments

In this company, tens of thousands of fish were kept in tiny, often dirty bottles. Due to the small amount of water, the ammonia produced by the fish’s excretions quickly accumulates and pollutes the water. The bottles were so close together that the employees could walk over them.

For worldwide shipping, fighting fish are packed without any food and sent on a journey of several days by air freight. A staff member told the eyewitness that sedatives would be put into the water to prevent the fish from trying to eat their own caudal fin.

According to an employee, a company that supplies Petco sends 100,000 fighting fish to the USA every week.

Up to 1,000 of them die before they reach the dealer.

The company EFS – Zoo buys Betta fish from Thailand from the company Q.P.S. International Aquatics Co. Ltd., which can be seen in this video at minutes 1’41 – 1‘59.

 

Fish are not decorations, and they should never be forced to live and die in a tiny bowl

There is nothing more perverse than imprisoning animals in a water prison for life and claiming that someone does this out of love for animals!

Every single living being has a specific task, an individual meaning in the entire context of life.
Only the recognition of the individuality of each being can lead to a coherent ethic for our behavior with animals.
Since thinking is part of our life’s tasks, we are morally obliged not to tear other beings out of their living space and use them at will.

This moral principle cannot be discussed. It is a fact!

My best regards to all, Venus

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

England: Good Campaigning Wishes for 2021.

Well here we are on the last day of 2020.  It is a cold and frosty day here in Southern England; but loads of good, healthy food has been put out this morning for all our feathered friends; and it is a pleasure to see them, all popping down for something to eat before they fly off to who knows where.

News years eve is also a time for reflection on the past year.  Both Venus and I are very strong supporters of direct action; you have to take to the streets and elsewhere to get your message across.   Never rely on government actions as the only route to change, it wont happen; they have to be shamed into taking action for the better, which takes years !.  This year (2020) especially has been a very testing time for millions of good people all over the world.  You have been limited in the actions you can take in being a voice; for example; anti export friends I have here in England have been threatened (for breaking Covid regulations) with £10,000 fines if they take to the docks and try to do what they have always done; that is trying stop live animals from being exported to their deaths in Europe.  In a lot of ways, Covid has worked very well for the authorities; we are all being confined and controlled in what we are allowed to do; the big brother is watching you (via your mobile phones ?) and we (WAV) are probably being monitored by ‘the better people’ from somewhere; so that in the future we can have god knows what thrown back at us should things ever get ‘legal’.

Change for the better has only ever happened because good people have got up off their butts and made it happen.  Please remember that for 2021; when you take actions in defence of the animals.

I started to write here about our live export campaign in England; as a bit of an example; but have decided not to include here as it is too long and possibly irrelevant. 

People take action for animals in many, many different ways.  You do what you feel is right with you and what suits your personal situation best.  This year especially, we have to remember Regan Russell  Search Results for “regan russell” – World Animals Voice  who paid the ultimate price for her dedication towards making a better life and less suffering for animals. 

Just like our own dear Jill here in England who lost her life on 1st February 1995  Search Results for “jill phipps” – World Animals Voice  whilst trying to be a voice for young, exported calves out of Coventry airport; by an arms dealer and convicted drug smuggler.  26 years on in 2021, Jill is quite rightly still remembered in ceremonies at the ports and elsewhere; a young, beautiful and compassionate girl taken out by those involved in a trade which involves so much suffering and abuse by those who do not deserve it.

Tribut für Jill Phipps – YouTube

Remembering Jill, an animal hero – YouTube

I still find it hard to watch these – but now finally at the end of 2020 / Jan 2021 we in the UK are contributing to a government consultation which will hopefully see and end to all live animal exports from the UK.  Jill would have been so receptive of the fact that finally, after  so many years of campaigning; we can now hold the UK government to account and make the demands of stopping this disgusting business.

There is a common theme which runs though all of this;  Jill was taken from her mum Nancy all those years ago; the baby calves she was trying to protect had already been taken from their mums; the tiny hens in intensive systems are taken from their mums and immediately murdered; or put into the abusive cages for yet more egg production.  Baby pigs are taken from their mothers at such an early age; baby dogs in puppy mills; baby lambs hauled off to the slaughterhouse ready for Easter; all issues that go back to youngsters being taken away from the only security they have, and need most at the time when they are separated.

I wish you all a great 2021 and hope that all your dreams and wishes come to fruition.  The fight for giving animals a voice and stopping cruelty the world over is down to the majority now – and we are a majority; getting bigger and stronger every day in direct opposition to the abusers.  They are going to be named and shamed; exposed for all the abuses they undertake.  We at WAV are committed to that for sure.

The animal rights / welfare issue is growing massively; even in places which you never really expect it to.  It is now so easy to become Vegan and throw all cruelty associated with old diets and the cruel methods associated with their production out of the window.

More than many things; I now think the good folk of the USA will see so many positives for animals and the environment after January 2021.  The same with the Amazon; the lungs of our planet.  Many excellent groups who fight tooth and nail for better things; the right things; have been shot down at every step by the problems that live in the White House and other government buildings the world over.  Personally; I think 2021 will be a new year and much better year for you all.  ‘Keep on keeping on’ as we say here ! – for animals and their environment. 

Knowledge, publicity and the use of the internet is something that is with so many of us now each and every day – we can inform the world of abuses and negative issues the same day; and bring about necessary change – that is what 2021 brings for you.  So use it; there is no need for abuse or bad name calling of the abusers; we all hold feelings that may resemble that in our own consciousness; but try to keep polite and respectful regardless; lets continue to get friends by exposing what the others do – and turn any acquaintances they may have away from them.

I just feel that 2021 is going to be a good year for us; 2020 was different but so many positives have happened that the only way now is up; a continuation from 2020.

With the new legal action by UK activists to bring intensive farming to the fore – England: RSPCA calls for cut in meat and dairy as Activists Launch Legal Fight to End Factory Farming. A Real Tester for the Government. – World Animals Voice  lets hope that 2021 sees the start of all cages being broken open and getting what they deserve – ie being trashed !

This track has nothing to do with this post; but we need to go out of the year with a bang; I loved the original Quo (there is only the original); and I and many friends enjoyed following and watching them all over the UK.  It starts off a bit slow, but as a guitar head, I can tell you it just gets better; so take time out and enjoy.

Stick with us please; for the animals;

Regards Mark

Farm Animals, General News

The vegan fashion revolution

After talks with PETA, designer Monique Lhuillier banned fur 🙌

This decision will save countless animals from being confined to cramped and filthy wire cages before being violently killed for their fur. https://peta.vg/30h6

The list of fashion designers who have banned fur from their range is now long.
And therefore makes us happy.

After 20+ years of PETA protests against kangaroo-fur loafers & seal-fur boots, @Gucci finally pledged to join the #FurFree fashion houses.

That was in 2017

VICTORY! After decades of massive pressure from PETA & activists, the largest US department store @Macys just announced it will stop selling fur!

That was in 2019

VICTORY! After years of pressure from PETA, @RebeccaMinkoff
NO LONGER sells fur.

Nov 18, 2019

Whether it came from an animal raised on a fur farm or trapped in the wild, every fur coat, fur accessory, or bit of fur trim caused tremendous suffering and took a life.

There’s no need to be cruel to stay warm and look cool.
Vegan furs and other animal-free fabrics are available in stores everywhere, and PETA continues to work with designers and clothing retailers to encourage them to enact fur bans and to use and sell only animal-friendly fabrics.

The vegan fashion revolution is here, and fur is definitely out.
These days, fur-free is the norm. What’s truly shocking is that some out-of-touch companies such as Canada Goose continue to sell the cruelly obtained material.

These Fashion Companies and Brands Have Banned Fur

And I mean...Yes! we can speak of great progress.
Corona has also done a lot to expedite this fur farm elimination process.
Millions of fur animals were cruelly killed despite not self-infecting corona, but many fur farms were closed as a result.

We would like to hope that our struggle on all levels has also contributed to the fact that many people today regard fur as a product of torture and renounce it.

But fur is still sold and carried on because this society does not voluntarily give up the privilege of slave ownership.
Therefore our struggle will continue.

We fight for the abolition of all fur farms

My best regards to all, Venus

Farm Animals

Chicken farming in Germany: the scandals have no end

Animal Equality has published harrowing footage of chickens suffering on a German farm used by the country’s largest chicken producer, Wiesenhof.

The company’s products are distributed widely, including by major German retailers Edeka and Rewe.

THE DETAILS: During undercover research at a broiler chicken farm in the German state Saxony-Anhalt from February to April 2020, numerous violations of animal welfare regulations were documented.

The resulting material was leaked to Animal Equality and on December 11, 2020, we filed a complaint against the farm with the relevant German authorities. The images captured by activists are disturbing:

– The animals are brutally kicked and aggressively pushed through the hall by the workers.
– The workers repeatedly perform so-called emergency kills in violation of regulations and animal welfare. The animals’ necks are twisted, and these attempts to kill them take place without anesthesia. In many cases, the animals are disposed of alive in buckets.
– Many of the animals writhe in pain after the cruel killing attempts, sometimes for several minutes until they slowly die in agony.

BACKGROUND: In this operation alone, approximately 210,000 animals are affected by such cruel conditions.

The PHW Group, which includes Wiesenhof, is Germany’s largest poultry breeder and processor and one of the largest companies in the German food industry, slaughtering 354 million birds annually.

Wiesenhof: It is routine practice in the poultry industry to dispose of animals while they are alive.

CREATING BREEDING GROUNDS FOR DISEASE: In today’s world, the impacts of inadequate hygiene measures on farms are more important than ever.

Continue reading “Chicken farming in Germany: the scandals have no end” →