Silk is an animal fiber that consists mainly of proteins. The material is made in small glands in the mouth of the silk spinner. The caterpillar wraps itself in and forms a protective cocoon around her body. Then she pupates and turns into a butterfly.

In 2014, about 178,000 tonnes of silk were produced worldwide – mostly in China, India or Uzbekistan. If you now realize that about 50,000 silkworms are killed for a silk dress, it’s worth taking a closer look.

In order for the silk to be used economically, the silk caterpillar was domesticated in China over 5,000 years ago. The result was the mulberry spinner Bombyx mori. It has been bred for high performance, feeds mainly on mulberry leaves and is not viable in nature as it is extremely sensitive to changes in its environment, such as temperature fluctuations. In order to be able to control the animals better, their flying abilities were also bred away. In addition to the mulberry spinner, other butterfly species such as the Japanese oak silk moth are used, but their cocoons make up only a small part of the world’s traded silk.

How is silk made?

The silk moth is the main producer. More precisely, it is his larva. She is tiny shortly after birth and then eats the leaves of the mulberry tree in only four weeks (and four molts) 14 000 times her hatching weight.

She is fat like a finger before she starts pupating. Instead, it produces a thread in its oral glands, which consists of fibrin, a horn-like protein. She sticks it to sericin, a glue. First, she weaves a net between branches and blades of grass, anchoring her cocoon, which she spins out of a single thread that can be rolled out up to four kilometers long.

In this cocoon she rests – and normally after about 18 days a woolly white-haired butterfly would hatch. But this does not happen in the silk breeding, because when hatching, he would bite through the endless silk thread and tand break the thread, which no one silk collector wants. He wants the thread as a whole.

To prevent this, the cocoons, together with the living dolls, are exposed to dry in the sun or thrown into boiling water. You can watch how the animals crawl around in their cocoons and try to escape death.

 

A few animals may hatch from their cocoons to mate and lay new eggs, which are needed for the offspring. Superfluous eggs are destroyed or frozen. Male animals are often stored in freezers and brought out only for fertilization. When they are no longer efficient, they are disposed of like garbage after mating. The dolls killed in the water bath are also disposed of and eaten in some countries like Korea.

The worldwide silk industry

Most of the animals are bred today in China, India and Uzbekistan. After the silk moths have been killed, the silk threads are rolled up by machine or by hand to a yarn and lavishly cleaned and freed from the natural glue residue of the silk moth. After that, the silk is dyed, processed and sold as clothing, accessories or rugs in stores around the world. Since about 15 animals are killed for one gram of silk, this means the death of more than 2.8 trillion caterpillars annually with a world-wide production of 192,692 tons of silk (as of 2016). Although the production of silk costs so many animals its life, it accounts for only 0.2% of all textile fibers, making it terrifyingly inefficient.

Can silk moths feel pain?

So far, the ability to suffer from invertebrates is poorly understood – the simplified answer is: We still do not know exactly if and how caterpillars and butterflies feel pain. However, it is known that some insects show pain-avoiding behavior and evade negative stimuli. Hummer was also denied pain for a long time. Today we know that lobsters feel very well when they are thrown into boiling water. Due to the increasing knowledge, the pain sensation of invertebrate animals, such as insects, it is our responsibility to protect the silk moth from suffering and pain.

Alternatives to silk

Anyone who opposes the use of silk products does not have to do without the qualities of silk. Almost all textile and fashion manufacturers offer microfibers such as nylon or polyester, which perfectly mimic the sheen of silk. The flora also has a lot to offer.

Anyone who opposes the use of silk products does not have to do without the qualities of silk. Meanwhile, there are a number of fibers that wonderfully mimic silk in softness, smoothness and thermal qualities. Lyocell is one of these, micro modal as well, or rayon, soya silk and agave or bamboo silk.
Pima cotton is particularly fine and convinces with its shimmering surface. Kapok, agave fiber and soy-based can also be processed into delicate fabrics. Eco-friendly Lyocell fibers such as Tencel or Modal, which feel light and soft on the skin, are also trendy.
In contrast to animal fibers, these materials also do not attract clothes moths and carpet beetles, which feed on the protein fibers of the silk and perforate the textiles.

Biotechnological processes even allow the imitation of the silk protein. Companies such as Spiber, Amsilk or BoldThreads make the silk protein of yeast cells or bacteria and thus copy the properties of animal silk. In the end, this creates a silk yarn that can be used not only for clothing, but also for medical purposes and many other areas. The procedures are completely free of animals and could save many billiards of silk spinners in the near future.

https://www.peta.de/seide

My comment: Silk is the only textile fiber for which live creatures must be killed in order to gain them, namely the caterpillars of the silk moth.
And I have no doubt that animals that find death in boiling water feel pain.
Whether they are lobsters, cocoon dolls or pigs.
They are enslaved, exploited, cooked alive because a two-legged animal wants to have his kimono from China silk.
It is high time we, the human animals, finally civilize ourselves.

My best regards to all, Venus

 

 

More than 10,000 dogs fall victim to China’s dog meat festival Yulin every year.
Also on 21st of June 2019 it was time again!

 

But Yulin is everywhere – Every day millions of animals die!
They are cruel pictures and we often hear them screaming.
Every day we see them driving, the trucks with their cargo: Animals! Living and suffering beings!
Often without adequate care they are carted across thousands of miles across Europe.
It’s insane, it’s a crime.
The European Commission currently forecasts around 170 million “useful” livestock transports each year.
Around half a billion poultry, pigs and cattle are transported on European highways every year.

Just so that the animal can be slaughtered cheaply, it is transported to a low-wage country and then back as meat back to the meat counter. A cruel suffering, what the animals have to endure. –

And again every day we read the inflationary question: why so much whirlwind for the dogs of Yulin and not for the millions of other victims?

A mass murder of animals can not be justified because the general logic and ethics says: that happens everywhere.
Yes! This actually happens everywhere and therefore we feel anger, powerlessness, sadness!
Yulin is a crime, as it is the millions of crimes every day against animals we cruelly murder to eat them.

Yulin is indeed everywhere, and our mission is to eliminate EVERY Yulin.
The uprising against Yulin is not because we value a dog’s life more than a pig’s life.
We also do not think that wiser or more productive people have special rights and therefore they should not be tortured or imprisoned.

Every living being has the basic right to life and freedom, the victims of Yulin industry as well as the daily victims of the meat industry.

For this we need an ethical awareness, an extension of the moral capacity of modern consumers to achieve peaceful and just living together with the animals and no longer regard them as slaves and servants.

My best regards to all, Venus

 

 

There are no animal markets without suffering and stress for the animals.

Animals’ Angels goes against abuses, and wants to reach an end in the long term markets. In an effort to improve the situation for the animals on the markets, we are in dialogue with traders and local authorities.

Here are some of the reports from the cruel situation in the animal markets,  all over the world.

1. Saleyards and animal markets in Australia

Australia is one of the world’s largest ‘producers’ and exporters of so-called ‘farmed animals’ and likes to boast its animal welfare laws. Although these are in force, the animals are not adequately protected on the transports and markets. Dealing with them is rude and careless. Since 2004 Animals’ Angels devotes itself completely to these animals and demands changes.

On markets and sale yards in Australia the most lucrative deals are possible. In these auctions we always see the same problems:

Totally crowded pens.
Animals pushed to the ground, who are barely able to get up.
No water, no food.
No shade despite high temperatures.
Overheated animals.
Missing / insufficient care of injured / ill animals.
Forcible unloading and loading.
Overcrowded transport vehicles.
Animals with trapped body parts, with no possibility to break free.
Transport of non-transportable animals.
Insufficient weather protection: no roofs on the top truck level.

Compliance with animal welfare laws is expected by the parties involved.

 

2. Animal markets in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria there are only a few animal markets left. The conditions for the animals there are however intolerable and far from the specifications of the EU. Lack of infrastructure, completely unsuitable transport vehicles, a very crude, often brutal handling of the animals and lack of official control lead to serious animal protection violations. That is why Animals’ Angels has been working to improve the situation for the animals on the Bulgarian markets since 2013, and calls for their closure.

In March 2013, Animals’ Angels checked the Bulgarian animal markets for the first time and reported to the competent authorities at national and EU level about the abuses found. Since 2017, we are back on site and unfortunately had to find the same problems again. In March 2018, we reviewed the conditions on site again, but unfortunately without significant improvement.

 

3. Animal markets in India – respect for cows?

India is known as the land of sacred, flower- decorated cows. But behind the scenes it looks different: India is the world’s largest dairy producer and the largest exporter of beef.
The handling of cattle on markets, during transport and during slaughter is unimaginable cruelty, despite the strict animal welfare laws. This also applies to other farm animals, such as pigs and poultry. Since 2012, we are on site and are committed to patience and perseverance for change.

The handling of the animals is rough and brutal. The transporters are systematically overloaded. We also observe how the animals are fixed on a truck lying on the ground – a particularly perfidious transport practice that we only know from India.

India’s laws to protect animals in transport and markets are more advanced and many times more stringent than in Europe. But the practice looks different:

No shade, despite enormous temperatures.
No water supply.
There is often a lack of loading ramps and the simplest infrastructure.
The unloading and loading of the cattle are hectic and brutal. With sticks, the animals are beaten and pushed, even on the most sensitive parts of the body.
Pigs and chickens are offered for sale with their legs bound on the ground.
The means of transport are absolutely unsuitable for animals. Goats and chickens are transported with laced legs on bicycles, scooters or in luggage compartments. Cattle in car rickshaws or on loading areas of open trucks.
Overloading is one of the main problems. Cattle are forced to stand side by side in the back of the truck or forced to their knees and tied to the ground. The powerful animals tremble all over and urinate out of fear and stress.
There are hardly any controls. Bribery is a ubiquitous problem.

 

4. Animal markets in Morocco

 

Agriculture, and especially livestock farming, is one of the main economic pillars of Morocco. Nevertheless, there is no national animal protection law that at least guarantees the minimum requirements for the protection of the “farm animals”. Even today, the majority of ‘farm animals’ are traded and sold in so-called souks (weekly markets in towns and villages). The conditions for the animals and the handling of them are terrible. Since 2014, Animals’ Angels has been there to raise awareness and achieve sustainable change for the animals.

In Morocco mainly small-scale animal husbandry predominate. Many rural families live with and from their animals, which they regularly sell at souks (weekly markets). There we find again and again the same, destructive animal welfare problems:

Brutal and medieval methods of slaughter.
Animals tied together on the legs, necks or wings.
Animals raised and carried on legs and coat.
No water and no food.
No shade, despite high temperatures.
Neglected, exhausted and dehydrated animals.
Injured or sick animals are not cared for.
Missing infrastructure.
Completely overworked ‘loads’ animals, such as donkeys and horses.

The shipments on the markets reflect the catastrophic conditions:

Absolutely unsuitable transport vehicles without loading ramp or ventilation.
Cattle being dragged onto double-decker transporters without a ramp.
Sheep stowed away on roofs of vehicles or in luggage compartments.
Chickens hanging upside down or transported in sacks.
Very brutal handling during unloading / loading.

Animal welfare is irrelevant – despite the fact that the Moroccan government gives agricultural development top priority. To date, there is no animal protection law in Morocco and there is no official contro

 

5. Animal markets in Poland

 

While ‘slaughter’ animal markets in Germany are almost a thing of the past, in Poland they are still an integral part of ‘livestock farming’. Animals’ Angels has been operating in Poland since 2003. With perseverance, perseverance and a good local partner, we have contributed to the fact that Polish livestock has become firmly established in the critical public and political discourse.

In most animal markets in Poland, the current EU legislation is not implemented:

The animals have no access to water.
Most of them are short on hard concrete floor.
The transport vehicles are often unsuitable.
Even if fixed ramps are available, many animals are pulled without ramp on the loading areas, pushed and beaten.
Poultry is sold and transported in plastic bags and potato sacks.
The authorities are still far too seldom in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

6. Animal markets in Romania

Large parts of the population of Romania live in the countryside and breed and keep animals for their own needs. Since these animals also have a lively trade, local animal markets have a long tradition here. Since Romania joined the EU in 2007, EU legislation on the protection of animals during transport has also applied here. However, our research in recent years clearly shows that these laws are widely disregarded in the markets.

In the animal markets in Romania, the applicable EU laws are not enforced. We constantly observe and document similar problems there:

The animals are transported in all kinds of inappropriate vehicles: on horse-drawn vehicles, bicycles, in the trunk of passenger cars or on the back of mini-vans and sprinters.
Due to the lack of infrastructure, the animals are often sold directly out of the vehicles, and not placed in pens.
The animals usually do not get water – even in summer.
The animals are tied to the legs, placed on the often wet, cold and dirty soil, and so offered for sale.
Violent treatment, such. B. wearing or grinding on individual limbs, wings or ears.
Illegal slaughter on some markets (mainly before Christmas or Easter).

So-called ‘train tests’ for horses, in which the animals usually have to pull heavy objects under lashes to demonstrate their strength.
No or insufficient supervision or sanctions by the responsible veterinarian.

 

7. Animal markets in Spain

Animal markets still play an important role, especially in northwestern Spain. First and foremost, cattle, but also horses, sheep and pigs are traded on the weekly markets. From there they are transported to various regions throughout Spain as well as partly to France and Portugal. So-called ‘Ferias’ – traditional animal markets that take place once a year – are available almost everywhere in Spain.

At least here, together with ANDA (Asociación Nacional para la Defensa de los Animales), we have achieved much for the animals on the markets:

We have made animal welfare on the markets in Spain
Improved infrastructures for the animals in all markets
Prohibition of certain animal tormenting measures
Increased and improved veterinary controls
Euthanasia of severely injured and sick animals in the markets
Animal welfare campaigns in the markets
We have established a good relationship with the market directors
For many traders and farmers, we have started a rethinking process

Nevertheless, there is still (too) much to do. We believe that the markets are phased out. They should be replaced by other trade routes to spare the animals additional stress. As long as they still exist, we use them for intensive controls and education and training campaigns.

8. Animal markets in Tanzania

In Africa, Tanzania is considered a showcase country when it comes to the protection of “Nutz’tieren. Rightly and wrongly, as we find. On the one hand, the country has progressive legislation and the government trains nationwide animal welfare inspectors. But the markets and vans are in chaos and suffering. Of the ambitions of the state government is hardly anything in the animals. Since 2014, we work locally and focus on training and training.

The strict animal welfare law does not apply to the animals in Tanzania. On markets, during transport and when the animals arrive at the slaughterhouse, we repeatedly document the same problems:

Brutal, chaotic loading and unloading.
Lack of care for injured animals.
Completely overloaded transport vehicles.
Animals tied together on the legs.
Exhausted and dehydrated animals.
Inadequate, ailing or missing infrastructure.
Inappropriate transport vehicles.
No water and food.
No shade.

Despite modern legislation and the regular control of markets and animal transports, the authorities have so far held nobody accountable for the lack of care and brutal treatment of the animals.

https://www.animals-angels.de/projekte/tiermaerkte.html

 

My comment:  In Germany, the animal welfare deficiencies at these events are inherent in the system – animal suffering is under the cover of animal love.

It is mainly reported on the animal markets from abroad.
But also on many weekends animal markets take place in Germany and there countless animals suffer from fear and stress – to the pure entertainment of visitors and hobby breeders.
In Bavaria alone, more than 700 animal markets take place each year. At the same time these animal markets are moving in a kind of  “lawless space“ where they are rarely or only insufficiently controlled.

It is traded on countless exchanges with all living beings, which the “market” has to offer: Birds, reptiles, amphibians, horses, small mammals, but also dogs and cats are sold like “junk ware”.

The suffering of the animals does not count for dealers, breeders and many visitors.

“Animals are the pitiful slaves and victims of the most brutal part of humanity”. (John Stuart Mill)

 

My best regards to all, Venus

 

 

 

Is not it just amazing? The photos that follow are not just a selection of some horrible pictures, they are randomly removed from the folder – this is what it really looks like behind the scenes! In the meantime, even the greatest optimists must realize that the pink farm idyl does not exist!

Five visited stables – five criminal charges, five times animal cruelty!

A cut of 100%! Delicatessen from Austria!!

We almost miss the words about what a recent research in Salzburg’s cow stables brought to light – this is only a term permissible at the end of the day:
INCOMPREHENSIBLE!!!!

In the last 2 or 3 years we had several times one in the Salzburger Land, resident farmers because of the horn connection of his bulls display. The Vet authority told us afterwards, from now on the problem would be eliminated, the cruel tying on the horns would be history!

Of course, we are of good faith, but then of course we always want to make sure ourselves that what they have said to us, the promised, has really been implemented.

It will not surprise you, we will disappoint you on a regular basis; so again – unbelievable, no! much worse than that, actually really unbearable, we found now again everywhere bulls chained by the horns.

Moreover, it is not the case that the detainees are well housed – all of them are permanently chained, and not ‘just’ by ordinary means – please see the photos, such an attitude is highly inadmissible (of course, any tethering must finally be forbidden, note)!
Here, the chain is pulled around the neck, then wrapped around the bars on the left and right and fastened. What remains as a radius of movement?
When standing up, the limbs slide upwards over the iron bar a few centimeters, often not even determining that; In addition, the system is amateurish, inadequate, ‘put together’ – just, pure shit!

But what if the authorities simply have no effect on an old, grumpy and stupid farmer? And worse:  how good are the chances of improving grievances when it comes to an influential farmer?
How many of them are in Salzburg !!

Another ‘cow farmer’, in the same environment. Again, neighbors notice that the animals are ‘never at all’ outside; as well as, the stable is in the middle of town, surrounded by buildings.

But may this be a reason for lifelong custody? Would not it rather run so that, if the circumstances do not allow an at least halfway welfare animal husbandry, that then just no animals may be kept in such places ??? But we would not be in Austria …

The lying areas for the cows are too short; The animals are therefore with the hind legs in the feces gutter, an intolerable condition. Their tails are tied up with laces.

Especially a cow seems injured; low-viscosity feces in large quantities surrounds their mooring, and it stands with a forefoot very unnatural on the concrete parapet. Her hind legs are tied together. Expert diagnosis: paresis. She would have to be under constant veterinary treatment, which the official veterinarian has to verify; a permanent bondage of the hind legs is also prohibited!

Next stable, just a few meters away!!.

The terrain smothered in the dirt. We are here in a richer environment, a so-called Nobel suburb of Salzburg; but apparently the states do not really bother anyone. At least not so much that there are – justified – criticism. ‘

Even for this place applies: although there is a large lawn behind the farm, it is said that the cows would NEVER be outdoors. We have no doubt about it.

The cows are like the stable itself – dirty from top to bottom. Manure flows behind the chained animals. Some are in it too. In addition, the lying areas are once again too short. A calf is in a box, young animals are tied shoulder to shoulder.

In the next courtyard, in thick letters, ‘Salzburg Milk – Premium Milk Maker’ is emblazoned. Interesting: “Salzburg Milch” is currently running a major advertising campaign with enormous effort, ‘animal health’ is a buzzword for this.

Generous announcement: as the “first” dairy to renounce the year-round tethering!!! (which, according to law anyway no longer is allowed … probably thea did not know that, but does nothing, still sounds beautiful and pet-friendly and modern). At least 120 days per year, all suppliers must grant their milk producer, the cows, access to a pasture. In ‘premium operation’ even more so. Theoretically at least …

All the neighbors confirm it: Here, the animals NEVER come outside the whole year, although extensive meadows are fenced just behind the stable.

A cow obviously suffers from an inflamed udder, she lies alone and abandoned – at least on straw.
The other cows in the stable are tied to thick chains. To ‘premium chains’, certainly …

The managing director of the “premium” company “Salzburger Milk” Christian Leeb said in an interview in the newspaper: “We want to give milk consumers a good feeling that they are consuming healthy products, from animals, those who are doing well (!!!) All our dairy products receive 100 percent animal health”.

We go to another farm, in the same environment. Everywhere are components, machines, materials, distributed in the landscape. Chaos. The confusion gives rise to an idea of animal husbandry. The interest is aroused;

Every time we think the height of cruelty has been reached, someone puts it somewhere else.

It’s dirty, all cows are hanging on heavy chains. Did I say all? A mighty bull rises, laboriously. In pain. A whole life in shackles, forced to one and a half square meters. Probably 1000 kg of existence, limited to getting up and lying down.
And the gentle giant actually hangs on a NOSE RING !!! Unbelievably !!!

Ultimately, the next question arises here at the latest: does such a government, like the Vet authority really need it? What is their use then? If this instance seems incapable of enforcing even the smallest of the animals’ rights? Is not this something THE bankruptcy declaration of an entire profession par excellence?
We like to be persuaded of the opposite, but words are simply too few, they are not enough. After all, only the deeds count. 

https://us12.campaign-archive.com

 

My comment: I know Tom Putzgruber, the chairman of the association “Respect animals” in Austria, and I would like to thank him in the name of all the uncountable animals for which he literally uses his whole life and his whole existence with a force that is in any case unattainable and very difficult to imitate for me.

“Gigantic suffering weighs on many of our animal fellow creatures worldwide,” he always says.
Tom Putzgruber, and his small team has resisted all the animal misery for many years.

in faraway Africa, in Romania, in Mauritania for the labor donkeys, in Bulgaria, in Serbia … everywhere and around the world he travels to alleviate animal suffering.

“In some of the indigenous dialects of Mauritania, there is not even a word for donkeys, they are often referred as “the beasts that one beats “, he says!

Thank you, Tom, for everything you do for our fellow creatures.

My best regards, Venus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further questions?