Category: Farm Animals

Farm Animals, General News

Vietnam: Animals Asia Rescue Another 5 Moon Bears From The Bile Industry.

Vietnam flagge

AA logo 1

Very heart-warming news out of Vietnam as the animal welfare non-profit Animals Asia has rescued five more bears from the cruel bile industry! The rescue team arrived in a small town in Vietnam’s southern province to rescue the five moon bears from a notorious bear bile farm. These sweet bears were most likely captured from the wild and have been held captive for at least 13 years, forced to live their lives in tiny cages so that their bile could be extracted for use as a traditional medicine. This extreme captivity, devoid of any stimulation or opportunity to express natural behaviors, left the bears traumatized and their bodies broken.

Video: Five More Bears Rescued From Horrifically Cruel Bile Industry!

Once freed from their torture cages the five bears were transported 1,700km by truck to Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Center, where they can begin the healing process and long road to recovery. The physical and psychological condition of these bears is very critical, as after so many years of abuse rescued bears often suffer from numerous debilitating medical ailments and disabilities. The rescue team contains experienced veterinarians and vet nurses who always hope for the best, but have to be prepared for the worst.

Animals Asia Vietnam Director Tuan Bendixsen said: “As with many rescues, we have no information about the bears at present – not even their genders. But we know they have never received any health care in the last 13 years of extreme captivity and abuse. Repeated bile extraction takes a huge toll on the bears’ health and our team will be ready for anything. Our primary goal will be to get them out of cages which were never designed to be opened, keep them alive and get them back to our sanctuary where high-quality care can begin.” You can watch the bears’ rescue video here:

 We hope the link works ok – WAV

https://www.facebook.com/AnimalsAsia/videos/262740724570428/ 

 https://www.facebook.com/AnimalsAsia/videos/262740724570428/?t=0 

Bear bile farming is a huge problem in many countries throughout Asia, and reached a peak in Vietnam in 2005 when over 4,000 bears were kept around the country on private bile farms. Animals Asia has been working for twenty years to end the bear bile industry, and in July 2017 the years of campaigning finally succeeded in the signing of a landmark agreement between the non-profit and the Vietnamese government. According to the groundbreaking agreement the government of Vietnam will close every bear bile farm and send all the bears to sanctuary by 2022. Vietnam’s Traditional Medicine Association, which is a huge part of the problem, has also vowed to stop prescribing bear bile by 2020.

This agreement was a huge step in the right direction; however, with so many bears being held captive on bile farms it is a very long process to get them all to qualified sanctuaries. The latest figures from the Vietnamese government show the number of bears in private hands has now fallen to approximately 800. The five moon bears most recently rescued were voluntarily handed over by their owner with the help of the provincial Forest Protection Department.

Animals Asia Founder and CEO, Jill Robinson MBE said: “More and more farmers are beginning to realize that bear bile farming is finished in Vietnam. Demand for bile is plummeting as people learn of the cruelty behind every vial, while the government has made it clear the end of the industry is just a matter of time. For these five bears, the end of suffering cannot come soon enough. Now we have to get them home to our sanctuary where their new lives can begin.”

To date, Animals Asia has rescued 611 bears, mainly from bile farms in Vietnam and China. Over 170 bears currently live at the organization’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Center, the largest and oldest sanctuary for bears in the country. These five bears rescued recently are certainly very lucky, as their lives are about to improve monumentally.

Caretakers plan to introduce the bears to progressively larger spaces, slowly integrating them with other bears at the sanctuary. Before too long they will be able to roam large natural enclosures, where they can express their natural instincts and behaviors. Moon bears can live up to 30 years, and with these sweet darlings in such good hands they will enjoy many happy years under the sanctuary’s loving care.

 

 

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU: Industrial Farming Budget Is Now Being Prepared. Add Your Voice To Make Things Better – Please Sign The Open Letter.

 

EU- Flagge

 

Industrial farming kills bees with pesticides, over-fertilises our fields, and tortures animals in factory farms. And yet, it is subsidised with €59 billion every year from our taxes. [1] What more? This is the biggest part of the EU budget! [2]

Right now, politicians are discussing how to redistribute this money. Will future subsidies go to farmers who feed us healthy food and treat animals humanely? Or will it remain as bad as it is now?

Thousands of us, farmers and consumers, from Malta to Aarhus, from Warsaw to Madrid, will come together next weekend in days of action. We’ll protest, we’ll cook sustainable food for the public, we’ll teach about sustainable farming and we’ll demand a U-turn away from harmful farming practices.

Today we’re launching an open letter, which we will publish in a press release on Friday to open the action days. We need a great big boom for the start: 100,000 signatures, in order to show the media and decision-makers that we, Europeans, care about our food and our farming. Please sign now.

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I want to be one of the 100,000 – I’ll sign the open letter

At last, some of the European Ministers of Agriculture are realising the disaster happening before our eyes: insects, pollinators of our plants and nourishment for birds, are vanishing. [3] The German government, for instance, is discussing a program to protect insects. The Ministry for the Environment wants to spend €100 million per year on the program (great!), but the Minister of Agriculture is not in favour of it. [4] €100 million is a lot of money, but it’s a tiny amount compared to €59 billion that industrial farming gets from the EU. Instead of taking decisive action, they are spending their time bickering! This sort of thing is happening all over the EU.

But this arguing also shows we have an opportunity. Some politicians are open to our call for better farming. But others still aren’t listening. That is why we chose a pot and a spoon as symbols for the campaign: We will bang one against another and make enough noise to be heard.

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In another three weeks we will repeat our action, this time in Brussels. We will show up in front of the building where EU Ministers of Agriculture will meet to decide about the future of our food. We’ll bring vegetables, pots, pans and cutlery with us. We’ll cook for the politicians, we’ll make noise, and we’ll deliver the demands of European citizens for a U-turn against harmful industrial agriculture.

Sign the open letter

Agricultural policy is a hotly contested issue because of the massive amounts of money involved. The proposed EU budget for the next seven years provides far too much money for industrial agriculture and far too little money for more sustainable farming and environmental protection. It’s time for governments to put the public interest before the interest of big business.

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The past year has shown us that we can prevail against the lobby of the big agricultural industry. Just last year, our community and our partners managed to cut the length of the license for the toxic pesticide glyphosate down to only five years, when EU politicians wanted 15!

Your signature shows that we care about food and farming: We want our daily bread to be healthy, we want our farmers to prosper and we want animals to be treated humanely.

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Sign the open letter

From kitchens and farmlands (and offices) all over Europe,

Mika (Bordeaux), Jörg (Lübeck), Virginia (Madrid), and the rest of us at WeMove.EU

PS: Whenever we eat something, we depend on the agricultural industry. Our food can only be as good as the agricultural model with which it’s produced. For us and for our environment, let’s grow our food in ways that reduce waste, reduce the amount of toxic chemicals, and promote a resilient and diverse food and farming system.

Sign the open letter now.

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References:
[1] https://www.politico.eu/article/central-europes-big-farms-cry-foul-over-eu-commission-funding-cuts-phil-hogan/
[2] https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/cap-post-2013/graphs/graph1_en.pdf
[3] https://www.truthdig.com/articles/insects-are-vanishing-at-an-alarming-rate-new-study-finds/
[4] https://www.archyworldys.com/ministry-of-the-environment-100-million-against-insect-deaths/ and http://www.taz.de/!5542911/

 

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU: Live Animal Transport -Reg 1/2005 Has Failed The Animals From The Start.

We have personally been involved with live animal transport issues in Europe for 25+ years.

We know that Reg 1/2005 has failed the animals from the very start – and so you could say that the EU Commission has also been failing animals in transport from the very start.

To see a bit about our own past involvement with the live animal transport business. Please check out our info at  https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/about-us/  – scroll down quite  a way to see our own battles with a useless EU.

Here is a message from Silvia at Animals Angels.. who are based in Germany.

We want to thank Silvia for her info and the video which we have repeated below.  I am sure you will find it interesting.

It goes without saying that we give our full support to Angels and as individual welfare groups right across the EU, we work hard to expose the failures of the legislation 1/2005.

Please watch the video and see how the mighty EU Commission is failing anima;ls in transport.

Regards Mark.

 

 

Silvia says:

 

Dear Mark,

I hope this email finds you well.

 

On the 6th of September this year, we presented the premiere of a new film of Animals´ Angels in Brussels, at the EU Parliament. The video summarizes 10 years spent on the roads collecting data about the conditions of transported animals, after having interviewed some experts. The aim was to make the point of 10 years of application of Regulation EC 1/2005, analyzing what has been achieved and what remains to do. The final balance is very bitter. It is crystal clear that the original intention of the Council of EU has been betrayed. As you know, too many animals continue to travel crammed in trucks and ships over longer and longer distances. Animals´ Angels asked the EU Commission to take a stand and be faithful to its duties as “the guardian of EU laws”. A limit must be set to profit.  

To know more, please watch our recently published video “10 years of Regulation EC 1/2005 – Animals’ Angels field experience 2007-2017”: www.animals-angels.de/10-jahre

More than a million EU citizens already expressed their opposition to long animal transports already twice. Pressure of public opinion is a powerful means to demand EU institutions and governments a change. Please, help us spreading knowledge about animal transports.

Kindest regards,

Silvia

Farm Animals, General News, Stray Animals

Need Animal Help But Unsure Where To Go ? -Then Check Out WAN For A Start !

translator

 

World Animal Net (WAN) is a site which we use quite regularly – as it provides links to animal welfare associations based in just about every country of the globe.  We have found it very useful.

Here is the main link –  http://worldanimal.net/directory/search-wan-directory

 

As you can see; you can do a search in a couple of ways – we suggest that going directly to a country is the best way.  You can literally just select the country you wish to gets results for from the drop down, and then press the ‘search’ box.  You should then be given all the organisations for welfare groups in that country.

Just for example; today we have had several visits from Greece; so what better than to use this as an example.

So we simply go to the main link

http://worldanimal.net/directory/search-wan-directory

 

Select ‘Greece’ from the drop down list of nations.

Then hit the ‘Search’ button.

 

Then we are given a full listing of all the Greek organisations which can help with animal welfare.  The link to this is given here:

http://worldanimal.net/directory/search-wan-directory/results?country=84&fanda=0

 

So a good and very useful tool no matter where you are located in the world; if you need animal help.  You may find you get a lot more results than you expected – Great !

Have a play around with it and make sure you keep WAN as a source in your directory / contacts list.

Regards Mark

 

owl6

 

Farm Animals, General News

Animals Asia: No Name Bear Is Now Rescued and Safe.

Bear bile farming is one of our greatest hates.  That’s why we were very pleased to be able to donate towards the rescue of No Name Bear; a female bear who has spent the last 16 years undergoing daily bile extraction.

We have offered to have her named ‘hope’ – in the competition which is open to all members who donate to her rescue.

 Now today she has been rescued by Animals Asia and can look forward to utterly different future of love, care, health treatment, kindness and great food.

 

Follow her recue on this timeline:

https://www.animalsasia.org/uk/media/news/news-archive/nonamebear-follow-the-rescue-timeline.html

 

https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoNameBearRescue?src=hash

 

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Farm Animals, General News

500,000 People Tell KFC: No More Cruelty to Chickens!

500,000 People Tell KFC: No More Cruelty to Chickens!

 

 KFC petition

Image Credit: WAP

World Animal Protection (WAP) delivered an important message to KFC headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky this week, presenting a petition with more than 500,000 signatures to the fast food giant.

The petition urges KFC to stop supporting horrifically cruel factory farms and commit to sourcing their chickens from farms that support natural growth rates and a better environment for the animals.

“We are deeply grateful to the more than 500,000 supporters who’ve signed our petition calling on KFC to give chickens a better life,” Alesia Soltanpanah, US executive director at WAP, told Lady Freethinker. “KFC has the power to transform the lives of chickens on a truly global scale – but they need to take action.”

Unlike fast food competitors Burger King, Subway and Starbucks, KFC — who make billions of dollars every year from the slaughter of animals — have yet to take any action to address the welfare of chickens in their supply chain.

Factory farms are hellish places for animals, as exposed repeatedly through undercover investigations by animal welfare groups. As these farms try to maximize profit, they fatten up their chickens for slaughter in only 40 days using unnatural methods that put enormous pressure on the organs and legs of the chickens. The birds endure chronic pain and health problems, with many suffering from heart attacks due to these rapid growth rates.

“Chickens on factory farms suffer enormously, buckling under their own weight, without space to perform their natural behaviors, and never seeing the light of day,” said Soltanpanah. “By committing to higher-welfare farming, KFC can send a strong signal to other food companies that change for chickens is possible. Animal welfare is important to consumers, and it is important to human health as well. It’s time for KFC to show that it’s important to them, too.”

WAP met with KFC parent company, Yum! Brands, last week, and are hopeful about working with them to make a positive change for animals.

In the meantime, there remains one sure-fire way to eat cruelty free: by opting for plant foods, and leaving animals off your plate.

 KFC chicks

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

Australia: Latest Live Export News From Animals Australia.

Australia

 

Hi Mark,

I never thought I would have reason to write: ‘It has been a quiet few months on the live sheep export front…’ — but it has!

For nearly four months, huge sheep ships, that would normally be plying the Middle East trade, have been sitting empty off the West Australian coast, accruing massive costs for the companies. We managed to firmly upset the ‘apple cart’ of this cruel industry.

live ex ship

Most importantly, we now know that our threat of legal action prevented over 500,000 sheep from being shipped across the Middle East summer — the first time the trade has been stopped in over half a century.

When we heard last week that the Department of Agriculture had granted an export licence to a Kuwaiti company, we were disappointed — but not surprised. Under a Morrison government it was inevitable that the shipments would recommence once the heat had diminished. But rest assured, the industry is under no illusions that it will ever be the same again. They know that their ability to exist rests with the Morrison government being in power — so exporters would be having sleepless nights watching their support plummet in the polls.

As for the Kuwaiti company — it should never have been granted a licence, of course. We presented the Department with an extensive legal brief documenting their history of involvement in mass mortalities and ESCAS breaches. While the Department has shown unusual courage over the last six months in cancelling our largest exporter’s (Emanuel’s) export licence, it seemed causing offence to the Kuwaitis, by not granting this export licence, was a step too far for them.

The Department itself is about to face its ‘judgement day’. Next week will see the release of the independent review into the regulator. We have every reason to believe the conclusions will be damning and the recommendations strong. Exporters know that they cannot survive independent scrutiny, so it’s not only the Department that won’t be looking forward to the findings of this review.

This is a rare time of opportunity. Our political landscape is effectively being reshaped through the voice and votes of fed-up Australians. A clear message was sent in the Wentworth by-election that Australians want politicians to prioritise the issues that matter to them. A once blue-ribbon Liberal seat is about to be held by an Independent candidate who is a strong advocate for environmental, social justice and animal welfare issues. Dr Kerryn Phelps will deliver us another critical vote for sheep in the parliament.

Mark, the months since 60 Minutes have passed in a blur. But every long night, every weekend worked, has been worth it. Most politicians now support an end to the trade; the most basic new welfare rules are coming at a huge cost to the industry and threatening their ability to make money; and we are now only ONE vote away in the Federal parliament from an end to live sheep export.

And of course, whatever happens, we have the historic Labor commitment to end the trade if elected at the next Federal election. The path is there. It is now a matter of when the trade ends, not if.

It is finally dawning on politicians that their constituents expect them to represent their views and interests — not their own. So there has never been a better time to reinforce your view on animal cruelty — and demand that they bring an end to the live animal export trade.

Mark, for your compassionate action on behalf of animals, our gratitude to you is endless.

Ever closer…

For the animals,

Lyn White AM
Director of Strategy

Farm Animals, General News

USA: Help Pass Prop 12 And Give Animals In Confinement Some Decent Legislation.

USA

https://mercyforanimals.org/make-history-with-us-help-pass-prop-12-from

Americans are less than three weeks from Election Day—and everyone in the U.S., not just Californians, can help pass Prop 12.

This historic measure would guarantee that all egg-laying hens, pigs used for breeding, and calves used for veal in California be free from severe confinement in small, cruel cages. The law would also mandate that all eggs, pork, and veal sold in California come from farms that meet this standard.

Measures like Prop 12 are crucial, since not a single federal law protects animals during their lives at factory farms. Most egg-laying hens and mother pigs in the U.S. are kept in enclosures so small the animals are unable to even turn around.

 

See for yourself

Prop 12 enjoys the support of dozens of leading animal protection organizations and humane societies, nearly 500 California veterinarians, the Center for Food Safety, Sierra Club of California, and more.

There are several ways animal advocates can help Prop 12 pass.

  • Sign up to volunteer! There are several opportunities to help get voters to the polls, even if you don’t live in California. Sign up here to help give a voice to farmed animals.
  • Email MFA volunteer coordinator Eve at EveW@MercyForAnimals.org for special volunteer opportunities and to join Eve’s month-long Prop 12 Task Force.
  • Donate to prevent cruelty to farmed animals.
  • Message all your friends and family in California and encourage them to vote YES on Prop 12! You can quickly find everyone you know in California by simply searching “My friends who live in California” on Facebook.
  • Get social! Share this blog post and content from the Yes on 12 campaign’s social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

And remember, you can fight for farmed animals every single day simply by boycotting the industry that abuses them. Click here to learn more about switching to a compassionate vegan diet.