Category: General News

Farm Animals, General News

England: London; Are You An Animal Lover ? Or Just Some Really ?.. – So Make The Connection.

Animal rights activists staged a protest in London (Image: SWNS)

WAV Comment – Completely behind this protest; it is about time that people opened their eyes to what goes on with meat production and the killing of animals involved.   As Juliet says – Tens of millions of people in the UK eat factory farmed animals but very few are happy to look at them dead, see how they are farmed or witness how they are killed.

Well now they can see them dead; so MAKE THE CONNECTION !

Are you an animal lover?

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Animal rights activists launch horrific protest as they hang dead dog, cat and pig on van

The awakening call was carried out by farm investigations group Viva! across various London landmarks – including the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square

Continue reading at:  Animal rights activists launch horrific protest as they hang dead dog, cat and pig on van | UK | News | Express.co.uk

Juliet Gellatley, said: “As a society we treat cats and dogs as part of our families but see animals such as pigs, chickens and cows as commodities. Tens of millions of people in the UK eat factory farmed animals but very few are happy to look at them dead, see how they are farmed or witness how they are killed.

Regards Mark

Picture – WAV Archive

General News, Uncategorized, Vivisection

Driving Change: Women In Non-Animal Research. International Day of Women and Girls in Science – 11/02/24.

11 February 2024

February 11 was International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a reminder that women play a critical role in science and that their participation should be strengthened. We are celebrating one of the women who help change science for the better by delivering humane science through the exploration of non-animal approaches; the winner of our grant to attend the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) summer school.

Martina Benedetti is a PhD student working in the pioneering laboratory for alternative methods in Argentina.

Can you tell us more about yourself and your journey as a PhD student?

Our primary mission in the research group is to pioneer the introduction of validated methodologies, a significant first for Argentina. This initiative aims to provide non-animal testing services to the local industry. Beyond that, our focus extends to the development of new methodologies and the refinement of strategies, all geared towards gradually replacing the reliance on animal testing that regulatory bodies still mandate. Of course, being part of a pioneering laboratory in my country has been challenging but also very rewarding. Overall, I think my journey is led by a strong desire to contribute to the advancement of humane and effective scientific practices in Argentina. So far, it has been a very fulfilling experience!

What are the main goals of your research?

My research focuses on modelling the eye using in vitro techniques to assess the reversibility of potential damage when the eye is exposed to a toxic substance. 

More into detail, my project consists of designing a model to help replace animal use on ocular toxicity testing implementing stem cells as well as 3D culture. We are studying the cornea architecture and function in vitro to test different chemicals and evaluate the damage they produce on the organ and its potential damage reversibility. This is important because the available alternative methods do not allow documenting the reversibility of the damage, let alone the time necessary for such reversibility to occur, as required by the UN GHS classifications. 

Last year, you won the travel grant offered by Eurogroup for Animals and the RSPCA to attend the JRC Summer School. What are the main things you learned from this event?

As a participant in the JRC Summer School, I gained valuable insights into in vitro methods and computational modelling that were new to me. The program allowed me to gain a comprehensive understanding of innovative techniques through expert presentations, which was very valuable for me as there are no scientific activities in Argentina that deal with these topics. The debate sessions were also very interesting for me, as we focused on real issues that are being discussed today by the experts in the field (In our case, we had to argue that setting an annual cap on the number of animals used for research is the best way to reduce the use of animals in science).

I should also mention that the visit to the EURL-ECVAM laboratories was great! It provided a practical dimension that allowed me to experience first-hand the application of the methods available. I am particularly grateful that the summer school also provided me with an excellent platform for exploring career paths and building a professional network, which enhanced my overall understanding and connections in the field.

What inspires you to use your scientific expertise to advance non-animal science?

My inspiration stems from a commitment to ethical research practices and a desire to contribute to more sustainable and humane scientific advances. Ethically, I am motivated to contribute to research practices that meet modern standards of compassion and responsibility. Scientifically, I am driven by the prospect of developing and implementing methods that not only eliminate the need for animal testing, but also provide more accurate and relevant results for humans. In addition, I think it is particularly motivating to make progress in this area in Argentina, as in my country we are taking the first steps towards researching non-animal methods, which of course motivates my work even more.

On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, what message would you like to send to women who, like you, want to accelerate the transition to human-based, non-animal science?

I want to encourage and empower my fellow women. Let your passion for innovation guide you and bring your unique perspectives to the field. Seize the opportunities to collaborate, learn and lead, because our collective efforts can make a meaningful difference. I think we can all agree that advances in research should go hand in hand with compassion for all living beings. So, let’s strive together for ethical and sustainable scientific practices. Your commitment can make a significant contribution towards a more humane and effective scientific landscape.

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

Regards Mark

Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News

China: Skinned Alive In Public ! – FUR – Fashion Week New York.

Diana has been working on this:

Investigation: Horrific Cruelty on Chinese Fur Farms on Vimeo

Animals Stacked in Cages on Truck (Lady Freethinker Investigation)

(Lady Freethinker Investigation)

Lady Freethinker Undercover Investigation Exposes Shocking Violence on Fur Farms

As fashion week descends on New York, a new investigation from Lady Freethinker and Paws of China reveals the hidden, horrific realities of fur. Foxes cowered in fear in filthy, wire cages where they waited to be skinned alive on Chinese fur farms so their fur coats could be used in luxury fashion.

Thousands of young foxes were seen suffering in horrific conditions before being pulled out of cages with iron tongs or metal poles and violently killed.

Fox Pulled From Cage By Tail (Lady Freethinker Investigation)

The undercover investigator documented:

A skinned fox who was documented blinking and moving his or her jaw for five minutes.

A fox who lashed around while being skinned alive by a worker.

Animals pulled from tiny cages with iron tongs or yanked by their tails.

These young animals – mostly juveniles under a year old – suffer terror and painful deaths because there is still a significant demand for their fur in fashion – including from the United States.

Animal Skins (Lady Freethinker Investigation)

We are demanding that retailers and designers stop funding this gruesome industry.

You can help by spreading the message that fur is cruel, by vowing to never purchase fur products, and by signing the petition to stop the sale of fur in the United States.Animal Skins (Lady Freethinker Investigation)

We are demanding that retailers and designers stop funding this gruesome industry.

You can help by spreading the message that fur is cruel, by vowing to never purchase fur products, and by signing the petition to stop the sale of fur in the United States.

Action – Please sign the petition here:

SIGN: Justice for Animals Crammed into Filthy Cages & Skinned Alive on Chinese Fur Farms (ladyfreethinker.org)

PETITION TARGET: Retailers that sell fur

Thousands of terrified foxes and raccoon dogs were crammed in row after row of tiny, barren, wire cages. Some cowered in fear in the backs of enclosures; others paced back and forth or swayed.

That’s what an investigation into fur farms in Hebei and Jilin, China – conducted by Lady Freethinker and local Chinese organization Paws of China – revealed.

Animals were pulled out of enclosures using iron tongs or a metal pole. Others were yanked by their sensitive tails.

Then, the cages of petrified animals were carted to a different location on site to be killed. Others were thrown onto a truck and taken to an outdoor fur market where they would be skinned in public view, according to investigators.

Investigators documented one fox being skinned by a worker. The animal lashed around as the skin was pulled from his or her body. 

Another fox who had been skinned was documented blinking and moving his or her jaw, meaning the animal had been skinned while still alive and conscious.

The fox continued to struggle and show movement for 5-long-minutes before succumbing to an agonizing death.

The animals’ bloody carcasses are then sold for human consumption, according to investigators, while their fur is sold to the fashion industry.

With so many fashionable, durable, and warm alternatives to animal fur, there is absolutely no justification for torturing and killing animals for fashion.

Sign this petition urging retailers to stop selling fur immediately and remember to always leave animal fur and skins out of your wardrobe.

Investigation: Horrific Cruelty on Chinese Fur Farms on Vimeo

Regards Diana and Mark

Additional Link – Respect for Animals

HOME

China: ‘Crush’ Information. – World Animals Voice

China: Did You Hear the One About the Sick Pervert of a Doctor Who Lures Teenage Girls Into Pornography and Then Uses Them In An Animal ‘Crush’ Video Website ? – World Animals Voice

China: INVESTIGATION: Inside the sadistic world of the gruesome cat torture craze, campaigners call on Chinese authorities to act NOW. – World Animals Voice

EXPOSING AND COMBATING CAT TORTURE NETWORKS. 6/1/24. – World Animals Voice

China: Cat Torture Actions Follow Up – No. 1 – World Animals Voice

China – Cat Torture – Major Information and Actions – Follow Up No. 2 – World Animals Voice

New – A new Chinese cat torturer is identified and exposed:

General News

USA: Animal groups claim officials could’ve stopped suspected cockfighting derby.

ADAIR COUNTY, Okla. — When law enforcement receives a tip that potentially dozens of people were going to be under one roof committing felonies and days notice.

One would expect they would investigate.

But animal rights activists said that’s not what happened in Adair County on Feb. 3, when they allegedly received word of a cockfighting derby taking place.

Continue at Animal groups claim officials could’ve stopped suspected cockfighting derby (kjrh.com)

Regards Mark

General News

England: Trio banned from keeping horses after neglect. Link and Photos Via RSPCA.

WAV Comment – A shame on a nation that prides itself for animal welfare !

Above – Despite putting on weight in RSPCA care, Autumn had to be put to sleep due to health issues

Trio banned from keeping horses for neglect at Herefordshire stables – BBC News

Three people have been banned from keeping horses for seven years after admitting neglect.

Kerry Ruth Pugh, 43, and Jessica Paige Pugh, 21, each pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence relating to a horse called Autumn, which a vet described as the thinnest he had ever seen.

Despite putting on weight after being taken into RSPCA care from the stables at Wellington Heath near Ledbury, Herefordshire, Autumn had to be put down.

Oliver Daelan Fairy, 21, pleaded guilty to an offence relating to another horse, Totti.

Hereford magistrates’ court heard the two horses were found to be emaciated, which was likely to be due to high worm burdens and lack of a suitable diet.

Continue reading each horses story, complete with photos at 

Trio banned from keeping horses for neglect at Herefordshire stables – BBC News

Regards Mark

General News, Stray Animals

Indonesia: Cat lover campaigns for animal rights in Indonesia elections.

Cat lover campaigns for animal rights in Indonesia elections

Francine Widjojo, 44, a parliamentary candidate from Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), reacts during a group photo in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 28, 2024. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana Ulfiana© Thomson Reuters

See many photographs at https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/cat-lover-campaigns-for-animal-rights-in-indonesia-elections/ar-BB1i0TYB

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian Francine Widjojo is hitting the campaign trail with cats and treats in hand to run as a Jakarta legislative candidate and raise awareness of animal cruelty along the way.

Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will hold presidential and legislative elections on Feb. 14 and campaigns are now in full swing.

On posters scattered across the Indonesian capital, Francine can be seen holding Yakult, a white cat she rescued as a kitten and one of 27 that live in her home.

The 44-year-old walks around town holding a bottle of cat treats with a Yakult sticker, urging people to join her to feed strays in the city.

“One of the issues that I will be fighting for is for Jakarta to be a pet-friendly city,” she told Reuters last month while attending a vaccination event for Yakult, adding that if elected as a Jakarta lawmaker, she wants to increase sterilisation and vaccination for pets in the city.

People in some parts of the Southeast Asian nation are known to consume cat and dog meat and the government has faced pressure from animal rights groups to end it.

The agricultural ministry classified dog meat as not for human consumption in 2018, but that has had little impact on the trade as there weren’t fines that could be enforced on those who sold such meats, activists said.

The government of the Central Java province said it intercepted over 200 dogs that were transported there for consumption last month.

Activists rallied in Jakarta this month to call for a national ban on dog and cat meat trades, according to the animal welfare group The Humane Society International.

Francine, who is running for office with the Indonesian Solidarity Party that is headed by President Joko Widodo’s youngest son, plans to fight against corruption and racial and religious intolerance.

But she said animal cruelty is not commonly addressed in Indonesia, and vows to “fight this together”.

(Reporting by Yuddy Cahya Budiman; Additional reporting by Zahra Matarani; Writing by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Regards Mark

Farm Animals, General News

USA: Cage Free – If California Can Do It Now, Then Why Not The Monolithic EU ?

A ban on cages that applies to imports? California makes it a reality

8 February 2024

As of January 2024, California is now cage-free. This rule applies to all products, including imports, a precedent that should pave the way for the EU.

The ban on cages, known as Proposition 12, was put to a vote and approved by more than 62% of voters in 2018. The legislation bans extreme confinement of laying hens and calves raised for veal from 2022, but pig producers (the biggest sector impacted by the legislation) were given a transition period until the end of December 2023.  As of January 2024, the legislation applies to all sectors.

This is one of the most progressive pieces of animal welfare legislation in the world. It will significantly reduce suffering for animals as it sets specific minimum space requirements for animals raised for food, effectively banning cages for laying hens, sows, and calves. The legislation has the potential to improve the lives of millions of animals in California, but also around the world as it bans sales of imported products derived from animals raised in these conditions.

Businesses and producers exporting to California, the biggest economy in the US  valued at around $3.8 trillion in 2023, will have to comply with the ban. Producers such as the Canadian pig company DuBreton announced it was Prop 12-certified in November 2023. In the UK, the Red Tractor Certification scheme, which already assesses farms to ensure they meet certain animal welfare requirements, will also give farmers the option for Prop 12 checks.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) had challenged the cage-free rules considering they breached the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. However, the Supreme Court upheld the right of California to set its own animal welfare standards for all products, regardless of their origin.  

Now, the legislation is  having a spillover effect across the country. The wheels are turning in Massachusetts, which will impose housing requirements for animals. Michigan also passed a bill which mandates cage-free conditions for laying hens and prohibits the sale of caged eggs by December 2024. At least 15 other US States have already banned sow stalls, battery cages for hens, crates for calves raised for veal, and other practices that negatively impact animal welfare. 

Proposition 12 paves the way to include imported products in the much awaited revision of the EU’s animal welfare legislation. At the moment, most of the EU’s animal welfare standards do not apply to imports, thereby making low welfare products from abroad cheaper to import, which fuels cruel animal production in third countries. 

As shown in the latest special Eurobarometer on animal welfare, 84% of Europeans believe that something has to be done to change the way we import animal products, either by imposing import requirements or a very strict labelling system. 

The European Commission must take the opportunity to listen to EU citizens and adopt more import requirements related to animal welfare.

Regards Mark

So, …. EU

https://wordpress.com/post/worldanimalsvoice.com/67444