I tell you what – these are the most intelligent and beautiful, kind, dogs ever !
‘Arianne’ Is Cat in foreground – ‘Golda’ is Sheltie behind. And Mark; well … he is somewhere !
Category: General News
Free Tibet (London)- https://freetibet.org/
This site is primarily animal rights and welfare and always will be.
That does not mean that when necessary, and if we feel strongly, then the site will publish the odd post(s) relating to human rights issues. Tibet, the Ukraine and Gaza (Palestine) are such issues.
Today (14/10/23) in London alone; over 100,000 people marched in solidarity with the people of Gaza – read more about it here:
Pro-Palestinian march draws thousands in London with protests across UK – BBC News
Pro-Palestine London protest: Thousands march as Gaza expects invasion | ITV News London
Despite Prime Minister Rishi announcing a few days ago that citizens of the UK supported Israel, this is not exactly the case as the London, plus other demo sites across the UK, have shown with Palestine support protests today. It is not a case of being pro or anti Hamas, it is a case of showing support for the citizens of Gaza who are being displaced in their hundreds of thousands.
The scenes of complete and utter destruction in Gaza can simply be compared to those which we have now seen for many months in the Ukraine. What will it take to stop this ? – will anything stop this ?
I have no answers; like the vast majority of global citizens, we can only hope that sense will prevail over destruction; and those responsible for such destruction will get their ‘Karma’ in the very near future.
Mark
13/10/23. – World Animals Voice
Animal group demands hunter Logan Bogie face animal cruelty charge over shooting Vermont deer and posing for pics while it was still alive
- Logan Bogie shot and maimed the deer with a crossbow last fall
- He left the deer in agony for more than an hour before posing up for sick photos and video, animal-rights groups say
- Bogie faces 18 other wildlife crimes charges for poaching with a suspended hunting license; his relatives also face charges
Read the full story and see video footage at:
Regards Mark
Thanks Stacey
world migratory bird day | Our Compass (our-compass.org)
Yes, it is now a very troubled World. Mark.
World migratory bird day
OCTOBER 14, 2023
❤️World migratory bird day 2023❤️
The 13th of May
The 14th of October
Today
For birds to fly
Far
Above the troubled world below
To navigate above us
In ways only they know
Regards Mark /Stacey.
Pythagoras
Pythagoras of Samos (Πυθαγόρας; c. 570 BC – c. 496 BC) was an Ionian Greek philosopher often revered as a great mathematician, mystic, scientist, and putative founder of the traditions referred to as Pythagoreanism.
OIPA are a brilliant Italian animal welfare organisation; here is one of their recent articles:
You can visit OIPA at HISTORY | OIPA
https://www.oipa.org/international/abu-dhabi-100-cats-left-to-die/
TRAGEDY FOR ANIMALS IN ABU DHABI, HUNDRED CATS DUMPED IN THE DESERT AND LEFT TO DIE
https://www.oipa.org/international/abu-dhabi-100-cats-left-to-die/
Inserito da oipainternational | Ott 3, 2023
A devastating tragedy occurred in Al Falah area of Abu Dhabi, a few days ago. Rescuers uncovered a horrific scene of over 100 cats and some dogs who had been cruelly dumped in the desert (close to renowned Falcon Hospital) and left to die in scorching temperatures without food, water and shelter from the heat.
Rescuers in tears found approximately 60 (however they can be much more) dead bodies in different stages of decomposition that were lying on the sand or just beneath the surface. Animals have died enduring unimaginable and unacceptable suffering. Other 92 cats and a dog were luckily found alive but in critical conditions. All very weak and dehydrated they have been transferred to vet clinics for health care.
To worsen the cruelty against these animals, rescuers have reported a disturbing fact. Almost all of the cats had been microchipped and had been neutered, some of them not even two weeks earlier as surgical stiches were clearly visible and some others still inside carriers.
Presumably, these cats had been taken to Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital for TNR programs but there are no evidence (at the moment) whether they had been dumped there intentionally and by whom.
Sentence innocent animals to death in such a tremendous way is ethically unacceptable.
While collecting additional info and evidence, we need your cooperation to spread awareness! We shouldn’t forget that the cruel and inhumane practice of dumping animals in the desert is a systematic method of animal population control carried out in the UAE.
UPDATE 04 OCTOBER 2023
Following the outrageous act of cruelty perpetrated against hundred animals in Al Falah area, we are glad to read on the news and the official website that the Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), in collaboration with other relevant authorities, has condemned the episode and has taken action launching a prompt investigation. They also called on the public to report any abuse or neglect that exposes animals to danger by contacting 800 555.
We truly hope investigation will continue and the issue will be taken into high regard.
We take the occasion to thanks independent rescuers who rushed on site to save survivors and veterinarians who gave first aid and are now providing medical care. However, we shouldn’t forget all local and international animal lovers and activists who made the news went viral.
UPDATE 05 OCTOBER 2023
OIPA writes an open letter to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to express deep concern about the recent horrific case of animal cruelty discovered in the Al Falah area of Abu Dhabi and asking to supervise the investigation (Open letter_OIPA_October 2023)
Regards Di and Mark
Polish elections: which parties defend animal welfare?
13 October 2023
Otwarte
For the first time, Polish organisations Albert Schweitzer Foundation, Otwarte Klatki, Green REV Institute and Compassion in World Farming Poland joined forces on a pre-election campaign to encourage citizens to vote for animals in the national elections taking place on 15 October.
On their campaign website, the organisations demand protection of animals used for the production of meat, milk, eggs, and clothing. They oppose industrial farming that negatively affects the well-being of people, animals and the environment, and they support transforming the food system to a sustainable and plant-based one.
According to their ranking of Polish political parties, the Razem (Together), Zieloni (Greens) and Nowa Lewica (New Left) parties are the leading parties for animal welfare issues in Poland. The ruling nationalist Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (Law and Justice) party is vying for an unprecedented third term in office, but is not projected to gain a majority in the parliament. The main opposition party Platforma Obywatelska (Civic Platform), led by former European Council president Donald Tusk, would also need support from a coalition. Civic Platform ranks 6th for animal welfare, and is likely to join up with other more animal welfare-friendly parties. Prawo i Sprawiedliwość ranks 8th with a final score below zero, and would seek a coalition with Konfederacja (Confederation), who rank bottom in the animal welfare chart.
Every year, over a billion chickens are killed in our country. We produce the most poultry meat for slaughter in the entire EU. We want to inform voters interested in the fate of farm animals about the views and plans of political parties regarding the protection of their rights. We want to create pressure on politicians to take urgent actions to improve the welfare of farm animals.
Grzegorz Stachacz, Director, Albert Schweitzer Foundation
The campaign has reached major media, with coverage on TVN24, the largest online news service in Poland, ONET, and FAKTY TVN.
The ranking is based on party positions for welfare demands including phasing out cages for laying hens, pigs, calves, rabbits and quails, banning fur farming and the slaughter of day-old chicks. On transport, the organisations call for a ban on the export of live animals and a maximum transport duration of 8 hours for live cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. For poultry and rabbits, the transport duration should be limited to 4 hours.
The ranking also covers party positions on creating an Ombudsman position on animal protection, and transitioning to a sustainable food system.
Regards Mark
European Parliament Hearing: one step closer to a Fur Free Europe
12 October 2023
Press Release
The Europeans Citizens’ call for a Fur Free Europe was presented today at the European Parliament: animal protection organisations, scientists and former fur industry representatives reiterated the critical need for the EU to ban the cruel practice of fur farming once and for all, while they stressed the importance of the publication of the full proposals on animal welfare.
European Parliament Hearing: one step closer to a Fur Free Europe
More than 1.5 million citizens asked for a Fur Free Europe, and 20 Member States have already totally or partially banned fur farming on grounds of animal welfare and public health, sending a clear sign that under no circumstances can fur farms protect the welfare of wild animals. The call to ban fur farms for good has been supported by a number of MEPS as well as Member States at Council level.
In fur farms wild animals are kept in tiny cages, hindered from displaying natural behaviours and killed solely for their fur. In addition, the farms pose a significant risk on animal and human health, and a threat to biodiversity.
Whatever the claims made by the fur industry, neither welfare regulations nor any industry certification scheme can ever change the reality of sentient animals being condemned to live their entire, miserable lives in tiny wire cages. These wild animals are deprived of their basic freedoms, for a product that has no necessity value. Fur is produced only to satisfy the vanity of a very small and rapidly diminishing number of people. That is unacceptable. We must stop it.
Mike Moser, a former fur industry CEO, who is now advocating to ban fur farms
Following an initial meeting between the ECI organisers and the European Commission (EC), this parliamentary hearing is part of the formal ECI procedure. By mid-December, the European Commission is expected to provide an official reply.
Meanwhile, animal protection organisations, MEPs and other stakeholders gathered together yesterday in front of the Berlaymont to publicly call on EC President Ursula von der Leyen to publish the animal welfare proposals in the current term. Amongst the proposals, the Kept Animal Regulation should include the ban on fur farming.
It is hard to believe that anyone would agree that a life on a fur farm is worth living. Looking at the scientific evidence, it is not surprising that European citizens are strongly against fur farming. It is becoming increasingly difficult to defend the indefensible, with the industry’s own supporters turning against it. The moment could not be more favourable for adopting these bans and including them in the Kept Animal Regulation, a vital part of the revised animal welfare revision. The EC has now the chance to deliver on its promise to publish the full proposals by the end of the year.
Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals
Mink are active predators whose natural behaviour includes roaming over large areas, hunting, climbing, and swimming. They are highly motivated to seek for food in streams and lakesides where a significant part of their hunting occurs in water. Unlike many other animals in captivity, minks are not suited to live in groups, as they are territorial and typically solitary in the wild. On mink farms, keeping them in small cages, their living conditions are not suited for the life they are adapted for.
Bo Algers, Professor emeritus of veterinary medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The practice of farming animals for fur breaches the most fundamental principles of animal welfare. The farming systems do not align with the species-specific needs of animals bred on fur farms. This should be seriously considered during the ongoing revision of the EU animal welfare legislation.
Johan Lindsjö, veterinary expert at the Swedish Centre for Animal Welfare (SCAW), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Regards Mark
Ursula von der Leyen urged to uphold democracy and deliver full proposals for the animals
11 October 2023
Press Release
Animal protection organisations, MEPs and advocates gathered in front of the Berlaymont and publicly called on President von der Leyen to publish the promised full proposals for a revised animal welfare legislation.
In 2020, the European Commission (EC) committed to revise the animal welfare legislation as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy, but with only months before the end of the political term, the EC has announced that it will only publish one of the four promised proposals (Transport Regulation), leaving millions of animals unprotected and citizens’ calls ignored.
With the current legislation not having been revised for over two decades, several research studies, including EFSA’s latest opinions, have highlighted that the existing regulations are outdated and insufficient to protect the welfare of animals in Europe. This calls for the urgent need to revise the Kept Animals and Slaughter regulations, yet the EC has failed to provide a timeline.
Among the promised proposals, the EC is expected to reveal its action plan to phase out cages, in response to 1.4 million citizens who have called for their ban in the End the Cage Age ECI.
MEPs Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, LU), Anja Hazekamp (The Left, NL), Niels Fuglsang (S&D, DK), Michal Wiezik (Renew Europe, SK), Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA, AT), Manuela Ripa (Greens/EfA, DE), Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe, LT), Francisco Guerreiro (Greens/EFA, PT), Caroline Roose (Greens/EFA, FR), Martin Hojsík (Renew Europe, SK) and Martin Buschmann (NA, DE), joined the gathering and publicly called on the EC to deliver the full proposal, as promised.
Millions of citizens are waiting for the European Commission to deliver on these promises and it is in the interest of the credibility of our European institutions not to let them down.
Tilly Metz, MEP
The call was supported by renowned ethologist and conservationist, UN Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, Dr Jane Goodall, PhD:
Every year, 300 million sentient animals are caged, confined in industrial farms across the EU. These systems are outdated and cause immense suffering to animals who are able to feel frustration, fear and pain. Unfortunately, it seems that the powerful agribusiness lobby has been opposing these desperately needed reforms, because for them, the wellbeing of animals is not important. It seems that President von der Leyen has listened to big business, rather than the millions of EU citizens who support the promised ban on cages.
Dr. Jane Goodall
She publicly asked President von der Leyen to meet with her and discuss the issue.
In the past weeks, over 600 scientists, over 100 MEPs and up to 50,000 citizens have called on the EC President to address Europeans’ demands and deliver the proposals.
This commission publicly committed to improve animal welfare. Yet now, at a pivotal moment, we are faced with ambiguity. We don’t need dialogue anymore, we do not need any more economic assessments, and we will not settle for tokens. We are long past those stages. Animal welfare is close to the heart of millions of citizens who now hold this Commission fully accountable for the commitment made to improve the lives of billions of animals in Europe. The time is now, as promised. Revising the animal welfare legislation is the right thing to do.
Reineke Hameleeers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals
On Thursday 12th October, the European Parliament is set to host a debate on another successful ECI, Fur Free Europe, which calls for the ban of fur farming and the placement of fur products on the European market. The farming ban should also be included in the revised Kept Animals Regulation, answering the call of 1.5 million citizens.
Regards Mark
Pauline has just sent me over these wonderful photos – am sure you agree.
This time taken on a trip to Hertfordshire – another English County.
Think the water vole is my favourite. Enjoy !
Below – Ibis
Below – Kingfisher
Below – Grey Heron
Below – Stock Doves
Below – Egret and Little Egret
Below – Water Vole
Regards Pauline and Mark
World Animals Voice 
