Category: General News

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News

England: Where do things stand with the world’s first octopus farm?

Where do things stand with the world’s first octopus farm?

8 October 2023

CIWF

Spanish seafood company Nueva Pescanova announced plans in 2019 to establish the world’s first octopus farm in the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

To mark World Octopus Day 2023, we take a look at the application’s progress following resounding opposition from scientists, animal welfare and environmental organisations, and the general public.

Our case study Uncovering the Horrific Reality of Octopus Farming published together with Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), attracted significant international media attention. 

In our new video, we update you on key welfare and environmental concerns of octopus farming, the current state of the application processes to establish the farm, and options for citizens to support our call to stop octopus farming.

Thanks to continuing media attention, online petitions and protests worldwide, the issue remains on the radar, and public pressure is working. 

At regional level, the Canary Islands government has recently required a more exhaustive environmental impact procedure. Typically, intensive aquaculture projects in Spain are only subject to a simplified environmental assessment, but it was concluded that the octopus farm could have a significant impact on the surrounding environment. For Nueva Pescanova, this means that after waiting 2 years for the green light, they must now start over with a tougher evaluation process.

At EU level, several MEPs have expressed their opposition to the farm, raising a parliamentary question to the European Commission, as well as sending a joint letter to the Canary Islands government. 

Outside the EU, Washington state has proposed a bill prohibiting octopus farms, and the UK has legally recognised octopuses as sentient beings. Hawaiian authorities have closed the Kanaloa octopus research farm, and in Canada, a governmental petition was proposed to ban octopus farming. 

Moreover, the well known seafood certification labelling schemes by RSPCA and Friend of the Sea have made a resolute stance announcing their refusal to certify any farmed octopus products. 

Nevertheless, we have to keep up the pressure to make sure octopus farming never sees the light of day. 

Led by CIWF, on the occasion of World Octopus Day 2023, we have joined forces with 75 NGOs and experts worldwide to urge the Canary Islands Government to reject plans for the world’s first octopus farm in a joint letter. 

In the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, ethical concerns, and global opposition, creating the world’s first octopus farm is a perilous path we must not tread. Octopuses, solitary in nature, and with extremely complex behaviours, simply do not suit intensive farming conditions. There is no effective stunning method for the slaughter of farmed octopuses, and no EU legislation exists to protect farmed octopuses. Their wellbeing and the harmony of our ecosystems should stand as our guiding principles, urging us to abandon the notion of commercial octopus farming.

Keri Tietge, Octopus Project Consultant, Eurogroup for Animals

Citizens can help to continue the momentum by signing petitions against octopus farming, joining protests such as PACMA’s Save the Octopuses Fest on 4 November 2023 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and spreading the word using the hashtags #BanOctopusFarming and #StopOctopusFarming. 

Regards Mark

General News, Vivisection

EU: European Parliament debates and votes on CLP revision.

European Parliament debates and votes on CLP revision

6 October 2023

The European Parliament held its long-awaited plenary vote on the revision of the Regulation on the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of chemical substances and mixtures (CLP) on 4 October. Although some new measures in the revised regulation are encouraging, other measures are still too weak and do not go far enough to reduce and ultimately phase out animal testing.

The CLP Regulation, one of the two cornerstones of the EU chemicals regulatory framework along with the regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), requires companies to classify and label their substances and mixtures to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment.

In December 2022, the European Commission proposed a revision of the CLP Regulation, as announced in the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). The proposed CLP revision package consisted of a legislative proposal for the amendment of the CLP Regulation and a delegated act as a complement to the legislative proposal. While the delegated act has already entered into force in April 2023 following scrutiny by the European Parliament and the Council, the procedure of adopting the legislative proposal into EU law is still ongoing. 

Eurogroup for Animals, in collaboration with its members and other animal protection NGOs, has been working hard over the last year by submitting amendments to both the CLP legal text itself and related guidance documents. In particular, we have sought to ensure that the revised legislative proposal is aligned with the CSS objective of reducing reliance on animal testing, with the EU goal of fully replacing the use of animals in science, and most recently with the European Commission’s 2023 announcement of a roadmap to replace animal testing in chemicals regulation. To this end, we have repeatedly called for the revision of the CLP Regulation to include concrete steps to better recognise and adopt non-animal methods, to prevent both new animal tests and an increase in existing tests, and to ensure that animal tests are truly considered as the last resort.

The plenary vote in Parliament follows a vote by the Environment Committee (ENVI) in early September, where various compromise amendments to the text of the CLP regulation were discussed and agreed. The plenary vote was the moment of truth for our lobbying efforts, as it would ultimately represent the Parliament’s position for later negotiations with the Council. 

Following the vote, we welcome some of the new measures, such as improved wording on the use of non-animal methods and to allow the CLP Regulation to take into account future advances in animal-free science. In particular, Article 7 has been amended to read “non-animal, animal, and human testing”, along with a newly added paragraph clearly stating “tests using new approach methodologies shall also be considered”. In addition, Article 53 has been amended to include “the promotion of alternative methods for assessment of hazards of substances and mixtures”, expressly addressing it as a priority for future adaptations to the regulation.  

However, we are concerned that other provisions of the Regulation are still too weak and do not sufficiently encourage the transition away from animal testing or maximise the use of existing non-animal methods available. In addition, there is still conflicting information in the revised CLP Regulation and related guidance documents with regard to new animal testing requirements. Although these files state that hazard classification under CLP does not lead to any new testing requirements, the recent introduction of new chemical hazard classes, such as endocrine disruptors, may potentially result in significant increases in new animal tests. Eurogroup for Animals and other NGOs called for wording allowing new animal tests to be removed, but this was rejected. 

Eurogroup for Animals is continuing its work to achieve real-world measures towards animal-free regulatory testing and scientific innovation by pursuing our efforts on the CLP Regulation. For example, we will continue to lobby for the CLP to reach the same standards as the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in recognising and promoting non-animal methods, and on which CLP is based. We will also continue our work on the revision of the REACH Regulation, with a legislative proposal expected to be brought forward by the Commission by the end of this year, and strive to ensure that the Commission’s promised roadmap includes concrete steps to move away from animal testing in chemical safety assessment. 

Finally, as part of the broader EU strategy and political mandate to transition to non-animal science, we will seek to ensure that modern, scientifically relevant, animal-free innovations continue to be  implemented in research, training and education

Regards Mark

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

England: Hope !

Years ago I was the investigator for Carla’s charity; and we were both devoted to stopping live animal transport.  I did a lot of investigation work into British hoses being exported for the meat trade; though their official paperwork; approved by Defra, was saying that they were being exported to mainland Europe for ‘Riding’.  Time, and a lot of work at the docks, combined with visiting horse sales markets gave us the proof we needed. I still have all the information in several files; information which took ages to gather, collate and write about ready for presentation.

Carla and I met with the Minister in London one day to present them with our investigation evidence.  Around the same time farmers dumped many dozens of baby calves at Carlas, expecting her to have them destroyed because of sheer numbers involved and the money needed to raise them – they wanted to be able to say that the veggie animal rights activist had killed calves.  NO WAY !

Carla kept every calf and raised them all into beautiful adult cattle.  One day, when they were still young, Carla asked me to name one of the calves.  I decided to call him ‘Hope’, as I hoped for a future free of live animal exports, and my own personal hope that there was a future with more hope and compassion for innocent beings.

Here is a photo of ‘Hope’

Above – ‘Hope’

Here my favorite photo of wonderful Carla:

Live export unfortunately still continues all these years later; but many of us gather evidence and footage which is presented to he powers that be – with a simple message ‘stop it’.  It will happen and I think and hope soon, in the near future,

I came across this video, and noted that this suffering dog was also named ‘Hope’ by the wonderful people that took him in and literally changed every aspect of his being; from mere existence and survival on the street to one of a loved and very cared for dog.  It is a video which tells a story which has not yet finished.  Every credit to all involved; especially the girl who saw him suffering on the street, and who initially took time off work to help and feed this sentient.

Enjoy he video; a story of ‘Hope’

Regards Mark

About Us. | Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

In the past, Mark worked with television comedy scriptwriter Carla Lane for many years; and had the position of being the investigator for her animal charity (Animaline) throughout the years of the horse export investigations.  Through undercover investigation work, port monitoring, visits to UK horse markets, and trails into Europe, it was shown that British horses were being exported from the UK whilst being declared as ‘going for riding’ to Europe.  In reality, the animals were being exported to Europe for their meat.  What was declared on the export licenses was a complete and utter lie to get around the complexities of exporting  sentient animals for one thing when they were actually going to their deaths !

After all the investigative work was completed and documented, which involved a lot of work, Carla and Mark teamed up in London one day and made formal presentations to the UK Government Ministry – DEFRA (previously  MAFF) about all the investigation work.

To this day, Mark will never forget what was witnessed in the investigations into beautiful, live horses being exported from the UK to Europe as a scam for the meat trade under the guise of ‘riding horses’.  This, combined with live farm animal export work over the last 27 years or so has meant that the export of live farm animals is a top ‘hate’ and will always be campaigned against – be it in the UK, Europe, Australia, South America, North Africa, Anywhere !

In the early hours of one morning, after investigating yet another consignment of UK horses being exported to the EU; declared as ‘going for riding’ but really destined for the meat trade; Mark returned home and decided that he just had to get something down on paper to express what he had experienced so many times, with the real knowledge (and proof) of what was happening to these beautiful animals despite what the (false) paperwork declarations said.  Gorgeous Jo was at home and supportive as always.  Unable to just go to bed and sleep for what was left of that night; something had to be recorded as a simple memory of what ‘official’ wrongs had been experienced so many times during these horses journey.

Mark penned the following to sum his immense anger and feelings of the scam events through an official government Ministry that allowed 14+ beautiful horses to be exported to Europe each week for meat; whilst passing and stamping the paperwork to say that they were ‘going for riding’.

The poem was called:

EXH6 – For Beautiful Horses Betrayed By The System

EXH6

‘EXH6’ is the official export license which is required for horse exports from the UK.

Mark says – ” eventually some time very late that night Jo and I climbed into bed; but despite being with her, my thoughts very much remained with those innocent animals – I was asking myself questions like: where were they now ?; what were they experiencing ?; were they suffering ? – and how was this being allowed to happen when Jo and I could easily see the wrongs on the paperwork, why cannot the Ministry officials !”

To all the guys at CIWF undercover investigations unit – we had some great times and we had very sad depressing times; Steve and I felt the bad arm of the law a few times; but in the end the evidence was gathered. You want to beat the shit out of these animal abusers, but evidence gathering and biting your tongue is more important.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ciwf+investigator

For John:

England: Another Terrible Loss – John Callaghan.

Photo – Val C.

Environmental, Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News, Stray Animals, Uncategorized

Man Knows Best – I Think Not !!

Latest EFSA report on avian influenza cause for concern

5 October 2023

Infections now regularly occur not only in wild and domestic birds but in an increasing number of mammalian species, with occasional human cases.

According to the latest report published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), between the end of June and 1 September 2023, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks continue to be reported worldwide. 

These are worrying results, especially regarding infections in mammals: numerous cases occurred in raccoon dogs, foxes, and American mink kept for fur, as well as in wild otters and seals. Occasional infections in domestic cats and dogs have also been recorded. Some strains now have developed mutations that improve the virus’ ability to infect human cells, increase its resistance to certain antivirals, and augment its virulence. Research is ongoing into the effects of such mutations, but these new subtypes could have a higher zoonotic potential (not yet demonstrated). 

What is clear is that some of the circulating HPAI variants have the ability to jump from one species to another. For instance, it is believed that A(H5N1) which carries markers for adaptation to mammalian cells jumped from chickens to cats in one outbreak in Poland. On Finnish fur farms, the virus jumped from wild birds to kept mammals and further mutated once inside the farms. For this reason, the EFSA recommends increasing biosecurity in fur farms and promptly culling all animals in case of a HPAI outbreak. As long as fur farming remains lawful in the EU, we can thus expect more mass culling events like those witnessed in recent years and even very recently due to COVID infections in animals. 

For now, human infections are infrequent and are therefore considered sporadic, usually as a consequence of direct human contact with infected poultry. However, the situation is evolving and the EFSA recommends consistent and continued monitoring of outbreaks in wild and domestic animals.

Recommendations from the report include:

Increased surveillance of the circulation of the virus both in wild birds and in free-living domestic carnivores;

Increased biosecurity in fur farms with prompt culling of all animals in case of a confirmed outbreak of HPAI, because of the increased risk of mammalian adaptation of the virus;

Timely and accurate reporting of cases in mammalian species for epidemiological purposes;

Both people and domestic carnivores should avoid contact with infected carcasses;

Hospitalised human patients with severe respiratory symptoms should be assessed for exposure risk to HPAI.

Of particular concern is the finding that “about 47% of the characterised viruses contain at least one of the adaptive markers associated with increased virulence and replication in mammals […]. These mutations with potential public health implications have likely emerged upon transmission to mammals.” 

Additionally, in April 2023 a HPAI virus identified in farmed dogs in China had a key mutation that would allow it to jump directly from birds to humans. 

As this report was published, South Africa was (and still is) dealing with the devastating economic consequences of its latest HPAI outbreak, which has resulted in the culling of several million broiler chickens and laying hens. A vaccination program will probably begin in the coming weeks.

Regards Mark

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU: NGOs call for clarity on timeline to deliver Kept Animals and Slaughter Regulations.

NGOs call for clarity on timeline to deliver Kept Animals and Slaughter Regulations

4 October 2023

Press Release

The news that the European Commission will publish one of four promised proposals on animal welfare, while failing to provide a timeline for the rest, is unacceptable and leaves millions of animals unprotected and citizens’ voices widely ignored.

European Commission’s Executive Vice-President (EVP) Maroš Šefčovič, nominated to oversee the Green Deal, has confirmed that the European Commission intends to deliver the proposal on the protection of animals during transport by December 2023. Yet, he failed to provide clarity on the timeline for the other three regulations, namely Kept Animals, Slaughter and Labelling.

See https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2023/10/03/typical-eu-maros-sefcovic-promises-to-deliver-on-animal-welfare-but-fails-to-commit-to-timeline/

During yesterday’s hearing at the European Parliament, Šefčovič repeated that the animal welfare proposals remain a priority for the upcoming months, but when questioned by a number of MEPs from several groups, he commented that the work on the full legislation requires more assessment and dialogues, despite the fact that numerous consultations and dialogues have already taken place under the EU Platform on Animal Welfare.

Delivering only one of the four proposals will not meet the millions of citizens’ demands for better animal welfare. The latest ECIs End the Cage Age and Fur Free Europe, which collected 1.4 and 1.5 million signatures respectively, show that Europeans demand better protection for animals now.  Following the ECI End the Cage Age, the EC committed to ban cages in animal farming as part of the Kept Animals Regulation to be adopted in Q3 2023. 

Only updating the live transport rules will leave billions of animals at the mercy of outdated legislation, or without any welfare-related legislation. Numerous EFSA opinions have demonstrated the urgent need to update the existing rules. 

While we welcome the publication of a proposal to revise the Transport Regulation, delivering only part of the expected legislation does not align to the wishes of the citizens, and to the scientific opinions that have highlighted the urgent need to update regulations impacting the welfare of kept animals. We also trust that the transport regulation will aim higher than what has transpired from the impact assessment finalised in July.

Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals

Eurogroup for Animals continues to call for the publication of the full proposals, as committed by the EC as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy.

Regards Mark

Enjoy:

and the ‘Cure’ (English band) original:

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

Typical EU: Maroš Šefčovič promises to deliver on animal welfare, but fails to commit to timeline.

Maroš Šefčovič promises to deliver on animal welfare, but fails to commit to timeline

3 October 2023

During today’s hearing at the European Parliament, European Commission’s Executive Vice-President (EVP) Maroš Šefčovič, nominated to oversee the Green Deal, repeated that the animal welfare proposals remain a priority for the upcoming months, yet failed to provide a timeline for their publication.

A number of MEPs, including Tilly Metz (Greens/Efa), Emma Weisner (Renew), Beatrice Covassi (S&D/PD) and Herbert Dorfmann (EPP), specifically questioned the EVP-designate on the animal welfare proposals, reiterating the importance of sticking to the promised timeline and delivering by the end of the year, to honour the demands of millions of European citizens.

We are pleased that animal welfare has been mentioned among the priorities for the coming months. Yet, we are disappointed that no concrete action or timeline has been provided, despite the many requests made by MEPs of various groups. We want to reiterate the importance for the EU to fulfil its commitments under the “End the Cage Age” ECI, which gathered more than 1.4 million signatures. Further delaying the publication of the proposals to the next term would be a democratic failure. As President von der Leyen recently said during her SOTEU address ”If it matters to Europeans it matters to Europe”, and we could not agree more, now though, we need to see it happen for the millions of Europeans who’ve been asking the European Commission to improve the lives of billions of animals

Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals

The EC initially committed to deliver the proposals for a revised animal welfare legislation, as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy, by the end of this year. With the EC expected to finalise its working programme in the upcoming weeks, the timeline for publishing them within the current term is becoming increasingly tight. The EVP-designate mentioned several times the need for more assessments and dialogues to be carried out, even if the impact assessment on the legislation has been finalised and despite the numerous opportunities all stakeholders had to contribute over the past years.

During the hearing, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President Šefčovič also mentioned that the EC is finalising the Transport Regulation proposal. Having a finally renewed text on transport would be much welcome, however, delivering only one of the four proposals won’t meet the millions of citizens’ demands for better animal welfare. Indeed, the latest European Citizens’ Initiatives End the Cage Age and Fur Free Europe which collected 1.4 and 1.5 million signatures respectively, show that Europeans demand better protection for animals now. Only updating the live transport rules would leave billions of animals at the mercy of outdated legislation.

The European Commission can still fulfil the promise it made in June 2021 to millions of citizens, and millions of animals, to go cage free by 2027, but now is the time to act. 

Regards Mark

Farm Animals, General News

Spain: Animal Equality Denounces Cruelty In Spanish Farms.

With thanks to Stacey at ‘Our Compass’ for sending.

Animal Equality denounces cruelty in Spanish farms | Our Compass (our-compass.org)



Source Igualdad Animal

I don’t scale animal suffering, it’s ALL unacceptable, thus why I’m vegan. However, regarding this investigation into Spanish “farms” by Animal Equality, exposing the continued absolute horrors inflicted on animals, I’m just going to put out there that Spain is rated HIGHER than the USA in “animal welfare”. SL

Source IgualdadAnimal

Please sign petition HERE to receive plant-based recipes and verbalize your support of Animal Equality’s efforts to investigate and stop animal suffering. Animal Equality has infiltrated farms to show what consumers don’t know, and the livestock industry hides. 

Animal Equality has investigated more than 170 farms since 2010. This year we present the evidence in September, collected from five Spanish pig farms during the months of May and June 2023.

In Spain there are regulations to protect (sic) pigs but there is a high rate of non-compliance; for example, they are subjected to painful procedures such as tail mutilation without anesthesia; additionally, the conditions of intensive exploitation cause many animals to die on farms or become sick and injured. The evidence corresponds to the fattening stage that begins after weaning and shows the life of the pigs before reaching the slaughterhouse. 

Investigators witnessed the diseases and injuries typical of these farms, such as lameness, infections in the sows’ teats, wounds with pus, swollen genitals, and prolapsed uterus and anus. Uterine prolapse is due to the pressure of pregnancies and births to which sows are induced for production; the same abdominal pressure causes the rectum to be pushed outwards, this can be in pigs and sows. 

Animals were also found with wounds on the backs, eyes, and legs, as well as lesions on the skin of the neck and shoulder. Additionally, the housing conditions were also documented: muddy floors with worms, flies, bugs; corpses of rats and other pigs, including one in a drinking trough. 

The lifeless bodies of these animals were found in hallways, containers, and various spaces. It was common to see some pigs sniffing, licking, biting the ears, and abnormal growths in the stomachs of the dead. It is important to know that what we document is not an exception but the rule, as we have documented in various investigations, which is why it is necessary to adopt a cruelty-free diet, opting for plant-based alternatives or for English version HERE.

Read more HERE …
Download Your free Vegan PDF HERE
Order a free vegan kit HERE
Dairy-Free Info HERE
Take the Dairy-Free Challenge HERE
Click HERE for more Dairy-Free
Fish alternatives can be found HERE
Learn about eggs HERE
Find bacon alternatives HERE and HERE Take PETA’s Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide along with you next time you head to the store!
The handy guide will help you find humane products at a glance.
Order a FREE copy HERE
Searching for Cruelty-Free Cosmetics, Personal-Care Products, Vegan Products, or more?
Click HERE to search.
Free PDF of Vegan & Cruelty-Free Products/Companies HERE
Click HERE for clothing without suffering Click below for nominal, or no, fees to vegan literature that you can use to convince others that veganism is the only humane:
PETA HERE
Vegan Outreach HERE
Get free Anti-Speciesism Activist Kit material from PETA HERE
Click HERE for Well-Fed World’s Free Climate Food Guide PDF
General News

India: (Update) – Delhi: Over 40 NGOs, Rights Groups Participate In Rally Against Animal Cruelty.

Our recent post on this issue:

India: Major Animal Rights Rally In Commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth Anniversary . – World Animals Voice

News of the event:

Delhi: Over 40 NGOs, Rights Groups Participate In Rally Against Animal Cruelty

The rally was organised by India Unites For Animal Rights, a citizen-led movement. As many as 43 NGOs and animal rights groups, including PFA and Perroayuda Welfare Foundation, were part of the event.

People from different walks of life participated in a rally to raise voice against cruelty to animals at Jantar Mantar on the eve of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.  During the rally, signatures for a petition addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his attention on the issue were also collected, an official statement from the organisers said.

“Our aim is to spread awareness about the plight of animals in the country and  demand strict action against people who torture them. Through this rally we also wish to guide on how to manage pets and prevent dog bites which have become a tool to justify crime against animals,” Sanjay Mohapatra, founder of House of Stray Animals, an NGO participating in the rally, told PTI.  During the rally, signatures for the petition ‘No More 50’ were also collected demanding amendments to the existing laws which deal with cruelty against animals. The petition is addressed to Prime Minister Modi.

“Whether it is goats exported live to the Middle East or camels and cows openly smuggled to Bangladesh, India’s animals are being cruelly exploited and murdered. The fine for crimes against animals is a laughable Rs 50,” the statement said.

Delhi: Over 40 NGOs, rights groups participate in rally against animal cruelty | India News (republicworld.com)

Regards Mark

What we do in life, echoes in eternity.

Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News

Lithuania bans fur farming.

Lithuania bans fur farming

2 October 2023

There are estimated to be 40 mink farms and 30 chinchilla farms currently in operation in the country, farming around 1 million animals for their fur each year. The bill requires fur farmers to cease trade by 2027, with the state providing financial compensation.

After successfully passing a majority vote in the Seimas last week, President Gitanas Nausėda signed a bill banning fur farming into law on 27 September. 

Lithuania is the 20th Member State to adopt legislative restrictions on fur farming, providing a clear signal that European citizens overwhelmingly support the end of the fur industry.

In the past year alone, citizens have written nearly 27,000 letters to decision makers to demand an end to the brutal confinement and killing of animals for fur. Lithuania has made history and put yet another nail in the coffin of the cruel fur industry.

Gabriele Vaitkevičiūtė, Tušti Narvai

An EU-wide ban is the next step to bring regulations into line throughout the Member States, as promoted by the successful European Citizens’ Initiative Fur Free Europe.

Regards Mark