WAV Comment – Now with new and younger people with different views in (UK) Parliament, it is time that things change, and that is exactly what is happening; much to the benefit of animals and their welfare.
UK elephants currently in zoos and safari parks will be allowed to die out naturally; but they will never be replaced by new and younger animals. As one political source says; you should focus on elephant protection in the area where the elephant is.”
Regards Mark
UK – Keeping elephants in zoos or safari parks will be BANNED over claims that they suffer from mental illness in captivity
Legislation will prohibit keeping elephants in zoos as well as importation
The existing population will also be allowed to die out naturally under new rules
Move by environment minister Zac Goldsmith is likely to delight Carrie Symonds
Keeping elephants in zoos or safari parks is to be banned, the Daily Mail can reveal today.
Legislation will prohibit importation of any new animals and the existing population will be allowed to die out naturally.
The move by environment minister Zac Goldsmith is likely to delight Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie, who is a champion of elephant welfare
Campaigners have long warned that the highly intelligent animals suffer from mental illness in zoos.
They are also plagued in captivity by illnesses, including crippling arthritis, and live on average for just 17 years according to the RSPCA. This compares with more than 50 years in the wild. The legislation will bring to an end more than seven centuries of elephants being kept in captivity in Britain.
Elephant Campaigners – Carrie Johnson, Wife of Prime Minister Boris, and Zac Goldsmith, Environment Minister.
Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith is said to have introduced legislation to support future populations of animals raised in the United Kingdom for the seventh century.
The first elephant arrived in England in 1255 under Henry III as a gift from King Louis of France.
Currently, there are 51 elephants in 11 zoos across the UK. This includes Warburn, Whip Snade, Colchester and Chester.
However, since January 2020, it has been illegal for circuses to keep elephants for entertainment.
According to RSPCA, elephants suffer from illness in captivity and live on average only 17 years compared to their wild siblings who live up to the age of 50.
And their welfare report is set to form a debate against their breeding in the zoo-it will be announced later this year as part of the breeding animal bill.
One senior source told:
“It’s very likely that you can’t make an elephant happy in a zoo. Instead, you should focus on elephant protection in the area where the elephant is.”
Mark Jones of Charity Born Free said: “There are many species that do not belong to the zoo. Elephants are one of them.
“It should be phased out and the needs of these very widespread, highly complex social animals cannot be met in a captive environment.”
“It’s not appropriate to keep elephants in the zoo,” said Conservative Chairman Lorraine Pratt.
“They need to have a lot of space to walk around, and they also have a close family group.”
Tuesday 22/6/21 will see the 9th meeting of the EU Animal Welfare Platform
The EU Presidency is urrently held by Portugal for the period 1 January 2021 – 30 June 2021.
In case you are not aware, the EU Presidency is held for a 6 month period by each of the EU member states in turn. It is known as a ‘Rotating’ Presidency, giving each member state a period to set out agendas. When Portugal completes its time, the Presidency will be taken over by Slovenia. You can view all past and future presidencies via this link:
Hopefully there will be some positive news and information; relating to long distance animal transport and also the the ‘End the Cage Age’ relating to the ban on intensive animal farm systems throughout Europe. Other issues discussed will include equine (horse) welfare and the alternative methods to pig surgical castration, and welfare issues associated with dairy cattle.
I think that with the excellent news relating to the ending of intensive cage systems for farm animals –
The citizen of Europe is finally being listened to. Politicians know they have to meet the EU citizens demands or face being un elected whenever the next chance arises. So now we see positiveaction on intensive cages; as demanded by EU citizens. Hopefully there will be positive progress on animal transport to third countries; but we will have to wait and see what news the meeting brings.
All the more reason to add your name to petitions and letters when you have the chance. It may not seem much at the time; but these are very effective ways to make your feelings know; so plese take part.
Rergards Mark
9th Meeting Overview:
The 9th meeting of the Animal Welfare Platform will open with a message from Health and Food Safety Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, who will give an update on the progress of the ongoing European Commission’s actions under the Farm to Fork Strategy.
Agenda – View the Agenda details via the following:
The agenda of the meeting includes presentations by the Commission of the outcomes of the evaluation of the EU Strategy for Protection and Welfare of Animals (2012-2015), the preliminary results of the Fitness Check of the EU animal welfare legislation and the conclusions of the sub-group on animal welfare labelling. In addition, the third EU Reference Centre for the welfare of ruminants and equines, which was recently designated, as well as the Code of Conduct for responsible business and marketing in relation to animal welfare, will be presented.
MEP Paolo de Castro will introduce the main elements of the recently adopted European Parliament Resolution on the ECI “End the Cage Age”. Furthermore, the Portuguese Presidency will present updates on their work on long distance transport to third countries.
The two first sessions of the meeting will be conducted as part of the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021 Dialogues to underline the key role that animal welfare plays in the sustainability of food systems. The Platform will have an opportunity to contribute to these dialogues, which are part of the preparations for the Summit in September.
The one-day meeting will be web-streamed (from 09:30 CET).
Looking for vegan school lunch ideas that are kid-friendly and easy to make? You’re in luck! These vegan recipes are easy to pack for lunch, whether it’s for the kiddos, for teenagers, for college students, or the adults who need a grab n’ go lunch for work. These recipes are allergen friendly and include plant-based, whole-food ingredients.
6 incredible facts that will change the way you think about lobsters
Beneath that hard shell there is a soft and sensitive side to lobsters that reveals we have much more in common with these ocean dwelling creatures than you might think! Read on to discover what scientists are learning about the lives of lobsters — and why they need our protection.
This is one healthy three bean salad recipe that you don’t want to pass up! Perfect for summer picnics and potlucks, this classic vegan salad has been revamped with chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, and fresh apples to add a flair of sweetness.
A group of conservative politicians in the UK is pushing for the inclusion of lobster and octopuses in a new animal sentience bill, The Guardian reported. The influential Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) is meeting with the government to push for the sentience of invertebrates.
As it stands now, the bill recognizes that fish and other vertebrates feel pain, but does not include invertebrates. MPs in the CAWF believe they should be included. A report from CAWF found that fishing operations in the UK land 420 million cephalopods and crustaceans annually.
“Common arguments against crustacean and cephalopod sentience focus on distinctions between these animals’ anatomy and human anatomy (such as that they process information outside the brain, eg in ganglions). However, this anthropocentric view fails to capture what it means for an animal to be sentient. Crustaceans and cephalopods undoubtedly experience the world in extremely different ways to ourselves.
What matters, though, is whether that experience entails conscious experience of pleasure and pain. We believe that the evidence is sufficient to show that these animals do experience pleasure and pain,” the report said.
The report points to scientific studies to back up their proclamations as well as the backing of multiple scientists.
Lorraine Platt, founder of CAWF said in The Guardian, “All but a very small minority of scientists agree these are sentient animals capable of pain and suffering. It’s very important they are kept in the animal sentience bill. My Octopus Teacher is a very moving film about a female octopus, about how clever she is, how she can avoid predators, sharks, on a daily basis. If I feel this way I am sure many others feel the same way.”
Sign this petition to tell the European Union to pass laws declaring that all animals are “sentient beings” with rights to legal protection!
Classify Animals as “Sentient Beings” With Legal Protection in the EU
Please think about the suffering that wil go on in this event; and the suffering and abuses of all sentient beings worldwide who will be murdered in the slaughterhouse today.
Animal rights pioneer Regan Russell, 65, was violently struck and killed by a pig transport truck in front of Sofina’s Fearmans slaughterhouse in Burlington, Ontario on Friday, June 19, 2020.
She regularly attended pig vigils and on this day was at a Toronto Pig Save vigil with other activists giving pigs water on one of the hottest days of the year.
Without warning, the driver of the lorry revved his engine and knocked Regan to the ground, cutting her body in half as she was dragged 30 meters.
It was murder!
Her legacy of love and compassion lives on. Up to her very last breath, she tried to expose the injustices that animals endure at our hands, and her story should be heard around the world.
WAV Comment: Now that is really cool news – who would have ever thought ? – the burger giant now seeing the future as palnt based. Well done Cologne !
A store in Cologne served meat-free burgers and plant-based nuggets from June 7-11 Credit: Burger King DE
Huge Queues Gather After Burger King Store Hosts ‘Plant-Based’ Takeover
In what has been described as a ‘world’s first’, one Burger King outlet ditched meat from its menu for a limited-time…
A Burger King store witnessed huge queues gathering outside after it hosted a plant-based takeover.*
One of the fast-food chain’s outlets in Cologne, Germany, ditched meat from June 7-11.
Burger King’s ‘plant-based’ takeover
In what has been described as a ‘world’s first’ – the store sold exclusively meat-free versions of its whopper and Chicken Royale burgers, as well as plant-based nuggets.
All vegan meat served was created by The Vegetarian Butcher – a Unilever-owned brand that partnered with Burger King last year.Pictures from social media show the restaurant’s exterior undergo a green makeover. Posters stating: ‘100 percent taste, 0 percent meat’ were displayed outside and inside the store.
‘The burgers were delicious’
“I was there today. It was really busy, people were standing outside,” one social media user wrote on Facebook.
“The burgers were delicious and tasted like the original. Thanks also to the great staff, who kept a clear head despite this rush and did a great job.”
Commenting on the success of the pop-up, Burger king Deutschland said: “Thank you cologne! “Thanks to the many, many enthusiastic guests. And especially thanks to our super team from the Plant-based Burger King Restaurant.
“For the past five days, you’ve been plant-based whopper and co. [You’ve] Made a lot of guests happy! Big shout out to all of you. You are simply plant-astic!”
*While all meat served during the meat-free takeover was vegan. Some items contained cheese and mayonnaise.
Before dying under a hail of bullets on Thursday, so-called Mpumalanga rhino poaching kingpin Petros “Mr Big” Mabuza (57) instilled fear wherever he went.
Mabuza lived a very adventurous and risky life as an alleged rhino poacher. He made a lot of cash, allegedly had police officers on his payroll and was not shy to splash his loot on what others may call hedonism. Most people called him by his clan name, Mshengu, as a sign of reverence.
According to Jamie Joseph, the director of Saving the Wild, who has been working closely with police to get Mabuza arrested and convicted for rhino poaching, the man from Hazyview lived a lavish lifestyle. “He has been throwing illegal parties which, according to someone in regular attendance, included naked women dancing on the tables, class A drugs on the bar dished out like canapés and armed guards at the entrance,” Joseph said.
The loaded man he was, Mabuza allegedly owned houses – from Hazyview, White River and Mbombela.
Mpumalanga police are on the trail of Mabuza’s killers.
Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, the provincial police spokesperson, said Mabuza was sitting in his double-cab Ford Ranger on Thursday in Hazyview when three armed men in a black VW Polo opened fire on him in broad daylight, before fleeing.
“He was rushed to hospital where he later succumbed to the gunshot injuries. During the shooting, an elderly woman passerby, also became a victim as she too was shot on her lower body but she is recuperating in hospital,” Hlathi said.
The motive for Mabuza’s killing was still unknown, Hlathi said. According to those who knew “Mr Big”, it will not be easy to pinpoint why he was a marked man because he had “multitudes of enemies” as he had interest in various “businesses”.
Beside his alleged involvement in the lucrative illicit rhino horn trade, he was also rumoured to be commanding and sponsoring cash-in-transit heists.
He was a bully at the rank and his profile is really, really bad
Local resident
“Another thing, he was a loan shark who confiscated people’s houses and cars. Even in the taxi business, he was a bully at the rank and his profile is really, really bad,” said a local resident.
The person said Mabuza started from “rock bottom, playing dice”, before he ventured into more illegal and serious businesses.
He was facing two rhino poaching charges in the Mpumalanga High Court. In one case he was out on R250 000 bail, He was charged alongside two accomplices. In another case he was out on R90 000 bail. He was arrested with five accomplices. Mabuza was first arrested in 2018.
Saving the Wild’s Joseph said had Mabuza lived long enough, he would not have been convicted because the courts in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, where his operation had extended, were “captured”.
“A successful conviction with a strong sentence would have sent a powerful message to other rhino poaching traffickers that government is serious about cracking down on wildlife crime – but they are not,” she said.
“Mabuza was a ruthless killer and stole the lives of many humans and rhino. And he got away with it for so long because of his political allies. We’re down to the last of the rhino and President Cyril Ramaphosa has never acknowledged the crisis,” she added.
Joseph was allegedly threatened by Mabuza and his henchmen during one of his court appearances.
Lieutenant Colonel Leroy Bruwer, of Mpumalanga Hawks, who was investigating rhino poaching cases, was assassinated on March 17 2020. The criminals waylaid him as he drove to work from his home in Sabie to Mbombela.
He was killed after he had testified in one of rhino poaching court cases.
Mr Big’s Ford Ranger found riddled with 17 bullet holes
Alleged rhino poaching kingpin Sydney Petros Mabuza was gunned down in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, on Thursday afternoon.
His car, a Ford Ranger, was found riddled with 17 bullet holes.
Mabuza, who was known as Mshengu and Mr Big in the community, was facing a number of charges, including rhino poaching and murder.
He was out on R200,000 bail for rhino poaching following his arrest in eMalahleni in 2019.
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Leonard Hlathi confirmed that Mabuza was killed.
“We are calling for the community of Hazyview to help us locate the suspects responsible for the fatal shooting, which is clearly a hit. The man was shot in broad daylight in town, in front of people, and we believe people have seen and know the wanted suspects. We call on the public to contact the police anonymously,” said Hlathi.
In footage that surfaced on social media, the bakkie is seen parked on the side of the road, next to it a black vehicle.
Several people are seen opening the bakkie’s doors as the black car drives off and makes a U-turn.
A number of men also come from the front passenger side and hop into the black vehicle before driving away.
In the footage, one can hear people screaming.
“We do not want to speculate if this was gang related or not but the investigation is going to lead us,” said Hlathi.
Hawks spokesperson in the Province Cpt Dineo Sekgotodi Said as the hawks dealing with cases of Mabuza they have come to know that he was shot dead on Thursday but that will not hinder their investigation as they have other suspects on the cases.
“We have got the news that one of the suspects in the rhino horn cases have been killed. But as we speak he was facing charges along other accused which means our investigation will not stop. There are other cases we are investigating around that and if his Murder was part of his crew hiding information we will know as the investigation progresses,” Said Sekgotodi.
In the case of the murder charge Mabuza faced, he and another three people allegedly conspired to murder a man who owed him money and then dumped his body in a river in Bushbuckridge.
It’s a few weeks since Bidelia was murdered and her tiny calf, Shriya became an orphan. Bidelia was found with her head and horns trapped under a cattle gate – her neck had been broken. Shriya, who was born blind, was traumatized and alone, trying to suckle from her dead mothers body.
This is Eilin ( Shriya), Bidelias beautiful calf. She is home with us now so we can care for her round the clock.
We housed the Irish cows in a rented barn close to the Sanctuary as we simply didn’t have enough housing here to accommodate everyone whom we were asked to save from slaughter last Winter. Nothing beats the security and comfort of being at Hugletts Wood. That we have learned, first -hand at the cost of sweet Bidelias life. Still reeling from the horror of it all, we have decided the safest move for us all is to improve the facilities we have here and bring everyone home, where they can be protected and cared for 24/7, as has been the case since 1995. We need to raise and renew an already massive roof, re-build and re-clad walls and utilize every inch we have available to ensure we have enough shelter for everyone, come Winter.
We urgently need to start work, to get everything finished and ready in time. We can do the work ourselves, as we usually do but after the most challenging of Winters, where our feed bills trebled and the haulage costs of bringing fodder from the North (as there was nothing available in East Sussex), have wiped us out financially, we simply cannot fund it.
Your help is needed to cover the cost of the basic materials, which will total £15,500, ( £15,506.90), with discounts applied.
Whatever you can donate will be much appreciated.
Together we can make this happen and ensure the memory of Bidelia lives on in the barn that will bear her name.
While we carry out the work, we plan to house the 20 cows in the other two barns so that they are no longer away from here whilst their usual residents are out grazing. This is only temporary, and we must be finished in time for Winter 2021.
Thank you for your support. It is never taken for granted and very much appreciated.
WAV Comment – If you are here in England and need a bit of Veggie / Vegan food; then check out this fantastic listing from Happy Cow. In addition, there is also a European lsting with over 58,000 listings – all European nations and a list of places to eat. We reproduce this from the data on the Happy Cow site – Vegan Restaurants in England (happycow.net)
Just for the record, Rochester in Kent is fairly near to me. ‘Food Glorious Food’ Vegan Restaurants in Rochester, England (happycow.net) is the restaurant there. Rochester was home to author Charles Dickens, hence the name; and Rochester is small but is also a city, complete with cathederal. It hasw a strking castle which we have enjoyed visiting many times. I show you a few pictures here.
Rochester has a ‘Dickens Festival’ each year, where folk dress up as Dickensian characters and walk through the high stret of the city – see lots of pictures at:
World Animals Voice 