Category: General News

Environmental, General News, Hunting

USA: New Campaign Brings Awareness to Wildlife Killing Contests in Wyoming.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2021

New Campaign Brings Awareness to Wildlife Killing Contests in Wyoming

Billboard Compels to #STOPTHEKILL of Wolves and Other Apex Predators

Cody, WY — Starting today, drivers traveling from Cody to Yellowstone National Park will see a large billboard featuring a captivating wolf and a call to action to “End Wildlife Killing Contests.” The billboard, funded by Wyoming Wildlife Advocates in partnership with the national organization Project Coyote, is part of a coordinated campaign to bring attention to the widespread but little known bloodsport of wildlife killing contests—events in which participants compete to kill the most, largest, or smallest animals for cash, guns or other prizes.

Wyoming is home to many of these contests, including the Wyoming Best of the Best and other privately run events. The Wyoming Best of the Best is a circuit of contests that draws people from around the region to Wyoming to kill target wildlife, primarily coyotes and foxes. Participants pay an entry fee and then build points in monthly events that run from December through February. Qualifying events are held in Kemmerer, Casper, Cheyenne, Lovell, Riverton, Rock Springs, and Newcastle, and a state championship is held in early November in Rock Springs. The number of contests that occur in Wyoming is difficult to assess because organizers and participants, aware that the majority of the public does not condone or support these events, operate mostly in secret with virtual check-ins and little oversight—but killing contests occur in or near most communities across the state.

In addition to smaller native carnivores like bobcats and coyotes, wildlife killing contests in Wyoming may also target imperiled wolves. Despite the fact that they are still recovering and bring essential tourism dollars to local economies, wolves are listed as trophy game animals in the northwest corner of the state where there is a hunting season and limits on the number of animals that can be killed. Even worse, they are considered a predator in the remaining 85% of the state, which means they can be killed at any time by any means with no oversight or hunting tag needed. This lack of regulations concerning fair chase, hunting seasons, quotas, night hunting and spotlighting, use of electronic calls, and the use of high-powered weapons does not protect animals considered “predators” in Wyoming and leads to egregious ethical violations on the part of contest participants.

Participants and proponents of killing contests claim that killing coyotes and other animals protects deer and elk and prevents livestock losses. Yet the best available science illustrates that randomly killing wildlife does not increase public safety or decrease conflicts with domestic animals. Seven states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Vermont, Washington) have enacted prohibitions on killing contests and have not observed increases in conflict. Four additional states (Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, and Virginia) are considering bans on killing contests.

Bans on killing contests are increasing as the public recognizes that coyotes and other native carnivores play key roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems, such as controlling rabbit and rodent populations, and that wildlife killing contests threaten the safety and well-being of hikers, dog walkers, bird watchers, hunters, and other outdoor enthusiasts. This billboard serves to raise awareness of the issue for the millions of people who visit Wyoming to see wildlife but do not realize the national park is a proverbial zoo and valued wildlife are slaughtered as soon as they step foot outside the park.

“Wildlife is held in the public trust by our wildlife managers and should be managed for all Wyoming residents,” said Kristin Combs, Executive Director of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates. “A minuscule number of people are involved in wildlife killing contests, meanwhile wildlife watchers and ethical hunters are left with virtually no voice in the management of animals classified as predators. All of these animals serve a valuable purpose in the ecosystem and don’t deserve to be randomly gunned down while just trying to raise their young and live out their lives.”

“Billboards are showing up across the country and raising public awareness about this barbaric practice, which will inspire people to take action and join the growing movement to ban wildlife killings contests nationwide,” said Camilla Fox, Executive Director and Founder of Project Coyote and Co-founder of the National Coalition to End Wildlife Killing Contests. “Most people have no idea this cruel and unnecessary bloodsport is happening in their state and they are shocked to learn that it is legal to slaughter animals en masse for cash prizes and awards. Once they become aware of this issue, they want to know how they can get involved to help end this cruelty. That’s why we steer them to ProjectCoyote.org to learn how they can get involved in this growing movement to end killing contests.”

“Wildlife killing contests serve no genuine ecological or wildlife management purpose,” said Michelle L. Lute, PhD in wildlife management and Project Coyote National Carnivore Conservation Manager. “These contests are mass slaughter events that may actually increase what are typically rare occurrences of conflict and undermine the valuable ecological roles of carnivores.”

Viewers of the billboards will be pointed to ProjectCoyote.org where they can view a new film about wildlife killing contests produced in partnership with National Geographic filmmakers and sign a petition to ban wildlife killing contests on federal public lands. The petition has thus far garnered over 60,000 signatures.

The National Coalition to End Wildlife Killing Contests, including co-founder Project Coyote, Wyoming Wildlife Advocates and 50+ other national wildlife and animal protection organizations, will continue to raise awareness in pursuit of policy changes at local, state, and national levels in 2021 and beyond.

* * * * *

Wyoming Wildlife Advocates is a non-profit organization focused on informing, educating, and empowering communities to preserve our wild legacy and protect our shared wildlife resources. We envision a Wyoming that leads the nation in exceptional and innovative wildlife management; all stakeholders are valued equally, and management decisions are driven by the best available science. Headquartered in Jackson, Wyoming, WWA has supporters in Wyoming, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and nationwide. Visit wyowild.org to learn more.

Project Coyote, a national non-profit organization, is a North American coalition of scientists, educators, ranchers, and citizen leaders promoting compassionate conservation and coexistence between people and wildlife through education, science and advocacy. Visit ProjectCoyote.org for more information.

To learn more about wildlife killing contests, visit the National Coalition to End Wildlife Killing Contests’ website here.

Watch the new film Wildlife Killing Contests and sign the petition here.

Regards Mark

General News

call things by their name-framing kills!

Article by Bettina Marie Schneider

Framing means that different formulations of a message – with the same content – influence the recipient’s behavior differently.
Politics has long made use of this.
Ugly messages are wrapped in friendly euphemisms: garbage dumps are turned into disposal parks, state surveillance is touted as internal security and a pause in growth sounds much more reassuring when it is referred to as a recession.

Well-sounding descriptions have also been invented for the cruelty that we do to animals every day. In this way, animal suffering is concealed, glossed over and trivialized.

“Artificial insemination” is rape using medical instruments that are forcibly inserted into the genitals of the restrained animal.

“Dressage riding” is a form of demonstration of power, as the horse is trained to be absolutely obedient. The movements are unnatural for the animals and usually also complicated. The controversial methods that are used to induce horses to “absolute obedience” leave every animal lover in disbelief about our legislation.

“Useful-animals” is a term that doesn’t really exist. If we degrade an animal to a “livestock” and thereby undermine its right to life and integrity, a pig remains a pig, a cattle remains a cattle and a chicken remains a chicken , It does not become an insensitive object through an empty phrase, even if we treat it as such.
The word “Useful”- animals only serves our conscience, so that cruelty to animals, exploitation and killing on a large scale are ethically justifiable.

Even the harmless word “stray” for homeless stray animals contains a great misconception.
“Strays” sounds like freedom and adventure.

You don’t have to worry about strays, they have chosen their own free life …
Anyone who knows the unspeakable suffering of homeless stray animals, hunger, mistreatment, survival in the icy cold without a refuge, always in desperate search for food, marked by deprivation, parasites and diseases … will quickly change this romantic perspective.


Don’t call homeless street animals “strays” … they are the only victims of our neglect and indifference and are in many places treated like rubbish, chased away, kicked, mistreated, poisoned and killed.

The “city pigeons” are also not “free birds” that happen to live in the city, but homeless animals that rely on human beings to take care of them.
They are starving to death in front of all of us. Many of them are the victims of “pigeon racing”.


A “sport” in which the animals are forcibly separated from their partner and their nest, then abandoned and their desperate effort to find their way back quickly, only serves to amuse the pigeon athletes and their “sporting ambition”.
The pigeons who die of exhaustion, are injured or stranded in unfamiliar cities in this attempt certainly find it not very “sporty”.


There are countless numbers, but nobody thinks of them when the melodious name “carrier pigeon sport” is mentioned.

Framing is ubiquitous when it comes to trivializing or covering up animal suffering and cruelty.
Since in many places great importance is attached to correct address and terminology, I would like to see the same awareness and attention for the linguistic contact with our fellow creatures.
Here I would like it to be very special!

Call things by their name! Only then can something change, because framing kills!

Bettina M. Schneider

And I mean…the language is instrumentalized by politicians, the media, the judiciary and, last but not least, by the church in order to ultimately retain what is already being practiced, namely the brutal exploitation of animals and their legalized enslavement.

Euphimisms are smoke candles and serve – intentionally or unintentionally – to stabilize the system because they distract from what is really important: the victims.
We must never allow our language to be taken from us by system-compliant framing, because our language is our most important weapon.
If we want to defend animals successfully, we must not give away the freedom to think, speak and act

My best regards to all, Venus

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Vegan Recipes

England: 23/5/21 Vegan Bites; Enjoy.

Hi all you little rascal fellow activists; here are some latest Vegan Bite issues which we hope you will enjoy reading – hit the road and be a voice;

For the animals;

Regards Mark

23/5/21 Vegan Bites

Australia’s Meat Consumption Hits Lowest For 25 Years, According To New Report

Australia’s Meat Consumption Hits Lowest For 25 Years, Says Report (plantbasednews.org)

Greta Thunberg Calls For An End To Animal Agriculture In Biodiversity Day Film

Biodiversity Day: Greta Thunberg Calls For Animal Agriculture End (plantbasednews.org)

GRETA THUNBERG IN NEW FILM: IF WE DON’T STOP EXPLOITING ANIMALS, “WE ARE F*CKED” 

Greta Thunberg in New Film: If We Don’t Stop Exploiting Animals, “We Are F*cked”  | VegNews

SOAP LEGEND DR. BRONNER’S IS LAUNCHING VEGAN CHOCOLATE CANDY BARS

Soap Legend Dr. Bronner’s Is Launching Vegan Chocolate Candy Bars | VegNews

HERE ARE TRUTHS ABOUT DAIRY AND WHY YOU SHOULD FINALLY DITCH DAIRY FROM YOUR DIET.

Ditch Dairy – Here are 10 Reasons to Ditch Dairy From Your Diet For Good (myvegandreams.com)

VEGAN MILK ALTERNATIVES

Vegan Milk Alternatives – Let’s Discuss Your Options (myvegandreams.com)

Crackd To Launch National Ad Campaign Showcasing Vegan Eggs, Eyes Global Expansion

Crackd To Launch Campaign Showcasing Vegan Eggs, Eyes Expansion (plantbasednews.org)

Bryan Adams And Joanna Lumley Help Donate 100,000 Vegan Meals Amid India’s 2nd Wave Of COVID-19

Bryan Adams And Joanna Lumley Support Vegan Food Aid In India | Plant Based News

Viva ! – Our favourite chocolates on the shop…

Food – Tagged “Category_Chocolate” – Gifts for Life | Viva! (vivashop.org.uk)

UK – Not a happy Sausage !

(20+) Farms Not Factories – Posts | Facebook

(20+) Farms Not Factories | Facebook

World Champion Athlete Carl Lewis Says He’s Been ‘Mostly’ Plant-Based For Over 25 Years

Sprint Legend Carl Lewis Says He’s Been Mostly Plant-Based For 25 Years | Plant Based News

Chef Rene Johnson is Leading A Mouth Watering Vegan Soul Food Revolution! / Look: PicsVideos

Chef Rene Johnson is Leading A Mouth Watering Vegan Soul Food Revolution! / Look: PicsVideos | EURweb

Runner: My ‘superpower’ vegan diet helped me smash record

My ‘superpower’ vegan diet helped me smash running record (nypost.com)

Impossible Foods Has Just Launched Frozen Patties at Supermarkets Across the U.S!

Impossible Foods Has Just Launched Frozen Patties at Supermarkets Across the U.S! — Oops Vegan

Easy Vegan Lunch Wrap

Easy Vegan Lunch Wrap | The Green Loot

 

We have covered this recently but it is worth showing again – what happens in the milk business;

Disturbing moment dairy farmer beats baby goats to death with a metal pole – before dragging their convulsing bodies away in front of their mothers

Disturbing moment dairy farmer beats baby goats to death with a metal pole – before dragging their convulsing bodies away in front of their mothers | Animal Liberation Victoria | Fighting for Animal Rights (alv.org.au)

THE 32 BEST VEGAN FOOD FINDS AT WALMART: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

The 32 Best Vegan Food Finds at Walmart: The Ultimate Guide | VegNews

… and the message is …

do something

I have been a Stranglers fan since I was young – a long time ago; Boom Boom !:

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Hunting, Live Transport, Uncategorized

England (UK): Who’s Pulling the Green (Animal Welfare and Environmental) Strings in Number 10 ? – Possibly These for Sure.

No. 10 mouser Larry celebrates 10 years of being most influential cat in politics

Above – Larry the Cat Belongs to No. 10 Downing Street – Government Residence.

WAV Comment – As an Englishman and animal activist, I (Mark) can remember for many years the fact that the Conservative Party viewed the animal welfare movement as the lowest of the low.  We; ‘the low’, always said in response; ‘do you not realise what additional votes there are from the animal / environmental movement if only you undertook some serious animal welfare issues’.  Our advice never worked; until recently that is; with Carrie Symonds doing her bit for welfare, and good others like Zak; Theresa Villiers, Sir Roger Gale and Sir David Amess; there is a realisation in the Conservatives that animals and the environment ARE actual issues that get them additional votes.  The following is an interesting article (link referenced at end) – I have included photos of thos described so that you ascertain who people are; and who ‘may be pulling green strings at No. 10’ (Downing Street.

Regards Mark

Who’s pulling the green strings in Number 10 ?

There are two – or possibly three – interpretations of the Government’s sudden conversion to the cause of animal welfare. The inclusion of a range of measures in the Queen’s Speech, including recognising animal sentience, ending the export of live animals and taking steps to stop people keeping primates as pets, is a far cry from a Conservative Party that only four years ago was promising its MPs a free vote on bringing back fox hunting.

Many people have, of course, pointed the finger at the prime minister’s fiancée Carrie Symonds, known for her work in the field of marine conservation, now employed by the conservation charity the John Aspinall Foundation. 

Boris's girlfriend Carrie Symonds blasts 'sick and cowardly' trophy hunters who shoot puffins as she wears £225 sustainable eco-dress and wellies in first solo speech
Above – Carrie Symonds – Fiancee to the Prime Minister.

Gossip about her influence over Boris Johnson and his seemingly new-found passion for green issues goes back to 2019, when environment secretary Theresa Villiers told Natural England to scrap the planned badger cull in Derbyshire. 

Theresa Villiers MP appointed as the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs | Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation
Above – Theresa Villiers (Yellow Jacket) – Politician and anti live animal export campaigner.

Symonds had been briefed by Dominic Dyer, until last December the chief executive of the Badger Trust, and – so the story goes – she pleaded with Johnson to intervene.

“I gave her information to give to Boris and he brought it up in Cabinet,” Dyer confirmed to ENDS. “Her intervention was significant because she understood the issue, her views were clear and she was a patron of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF), a group that had worked hard to build a platform against badger culling.”

The NFU later took out a Judicial Review against Villiers’ decision, and the High Court judgment – though it rejected the farmers’ claim – found considerable evidence for Johnson putting pressure on DEFRA ministers to halt culling in Derbyshire.

In fact, Dyer believes it would have been easy to persuade Johnson that stopping the cull was the smart thing to do. The county was in the middle of the so-called ‘Red Wall’ that the Conservatives would target in the looming (though yet to be announced) General Election. “She told him you could be shooting badgers that have been vaccinated, and there’s no public support for that – that’s why he intervened,” Dyer said. “He didn’t want this issue coming up on the doorstep.”

Below – Lorraine Platt at badger cull demo.

Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation at No10 on the important implications of Brexit and animal welfare | Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation

But there’s another view. CAWF founder Lorraine Platt has been working for more than a decade with sympathetic MPs to fundamentally change the party’s approach to all manner of animal welfare issues. “It’s important to remember that patrons have had key influential roles in promoting animal welfare for many years, sometimes decades,” Platt told ENDS. “Sir Roger Gale and Sir David Amess have both been in Parliament for 37 years.”

Tory MP Sir Roger Gale: I don't need to justify paying my wife with taxpayers' money
Sir Roger with pet dog.

Below – Sir David Amess

Sir David Amess MP awarded Cruelty Free International MP of the month | Cruelty Free International

And, indeed, Platt argues, Johnson wrote a piece in the Daily Telegraph in 2018 arguing for an end to live animal exports. “He used his first speech on the steps of Downing Street as prime minister to talk about animal welfare, the first PM to have done that,” she said.

But if the animal welfare and broader environmental issues are really genuine passions for Johnson, then he appears to have a mixed record in advocating them. True, he’s written pieces about elephants and pangolins, but go back a decade or more and you can find articles questioning the science of climate change and rejecting recommendations from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

“If they seriously believe that I am going to give up eating meat – in the hope of reducing the temperature of the planet – then they must be totally barmy,” he wrote. Does this suggest that his embrace of green issues is superficial or that it has come later, raising once again the influence of his new partner?

CAWF patron Sir David Amess suggested to ENDS that giving Symonds all the credit for the government’s commitment to animal welfare would be to ignore the work of many other people.

“I can’t pretend to know the lady, I’ve met her once at the Conservative Party conference,” he said, “but I’ve got no evidence for her influence over these issues. I know that [environment secretary] George Eustice and [environment minister] Zac Goldsmith were talking positively about these things way before she came on the scene.” Dyer also acknowledges the considerable influence of Goldsmith in Number 10. 

UK to ban import of trophy hunting souvenirs to help rare animals | Metro News
Zac Goldsmith (right) – key person in stopping UK trophy hunt imports.

So, Johnson’s new-found commitment to animal welfare could be down to Symonds, but it could also – or equally – be down to the fact that the Conservative Party, and the people who vote for it, have changed. Changing tack makes political sense. 

And the third possibility? That it is intended to distract from other other measures, such as the proposed reforms to the planning system, that will have adverse impacts on the environment. Throw the blue-green voters a bone so they look away from potentially less palatable actions elsewhere, could be the thinking. 

Dyer agrees there are contradictions within the Conservative agenda, whether it’s HS2 or airport expansions. “These are big issues and there are vested interests that will push back the other way,” he said.

Symonds, in other words, may have influence, but so do plenty of other people.

General News, Hunting

Overfishing with the blessing of the EU

Report by Martin Buschmann – MEP

The short-finned mako is a shark that can be found in almost all seas on earth.

However, its widespread distribution does not prevent it from being extinguished. The stocks are showing strong signs of overfishing and the animal has long been on the red list.

Mako Shark, the fastest shark in the world : An Endangered Species

Most of the mako ends up as bycatch in the nets of the fishing industry. But it is also caught specifically to eat its meat, cut off its fins or just for pleasure. 3000 tons of the ocean shark are landed in the ports of the North Atlantic every year.

The EU is responsible for 55 to 76% of the landings, mostly Spanish ports.

Swift and drastic measures must be taken to keep short-fin mako populations from becoming extinct. An in-depth investigation was conducted in 2017, which found that a recovery would be possible in the coming decades – but only if shark trapping is immediately and completely stopped.

For four years, however, the EU has been putting its hands on its lap, nothing has happened.

In 2019 and 2020, the EU even voted against restricting mako fishing.

In the meantime, the forecasts have clearly deteriorated. Another meeting will take place in 2021 to vote on global fishing quotas. Is the EU finally coming to its senses?

Only the EU and the US are still against the moratorium on short-finned mako. All other states will vote in favor.

Shrtfin Mako Shark face forward

https://www.facebook.com/Tierschutzabgeordneter/

And I mean…Mako sharks grow and reproduce slowly.
Females are slow maturing at approximately 18 years, while males mature much sooner, at 8 years.
Similar to great white shark pups, once born these baby sharks are left to fend to for themselves.
That means: a female shortfin Mako shark is estimated to reach sexual maturity at around 18 years, giving birth to relatively small litters (4-25 pups every 3 years).
Let’s think about what this means for a moment.

A female Mako sharks reproducing and giving birth to a litter for the first time this year would have been born around the year 2003!
This life history characteristic makes these apex predators extremely vulnerable to over-exploitation.

We read in the report that in 2019 and 2020 the EU even voted against restricting mako fisheries.
Like USA too.

But what common economic interests does the EU have if it supports the USA in eradicating Mako sharks from the oceans?
Actually none.
It is only because the EU has only ever cooperated with the powerful, no matter whether it’s the USA, the auto industry or the meat mafia

At the next meeting we will not be surprised if the EU re-enters as a cooperation partner of the USA and represents the interests of criminals again.

My best regards to all, Venus

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport, Uncategorized

UK: Breaking 22/5/21 – McDonald’s depots blockaded by up to 50,000 animal activists demanding chain goes vegan. Mc Unhappy !

*There’s no McCafe on a dead planet.*

Breaking – 22/5/21

McDonald’s depots blockaded by animal activists demanding chain goes vegan


McDonald’s distribution centres which supply around 1,300 restaurants have been blockaded by animal rights protestors demanding the chain goes vegan.

Around 50,000 members of Animal Rebellion have descended on four of the fast food giant’s major sites in a bid to persuade it to introduce a fully plant-based menu by 2025.


Read the latest and see photos at:

McDonald’s depots blockaded by activists demanding chain goes vegan | Metro News

Photos – Metro, London.

Animal Rebellion activists blockade McDonald's
Image
GRABS:Animal Rebellion activists blockade McDonald's
Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Uncategorized

EU: 21/5/21 Breaking News – Very Positive News; EU Citizens’ Initiative: MEPs Back Calls to Gradually END CAGED FARMING by 2027 ?

WAV Comment – you read it here first ! – please stay with us.

BREAKING NEWS 21/5/21.

EU Citizens’ Initiative: MEPs back calls to gradually end caged farming

Press Releases

The use of cages in animal farming could be phased out by 2027, after an impact assessment and a properly funded transition, the Agriculture Committee said on Friday.

In their response to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “End the Cage Age”, MEPs called on the European Commission to come up with a draft EU law on fair and sustainable farming and to propose a revision of existing EU rules on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. These legal changes should pave the way to phasing out the use of cages in EU animal farming, after an appropriate transition period and a solid, scientific impact assessment, possibly by 2027, they say.

Alternatives to cage farming exist and are being successfully implemented in a number of member states, MEPs say. These alternative systems should be further improved and encouraged at national level, but to ensure a level-playing field for farmers across the European Union, EU legislation is needed, they add.

Species-by-species approach and properly funded transition

The gradual end of caged farming should be based on a species-by-species approach that would take into account the characteristics of different animals and ensure that they all have housing systems that suit their specific needs, MEPs say. They insist on ensuring sufficient time to make the transition and proper support, including adequate advisory and training services, incentives and financial programmes for farmers and livestock breeders before making any legislative changes. This would avoid farmers losing their competitive edge and EU production being consequently relocated abroad, where animal welfare standards are lower than in the EU.

MEPs also call for a more comprehensive food policy to support the shift towards a more sustainable food system that should focus not only on environmental, but also on economic and social dimensions. Such a policy should prevent small and medium-sized farms from abandoning livestock production and stop production being further concentrated in the hands of a few large farms, they say.


Same standards for all imported products

A fair trade policy that ensures a level playing field is a precondition for higher European standards, the Agriculture Committee says. The Commission and member states should therefore focus more on putting effective controls and customs checks in place to ensure that imported agri-food products meet EU animal welfare standards, it adds.

MEPs want all animal products imported into the EU to be produced in full compliance with the relevant EU legislation, including the use of cage-free farming systems and insist that existing trade deals should be re-evaluated to ensure that the same animal welfare and product quality standards are met. They also call on the Commission to promote animal welfare internationally.

Next steps

The draft resolution, approved in the Agriculture Committee by 39 votes in favour to four against, with three abstentions, will now have to be scrutinised by the Parliament as a whole, probably during the 7-10 June plenary session.

Background

The European Citizens’ Initiative allows one million citizens from at least a quarter of EU member states to ask the European Commission to propose legislation in areas that fall within its competence. The EU invites organisers of successful initiatives to present their initiative at a public hearing in the European Parliament, to the committee responsible for the subject matter.

During the public hearing on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “End the Cage Age” on 15 April, MEPs highlighted the importance of listening and acting on citizens’ concerns on animal welfare. However, many insisted that any potential phase-out of caged farming requires proper financial support, incentives and an adequate transition period. They called for strict and efficient measures to avoid imports of cheaper products with lower animal welfare standards from non-EU countries. Some also called for a proper impact assessment and insisted on EU legislative action.

The “End the Cage Age” ECI was registered with the EU Commission on 5 September 2018. By the time of submission, the initiative had gathered support from almost 1.4 million signatories from across the EU, with the required threshold for signatures met in 18 member states.

The initiative calls on the Commission to “end (…) inhumane treatment” of “hundreds of millions of EU farm animals (…) kept in cages for most of their lives”, and for an EU law to ban the use of: cages for laying hens, rabbits, pullets, broiler breeders, layer breeders, quail, ducks and geese; farrowing crates for sows; sow stalls, where not already prohibited; and individual calf pens, where not already prohibited.

EU Citizens’ Initiative: MEPs back calls to gradually end caged farming | News | European Parliament (europa.eu)

Regards Mark

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

EU: Final vote on the ban of Estonian fur farms in June.

Final vote on the ban of Estonian fur farms in June

20 May 2021

Loomus

WAV Comment – Estonia joined the EU as a member state on 9 December 2010.

The Environment Committee has agreed that the draft Act for Animal Protection and Nature Conservation, which would prohibit fur farms in Estonia, will be put to a final vote on June 2nd.

This announcement has brought joy and optimism to our Estonian member organisation Loomus. “Loomus has been working on the fur ban for years and the decision that the Environment Committee made today takes us very close to finally put an end to this cruel industry. We are glad that the politicians are taking animal-friendly steps and we are very optimistic that this time the farms will be banned,” said Annaliisa Post, Communications Manager and Board Member at the animal advocacy organization.

According to a Kantar Emor poll conducted in September, 75 percent of Estonians are opposed to the breeding of animals such as foxes and minks for their fur. In 2016, 69 percent of respondents agreed, indicating that support for a fur-free Estonia is growing.

Read more at source

Loomus : Estonian parliament will make a decision on banning fur farms in June

Best wishes to our friends at Loomus for a BIG victory in June; the public are behind you with support;

Regards Mark

Great news – click to read more:

Prominent Estonian fashion designer Tiina Talumees is fur free – Loomus