Category: General News

General News, Hunting

Sweden: Mass Seal Hunting – Sweden Attempting to Overturn EU Ban – Trophy Hunters ? – Please Read On….

 

2/1/21

Hans has been in contact with us direct from Sweden.

There is a situation now where seals (3 species) can be shot and killed – and this ‘service’ is being snapped up by organisations who are trying to get trophy hunters to pay and kill.

We are repeating the info from Hans below; complete with the links which have some graphic photos on them.  Note there is also a petition site link if you want to sign against this.

Thanks go to Hans for drawing this issue to our attention, which we are putting out for the world to know about.


Un edited info from Hans:



Here in Sweden, they are now letting people shoot and kill thousands of seals of 3 different species, information here:

 


https://www.thepetitionsite.com/sv/253/746/017/stoppa-s%C3%A4ljakten-nu-demand-and-end-to-the-seal-hunt-now/

Precisely, the killing quota is 3300, and they are also inviting trophy hunters, Swedes as well as foreigners, to pay for hunts. Here is an example of seal trophy hunting in Sweden for sale, containing many grisly images of satisfied customers:


https://www.sealhunt.se/viner/

The price is, 5500 Swedish kroner for a hunt without training, and 3500 Swedish kroner for a hunt with training, it can be done from rocks, islands and even boats. The images contains both male and female customers who paid to shoot these seals in Sweden in 2020. Its everything from baby seals to fully grown adult seals. This is perfectly legal in Sweden and the EU because the products are not commercially sold. Its legal to kill, but not to sell the byproducts of the kill. However on this website you can pay 500 Swedish kroner for someone to preserve the skin so you can bring it home as a trophy.

More images from the same website where the hunts are sold:

https://www.sealhunt.se/var-berattelse/

Thanks for highlighting it!

The ban is on seal products, what many don’t know is that there is not a ban on killing seals as such, for any reason including sport! The authorities justify it with the exact same argument as Canada and Namibia, that the seals eat the fish. 

Out of the 3300 quota, there is a quota of 2000 grey seals, and here you can follow the hunt updates live by the Swedih EPA (Environmental “Protection” Agency)

https://www.naturvardsverket.se/Stod-i-miljoarbetet/Rattsinformation/Beslut/Beslut-om-jakt-och-vilt/beslut-sal/Sal/

So far for the 2020/21 season, the quota has been half filled. The regions reporting most kills are Gävleborg (154), Kalmar (141), and Stockholm, yes, Stockholm the Swedish capital (104).

Furthermore, Sweden is trying to repeal the EU seal products ban, possibly to remove it entirely, or to at least have an opt-out from it. Here you can see an official document from Swedish authorities to the EU. They claim that seal hunt is a long lasting Swedish tradition since well, the last ice age. This is NOT something Sweden proudly boast about very often in international relations. Without the UK being in the EU, it could be considerably easier to repeal the EU seal products ban now. 

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/biodiversity/animal_welfare/seals/pdf/factsheet/Annex%20to%20Sweden%20report%20-%20Comments_from_Sweden_on_the_EU_seal_regime.pdf

 

 

Quote from first part of the document, you can follow the link and read the rest:

“Seal hunt has been a part of Swedish culture and history since the repopulation of the region after the latest ice age. Hunting for seal was a way of getting meat, skin and bones for tools, jewelry and weapons. For the more modern day small scale coastal fisheries the seal has been an important source of meat and skin and a way to get an extra income. The ban on trading with seal products implies large problems for the coastal fishery in Sweden. With the ban fewer people hunt for seal while an increasing population has caused fishstocks with parasites, competition for the fish and the destruction of fishing gear. Aspects raised by national agencies

A key concern highlighted by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is the effect of the current seal regime through its trade ban which prevents the use of the seal as a resource. The Agency moreover stresses that seal hunting is an integrated part of the Swedish game management and that the way the EU Seal regime works could prevent the effective management of the game population with decreased interest in seal hunting as a result. In particular, this could have a damaging effect on small-scale coastal fishing which depends on hunting and where a proper manegement of the population is key in order to prevent serious damages to catch and equipment.

The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management welcomes a revision of the ban on trade with seal products as this could help to

A short comment on the subject from me even though the good article by Mark said it all.

We are very happy when we receive reports of crime or abuse against animals from our readers.
We inform ourselves daily, but help is always welcome.
Today comes a message from “civilized” Sweden, which proves that when it comes to money, status, and above all corruption in governments, then the old saying from the good Karl Marx applies (analogously), “Animal exploiters of all countries, unite”!

It is hard to believe that a country like Sweden, without economic or social hardship, adopts methods with seal trophies as countries in Africa do with game hunting for trophies, but often out of necessity.

It is also shameful that the Swedish Government and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency have dragged the entire nation into the mud because of some greedy fishermen and their lobbyists in the government and want to obtain a license to execute 2,000 seals.

The government should know (and if not inform itself) that the ridiculous excuse for the dangers in the fishery is not from the hunter seals, but from the criminal industrial fisheries and the climatic damage, it causes.
We have always considered Sweden very civilized when it comes to animal welfare.

In this case, Sweden has to prove that.
Because a trophy ban is a MUST for civilized countries.
We support the enlightened animal rights activists in Sweden and think the petition is great!

Please sign. ALL!

My best regards to all, Venus

 

General News

The 10 Best Cities to Be Vegan in Europe, According to Experts.

The 10 Best Cities to Be Vegan in Europe, According to Experts

The 10 Best Cities to Be Vegan in Europe, According to Experts (chooseveg.com)

Your dream list of future vacation destinations is ready to be finalized! Consumer spending experts at money.co.uk analyzed cities across Europe to find the best locations for vegans. Among other factors, the researchers considered the number of vegan restaurants and plant-based takeout services and the cost of cooking a vegan meal at home.

Here are their findings!

London – England

Krakow – Poland

Glasgow – Scotland

Seville – Spain

Madrid – Spain

Berlin – Germany

Stockholm – Sweden

Valencia – Spain

Vienna – Austria

Barcelona – Spain

Proteins in a Vegan diet – check it out here:

Proteins in the Vegan Diet | Guide | Gourmandelle

General News

for the new year…

Dear friends,

Another year of cruelty to animals is over and a new year of cruelty to animals begins.
If we honestly and disillusioned draw a balance about the facts in animal welfare for the old year, we should admit that every crime was allowed and every crime was possible again.
So we can safely assume that it will again be a fascist-coordinated dance of death for the animals, led by a disinterested majority of society together with corrupt governments.

And yet we are determined to continue our struggle.
Because of our experience we know:
who fights can lose
who does not fight has already lost

But in view of the ever stronger and legalized violence from the side of the rulers, tactics, and methods are required and we have to rethink this.
We have to act more courageously, more directly, and more massively.
And there’s one thing we don’t have to ignore: we have to stay united.

I wish that to every one of us for the coming year.

My best wishes and regards to all, Venus

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

England: Good Campaigning Wishes for 2021.

Well here we are on the last day of 2020.  It is a cold and frosty day here in Southern England; but loads of good, healthy food has been put out this morning for all our feathered friends; and it is a pleasure to see them, all popping down for something to eat before they fly off to who knows where.

News years eve is also a time for reflection on the past year.  Both Venus and I are very strong supporters of direct action; you have to take to the streets and elsewhere to get your message across.   Never rely on government actions as the only route to change, it wont happen; they have to be shamed into taking action for the better, which takes years !.  This year (2020) especially has been a very testing time for millions of good people all over the world.  You have been limited in the actions you can take in being a voice; for example; anti export friends I have here in England have been threatened (for breaking Covid regulations) with £10,000 fines if they take to the docks and try to do what they have always done; that is trying stop live animals from being exported to their deaths in Europe.  In a lot of ways, Covid has worked very well for the authorities; we are all being confined and controlled in what we are allowed to do; the big brother is watching you (via your mobile phones ?) and we (WAV) are probably being monitored by ‘the better people’ from somewhere; so that in the future we can have god knows what thrown back at us should things ever get ‘legal’.

Change for the better has only ever happened because good people have got up off their butts and made it happen.  Please remember that for 2021; when you take actions in defence of the animals.

I started to write here about our live export campaign in England; as a bit of an example; but have decided not to include here as it is too long and possibly irrelevant. 

People take action for animals in many, many different ways.  You do what you feel is right with you and what suits your personal situation best.  This year especially, we have to remember Regan Russell  Search Results for “regan russell” – World Animals Voice  who paid the ultimate price for her dedication towards making a better life and less suffering for animals. 

Just like our own dear Jill here in England who lost her life on 1st February 1995  Search Results for “jill phipps” – World Animals Voice  whilst trying to be a voice for young, exported calves out of Coventry airport; by an arms dealer and convicted drug smuggler.  26 years on in 2021, Jill is quite rightly still remembered in ceremonies at the ports and elsewhere; a young, beautiful and compassionate girl taken out by those involved in a trade which involves so much suffering and abuse by those who do not deserve it.

Tribut für Jill Phipps – YouTube

Remembering Jill, an animal hero – YouTube

I still find it hard to watch these – but now finally at the end of 2020 / Jan 2021 we in the UK are contributing to a government consultation which will hopefully see and end to all live animal exports from the UK.  Jill would have been so receptive of the fact that finally, after  so many years of campaigning; we can now hold the UK government to account and make the demands of stopping this disgusting business.

There is a common theme which runs though all of this;  Jill was taken from her mum Nancy all those years ago; the baby calves she was trying to protect had already been taken from their mums; the tiny hens in intensive systems are taken from their mums and immediately murdered; or put into the abusive cages for yet more egg production.  Baby pigs are taken from their mothers at such an early age; baby dogs in puppy mills; baby lambs hauled off to the slaughterhouse ready for Easter; all issues that go back to youngsters being taken away from the only security they have, and need most at the time when they are separated.

I wish you all a great 2021 and hope that all your dreams and wishes come to fruition.  The fight for giving animals a voice and stopping cruelty the world over is down to the majority now – and we are a majority; getting bigger and stronger every day in direct opposition to the abusers.  They are going to be named and shamed; exposed for all the abuses they undertake.  We at WAV are committed to that for sure.

The animal rights / welfare issue is growing massively; even in places which you never really expect it to.  It is now so easy to become Vegan and throw all cruelty associated with old diets and the cruel methods associated with their production out of the window.

More than many things; I now think the good folk of the USA will see so many positives for animals and the environment after January 2021.  The same with the Amazon; the lungs of our planet.  Many excellent groups who fight tooth and nail for better things; the right things; have been shot down at every step by the problems that live in the White House and other government buildings the world over.  Personally; I think 2021 will be a new year and much better year for you all.  ‘Keep on keeping on’ as we say here ! – for animals and their environment. 

Knowledge, publicity and the use of the internet is something that is with so many of us now each and every day – we can inform the world of abuses and negative issues the same day; and bring about necessary change – that is what 2021 brings for you.  So use it; there is no need for abuse or bad name calling of the abusers; we all hold feelings that may resemble that in our own consciousness; but try to keep polite and respectful regardless; lets continue to get friends by exposing what the others do – and turn any acquaintances they may have away from them.

I just feel that 2021 is going to be a good year for us; 2020 was different but so many positives have happened that the only way now is up; a continuation from 2020.

With the new legal action by UK activists to bring intensive farming to the fore – England: RSPCA calls for cut in meat and dairy as Activists Launch Legal Fight to End Factory Farming. A Real Tester for the Government. – World Animals Voice  lets hope that 2021 sees the start of all cages being broken open and getting what they deserve – ie being trashed !

This track has nothing to do with this post; but we need to go out of the year with a bang; I loved the original Quo (there is only the original); and I and many friends enjoyed following and watching them all over the UK.  It starts off a bit slow, but as a guitar head, I can tell you it just gets better; so take time out and enjoy.

Stick with us please; for the animals;

Regards Mark

Farm Animals, General News

The vegan fashion revolution

After talks with PETA, designer Monique Lhuillier banned fur 🙌

This decision will save countless animals from being confined to cramped and filthy wire cages before being violently killed for their fur. https://peta.vg/30h6

The list of fashion designers who have banned fur from their range is now long.
And therefore makes us happy.

After 20+ years of PETA protests against kangaroo-fur loafers & seal-fur boots, @Gucci finally pledged to join the #FurFree fashion houses.

That was in 2017

VICTORY! After decades of massive pressure from PETA & activists, the largest US department store @Macys just announced it will stop selling fur!

That was in 2019

VICTORY! After years of pressure from PETA, @RebeccaMinkoff
NO LONGER sells fur.

Nov 18, 2019

Whether it came from an animal raised on a fur farm or trapped in the wild, every fur coat, fur accessory, or bit of fur trim caused tremendous suffering and took a life.

There’s no need to be cruel to stay warm and look cool.
Vegan furs and other animal-free fabrics are available in stores everywhere, and PETA continues to work with designers and clothing retailers to encourage them to enact fur bans and to use and sell only animal-friendly fabrics.

The vegan fashion revolution is here, and fur is definitely out.
These days, fur-free is the norm. What’s truly shocking is that some out-of-touch companies such as Canada Goose continue to sell the cruelly obtained material.

These Fashion Companies and Brands Have Banned Fur

And I mean...Yes! we can speak of great progress.
Corona has also done a lot to expedite this fur farm elimination process.
Millions of fur animals were cruelly killed despite not self-infecting corona, but many fur farms were closed as a result.

We would like to hope that our struggle on all levels has also contributed to the fact that many people today regard fur as a product of torture and renounce it.

But fur is still sold and carried on because this society does not voluntarily give up the privilege of slave ownership.
Therefore our struggle will continue.

We fight for the abolition of all fur farms

My best regards to all, Venus

General News

Franz Kafka- we agree with you!

 

Franz Kafka is thought to have uttered these words to fish he was admiring in an aquarium.
The novelist is believed to have been attracted to a meat-free diet for health reasons – and, like many of the great brains who ditched meat – out of respect for animals.

We’re not sure the anecdote is true.
But we are sure of one thing: people who can look animals in the eyes without feeling guilty are getting more and more.

Regards and good night, Venus

General News, Uncategorized

PETA Victories for Animals in 2020.

WAV Comment – 2020 has been a ‘different’ year for everyone; but just take some time out here to reflect on what an amazing year 2020 has been for the betterment of animal rights – and this is just from the PETA campaign angle. There are many others also.

Be proud if you were involved; and better still, make your 2021 new year resolution one that you will continue the fight. Who knows what victories will be achieved in 2021. ?

Be part of it – be a voice.

Regards Mark