Category: General News

General News

USA: Petition – The Dickhead Dreadhead Cowboy.

WAV Comment:  Think he should be called the ‘Dickhead Cowboy’; as that is what he is.  Please sign and support the petition.

Petition Link:  https://www.animalvictory.org/_dreadhead_cowboy_rode_20-year-old_horse_to_exhaustion_on_expressway_during_rush_hour?utm_source=Animal+Victory&utm_campaign=c5ab650092-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_07_28_06_59_COPY_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d729f4e54c-c5ab650092-353576184&mc_cid=c5ab650092&mc_eid=90c110afe5

Adam Hollingsworth, Chicago’s so-called “Dreadhead Cowboy,” used a 20-year-old horse as a prop while staging a protest on the Dan Ryan Expressway during rush hour. The stunt, which went on for seven miles, left the senior horse so exhausted that she collapsed. Hollingsworth is facing felony animal cruelty charges because his horse, NuNu, was injured badly enough during the incident that it was initially believed that she would have to be euthanized.

This stunt is unacceptable and Hollingsworth needs to pay for the pain and suffering that he inflicted on this horse!

Please sign this petition asking for Adam Hollingsworth to receive the maximum sentence for his felony aggravated animal cruelty charge!

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Adam Hollingsworth chose to ride the 20-year-old horse, without oroper shoes, for seven agonizing miles on the expressway. By the time the publicity stunt was over, NuNu had collapsed on the pavement in utter exhaustion. Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Deboni described the horse’s condition in a Fox 32 News piece, stating that she was, “overheated, dehydrated, bleeding from the hooves, and with eyes so dilated they resembled ‘cartoon eyes.'”

Cook County prosecutors equated what Hollingsworth did to NuNu to forcing an 80-year-old woman run a full marathon.

Hollingsworth could have chosen a humane way to protest. He could have walked the Expressway on his own feet, but instead, he put an ill-fitting saddle on an old horse who wasn’t fitted with proper shoes. Witnesses have stated that he whipped NuNu when she was too tired to go on, and he continued riding her until she fell to the ground in utter exhaustion.

Animal Care workers initially believed that the ailing horse would not survive, but she is still alive and has been moved to an Illinois horse farm where she is recovering from the incident. Though she is reported to be out of critical condition, it has been stated that she was injured badly enough that she can never be ridden again.

Hollingsworth’s behaviour is unacceptable. Please sign the petition asking for maximum punishment for the felony aggravated animal cruelty charge, and an order for Hollingsworth to be prohibited from owning horses!

News:

ABC 7 Chicago

Fox 32 Chicago

WTTW News

Regards Mark

Farm Animals, General News

England: Farm animals and pandemics: Nine diseases that changed the world.

Above – A sickly young woman sits covered up on a balcony; death (a ghostly skeleton clutching a scythe and an hourglass) is standing next to her; representing tuberculosis. Watercolour by R. Cooper, ca. 1912. Credit: Wellcome Collection

As always; the ‘Guardian’ (UK national press) produces some superb articles about animals and environmental issues.

The only way we can really reproduce the article on farm animal pandemics is to provide the link and then to let you click and read for yourself.

Regards Mark

Article Link:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2020/sep/15/covid-farm-animals-and-pandemics-diseases-that-changed-the-world

General News

Bulgaria: Animal markets like from the previous century

Report of the organization against animal transports Animals` Angels

Animals ‘Angels are in Bulgaria at the weekly markets in Haskovo and Raskovski.

In addition to all sorts of things, cattle, horses and donkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, and poultry are sold here.

Image: Animals`Angels

 

We have already complained several times to the Bulgarian authorities about the way the animals are treated, housed, and transported here – and about their poor state of health.

The ministry then presented us with a comprehensive plan to improve the situation in the markets. We now want to review the implementation of this plan – and we will be bitterly disappointed. Nothing has improved for the animals.

Once again, the Bulgarian official veterinarians have made empty promises.

Image: Animals`Angels

 

Calves are sold from the trunk of a car with their legs tied together. Emaciated sheep with respiratory problems are hoisted onto closed delivery vans without lights or ventilation.

Nervous foals are tied to vehicles and dealers beat horses and cattle who do not know how to get on vehicles without ramps.

Image: Animals`Angels

 

We particularly notice the emaciated mares, Iliana and Rosalia. Iliana is covered with abrasions and old injuries on her swollen legs.

We can clearly see the pain in Rosalia. She doesn’t know how to stand to relieve her pain.

There is an open wound on her left flank.
As expected, we are not welcome in the markets. In both places we are quickly thrown out by the market management, saying that we would bring nothing but trouble.

But we will not be put off and will continue to work for the animals in the markets and propose to the veterinary authorities a joint on-site inspection.

More about our work for animals in Bulgaria at https://www.animals-angels.de/…/tiermaerkte/bulgarien.html

My comment: “…Most of the trade takes place illegally in front of the marketplace, where the animals are traded directly from the cars. The handling of the sheep that are traded directly in front of the market entrance is particularly bad. They are tied by three legs, the fourth is used for pulling and carrying” (Eyes on Animals)

There are still around ten markets in Bulgaria where animals are offered for sale every week.
Cattle, sheep, goats, Equidae, rabbits, and birds are sold here.
Young pigs and piglets are also offered in illegal markets.

The conditions in the animal markets in Bulgaria do not in the least correspond to the requirements of the EU (No. 1/2005) and are reminiscent of relics of the past century. Animal welfare does not play a role here.

But we still point the finger at China …

My best regards to all, Venus

General News

Malta: Petition – Prevent Perverted Animal Sex Tourism In Malta.
SIGN: Ban Bestiality to Prevent ‘Animal Sex Tourism’ in Malta

WAV Comment – Perverted or what ? – not only do they kill thousands of birds each year on migratory routes; they also have such warped minds that they want to have sex with animals ! – we have to get tis stopped – please pass on to all your contacts and bombard with support; thank you.

PETITION TARGET: Maltese Ambassador to the United States Keith Azzopardi

Animals in Malta are at an increased risk of sexual assault from humans, as the island nation does not have an explicit ban on bestiality.

As one of only a few remaining countries to legally allow sex with animals, Malta could become a perverse tourist destination for people who seek to engage in bestiality, Etienne Savona, Ph.D., a lawyer who wrote a proposal to ban the sickening practice, told Lovin Malta. Dogs, horses, cats are reportedly the species most at risk.

Recently, a Maltese sheep farmer caught a man having sexual relations with his flock after they “showed signs of being terrified,” according to TVM. The man was charged with gaining illegal entry into private property, but his horrifying act of cruelty toward the sheep is completely legal.

In addition to the gross abuse toward animals, bestiality carries the risk of spreading zoonotic diseases.

Malta must update its outdated laws and criminalize sexual activities with animals.

Sign this petition urging Maltese Ambassador to the United States Keith Azzopardi to push for his country to ban bestiality, protecting helpless animals from suffering and abuse.

Petition Link:

SIGN: Ban Bestiality to Prevent ‘Animal Sex Tourism’ in Malta
Farm Animals, General News

Germany: Symposium and Workshop: Replacing Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) in Research & Testing.

Symposium and Workshop: Replacing Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) in Research & Testing

21 September 2020

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is used as an additive for cell and tissue culture media in biomedical research and testing to enhance cell growth.

However, there is massive underlying animal suffering in FBS production: To obtain the serum blood of unborn calves is collected by syringe from the beating heart of fetal calves without anaesthesia, even though there are clear indications that calf fetuses are already capable of suffering. In addition to the ethical dilemma, scientific reasons speak against the use of FBS as well: The exact composition of the serum is unknown and there is the risk of contaminations from pathogens potentially present in animal sera. This can compromise cell cultures performance and subsequent experiments.

Thus, switching to FBS-free medium is both an ethical and a scientific necessity. Alternatives to FBS exist and are already used in many cell cultures. Our symposium at the TranslaTUM in Munich aims to draw the attention on this topic and to increase the acceptance of alternative media already existing. Our subsequent satellite workshop at the Academy for Animal Welfare in Neubiberg will present techniques how cells can be easily switched to FBS-free media.
 

Symposium on November 3rd, 2020:

International experts from universities, industry, regulatory authorities and animal welfare will discuss the current status on the use of fetal bovine serum (FBS) and present ethical and scientific advantages of FBS-free alternatives. Lectures and discussions will be held in English. The one-day symposium takes place in the large auditorium at the TranslaTUM in Munich. Due to social distancing regulations to restrain the COVID-19 pandemic, participation is currently limited to 50 – 100 participants. Target Group Symposium: Undergraduate, graduate and PhD students in the fields of biology, medicine, veterinary medicine and related fields of study, post-docs, working group leaders.

Speakers Symposium:

  • Dr. Jan van der Valk (3Rs-Centre Utrecht Life Sciences)
  • Dr. Karen Bieback (Heidelberg University; German Red Cross Blood Service BadenWürttemberg – Hessen gGmbH)
  • Dr. Aline Chary (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology)
  • Dr. Sandra Coecke (Joint Research Centre of the European Commission)
  • Dr. Joachim Wiest (cellasys GmbH) · Tilo Weber (Animal Welfare Academy; Office for Alternatives to the Use of Animals in Research, Testing and Education)


Location Symposium: TranslaTUM Großes Auditorium Einsteinstr. 25 81675 Munich, Germany
Date: November 3rd, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. (registration from 8:00 a.m.) to approx. 5:00 p.m.


Workshop on November 4th, 2020:

In the practical section of the satellite workshop, the suitability of serum-free medium for cell cultures will be demonstrated by Dr. Joachim Wiest (cellasys GmbH). Participants will be trained how to perform a switch of cells from serum-containing to serum-free medium using the cellasys #8 protocol. The suitability and the possible effects on the cells will be assessed based on the results of the demonstration.

The theoretical section of the workshop consists of lectures on the scientific risks of FBS and the availability of alternative media (Dr. Jan van der Valk, 3Rs-Center Utrecht Life Sciences) and information on further laboratory reagents of animal origin, such as polyclonal antibodies, gelatine, collagen, trypsin, Matrigel etc. (Tilo Weber, Academy for Animal Welfare). Lectures and demonstrations will be held in English.

The one-day satellite workshop will take place at the cell culture lab of the Academy for Animal Welfare (Akademie für Tierschutz) in Neubiberg. The workshop is limited to 10 participants. Meals are included. For workshop participants that are not resident in Munich or the vicinity, accommodation is included as well. Participation at the Symposium is required. Target Group Workshop: MTA, BTA, PhD students, post-docs.

Location Workshop: Akademie für Tierschutz (Academy for Animal Welfare) Cell Culture Lab Spechtstr. 1 85579 Neubiberg, Germany
Date: November 4 th, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to approx. 5:00 p.m.


Read more with details at  https://www.tierschutzbund.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Downloads/Anmeldeformulare/FBS-Programm.pdf

Regards Mark

Adorable miniature cows! Calf - calves - mini. | Cute baby animals, Cute cows, Cute animals
Farm Animals, General News

House of Lords (UK) Votes to Ban Low Standard Imports – protecting British farming from ‘vile’ American animal welfare standards.

House of Lords (UK) Votes to Ban Low Standard Imports – protecting British farming from ‘vile’ American animal welfare standards.

The House of Lords voted on 22 September with a significant majority (307/212) in favour of an amendment to the Agriculture Bill that, in the event of a UK/US trade deal, would ban imports of food that would be illegal to produce in the UK such as pork dosed with the muscle-builder

Ractopamine, beef injected with growth hormones and chicken washed in chlorine.

The result is a significant response by the Lords that reflects both their personal values and those of the public in supporting real food and farming in the UK.

Who said what? Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, a Green Party peer, said the amendment was essential to protect British farming against “vile” American animal welfare standards.

But opposing Tory peer, Baroness Noakes said, “The government’s policy is clear, they are committed to higher food and welfare standards […] We do not need to write into law what the government is committed to.” A suggestion as to how to hold the government accountable to these commitments in the race for a trade deal outside of the EU, was not given by the Baroness.

So What Next ?

The Agriculture Bill now returns to the House of Commons where, after previous readings, almost all Conservative MPs voted against amendments to protect our farmers by restricting low standard imports, “primarily down to the political sensitivity around trade deals and their links to Brexit”. This vote by the Lords can be overturned by the Conservatives due to their vast majority, so we must keep up the pressure by lobbying Conservative MPs.

Which is why we still need signatures to support our campaign; Say No To Trump’s Toxic Trade Deal. We are focusing on high street fast food outlets that have not yet committed to not using substandard American pork. Greggs is one of them. Please sign and share the petition asking Greggs to commit to not using cruelly-raised factory farmed US pork.

It’s All Linked

David Attenborough’s recent film Extinction; The Facts explains that new pandemic diseases are emerging because industrialised crop monocultures, animal factories and expanding cities, have encroached onto the last areas of wilderness where bacteria and viruses that are harmless to wild animals, are deadly to immuno-compromised factory farmed animals – not least the city and factory bound human species!

Pictures Speak 1,000 Words

See the pictures in our (WAV) recent post:

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/09/22/china-a-12-storey-pig-farm-animal-abuse-at-best/

Yangxiang’s high-rise pig buildings

This 12-story pig factory in China with over 1,000 pigs on each floor, complete with an elevator for transporting pigs between the floors, is being touted as ‘biosecure’. Really? Or is this just the typical ‘big is beautiful and more efficient’ myth? Dr Michael Gregor explains how factory farming makes pandemics more likely.

Young pigs at Yangxiang’s Yaji farm

Farmers are victims, forced to compete in a global market; get big or get out of farming by industrialising, is the status-quo mantra. As a result farming has become cruel, monotonous, polluting and badly paid, with massive external costs paid for in taxes, our health and mass extinction. The average age of traditional farmers in the UK is 62, and young people who want to farm cannot afford to buy or rent land or invest in machinery and livestock. A network of small scale mixed farming systems, abattoirs, processors and retail outlets would boost rural employment, keep money in the local community, be more resilient to shocks and feed more people with less transport costs and fraud. So, trade agreements should be framed to take food and farming out of the global economy, and instead facilitate the re-localisation of real farming – as advocated and voted for by our nature-friendly Lords.

Tracy Worcester, Director
farmsnotfactories.org

Regards Mark

Environmental, General News

Indonesia: Two endangered Javan rhino calves spotted in Indonesian park.

Two endangered Javan rhino calves spotted in Indonesian park

21 September 2020

Two extremely rare Javan rhinoceros calves have been spotted in an Indonesian national park, boosting hopes for the future of one of the world’s most endangered mammals.

The rhino calves—a female named Helen and male called Luther—were seen with their mothers in footage taken from nearly 100 camera traps installed in Ujung Kulon national park between March and August, authorities said in a statement on Sunday.

On the westernmost tip of Java in Banten province, Ujung Kulon is the last remaining wild habitat for Javan rhinos.

After years of population decline, the arrival of the new calves brings the total number of the rare mammals to 74.

The sanctuary comprises some 5,100 hectares (12,600 acres) of lush rainforest and freshwater streams.

The Indonesian government has been surveying other areas across Java and Sumatra islands to relocate the rhinos from the danger of Mount Krakatau, an active volcano not far from the national park.

“These births bring a big hope for the continuation of the life of the critically endangered special Javan rhino,” said Wiratno, a senior official at the environment ministry.

Read more at source

Phys

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

England: Amazing News: The Scottish Government has Halted Live Calf Exports. A Major Massive Victory for the Campaigners.

23/9/20.

Breaking news in from Compassion In World Farming (CIWF) – London.

Dear Mark,

Amazing news: the Scottish Government has halted live calf exports.

After our gruelling, six-month legal battle, the Scottish Government has now accepted that live calf exports that breach maximum permitted journey times – a regular occurrence since April 2019 – can no longer be tolerated.

It has therefore instructed that no further applications for unweaned calf exports that breach these rules should be approved – effectively halting the current trade.

This is a huge victory for calves – and it’s all thanks to the support of people like you.

We are pleased to announce that, after a gruelling legal battle, the Scottish Government has finally stopped live calf exports.

Having spent six months defending the inhumane export of unweaned calves to Europe, they have conceded that this trade was being conducted in breach of the legislation on the protection of animals during transport.

With backing from our dedicated supporters, we launched Judicial Review proceedings to challenge the lawfulness of this practice back in February. Both the Scottish and UK Governments resisted for several months – wasting taxpayers’ money – shamefully defending a trade which can see calves go for 23 hours without food and often water.

In a major U-turn, the Scottish Government has now instructed the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which is responsible for approving export journeys, to not approve any further applications for unweaned calf exports that breach the time limits in the regulations.

“The Scottish Government’s conduct during this dispute has often fallen far short of that expected from a responsible authority,” said Peter Stevenson, our Chief Policy Advisor. “They have neglected to disclose key information, run misleading arguments, and despite export journeys exceeding the maximum permitted travelling time since at least April 2019, that these journeys were exceeding the maximum permitted travelling time, they failed to act and did not issue an instruction to halt the trade until over a year later. Above all, they have vigorously defended this cruel and unnecessary trade.”

Over several decades, millions of British calves have been forced to endure long, inhumane journeys to Europe for slaughter and fattening. We have fought this all the way. The ending of calf exports from Britain represents a turning point in the battle to stop this horrific trade.

“We welcome this decision that means thousands of calves will be spared such gruelling journeys every year,” said Natasha Smith, our Senior Campaigns Manager. “However, it is outrageous that it took legal action and years of argument to bring the Scottish Government to this point.”

Whilst this is a major victory for the welfare of Scottish calves, the policy must now be secured by legislation. The Scottish Government has promised a public consultation on banning journeys over 9 hours for calves, and the UK Government has previously committed to a separate consultation on live exports. Similar consultations in the past have yet to yield results.

“More consultations and empty promises are not enough,” Natasha continued. “We need new legislation to protect animals from this cruel and unnecessary practice once and for all.”

Now, our fight continues far beyond the courtroom. We will not stop until there is a complete ban on live exports from the UK for slaughter and fattening.

You have helped achieve justice for calves. A huge thanks to every person who has donated, emailed politicians, or even joined Kent Action Against Live Exports to protest the sailings in person.

Read more about our Judicial Review proceedings here.

Regards Mark