PETITION TARGET: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith
As the world’s most trafficked mammal, pangolins suffer immensely as poachers chop down and burn their treetop homes, throw the defenseless animals into bags, and transport them on nightmarish journeys before beating them to near-death and boiling the pangolins alive for “medicine.”
This repulsive trade impacts people, too; the new coronavirus may have been first transmitted to humans by a pangolin.
Sadly, the United States market is helping feed this ruthless trade — but there is new hope. Following a lawsuit from multiple activist groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must decide by June, 2021 whether all pangolins will be protected under the Endangered Species Act, which would fully ban the horrific trade in the United States.
From 2004 to 2013 in the U.S, authorities confiscated 26,000 imports of pangolin products, the Center for Biological Diversity reported. And pangolin parts have been found in “medicinal” products in the U.S., according to a 2015 Humane Society International report.
Despite an international ban on pangolin trafficking in 2017, this brutal practice hasn’t stopped.
We must defend these innocent creatures from the brutal violence they endure in the wildlife trade and help prevent future zoonotic disease outbreaks by banning pangolin trafficking completely.
Sign this petition urging U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith to protect pangolins under the Endangered Species Act, ending a bloody, illegal trade that harms both animals and people.
People power stops new live export business in its tracks
A plan to begin exporting live animals from Namibia to Kuwait has been quashed thanks to a united, global effort drawing attention to the suffering caused by the trade.
The idea that when one door closes another opens, is mostly reassuring. But when it comes to the global live export trade, this universal truth is the reason we need to remain ever vigilant. You see, as countries have become clued-up to the cruelty inherent to live export — and widespread opposition to it — live exporters have found it harder to shore up business.
When Australia restricted sheep exports during the dangerous northern summer months, exporters knocked on Romania’s door. And Animals Australia was there. When Romania began questioning the trade, they went to South Africa. Again, we were already there. When South Africa’s NSPCA took the battle to stop the trade all the way to the High Court, it was abundantly clear: this global trade in animal cruelty is well and truly matched by a global effort to stop it.
From Australia to New Zealand to Brazil to South Africa and to dozens of countries throughout Europe — there is a powerful, international collaboration of groups and individuals working together to save animals from this ruthless industry.
And it’s a compassionate effort that has just paid off in Namibia, with new plans to begin live export from the Southern African nation put on hold indefinitely.
The business plan put forward by Tradeport Namibia proposed to import 70,000 live sheep, 50,000 goats and 5,000 cattle from South Africa and Botswana for live export from Namibia to Kuwait.
As exposé after exposé has revealed — it’s a sea journey fraught with risk for the animals who would be confined in cramped and stressful conditions for weeks before facing terrifying fully conscious slaughter upon arrival.
A rapid-fire public and media education campaign was launched in Namibia to highlight the reality of live export for the animals. In its submission objecting to the business plan, Namibia’s SPCA noted that the trade undermines Namibian laws and standards and that allowing live export would:
…effectively endorse an archaic trade that is struggling to maintain a social license to operate in this day and age.
Former live export vet and whistleblower, Dr Lynn Simpson detailed for the Namibian media the animal suffering and deaths witnessed during her 57 voyages from Australia, warning:
I would caution any country approached by exporters to avoid getting caught in this trade of unnecessary cruelty and death.
And the warnings have been heeded. In announcing that plans to export live animals would be ‘put on ice’, Tradeport Namibia noted the strong opposition, locally and internationally, to the export of live animals and that the company did not want to be involved in a business that will attract widespread outrage.
A united global front is turning the tide on live export. We don’t always win, but we are always there. And every action you take to support these efforts takes us another step towards shutting the door on this industry, for good.
Ending live export
For as long as this cruel trade in living beings exists — we remain as committed as ever to sparing animals from falling victim to it. Will you join us?
Please spare 1 minute now to lend your voice to the animals — and help create a world free from the horror of live export.
WAV Comment – Big Howls – Excellent news – Congrats to all involved.
Regards Mark
For Immediate Release: September 11, 2020Washington becomes seventh U.S. state to outlaw cruel and unsporting wildlife killing contests
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission votes to end competitive killing of coyotes, bobcats, foxes, crows and other species for prizes
SEATTLE (September 11, 2020)—A coalition of state and national wildlife protection organizations is applauding the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for its vote today banning wildlife killing contests, in which participants compete to kill the most, the largest, or even the smallest animals for cash and prizes.
The new rule, put forth by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, prohibits the killing of unprotected species including coyotes, bobcats, crows, foxes and raccoons as part of a contest. Contest participants killed at least 1,427 in these events in Washington between 2013 and 2018. Washington joins six other states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Vermont—that have taken a stand against cruel, unsporting and wasteful wildlife killing contests.
California banned the awarding of prizes for killing furbearing and nongame mammals in 2014; New Mexico and Vermont outlawed coyote killing contests in 2019 and 2018, respectively; Arizona and Massachusetts prohibited killing contests that target predator and furbearer species in late 2019; and in April 2020, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted to ban wildlife killing contests for furbearer and certain small game species in the state.
“The majority of Washingtonians respect and value wildlife and this step forward by our Commission is in line with those values,” said Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Barbara Baker, who championed this issue with her fellow commissioners. “As stewards of our state’s wildlife, prohibiting a practice that contravenes sound wildlife conservation, fails to increase game populations and harms ecosystems is simply the right decision.”
“Today, Washington became the seventh state in the country to ban wildlife killing contests, sending a message to the nation that the senseless killing of animals for cash and prizes does not belong in a civilized society,” said Dan Paul, Washington senior state director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We applaud the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for passing this rule, which recognizes that the vast majority of the state’s citizens will not tolerate this reprehensible practice.
We urge other states to follow.” “Wildlife killing contests are a bloodsport just like dogfighting and cockfighting, which have been outlawed nationwide,” said Camilla Fox, founder and executive director of Project Coyote. “We commend Commissioner Baker and the entire Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for relegating these ecologically and ethically indefensible events to the history books.” “The decision to ban these cruel killing sprees is a vital step in promoting scientific management of the state’s native wildlife and aligning our laws with the values of the majority of the people of Washington,” said Sophia Ressler, Washington wildlife advocate and staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.
“We appreciate and respect the action taken by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission and the work of the WDFW staff that enabled passage of this rule,” said Diane Gallegos, executive director of Wolf Haven International. “Wildlife killing contests do not reflect traditional hunting values, science knowledge or humane treatment of wildlife. All animals deserve to be treated with respect and indiscriminate killing of wildlife for prizes has no place in today’s wildlife conservation ethic.”
Wildlife agencies and professionals across the country have expressed concerns about killing contests because they reflect poorly on responsible sportsmen and sportswomen. In the last two years, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted to prohibit these gruesome killing contests, citing the grave damage that such events could inflict on the image of hunting in their states. Wildlife management professionals have also noted that wildlife killing contests contravene modern, science-based wildlife management principles.
In 2018, Project Coyote’s Science Advisory Board, together with more than 70 renowned conservation scientists, issued a statement citing peer-reviewed science that refutes claims that indiscriminately killing predators permanently limits their populations, increases the number of deer or other game species for hunters, or reduces conflicts with humans, pets or livestock. In fact, randomly shooting coyotes and other wild carnivores can disrupt their social structures, leading to increases in their populations and more conflicts. Nonlethal, preventive measures are most effective at reducing conflicts with wildlife. Wildlife killing contests are also destructive to healthy ecosystems, within which all wildlife species play a crucial role. For example, coyotes and other targeted species help to control rabbit and rodent populations and restrict rodent- and tick-borne disease transmission.
# Project Coyote, anational 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.Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States and its affiliates around the globe fight the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together with millions of supporters, the HSUS takes on puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries, and together with its affiliates, rescues and provides direct care for over 100,000 animals every year.
The HSUS works on reforming corporate policy, improving and enforcing laws and elevating public awareness on animal issues. More at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to Kitty Block’s blog, A Humane World. Follow the HSUS Media Relations department on Twitter. Read the award-winning All Animals magazine. Listen to the Humane Voices Podcast.
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.7 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.Wolf Haven International is a globally accredited Wolf sanctuary that has rescued and provided a lifetime home for over 300 displaced, captive-born animals since 1982. Our mission is to conserve and protect wolves and their habitat. _____________________________________________________________________________
Wikileaks has helped Sea Shepherd in the past by exposing the collusion between the Australian and Japanese governments over whaling and their mutual opposition to Sea Shepherd’s interventions.
Wikileaks also revealed some of the truths about the horrific slaughter of dolphins in Taji, Japan.
Julian Assange is a member of an endangered profession – REAL journalism.
The efforts of the mass media to demonize Assange have been despicable.
His only “crime” was exposing the truth and exposing real crimes against humans and the environment.
Assange is now on trial in the UK, a process that is nothing more than a show trial where the verdict was passed before he even went to court.
The US, UK, and Australia intend to make him suffer for the many times he has exposed and embarrassed so many powerful and corrupt leaders.
How can the US convict a man of high treason if he is not even a US citizen?
Why is Australia so complicit in the conviction of one of its own citizens?
Why is the mainstream media trying so hard to throw one of the world’s greatest journalists under the bus? In my opinion, Julian Assange is the most important journalist in the world today.
He has fought to uncover truths, and the message that the powers that be should send is clear: “Do not try to expose our attacks, our crimes and our corruption or anything else!”
And I mean…Isn’t it the same as what the German Agriculture Minister Klöckner said? “We don’t need self-appointed stable police to check compliance with the animal welfare law in the stables.”
What was meant by that: We, as a government of agricultural lobbies, cannot afford to bring the truth to light.
And severe penalties were announced.
We cannot protect animals when we fear the daily conflict with the system.
It is simply immense animal cruelty under the guise of trade benefit and primarily, profit by those who do not care about much else other than what goes into their bank accounts and back pockets.
I personally hate and feel very sorry for the low life people that work in this business. Normally I do not hate; but in the live export case I make exceptions !
I have been directly involved with UK (English) live animal exports for 30 years, maybe more now. Philip (CEO at CIWF) and I became good friends in all the campaigning years at South East English ports where live animals were exported. We still communicate regularly.
Here is a picture of me from ?- lets just say many years gone by when we were at Dover harbour in Kent, England; campaigning against live calf exports; the issue of this post now. They were sad times for all the campaigners involved; witnessing the baby innocents being shipped to foreign lands for financial gain only.
Photos – Putting the (then) UK Prime Minister John Major MP into the veal crate instead of the calf – how do you like it John Boy ?
As a campaigner against the trade at Dover; you always heard the calves way before you actually witnessed the transporters arriving with them at the docks. Why did we always hear first ? – because they are / were mere babies; deprived of their mothers milk; calling out for the mothers that they would never see again because of the ‘want’ by the human species to require some bovine milk for their cup of tea or coffee every morning.
All animals going for export suffer in the live trade. There is the silence of the (baby) lambs; the immense crying of the (baby) calves; and the pigs and the horses who make noises probably and simply because they are not happy in their situation.
You can read a lot more, with one link giving route to an undercover investigation for Irish calves going to Cherbourg in France; by clicking on the following:
The link, is to ‘Serbian Animals Voice’ (SAV, which is the sister site to this (WAV); and was founded by myself to help stray dogs and cats in the Balkans back in 2oo5.
Your contribution and actions:
Now I am asking for your help and support to aid Philip and the crew at CIWF (London), as putting massive pressure on UK governments is vital to getting this abhorrent trade stopped for once and all.
The following is largely copied directly from CIWF campaigning.. Action links are also provided; and this is the essential route where I personally ask for your support.
(From CIWF) – Dear Mark,
Together, we scored a big victory for calves last month: the courts REJECTED the Scottish Government’s request to INDEFINITELY DELAY our Judicial Review of live calf exports.
However, our legal battle rages on – and we must ramp up the pressure on decision makers who are still prepared to defend this vile trade in court.
The legal battle against British live calf exports rages on – and we must maintain momentum to deliver justice for calves.
As you may know, Compassion’s Judicial Review of the appalling trade in unweaned calves from Britain to the Continent is set to be heard in court in the autumn.
Thousands of compassionate people have already lobbied the Scottish Government to drop its opposition to the case.
Following those emails, it has indicated it may consider reviewing its live exports policy.
But the Scottish Government is still fighting us in court – and Defra, acting on behalf of the UK Government, is backing them.
Given that UK decision makers have repeatedly pledged to end live exports for fattening and slaughter, this is a bitter betrayal.
Please, help end this hypocrisy: urge the UK Government to drop its legal defence of cruel calf exports.
ACTION – tell the UK government to stop defending calf exports:
But it is still fighting CIWF in court – and Defra, acting on behalf of the UK Government, is still supporting them.
UK decision makers simply cannot get away with protecting a trade they claim to want to end. Do they really want to use taxpayers’ money to defend animal cruelty?
ACTION: Urge Defra to drop its oppsition to the CIWF calf court case:
The case: journeys over eight hours for unweaned calves are not permitted unless, after nine hours of travel, they receive a one-hour break for rest, water and, “if necessary”, food. In practice, the calves can only be fed when unloaded at an appropriate facility. For calves exported from Scotland, the first time this happens is in Northern France – which means they can go up to 23 hours without food.
The aim: a court ruling that these journeys are unlawful, because the legal requirement for food during travel isn’t being met.
If we win: British live calf exports could not continue in their current form, which could spare thousands of animals every year from unnecessary suffering. Plus, since UK and EU legislation on live transport are identical, the case could trigger action across Europe.
“Earthlings” is a 2005 American documentary film about humanity’s use of other animals as pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research…
Covering pet stores, puppy mills, and animal professions, “Earthlings” includes footage obtained through the use of hidden cameras to chronicle the day-to-day practices of some of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely on animals. It draws parallels between racism, sexism, and speciesism.
“Earthlings” creator is Shaun Monson
When this monumental film came to Germany in cinemas, we, the animal rights activists, had a problem: how do we get the masses to watch the film?
On the one hand, the hard pictures were the problem, but on the other hand, it was a problem to arouse interest.
We have come up with an action: we announced in the local newspaper that everyone who goes to the cinema to see “Earthlings” will get 10 euros.
Many people came just because the reward had piqued their curiosity.
The film is tough because the way we treat animals is criminal.
Many left after half an hour, but some saw the film through to the end.
We had no other, better method.
Obviously, there are other methods as well.
Especially in countries where state animal protection and the awareness of the population are still very weak.
And that tells us the case of the Ukrainian activist Maxim Krivozh (Maxim Plokhoi), which I read on the website of the animal liberation press office.
I add the link: https://animalliberationpressoffice.org/NAALPO/
The story in short:
On the 21st of July Maxim Krivozh (Maxim Plokhoi) took 13 hostages in a bus in Lutsk, Ukraine, and declared this day an “Anti – System Day”. He did not demand any money or recognition. He demands were of a political character, but chiefly he demanded that the president of the country post a video where he recommends “everybody to watch the film “Earthlings”.
After 11 hours the president of Ukraine recommended “Earthlings” on his FB page in a video-message.
Thirty minutes later Maxim released all the hostages, they were all alive and healthy. In fact later, according to Ukrainian media, the hostages described Maxim positively and told that he was not threatening them.
The film got the largest attention in the Russian-speaking web.
Now Maxim is locked up. He is being tried as a terrorist. A journalist and animal rights activist named Akmal, when he read about this incident on the news, immediately became curious and decided to get in touch with him.
Maxim asked him to contact you and send you the following message (shortened):
“I am honored to be a “terrorist” under your laws; I am proud to have drawn attention to the terrible truth about the terrorism of the non-Guilty that is being told in the film ‘Earthlings’. The System only understands its own language – the language of power. MAXIMAL ACTION – this is an action of the One. I am your bad conscience”!
‘This cow jumped from a ship that was transporting her to the slaughterhouse. She swam for over 5 hours in a desperate attempt to escape certain death. She was collected by another boat and slaughtered that same night. Those 5 hours were the closest thing she felt to freedom in her entire life. If she didn’t jump off the ship, no one ever would even know she existed.’
Little Monkeys – I only picked them from the garden at lunchtime ! – but hey; they can have some; as long as they don’t eat the lot.
They are named ‘Bodge it’ and ‘Scarper’ – Bodge is the dark brown one and Scarper the sand colour. I must be going mad – they are simply little friends from the League Against Cruel Sports (London) !
Probably the most nutritious, health-protective foods in the world, berries are true heroes.
They contain a wide range of essential nutrients and a whole lot more – a wealth of health-defending antioxidants which have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties and are great for your digestive system.
Even though berries are sweet, they don’t contain much sugar because much of their volume is pumped up by water. What little sugar they provide is well-balanced by the amount of fibre in them so it’s a healthy equation. Berries won’t cause sudden blood sugar spikes and as such are also a great food for diabetics.
Berry magic
Much of the health benefits berries provide are due to the phytochemicals they contain. These potent compounds protect plants against bacterial and fungal infections, UV radiation and environmental damage and they serve a similar purpose in our bodies.
An almost magical bunch of compounds berries contain are called phenols or phenolic compounds. They have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, have been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease, including heart attacks, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and neurodegenerative diseases. On top of that, they also encourage beneficial bacteria in your gut!
Anthocyanins are a type pf phenolic compound – they’re pigments responsible for the bright red, blue and purple colour of many fruits, vegetables and flowers but they also have strong health-protective properties. They are antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties, have been linked to lower risk of heart disease and even cancer. Anthocyanins tend to be concentrated in the skin of fruits but berries that have a brightly coloured flesh, such as strawberries, blackberries or raspberries, contain more as the whole fruit is saturated with them.
Strawberries
As well as containing the powerful phenols, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and the important mineral manganese. They also contain decent amounts of folate (vitamin B9) and potassium.
Strawberries have some powerful antioxidants, such as pelargonidin – responsible for their bright red colour – and ellagic acid, which helps to strengthen your immune system.
Whenever you can, buy organic strawberries for maximum health benefits. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to buy strawberries when they’re in season, so they’re local and cheaper – if it’s not strawberry season, go for frozen, rather than imported from far away.
Superfood strawberries agree with most people but not all – some people, who are allergic to tree pollen, are also allergic to strawberries. This kind of allergy includes itching or tingling in the mouth, hives, headaches, swelling of the lips, face, tongue or throat, even breathing problems in severe cases. Funnily enough, if you suffer from this allergy but love strawberries, you may be able to eat white strawberries – cultivated so they’re suitable for people with this issue.
Raspberries
Wild raspberries have been gathered by people for millennia and although cultivation may have changed their colour varieties and size, they are still chockful of nutrients. They’re a great source of antioxidants, vitamins C and E, folate, magnesium and even iron!
Raspberry specialty are the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which can help protect your eyes from blue light damage and prevent macular degeneration.
It’s best to buy organic whenever you can and keep a bag of frozen raspberries on hand for adding to your breakfast, smoothies and desserts.
Blackberries
Blackberries are simply amazing – with all the benefits of other berries, including antioxidants, vitamins C and E, folate, potassium and then some! Their bonus nutrients are vitamin A – essential for healthy vision, immune system and many vital reactions in your body – and vitamin K, essential for blood clotting, bone health and your immune system.
A cup of blackberries also covers about half of your daily need for the mineral manganese, necessary for good bone health, immune system and healing.
Blueberries
Just like blackberries, blueberries contain lots of vitamin K. They have slightly less of the other vitamins than raspberries, blackberries and strawberries but are still a good source!
There are several varieties of blueberries – the kind you commonly buy in the shops originally come from America and have white or translucent flesh. Their anthocyanins are concentrated in the skin only. On the other hand, bilberries – wild European ‘blueberries’ – are dark purple both on the outside and inside and pack a super dose of anthocyanins.
Good to know: all types of blueberries have traditionally been used in the treatment of diarrhoea, thanks to their astringent properties.
How much should you eat?
Berries are among the healthiest foods on the planet and contain more antioxidants than any other fruit so if you can, have some every day! A handful of fresh or thawed berries is enough – added to your morning cereal, smoothie or as a part of a dessert. Sadly, jam or any kind of heat-processed berry products don’t count. If you’re travelling and need something that’ll keep, freeze dried berries are also a good option.
Synthetic leather is based on fossil raw materials and is therefore problematic for the environment like real leather. A sustainable alternative could be leather made from mushrooms, as researchers of Vienna report.
Vienna – leather is made from animal hides and is therefore considered ethically questionable and problematic for the environment.
The latter also applies to synthetic leather, it is based on fossil raw materials.
A leather substitute made from mushrooms with similar properties to the original could be a sustainable alternative and has “enormous market potential,” report Viennese researchers in the journal Nature Sustainability.
Concerns about classic leather production range from ethical issues related to the use of animal products to the significant environmental impact of livestock and the leather processing industry.
It is estimated that the livestock sector is responsible for twelve to 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, there is deforestation for pastures and animal feed and the use of problematic chemicals in tanning.
Artificial leather made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane is made from fossil raw materials.
On the other hand, leather-like materials obtained from mushrooms are CO2-neutral and generally also completely biodegradable at the end of their useful life, explained Alexander Bismarckfrom the Institute for Material Chemistry at the University of Vienna, who, together with colleagues, assessed the sustainability of cattle and artificial leather production in an overview article and was the first Presented developments and commercialization of leather substitutes derived from mushrooms. The mycelium of the fungi is used – the thread-like cells that make up the majority of the fungal biomass.
Mushroom biomass grows on an inexpensive waste product
World Animals Voice 