We are currently sticking with live exports as like us, many visitors seem keen on this topic.

For those of you who want to keep up to date on what is happening in Ireland (EU) regarding live exports; we can suggest that you go to the CIWF Ireland Volunteer Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/compassioninworldfarmingireland/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARB-OySn6PoC8tpEqbolC12WT31xIyYyU22lVSO1-IObfQEXVXDvhjhXn5DO5FLxodJhqFHKiW2UHH-y

 

Here there is lots of news and articles about Irish exports.

You will see that investigations are finding that even after making the sea crossing from Ireland to France; after which calves should immediately go to a control post; some transporters are continuing their journey for at least another 5 hours. Some drivers have informed that the calves they carry have been on the truck for over 32 hours !

This is completely against the EU Regulation to allegedly protect animals during transport – Reg 1/2005. The same is the case with the temperatures for sheep exported from Romania to Kuwait. Is the EU concerned about enforcing its own regulations or not ?

 

 

Ship Tracking Update for Romanian Sheep Destined for Kuwait.

 

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/07/17/eu-live-export-latest-mep-demands-action-against-romania-and-is-the-new-president-elect-of-the-commission-committed-to-making-a-change-for-animals/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/07/17/eu-animal-law-legalized-murder/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/07/17/kuwait-romania-livestock-ship-watch-70000-live-sheep-exported-from-romania-en-route-to-kuwait/

 

…  And talking of the sheep exported from Romania; the Al Shuwaikh (Romania-Kuwait) is currently at anchor off of Port Said in the Eastern Mediterranean (North of Egypt).

 

We do not know at this time why the vessel is at anchor there at this time – to take on supplies and food for the animals ? – who knows.

We will continue to give position updates as we track the vessel.

 

Regards Mark (WAV).

 

Photos from Marine Traffic photographers as credited.

 

 

The Dutch Convict who still exports sheep from the UK to mainland Europe; and guess what, the EU does Nothing !

 

Photos by campaigner friend Val Cameron.

Here is a very brief insight into fairly recent events in England by a Dutch livestock exporter who was exposed for illegal activities back in 2010.

 

His name is Johannes Onderwater

Johannes Onderwater owns and operates the ‘Joline’ ship (or rather a bathtub – ex Soviet battle tank carrier for use on rivers) which undertakes services carrying livestock between Ramsgate (UK) and Calais (France) – across the English Channel, which is not a river.

Above – The river vessel ‘Joline’ Crosses the English Channel with full livestock transporters.

 

Onderwater is a convicted criminal. This conviction was proven by an animal export organisation I was personally involved with back in 2010, in a UK court of law at Folkestone, Kent, when, working in conjunction with Kent Trading Standards (KTS); on 5th July 2010 at Folkestone Magistrates Court, Kent, Onderwater Agneaux BV (Onderwaters company) pleaded guilty to no less than six (6) offences under the Animal Health Act 1981 of causing the transport of sheep in contravention of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and EU Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 (Protection of animals during transport).

As a result, Onderwater’s company, Onderwater Agneaux BV (of the Netherlands), was fined at Folkestone a total of £10,370. And so, under UK law, by being prosecuted in this way, and pleading guilty to offences, Onderwater IS a convicted criminal.

As the lead up to this particular court prosecution; Onderwater was shipping live sheep out of Dover port; whilst declaring on paperwork that ‘boxed meat’ only was being shipped. At the time, and it is still the case, Onderwater was using sealed box type trailers for carrying livestock – not your conventional type trailers where you can actually see the animals. These are fully enclosed trailers which to all purposes, look like a typical refrigerated trailer.

 

Here is a photo of one loading onto the Joline – would you know this trailer is full of live sheep ? – it is.

So here he was exporting live sheep for slaughter out of England via Dover port; whilst declaring on export paperwork he was carrying ‘boxed meat’. It was only by chance and vigilance of the crew of the P&O cross Channel ferry that something suspicious (a smell) was noticed with the trailer. The captain of the ferry was called, the owner of the truck and trailer was forced to open it up; and then all the live sheep were seen rather than the boxed meat as declared on the carnet !

So, it was decided to take Onderwater to court for misleading the authorities and the ferry operator, and for ‘fixing’ the export paperwork; and for animal abuse. As you can read from the start, 5/7/10 was the day we finally got him into court.

In court, Onderwater Agneaux BV (Onderwaters company) pleaded guilty to no less than six (6) offences under the Animal Health Act 1981 (England) of causing the transport of sheep in contravention of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and EU Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 (the Protection of animals during transport).

As a result, Onderwater’s company, Onderwater Agneaux BV (of the Netherlands), was fined at Folkestone a total of £10,370. And so, under UK law, by being prosecuted in this way, and pleading guilty to offences, Onderwater became a convicted criminal in the UK.

Cut to this week; mid July 2019; and Onderwater is still exporting live sheep out of England for slaughter at the festival of Eid. Whjy ? – because the Dutch authorities were too lenient on him at the time of the court case – his business is Dutch registered and so only the Dutch authorities can take action; they ‘ticked him off’ but continued to allow him to operate rather than close down the entire operation.

July 2019 – We are now as amazed as we were back in July 2010; that an exporter who pleads guilty in an English court of law to no less than 6 animal welfare offences; including the EU Reg 1/2005 on the transport of live animals; is still operating taking British sheep to mainland Europe for slaughter at Eid.

Is it us or is there a real problem with live animal transporters in the EU ? – we guess that the events in Romania involving 70,000 live sheep this week just go to prove that the EU has not got any grip on the issue of live animal transport.

 

Further reading:

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/meat-firm-onderwater-agnueax-fin-a83202/

 

Published: 14:52, 22 July 2010

 | Updated: 15:12, 22 July 2010

 

As Mark Rolfe from KTS (who prosecuted with us) said back in 2010, the trade in live animals is ‘unacceptable and illegal’.

If it is, then why does the EU still allow Onderwater to export live sheep out of England some 9 years on from his conviction ?

Regards Mark.

 

The closed box trailer with sheep is checked before export

 

Onderwater operates White Scania cab vehicles, such as this:

 

Netherlands (Dutch) MEP Anja Hazekamp calls on the European Commission to launch an infringement procedure against Romania, after the country authorises mass transport of 70.000 sheep from the Port of Midia to the Persian Gulf while temperatures rise above 45 °C.

Fighting for the animals – MEP Anja Hazekamp

 

This is in breach with European rules on the protection of animals during transport, which state that inside the vehicle or vessel, temperatures must be maintained below 30 °C during the entire journey.

Over the past couple of days, MEP Hazekamp – as well as European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis – urged the Romanian authorities not to authorise this particular transport. As Romania ignored their calls, the  Kuwaiti vessel ‘Al Shuwaikh’ left the port on Sunday night, carrying tens of thousands of exhausted and mistreated sheep.  “This is totally unacceptable! Despite the many warnings, Romania keeps on violating EU rules, allowing all these animals to suffer and perish aboard this monster boat,” says Hazekamp.

Hazekamp visited the Port of Midia last weekend, where she observed horrendous animal abuse during loading. “Sheep were kicked, beaten and attacked with electric poles, but Romanian authorities refused to intervene.

Europe can no longer look the other way. Animal welfare rules are being violated systematically. The Commission must act now.”

Total ban on live exports

In addition to the infringement procedure, Hazekamp has been advocating a total ban on live animal exports to non-EU countries.

Last February, the European Parliament supported her proposal (in its Implementation Report on Animal Transport). However, as live exports are still continued and as animal suffering during transport has not been stopped yet, Hazekamp called on the newly installed MEPs, to establish a Committee of Inquiry to investigate breaches of EU rules and put an end to the suffering.

Source – https://www.europeaninterest.eu/article/romania-authorises-shipment-70-000-sheep-persian-gulf-hazekamp-insists-upon-infringement-procedure/?fbclid=IwAR3XwkAYMOyg_8V9XhaegprEKFSp_PBtOZYidWfQO3BkhKi8Va8yKmRjXw4

 

Is the new President-elect of the Commission committed to making a change for animals?

Ursula von der Leyen will be the next President of the European Commission after a majority of MEPs voted in favour of her appointment tonight. While animals or agriculture weren’t mentioned in her statement addressing the European Parliament today, Eurogroup for Animals did welcome the support she expressed for renewed actions to improve animal welfare during hearings with Parliamentary political groups last week.

Following a question by Petras Auštrevičius at the Renew Europe meeting, she explained that animal welfare is included in the programme related to biodiversity and climate neutrality. She said that it is one of the questions the people of Europe want the European institutions to act upon, and that it is a “noble task to take on.” After a question by Yannick Jadot at the Greens/EfA meeting, she also stated that animal welfare “should be one of the main pillars of the Common Agriculture Policy”.

During her half-hour opening statement today on political guidelines for the next five years, the President-elect said that she would support the de facto right of legislative initiative for the Parliament – which could mean that long-awaited legislative improvements to animal welfare might finally be within reach.

Notably, Frederick Federley MEP (Renew Europe, SE), a Vice President of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals, said that the Parliament has long been asking for a framework law on animal welfare, and that since von der Leyen said that she would support a right of initiative – meaning that she commits to respond to Parliament own-initiative resolutions with draft legislation – they are going to “hold her accountable” for this, and would expect such a proposal to be forthcoming as a result.

“After a decade of legislative stasis, we are pleased to welcome a President of the Commission who is a friend to animals both personally and politically,” said Reineke Hameleers, director of Eurogroup for Animals. “We are encouraged by her statements last week, and look forward to working with her Commission over the next five years to deliver real improvements for animals across our Union and beyond.”

When she is sworn in on November 1st, the Brussels-born German politician – who is a horse, goat and dog-owner – will be the thirteenth President of the Commission and the first woman to hold the position.

Source – https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/is-the-new-president-elect-of-the-commission-committed-to-making-a-change-for-animals

 

Mark, with your support, we successfully stopped the live export of sheep into searing conditions in the Middle East from June to August.

But we know the highest risk period for heat stress is from May to October, and right now, exporters are preparing to resume their cruel trade and consign thousands of sheep to suffering from September onwards.

Right now, we have a chance to stop this.

Hit send on your response, and we can ensure the regulator stops live sheep exports during the incredible heat and humidity of September – as they should, and starting this year.

HIT SEND NOW!

The Department of Agriculture has opened a public consultation on this issue, and is proposing three options for regulation of the trade, including an option that would see no ships leave for the Middle East in September.

We need your voice to call to back this decision in the final regulatory conditions – and importantly, to demand it’s extended to include October as well.

The science is clear. The evidence is indisputable. Sheep will continue to suffer and die in long-haul live exports during September and October.

Conditions on ships during these months are simply too hot, and too humid.

We have just 5 days to take action. Please, speak up for Aussie sheep today.

HIT SEND ON YOUR SUBMISSION TODAY!

 

 

 

 

HIT SEND NOW!

 

 

 

HIT SEND ON YOUR SUBMISSION TODAY!

 

Livestock ship watch.

 

We can confirm that the AL SHUWAIKH which is carrying 70,000 live sheep to the Middle East (Kuwait) for Eid ritual slaughter is currently in the Med Sea to the West of Cyprus.

This is ritual slaughter ………….

 

It is currently expected to arrive at Kuwait on Saturday 20^th July at around 0700 hrs.

 

It is travelling at a speed of about 15-16 knots.

It was built in 1986, has a gross tonnage of 18,341, and sails under the flag of Kuwait.

 

 

Watching us, watching them !

Regards WAV.

 

 

 

 

https://news.sky.com/story/meps-to-vote-on-first-female-eu-commission-president-11764222

 

MEPs to vote on first female EU Commission president

Ursula von der Leyen, currently the German defence minister, has been nominated to take over from Jean-Claude Juncker.

The European Parliament will decide later whether or not to block the appointment of Ursula von der Leyen as the new president of the European Commission.

Ms von der Leyen, currently the German defence minister, was nominated to take over from Jean-Claude Juncker (Below) by the leaders of EU countries at a marathon three-day summit in Brussels two weeks ago.

The 751 MEPs of the European Parliament in Strasbourg will vote this evening in a secret ballot.

Ms von der Leyen needs 374 votes in order to secure the job but anything less than 400 would give her a weak mandate.

She has spent the past two weeks trying to secure her position by promising policy pledges to the various different political groupings in the parliament whose votes she needs.

It has emerged that the current secretary-general of the commission Martin Selmayr, a controversial shadowy figure who has wielded significant power under Mr Juncker, will not continue if she gets the job.

Her pitch culminated with a speech earlier in the parliament chamber setting out her agenda for Europe.

It is expected that the vote could be tight.

The group representing green parties from across the union has already said it will not be supporting her nomination.

This could put her in the unusual, controversial and contradictory position of having to rely on votes from far-right parties in order to be voted in.

She is a member of Germany’s centre-right Christian Democratic Unionist (CDU) party and is a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Ms von der Leyen has already said that she will stand down as German defence minister.

She said in a tweet on Monday: “Tomorrow I will ask for the confidence of the European Parliament.

“Regardless of the outcome, I will step down as Minister of Defence on Wednesday in order to serve Europe with all my strength.”

Her challenge is to make several different political groups from across the spectrum happy enough to vote for her.

The fact that she would be the commission’s first ever female president will hold some weight for MEPs.

She is from a centrist political party with values that should appeal to the majority of MEPs.

But against that is the fact that the EU member state leaders ended up ditching the “lead candidate” system in which the parliament proposed the candidates for commission president.

That angered a significant number of MEPs from across the board.

She is overtly a federalist who has said she would like to see a United States of Europe, though she conceded that it would not be likely in her lifetime.

On Brexit, she has said that she is open to a further extension if the UK requests it and there is good reason for it.

However no real changes should be expected in the EU stance on Brexit under her leadership because it is the EU member state leaders who drive the Brexit policy.

The commission and its president simply enact the mandate given to them.

 

WAV Comment – like stopping 70,000 Romanian sheep being exported to the Middle East in temperatures way above the maximum set under EU Reg 1/2005 – or not ! – Yes, NOT.

 

The issue:

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/07/15/romania-is-exporting-70000-live-sheep-to-the-gulf-they-are-still-in-port-in-midia-romania-more-news-to-come/

 

If any of you wish to make e mail contact with Romanian MEPs about their nation allowing 70,000 live sheep to be exported in conditions that do not meet EU transport standards – Regulation 1/2005; then here is the way to get the full list of all the MEPs which represent Romania in the European Parliament.

 

Click on: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search/advanced?countryCode=RO 

 

Then in the drop down box for ‘Country’ – select ‘Romania’.

 

You should then be presented with a photographic list of all the MEPs which represent Romania in the Parliament.

It is very easy to make contact. Lets take the first name on the list as an example – Clotide Armand.

Simply click on her name below the picture. This then enlarges to a larger picture with graphics below – if you put the mouse pointer over the first 2 then you will get e mail access. Simply click on either one of these and you should then have the ability to write an e mail direct to Clotide Armand.

SAMPLE LETTER TO COPY AND SEND

Dear MEP`s

We have read these days with horror in the media that a ship of the company AL SHUWAIKH (which made very negative headlines in the past and in the transport of animals) transports 70,000 sheep from Romania to the Middle East.

According to Article 3 of EU Regulation (EC) 1/2005, animals may not be transported if the transport results in injuries and unnecessary suffering (in this case, temperatures above 40 degrees are clearly an unnecessary suffering).

Although Romania is an EU country and subsidized accordingly, it disregards the instructions of EU Commissioner Andriukaitis to the Romanian Agrarian Minister Petre Daea to stop transport in Midia and acts in his own right and interest against animals, morals and laws.

KLTT, a major exporter of Australian sheep, was the subject of a major scandal that attracted attention from Animals Australia over the past year. This company has a long list of violations and is responsible for the death of more than one million sheep on board in recent decades.

In 2018, animals were found to bake on their own skin on KLTT vessels, gasping for breath, suffocating in faecal matter and not lying down to rest or even reach for food or water.

During such travels, heat and moisture combinations reached levels that caused heat stroke, resulting in sheep literally cooking alive in ship holds.

Such visions of Australian sheep, suffering and dying of heat stress, have sparked outrage throughout the country and across the world over the past year and led to comprehensive reform of the regulations – including the ban on trade in live sheep from Australia during the summer months in the Middle East.

EU membership requires certain moral rules based on common culture and manifested by basic civilization standards. We urge you, as EU representative of Romania, to ask the relevant ministry of your country to respect laws and ban animal transport in the summer.

 

Best regards,

Your name here

 

Other options you can select also include Twitter and Facebook.

Write to the Romanian MEPs now to express your disgust at what their nation is doing for 70,000 sheep en route to the Middle East.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48421430?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cnx753jennet/romania&link_location=live-reporting-story

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46951855?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cnx753jennet/romania&link_location=live-reporting-story

 

Final Update 15/7 – 22-15hrs GMT.

 

We can confirm that the 70,000 Romanian sheep ARE now en route to Kuwait for slaughter.

Below our comments is the confirmation from EU sources

This is typical of the farce that is the EU, and which shows that Commissioner Andriukaitis is simply being ignored by member states who only do what they want to do. His pleas with them to stop the exports mean nothing – he is a man regarded as a joke.

Oh, now he is talking about ‘infringement proceedings’ against Romania because they have disobeyed him !

There is one way to stop all of this and that is to impose a maximum 8 hour journey time for all animals in transport. Commissioner Andriukaitis will not do this because he does not have the guts; and the meat mafia lobby will grind him down to crawl round every obstacle to meet their demands as they always do. In the meantime; our elected so called ‘politicians’ in the EU parliament just sit there and let it all go on – so what, another 70,000 animals which would have been slaughtered anyway.

Any wonder that EU citizens have no faith in the ‘masters’ that sit in the ivory tower called ‘the Parliament’. MEPs and Commissioners are paid to take action – this is yet another example of how they are simply ignored by some member states who do not give a toss about animal welfare (Romania) – and only think about lining their pockets as a result.

We will watch to see what strict actions Commissioner Andriukaitis will take against Romania about all of this. Expect nothing as usual – he and the rest are all talk and no action.

---

 

EU Confirmation:

Today’s Agri-Fish Council meeting saw a debate on live animal transport by the ministers in attendance, with the majority supporting Commissioner Andriukaitis’ call for the suspension of journeys during summer.

In his opening speech on the topic, the Commissioner stated that Australia has banned live export during the summer season, stating that “the EU cannot lag behind.” He welcomed initiatives from certain Member States that have suspended temporarily long-distance live transport in line with last year’s request by the EU Commission.

On the subject of this weekend’s decision by Romania to go ahead with the transport of 70,000 sheep from Romania to the Persian Gulf, Commissioner Andriukaitis said that the Commission is investigating the issue and that “infringement proceedings against Romania cannot be excluded at this time”.

ENDS

————————————————————–

Old Info:

Please stick with us – we are finding out this info as we do searches.

Latest is below:

 

More More news

The Al Shuwaikh livestock carrier is:

AL SHUWAIKH current position is 40.92476 N / 28.87827 E on Jul 15, 2019 19:45 UTC. Vessel AL SHUWAIKH (IMO: 8506361, MMSI: 447070000) is a Livestock Carrier built in 1986 and currently sailing under the flag of Kuwait.

Current destination of AL SHUWAIKH is KUWAIT and the estimated time of arrival (ETA) is Jul 20, 06:00.

 

 

More news – 2019hrs 15/7/19

 

10/7/19 – Commissioner Andriukaitis asks the Romanian Minister to stop the shipment of 70.000 sheep

 

Commissioner Andriukaitis has called on Petre Daea, the Romanian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, to stop the cruel shipment of 70,000 sheep from Romania to the Persian Gulf. This is welcomed by Eurogroup for Animals and its member organisation Animals Australia, which carried out investigations of this terrible practice in previous summers and has been campaigning against it ever since.

The EU Commissioner for Health & Food Safety’s request follows outcry from civil society and is based on the impossibility of guaranteeing the welfare of the animals transported under extreme temperatures.

70,000 sheep are expected to be loaded into the vessel Al Shuwaikh, owned by the Kuwaiti company Livestock Transport & Trading (KLTT), also known as Al Mawashi, and sent to Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE for the “Festival of Sacrifice” which takes place in August.

KLTT, a major exporter of Australian sheep, was the subject of a major scandal brought to the attention of the media by Animals Australia last year. This company has a long record of violations and is responsible for the onboard deaths of more than a million sheep in the past decades. In 2018 animals on KLTT vessels were found baking in their own skins, gasping for air, smothered in faeces  and unable to lie down to rest or even reach food or water. During such voyages, heat and humidity combinations reached levels that caused heat stroke, resulting in sheep literally cooking alive in the holds of vessels. 

Such visions of Australian sheep suffering and dying of heat stress created outrage across the country last year and led to major regulatory reforms – including the banning of the trade of live sheep from Australia during the Middle East’s summer months. 

 

https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/commissioner-andriukaitis-asks-the-romanian-minister-to-stop-the-shipment-of-70-000-sheep

“Taking into account the weather forecast in the Persian Gulf area during July” – said the Commissioner in his letter to Minister Daea – “I urge you as a gesture of responsibility to stop the imminent export of sheep to the Persian Gulf”. He stressed the impossibility of complying with EU animal welfare legal provisions under extreme temperatures.

“We are pleased with the intervention of Commissioner Andriukaitis, and we urge the Romanian Ministry to respond positively to his call. Indeed, this shipment is likely to breach Art 3 of the EU Regulation (EC) 1/2005 stating that animals shall not be transported in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering,” says Reineke Hameleers, Director of Eurogroup for Animals. “At their destination, these animals will be slaughtered without stunning. To go through this after enduring terrible conditions throughout the voyage – if they survive at all – is barbaric. We cannot let this happen yet again.”

Sign the petition and ask Romania’s PM to stop this

 

———————————————————————————–

WAV Comment:

We have the ability nowdays to know exactly where the ship is at all times – where it is going to and its current position.

We do not have any proof, but strongly suspect (as we have done live export for about 30 years) that this consignment is going for the Eid al-Adha 2019 – the ‘festival of sacrifice’ – and will begin in the evening of 11 August and end in the evening of 15 August.  

We are expecting the Dutch (livestock exporters) to start exporting British sheep from the UK to mainland Europe for the same reason in the next few weeks.  We may give reports about this also in the near future.  One thing is for sure, the crap that is the EU don’t give a damn about enforcement of regulations when it comes to live animal transportation; and the Romanians (an EU member state) will not give a damn either – making money at whatever cost is all they are interested in.

 

Update:  70.000 sheep cruel export from Romania to the Gulf: despite the urgent call from

@V_Andriukaitis

yesterday, we hear from reliable sources the KLTT ship is still waiting to dock in the Port of Midia, (Midia is a small Romanian port)  please help the sheep & call on

@VDancila_PM

to stop the shipment