Category: Hunting

Environmental, General News, Hunting, Uncategorized

USA: President Elect Biden Selects Super Environmental Team For the Future.

WAV Comment:  Big Wow ! – congratulations to President elect Joe Biden, Deb Haarland, and Michael Regan on the award of their new positions which will overturn all the environmental destruction caused by loser Trump over recent years.  It is especially wonderful to see Deb Haarland; a Native American, to serve with such an important position in the cabinet; with her department’s jurisdiction covering tribal lands and vast tracts of protected American wilderness, including jewels such as Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks.

Mr. Regan will be a leading member of the new, expanded Biden team focusing on reversing Trump’s environmental rollbacks and address the climate crisis with a plan for bringing the US economy to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Super choices for an America and its wildlife that very much needs protection from the bad muppets that we have seen from Trump and ‘his mates’ over the past years.

We at WAV very much welcome these appointments; as do the vast eco warrior tribes of the world.  Haarland, a lady who originated from peoples who loved and protected the environment.  We hope she will right all the Trump wrongs in the coming years.

Superb news !

 ———————————

Deb Haaland would be the first Native American cabinet secretary.

Biden picks Deb Haaland as first Native American interior secretary | Biden administration | The Guardian Deb Haaland would be the first Native American cabinet secretary. Photograph: Juan Labreche/AP

Biden picks Deb Haaland as first Native American interior secretary

President-elect will also nominate regulator Michael Regan to head Environmental Protection Agency

Joe Biden has chosen the US lawmaker Deb Haaland as interior secretary and will nominate the North Carolina official Michael Regan to head the Environmental Protection Agency, in two diverse and influential picks to handle crucial issues such as public lands, pollution and the climate crisis.

Haaland, a progressive Democratic congresswoman from New Mexico since 2019, would be the first Native American cabinet secretary and one of the first Native Americans ever to serve in a US cabinet. The department’s jurisdiction covers tribal lands and vast tracts of protected American wilderness, including jewels such as Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks.

In a tweet on Thursday evening, Haaland said she was “honored and ready to serve” as interior secretary.

“A voice like mine has never been a cabinet secretary or at the head of the Department of Interior,” she added.

Haaland is a member of Pueblo of Laguna and would become the first descendant of the original people to populate North America to run the interior department, which has often had a difficult relationship with the 574 federally recognized tribes in the US, the Washington Post reported.

And she has told the Reuters news agency she would seek to usher in an expansion of renewable energy production on federal land to contribute to the fight against climate change, and undo Donald Trump’s regressive focus on bolstering fossil fuels output.

Progressives hailed the selection of Haaland as “perfect choice” and a “fierce ally” of the environmental movement.

“Rep Deb Haaland’s appointment as secretary of the interior is a historic moment for every Native American and the Green New Deal movement,” said Varshini Prakash, the executive director of the youth-led Sunrise Movement.

She added: “With a progressive leader at the helm, we can make real progress on stopping climate change and ensure sovereignty and dignity for all Native people and justice for all.”

Climate activists, joined by progressive members of Congress, tribal leaders and Hollywood celebrities, had mounted a public campaign in support of Haaland. The interior secretary will be critical to enacting Biden’s ambitious climate plan as well as playing an important role leading discussions between the federal government and tribal nations.

The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, had issued a statement on Wednesday saying: “Congresswoman Haaland knows the territory, and if she is the president-elect’s choice for interior secretary, then he will have made an excellent choice.”

The retiring New Mexico senator Tom Udall, a Democrat who was also reportedly under consideration for the role, was among the first politicians to congratulate Haaland, calling her appointment a “watershed moment for Native communities, and for our nation”.

In a statement, Udall praised her as someone who would use the position to “undo the damage of the Trump administration, restore the department’s workforce and expertise, uphold our obligations to Native communities, and take the bold action needed to tackle the accelerating climate and nature crises.”

“I am confident that she will be both a historic interior secretary and an excellent one,” he added.

Theresa Pierno, the president and CEO for the National Parks Conservation Association, said Haaland would be ready for the job “on day one” and was a congressional “champion” who had helped hold the line on conservation.

“Amid a global pandemic and climate crisis, we need a department of interior secretary who is ready to address 21st-century challenges with bold solutions … to protect our national parks and public lands for the benefit of all Americans,” she said.

Meanwhile, Biden plans to nominate Regan, North Carolina’s top environmental regulator, to head the EPA, according to Reuters.

If confirmed by the US Senate, Regan would become the second Black person to run the EPA, after Lisa Jackson, who served during Barack Obama’s presidency. He would be a leading member of the new, expanded Biden team focusing on reversing Trump’s environmental rollbacks and address the climate crisis with a plan for bringing the US economy to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Regan brings years of experience dealing with fossil fuel industries in his home state, including overseeing a roughly $9bn settlement agreement with utility Duke Energy for the nation’s largest clean-up of coal ash. Regan has also previously worked at the EPA and worked on climate change and pollution initiatives for the Environmental Defense Fund, a green advocacy group.

“Regan understands that tough environmental goals tempered with economic and technological reality produce the best approach on everything from climate change to more local problems,” said Scott Segal, an attorney for the law firm Bracewell, which has petroleum companies as clients.

Jim Marston, the former head of the Environmental Defense Fund state initiatives program, said: “He could talk with, work with industry. And his own personal history allows him to really relate … to working-class folks who are the workers in plants that need to be regulated,” Marston said.

Democrats have a very narrow majority in the House, so losing Haaland to the cabinet is a risk, making three Democratic members of the House that will be leaving the chamber to join the new administration.

Marcia Fudgewill be nominated to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Cedric Richmondwill serve as the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/17/deb-haaland-joe-biden-interior-secretary

Keep the Environment tops in the USA – a few pictures I took on one of my trips in the USA many moons ago.

Once it has gone, you can never bring it back – so dont let it go in the first place ! – Mark

Hunting

The fifth commandment: “Thou shalt not kill”

Animal Liberation Press Office- Filed under Communiqués in the News

According to local media reports, Father Jordan Neek, living in St. Norbert Abbey, 1016 N Broadway, De Pere, WI 54115, United States, has been repeatedly harassed since starting hunting in the grounds of the Abbey.

The police report of the incident explains that his hunting seat was vandalized, trees were spray-painted, and trail cams stolen in an attempt to dissuade the priest from hunting deer in Abbey’s land.

“It does hurt, I’m not going to lie, every morning I wake up sick to my stomach thinking about the hatred towards me,” says Father Neeck.

Hunter-Priest Harrassed in Wisconsin, Tree Stands Vandalized (USA)

And I mean…Hatred makes you sick, Father Neeck?
But shooting makes animals into corpses and that’s worse.
Why do murder innocent animals in the forest?
Have you no respect for the fifth commandment, that says …, “Thou shalt not kill”?
This also applies to non-human animals, Father Neeck!

If you stop killing animals, no one will harass you anymore, and instead of hatred you will reap love

Regards and good night, Venus

Hunting

Cyprus: poachers have an easy job now !!

Committee against Bird Murder e.V.

Current petition against bird murder in Cyprus: The government of the EU member state Cyprus has drastically reduced the penalties for illegal bird trapping.

Instead of a maximum of € 2,000, as was previously the case, you now only have to pay € 200 for catching or shooting up to 50 songbirds – that’s just € 4 for a protected bird!

The specialty of the island:“ambelopoulia”

14 species are affected, precisely those that are popular as classic “delicacies”, such as warblers.

A penalty of this amount is little more than a “bird catching fee” and is incompatible with the regulations at the EU level. Our partner BirdLife Cyprus started a petition against this scandal today – please join us!

PETITION: https://www.change.org/ampelopouliaSOS

https://www.facebook.com/Komitee.CABS/

And I mean…Trappers place their lures at night.

Early the next morning, they return for their grisly harvest, ripping the terrified birds from the fine-mesh ‘mist’ nets or glue-covered branches, often leaving the entangled feet behind, then killing them with a cocktail stick or a penknife to the throat.

Here a Blackcap (warbler) on a lime stick –

Many of the victims will be used in the perverse menü “Ambelopoulia”, in which the boiled or fried birds are eaten whole, save for the beak.

A platter of a dozen birds sells for € 40–80 (the US $ 44–87), and the trade-in songbirds are responsible for an estimated annual market of € 15 million.

The “delicacy” is so prized and lucrative that it is suspected to be linked to organized crime, and those trying to stop it have been subject to intimidation and violence.

“We’ve had people who put bombs in the private cars of game wardens, and cases where the houses of game wardens have been burnt down,” says Panayides, an officer in the police force.

About 30 trappers are believed to dominate the trade.
Mafia figures with links to prostitution, drugs, and gambling are suspected to be among their number.

Stopping that poaching is extremely difficult. The illegal practice in some cases is overtly or very often tacitly supported by people in very high political and administrative positions.

What’re more, officers trying to tackle trapping can find themselves threatened or worse.

In December 2015, Evgenios Hamboullas, Famagusta member of parliament for the incumbent Democratic Rally party, posted a photo of himself on Facebook seated in front of a plate of songbirds with the caption: “Soon in our restaurants! Happy holidays!”

The post received nearly 600 likes in 5 days!

Even if trappers are caught, the mild sentences passed by the courts are not effective deterrents, says Panayides, an officer in the police force. In reality, most poachers get out with a fine of a few hundred euros.
The officer tells of a poacher, who his team has caught and prosecuted eight times in the past ten years.
“What else can we do as a department?”

We got it! The island of Aphrodite, where once even gods were guests in antiquity, is now a big poachers center, run by “serious organized criminals”.

My best regards to all, Venus

General News, Hunting

Italy: the Hunter Website takes a break

Received anonymously from Frente de Liberación Animal:

The official website of the Italian Hunting Federation <www.federcaccia.org> has been hacked by the Animal Liberation Front.

ALF Hacks Italian Hunting Federation Website (Italy)

We wish the hunters a lot of fun repairing the hacked page.
Especially now in Corona times, you have to employ hunters, otherwise, they will come up with stupid ideas

Regards and good night, Venus

Hunting

Germany: 13 Hunting stands eliminated!

ALF Destroys 13 Hunting Stands in Germany
Via local media:

According to local media, four hunting towers were set alight in Gödenstorf (a small community in the district of Harburg) during the evening of the 22nd November, causing total damage of 5000 EUR.

On the 19th, in Viernheim (a middle industrial city north of Mannheim) nine more towers were destroyed, legs sawed off, ladders were broken or overturned.

Some of them had been tagged with ALF.

ALF Destroys 13 Hunting Stands in Germany

And I mean…Eliminating 13 Murder Stands in 4 days … is an above-average achievement.
Animals will no longer be shot from these execution towers, that is safe.

And so we send a big “THANK YOU” to the activists

…and my best regards to all, Venus

Environmental, General News, Hunting

USA: Trump’s misguided attack on wildlife, our ecosystems, and our planet – maybe that is why he will not be Mr President anymore !

Stand up for Wildlife: Help Save Gray Wolves from Trump’s Reckless Assault

President Trump’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) just finalized its Rule to roll back vital Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves in the lower-48 states. Their disastrous plan will reverse years of recovery for this iconic species.

We are facing a biodiversity crisis of global proportions. The fate of humanity is intertwined with the fate of species and healthy ecosystems. Now is the time to restore species to the landscape — not dial back efforts for an iconic animal that was once nearly exterminated in the U.S.

Furthermore, the Fish and Wildlife Service must develop a national wolf management plan — a plan that incorporates Indigenous knowledge and perspective. The gray wolf holds immense cultural significance for Indigenous groups around the country and is considered sacred by some.

NRDC is doing everything in our power to stop Trump’s latest assault on wildlife — and we’ll take the fight to court if that’s what it takes to stop it — but in the meantime, we need NRDC activists to help create a massive public outcry by submitting letters of protest to Trump’s Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sign the petition protesting Trump’s misguided attack on wildlife, our ecosystems, and our planet — and help save gray wolves!

Stand up for Wildlife: Help Save Gray Wolves from Trump’s Reckless Assault

Above – ‘The President’

Click on this link to take action:

Help Save Gray Wolves | NRDC

The Loser
General News, Hunting

France: British Expat Shot Dead By Hunter Who ‘Mistook’ Him For A Wild Boar !

 

British expat, 25, shot dead outside his home by French hunter, 33, who mistook him for a boar – as ‘mortified’ gunman is arrested for manslaughter

  • Morgan Keane is thought to have died instantly when he was shot in La Garrigue 
  • 33-year-old huntsman, who has not been named, was later taken into custody 
  • Both of Mr Keane’s parents died, leaving him and younger brother in the house 
  • Their father believed to have died recently and sons were looking after affairs 

Read the full story, with photos, at:

ttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9015185/British-expat-shot-dead-French-hunter-mistook-boar.html?ito=push-notification&ci=57183&si=17774922

Hunting

Gang of poachers in Cyprus convicted

The police in Cyprus put one of the most notorious poaching gangs on the island to a halt in November.

Equipped with house search warrants, they found three people with a total of five nets and 366 dead protected songbirds – mostly warblers.
The total fine for the criminal bird catcher known for many years is € 11,660.

It was the biggest blow to organized poaching in Cyprus in years. The police action was preceded by months of research by the Committee against Bird Murder and its partner BirdLife Cyprus, which led to the submission of numerous pieces of evidence.


We are very happy about this successful action against a gang that up to now seemed “untouchable” and despite numerous previous reports, was always able to avoid punishment.

 

One of the comments was the question that would also be mine: “How will we know if they really pay the fine”?

And the answer from the committee: “They will because it´s an administrative fine, they can’t refuse”.

One really must have a sick personality construct to catch the most harmless of the animals, to kill them, and to be proud of it.

My best regards to all, Venus

Hunting

Trophy hunting: corruption and fraud

Trophy hunting is a particularly gruesome pastime that countless living beings pay with their death. In search of a special thrill, hobby hunters travel to distant lands to kill exotic and rare animals.

Apparently, it is not enough for German hunters to kill millions of native wild animals every year. Thousands of Germans travel abroad every year to hunt big game.

The providers of hunting trips leave nothing to be desired because even shooting permits for endangered species such as elephants, rhinos, lions, or polar bears can be purchased for a lot of money.
And species native to Europe such as brown bears, wolves, and lynxes are also on the trophy collectors’ hit lists.

Hunted, killed, and mutilated
As a result of frequently missed shots and cruel hunting practices, many of the animals do not die immediately, but rather slowly and painfully.
The animals are often shot and flee with bloody wounds. As they run for their lives in fear of death, the animals continue to be shot at by the hunters and chased through the wilderness – lead bullets or steel arrows pierce their bodies until they collapse, exhausted.
Hunting with a bow and arrow or a crossbow is prohibited in Germany for reasons of animal welfare, but it is a common hunting practice in many countries for trophy hunting.

Trophäenjagd Löwe

The suffering of lions for the hunt in South Africa

In South Africa, thousands of lions are bred on so-called canned hunting farms so that they are later not naturally afraid of humans and thus of the hobby hunter. On many farms, the animals are even lured with bait or medicated to make the hunt a success even for inexperienced shooters.

Continue reading “Trophy hunting: corruption and fraud” →

General News, Hunting

Hagebau ends the dirty business with reptiles

Hagebau withdraws from reptile sales after talks with PETA Germany

In 2015 and 2016, we at PETA Germany published extensive research into the sale of small animals and reptiles, which revealed serious deficiencies and terrible animal cruelty in numerous pet shops and their suppliers.
Since it was published, we have been in dialogue with a number of pet shops and hardware stores in order to promote the withdrawal from animal sales. Based on the talks, the company Hagebau announced in November 2020 that it would end the sale of reptiles from 2021.

A large number of animals do not survive the transport.

With our publications about the suffering of animals for the reptile trade, we were able to persuade the hardware store chain Hagebau to stop selling reptiles. In the past, we have pointed out several times that this is associated with immense animal suffering. The public criticism had already led to the fact that the majority of the Hagebau stores stopped selling reptiles in recent years.

In 2021, the last sales point for reptiles from Hagebau is to be closed.

We thank you for this animal-friendly decision and expressly welcome the trend-setting step taken by the Hagebau company for more animal welfare.
“Snakes, turtles, and exotic lizards can never be kept in a species-appropriate manner in living rooms. Hagebau has recognized this and is taking an important step in the direction of animal welfare by withdrawing from reptile scales,” said Jana Hoger, PETA Germany

The Borneo earless monitor lizard is traded for 8,000 euros per pair. Olexandr Topchylo / wikimedia.org

 

With the sales stop from 2021, Hagebau is taking responsibility and making an important contribution to ensuring that no more reptiles are sold in Germany in the future.

Reptile sales: animal suffering supported by hardware stores and pet shops

Our publication in August 2016 provided insights into the unscrupulous trade in reptiles for the German pet market for the first time. Image material documented masses of the dead, injured, or for years locked up in plastic boxes animals at German wholesalers and their international suppliers.

At this reptile dealer, snakes are sometimes kept in small plastic boxes for over 10 years.

A study presented by the Federal Environment Ministry in March 2020 also confirms that the trade-in of exotic wild animals is contributing to the global extinction of species.
For reasons of species and nature conservation, action must be taken accordingly. When reptiles are caught and transported alone, up to 70 percent of the animals die from stress, insufficient supplies, or injuries caused by transport.

Many of the exotic animals sold in Germany also come from Asia, Africa, and South America as so-called wild-caught animals – they were previously wrested from their natural habitat.

Due to the unknown origin of the animals, it cannot be said in such cases whether or which deadly viruses and bacteria the reptiles carry.

The majority of all zoonoses, 72 percent, can be traced back to contact with wild animals.

Continue reading “Hagebau ends the dirty business with reptiles” →