Flanders lifts hunting ban on Belgian wolves’ land as cubs grow
Friday, 28 August 2020
Hunting will again be allowed in areas populated by wolves in Flanders after regional authorities announced that a ban imposed to protect newborn wolf cubs will not be renewed.
Flemish Environment Minister Zouhal Demir said that a blanket hunting ban will no longer be necessary as the cubs have grown up.
“The wolves are now also able to move to other resting areas in their habitat, which is quite extensive,” Demir told HLN.Related News:
The hunting ban had been imposed in March, when a wolf called Noëlla was reported to have given birth to three cubs and was put in place until 31 August.
Demir moved to imposed the hunting ban to protect the wolf and her litter after another wolf named Naya and her newborn cubs were presumably killed by poachers.
Naya’s death sparked outrage with residents and animal conservation groups since it jeopardised their much-celebrated return of wild wolves into Belgian forests.
A thousand-euro reward for any tips leading to the presumed poachers was set up by conservation groups as well as an anonymous Belgian entrepreneur.
Despite the lifting of the ban, other measures to protect the wolves will remain in place, including regular checks by forest rangers and inspectors with the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests.
Additionally, intensive monitoring with tracking technology and wildlife cameras will also be employed to ensure the animals are safe, while authorities will continue providing support to small livestock farmers active in the area.
Call on Gov. Inslee to End WDFW’s Assault on Wolves
Last fall, Washington Governor Jay Inslee instructed the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to better support co-existence between Washington’s livestock industry and the recovering population of endangered gray wolves. In his letter, Governor Inslee instructed WDFW to “make changes in the gray wolf recovery program to further increase the reliance on non-lethal methods, and to significantly reduce the need for lethal removal of this species… The status quo of annual lethal removal is simply unacceptable.”
Two weeks ago, WDFW gunned down the last two known survivors of the Wedge wolf family in response to predation on cattle grazing primarily on public lands. Today, the agency is out hunting for up to two wolves from the Leadpoint pack.
WDFW has killed four state-endangered wolves since receiving Gov. Inslee’s letter, and 34 wolves since 2012, when wolves had just begun to return to Washington after their extermination in the 1930s by livestock interests and government eradication programs.
This full-page advertisement paid for by Predator Defense appears in today’s Seattle Times. Consider amplifying its message by contacting Governor Inslee today!
It’s almost been a year since Governor Inslee instructed WDFW to change the way it manages wolves. The agency cannot continue to ignore this instruction. To change the status quo, Governor Inslee must act now.
Please take action by respectfully calling on Governor Jay Inslee to end WDFW’s assault on wolves.
Emergency: Stop the Senseless Killing of Washington’s Wolves
On August 17, 2020, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Kelly Susewind confirmed killing the last two known remaining members of the Wedge wolf pack (an adult male and an adult female) in response to cattle depredations, primarily on public lands.
Although peer-reviewed research demonstrates that killing wolves is an ineffective solution to deter predation on cows and can even result in increased attacks, WDFW gunned down an adult female wolf on July 27, and as science predicted, livestock attacks continued after her death.
Killing is not the answer.
Yet WDFW has resorted to killing wolves living in this same spot rugged forest land for years. In fact, they killed the original Wedge pack in 2012 for the very same reason. The original Wedge pack was accused of preying on livestock in the Colville National Forest eight years ago and, under Washington’s wolf management plan, the state opted to issue kill orders in an attempt to protect the livestock. The state killed the entire family of state endangered wolves.
In the eight years since the original Wedge pack was destroyed, not much has changed. Livestock owners still graze their cows on rugged, forested public lands that are better suited for native ungulates, and WDFW is still killing wolves to benefit the profit margins of private businesses. In fact, at least 26 of the 34 state-endangered wolves that have been killed since 2012 were shot on behalf of the same livestock operator.
While it’s too late to protect the other 34 endangered wolves WDFW has gunned down since 2012, other Washington wolves still need our help.
Please take action to respectfully call on WDFW Director Kelly Susewind and Washington Governor Jay Inslee to immediately end their assault on Washington’s wolves.
It was renamed to the League Against Cruel Sports in 1938.[
Ernest Bell (Vegetarian and animal rights activist) – yes, England even had them in those days !
They had a vision and they acted on it – something which many people try to do today.
Wonderful activists from many years gone by – but still very much alive now with their group – 100 years on called the LACS.Wonderful, woderful people !!!
Jessey Wade (c. 1861 – 1952) was an English suffragist and campaigner for animal welfare, known for founding the Cats Protection League (now known as Cats Protection). She co-founded a number of other animal welfare organizations and helped create and was editor of the feminist journal Urania
Illustration from the Animals Friend Cat Book – Jessey Wade – Wikipedia
George Greenwood
Sir Granville George Greenwood (3 January 1850 – 27 October 1928), usually known as George Greenwood or G. G. Greenwood, was a British lawyer, politician, cricketer, animal welfare reformer.
GG Greenwood – George Greenwood – Wikipedia
2019 was a superb year for the League Against Cruel Sports and we had hoped to bring our members the good news face to face at our AGM.
However, assuring the safety of our members – many of whom are in the age groups most susceptible to the worst effects of the virus and many of whom travel long distances on public transport to make our events – must be our top priority. We have therefore taken the decision to cancel the AGM this year, in line with Charity Commission guidance and with their expressed permission.
The future is not certain and with spikes in the outbreak and regular changes to the pandemic rules and control measures, we wanted to bring certainty to proceedings and avoid any potential wasted payments should we have to cancel later on.
Whilst we are disappointed not to be able to bring you the news of our successes in person, we have captured all that we did last year in our Annual Report and Accounts and our Impact Report. They tell of a League that is doing exactly what our members, supporters and the majority of the wider public expect. Thanks to your support we are in good shape and with our full staff in place, we are more determined than ever to stop cruel ‘sports’.
Thank you for your understanding during these strange times.
Dr Tim Holmes Chair
Andy Knott MBE Chief Executive
Who we are and the history of the League
We stand on the side of animals and protect them from being harmed or killed in the name of ‘Sport’. Millions of animals each year are neglected, distressed, suffer cruelty or are killed by cruel ‘sports’. We redefine what is acceptable and were instrumental in helping bring about the landmark Hunting Act 2004. We are driven by compassion and empowered by knowledge. We aim to inspire change, as we know that most of the public share our view that harming and killing animals for ‘sport’ is cruel. We manage sanctuaries to protect wildlife, carry out investigations to expose law-breaking and cruelty to animals, and campaign for stronger animal protection laws and penalties.
A lot of animal cruelty takes place out of sight and often the only way to expose these activities is to go undercover. Our trained team of professional Investigators, which includes former police officers, work continuously to ensure we have effective animal protection laws that are properly enforced. Determined to make sure those who break the law are brought to justice, our professional Investigators expose animal cruelty by gathering the vital surveillance needed to bring those responsible to justice. Our unique and confidential Animal Crimewatch hotline allows anyone witnessing illegal activity in connection with cruel sports to report it to us.
Often animal cruelty takes place because people don’t recognise it for what it is. Hunting with dogs was perceived for a long time as a civilised pursuit, until organisations like us educated the public to the true nature of what goes on.
We continue to educate the public and policy makers through high profile work in the media and expert behind-the-scenes lobbying in Parliament. We also protect animals through our successful campaigning work, by creating awareness of the cruelty inflicted on animals through ‘sport’. More people are raising their voices leading to changes in the law.
How we are changing attitudes
When the Hunting Act 2004 was introduced, just one Conservative MP voted for it; now we know that more than 50 Conservative MPs would stand up against legalising hunting.
Most of the public in the UK also share our view – more than eight out of ten support a ban on hunting with dogs.
Despite this, cruel ‘sports’ is still happening. This is not a small problem – the number of animals involved in the UK is in the millions every year. But we promise to continue to work hard until cruel ‘sports’ becomes a thing of the past as the history of the charity demonstrates.
Over 189,000 signatures so far – keep on making more – share with all your contacts
Stop the sales of foot hold/leg hold traps and snares in the United States
Amazon, Federal Officials, and State Officials: Stop the sales of steel-jaw leg hold/foothold traps and snare traps. Please sign & share this petition.
This is a request to Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com, to immediately cease the sales of steel-jaw leg hold/foot hold traps, snare traps, and attractants on Amazon.com, as these are used in poaching and the maiming of bears and other wildlife. Amazon’s outreach and large selection of such traps put wildlife in danger everywhere. The enormous amount of leg hold/ foot hold traps for sale on Amazon makes it incredibly easy for a person, anytime and anywhere, to begin trapping wildlife, resulting in the maiming and killing of the animals. The easy obtainability of these traps has already resulted in this, based on the number of traps Amazon sells online along with attractants for bears.
The use of leg hold/ foot hold traps for bears is illegal in the United States. Bear traps are illegal to use but are not illegal to sell. Many types of steel jaw traps are legal for use on other wildlife such as foxes, wolves, and coyotes. Selling items illegal for bears is propagating illegal acts and causes horrific impacts on bears along with all wildlife and Amazon should not want to be part of this. These leg hold/ foot hold traps maim wildlife, as has been seen in the historic tragedy in the Asheville, NC area where there are 12+ bears missing limbs. These bears with missing limbs might have suffered this fate because of products sold by Amazon. In addition, our pets and children are at risk-as they could easily step into a trap. With Amazon’s customer outreach, anyone can be trapping within days near you and hurting the things you love. Please sign and share this petition to persuade Amazon to urgently stop the sales of these traps.
The listing of prohibited items on Amazon includes, “Products intended to be used to produce an illegal product or undertake an illegal activity.” Therefore, per Amazon’s OWN policy, the sales of such traps should be banned on Amazon.com and the signers of this petition are asking for that.
This is also a request to state and federal officials to ban the use and sale of steel-jaw leg hold/ foot hold traps and snare traps in the United States. According to the Library of Congress, steel-jaw leg hold traps are banned in over 100 countries including China. Tragically however, they are not banned in the US and are for sale on large sites such as Amazon.com.
Asheville, NC has 12+ bears missing limbs from trap escapes. This could be your city or town next! These maimed bears and their struggles are shown on this video, along with traps sold easily in stores and on Amazon. We hope the video will help convince you to both sign this petition and convince others to sign as well. With your efforts, we can stop this cruel trapping and prevent the horrific death and maiming of wildlife that occurs with steel-jaw traps and snare traps.
The questions to ask yourself when deciding if to sign this petition are simple:
Should kids, pets, bears, and other wildlife be safe living their lives in nature without the threat of stepping into traps like these?
Do I want these traps around my home and family or in places of nature we might visit?
All signatures and comments will be sent weekly to the Amazon head office and to Federal and State officials. Your comments will mean a lot!
“Steel-jaw traps work by slamming shut on the paw or leg of an animal and holding it until a trapper arrives. The devices are outlawed in more than 100 nations, but not in the U.S….Iraq bans them. So do China, Somalia and Sudan….But in the United States, steel-jaw traps are not only legal, they are the go-to tool for trappers who capture and kill millions of wild animals a year for the global fur market.” Credit: Tom Knudson/Revealnews.org
A gang of poachers is said to have killed more than 100 animals, including protected birds of prey. The gang is said to have been active in the districts of Gmunden, Salzburg-area in Austria. The police also found dozens of firearms.
The poachers were equipped like members of a special military unit. Rifles, silencers, and night vision devices were used to shoot everything during night operations which is not allowed.
The list of slain animals is long
At least 26 deer, gray and little egrets, beavers, foxes, buzzards, goosander, brown hares, pheasants, weasels, muskrats, crows, pigeons, jackdaws, jays, sparrows, green and black woodpeckers, house sparrows, blackbirds, squirrels, and brown trout were killed without to pay attention to any restrictions or closed seasons.
Beavers, foxes, squirrels, blackbirds – almost everything was poached
Frozen wildlife in the house
The police have been looking for the accused, who are between 19 and 52 years old, for months.
A 27-year-old was the first to go online during a traffic check in the early morning hours of June 1st in the Gmunden district.
He had a hunting rifle in his car, and in his house, there were frozen wild animals and some hunting trophies.
Further investigations led to more and more poachers, and house searches revealed more and more illegally hunted animals. In addition, 78 firearms of all categories, several thousand rounds of ammunition of various calibers, 31 silencers, night vision devices, and thermal imaging cameras as well as extensive equipment for self-production of ammunition were seized. Often they shot out of moving cars.
After extensive investigations, more than 55 acts of crime have so far been identified in which the accused were active in alternating cooperation and in different combinations in many districts.
The animals were hunted with rifles, silencers and night vision devices
According to the police, all seven suspects basically confessed at the interrogations. Provisional weapons bans were issued against all seven. The property damage caused by the gang is said to amount to a five-digit amount. WWF speaks of “ecological amok running”
The nature conservation organization WWF Austriais appalled: “We are shocked by this ecological rampage. Such crimes are among the main threats to strictly protected species and destroy decades of conservation work. The illegal pursuit of animals is not a trivial offense, but has to be punished with the full severity of the law, ” says WWF conservation expert Arno Aschauer.
The WWF takes the politicians to duty and demands more resources for the investigating authorities and severe punishments.
1. Expensive telescopic sights, night vision devices, thermal imaging cameras, 31 silencers, 78 rifles, and several thousand rounds of ammunition!
Who can afford that?
Guess!! people from the military.
2. “The perpetrators explain the offenses because of their interest in hunting and weapons. The awareness of injustice is likely to be very low,” says a district inspector.
Is it different by hunters?
Of course not.
Hunters also kill pregnant animals, mother animals, young animals, pets, stray animals …everything that moves.
Hunting is murder, hunters are murderers, it doesn’t change whether the murder is committed by the poacher or the hunter.
3. (the best at the end): “Among the victims are nine owners of hunting grounds who want to be compensated with around 15,000 euros” !!!!
For those who didn’t understand: the poachers have murdered in foreign territories! that annoyed the hunters, who had leased the territory, then they demanded that the “others” have to pay for it. The financial loss counts for the hunters, not the animals!
Compensating hunters as victims because others have murdered their animals and not themselves, that’s what I call an indictment of the government and the media.
This is an issue which has been a ‘battleground’ for UK animal campaigners and the official British government Defence Ministry for many years. As an animal activist; I have been involved with this in the past as I feel the use of bearskin is completely unnecessary now days; and has been for many years.
If London soldiers (and others) have to parade around in furry hats; then let them; fine; I have no objection to that; but all I say is that with the progress in faux fur over the years; there is no need now for real bearskins to be used in a soldiers hat. The wearing of bearskin caps goes way back to 1815 when the British fought at Waterloo; have we not moved on a bit since then ? – over 200 years later ?
I have argued the case for a ban on real bearskin with my MP in the distant past; and have always had the reply of ‘indigenous peoples need to get the skins’ as (in my opinion) an excuse for the unnecessary killing of bears. That is what it comes down to – the slaughter of bears to make hats – it is unnecessary in 2020 as there are a lot of options available that do not involve any cruelty.
Fur farming was banned in the UK some 20 years ago; and we as Brits are well proud of that. Tribute must go to Mark and the team at ‘Respect for Animals’ who undertook a fantastic campaign to achieve this. His work continues everywhere – find out more at http://www.respectforanimals.org/
From what we now understand, once the UK has finally left the EU next year (2021) and is not bound by single market (EU) rules; new legislation could be introduced (in the UK) to ban the use of real bearskin in the guards hats. It may seem a bit confusing – the UK formally left the EU at the start of 2020; but it is now in a ‘transition period’ (during 2020) with the EU where trade deals are going to be negotiated and set. This is to allow trade between the UK and the EU; so at the moment, despite leaving the EU, the UK cannot really introduce its own legislation; free from the rules of the EU, until new trade negotiations are completed this year (2020). Issues like animal welfare are included in the negotiations; and with higher, good welfare standards than in some places within the EU; UK activists do not want to see the UK lowering standards to those of some EU nations with issues such as intensive farming and fur.
Very recently; the UK government DEFRA; (Department for Food, the Environment and Regional Affairs) confirmed a sale ban which could raise standards (laws) further with regards fur products by the introduction of new laws; once the UK is completely free in 2021. The ban could affect both new and vintage coats, and also see shops selling decades old furs from being sold. Many areas in London are already not selling any fur products; a move which we welcome.
DEFRA said in their statement: “the UK has some of the highest welfare standards in the world and this is both a source of pride and a clear reflection of British attitudes towards animals. Fur farming has been banned in this country (UK) for nearly 20 years, and at the end of the transition period we will be able to properly consider steps to raise (our) standards even further. This is something that the Government is very keen to do”.
We at WAV would also include here the issue of live animal exports. Under current EU rules, the UK cannot introduce an individual state ban on live animal export; but this will be possible in 2021; post trade negotiations; when the UK is free from the shackles of the EU and can make its own legislations. In 2021 we are hoping that with campaign pressure and the vast majority wish of the British people voicing opinion against live export, the UK government will ban the export of live animals to Europe by (primarily) the Dutch and that the UK will formally stop this disgusting trade in sentient beings that we have been directly involved with for decades.
Read more on the Dutch association with UK live animal exports here:
Back to bearskin hats for soldiers. It is thought that the British Army purchases between 50 and 100 skins each year.; at a cost of around £650 per skin. HIS UK which is being consulted on the issue, stated that there could be ‘pragmatic exemptions’ from outdated fur being worn; such as with hats already in use by the military. But any ban on fur could apply under normal circumstances to charity shops, vintage fashion shops, anything in fact both on the high street or online which relates to fur.
Plans should take place in 2021 to have consultations on the issue; with an opportunity for both business and the general public to have their say. Even now, 81 MP’s and over 750,000 Britons support a ban on the sale of fur. Through effective and educational campaigning; the AR movement and organisations such as ‘Respect for Animals’ have won in the desperate attempt by the fur industry to withdraw itself from the animal suffering and grim truth that we all see regarding fur and fur farming.
Mark at WAV says – you cannot meet the complex behavioural and biological requirements of highly active and highly inquisitive animals such as mink, foxes and raccoon dogs by keeping them in the utmost deplorable conditions which we have all seen and posted about regarding fur farms. It is a simple fact; no amount of any PR spin by the fur industry and the animal killers will change that. A fur ban is not simply a fur wearing ban; it is about the saving of and the sparing of millions of animals the excruciating torment of confined life on a fur farm. It is time for the UK government to acknowledge the very strong British public opinion that any trade in the fur industry is cruel and unacceptable. It is time for a complete ban in every way as soon as the chance arises in 2021.
But until the UK officially leaves the EU on 31st December 2020, it cannot implement a unilateral ben on the fur trade and all its associated products. We understand that any new / future law would need most importantly to protect animal welfare, and that a draft government Bill / documentation on the fur ban has already been produced by HIS UK with the government. Meetings to date between parties have been described as ‘productive’.
A spokesperson for the British Fur Trade Association has said that ‘it beggars belief that in the middle of a pandemic and a recession, the government is secretly working on plans to ban the fur in people’s wardrobes. He went on declaring that fur is a natural and sustainable product that comes from highly regulated (??) and humane (???) sources which have increased sales by over 200% in recent years due to their ‘popularity’. Also declaring that the government needs to reject the pressure being exerted by ‘animal rights groups’ and instead focus on issues that actually matter to people !
So, no win for either at the moment; although it seems very much like the UK is coming out on the side of fur bearing animals. We at WAV fully support this approach. and we look forward very much to 2021 for many reasons. If we get a full fur ban in every way in the UK, and also stop by law the export of live animal exports, then things are moving on positively big time.
The government has a choice; it listens and acts on behalf of the people, or the people throw them out when they have the chance. A simple choice; and we hope they listen to the wishes of the vast majority of the British people.
WAV Comment: Congratulations, the citizens of France have had their say – and the voice is clear and effective. As always, the governments seem to be living in a different world to ‘their’ people. The option – vote them out at the earliest convenience !
More than two thirds of French citizens want better animal welfare
19 August 2020
An unprecedented survey carried out by Fondation Brigitte Bardot and IFOP in August 2020 reveals that French citizens want better protection for animals.
A few weeks after the launch of a shared initiative referendum (RIP) on animal welfare, the results of the survey carried out by our Member Fondation Brigitte Bardot and IFOP confirm the interest shown by French citizens in topics related to breeding, hunting, animal experimentation, wild animals used in circuses, intensive farming, illegal pet trade and slaughter without stunning.
The survey was carried out between August 5 and 7, 2020 with a sample of 1,009 people representative of the French population. The results of the survey were covered by Le Monde and show a strong support from French citizens to improve laws regulating the welfare of animals in France.2/3 of citizens want to see an improvement in the protection of animals in France, despite the lack of political ambition of the government.
For Cristophe Marie, spokesperson of Fondation Brigitte Bardot, “These results bear witness of the interest of the French in the animal condition and the need to start a transition towards production methods that are more respectful of animals, but also towards the abolition of the most cruel practices, such as slaughter without stunning or hunting with hounds.”
The difficulty is that our young president is pursuing an old-fashioned policy, under the influence of hunters and the FNSEA (National Federation of Farmers’ Unions). These lobbies, with their support from high places, thwart any positive development, making France the red lantern of the animal condition in Europe.”
Cristophe Marie, Spokesperson of Fondation Brigitte Bardot
THE SURVEY:
82% of the French are against hunting with hounds;
82% in favor of a ban on the use of cages within the next 5 years;
91% in favor of making outdoor access compulsory for all farmed animals within the next 10 years;
86% in favor of making the stunning of animals before slaughter compulsory in France (without exception for halal or kosher slaughter);
77% in favor of banning the breeding of animals for the sole purpose of marketing their fur;
70% in favor of a commitment by the public authorities to finance the development of alternative methods to animal experimentation;
73% in favor of banning animal testing within the next 10 years;
72% in favor of banning the sale of pets through social networks, online platforms and pet shops;
84% in favor of the obligation to sterilize stray cats with financial participation from the municipalities;
73% agree that the public authorities should support circuses professionals in the transition towards circuses without wild animals.
A few weeks back, we promised we’d file suit to stop the Trump administration’s new policy that guts the landmark National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Well, we’ve done it.
Last week, a coalition of environmental justice and environmental groups — represented by NRDC attorneys and joined by other civil rights and environmental organizations — sued the Trump administration over its attempt to roll back NEPA.
NEPA is a critical part of our democracy that requires thorough environmental reviews and public input before major federal projects — including dangerous fossil fuel infrastructure — can be approved. It protects the people’s right to speak out against the destructive influence of polluters and hazardous projects that poison communities today and lock us into the climate crisis for decades to come.
The Trump administration’s rollback would eliminate environmental reviews for too many projects, erode government transparency, and thwart public participation.
The courts are our best bet at stopping the Trump administration from gutting this landmark environmental protection. So NRDC rushed to court to defend NEPA alongside environmental justice organizations from around the country, including:
Our litigation partners also include Sierra Club, National Audubon Society, and the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Be sure to visit the websites of our partners to find out more about their critical work.
Dear Mark,
A few weeks back, we promised we’d file suit to stop the Trump administration’s new policy that guts the landmark National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Well, we’ve done it.
Last week, a coalition of environmental justice and environmental groups — represented by NRDC attorneys and joined by other civil rights and environmental organizations — sued the Trump administration over its attempt to roll back NEPA.
NEPA is a critical part of our democracy that requires thorough environmental reviews and public input before major federal projects — including dangerous fossil fuel infrastructure — can be approved. It protects the people’s right to speak out against the destructive influence of polluters and hazardous projects that poison communities today and lock us into the climate crisis for decades to come.
The Trump administration’s rollback would eliminate environmental reviews for too many projects, erode government transparency, and thwart public participation.
The courts are our best bet at stopping the Trump administration from gutting this landmark environmental protection. So NRDC rushed to court to defend NEPA alongside environmental justice organizations from around the country, including:
Trump’s rollback is a clear example of environmental racism.
Weakening of NEPA will most directly impact low-income communities and BIPOC communities, who have long faced disproportionate levels of pollution due to industrial facilities placed in or near their neighborhoods.
These are the same communities who have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 crisis, which is especially critical as preliminary research shows that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with higher death rates from the coronavirus.
Predictably, Trump has decided to double-down on exposing them to dangerous pollution and continued health risks. NRDC, our partners in the lawsuit, and our allies across the movement, will do everything in our power to stop attacks on NEPA.
Earlier this year, NRDC and our sister organization, the NRDC Action Fund, submitted over 100,000 public comments — alongside nearly half a million more from green and environmental justice groups — opposing Trump’s NEPA rollback.
Now, we’ll continue the fight to save NEPA in the courts, alongside our important litigation partners from across the country.
This is NRDC’s 121st lawsuit against the Trump administration — and we’ve won nearly 90% of the cases that have been resolved — an astounding record of success fighting back against illegal actions by this president that harm our environment and public health. And we’re confident that with this lawsuit, we will prevail again.
While America faces the crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and its history of racism and inequity, President Trump is pushing ahead with an anti-environmental assault that would exacerbate both challenges in one fell-swoop.
The Trump administration just finalized its disastrous rollback of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) — a landmark law that empowers people to make their voices heard about hazardous projects in their communities and stop pollution in their own backyards.
This attack on NEPA is an attack on democracy, our environment, our climate, and YOUR voice, Mark.
And NRDC will respond immediately, taking the Trump administration to court if that’s what it takes to stop this reckless assault on one of the pillars of environmental law. And we couldn’t respond so effectively without the support of NRDC supporters like you — thank you.
If Trump’s NEPA rollback is allowed to stand, disastrous polluting projects — like coal mines, highways, incinerators, oil and gas drilling operations, and pipelines — could be expedited with little-to-no environmental review, public input, or analysis of long-term impacts on the environment, our climate, or the people who live near these projects.
Make no mistake: this rollback is a clear attempt to silence people and make it easier for industry to pollute our communities.
And it will further marginalize low-income communities, Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color who already suffer disproportionately from the adverse health impacts of industrial pollution — and who have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 crisis. This is especially critical as preliminary health studies suggest that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with higher death rates from the coronavirus.
NEPA gives people the right to weigh in before a highway project tears up their neighborhood or a pipeline goes through their backyard. Steamrolling their concerns will mean more polluted air, more contaminated water, more health threats, and more environmental destruction — and it will encourage the government to ignore how massive polluting projects contribute to climate change.
We must — and will — do everything in our power to stop the Trump administration’s rollback and save NEPA, including fighting back in federal court if necessary.
This dangerous new rollback comes weeks after another sweeping executive order that prods administration officials to ram through polluting projects without public notice, let alone adequate environmental reviews.
And it comes amid an onslaught of other Trump administration rollbacks over the past few months — including a move that could allow industrial polluters to evade penalties if they unlawfully fail to monitor and report on their pollution during the coronavirus crisis.
NRDC is fighting many of these rollbacks in court — just as we’ll fight to save NEPA as well, if that’s what it takes. NRDC has filed 118 lawsuits against the Trump administration. With the law on our side, we’ve won nearly 90 percent of the cases resolved so far.
New investigation revealing horrific harpoon fishing practices
6 August 2020
Essere Animali
Every summer in the Strait of Messina, the feluccas (typical swordfish fishing boats) set sail to catch the fish whose meat is sold to fishmongers and restaurants. Although it is considered a more sustainable method than industrial fishing, as there is no unwanted bycatch of other species, harpoon fishing causes serious suffering. This year Essere Animali was on board documenting the horrific practices.
After being pierced with the harpoon, swordfish struggle in vain to free themselves. Once hoisted onto the boat, their flesh is cut in several places with a knife while they are still alive to facilitate the extraction of the spearhead. This procedure causes extreme and prolonged pain to the swordfish.
After being caught, the swordfish are frequently doused with water. The purpose of this procedure is to keep them alive as long as possible to ensure the freshness of their meat; it does not bring any relief to the animals.
Death comes as a result of asphyxiation after several long minutes of agony, during which the fish remains conscious and gasps for breath, its body riddled with wounds.
The post ‘New investigation revealing horrific harpoon fishing practices’ is modified from an article published by Essere Animali in their original language.
Beavers, foxes, squirrels, blackbirds – almost everything was poached
The animals were hunted with rifles, silencers and night vision devices
World Animals Voice 
