Great News.
https://www.romania-insider.com/animal-rights-march-2024-bucharest
Some of our past posts relating to Romanian issues – not current – note dates of articles:
Biggest sheep exporter in Europe !
Regards Mark
Category: Live Transport
31 July 2024
Essere Animali
As heat waves surge throughout Europe, animals are vulnerable to extreme temperatures, especially when they are being transported by road and sea. A new investigation found animals forced to travel at temperatures above 45° without water and left under scorching sun in Italy, whilst another explored the issue of dead animals being tossed off of export vessels into the Mediterranean sea.
A recent investigation by Essere Animali, in which they monitored transport shipments of animals on highways in Italy, revealed some animals are being transported in trucks of internal temperatures reaching up to 48 degrees. Their photos and footage show pigs gasping for air and left without access to water. In one case, animals were left for long periods under the scorching sun with fans turned off in the truck, while drivers took their break.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. The welfare of animals during transport continues to be poorly protected by European laws. According to regulations animals should be safeguarded against “extreme temperatures”, but there are no clear definitions, as well as no enforcement. Furthermore, national travel is exempt from this rule.
Essere Animali, together with Eurogroup for Animals, calls for the long distance transport of live animals to be banned, and that clear references are introduced for temperatures, taking into account humidity and the condition of animals.
Animals washed up on beaches
The demand for exports to third countries has risen sharply. The EU’s Member States export around three million animals by sea to distant countries, posing significant risks to animals with increased mortality rates.
Treated like unwanted waste, deceased animals are disposed of in the Mediterranean. Not only is this completely insensitive, but it increases pollution and also risk of shark attacks at numerous tourist hotspots on Mediterranean beaches.
In over 50 media-documented cases, dead and discarded animals from livestock vessels were washed ashore in France, Spain, Greece, Israel and Portugal among others.
A new film by Animal Welfare Foundation shows the extent of this issue, with a clear call to action: live animal transports to third countries are wrong in every respect and must be stopped.
egards Mark
The new animal welfare exhibition truck
Brussels only city to not authorise mobile exhibition on animal welfare
25 July 2024
GAIA
Press Release
Among 20 European cities, Brussels is the only city that has failed to issue a permit for a mobile exhibition that will travel around Europe showcasing issues related to animal welfare, causing concern to animal protection NGOs.
The mobile exhibition For the Animals, by Project 1882, a leading animal advocacy organisation in Sweden, started its Euro Tour in June, going through Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, Berlin, Bratislava, Prague and Ljubljana. Its journey, through to November, will continue to Budapest, Madrid, Lisbon, Porto, Bologna, Torino, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Malmö, Gutenberg and Stockholm.
Yet, despite efforts by Eurogroup for Animals and GAIA, the city of Brussels has failed to provide a permit for the exhibition. In the long correspondence with several different authorities, the permit was rejected, on claims that the dimensions of the truck are too large, the roads in Brussels are “too fragile”, or because of metro and underground parking lots. This however, is questionable, considering that many other participating cities have similar landscapes and did not raise such concerns.
It is concerning that in Brussels, right in the heart of policy-making in Europe, citizens are unable to participate in this exhibition. With the reasons provided for the lack of permit, we wonder if there is a hidden motive, one that is based on the content of the exhibition, rather than the format? The reality of suffering of animals in Europe should remain visible.
Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals
Today, we had to announce to dozens of major NGOs that Brussels, the Capital of Europe, was not able to host an exhibition that will nonetheless be present in all the major cities on the continent. Brussels, which recently hosted hundreds of tractors, apparently does not have the capacity to accommodate a truck for a one-day event? It’s grotesque and deplorable.
Ann De Greef, CEO, GAIA
Above – London.
Yours truly somewhere in the Netherlands – note free range chickens – how they should be !
Brussels, oh yeah yup I get it – home of the EU, where decisions like live animal regulations are rules, and where intensive farming regulations for the entire EU member states are made, Then they have never had the bollocks to do what EU man demands; just a few ? flimsy animal abusers from start to finish; their own little powerhouse doing what they want rather than to go with animal welfare friendly common man.
Ever asked yourself why it was only upon leaving the EU that the United Kingdom was able introduce legislation which ended up with an export ban for British animals going into Europe ? – best thig the UK has done for a long time !
I know, its called getting out of the EU !
I travelled with the Ban live export tour truck in Europe decades ago – now out, the UK is free from the EU shackles of that abuse; whilst those still in Europe sadly still see live animal shipments day in day out – why ? cos the gutless Commission lets and animals suffer continually for a few pennies more,
SHAME ON THEM – Let the animals free !
Mark
Every 6 months a different nation takes on the Presidency of the EU. This is a rotational thing, ensuring each member state plays its part. Now Hungary – Hence:
10 July 2024
As Hungary presides over the council for the next six months, Eurogroup for Animals urges the presidency to prioritise the critical needs in animal welfare.
The Belgian presidency significantly advanced on the proposal for the welfare and traceability of cats and dogs, which was approved by Member States in the council. While this achievement is welcome, the Hungarian presidency must now address the remaining urgent issues.
Read our full memorandum to the Hungarian Presidency here.
Animal welfare legislation must be published
Foremost, the presidency must urge the Commission to publish the remaining animal welfare proposals early in the next political term, to address the severely outdated legislation that does not adequately protect animals throughout their lifetime, from farm to slaughter. In particular, the legislation should have a plan of action to transition to cage-free systems, as per the commitment to the End the Cage Age ECI.
Better protection of animals during transport
Eurogroup for Animals urges the Hungarian presidency to further the work on the revision of the Transport Regulation to support a ban on the transport of live animals outside EU borders, in parallel with a transition towards a trade in meat and carcasses, and stricter requirements to protect animals during intra-EU transport, particularly vulnerable animals.
Support coexistence with wildlife
With significant support for coexistence with wolves in rural communities across the EU and sufficient EU guidelines, practices and support initiatives to prevent loss of livestock, the Hungarian presidency is encouraged to to close the discussions on the proposal to downgrade the protection status of wolves and rather promote the uptake of coexistence measures currently underutilised.
Move towards non-animal science
The impact of EU legislation to protect animals used for scientific purposes has so far been limited. In 2020, over 7.9 million animals were used in research, testing, and education in the EU-27 and Norway, and a further 686,628 animals were used for creating and maintaining genetically altered lines. Eurogroup for Animals urges the Hungarian presidency to support efforts to advance negotiations on legislative initiatives to phase out the use of animals in science.
Read our full memorandum to the Hungarian Presidency here.
Hungary presidency: time to step up work in animal welfare | Eurogroup for Animals
Regards Mark
We have a new Labour government in the UK.
Like all politicians after your vote, they promise the world. Once elected, then we see the reality.
Labour’s animal-welfare and environmental policies may be better than the Tories’ – but they contain disappointing gaps, experts say.
** In a YouGov poll last year, a third of voters said animal welfare was one of their top three issues. **
So new environment secretary Steve Reed will come under pressure from lobby groups – and in some cases, from opposing countryside and farming factions.
The party’s manifesto promised to improve animal welfare, with bans on trail hunting and the import of hunting trophies, an end to puppy smuggling and farming, and to “work towards the phasing out of animal testing”.
It pledged a Labour government would “champion British farming whilst protecting the environment”.
Alongside environmental land-management schemes, the manifesto promised steps to eradicate bovine TB to end the “ineffective” badger cull. And there was a pledge to ban snares.
Mr Reed said Labour would introduce “the biggest boost in animal welfare in a generation”.
Many of the policies have been broadly welcomed by commentators – but already others are facing controversy, including:
Badger cull
Before the election, Labour damned the badger cull as “ineffective”, holding up the prospect of ending it.
But Mr Reed confirmed last week the government would allow existing cull licences to continue until 2026, saying an immediate end to the cull would send “sudden shocks into the system”.
Meanwhile, the Badger Trust and Wild Justice, a campaign group jointly run by Chris Packham, have sent a legal warning letter over Natural England’s decision before the election to grant nine new supplementary cull licences and to authorise 17 existing licences – contrary to the advice of Natural England’s own head of science.
Wild Justice said if the response was unsatisfactory it may seek a judicial review.
Dominic Dyer, ex-head of the Badger Trust and a defeated Lib Dem election candidate, said: “Never in the history of wildlife protection has there been such a betrayal of trust. After 13 years of waiting for a Labour government to stop this cruel madness, they are now planning to kill at least 30,000 more badgers.”
Industrial farming
Labour’s manifesto has been criticised for not mentioning factory farm animal welfare.
Alick Simmons, a former government deputy chief vet, writing for Wild Justice, said: “A pledge to address puppy farming while ignoring industrial pig and poultry farming does not strike me as a balanced manifesto.”
Compassion in World Farming (CiWF) has lobbied all parties for a ban on cages, saying around 8 million farmed animals are kept in them each year in the UK. “The previous government said they’d prepared consultations on this issue, and we want to see them published,” it said.
The Liberal Democrats had pledged to ban cages for hens, while Labour did not.
CiWF also called for method-of-production food labelling, following a consultation earlier this year.
The Lib Dems were praised for a promise to crack down on antibiotic misuse for farm animals, and the new government will face calls to do so.
Wildlife and nature recovery
Green Party former co-leader Caroline Lucas said she was shocked by the lack of manifesto detail on restoring the natural world.
“As the bare minimum, where’s the increased budget for arms-length bodies like Natural England and the Environment Agency?” she asked. “Or the funding to enable landowners to return land to nature? Or the pay rise to help farmers shift to nature-friendly farming and tackle our broken agriculture system which is driving biodiversity loss?”
But environmental campaigners welcomed a pledge in the party’s pre-manifesto nature policies stating: “We will help coordinate nature’s recovery with bodies responsible for public land and major landowners.”
Guy Shrubsole said in a blog: “This may sound anodyne, but in fact could be one of the most significant policies – the first inklings of a Public Nature Estate: an idea that Wildlife and Countryside Link [a coalition of 82 organisations] have been calling for.”
Forest ranger Samuel Lindsay added: “Although the talk of habitat expansion is positive, this is a very vague statement. There are no clear targets or areas identified for this to be carried out.”
The manifesto promised to plant millions of trees, create new woodlands and expand wetlands, peat bogs and forests.
Mr Simmons said: “Sure, let’s get rid of snares but what about the numerous unaccountable and untested methods of killing wildlife such as Larsen traps, mole traps, Fenn traps and poisons that are on free sale for use by anyone?”
Trail hunting
Opponents and monitors say hunts break the law by fox hunting while claiming to be trail hunting – that is, following a scent without chasing wild animals.
The claims were lent weight by a hunt chief advising others to create a “smokescreen” by laying several trails. His words, during a leaked private Zoom meeting, were interpreted as an admission that foxhunting took place.
Mr Reed said in February that a Labour government would ban trail hunting in its first term, and the manifesto included a promise to ban trail hunting – but it did not promise to close loopholes in the Hunting Act 2004, which bans hunting wild animals with dogs.
A former head of the League Against Cruel Sports, Andy Knott, has cast doubt on achieving a ban through the Hunting Act.
“People have seen the images of packs of hounds getting into private back gardens, killing cats, ripping flocks apart. There’s not a majority in any part of the country that wants to see that continue,” Mr Reed told The Times before the election.
But Oliver Hughes, of governing body the British Hound Sports Association, told Horse & Hound that about 12,000 days of trail hunting took place in England and Wales each year, “with the vast majority taking place without any problems”.
Sewage scandal
Ms Lucas said: “Although Labour’s manifesto commits to tackling the sewage scandal, it fails to get to the heart of the matter – the unmitigated disaster that is our privatised water system. Water is a public good, so the Green Party would bring it back into public ownership.”
Mr Shrubsole criticised the plans for not mentioning agricultural river pollution.
“Farming’s significant contribution to the state of our rivers seems to be a taboo subject for nearly all parties competing in this election – with the notable exception of the Green Party,” he said.
Trade deals
Mr Dyer said a government priority should be suspending the UK’s £970m trade deal with the Faroe Islands to force the authorities to end the mass slaughter of whales and dolphins.
Ciwf said animal welfare should be protected in trade deals by refusing imports of food produced in ways that are illegal in the UK. Labour has said it will do this.
British farmers complained that deals for cheap food imports under the Conservatives undermined their standards.
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “The government set out its plans in the manifesto to introduce the most ambitious boost in animal-welfare rights in a generation.
“This includes banning trail hunting and the importing of hunting trophies, while also ending the badger cull, puppy smuggling and farming, and the use of snare traps.”
Regards Mark
| I feel such emotion as I write the following words, ‘we did it’. Legislation to bring the live sheep export industry to an end has just been passed in the Senate. This is the moment we have been hoping for – that we have worked so hard for. This is a moment for us to savour. As you know so well, this historic outcome for animals has taken many years, in fact decades, of our lives to achieve. In the face of great challenges, our resilience was tested time and time again, but we ‘stayed the course’, because our hearts would not let us do otherwise. It was long ago that our ancestors named the four legged woolly creatures who grazed peacefully together, ‘sheep’. Back then, no-one could have foreseen that these gentle animals would be subjected to an industry that would unite people across a vast continent to plead, on their behalf, for mercy. Nor could we have known the number of years it would take for governments to heed our calls for compassion. But that momentous day has finally come. |
| WATCH: In this brief video Shatha and I reflect on this momentous day. |
| On this historic day, it is so very important for me to acknowledge those who have helped achieve the passage of this legislation. To Dr Jed Goodfellow and Dr Bidda Jones from the Australian Alliance for Animals and Dr Suzie Fowler and Joanne Webb from RSPCA Australia – thank you so very much. Your public advocacy and political lobbying over the past year has been exceptional. The voices of Dr Lynn Simpson, and Dr Sue Foster and her team at Vets Against Live Export have been critical in providing scientific evidence and expertise to the calls to end live sheep export. So too my heartfelt gratitude goes to Stop Live Exports for their decades-long superb frontline work protesting and representing the sheep in WA – with a special ‘shout out’ to Katrina Love. To my own team at Animals Australia who have led the campaign to end live sheep export over the past two decades – shining light on the suffering of exported sheep year after year – you have been magnificent. Over so very many years, it was politicians such as Andrew Wilkie, Melissa Parke, Lee Rhiannon, Mehreen Faruqi, Josh Wilson and Sussan Ley who spearheaded debate on behalf of live exported sheep in parliament, ensuring they were not forgotten. To each and every MP and Senator who gave these animals their voice, we will be forever grateful. And to the Albanese government – and crossbench MPs – the first government in Australia’s history to recognise our societal responsibility to animals, we applaud you and we thank you. |
| So very many learnings have flowed from this journey together. First and foremost is the extraordinary power of compassion to bring like-hearted people from all walks of life together. It was compassion that led my life path to intersect with Fazal Ullah’s. Without Fazal’s extraordinary courage, Australians would not have witnessed the unimaginable suffering that had been occurring on sheep ships over many decades. I would not have met Shatha Hamade had our hearts not united in service to exported sheep. There were so many moments, when faced with great suffering in animal markets and slaughterhouses half a world away, that we made silent commitments to our sheep that we would be their voice. I am so very glad that those promises have been fulfilled today. And the truth is, I would not have ‘met’ you, and had the privilege of witnessing your amazing strength of heart, had it not been for our shared compassion for these animals. I know I have been changed forever through this journey together, and I suspect you have been too. It has challenged us to become more, to do more, to care more. And you magnificently accepted that challenge. Words could never adequately express my gratitude to you – for every email and letter you wrote, for every protest you attended, for every investigation you funded. From my heart to yours… thank you. This day would not have come, had it not been for you. Today, with the passage of this unprecedented legislation, history has been made. And we are one step closer to that kinder world that awaits us all. For the sheep, |
  Lyn White AM Director of Strategy |
Fantastic News – I personally know how long and hard anti live export work is.
Mega congrats to all those who reached this triumphant day !
And also especially to our own Patron Phil who has personally made this a major issue.
Regards Mark
All of our WAV past posts, Regan Russel : https://worldanimalsvoice.com/?s=regan+russel
At the time of her death, Russell was protesting Bill 156, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, which came into force just one day before she died.
The bill created “animal protection zones” that prohibit animal rights activists from interfering or interacting with the farm animals in a motor vehicle.
The province enacted the legislation in response to demands from the agricultural industry and about 120 municipal resolutions calling on the government to do more to control trespassing.
Ontario argued the legislation was aimed at “protecting animal safety, biosecurity, and the safety of farmers as well as preventing economic harm that can arise from threats to animal safety and biosecurity.”
Read it all via this link:https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/regan-russell-death-fourth-anniversary-1.7244114
Like Jill Phipps here in England; Regan will always be remember for fighting the fight for sentients;
Regards Mark
Above, Jill
Recent WAV initial past post on this:
EU: End the Cage Age: Case To Be Heard In Court, Ombudsman Complaint Closed. – World Animals Voice
27 June 2024
Press Release
Eurogroup for Animals, alongside other major EU NGOs, is asking the European Court of Justice to join the court case holding the European Commission (EC) to account for failing to deliver on its promise to end cage farming in Europe, as millions of animals continue to spend their lives confined in cages.
The court case, brought forward by the Citizens Committee of the End the Cage Age ECI, spearheaded by Compassion in World Farming, is holding the EC accountable for failing to bring forward the legislative proposals it promised in response to the ECI, in which 1.4 million EU citizens demanded an end to cage farming.
The EC had pledged to present proposals by the end of 2023, but it backtracked on its commitment, disregarding the comprehensive reports, consultations, and preparations that had been completed. This betrayal of trust undermines the legitimate expectations of citizens who demanded better protection of farm animals.
For the past years, Eurogroup for Animals has continuously supported the End the Cage ECI, and if accepted by the Court, it will have the opportunity to present its arguments, alongside the ECI Campaign and Animal Equality Italy, as an official intervener.
Across the EU, around 300 million pigs, hens, rabbits, ducks, quail and geese spend most of their lives in cages every year. Laying hens and rabbits are confined to barren cages about the size of an A4 sheet of paper. Sows are forced to nurse their piglets in crates so small they can’t even turn around. Ducks and geese are caged for force feeding to produce foie gras.
While the court case might take up to 18 months to complete, animal protection and democracy NGOs encourage the EC to quickly come forward with a proposed timeline, and to make the file a priority in the next legislature. This will allow concerned stakeholders to start to invest in future-proof solutions.
EU citizens have made use of the democratic tool at their disposal – they want these millions of animals out of cages. There is no argument against ending animal suffering.
Yet with the Commission’s silence on the issue, we do question the very democratic purpose of the ECI, which was specifically introduced to allow EU citizens to shape EU decision making.
Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals.
The European Commission must deliver on its legally binding commitment to ban caged animal farming. Its failure to do so not only impacts around 300 million farmed animals suffering every year in cages, it damages our environment and makes a mockery of the ECI as a democratic tool for EU citizens, especially for the 1.4 million who signed it. We will not rest until the Commission delivers on its promise and every cage is an empty cage.
Annamaria Pisapia, Head of Compassion in World Farming Italy and spokesperson for the Citizens’ Committee of the EtCA ECI.
Regards Mark
14 June 2024
CIWF
Citizens and activists are making a stand for animals, calling for a ban on live animal exports across the globe.
Ban Live Exports International Awareness Day, on 14th of June, marks the same day in 2015 when 13,000 sheep tragically lost their lives during a long sea journey from Romania to Somalia. Since then, campaigners have continued to call for an end to this practice, in which animals endure horrific conditions such as overcrowding and extreme temperatures causing enormous pain and distress. Millions of live animals are transported each year by road, rail, sea and air across continents on journeys lasting up to three weeks.
Great Britain introduced a ban on live exports for fattening and slaughter just weeks ago, while Australia announced that live sheep exports by sea would be banned from 2028. New Zealand introduced a ban on live animal exports in 2023, but the legislation is currently in jeopardy as a new coalition government has vowed to repeal the law. In Brazil, the federal court also ruled last year that no live animals should be exported from the country’s ports.
The EU’s promised comprehensive review of animal welfare legislation offered hope for a ban on live exports, yet last year the Commission missed the opportunity to switch to a carcass-only trade, announcing weak amendments to transport regulations.
Across the world, the tide is turning. Governments are waking up to the unnecessary cruelty this barbaric industry inflicts on millions of sentient animals transported across the world each year like cargo.Our message is clear – we call on the European Commission to end this unnecessary trade and switch to carcass-only exports.
Susanna Blattner, Farmed Animals Programme Officer, Eurogroup for Animals
This is the ninth consecutive annual awareness day, organised by Compassion in World Farming.
A video shared for this day captures some of the suffering these animals endure, including stress, dehydration, exhaustion, overheating and injuries.
This Ban Live Exports International Awareness Day, people are being urged to stand up for animals by sharing the video on social media, using the hashtag #BanLiveExports.
Regards Mark
7 June 2024
Press Release
Over 1000 candidate MEPs have committed to work towards better animal welfare in the EU, should they be elected in the current European Elections.
The Vote for Animals campaign, run by Eurogroup for Animals and its members, asks candidates to take a pledge committing to do more for better protection of all animals at EU level.
Candidates spanning the entire political spectrum across 27 Member States have made the commitment. Spain, Italy, Finland and France have the largest number of candidates supporting the pledge.
The Vote for Animals pledge calls for:
- New species-specific legislation for all farmed species, and a transition to non-cage systems within five years, as promised in response to the End the Cage Age ECI.
- An end to the suffering of animals during live transport, moving away from live animals towards transporting meat products.
- Higher standards for aquatic species, both farmed and wild, in farming, transport and slaughter; and a ban on the introduction of octopus farming.
- A Common Agricultural Policy that supports a sustainable food system, and a transition to higher animal welfare, and a shift towards plant-based diets.
- Trade requirements that respect the same standards as those established by revised EU legislation.
- Raised efforts and resources to accelerate the transition to non-animal methods in research, and support the scientific community to shift towards animal-free testing.
- Better legislation for wild animals, including a positive list of animal species allowed to be kept as pets, strengthened EU legislation for zoos, action against wildlife trafficking, and humane methods in wildlife management.
- A ban, without delay, of fur farms and fur products on the EU market, as per the demands of the Fur Free Europe ECI.
- Full traceability, improved breeding practices, stricter controls on sales and transportation, and better treatment of companion animals.
- An EU commissioner responsible for animal welfare, to ensure consistent attention and action in this area.
The feedback to our Vote for Animals campaign is reflective of the demands of EU citizens for better protection for animals. It is now time to go and vote, to help shape an EU that will place animal welfare at the forefront, and ensure revised and better legislation that is fit for a progressive Europe
Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals.
Regards Mark
World Animals Voice 