Category: Live Transport

Live Transport

Over half a million animals brought to Israel since January

– Report By JERUSALEM POST STAFF JULY 8, 2021 

Reports indicate that the livestock delivered to Israel were living in horrid conditions in the cargo ship, which caused them great suffering.

In 2018 alone, 685,000 animals came to Israel from Australia and Europe. Photo: imago

More than 500,000 calves and lambs passed through Israeli ports in cargo ships during the first half of 2021, according to the Agriculture Ministry, and the Knesset should “act urgently and stop the madness of live shipments,” Animals Now, an Israel-based animal-rights group, said Wednesday in a press release.
Animal shipments to Israel this year have increased 59% compared with 2020, it said. Almost half a million animals were delivered to the country in 2017, it added.
Shipments of animals to Israel come from Australia, Sweden, France and elsewhere.

A bill proposed by Likud MK Miki Zohar would end this practice within three years.
However, in November 2018, the legislative process to pass it was halted due to early elections. Since then, multiple bills have been submitted to stop live animal shipments.
A few bills have been submitted to the current Knesset, spearheaded by Zohar and MKs Sharren Haskel (New Hope), Ibtisam Mara’ana-Menuhin (Labor) and Mossi Raz (Meretz).

30.10.2020 | Trotz Verbot: Internationale Tiertransporte nach Zentralasien gehen weiter | SWR Recherche-Unit | REPORT MAINZ | SWR.de

The Agriculture Ministry has not imposed sanctions on importers or ship owners who have not complied with the ministry’s guidelines, “Animals Now” said.
Reports indicate that animals that were delivered to Israel were living in horrid conditions while in the cargo ship, which caused them great suffering, it said.

“They do not care about animals,” Animals Now said. “They are only interested in the money they [make] from cramming animals into crowded and polluted ships. We call on MKs and the government to act urgently and stop the madness of live shipments.”

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/over-half-a-million-animals-brought-to-israel-since-jan-2021-report-673192

And I mean…In 2019, the bloated carcass of a calf washed up on Zuk Beach in northern Tel Aviv.

A few days later the gruesome incident was repeated.
“Where do the dead animals come from?” Asked the bathers angrily. The answer came on the evening news: from the animal transports that regularly ship hundreds of thousands of cows and sheep to Israel.
Died and thrown overboard.

Workers were filmed torturing calves and lambs with electric shocks while they were being unloaded from the ship’s belly. The 20,000 young animals were transported from Australia to the port of Eilat in a week-long journey.

Workers were filmed torturing calves and lambs with electric shocks while they were being unloaded from the ship’s belly. The 20,000 young animals were transported from Australia to the port of Eilat in a week-long journey.

Unloading alone took five long days.
These are images that shock and shake even the toughest.
Sheep, cows, calves and lambs, crammed together in the overheated storage rooms of ships, pounding in front of them and then mistreated.
In between sick and dead animals, smeared with excrement and blood.
Many suffer injuries and broken bones from the rough seas.

Israeli animal welfare organizations reported those responsible for cruelty to animals according to the pictures published by TV channel 13.
The spokesman for “Israel Against Live Shipments” said that in the 15 years the group has been active, he has never seen such cruelty to animals.
And yet it is not an isolated case, but a daily reality when transporting live animals.

According to the animal welfare organization, it is common practice to simply throw sick or dead animals overboard.
“Many even alive.”

In July 2018, a draft to end live transports was accepted by the Legislative Committee in a preliminary reading.
The proposal aims to reduce the shipping of live animals – hundreds of thousands annually – within the next three years and then ban them completely.

Only meat (chilled or frozen) should then be allowed to be transported to Israel.
Sixty rabbis also wrote a public letter in which they made it clear: “This is neither the Torah nor human morality to allow such cruelty to animals.”
Nothing has happened since then.

https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/israel/transporte-des-horrors/

“They do not care about animals” says Animals Now.

Neither do our corrupt politicians. And not in the whole world.
They control and organize the animal transports according to their economic profit.
No other exploiter is politically and economically more powerful than the meat mafia.
The meat industry makes most of its profits from the suffering and exploitation of animals.

On the other hand, animal exploitation would be unthinkable without the support of a society that still consumes meat in perverse numbers.
We fight against the meat mafia and against this inveterate, meat-oriented ideology of today’s society.
We have had some small successes, but there is still a long way to go.
And we’ll go it.

Because the animals only have us.

My best regards to all, Venus

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport, Vegan Recipes

EU: Finally After Decades of Asking, The EU Consumer May Now Be Given More Detailed Information On Their Food Products – Production; Transportation; Slaughter Method Etc.

 

WAV Comment:  For decades, we (in past forms), along with other massive numbers of animal welfare groups across Europe, have been calling for this.  Are we now going to see the EU Commission finally wake up and listen to what people have been asking for years ?

One EU wide labelling system is drastically needed, rather than the current dozen different labelling schemes that include farm animal welfare criteria in at least six European countries.  Consumers need to know how their food is produced; is it free range or intensive ? (hopefully cages will go but we need this info earlier); stunned in a slaughterhouse or to religious standards (non stunning / ritual) only ? – we would like to see the country of origin and the country of slaughter; as this will no doubt involve the consumer if the animal involved has suffered live transportation. Labelling needs to apply to ALL products, and to an informative standard, rather than the yukspeak people have had so far. If people knew the facts; we think shoppers would amend their shop drastically. Is this why the EU has never moved on this issue ?

It is time for change, as it was time for change twenty years ago, but then, the EU considered itself above us / more important to bother with issues such as this.  People power is now demanding change, and they want it now; as we have seen with the cage systems; consumers want to know where their food comes from.  We regard this one standard labelling system as a positive move, but ALL aspects of animal welfare must be given / included to a nowdays much informed consumer. 

The days of buying products and not being given any useful information on them has passed, it is now time for change.  Bring it on !

Regards Mark

Close up food label on egg box from ASDA explaining UK Egg Codes. Food packaging, nutrition labels, food labelling, British produce, food Stock Photo - Alamy

BVA is campaigning for the introduction of mandatory method of production labelling of meat

Lidl trials new meat 'production method' labelling | Food and Drink Technology

European Commission gives green light for a comprehensive labelling system displaying the well-being of animals over the whole animal food production cycle

7 July 2021

Today, the European Commission’s Subgroup on Animal Welfare Labelling published its final recommendations giving green light for an EU-wide label on animal welfare which will create greater transparency, better opportunities for farmers and a progression framework to improve animal welfare. In order for the labelling system to be effective, it is, however, important the European Commission commits to a mandatory Method Of Production + (MOP+) label which guarantees a harmonised uptake across food industries in the EU.

MOP+ is the most transparent, progressive and fair labelling method. It gives clear and transparent messaging to consumers about how animals are reared as well as allowing for a benchmarking platform amongst existing labels. It also allows for a progression on animal welfare standards by stimulating improvements on animal welfare and providing a full range of products with different levels of welfare to the consumers. On top of that, it provides farmers with a transparent way of demonstrating their achievements on animal welfare, allowing for a fair compensation of their efforts.

The conclusions foresee the labelling to start off as voluntary and state that the possibility of becoming mandatory should be evaluated at a later stage. They also state that a voluntary label represents a great risk to the impact of the label, since not only could the uptake be low but it would also be likely to only be adopted by producers already committed to higher animal welfare standards. The impact of a voluntary label on animal welfare would therefore be lower than of a mandatory label. This would not serve the purpose of providing full transparency to consumers and a fair level playing field for farmers and certainly would not serve the purpose of improving animal welfare across the EU.

Further to that, the recommendations do not mention the coverage of the label in terms of range of production systems. It states animal welfare labels should cover as many individuals as possible. Eurogroup for Animals asks for the scope to be from minimum EU standards to premium standards, also clearly indicating products that do not comply with the minimum EU animal welfare standards, to guarantee the label’s effectiveness. 

Other positive key points of the recommendations:

  • EU animal welfare label should also protect the use of terms and claims indicating a better welfare for animals.
  • The scope should include not only the rearing but also the slaughter and transport phase. Standards used in animals that are directly involved in the production as sows or cleaner fish should also be included in the label.
  • Besides fresh products, processed products or products used in food services should also be covered.
  • The EU label should help harmonise and take existing labels into consideration, helping the consumer gain more clarity on those. 
  • Active participation of all stakeholders is necessary in the creation of an EU wide animal welfare related label and its development should be monitored and evaluated.
  • Animal welfare is an important part of sustainability, but in case of labelling integration, animal welfare can never be diluted.

Currently, there are a dozen different labelling schemes that include farm animal welfare criteria in at least six European countries, risking the Single Market to becoming fragmented.The European Commission aims to counter this trend and is expected to put forward a proposal for a harmonised food labelling scheme in the context of its Farm to Fork strategy (F2F). At the end of last year, the Council of the European Union on Agriculture and Fisheries also adopted Council Conclusions which had called for an EU-wide animal welfare label aimed at improving animal welfare for as many food producing animals as possible. 

File

Animal Welfare and Food Labelling1.84 MB

 

 

ENGA pushes for non-GMO food labelling across Europe

 

 

Country-of-Origin Labelling, Food Traceability Drivers and Food Fraud: Lessons from Consumers' Preferences and Perceptions | European Journal of Risk Regulation | Cambridge Core
For Shoppers - Global Animal Partnership Animal Welfare Food Labeling

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

Australia: PETA Sends Meat-Themed Crossword to Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce – But, Do They Understand ???

WAV Comment – we have taken liberty and snatched a few images from our archives (from Animals Australia etc) just to add what this is about. We still dont think that they have the capacity to understand what this whole issue is about.

We will leave it to our Patron, Philip Woolen to make it clear:

14/6/21 – Mr Philip Wollen Becomes The First WAV Patron; We Are (More Than) Delighted, and Welcome Him To The Group. – World Animals Voice

Home – Winsome Constance Kindness (kindnesstrust.com)

PETA Sends Meat-Themed Crossword to Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce

Amid increased discussion about ways to mitigate farmed animal-generated methane – a greenhouse gas that’s up to 30 times more potent than carbon – PETA has sent a unique meat-themed crossword puzzle to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, among others, urging them to “get a clue” when it comes to the problems with meat.

The puzzle’s clues include, “A small, native marsupial facing extinction, largely because of land clearing for meat production” (koala) and “A slab of muscle, cut from the corpse of an animal who wanted to live” (steak).

In an accompanying letter, we warn leaders of placing all their focus on changing cows’ diets and digestive systems, saying, “No matter what ‘solution’ is latched onto next, be it tinkering with cows’ feed or their microbiomes, it’s always only going to be part of the puzzle.”

As scientists warn that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases must fall by between 25% and 50% to limit global warming to below 2°C, it’s little wonder that animal agriculture and governments are scrambling to try anything – from seaweed to vaccines – to limit the sector’s methane output.

However, we can’t help but notice that by zeroing in on this one problem with meat – when there are so many others – Australia is overlooking the simplest solution: making the transition to a kinder, greener vegan future.

Click the link below for the solutions to the crossword.

Can Morrison and Joyce work it out, or do they need to be given the answers ?

Solution_Final.pdf (peta.org.au)

Regards Mark

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU: Council Conclusions on live transport by sea: unwelcome, unnecessary and unhelpful.

Council Conclusions on live transport by sea: unwelcome, unnecessary and unhelpful

28 June 2021

Press Release

Member States send all the wrong signals to the Commission, as EU citizens expect a ban on live exports and animals deserve better.

At the insistence of the Portuguese Presidency, Agriculture Ministers from across the EU today adopted formal Conclusions on animal welfare during sea transport to third countries, a formal expression of the opinion of all 27 Member States, but one that risks hindering progress.

Better rules for live sea transport won’t mitigate the serious risks associated with this outdated trade. Recent incidents as well as a recent new study by our member Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) and Robin des Bois on EU- certified livestock carriers proved, once again, that live animal export is not a correct practice with regards to animals, humans and the environment.  

While the fitness check process is still ongoing, today’s Conclusions also demonstrated added impetus for a new Transport Regulation. The Council still “invites the Commission to submit a proposal for a revised regulation on animal welfare during transport, if possible, sooner than indicated in the Farm to Fork Strategy”, which is more than welcome.

At the same time though, the Council stresses the need to prioritise short term improvements and monitoring, in order to improve the implementation of the current Regulation.

While Eurogroup for Animals welcomes short-term improvements to relieve the immense suffering of animals, it believes that the revision of the Transport regulation should introduce a much shorter maximum journey duration for animals as well as a ban on live exports. Such an approach would fit with the objectives of the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy to significantly shorten supply chains. 

In this respect, we applaud the German, Dutch and Luxembourgish Ministers who presented a paper stating that these Conclusions can only be considered as short term measures, but want to see live exports ended through the forthcoming legislative revision.

As stated in the Conclusions, “animal welfare during transport is a priority at EU level and should be ensured at all levels and stages of the journey during the international long-distance transport of live animals including to third countries, while favouring, and supporting, as far as possible, the transport of genetic material and meat”.

We trust the European Commission will keep working on the revision of the Transport Regulation and towards phasing out live exports. The shift to meat and carcasses trade is the only way forward to protect animals, people and the environment. The Council Conclusions are simply unwelcome, unhelpful and unnecessary.

Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals.

ENDS

Regards Mark

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

Canada: Outraged (Quite Rightly) When Dogs Suffer In Hot Cars – So Why Not Pigs In Transporter Trucks ? !! – JT; Living In The Past.

WAV Comment:  With a Prime Minister like Justin Trudeau (JT) attempting to be at the helm of Canada; is it any wonder that transport regulations have not changed for 40 years – just like ‘Mr no action’ and the mass seal clubbing that obviously has his support – otherwise, would he not have taken action by now ?

A very good article which probably reflects how many Canadians feel. and the National Animal Care Council – paid money to do what ? – does ‘animal care’ actually come into the equation ?

We totally unite with our campaigner friends at Toronto Pig Save, and all other campaigners across the beautiful country that is Canada – I (Mark) have visited and enjoyed many times. We wish them all well with their campaigns and the fight for justice for sentient beings.  And we think things are bad in the EU ? – well they are, disgusting when it comes to live animal transport; but Canada really has to move into this day and age and not live 40 years ago, when the obvious putrid regulations were formed.

Live animal transport – archaic in Canada; disgusting in Europe; so about time politicians woke up, yawned, and then did something in the way of action !

Justin Trudeau; very much living in the past.

‘JT’ Living in the past – and JT stands for ……………………………. we suggest he listens to it sometime.

Living in the past by Jethro Tull, CD with progg - Ref:117717663

We’re outraged when dogs are kept in hot cars. Why not pigs in transport vehicles? | CBC News

We’re outraged when dogs are kept in hot cars. Why not pigs in transport vehicles?

In Canada, there are no laws regarding temperatures above or below which farmed animals cannot be transported

A dog suffering in a hot car will typically cause people to react with immediate action and outrage. They break windows, call the police, and the atrocity might even be documented on the news or social media, leading to floods of angry comments and demands that owners be punished. Today the act of locking an animal inside a hot car is widely condemned, considered dangerous, deadly and morally repugnant.  

But what if that animal is not a dog, but rather a pig? And what if it is not a car, but a large metal transport truck? What if it is not one, but dozens of pigs crammed together, panting and suffering, after traveling up to 36 hours in the sweltering summer heat?

How do we feel then?

Canada is known for having some of the worst animal transport standards in the Western world. (Dave Ritchie/CBC)

Pigs in distress

Last week, animal rights activists with Toronto Pig Save and The Light Movement shared footage and photos on social media allegedly recorded outside of a slaughterhouse in Burlington, Ont. The videos show pigs inside trucks breathing rapidly, some foaming at the mouth, some lying on their sides in obvious distress. 

Environment Canada issued a heat warning for the region the day that footage was shot, with temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius in some areas.

But heat warnings don’t stop meat production.

In Canada, there are no laws regarding temperatures above or below which farmed animals cannot be transported.

Though the National Animal Care Council does have recommendations regarding transport of farmed animals in extreme weather, they are merely guidelines — not law — and are vaguely worded and rarely enforced.  

This differs greatly from farmed animal transport standards in the European Union, which requires trucks be outfitted with forced ventilation systems that maintain a temperature range between five and 30 degrees Celsius, along with temperature-monitoring systems to alert drivers when limits are reached. 

In Canada, where weather fluctuations are arguably more extreme, transport trucks typically employ simple open-air ventilation systems and are not required to have mechanical climate controls or monitoring.

There are also notable differences between Canadian regulations and those of other countries in terms of the lengths of time in which farmed animals can be in transport without food, water or rest.

In the EU, where advocates are currently fighting for even shorter times, cows can be transported for a maximum of 14 hours, pigs up to 24 hours and chickens for 12 hours. In the U.S., there is a law that limits all farmed animal transport to 28 hours.

In Canada, however, cows can be transported for up to 52 hours straight, and pigs and chickens for 40 hours.

That these animals are enroute to their death is no justification for causing them such prolonged suffering: suffering that in no way fits into our general cultural view that animals — all animals — in Canada are to be treated humanely.

Jenny McQueen, a member of Toronto Pig Save, filed a complaint to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regarding what her group observed and recorded last week, but says she is not confident much will come of it. “I’m used to filing complaints and having no action taken,” she says.

That’s because even though what is seen in the footage could technically be considered against the law, lack of enforcement is also a major problem. “Technically there’s a strong case that the law prohibits it, but in practice it happens every day and the laws go unenforced,” says Anna Pippus, a Canadian animal rights lawyer with Animal Justice.

Outdated regulations 

Canada is known for having some of the worst animal transport standards in the Western world, and despite years of protest from animal advocates, it appears legislators are in no rush to update the 40-year-old regulations in order to protect animals from extreme weather. This is in spite of a 2015 poll conducted by NRG Research Group, which showed eight out of 10 Canadians agreed that animal-transport regulations should be updated to reduce animal suffering, including protection from extreme weather.  

That means that as the hot summer sun continues to bear down on Canada, farmed animals in hot metal trucks will continue to suffer, day after day.

Canadians do have some power to elicit change within this system of cruelty — apart from lobbying legislators — by simply not contributing to the demand for these products. We can opt instead for plant-based proteins and meat alternatives, access to which has never been easier as vegan restaurants boom across the country. Even Canada’s largest distributor of packaged meat, Maple Leaf Foods, plans to extend its product line to include plant-based protein products.

While the sight of a dog locked in a hot car is sure to elicit strong public reaction, so too should these images of pigs suffering inside transport trucks. Though the majority of us may not want to know how the sausage is made, as Einstein once said, “Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.” These animals and the systematic cruelty they endure deserve our attention, our outrage and our action.

Environmental, Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News, Hunting, Live Transport, Uncategorized

England: People Power For The Animals.

People Power | ACLU of Indiana

The UK government announced back in 2017 that it did not intend to transfer the hard won EU animal sentience regulation into (UK) national law as a result of leaving the EU (Brexit).

British animal welfare campaigners were outraged with this – so it was time to turn up the heat with the British government, who always talk loudly about animal welfare issues.  Why suddenly, on leaving the EU, would UK animals NOT still be covered by laws that gave them some protection as an EU member state ?

Battle lines were drawn between the campaigners and the government.  The campaigners won, and by the end of the year the UK government was forced into a major U turn.

Despite words from the government, legislation did not materialise.  In 2019, a coalition of more than 40 animal welfare organisations joined together, along with over 100,000+ signatures from British activists on a Parliamentary petition, asking Ministers to:

(Note – it has to be remembered that under UK law, if a petition exceeds 100K signatures, then the issue concerned (whatever it is about) has to be debated in the British Parliament, London).

Demands from the people included;

  • Impose a legal duty on governments to pay all due regard to the welfare needs of animals as ‘sentient beings’.
  • Recognise animal sentience when formulating and implementing policies.
  • Ensure clear, consistent processes for for all Ministers to deliver against their animal sentience duties.
  • Create an Animal Welfare Commission  to monitor the government performance against animal sentience law.

As stated, with over 100k signatures on the petition, the petition was debated in Parliament as it had to be.  The result being that Victoria Prentis MP (Defra) stated that the government would introduce the necessary legislation on animal sentience as soon as they could.

The people had won with their campaigning ! – efforts had resulted in victory.

But they still had to keep up the pressure for over a year longer to get the legislation.  In the Queens Speech on 11th May 2021, defining the schedule for government legislation in the next parliamentary session, the government finally announced legislation would exist under UK law to recognise animals as thinking, feeling (sentient) beings.

The ‘Animal Welfare Sentience Act’ was introduced to parliament 2 days later, and will:

  • Formally recognise animals as sentient beings under UK law.
  • Establish and ‘Animals Sentience Committee’, or ASC, to ensure that across all government departments, policy making and implementation considers animal sentience.
  • Requires Ministers to respond to reports from the ASC, to ensure that they remain politically accountable.

This new law ensures that all farm animals are treated with respect and kindness, and that their experiences and feelings DO matter.  This new law is a critical step towards the final goal of ending factory farming and replacing it with sustainable, compassionate alternatives, such as organic and free range farming.

The new legislation is currently working its way through parliament at this very time to become law.

What do we learn ?

Victory is never delivered on a plate. 

As with the sentience Bill; the Brits had to work and fight hard to get it; but they did, and they achieved result.  Brits are generally good animal welfare people; (II am one of them) – tell them that sentience does not matter and they will probably manhandle you out to the nearest airport, and put you on a one way ticket flight to a distant land.

But importantly, as we always ay in the UK, ‘politicians work FOR YOU’; they are not gods; as they can be put out to pasture whenever the electorate feels the need.  So activists everywhere; keep on with your fights, whatever issue it is for, and in the end you will achieve.  Personally, I have fought live exports in the UK for over 32 years; but only now, this year, 2021, have we seen the government listen to us and make first moves to get a ban on.  Never give up; unite and fight the fight; good (us) always overcomes evil (them) in the end.

I take inspiration from wonderful Jill at Animals Asia (video above), and the multitude of other excellent campaigners dotted all over the globe; unsung heroes who fight endlessly for better welfare and the rights of animals – you all have my greatest admiration and respect.  Look at the fur industry – it is on its knees and desperately hanging on in there attempting to survive much because the good, normal people have said ‘No’ to the disgusting abuses that are placed before them by the fur rabble humans.

It is a victory of the people, by the people, for the people but very much for the animals also.

Fight the fight and never give up – YOU WILL WIN.

Regards Mark.

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU: Tuesday 22/6/21 Will See the 9th Meeting of the EU Animal Welfare Platform – Hopefully With Positive News for Animal Welfare.

From Mark, WAV.

Tuesday 22/6/21 will see the 9th meeting of the EU Animal Welfare Platform

The EU Presidency is urrently held by Portugal for the period 1 January 2021 – 30 June 2021.

In case you are not aware, the EU Presidency is held for a 6 month period by each of the EU member states in turn.  It is known as a ‘Rotating’ Presidency, giving each member state a period to set out agendas.  When Portugal completes its time, the Presidency will be taken over by Slovenia.  You can view all past and future presidencies via this link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_the_Council_of_the_European_Union

Hopefully there will be some positive news and information; relating to long distance animal transport and also the the ‘End the Cage Age’ relating to the ban on intensive animal farm systems throughout Europe.  Other issues discussed will include equine (horse) welfare and the alternative methods to pig surgical castration, and welfare issues associated with dairy cattle.

I think that with the excellent news relating to the ending of intensive cage systems for farm animals –

EU: Parliament Votes To Make Cages for All Farmed Animals Illegal Across the European Union by 2027. Major, Major Victory for the EU Citizen ! – World Animals Voice

The citizen of Europe is finally being listened to.  Politicians know they have to meet the EU citizens demands or face being un elected whenever the next chance arises.  So now we see positiveaction on intensive cages; as demanded by EU citizens.  Hopefully there will be positive progress on animal transport to third countries; but we will have to wait and see what news the meeting brings.

All the more reason to add your name to petitions and letters when you have the chance.  It may not seem much at the time; but these are very effective ways to make your feelings know; so plese take part.

Rergards Mark

9th Meeting Overview:

The 9th meeting of the Animal Welfare Platform will open with a message from Health and Food Safety Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, who will give an update on the progress of the ongoing European Commission’s actions under the Farm to Fork Strategy.

Agenda – View the Agenda details via the following:

aw_platform_20210622_agenda_0.pdf (europa.eu)

The agenda of the meeting includes presentations by the Commission of the outcomes of the evaluation of the EU Strategy for Protection and Welfare of Animals (2012-2015), the preliminary results of the Fitness Check of the EU animal welfare legislation and the conclusions of the sub-group on animal welfare labelling. In addition, the third EU Reference Centre for the welfare of ruminants and equines, which was recently designated, as well as the Code of Conduct for responsible business and marketing in relation to animal welfare, will be presented.

MEP Paolo de Castro will introduce the main elements of the recently adopted European Parliament Resolution on the ECI “End the Cage Age”. Furthermore, the Portuguese Presidency will present updates on their work on long distance transport to third countries.

The two first sessions of the meeting will be conducted as part of the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021 Dialogues to underline the key role that animal welfare plays in the sustainability of food systems. The Platform will have an opportunity to contribute to these dialogues, which are part of the preparations for the Summit in September.

The one-day meeting will be web-streamed (from 09:30 CET).

More information:

Live Transport

Ships that export animals are the most dangerous in the world!

New study examines for the first time the seaworthiness of 78 EU-certified animal transport vessels.

European NGOs call for a ban on exports of live animals

The EU is exporting its surplus live animal production to third countries in livestock vessels.

Specifically, Spain is one of the main exporters of the EU and its shipments of live animals to third countries do not stop increasing.
In 2020, it exported 193,085 cattle; 9.2% more than the previous year and 906,517 sheep; 20% more than in 2019.

The recent study carried out by the organizations Robin des Bois (France), Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF, Germany) and Animal Welfare Association Zurich (TSB Zürich, Switzerland) examines for the first time the seaworthiness of the 78 certified livestock transport vessels operating in the EU and reaches devastating conclusions:

“Livestock ships are the most dangerous in the world. At an average age of 41, the ships are too old, contribute to the pollution of the seas, cause enormous animal suffering, drive mostly under black flags of convenience, and have been approved for navigation by companies doubtful »
(Conclusions of the authors of the report).

Only 6% of the approved vessels were built to transport animals.

Of the 78 ships certified by the EU, only five were built expressly for the transport of live animals.

73 ships were previously used as container ships, ferries or freighters (!!)

‘The global average age of shipbreaking ships is 30 years. However, the 78 vessels evaluated were already an average of 29 years old when they became EU approved livestock transport vessels. They already had a useful life behind them »
(Conclusions of the authors of the report).

Furthermore, these conversions do not take into account the behavior and needs of the animals during sea transport, or which species are to be transported.
Only 6% of EU approved vessels were originally built to transport animals, which means that 94% of vessels were built without taking into account the specific needs of each species.

The retrofitting of old ships involves greater safety risks as they were not originally designed for additional cargo.

Increasing additional cargo decks is a problem as they shift the ships’ center of gravity further up.

In heavy seas and with moving cargo, like animals, the ship loses stability more quickly.
In fact, this has been the cause of several accidents in recent years, the authors report.

Usual practice: Changes of ownership and flags of convenience to avoid responsibilities

Continue reading “Ships that export animals are the most dangerous in the world!” →

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport, Stray Animals, Uncategorized

China: Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2021 Will Take Place Between 21 – 30 June (06) 2021.

Yulin will be happening next week.

Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2021 will take place between 21 – 30 June (06) 2021.

Yulin Dog Meat Festival (or Lychee and Dog Meat Eating Festival) as it is sometimes known, is a controversial festival held in Yulin, Guangxi, China, during the summer solstice – the longest day of the year, in June. Even though the festival started as recently as 2009, eating dog meat is believed to be an ancient Chinese tradition.

Chinese practitioners of folk medicine thought that dog meat is the best solution against the summer heat, although there is no physiological or medical evidence to support it. Some also believe dog meat can ward off diseases and heighten men’s sexual performance.

Cat meat, fresh lychees and liquor are also available at the 10-day event.

During the 10-day festival, dogs and cats are exhibited in metal cages and wooden crate before they are skinned, cooked, and eaten by visitors of the event.

It is a terribly disgusting event as you can see from the photos we are publishing here. As many as 15,000 dogs are tortured, killed and cooked to be sold every year.

On the eve of the festival, many activists are protesting in China or in front of Chinese embassies, while hundreds of volunteers make an effort to stop the trucks transporting the dogs to the festival and rescue the animals.

Activist groups in China can legally intercept dog meat trucks and confiscate dogs if the drivers don’t have the paperwork proving that they own them.  The dogs which are found in these trucks often turn out to be stolen pets and are returned to owners, others are made available for adoption in China and other countries.

For example, a shelter from the state of New York took in 200 dogs, a San Diego rescue center took 18 dogs to Southern California, while the center in Massachusetts saved five animals.

Yulin is a major campaign issue across the world with animal rights people.  Thanks to international pressure the number of dogs slaughtered during Yulin Dog Meat Festival has dropped considerably, and there is hope the festival will be banned completely.

From ‘Notodogmeat’;

End Yulin 2021 Notodogmeat is Sending Activists to Yulin This Weekend

Yulin Dog Meat ‘ Festival’ is likely to take place next week (21 – 30 June) 2021. Our hearts are broken. We have been campaigning for ten years to end this cruelty and saved hundreds of dogs and cats.

New animal welfare regulations and also concerns about the pandemic gave us hope Yulin City will see sense. People eat dog meat in this south China province all year round, and tourists love to come on Summer Solstice, get drunk and feast on dogs. They don’t care.

As soon as we got word that trucks were on the move, we knew we had to act. Our activists, led by Mr Zhao, who runs our big China shelter, will make the 3000 km trip to the region in the next few days.

They will attend and protest, documenting all health violations and produce a report that the Ministry of Agriculture cannot deny.

We will also rescue whatever pups we can (without paying high prices) and shame traders and revellers.

This action is powerful because our team is made up entirely of Chinese animal lovers and volunteers.

They know how hard you have all worked signing petitions and writing letters, and they are ready to make sacrifices in the boiling heat to do their bit.

Like us, they cannot bear the idea of dogs packed in cages, no food, water, or shelter. Blood, urine, faeces everywhere. It is a horror show. Terrified eyes, pleading for their lives.

We need your help to make this happen. As a small charity, we rely on your donations. Please chip in what you can to help pay for the activists trip and cover veterinary and associated expenses so we can save as many lives as we can.

 End Yulin 2021 Notodogmeat is Sending Activists to Yulin This Weekend |

There are some wonderful, brilliant animal activists in China trying to stop this, and we wish them every success with ALL thier work. Here below are some from ‘Notodogmeat’.

We are putting out this info now; and hope to publish more reading / action links later;

Regards Mark

UPDATE 1430GMT

Hi all; I have tracked down the following video clips for you to see if you want. They are disturbing for animal people, any normal person; here they are in case you want to know more – Mark

Dog Is Sheep Is Cow Is Pig Is Boy Is Girl Is Cat – None should be abused for the want of the human tastebud !

Other articles related to Yulin – the first below from the ‘New York Post’ is very interesting – I have reproduced courtesey of the NYP and outlined the main in RED. – Regards Mark

New York Post – New law could end China’s infamous dog meat festival, says advocacy group

Animal activists are celebrating a new law in China that regulates the mass trafficking of feral dogs into Yulin, in the Guangxi region, which has an annual dog meat festival.

Yulin’s agricultural officials confirmed the news on May 1, Jam Press reported. The new law would ensure that animals are raised and quarantined together before being transported and sold for slaughter — a move that will ultimately strengthen public health efforts, and potentially save thousands of dogs.

…. That and the country’s “wet markets” have long been regarded as sources of disease and, indeed, linked to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Last year, China cracked down on the nation’s wildlife trade, including a move to reclassify dogs as “companion animals” instead of their previous “livestock” designation, in response to what was then still an emerging pandemic that many experts believe originated in a Wuhan meat market.

The plan ensured that dogs would no longer be found on the legal meat trade, though the law does little to mitigate the animal black market.

Read all at New law could end China’s dog meat festival: advocacy group (nypost.com)

Animals Asia – The truth about the Yulin dog meat festival – and how to stop it

The truth about the Yulin dog meat festival – and how to stop it (animalsasia.org)

Animals Asia – China’s Yulin dog meat festival – what we know

China’s Yulin dog meat festival – what we know (animalsasia.org)

No To Dog Meat – Smaller Trucks Being Used to Secretly Transport Dogs to Yulin Dog Festival

Smaller Trucks Being Used to Secretly Transport Dogs to Yulin Dog Festival – One Green Planet

Independent London – Yulin Dog Meat Festival: Dogs blow-torched alive in footage from China

Yulin Dog Meat Festival: Dogs blow-torched alive in footage from China | The Independent | The Independent

No To Dog Meat – Growing Concern about Yulin as Activists Stop A Dog Meat Truck heading South.

Growing Concern about Yulin as Activists Stop A Dog Meat Truck heading South. | (notodogmeat.blog)

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport, Uncategorized

16/6: The WAV Team Response To A Message Left Today.

Regan_Russell_We_would_be_here_for_you_too

Now and again; as with any site relating to just about any issue or subject; you expect, and sometimes get, negative comments, even abuse.

We can handle that no problem; part of running a site we guess; if people have something negative to say, then fine, we review it and if necessary attempt to respond, giving our perspective; our views, justifications etc.

A message ‘greeted us’ this morning; and in unison; we immediately had no argument with deleting the comment; as it was more than pitiful and we do not feel it is even worth showing – why give an asshole publicity we ask ? – but we shall say it was nasty and vindictive towards the death of Regan.  From someone in the business we ask ? – and do they want to start an abusive series of ‘ping pong’ between us and them ? – we the answer from us is ‘No’; and for the turd from the gutter that wrote it, there is now only one place to archive it –  in the TRASH, as both they and their comment both should be.

Regan_Russell_Worst_abuse_imaginable

So in response to Mr Primary Jerk; from us, and by clicking on the following link, you can gain access to all of our past posts relating to Regan and her work to save animals:

Search Results for “regan russell” – World Animals Voice

regan_russell jmit plakat pg

Regan died taking action to help suffering animals, she did not hide in saying what she was involved with – campaigning for and saving lives, and where she came from.  Now the world knows her story and her name, unlike the psycho jerk that sent this mail to us and who boasts about killing animals.  We suggest firstly, he slithers back down the crack he originated from, secondly, he attempts to get some kind of a life, and thirdly, that taskes up a hobby that does not involve killing animals, as he proudly boasts he does in his comment.  What next – children ?

We will not even publish his reply, because, like him, IT IS UTTER PREMIUM SHIT.

We, like all fellow activists out there, continue with our respect to Regan again for paying the ultimate in her actions to be a voice for suffering animals.  Her name will never be forgotten.

The crew at WAV.

schweine gucken durch transporten