https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/sheep-middle-east-live-exports-australia-ship-conditions-animal-rights-ban-trade-a8296511.html

 

Australia: Live Exports Demo – Saturday 1^st June 2019 – North Freemantle.

Firstly, with the result of the recent federal election, the appointment of HUGE live export fan, Bridget McKenzie to Minister of Agriculture position and at least another three years of the live sheep trade, we urge you to please commit to renewing your membership if it has lapsed, or join if you are not already a member. From as little as $5 per month via GiveNow – that’s just $1.17 per week and is of the greatest value to us in helping fund our ongoing campaign. Or you can pay an annual membership fee via our website.

Regarding this Saturday’s public outreach at Tydeman Rd. Please check staus on Facebook event page on Friday night and radar (see below) on Saturday morning.

 

View all the details at:

https://www.stopliveexports.org/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=archive&task=view&mailid=275&key=1beb2dcd51c3ca570dc44ef18870ebc9&subid=710-67f7512b48473dcfa0ff2d5aabc619e0

 

 

This was an e mail sent to me on 27/5/19 by the EU Commission regarding a recent gripe I made that live animal transports across the EU, and to nations such as Turkey, from existing EU member states, were not being enforced in accordance with EU Regulation 1/2005 for the welfare of animals during transport. Here is what they said to me in response:

 

Dear Mr Johnson,

Regarding the enforcement of Regulation 1/2005 on animal transport, you should be aware that the control and enforcement is – with very few exceptions, such as EU competition law – a matter for the Member States. In the area of animal transport, however, the Commission does do audits of Member State inspection systems (“inspect the inspectors”). The resulting audit reports lead to recommendations which, in turn, are followed-up by the Commission. If you are interested in these audit reports, they are all publicly available here: http://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit_reports/index.cfm

As of the withdrawal of the UK, the EU rules on animal transport will cease to apply to the UK. However, these rules will still impact the transport of live animals between the EU and the UK, for example the mandatory check of live animals – including as regards the control of animal welfare aspects – upon entry into the EU at “border inspection posts”.

Yours sincerely,

European Commission

Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations
with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU (GDR)

B-1049 Brussels/Belgium

Click here for our webpage

 

I think, as someone who has investigated live animal transport over the past 25+ years; I am fully aware of the legislative situation within the EU and the fact that they want to ‘pass the buck’ for Regulation enforcement to each individual member state. This is one way to approach it; but if nations such as Romania act the way they do with stray animals, then are we to expect anything better from them when it comes to enforcing the rules for live animal transport ? – they don’t really care much about animal welfare; full stop. So by passing responsibility for enforcement from the Commission in Brussels to individual nations, is rather like the national fire officer putting the arsonist as the chief of the local fire station ! – it kind of does not work.

What exactly do the EU mean by the words ‘audit reports lead to recommendations, which in turn are followed up by the Commission’ ?

This in my opinion is where the EU totally falls down over regulations. It is all very ‘recommend and suggest’; rather than hitting member states hard and directly for their failures of the enforcement of EU rules. We don’t want to have to wait another 3 years for a follow up to what was found to be wrong; only to find that the rules are still not being enforced. I personally say no second chances; strike whilst the iron is hot – hit hard with prosecutions when the problems are first reared.

I will show you investigations undertaken years ago by animal welfare organisations. Today, 2019, what exactly has changed since the investigations were undertaken originally between 2010 and 2015 ? – not much, if anything.

Have we not seen countless investigations showing where the EU regulations are being flouted for the live animals being exported to Turkey ? – as the following video says, 352 livestock transporters were inspected and 247 were found to be in violation of existing EU regulations (1/2005 on the welfare of animals during transport).

Have a look for yourselves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udReHkAumrY&feature=youtu.be

 

It is not just live animals from the EU to Turkey – similar things are happening every day right across the EU. Existing EU Regulations are not being enforced.

 

The following can be found on this link:

http://animalwelfareandtrade.com/animal-welfare-european-parliament-adopts-8hours-written-declaration

Brussels, Belgium (EU) 15 March 2012: The European Parliament adopted Written Declaration 49/2011 on the establishment of a maximum 8-hour journey limit for animals transported in the European Union for the purpose of being slaughtered.
378 (half of the total number of MEPs plus one) was the number required for the Written Declaration to become an official position of the Parliament, and this number was reached one day in advance.

The document, which “calls on the Commission and the Council to review Regulation 1/2005 to establish a maximum 8-hour limit for the journeys of animals transported for the purpose of being slaughtered“, will now be transmitted to the European Commission and the governments of the Member States.

This document directly refers to over one million signatures registered on the www.8hours.eu website. This massive mobilisation of European citizens is calling for an end to long-distance journeys for animals sent for slaughter in the European Union.

The long duration of the journeys of animals destined for slaughter in the EU often causes them intense suffering, as has been consistently reported over the years by Animals’ Angels investigators. Current EU legislation makes it possible for animals to be transported for several days, even though it is scientifically proven and acknowledged by the Commission that the suffering of the animals increases with the duration of the journey.
“This is a historic moment for all those who care about animals. The call of one million citizens cannot be easily ignored by the EU institutions” – said Christa Blanke, Founder of Animals’ Angels. “But this is just a fundamental milestone in a campaign that will end only when long-distance journeys of animals sent for slaughter are banned in the EU. We have been documenting the suffering caused by animal transports around Europe over many years, and we have seen that all improvements of transport rules are insufficient if long-distance journeys continue to be allowed”.

“In reality what goes on today on the European roads is animal cruelty. This has to be stopped. The European Commission has so far disregarded the demand for new rules for animal transports.

But it will be difficult for the Commission to ignore the demands of the European Parliament, which joins over one million citizens asking for long-distance live transports to stop” – said Danish MEP Dan Jørgensen, and adds: “I have made the signal to the responsible commissioner for animal welfare, John Dalli, many times, that the rules for animal transports need to be changed. Unfortunately he does not see the need to respond properly to this call.

But he is wrong, and he should act now. If not he will have to explain to the European parliament and to EU citizens why he insists on letting this cruelty go on”.
“We live in the 21st century in a society which we became used to calling a humane society. It is time to prove it” – said Czech MEP Pavel Poc, one of the promoters of Written Declaration 49/2011. “I am glad that the European Parliament took on the challenge by adopting this written declaration. An adopted declaration might still be far away from real actions and needed changes, but it is a significant message and I hope that all these initiatives will together create a strong enough pressure for the much needed policy change.”

Written Declaration 49/2011 and the collection of one million signatures from EU citizens are part of a larger campaign (www.8hours.eu) calling for a maximum overall 8-hour limit for journeys of animals sent for slaughter. The campaign is also supported by 126 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from 19 member states and all political groups.

See a recent video of animals being transported from the EU to Turkey on YouTube.

See the text of Written Declaration 49/2011 on the European Parliament’s website

 

So, I close by asking the following:

• 15 March 2012: The European Parliament adopted Written Declaration 49/2011 on the establishment of a maximum 8-hour journey limit for animals transported in the European Union for the purpose of being slaughtered. Why, 7 years later, are we still NOT having a max 8 hour limit, but still working to the 2005 regulation 1/2005 ?
• We had EU elections last week (23-26/5/19) to vote for new members of the European Parliament. Ie those who adopted the written declaration above which is still not in actions 7 years later.
• Why are the EU Commissioners who should be doing something about this and the will of EU citizens and the EU Parliament, not doing anything to introduce new legislation ?
• We often talk about the ‘meat mafia’. The situation is a David and Goliath thing – and the welfare lobby is very much the ‘David’. Is the meat mafia doing things with our EU representatives in the Commission to ensure that the will of the Parliament and the EU citizens are NOT enforced ?
• Finally; EU Commissioners SHOULD act in their positions without being influenced by outside parties – https://ec.europa.eu/info/about-european-commission/service-standards-and-principles/codes-conduct/ethics-and-integrity-eu-commissioners/code-conduct-members-european-commission_en and https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2016/art_245/oj – so, why, after the Written Declaration for an 8 hour limit on animal journey times was adopted by the EU Parliament on 15 March 2012, are we in mid 2019 still not witnessing the legislation being enforced ? – seems to me like Goliath is getting his way with the Commission, and David, regardless of electing EU parliamentarians in May 2019; really means nothing !!

Regards Mark.

 

We stand united with Lyn and all the crew at Animals Australia in their continued fight to stop the (disgusting) live animal export trade from their shores.  Whatever the result of the recent elections; we know that the team at AA have the tenacity to carry on being a voice for voiceless regardless.  Politicians come and go; but the animal advocate is around for life ! – we wish them the very best with all their future strategies.  They will win ! – WAV.

 

Mark,

I woke up yesterday morning, and my first thought was you.

The closer one gets to fulfilling a dream, the more disappointing or devastating it can be when something occurs to put it just out of reach again.

Numerous polls told us that we were on track to elect a government that would bring an end to the cruelty of live sheep export — so we were well-justified in our optimism that this outcome, that was years in the making, was within our grasp. The deep disappointment we feel is well-founded.

But while the celebration we had hoped for is, for now, on hold, I promise you that it will come. The foundation has been laid and the pathway to end live export paved, by you and other compassionate Australians.

As I walked my beloved dogs by the sea yesterday morning I looked up at the clear blue sky and consciously made the decision to reflect not on what might have been — but rather on how far, together, we have come.

Just 12 months ago, no-one would have thought it possible for a Coalition government to bring an end to the summer live sheep trade. But they did, and over 1 million sheep have been, and will be this year, saved from the worst of cruelties because of you. Just 12 months ago, no-one would have thought it possible that a Coalition government would dramatically reduce the numbers of animals who could be loaded on ships at any time of the year. But they did because of you.

Unprecedented changes have been made because of you.

In reflecting while I was walking on the significance of these achievements, determination replaced my disappointment and I was filled with the deepest sense of appreciation, in fact an overwhelming sense of gratitude … to you.

The diminishing of the Coalition’s previous ironclad support of the live trade over the past 12 months is proof that the force of human compassion can make the seemingly impossible, possible. The political wall that has for so long protected the operations of this trade — no matter the cruelty it inflicted — is being dismantled, and together we will continue to pull it apart, brick by brick.

As history shows, change is not easy for humanity to embrace. Fear of altering course can fuel self-interest, create separation and make maintaining the status quo desirable.

And therein lies the critical importance of the ‘path paving’ we are doing together…

Negotiating the challenges of the human journey is not easy as you know. But as we can also attest to, that evolutionary urge to grow into our best selves and to build a better and kinder world is nourished and strengthened by witnessing others embracing that path.

At this time in our history, I have never been more certain of the importance of every single kind act; of every single act of generosity. Because the antidote to fear is kindness. The antidote to separation is kindness. Doors are opened, bridges built and a new path is paved and illuminated, through kindness.

And so, you have never been more important than you are today.

I said prior to this election that it was your compassion, your commitment, your resilience and your heart-fuelled dedication that have sustained me throughout the years.

Not a single effort has been wasted. As you have inspired me, I know you will inspire and empower others to join us on this journey.

When the dust settles from this election and the make-up of the Senate is known, I will meet with our political allies and determine our next steps.

Our resolve is not diminished by this election result, it is only strengthened. The flame that burns within us all to end the live export trade and create that kinder future, only grows stronger and brighter. Brick by brick we will continue to dismantle the remaining support for this trade.

As always, my heartfelt gratitude goes to you. It is my great honour to serve and share this journey with you.

Onwards, dear friend…

For the animals,

Lyn White

 

Director of Strategy

Animals Australia.

 

https://www.animalsaustralia.org/ 

The 2019 Australian federal election will be held on Saturday 18 May 2019

Hi Mark,

I wanted to take this opportunity to convey a very personal and heartfelt thank you. It’s because of you: your compassion, your commitment, your resilience, your heart-fuelled dedication to giving a voice to the millions of victims of the live sheep trade, that its end is now in sight this election.

Our work to end the entire live export trade is far from over. But ending the sheep trade will not only save millions of sheep from the cruelty of live export, it will represent a historic shift in political thinking towards dismantling the regulatory system that underpins all legalised animal cruelty.

While I have great hope that we’ll have reason to celebrate on behalf of animals after the weekend, I know that our greater journey together will also continue. That, regardless of the outcome of the election, we won’t stop until we have an end to all animal cruelty; that we all share an unquenchable thirst for a kinder world and an unshakeable belief in our capacity to make it so.

Thank you so much for your magnificent advocacy on behalf of all animals and for leading the way to a kinder world.

I feel absolutely honoured to be sharing this journey with you.

For the animals,

Lyn

P.S. Here is a heartfelt video message to you from my team in appreciation of your dedication, Mark.

Lyn White AM
Director of Strategy

——————————————————————————————

Remembering Jill, and what she died for:

 

 

Regards Mark.

 

Sheep were put near oil fuel heaters aboard live export ship in summer

Six hundred sheep died on voyage of Kuwait-flagged vessel from Australia to Middle East last year, report says

Sheep on a live export shipment during the high-risk northern summer months were made to stand in pens next to oil fuel heaters and some died due to smothering when crowding around air vents, a report released by the federal agriculture department says.

Six hundred sheep died on the voyage of the Kuwait-flagged ship Al Shuwaikh from Australia to the Middle East in May and June last year.

A summary of the report written by the independent observer was published on the department’s website on Thursday. The RSPCA has questioned why the report was not released for 11 months, despite containing information about heat stress that may have influenced the design of new live export rules.

It said the report was “a major indictment” on the decision of the government to continue the live export trade between May and June this year, despite calls from animal welfare groups, the West Australian government, and Labor and the Greens to stop it. Labor has promised to ban the trade if elected.

 

Live exports: government refuses to release video showing heat stress

Read more

“This report was in the department’s possession in June 2018 – to withhold its release until after the regulations for this northern summer period were made is very concerning indeed,” RSPCA senior policy officer Dr Jed Goodfellow said. “It shows, yet again, that the Department of Agriculture cannot be trusted to effectively regulate live exports and that a truly independent regulator is urgently required.”

The Al Shuwaikh left Fremantle on 15 May, two days before agriculture minister David Littleproud released a review into the management of heat stress on live export ships.

About 0.88% of the 69,117 sheep on board died — just above the average for a live export shipment — but all 263 cattle survived.

The observer’s own report, released in heavily redacted form under freedom of information laws to the RSPCA in January, said that poor communication between crew members “resulted in some pens being without water overnight on numerous occasions”.

But that observation was not included in the department’s public summary report, which said the watering system was “efficient and well maintained”.

The version released under FOI also mentioned the “training, or lack of it” among the crew, which the final report omitted, saying instead that all crew had “up to 10 years experience” and were “kind when handling livestock”.

Both versions of the report said that the closed decks of the ship were hotter and more humid than the open decks and attributed that to a fuel heater, which was turned off when the ship reached the equator.

Both also said that sheep on deck nine had elevated respiratory rates because the steel roof above them was painted a dark colour and absorbed the heat. Elevated respiratory rates and panting are signs of heat stress.

The department’s report said sheep were “open mouth breathing and attempting to gain position around the ventilation vents on all open and closed decks” on eight days of the voyage, adding that “in these instances, death by smothering was an observed outcome”.

But it said the voyage complied with the Australian standards for the export of livestock.

The department defended the delay in releasing the report and the discrepancies between the report as released under FOI and the public summary.

“This summary report accurately reflects the key observations made by the independent observer,” a department spokesman said. “It was fact-checked and agreed to by the independent observer prior to publication.”

The department said it published reports “as soon as practicable” and that timeframe could vary “depending on a number of factors”.

Asked why the detail about animals being left without water overnight was not included in the summary, the department said: “The [independent observer] reported no adverse animal welfare outcomes as a result of this incident.”

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/may/12/sheep-were-put-near-oil-fuel-heaters-aboard-live-export-ship-in-summer?CMP=share_btn_tw

Over the last few days we have been working Christa at Animals Angels providing data on a variety of issues. All this work relates to our campaign about how the EU is failing animals in transport, and how EU Regulation 1/2005 on the ‘Protection’ of animals during transport is simply not worth the paper it is written on.

We are providing a series of links and data about Animals Angels and we would encourage you to review some of the reports that we have provided links for.

In addition, here are a few links to some of our recent posts relating to live animal transport within, and from, the EU. We hope that the information provided by both ourselves and Animals Angels will give you ‘conversation room’ should you get anyone at your door asking for political party votes at the European Elections.

WAV Links:

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/05/05/prior-to-the-eu-elections-in-late-may-2019-we-will-be-exposing-eu-animal-welfare-failures-by-a-system-which-does-not-care/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/05/05/the-cruelty-transport-of-unweaned-calves-direct-from-ireland-to-france-and-from-scotland-via-ramsgate-england-for-further-fattening-in-spain/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/05/06/eu-meps-have-their-say-in-the-hundreds-but-in-the-end-if-commissioner-says-no-then-no-it-is/

Is this not verified by the recent meeting ? – 15-04-2019 Animal Transports EU Live Exports Created by Animals’ Angels e. V.

The Conference of Agriculture Ministers met in Landau from 10 to 12 April.

However, the desired outcome was not achieved: Long distance animal transports from Germany to non-EU countries will be continued.

 

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/05/06/eu-petition-end-cruel-and-illegal-eu-live-animal-exports/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/05/06/the-betrayal-of-the-eu-to-the-animals/

 

---

 

All of the following relates to Animals Angels:

Our Organisation

Animals’ Angels is an animal welfare organisation based in Frankfurt, Germany. Our commitment is to the so-called ‘farm’ animals, focusing on the protection of animals during transport. Among other things, we demand the abolition of long-distance animal transports. Until then, we want to achieve that animal transports at least comply with existing legislation.

https://www.animals-angels.de/en/about-us/organisation.html

 

The Myth of Enforcement of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport.

Read the full report here (pdf):

https://www.animals-angels.de/fileadmin/user_upload/03_Publikationen/Dokumentationen/Animals_Angels_Myth_of_Enforcement.pdf

 

Animal Suffering is Inherent In Long Distance Transports.

Read the full report here (pdf):

https://www.animals-angels.de/fileadmin/user_upload/03_Publikationen/Dokumentationen/Animals_Angels_Animal_Suffering_is_Inherent_in_Long_Distance_Transport.pdf

 

EU Live Exports: Conference of Agriculture Ministers Yields Frustrating Result: Long Distance Animal Transports Will Continue

15-04-2019 Animal Transports EU Live Exports Created by Animals’ Angels e. V.

The Conference of Agriculture Ministers met in Landau from 10 to 12 April. However, the desired outcome was not achieved: Long distance animal transports from Germany to non-EU countries will be continued. There will not be a nationwide export stop  – despite overwhelming proof that these transports to countries such as Morocco or Uzbekistan are contrary to animal welfare. Sadly, this was not to be expected otherwise. The business with ‘breeding’ animals is simply too big.

Instead of banning the export of live animals, the federal government wants to support the states with a central database and thus improve animal protection. A digital platform will be used in future to check for infringements of animal welfare and the plausibility of journey logs. What this means for the animals remains questionable, however. After all, there is already enough evidence that it is not possible to transport animals to non-EU countries in conformity with the law.

Animals’ Angels continues to put pressure on politicians and authorities to ensure that the current debate will not just fall silent after the conference. And we will continue to be there with the animals and continue to confront those who are responsible with the results of our investigations.

 

Animal Transports in the EU

In the EU alone, around 3.8 million animals are transported every day.

That is 1.4 billion animals a year. In the transport business, as in all branches of industry, money is at stake. Animals are transported where the highest profits are expected. All too often these transports take place under cruel conditions. The longer the transport lasts, the more the animals suffer.

 

https://www.animals-angels.de/en/projects/animal-transports/animal-transports-in-the-eu.html

https://www.animals-angels.de/en/news/news-detail/lamb-transports-during-orthodox-easter-thirsty-animals-due-to-broken-water-system.html

https://www.animals-angels.de/en/news/news-detail/lamb-transports-during-orthodox-easter-lamb-ionut-should-have-been-unloaded.html