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

 

END CRUEL AND ILLEGAL EU LIVE ANIMAL EXPORTS
Posted by Libby Kann

Petition Link – https://ladyfreethinker.org/sign-end-cruel-and-illegal-eu-live-animal-exports/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email

PETITION TARGET: European Parliament President Antonio Tajani

Each year, more than three million animals from the EU are forced to endure the horrific journey of live animal export, matted and suffocating in their own faeces for weeks, to then be gruesomely slaughtered in countries with little to no animal welfare laws including the Middle East, North Africa, and Singapore.

The EU must end this cruel practice; and shockingly, they’ve already banned it — they just blatantly ignore the law.

In an appalling display of complete disregard for animal protection and public trust, the EU has consistently violated this law for nearly 15 years.

In fact, the EU banned live animal exports in 2005 to countries that do not meet European animal welfare standards for handling, transport, and slaughter. But the law is largely brushed aside. The European Parliament has discussed finally enforcing it, first in 2012 and again in 2019. However, some members are still voting against the enforcement of laws protecting animals from the gruesome live export trade.

The situation is so dire, “Not one of the importing countries currently taking animals from Europe meets the EU’s standards for animal welfare,” according to Animals Australia.

Image Source: Wikimedia/Roee Shprenick

Photographer Roee Shprenick stated, “Calves for meat from Portugal arrived at Ashdod port in Israel after being stuck at sea for 26 days, covered in feces and some blinded by the ammonia fumes.”

This inhumane and illegal suffering must end.
Sign this petition to urge the European Parliament to finally enforce their own laws and end cruel live animal exports.

 

See More:

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/

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/2019/05/05/serbia-an-eu-candidate-country-and-they-do-this/

 

The following is produced in relation to the EU elections which will take place on 23-26 May 2019. They are for Members of the European Parliament (MEP), not for the Commissioners, who are not elected by the democratic system. The government of each member state of the EU nominates a member for the Commission, but cannot later give them any orders or remove them from their post. The members of the Commission are supposedly positioned to act in the interest of the European Union as a whole, and not their home country.

Thus, electing MEP’s with your vote in May really does not change anything. MEP’s have NO power to remove a Commissioner – and the Commissioner is ultimately the SINGLE person who has the FINAL SAY regardless of decisions and votes taken in the European Parliament.

So is there any point in ‘EU man and woman’ really having a vote when the EU system works like this ? – we see it simply as a veil for the EU establishment to give the EU citizen he is making a difference, when the reality is the decisions are made by the Commissioners who are un elected and cannot be removed ! – a fair system ? – what do you think ?

So the EU Parliament of hundreds of members can vote for animal transport times to be reduced; but if the Commissioner says NO, then No it is.

Remember this when you are asked to give your vote at the EU elections in May. Does your vote for MEP’s only really mean anything ? – we suggest you ask the sole decision making Commissioners.

—————————————————

Every year millions of animals are transported live from the EU for slaughter in the Middle East and North Africa. The journeys last hundreds of hours and they face brutal treatment on arrival at their final destination.

Every year, over three million animals are exported from the European Union to NON-EU countries. Hundreds of thousands are destined for countries such as Russia, Turkey, The Middle East and North Africa. Investigations have uncovered animals being exported live for brutal slaughter in countries across the Middle East, and even as far away as Singapore.

Despite these countries having no laws that protect animals from brutal treatment, and though the European Commission and livestock exporting Member States have long been made fully aware of the extreme cruelty such animals are being subjected to, both have been actively seeking to increase the export of EU animals.

In 2015 the European livestock export value increased 25,2% compared to 2014, and increased further in 2016. In the first nine months of 2016 EU export of live animals increased to 17,2 % in comparison to the same period in 2015.

A 5 year study carried out between 2010-2015 by Eyes on Animals and TSB/AWF demonstrated 70% of live export trucks inspected at the (EU) Bulgarian border (a major exit point for EU animals) were breaching the EU Transport Regulation. The team found animals, such as sheep, starving, without water, parked in direct sunlight, and waiting 5 days before continuing their journey. Packed tightly together, young lambs were trampled to death while the elders were left standing on their carcasses.

These horrifically long journeys must be stopped once and for all and replaced by a trade in frozen or refrigerated meat. When European animals are exported outside of the EU, they can suffer squalid housing, brutal handling, torturous restraint systems, and slow, painful slaughter. But we have shown with investigations for many years that animals being transported within the EU also suffer terribly.

Barbaric slaughtering methods.

Investigations continually provide evidence that the slaughtering of animals being sold from the EU to Third Countries is barbaric. The footage captured on the slaughtering routines these importing countries are using are in full breach of international standards. Such routines include terrifying fully conscious very large bulls by painfully dragging them up off the floor by one of their rear legs, and slashing their throat several times before they die in Turkish slaughterhouses.

Similar footage shows partial hoisting of fully conscious cattle in Lebanese slaughterhouses and their torture with electric prods before their throats are slashed. There is evidence as well of petrified European animals being brutally restrained by ropes before having their throats hacked whilst fully conscious in the Palestinian territories and Egypt. Furthermore, the extended suffering of European animals has been caught on camera showing how full inversion slaughter boxes are used in Turkey, Ramallah and Egypt. In addition, the brutal handling and slaughtering of Portuguese and Romanian sheep was documented in the Palestinian territories and Jordan.

Under EU Regulation 1/2005, animals are being exported by European countries to Non EU nations without any consideration as to whether the importing countries’ infrastructure, handling and slaughter practices comply with basic international standards. Even if the majority of abattoirs in importing countries have no capacity or understanding to handle or slaughter animals humanely, no EU regulation ought to allow the animal cruelty that is occurring. Further still, the fact that so many importing countries lack even the most basic hygiene protocols means the resulting meat is in fact unfit for human consumption in the EU.

Some MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) are in favour of improving conditions for animals in transport and have voted to impose an overall limit on journey times. In its last sitting the European Parliament voted in favour of a limit to journey times, but the European Commission failed to support this change, resulting in no change in the law.

So, we can say with confidence that the European Commission is failing all animals that are transported both within, and to nations outside of the European Union.

The EU Commissioner responsible for failures is one:

Philp Hogan (born 4 July 1960) an Irish Fine Gael politician, and climate change sceptic, who has served as European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development since November 2014. Can a Commissioner be removed by the EU ? – No. The government of each member state (in this case Ireland) nominates a member for the Commission, but cannot later give them any orders or remove them from their post. The members of the Commission are to act in the interest of the European Union as a whole, not their home country. We question this as Ireland has recently been setting up live export deals with non-EU destinations such as: Lebanon; Morocco; Russia; Rwanda and Tunisia.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/analysis-the-irish-live-cattle-export-market-in-2018/

Ireland exported 246,000 live animals in 2018, according to the IFA. The majority were calves and weanlings going to Spain and the Netherlands. The IFA wants to double live export numbers in 2019, and gain more access to markets in Turkey and North Africa.

The question is – has Commissioner Hogan been a voice for the Irish agriculture industry rather than addressing issues within the EU such as live animal transport ?

A Commissioner’s basic monthly salary is fixed at 112.5% of the top civil service grade. This works out at €22,367.04 per month.

In 2015 the Court of Justice judged – Zuchtvieh arrest – that the Transport Regulation 1/2005’s provisions not only apply to the EU but rather to the entire journey of transporting European animals outside the EU until their final destination, still in Third countries there are not facilities to unload, feed, water, rest animals and to provide them with basic care. And yet the trade continues and so does the suffering, in complete disregard of the highest Court’s Jurisprudence.

Within Europe, animals are SUPPOSED to be protected by EU Regulation 1/2005, – ‘the protection of live animals during transport and related operations’; but live animals in transport are routinely failed by this legislation.

The way in which the trade of live animals is currently carried out in the EU is in clear breach of Article 13 of the Treaty on the Function of the EU (TFEU), which is a requirement to “pay full regard to” animal welfare in formulating and implementing EU agriculture policy. In addition, by facilitating and supplying live EU animals to countries that are consistently failing to meet standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) – the EU Commission is undermining the work of the OIE to improve animal welfare standards. Compliance with OIE standards is intended to form the basis of trade agreements between countries.

 

The following video allows you to see just what happens to the tiny calves exported by Cassidy and McCreery from Ewing’s staging post at Dunbretton farm, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, via Ramsgate (England) on the Export ship ‘Joline’ (2 pictures below) owned and operated by J. Onderwater the Dutchman.  It also shows Irish calves exported directly from Ireland via Sea Link ferries to Cherbourg in France.

Yet another ‘animal issue’ that the EU wants to wipe it hands of.

EU elections 23-26 May 2019.  Are they worth it ? — NO.