On Monday, the streets of London were truly haunted by the horror of UK live exports. As darkness fell, over 1 million petition signatures collected by Compassion in World Farming, 30 Degrees, Avaaz and SumOfUs were delivered to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, urging the Secretary of State to #StopLiveTransport.

This week, the streets between DEFRA and Parliament were truly haunted when we joined forces with, 38 Degrees, Avaaz and SumOfUs, to deliver over one million petition signatures to DEFRA, urging the Minister for the Environment, Michael Gove, to #StopLiveTransport

Last May, the government pledged to take action on live exports but nothing has happened. This Halloween, a spooky parade of ‘zombie sheep and calves’ marched to DEFRA’s offices in London to hand in the signatures. These ‘zombie animals’ represent those who have died during transport, coming back from the dead to haunt DEFRA, to remind them of their promise to end live exports.

In 2017, tens of thousands of sheep and young calves were exported from the UK to continental Europe on long journeys that result in immense suffering. Many of these animals are kept in over-crowded conditions without enough food, water, or space to move, and often face an inhumane slaughter at their final destination.

“The true horror of live transport is absolutely shocking,” explained Downton Abbey actor and Compassion Patron, Peter Egan who participated in the event and has actively supported the campaign. “It’s appalling that we allow such cruelty to continue.”

This week, the streets between DEFRA and Parliament were truly haunted when we joined forces with, 38 Degrees, Avaaz and SumOfUs, to deliver over one million petition signatures to DEFRA, urging the Minister for the Environment, Michael Gove, to #StopLiveTransport

A chilling reminder

Last May, the government pledged to take action on live exports but nothing has happened. This Halloween, a spooky parade of ‘zombie sheep and calves’ marched to DEFRA’s offices in London to hand in the signatures. These ‘zombie animals’ represent those who have died during transport, coming back from the dead to haunt DEFRA, to remind them of their promise to end live exports.

In 2017, tens of thousands of sheep and young calves were exported from the UK to continental Europe on long journeys that result in immense suffering. Many of these animals are kept in over-crowded conditions without enough food, water, or space to move, and often face an inhumane slaughter at their final destination.

“The true horror of live transport is absolutely shocking,” explained Downton Abbey actor and Compassion Patron, Peter Egan who participated in the event and has actively supported the campaign. “It’s appalling that we allow such cruelty to continue.”

Growing public pressure

Nick Palmer, our Head of Compassion in World Farming UK, said: “This delivery of over one million signatures, highlights growing public pressure to end this barbaric practice. The live transport of animals on long, exhausting journeys, in horrendous conditions is not acceptable.

“It’s time for the UK government to enforce a UK-wide ban on live exports for slaughter and further fattening.”

Take action

You may have seen the news that unweaned Scottish calves are now being trucked to Kent for export. In the face of this appalling trade, we must keep up the pressure from every angle. Please email Michael Gove, Defra Secretary of State, today.

VEGAN FACES

Picture above – EoA (NL).

We have personally been involved with live animal transport issues in Europe for 25+ years.

We know that Reg 1/2005 has failed the animals from the very start – and so you could say that the EU Commission has also been failing animals in transport from the very start.

To see a bit about our own past involvement with the live animal transport business. Please check out our info at  https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/about-us/  – scroll down quite  a way to see our own battles with a useless EU.

Here is a message from Silvia at Animals Angels.. who are based in Germany.

We want to thank Silvia for her info and the video which we have repeated below.  I am sure you will find it interesting.

It goes without saying that we give our full support to Angels and as individual welfare groups right across the EU, we work hard to expose the failures of the legislation 1/2005.

Please watch the video and see how the mighty EU Commission is failing anima;ls in transport.

Regards Mark.

Silvia says:

Dear Mark,

I hope this email finds you well.

On the 6^th of September this year, we presented the premiere of a new film of Animals´ Angels in Brussels, at the EU Parliament. The video summarizes 10 years spent on the roads collecting data about the conditions of transported animals, after having interviewed some experts. The aim was to make the point of 10 years of application of Regulation EC 1/2005, analyzing what has been achieved and what remains to do. The final balance is very bitter. It is crystal clear that the original intention of the Council of EU has been betrayed. As you know, too many animals continue to travel crammed in trucks and ships over longer and longer distances. Animals´ Angels asked the EU Commission to take a stand and be faithful to its duties as “the guardian of EU laws”. A limit must be set to profit.  

To know more, please watch our recently published video “10 years of Regulation EC 1/2005 – Animals’ Angels field experience 2007-2017”: www.animals-angels.de/10-jahre

More than a million EU citizens already expressed their opposition to long animal transports already twice. Pressure of public opinion is a powerful means to demand EU institutions and governments a change. Please, help us spreading knowledge about animal transports.

Kindest regards,

Silvia

Hi Mark,

I never thought I would have reason to write: ‘It has been a quiet few months on the live sheep export front…’ — but it has!

For nearly four months, huge sheep ships, that would normally be plying the Middle East trade, have been sitting empty off the West Australian coast, accruing massive costs for the companies. We managed to firmly upset the ‘apple cart’ of this cruel industry.

Most importantly, we now know that our threat of legal action prevented over 500,000 sheep from being shipped across the Middle East summer — the first time the trade has been stopped in over half a century.

When we heard last week that the Department of Agriculture had granted an export licence to a Kuwaiti company, we were disappointed — but not surprised. Under a Morrison government it was inevitable that the shipments would recommence once the heat had diminished. But rest assured, the industry is under no illusions that it will ever be the same again. They know that their ability to exist rests with the Morrison government being in power — so exporters would be having sleepless nights watching their support plummet in the polls.

As for the Kuwaiti company — it should never have been granted a licence, of course. We presented the Department with an extensive legal brief documenting their history of involvement in mass mortalities and ESCAS breaches. While the Department has shown unusual courage over the last six months in cancelling our largest exporter’s (Emanuel’s) export licence, it seemed causing offence to the Kuwaitis, by not granting this export licence, was a step too far for them.

The Department itself is about to face its ‘judgement day’. Next week will see the release of the independent review into the regulator. We have every reason to believe the conclusions will be damning and the recommendations strong. Exporters know that they cannot survive independent scrutiny, so it’s not only the Department that won’t be looking forward to the findings of this review.

This is a rare time of opportunity. Our political landscape is effectively being reshaped through the voice and votes of fed-up Australians. A clear message was sent in the Wentworth by-election that Australians want politicians to prioritise the issues that matter to them. A once blue-ribbon Liberal seat is about to be held by an Independent candidate who is a strong advocate for environmental, social justice and animal welfare issues. Dr Kerryn Phelps will deliver us another critical vote for sheep in the parliament.

Mark, the months since 60 Minutes have passed in a blur. But every long night, every weekend worked, has been worth it. Most politicians now support an end to the trade; the most basic new welfare rules are coming at a huge cost to the industry and threatening their ability to make money; and we are now only ONE vote away in the Federal parliament from an end to live sheep export.

And of course, whatever happens, we have the historic Labor commitment to end the trade if elected at the next Federal election. The path is there. It is now a matter of when the trade ends, not if.

It is finally dawning on politicians that their constituents expect them to represent their views and interests — not their own. So there has never been a better time to reinforce your view on animal cruelty — and demand that they bring an end to the live animal export trade.

Mark, for your compassionate action on behalf of animals, our gratitude to you is endless.

Ever closer…

For the animals,

Lyn White AM
Director of Strategy

Chelsea Film Festival Awards 2018-

Kudos to ONE ANGRY VEGAN – Winner of Best Documentary Feature at the Chelsea Film Festival !!!!

Best Documentary – ONE ANGRY VEGAN by Gil Golan

“I really loved the film and the panel talk was really great–Nora did such a great job with questions. I was particularly happy that one of the people in the audience asking questions about documenting abuse was able to be helped by John who already knew about that situation. Thanks so much for the complimentary wine! You did a great job putting the event together–how wonderful to have this film show at the Chelsea Film Festival! I saw on Facebook that One Angry Vegan won Best Documentary at the Chelsea Film Festival? The post was in Hebrew so I couldn’t read it but I saw an award. Can you confirm that? Thrilling news if that is true!!!”

Another company closely affiliated with disgraced live exporters Emanuel Exports and EMS Rural Exports has had an export licence approved.

The Department of Agriculture has today granted an export licence to the Kuwait Livestock and Trading (KLTT) company’s Australia subsidiary, Rural Export Trading WA (RETWA).

Here’s what you need to know:

• • KLTT has a horrific track record of animal cruelty and disaster in live exports, and has been implicated in multiple ESCAS breaches and animal cruelty investigations in Kuwait in recent years.
  • RETWA had its export licence cancelled in 2004 by then Nationals Agriculture Minister Warren Truss following 25 high mortality voyages within a two-year period between 2000-2002.
  • When this happened, Emanuel Exports filled the gap providing export services for KLTT.
  • Now that Emanuel Exports has had its licence cancelled, RETWA is stepping back in.
  • It’s another example of the live export shell game, and KLTT is playing the Department of Agriculture for fools.

• RETWA and disgraced Emanuel Exports are closely affiliated trading partners – they’ve shared the same Directors and the same live export ships.

• Graham Daws founded RETWA in 1973, the same year he became director of Emanuel Exports before stepping down earlier this year following the Awassi Express scandal.
• KLTT leased the Awassi Express, and was the consignee/importer for all five horrific voyages exposed on 60 Minutes this year.

How can the Department think it could possibly meet its regulatory obligations in granting this licence?

How can the live sheep export industry and their supporters think this is a good move?

The answer is simple.

This is what business-as-usual for live sheep exporters looks like.

Protecting their mates and doing their best to doing their best to get around government regulations.

This is the best they’ve got.

This is as good as it gets.

If you agree it’s not good enough (and we know you do), write to your MP now.

Tell them this is further proof of the incompetence of the live export regulator.

Tell them it’s clearer than ever before, that the live sheep export industry has no capacity or willingness to change.

Tell them you want political leaders to step up, and start implementing the phase-out now.

An industry that has such reckless disregard for community expectations and Australian regulations has no chance of long-term survival.

Like you, we’re sick to death of this trade, and it’s only a matter of time before it will be brought to an end.

Thanks as always for your support.

Dr Jed Goodfellow
Senior Policy Officer
RSPCA Australia