Enjoy – Mark – I remember this well.
Category: Uncategorized
‘The Cure’ – one of the best British bands ever (in my humble opinion) !
Other things today, so music only; back to animal stuff tomorrow;
Cheers – Mark
This weekend is remembrance weekend in the UK; when the British people remember and pay tribute to all those military AND animals who have been killed in war campaigns around the world.
Above – The Animals who died in War Tribute in London
There have been concerns that a pro Palestine march in London may clash with the remembrance event going on at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. We understand that despite the huge numbers supporting Gaza / Palestine, it was only really counter demonstrators who clashed with police.
Having taken part in anti live animal export protests for decades; I am experienced enough to say that whatever you are protesting about, you will always get a segment of counter protesters intent on causing trouble or attempting to put your actions in a bad light. Sadly, that is the way of demonstrations; you never know who is going to turn up and what they intend to do – more than often they have no relationship to the issue you are protesting about.
All credit to the hundreds of thousands who marched in London today supporting an issue they feel strongly about – Israel murdering thousands of innocent citizens and children in Gaza.
London – over 300,000 people (or 3 times the capacity of Wembley football stadium) have marched in London today, 11/11/23 in support of the people of Palestine; and calling for Israeli atrocities against the people of Gaza to stop.
The march has been undertaken without incident – London pro-Palestine march live: Thousands of activists descend on capital on Armistice Day (msn.com) –
Chants of “free Palestine” and “ceasefire now” could be heard as the protesters set off.
More than 80 people have been arrested after counter-demonstrators clashed with police in Tachbrook Street, Pimlico. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said counter-protesters went to the pro-Palestine march “intent on confrontation”.
Activist Steve Rains is attending the demonstration with his wife Jenny, 73, and son Adam, 39.
He said: “My parents fought in the wars for this country, and people talk about lest we forget — it’s not just about not forgetting the people who fought in the wars, but what they fought for. To stop this kind of thing happening – for children to be killed needlessly. There has to be another way.”
Jenny added: “I’m a mother and a grandmother, I’ve got four kids and seven grandchildren. My uncle Charlie died in WW2, I’m wearing my poppy, and it’s for people who die in all wars.”
Regards Mark
Above – Fundraising for ‘Animal Aid’ – https://www.animalaid.org.uk/about-us/
and Dover live export protest – we reported sheep seen on top deck to authorities to have its head freed from the tier bars once inside the port.
Scientists report first live birth of ‘chimeric’ monkey
Scientists have reported the first live birth of a “chimeric” monkey with stem cells taken from two embryos.
The embryos come from the same species of monkey – a crab-eating macaque – but are genetically distinct, the researchers said.
Chimeras are animals which contain groups of cells from two or more organisms with distinct types of DNA.
The baby monkey was born with “a high proportion” of donor cells – an average of 67% across the 26 different types of tissue, the scientists said.
This work could help us to generate more precise monkey models for studying neurological diseases as well as for other biomedicine studies
Zhen Liu, Chinese Academy of Sciences
The team in China, which has reported its work in the journal Cell, said its work has vast implications – from understanding more about devastating conditions such as motor neurone disease to finding ways to help conserve threatened species.
Senior author Zhen Liu, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: “This is a long-sought goal in the field.”
He added: “This work could help us to generate more precise monkey models for studying neurological diseases as well as for other biomedicine studies.”
Chimeras are important for studying embryonic development, but research has largely been restricted to mice.
While monkeys have previously been created in the lab using donor cells, the researchers said these creatures had a much lower contribution of cells from embryos “so you cannot really call them chimeric animals”.
Professor Mu-Ming Poo, scientific director of the Institute of Neuroscience at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: “Just having several cells (that) are partially distributed all over the monkey body with no real formation or clear structures – you cannot really say that is chimera, strictly speaking.
“So the difference here is that now we have a very high level of contribution, with the donor cells forming a big part of the tissues (and) complex structures all over the monkey body.”
Stem cells are the body’s raw materials from which all other cells with specialised functions are generated.
For the study, the researchers used stem cell lines – a group of cells grown in a lab from a single stem cell – taken from a seven-day-old embryo.
These cells were then injected into embryos that were four to five days old.
The embryos were implanted into female macaques, resulting in 12 pregnancies and six live births.
Of the six, one baby monkey was born alive and managed to survive for 10 days.
Analysis showed this male newborn had donor stem cells in 26 different types of tissue, ranging from 21% to up to 92%.
Meanwhile, a foetus that was miscarried was also “substantially chimeric”, the researchers said, with stem cell-derived cells observed in the brain, heart, kidney, liver, and parts of the digestive system.
The researchers said that their work complied with the national ethical regulations in China. (which mean nothing !)
The health of the monkey is still a problem. If we want to produce a monkey model, we have to have a better chimera that can live longer
Professor Mu-Ming Poo, Chinese Academy of Sciences
They said that as of next steps, they want to explore “mechanisms that underlie the survival of the embryos in the host animals”.
Prof Poo said: “The health of the monkey is still a problem.
“If we want to produce a monkey model, we have to have a better chimera that can live longer.”
WAV Comment – I (Mark) have had Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for the last 25 years, and it causes me now one hell of a lot of problems. MS is a ‘neurological illness’ that happens, but which cannot be explained as to why in only some.
Animals DO NOT get MS. As a sufferer I have always campaigned against the use of animals in MS research. You don’t test Boeing 777 engines on a Spitfire; so if animals do not get MS, then why artificially ‘create’ it in animals and then test on them in them in some pathetic attempt to find a cure ? – for me, proper research would be to find out why animals don’t, and we do – and then move on from there.
Why test on animals when there are hundreds of human MS suffers waiting in line to put themselves forward as research tools in understanding more about this ? – surely they are better for the purpose.
20 years ago, 5 years after my diagnosis; I was informed that within the next 5 years the MS issue would be solved with the wonder cure. 20 further years on I / we are still waiting.
The reality is that this all comes down to money and funding research, whatever that really is. Prof. Poo and his chums just want to exhaust the funding pot whilst never really achieving ‘that cure’; sufferers live in daily hope that a cure will be found for their illness. The problem is that universities and departments like the national ethical regulations in China; ie probably a back street wet market type thing (where did they read Covid from ?) just keep on trying to justify animal research models without ever really making much progress. I guess if animals die or are killed in ‘research’, they they can just chuck them in a bin and continue; probably a bit harder with proper human MS sufferers who really do have MS which is not artificially created in them as it is with non MS suffering with animals.
It really gets my goat that money is endlessly paid out for often pointless ‘research’ using animals. I want to see positive, NON ANIMAL research; research that will provide real answers and hope fully which will lead to real cures.
This is what I mean; something positive without animal cruelty:
Dr Hadwen Trust becomes Animal Free Research – Animal Free Research UK
Latest news – Animal Free Research UK
Always on the side of animals;
Regards Mark
Scientists report first live birth of ‘chimeric’ monkey (msn.com)
WAV Comment – This is not happening because suddenly people do not love and cherish their animals; it happens partly because the government, OUR government is refusing (like it does on so many animal welfare issues) to step up to the plate and introduce regulation which can significantly reduce some of the most costly expenses of owning a pet – namely, getting timely and appropriate veterinary care for your animal. Namely ‘pet insurance’.
Please sign the following petition about this – petition wording below – and if we reach 100k signatures then by law the issue would need to be debated in the House of Commons.
Once you have signed you will see several other site links on which you can share with family and friends to get yet more support.
Regard Mark
People Can’t Afford to Take Care of Their Pets in the UK. That Could Lead to Horrific Rises in Abandonment.
Those of us who are pet parents know we’d do anything to help our fur babies out – or, we’d like to be able to do anything. But the reality is that tending to a pet has become more and more financially difficult – leading many owners to realize they have to find someone else to adopt and care for their animal.
This is especially true in the U.K. In just two years, the number of British dog owners relinquishing their pets to shelters and charities has risen significantly. Meanwhile, there are fewer new pet parents. Animal adoptions have now dropped by a whopping 31%.
It’s time for the U.K. Parliament to do something about this. Sign the petition to tell Parliament: subsidize pet insurance!
In a recent survey, one British animal charity found that over 80% of pet owners were worried about the increased costs of pet care. In 2023 alone, the cost of pet food increased at a rate higher than inflation, and nearly a quarter of people with pets struggled to keep up feeding them.
This trend isn’t unique to Britain. General cost of living is one of the biggest contributors to animal abandonment in many countries.
People aren’t giving up their beloved animals because they suddenly don’t care. Far from it: owners are being realistic about whether or not they’re the best people to provide their animals with the resources those pets need.
Luckily, pet insurance could help. It can significantly reduce some of the most costly expenses of owning a pet – namely, getting timely and appropriate veterinary care for your animal.
People should not have to give up the pets they love and care for because they can’t afford them. If pet insurance were subsidized, more people could afford to keep pets in their forever homes! If you agree, sign the petition today!
Regards Mark
In addition, during the Kings speech yesterday, which outlines some of the key issues which the government will be working on during the next political term, although it was not mentioned, we are informed that the home secretary (Bravernan) is trying to criminalise people for sleeping in tents – see the info below.
You can also add your name to this petition via the link provided.
Like many cats and dogs, homeless people sometimes get there through no fault of their own; there re often many factors involved.
Sources say Suella Braverman is still trying to force through her cruel plan to criminalise people for sleeping in tents, even though it wasn’t announced in yesterday’s King’s Speech. [1]
Thanks to a huge outcry – including more than 100,000 of us who signed a petition against these plans – she has to go back to the drawing board. So we need to keep the pressure up and make it clear that there is no version of these plans that we will accept.
Last year homelessness rose by 26% – the biggest increase since 2015. If you agree Suella should be taking action that helps people who are homeless – instead of this heartless idea – add your name to the petition today. Use the link below to sign with one click, or read on for more information:
Here’s the email from earlier, including the petition text in full:
Mark, there are no words to describe how cruel this is. Instead of doing what’s needed to end homelessness and help people living on the streets, home secretary Suella Braverman instead wants to crack down on the tents they take shelter in – and punish the charities that give those tents out. [2]
It’s just heartless. Last year homelessness rose by 26% – the biggest increase since 2015 – as people have struggled with the cost of living crisis. [3] Rather than fixing the problems that lead to people ending up on the streets, the Government would rather just try and sweep the problem under the rug.
But I know we’re not the kind of people that will let that happen. This news broke late last night, and Suella Braverman will be hoping that over the weekend it’ll be forgotten about and people will move on. It’s why I’ve logged in on a Saturday – to launch a petition right away and make sure that come Monday she knows we won’t let this kind of brutal policy stand.
Suella Braverman wants to pressure the Prime Minister to include this proposal in the King’s Speech. If enough of us make a racket before he makes a decision, we might be able to persuade him to leave it out.
Will you add your name to the petition now, and then share it with five friends?? If we can get it to 100,000 we’ll send it to Suella and Rishi Sunak first thing Monday morning. You can add your name with one click here:
Here’s the petition text in full:
| To: Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister, Suella Braverman, Home Secretary Help the homeless, don’t punish them Scrap cruel plans that would restrict the use of tents for people who are homeless, and don’t punish the charities that give tents out to people in need of shelter. |
Helping animals for sure and also people when we consider it necessary.
Public asked to adopt a pet rather than buy one this Christmas in bid to drive down numbers of abandoned animals
With Christmas approaching, the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has teamed up with the well-known Northern Ireland animal welfare charity, the Ulster Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) to appeal to the public to think very carefully before choosing a pet as a present for a loved one.
The USPCA, like every other animal welfare charity, is inundated with animals which have been bought as Christmas presents, but which people then find they don’t have enough time, space or money to look after.
In January of this year, the charity had over 50 animals at their centre who needed a new home.
The USPCA, like every other animal welfare charity, is inundated with animals which have been bought as Christmas presents, but which people then find they don’t have enough time, space or money to look after.
Gemma Daly, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, DAERA said: “Pets are often bought at Christmas as presents for loved ones and whilst there is no doubt potential owners are not seeking to do any harm, unfortunately, if careful consideration has not been given to the implications of bringing a new pet into a household, they can end up having to surrender them.“Different pets have a range of important and diverse needs and it is critical that prospective owners ensure they can provide for an animal’s care and veterinary needs throughout their entire lifetime.
“Advice on how to care for a range of pets is available on NI Direct and prospective owners should first familiarise themselves with the responsibilities that come with being the owner of an animal before making any decisions on how to proceed.”
Gemma added: “I would also remind people of the fantastic work that animal welfare establishments such as the USPCA undertake and urge people to rehome an animal from these shelters rather than going out to buy a pet.
“Animal welfare establishments have identified that they are struggling with the huge number of pets being abandoned and rehoming means you can play your part in giving a pet its forever home.”
Nora Smith, CEO of the USPCA, stated: “It may seem counter-intuitive that we do not encourage anyone to buy or adopt a new pet at Christmas given our Centre is full of animals in need of a new home.
“However it’s an upsetting reality that in the weeks and months after Christmas we are often asked to take in puppies, kittens and other pets given as presents once the novelty has worn off.
“It’s not just young animals that come to us, older animals can be discarded to make way for new ones.
“Bringing a new pet into your family is one of the most rewarding experiences. However, it is a life-long commitment.
“It’s so important you are fully informed and aware of the responsibility that is involved.
“Therefore, our advice is wait until after the Christmas holidays have passed in order to provide the time and space required to welcome a new pet into your home. If prospective pet parents would like to reserve an animal before Christmas, our Animal Welfare team can match them with the most suitable pet for their home to be collected once all the festivities are over.”
The USPCA and DAERA are encouraging prospective pet owners to adopt rather than buy.
There are thousands of animals in Animal Welfare charities in desperate need of a second chance.
Adoption also helps prevent animals from being purchased from unscrupulous breeders and gives a lovely companion animal a chance of a happy new life.
Wise words
Regards Mark
Animal rights groups have filed a lawsuit to stop a three-day rodeo planned next year at Petco Park, which the groups allege will lead to the abuse of animals featured in the event.
The lawsuit against the Padres and C5 Rodeo, the company operating the San Diego Rodeo, was filed Thursday in San Diego Superior Court. The San Diego Rodeo is planned for Jan. 12-14, the first-ever rodeo to be held at the ballpark and the first time a rodeo has been held in the city of San Diego since the 1980s.
The plaintiffs, the animal rights groups Animal Protection and Rescue League and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, allege the rodeo company conducting the event, C5 Rodeo, utilizes electric prods and similar devices to shock animals.
“The rodeos tie tight bucking straps around their abdomens and then they often actually shock the horses before they ride into the arena with a rider on their back and that’s why they’re bucking wildly and they sometimes fall down,” said Bryan Pease, the San Diego attorney who is representing the animal rights groups in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also alleges that the Padres and C5 Rodeo are violating San Diego’s municipal code which prohibits non-service animals from being at Petco Park during a Padres event.
“They haven’t sought any sort of special exemption or anything thing. They just plan to go ahead with bringing farm animals into Petco park so that men can chase them around and wrestle and lasso them and electric shock them, which is actually how the so-called bucking broncos end up acting the way they do,” Pease said.
In a statement to NBC 7, a spokesperson for C5 Rodeo said: “In our preparations for the San Diego Rodeo, we have worked with industry professionals to establish and implement animal safety measures. We are committed to providing the very best care for the contestants and livestock and abide all California laws regulating the treatment and use of animals.”
Pease also authored a resolution that calls for the city to pass an ordinance banning electric devices at rodeos. The resolution, which was passed unanimously by the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee last month, also calls for San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria to deny an event permit for the January rodeo.
A Padres spokesman said no comment could be provided regarding the lawsuit.
But regarding the rodeo itself, the Padres said, “We have been assured by the group that is hosting this event that the safety, security and well-being of the contestants and livestock of the San Diego Rodeo are of the utmost importance. They are event professionals who are experts in livestock handling and care, as well as pre-event, event and post-event care for the contestants. Animal welfare is a major ongoing initiative of the professional sport of rodeo and the San Diego Rodeo, and the event hosts pledge to continue the strict enforcement of these rules and regulations.”
NBC 7 reached out to Petco, which pays for naming rights to the Padres’ stadium but does not have a hand in ballpark operations, for comment but has not heard back.
The city of San Diego says they have not received a special event permit application for this event yet, but they noted that it is not due until two weeks prior to the event.
Regards Mark
Animal rights groups sue to stop 3-day San Diego Rodeo at Petco Park (msn.com)
6 November 2023
AWF
The European Commission carried out an audit of facilities in Argentina and Uruguay that produce horse meat for the EU market, in order to monitor the implementation and enforcement of EU legislation in the areas of food safety and animal health and welfare. The results reveal serious concerns regarding traceability and animal health.
Whilst the audits took place in November 2022, the results have just only just been released.
In Uruguay, concerns were raised regarding the robustness of the identification and traceability system. There is no traceability on whether horses have been administered veterinary medical treatments that may compromise their health and that should prevent them entering the food chain.
Unidentified horses from Brazil were also found to enter the food chain in Uruguay, which is in conflict with the fact that horse meat imports from Brazil were suspended in 2017 due to food safety concerns.
In Argentina, shortcomings in horse identification and traceability, as well as the reliability of supporting documentation, were raised. Guarantees concerning compliance with EU medical treatments requirements are currently based on owners’ sworn declarations, which the audit found to be insufficiently reliable or false.
The last audit took place in 2018, where similar shortcomings were found.
During such audits, EU Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing has been confirmed to be systematically breached. However the latest audit reported finding few animal welfare problems. Facilities are informed in advance of the dates that inspectors will visit.
Animal Welfare Foundation believes that pre-warning facilities of upcoming audits allows them to manipulate results and conceal poor conditions which compromise animal welfare.
We call for respect for EU equivalent animal welfare standards in exporting countries, not only for slaughter but also for transport and assembly centres.
Access to the European market should be conditioned on compliance with traceability and food safety standards, including veterinary drug use, equivalent to those applied in the EU.
Since compliance with EU Regulations, particularly EU Regulation 1099/2009 cannot be guaranteed, horse meat imports should be immediately suspended from Uruguay and Argentina.
Regards Mark
England 1605 -The last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions
The best of plots always start in a pub !
This weekend, many areas up and down the UK; but especially in England; will celebrate Guy Fawkes night by having big firework and bonfire displays. It is a special event celebrated by the English only for centuries – 1605 onward really.
Enjoy the videos explaining why November 5th is a very special night for us.
London, November 5th 1605 – the gunpowder plot.
How very true – judging by the ‘lot’ we have supposedly representing us in Parliament today, Guy Fawkes is often toasted as:
England: 1604 – The Last Man To Enter Parliament With Honest Intentions.
Many would say that sadly it all went wrong; and that English history changed as a result.
As the English say – “remember, remember, the 5th of November – a gunpowder treason and plot; there is no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot”.
Why ? – to celebrate the ‘Gunpowder plot’ – or ‘Guy Fawkes night’.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.
The plan was to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of England’s Parliament on 5 November 1605, as the prelude to a popular revolt in the Midlands during which James’s nine-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, was to be installed as the Catholic head of state.
Guy Fawkes, who had 10 years of military experience fighting in the Spanish Netherlands in suppression of the Dutch Revolt, was given charge of the explosives.
Regards Mark
World Animals Voice 