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A monthly
Magazine edited and published by Maria Lopes Dear Friends, Once again the usual countries, what a novelty! This month also some updates to previous campaigns. To those who have not yet sent protest letters against the bullfight in the Expo 98 complex, please do so, since it's scheduled for 4th September. Also we invite you to visit the web site of the International Movement Against Bullfights where you will find some new items; A postcard to send against the "Toro de la Vega", A terrible "festival" in Peru (please click in "other countries"), A graphic video of the bull of fire, in the "Spain" page. Thanks once again to all of you that, with your constant efforts, help us to save animals. For the Animals Maria Lopes
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for
survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. It is
my view that the vegetarian manner of living, by its purely physical effect on
the human temperament, would most beneficially influence the lot of
mankind." Albert Einstein (Nobel Prize)
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA'S LIVE EXPORTS: AGONY FOR ANIMALS
Source: Adela/Total Animal Liberation
and
http://www.kinshipcircle.org Please send the following letter to :
To directly contact the Minister via
web site:
Enter emails into BCC line: IF YOU LIVE IN AUSTRALIA: Please change words at beginning and end of sample letter to reflect this.
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry
Name/Country GREECE CORFU ISLAND, GREECE A VACATION PARADISE OR A LIVING NIGHTMARE Source: Marijo Gillis A shelter is a haven. It is reported by credible witnesses that the Tsagaraki Sisters Shelter, (KEPZ) Kerkyraiki Etairia Prostasia Zoon, CORFU, Greece is a hell hole. Dogs of all types, sizes, ages, neutered, un-neutered, dying, ill, well, pregnant, blind, missing limbs, timid, frightened, aggressive are thrown together like garbage in a fenced in piece of barren land. Excrement is everywhere, tiny tongues lap at filthy, green water with dead flies floating on the surface. Live and dead rats abound. Photographs give terrible and very credible evidence to the reports. The local municipality gives carte blanche to the Tsagaraki sisters to do as they wish with Corfu's victims of abandonment and abuse. There are round ups of these poor creatures, who are thrown into this death camp. The dignified and compassionate members of the animal charity, "The Ark", who are desperately trying to initiate humane reform have been threatened, pulled into court by the Tsagaraki sisters and generally harassed for years and years. The government appears to sanction this disgrace. The scene is a living nightmare. Once again, the animals are the innocent victims of federal and municipal indifference. This is Corfu Island, a tourist destination. This is Greece. Please copy and paste the following: Prime Minister Costas Simitis Amb. Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos Minister of Agriculture, George Drys New Director MEGA TV News Editor Minister of Tourism mail@primeminister.gr , embassy@greekembassy.ca, ax2U025@minagric.gr, newsline@megatv.com, editor@kathimerini.com , president@gnto.gr "News of animal abuse from Greece causes us outrage yet again. Photographs and local reporting give evidence of terribly inhumane, unhealthy and filthy conditions at the KEPZ animal facility in Corfu. We, once again, demand that government officials in Athens and Corfu resolve yet another issue in the name of humanity and moral justice. As well, we urge the local government to provide funding for the implementation of a humane and well attended shelter facility, administered by the "ARK" and it's compassionate members. " Name/Country __________________ And this other letter to: Alexandros Mastoras, Mayor of Corfu:
mayorker@otenet.gr
Honourable Mr. Mayor, Honourable Councilmen:
We have recently become aware of the collection
of stray animals in Kerkyra by your municipality and their
subsequent confinement in an unfit place, which is not run in
accordance with the law.
Also, we inform you that based on the law that was passed the beginning of this month by Parliament, the municipalities must implement programmes for sterilisation and vaccination of strays in cooperation with animal welfare organizations who are already implementing such programmes, and that cruelty to animals (which includes their confinement in unfit shelters) shall be punished with severe penalties and fines.
Having knowledge of the above, we immediately
request:
- That you stop the collection of strays and
their confinement in the above mentioned place.
- That you allow free access by representatives of The Ark (Kivotos) Society into this place and that you aid them in their efforts toward adoption of the animals that are already confined there. - That you work together with The Ark in future actions regarding sterilisation, vaccination, adoption or release of stray animals.
We believe that this issue is of major
importance requiring your immediate intervention to avoid yet
another scandal for our country and to prevent negative
comment and reaction from foreign animal lovers. We hope that
soon we will be able to inform our members, animal lovers and
the press of a positive response from you.
Yours respectfully,
Name/Country ITALY MASSACRE OF HUNDREDS OF WILD BOARS AND WILD GOATS Source: A.C.E. The management boards of "Asinara National Park" and "Archipelago of La Maddalena National Park" (Sardinia - Italy), are going to kill hundreds of wild boars (Asinara and La Maddalena) and wild goats (Asinara) because of their ecological impact on the islands. Boar hunting has already been allowed by the management for the last few years in La Maddalena Park. We want to stop this massacre. Different, non cruel solutions are possible. Contraceptives (in the form of vaccines) are available for wild animals, and they are not harmful. The animals do not need to be captured and this kind of fertility control is reversible. But we need to put some kind of pressure on the management of these parks. Not only are these islands parks and preserved sea areas, but they are included in the Mediterranean sanctuary of the marine mammals and they have been included in the European Union - Natura 2000 network (SCI's) [EU's Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)].
Please Help them! Five minutes of your time can save hundreds of animals!
Write an e-mail to the Asinara National Park ( parco@asinara.org ), to the Archipelago of La Maddalena National Park ( ambiente@lamaddalenapark.it ) and to the Sardinia Region ( difesa.ambiente@regione.sardegna.it ) or to the Italian Minister of the Environment ( segreteria.ministro@minambiente.it ) , protesting against these decisions.
If you want you can copy the following text (in English and Italian).
Dear Sirs,
I support the protest against the unacceptable decision to kill wild boars in La Maddalena and L'Asinara parks and wild goats in the latter. Park managers MUST find some cruelty-free solutions. I will refrain from visiting (and will ask friends and relatives to do the same) these two parks and Sardinia until your policy changes, and I will do my best to promote this protest in my country.
Sincerely, Name/Country
____________________________
Spett.li Signori,
"Unisco la mia voce alla protesta contro l'inaccettabile decisione di uccidere i cinghiali del Parco dell'arcipelago de La Maddalena e del Parco dell'Asinara e le capre selvatiche di quest'ultimo. Le direzioni di questi Parchi DEVONO trovare delle soluzioni non cruente. Non visitero' e chiedero' a tutti i miei conoscenti di non visitare questi Parchi e la Sardegna finché la vostra politica non cambiera', e mi impegno a diffondere questa protesta il piu' possibile.
Distinti saluti, Name/Country MEXICO AND SOLOMON ISLANDS UPDATE -THE INFAMOUS CAPTURE OF HUNDREDS OF DOLPHINS TO BE SOLD TO MEXICO Source: Zelda
Mexico has agreed not to import any further
dolphins from the Solomon Islands after official
approaches from New Zealand. __________________________ Source: Jorge Soberon,Executive Secretary,CONABIO Regarding the dolphins imported to Mexico, I'm sending you the official communication released on August 4th by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. TO CONCERNED CITIZENS AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS
On the 22nd of July, twenty-eight live dolphins from the Solomon Islands arrived in Cancun, Mexico. These dolphins were imported by the company Inmobiliara PROPAC Cancun, S.A. de C.V., currently the operators of Nizuc Aquatic Amusement Park. The process required the company to get permits from Solomon Islands’ government authorities, the International Trade on Endangered Species (CITIES) and the Mexican Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, SEMARNAT.
Since their arrival, SEMARNAT has been watchful of the handling, transportation procedures, the actual facilities in which the dolphins are hosted, as well as the health conditions of each individual. Every day, our Environmental Protection Agency (PROFEPA) verifies their condition, behavior and eating patterns.
In the same way, SEMARNAT has been seriously considering the comments, letters, and numerous messages in which citizens and organizations of countries around the world express their concern and dissatisfaction towards the arrival, status and specially the death of one of the dolphins a few days after their arrival to Mexico.
When the dolphins arrived on the 22nd of July, SEMARNAT through PROFEPA, verified the compliance of the conditions established in the import authorization documents and the CITES permit. We found several deficiencies, which motivated PROFEPA to establish several measures of urgent application for the Nizuc Amusement Park to carry out immediately:
Clinical tests in order to verify that the Solomon Islands dolphins are free from morbillivirus, brucella and poxvirus.
The implantation of microchips in the 27 dolphins.
A photo-identification archive of each individual, documenting any particular phenotypic characters, as well as details of head, dorsal and caudal fins.
A Contingency Plan preventing the release of any of these dolphins to the wild, including hurricanes and storms.
A special Management Plan for this particular exotic species. SPAIN TARRAGONA / CATALONIA, NO MORE BULLFIGHTS From our Spanish colleague Adreu Nin we received a campaign entitled "No More Bullfights in Tarragona" / En Tarragona Toros Nunca Más Please send the sample letter below (in English and Spanish) to the following authorities:
Joan Aregio Navarro.
President of the Diputación of Tarragona.
Dear Sir/Madam, I request that you do whateven in your power to avoid that the bullring of Tarragona, owned by the Diputación, is no longer used to torture and kill animals. No more bullfights! I a aware that not only are bullfights disgusting due to the torture prepetrated on animals, but also that there is no tradition of this in Tarragona. I therefore don't understand why the Diputación allows the use of this space for bullfights and the City Hall authorizes them. Tarragona ia a popular tourist resort, but I doubt that these thousands of tourists will continue to visit Tarragona if bullfights continue to be staged there. Sincerely, Name/Country ________________________________ Excmos.Señores, Con esta carta solicito que hagan lo posible para que la plaza de toros propiedad de la Diputació de Tarragona no se utilize nunca más para torturar y matar animales: Toros mai més! Soy consciente de que las corridas de toros suponen una clara tortura a los animales y además no tienen ninguna tradición en Tarragona, por lo que no entiendo por que motivo la Diputació cede la plaza de su propiedad para este tipo de espectáculos y el Ajuntament los autoriza. Reciban un respetuoso saludo, Name/Country UPDATES ON PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS In the Magazine issue of February of 2002 we called your attention and asked you to protest against the following: SPANISH AUTHORITIES WANT EUROPEAN UNION TO CHANGE THE DIRECTIVE HABITATS TO HUNT MORE WOLVES
Introduction: The wolf is considered a species that demands a priority protection according to the EU Directive 92/43/CEE, (known as Habitats). Nevertheless, the same directive that highly protects the wolf also says that the capture of the same can be object of management rules, namely in: "Spanish populations at north of Doro’s river; Greek populations at north parallel 39 and finally in Finland populations in the area of reindeers". So, in this moment wolves are hunted at north of the Doro’s river, but the Spanish are not happy so they pretend to hunt them also at the south of Doro’s river. Needless to say that this is equivalent of hunting the wolf in almost the region of Castilla-Léon. According to the Spanish newspaper "La opinion de Zamora", they are now killing donkeys with shots in order to use their meat as a bait to hunt wolves. The same newspaper also informs that the authorities are now pretending to demand a modification of the EU Directive to extend the hunt to the south. More than one year after the thousands of protest letters here is the reply of the European Commissioner Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (11 July 2003)
The Honourable Member expressed his concern regarding the amendment of the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora).
According to the information available the Commission has not received any request from the Spanish Ministry of Environment to amend the Habitats Directive. At present, the Commission does not intend to modify the Habitats Directive, apart from adapting it for the new accession countries. Obviously, this limited adaptation will not incorporate any modification to the status of the wolf population in Spain.
In March of the this year we launched an alert against THE MASSACRE OF ANIMALS IN THE HANDS OF HUNTERS "The Council of Agriculture of Castilla and Leon have given permits to hunt 250 abandoned cows. To date 70 cows, calves and bulls that were in the fields of the area of La Cabrera, have been shot to death. According to the newspaper "El Pais" dated 3.3.2003 the spectacle was terrifying: "The animals rolled in the fields more than 400 meters. Many of them screamed with pain until the hunters used a firearm to terminate them, some of them suffering hours till death gave them peace. There were pregnant cows and also baby cows......." On 3rd of March a Spanish MEP sent a written question to the Commission about this issue.
Parliamentary questions (03 March 2003)
Subject: Seventy head of
cattle shot dead in Castille and Leon Can the Commission immediately prevent the Spanish authorities from allowing such barbaric slaughter methods to be used on its territory in violation of all Community legislation governing the killing of animals? BELLOW THE AMAZING REPLY OF COMMISSIONER DAVID BYRNE P-0753/03EN Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (3 April 2003)
The Commission was not previously aware of the situation described by the Honourable Member.
If the animals concerned had in fact become feral after roaming free in a mountainous area for five years, their killing would not, in the opinion of the Commission, have to comply with the requirements of Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing.
Even in cases where the Directive applies, shooting resulting in instantaneous death is a permitted method of killing the species of animals falling within the scope of the Directive.
If the animals had become feral it may have been impossible to round them up for slaughter in another manner, or for those shooting them to get close enough to ensure instantaneous death on every occasion.
The Commission does not, therefore, believe that this is a matter that requires its intervention with the Spanish authorities.
ONCE AGAIN, COMMISSIONER BYRNE HAS SHOWN CLEARLY THE EXTENT OF HIS CONCERN FOR ANIMAL WELFARE! UNITED KINGDOM NO LIVE HORSE EXPORTS Source: Mary Alice "Moonflower" Cornwall's Western Morning News Newspaper, Heads Campaign " NO LIVE HORSE EXPORTS ! " Please copy and paste the following and return it to - with your own comments if you wish to add them along with the same subject in the subject line: Then forward on to others please !
Send To The: Western Morning
News
COPY AND SEND THE STATEMENT BELOW: **************************** WE THE UNDERSIGNED DEMAND THAT THE UK GOVERNMENT CONTINUES ITS BAN ON THE EXPORT OF LIVE HORSES, PONIES AND DONKEYS FOR THE MEAT TRADE. Additional Comments: Name/Country PETITIONS Torturing Animals for Amusement http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/756013668 (This petition is still going on, ignore the date on the right corner) If you haven't signed already, please do so...
SAVE 53 -YEAR
-OLD ELEPHANT IN EMERGENCY CONDITION
The
Swiss are Eating Their Own Dogs!" (The closing date was extended) If you haven't signed already, please do so...
Remove Judge Preston
Dean CLICK HERE FOR THE JULY 2003 ISSUE CLICK HERE FOR THE JUNE 2003 ISSUE Disclaimer: All items published in this magazine were received by us and we pass them on in good faith. We are not responsible for incorrect email addresses, errors, omissions etc. by the originators.
INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST BULLFIGHTS
This Magazine published by Maria Lopes |
