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O Livro de Ralph

Holy Rule

This month we include a new country with a terrible  and cruel "tradition" Pakistan.

  You will find also the feature of the month, the treatment of strays in Greece by Marijo Gills.

  This is a holiday season for all but please don't forget to send your protests since for the animals there are no holidays.

     Maria Lopes

 

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CANADA

  STOP THE WOLF TRAPPING IN QUEBEC WILDLIFE RESERVES  

Source: Clan des Loups

  -Trapping has been allowed in wildlife reserves since 1984;

-Trapping of 19 animal species including wolves is allowed on 1,490,444 km2, or over 98% of Quebec's territory;

-The number of trappers in Quebec has declined by 62% since 1980, and trappers now account for a mere 0.11% of the population;

-Trapping remains the leading cause of wolf mortality;

-From 1990 to 2002, trappers killed over 5,500 wolves, or an annual average of 458;

-From October 2001 to February 2002, 8,269 trappers killed over 262,158 animals, not including protected species that were killed after being caught;

-Biologists, wildlife technicians, and wildlife officers employed by Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec hold "lifelong, exclusive" rights to trapping territories, and trapping brings them a substantial annual income;

-The government is blindly jeopardizing the survival of wolves by allowing them to be harvested without knowing the status of their population (the government's wolf population estimate is inaccurate and unconvincing because it is based on assumptions and extrapolations rather than exhaustive, objective scientific research);

Ask the Government of Quebec to prohibit all trapping on wildlife reserves so as to ensure the survival of wolves and 18 other animal species harvested on these public lands (abolishing trapping on these lands is in tune with current views and beliefs concerning wildlife held by Quebecers and Quebec's many international visitors).

ASK TO THE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE WOLF TRAPPING IN WILDLIFE RESERVES

Please,send protest letters to:

Mr. Pierre Corbeil,the Quebec Minister for Forests,Wildlife and Parks
pierre.corbeil@mrnfp.gouv.qc.ca
and a cc: info@clanloups.com

Re: Trapping of wolves and other furbearing animals in Quebec's wildlife reserves

Dear Minister Corbeil,

In 1984, the Government of Quebec gave in to the powerful lobby then representing 21,000 trappers by lifting the ban on trapping in wildlife reserves. Since then, the number of trappers has declined by 62%, and trappers now account for a mere 0.11% of Quebec's total population.

In Quebec, the trapping of 19 animal species including wolves is allowed on 1,490,444 km2, or over 98% of the Quebec's territory, for 16 consecutive weeks. Last year, trappers killed 262,158 wild animals, not including protected species that were killed after being caught.

Moreover, civil servants employed by Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec (biologists, wildlife technicians, and wildlife officers) hold "lifelong, exclusive" rights to trapping territories on wildlife reserves.
Whether government employees or not, trappers derive considerable income from trapping, which clearly sets them apart from hunters. Consequently, a government employee could be in a position of having to choose between personal interest and public interest.

Lastly, trapping in Quebec's wildlife reserves is a privilege that was granted within a social, cultural, and economic context very different from that of today.

Consequently, I urge the Government of Quebec to ban all trapping in Quebec's wildlife reserves, as was the case before 1984. Such a decision would be in tune with current views and beliefs concerning wolves and other furbearing animals held by Quebecers and Quebec's many international visitors.

Please notify me of your position and approach concerning this issue of international importance.

Name/Country/E-mail/Date:

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MEXICO

  ASK AUTHORITIES TO RETURN DOLPHINS TO THE WILD

  Source: Marine Connection

  Yesterday( Thursday 8th)  15 dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) brought from the Solomon Islands last year  were illegally transported from Parque Nizuc to their new facility in Cozumel island.  28 dolphins were illegally imported from the Solomon Islands to  Parque Nizuc in Cancun on july last year. Since then legal actions have been started against this import, however only lies and impunity have so far succeeded in Mexico. 

Despite the owners of Parque Nizuc being instructed that they were not to move the dolphins, in a clear violation  of all laws, half of the dolphins have been moved to Cozumel.   We have learned that at least 3 of the Solomon dolphins have died since their arrival and also 2 calves have been born but have not survived.   It is clear that it is  time to protest to the authorities about this transfer of dolphins to Cozumel.

Please write Mexican officers telling them they are making a BIG mistake and that the only solution is to confiscate and return the dolphins to the wild in their own waters.

Secretary of the Environment  - secretario@semarnat.gob.mx

Subsecretary to the Environment – Francisco.giner@semarnat.gob.mx

Public Attorney – procurador@correo.profepa.gob.mx

Natural Resources – dponccenava@correo.profepa.gob.mx


Dear Sir

I am writing of behalf of The Marine Connection and our thousands of supporters worldwide to express concern and disgust at the reported transfer of 15 dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) from Parque Nizuc to their new facility Playa Palancar in Cozumel.

As you are aware Mexico received international condemnation following the wild capture of these dolphins in the Solomon Islands when 28 animals were imported into Mexico in July and held at the Parque Nizuc facility.   Following this outcry, the Secretary and Sub Secretary for the Environment were replaced and many questions have been asked as to the legality of the imports, however it would seem that the Mexican government and authorities continue to turn a blind eye to what happens to these animals and have allowed Parque Nizuc’s owners to transfer them to this new facility, despite the fact that it was stated that legally the company were not to move the dolphins.   Our colleagues in Mexico tell us they were given many promises by officials, that the owners of Parque Nizuc would not be allowed to transfer the dolphins until the criminal judge determined the fate of the animals.  However in a clear violation of the law,  half of the dolphins have now been moved to the new facility at Cozumel.   How can this be allowed?

  Following the imports last year the facility at Cancun was closed because of dolphin deaths.    CITES regulations state that exotic species should not be introduced into a protected area and there were real concerns of transferring any infection to the local dolphins.  It has now been proven that some of the dolphins imported from the Solomon Islands tested positive for morbillivirus and toxoplasmosis, both of which mean a great risk to local marine life.   We have also had reports that at least 3 dolphins have died since import PLUS two calves which were born at the facility but did not survive.  Further, concern has been raised to the possibility of cross species infection of disease to human swimmers from dolphins - has this been highlighted to paying tourists at facilities such as Parque Nizuc who offer swim with dolphin programmes?

Mexico again faces international condemnation and outrage at their blatant flouting of laws to protect the imported dolphins in view of these latest transfers.     People around the world are waiting to see if the Mexican Government will act humanely, especially as Mexico’s reputation has already been damaged by the captures and imports last year.    Tourists who love dolphins do not want to support the economy of a country that blatantly disregards international laws to protect them.  Therefore, we hope you will consider the possible impact this will have to Mexico’s future reputation with regard to tourism, and of course the welfare of these animals.  In view of this we urge you to  intervene, confiscate the dolphins, and allow them to eventually be returned to the Solomon Islands and put back into the wild in the waters from which they were captured.

 

Name/Country/Email

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PAKISTAN

  PROTEST AGAINST BEAR BAITING

  Source: Miranda Spierings

  Bear baiting, which occurs only in Pakistan, is possibly the world's most savage blood sport. Having had their teeth and claws removed, Asiatic black bears are tied to a post and set-upon by specially trained pit bull terriers. Of all the ways in which bears are mistreated around the world, the medieval sport of bear baiting must be the most barbaric and obscene. The setting of pit bull terriers against bears inflicts appalling suffering on both animals. Bears sustain more injuries than dogs, usually ripped noses and mouths. Most are permanently scared but the killing of either animal is avoided as they are too valuable.

 

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

 

Irish Tourism Agency Endorses Blood Sports Festival

 

Source: ICABS

 

The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has called on the national Irish tourism agency to immediately clarify its position in relation to its endorsement of a "Country Festival", scheduled to be held on August 7th and 8th. According to an article in the Irish Independent newspaper, Failte Ireland has actually given funding to the event.

An advertisement flyer for Clonmel Country Festival, which mentions "Hunts With Hounds" and "Coursing & Greyhounds", carries the Failte Ireland logo and that of South East Tourism (see http://www.banbloodsports.com for image).

This festival is being organised by the UK-based Countryside Alliance in partnership with among others, the Irish Coursing Club and the NARGC (gun clubs) and is a vehicle for the promotion of cruel blood sport activities. A report in the Joint Fieldsports Newsletter states that the festival organisers are "particularly keen to attract young people, to encourage them to participate in country pursuits; be it hunting, shooting, angling or working with dogs".

The South East Tourism website outlines that the festival will "create an opportunity for field sports enthusiasts and the general public to appreciate what Ireland has to offer in terms of countryside activities".
The agency's Chief Executive, Joe Palmer, has been quoted as follows in relation to the festival: "Country festivals are an important part of the experience of Ireland and a well organised event such as the Clonmel Country Festival has the potential to add significantly to the visitor experience in the South East of Ireland."

Please contact Failte Ireland, South East Tourism and Clonmel Tourism and
ask them to stop promoting blood sports.

Contact Details:

Mr Shaun Quinn,
Chief Executive Officer,
Failte Ireland
Baggot Street Bridge, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (0)1 602 4000. Fax: +353 (0)1 855 6821
Email: shaun.quinn@failteireland.ie

Mr Joe Palmer,
Chief Executive Officer,
South East Tourism
41 The Quay, Waterford, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (0)51 875 823. Fax: +353 (0)51 877 388.
Email: jpalmer@southeasttourism.ie

Clonmel Tourist Office
c/o Clonmel Chamber of Commerce,
Sarsfield Street,
Clonmel, Co Tipperary, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (0)52 26500. Fax: +353 (0)52 26378.
Email: clonmelcc@eircom.net


Sample Letter (If possible, modify this letter or write a different one. If writing your
own letter, please be assertive but polite.)

To whom it concerns:

I am writing to you as one of the majority of people who is opposed to blood sport cruelty. I wish to express my disappointment over the funding by Failte Ireland and South East Tourism of the Clonmel Country Festival.

It is regrettable that funding was given to the festival since it is being organised by groups involved in the terrorisation and killing of Irish wildlife, e.g. the Irish Coursing Club and the NARGC. Coursing, as you may be aware, is opposed by 8 in 10 Irish people; coursing clubs are responsible
for removing an estimated 10,000 hares from the wild every year and forcing them to run for their lives in front of muzzled hounds. Members of NARGC kill tens of thousands of animals and birds every year; among their target species are cats, foxes and hares.

Regardless of whether or not blood sport activities will be taking place on the day of the Clonmel festival, the purpose of this event is to promote blood sports. According to an article in the Joint Fieldsports Newsletter,the festival organisers are "particularly keen to attract young people, to encourage them to participate in country pursuits; be it hunting, shooting, angling or working with dogs".

It is especially disappointing that events such as this are being presented as a tourist attraction when County Tipperary and the South West of Ireland have countless activities available for tourists. There is no need to promote animal cruelty. Blood sports are a blemish on Ireland's international reputation and it is irresponsible for a tourism body to in any way associate the country with them.

I appeal to South East Tourism to remove the listing for this festival from its website and to ensure that there is no further promotion of the event. I hope that you can consider my appeal and give a commitment that funding will never again be given to events related to animal cruelty.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
Name/Country/Email

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  PETITIONS

  Save the Dolphins

http://www.savedolphins.org

  Stop dolphin imports and transfers in Mexico

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/444219493

  Killing dogs : NOT THE WAY OUT!!

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/blr123d/

  Stop Tesco-owned supermarkets selling whale meat in Japan

http://www.petitionthem.com/?sect=detail&pet=961

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Feature of the month

  The situation of strays in Greece described by Marijo Gills

 

ATHENS 2004
"The Greatest Celebration on Earth" ???

(By Marijo Anne Gillis – Founder, WAG, New York (Welfare for Animals Global / Welfare for Animals in Greece) I peered out the window of the giant airbus as the powerful jet screeched to an abrupt halt.  It was 10:30 am and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.  Elefterios Venezelou Airport was eerily quiet.  In early summer,  Athens is usually a frenetic hub of activity.  Tourists from all over the world flock to the “Cradle of Western Civilization” for fun in the sun and trips to the majestic monuments of a once exemplary civilization. My history and love affair with Greece spans 30 years—dating back to my early college days.  I lived in Greece for 14 years, while married,  and ran a lucrative yacht chartering business.  I like to believe that over the years, I became somewhat of an  expert on Greek cultural and social mores. Modern day Greece pales in comparison to the mighty imprint she relinquished so many millennia ago. She is but a faint shadow-- a dim memory of her ancient and glorious past.  I guess you could say that she has devolved into a disabled offspring of colossal greatness. I disembarked, cleared customs, said a prayer to the Lord for strength and began a sad journey into the desperate, despairing world of the animals of Greece.  Unwanted, abandoned, brutalized, the fate of these creatures, both companion and farmed are tenuous at best--especially in light of the 2004 Olympic Games. I have made three investigative trips to Greece in the last nine months and have filmed and photographed the innocent victims of abuse, neglect and disease in horrifying municipal shelters, parks, back alley ways, farms and even private homes.  Fear, loneliness, starvation, brutality, pain and death are not just vocabulary for the companion and farmed animals in Greece, but living expressions of reality. Low cost spay/neuter programs do not exist .  Greeks believe that animals deserve a sex life. Sadly, some Greek veterinarians are more concerned with profits from all too often botched spay/neuters, which they perform reluctantly, than with the hideous conditions of the animals they are trained to help.  "Voluntary" vets, from around the world have been denied access to practice in Greece, lest they curb the inflow of bucks to the home grown variety.  To hell, I guess, with the   nightmare of animal suffering in Greece. Greeks proudly state that they do not practice euthanasia, yet, ironically mass poisoning, is their barbaric form of animal population control.  Death sneaks upon the animals furtively and is slow and brutally agonizing. Wanton propagation in wretched,  municipal shelters, where animals are trapped in perpetual misery, diseased and starving, results in new born puppies being cannibalized by animals struggling for survival.  These grisly scenes have been captured on video. Man's dominion over animals - an appointment by God, has apparently been stripped of mercy, compassion and humanity. Over the past year, my meetings and negotiations with Greek ministers, mayors, and officials of the 2004 Athens Olympic Committee have produced promises to raise the standard of animal welfare and embrace social responsibility, especially in light of the “Games”. Unfortunately for the animal victims, promises are empty--rhetoric is meaningless. Graphic reports of animal abuse in the daily papers and on TV do little to mobilize a humane response by citizens. Government generated press releases deny allegations of slaughter and criminal abuse and are little more than  slick smokescreens meant to mislead probing journalists and the conscientious world. My investigations over the past two years, clearly point to a well planned, systematic “house cleaning” campaign. Allegedly orchestrated by Greek officials in cooperation with the 2004 Athens Olympic Committee, "gentrification" of the streets in time for the onslaught of tourists to the summer games has resulted in a massacre.  Reports from Greece indicate that the animals are not the only ones who are disappearing and taking the proverbial bullet for greed and inhumanity.  Several, Greek TV viewers state that  a late night news report indicates that allegedly, the homeless,  gypsies,  and other aesthetically “undesirables” will be spirited off to mysterious venues for the duration of the games.  Perhaps to an island spa?  -  I shiver as I  déjà vu  Gestapo tactics ! While in Athens, I brought provocative expose material--facts, photographs and film to the attention of a very powerful television journalist, Maki Triantafylopoulos.  His programs "Yellow Press" and "Jungle" air twice weekly on Alter TV, a major network.  Both broadcasts vie for the number one spot in the ratings.. He is feared for his relentless inquisitions and cunning reportage on corruption and abuse and he wreaks havoc on the human pollution of Greek society.  He travels with a body guard and threats upon his life are taken seriously.  I like him very much.  He is a gentle and compassionate man and is hell bent on securing justice for the proverbial underdog.  Please, no pun intended.  Several years ago, Mr. Triantafylopoulos' award winning expose on Greece's hideous and macabre mental hospitals reached the television audiences of one of America's most credible documentary programs. I am grateful for this  journalist’s trust in WAG's campaign for the animals of Greece. He gave me, Athens attorney, Amalia Katsoula and South African activist, Angela Fleming the opportunity to participate in a live one hour program called “Yellow Press”.   A well known panel of guests, including government officials and people from the entertainment and publishing world were invited to express their views.  I believe that we ignited an un-extinguishable "torch".  On the air, Mr. Triantafylopoulos promised to me and his millions of  viewers that he will thoroughly investigate allegations of  mass exterminations and the disappearance of countless animals and he hopefully will uncover the perpetrators. After my rabble rousing visit to Greece in June of 2003, at the invitation of the Greek government, Athens Olympic Committee director, billionaire, Gianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki  held a major press conference and promised financial aid for the welfare of abandoned animals affected by the infrastructure for the games.  I am curious to learn the whereabouts of the “millions of euros” that she promised for the animals.  Did someone open a Swiss bank account. Indulgences for the Olympic Games ( expenditures will indeed have  dramatic  consequences for Greek citizens) idle in the billions of dollars and are dramatically over budget. Thankfully, the international animal welfare community has called for an active, united BOYCOTT of Greece and this action will  undoubtedly impact an already compromised economy.   Oblivious to all but the “glory of the Games”, the 2004 Athens Olympic Committee turns a blind eye to financial disaster, as well as to the grim animal issue which screams for a humane solution. Forever lobbying and pressuring officials, I  arranged a formal meeting with  Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Alexandros Kontos,  the minister's  counsel, animal advocates and  three  brilliant Athenian attorneys, (Amalia Katsoula, Elias Pavlakis and Vasilis Alavanos), who are working together, pro bono, to effect justice for animals  and animal advocates. Prior to this meeting, the Ministry refused communication with the animal welfare community. I am happy to report that this dialogue between people and state continues.  Another meeting ( attorney’s in tow) with the Deputy Mayor of Athens, Tonia Kannelopoulou, charged with animal welfare in the Olympic host city was extremely cordial.  Once again, the mayoralty made promises for reform that I feel sure they would like to keep; however, rejecting assistance from foreign animal welfare organizations is not wise.  The Athens municipality's primitive, yet well intentioned actions have yet to prove the verity of political oratory. WAG and the heaven sent Angela Fleming, general secretary of Athens’ Frontida Zoon (Caring for the Animals) physically rescued several very ill, abused young dogs from the garbage dump at Loutraki,  a wealthy seaside resort some 80 kilometers from Athens. Loutraki’s claim to fame is a popular gambling casino.  Infamous is the town dump which doubles as Loutraki’s municipal animal shelter.  It is despicable as are the indifferent officials of the town, (partners in the casino). Words cannot describe the condition of the animals. At this moment,  I find that I cannot find the fortitude  to describe the misery, pain and desolation that I witnessed.  A happy ending for these rescued creatures, is that WAG has provided veterinary treatment for the rescued dogs, (two were 3 week old puppies discarded as rubbish ) and foster care with loving families.  They are presently being medicated,  loved, spoiled, fattened up and are awaiting a mercy airlift and re-homing in Belgium.  But, what about the tens of thousand left behind? During my 17 day stay in Greece, I had daily meetings with animal rights activists and  phone conferences with these wonderful people nation wide; the only members of Greek society who seem to care about her tormented animals. Sadly, these human bastions of animal rights continue to be ridiculed, slandered,  intimidated and marginalized by citizens and government officials alike, and some of their actions appear to be governed by fear. The pathetic Greek e-zine, Tetrapodologein has made a vicious mockery of their compassion. Happily, on June 6, 2004, the venue of the Greek Parliament played involuntary host to a boisterous and passionate street demonstration.  Gathering courage, over 1000 angry animal activists took to the streets, with banners and loudspeakers, protesting the mass poisoning of thousands of dogs and cats and the government and the 2004 Athens Olympic Committee’s alleged, reckless complicity in the disappearance of the country’s strays. Even better news is the fact that the European media is  covering Greece’s “little shop of horrors” with vitality and serious intent. As well, WAG  just completed production on a 5 minute, narrated documentary film detailing animal abuse in Greece and  WAG will distribute the visual images to major media outlets throughout North America and Western Europe. A major American network has expressed interest in the expose. Adverse publicity will certainly impact the influx of Greece’s tourist dollars.  Money is  something that the Greek nation’s governing force comprehends -- the slowed ching-ching of that damn Greek cash register god may catalyze positive action. As the Olympic games draw near,  much is being questioned about vital security in defense of global terrorism and construction delays of the city's infrastructure are foremost concerns. The Greek government blithely reassures the media and turns it's arrogant attention to putting their city in the best possible light.  As the world lobbies for assurances that the 2004 Athens Olympic Games will be a safe and successful pageant, the needless and barbaric slaughter of her animals continues. The world is perplexed and somewhat stunned by this country’s resistance to compassion. As Greece assumes center stage, let us remember and never forget, that athletes from around the world will exercise their prowess upon the blood stains of the thousands of voiceless, vulnerable victims of greed and inhumanity. This will surely outrage the millions of people who cherish their animals and the creatures with whom we share this planet. Alluring TV commercials and crafty print advertising, artfully displayed, proclaim that the 2004 Athens Olympics will "unite the world".  A full page ad in a New York City newspaper, presented by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, states: “At the dawn of the third millennium, more than 2,700 years after the first Olympic Games, history will repeat itself as the Olympics return to the country of their birth.  The Greek nation and the whole world will embrace the unique revival of the games, turning them into "the greatest celebration on earth". Knowing what we know, this image strains credulity. And so, dear readers, Greece continues to rape her own image with social irresponsibility and moral bankruptcy.  The 2004 Athens Olympic Games will hoist a bright torchlight over the failures of Greek society and civic institutions to live up to their obligations to meet the most basic, simple needs of animals. Welcome to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games as GREEK ANIMALS RACE for their LIVES! Marijo Anne Gillis - Founder WAG, New York (Welfare for Animals Global/Welfare for Animals in Greece (5013c)

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