Maria Lopes
Coordinator of the International Movement Against Bullfights

AUSTRALIA
 
Help stop Marrabel Rodeo (Sa-Au)
 
Source: Trisha R
 
Gail Gago (Minister for Environment and Heritage and Animal Welfare) currently has an application before her to hold ANOTHER rodeo at Marrabel on October the 1st!
Please contact her immediately to express your opposition.
 
To request that the organisers of Marrabel Rodeo not be given a permit to hold bucking, roping and steer-wrestling events but that they be allowed to hold Gymkhana style events. It is interesting to note that the Marrabel Rodeo actually began as a Gymkhana and only later included rodeo events.
 
In addition to the obvious animal cruelty reasons that should prohibit Marrabel and any other town from holding bucking, roping and steer-wrestling events, in the specific case of Marrabel there are other factors which compound the problem of animal suffering, these being:
 
The secretary of the 2004 Marrabel Rodeo was recently convicted for breaches of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for events that occurred at the 2004 Marrabel Rodeo.
 
The stock contractors involved in the 2004 Marrabel Rodeo are currently in court facing similar charges.
 
Amongst a series of animal injuries, a horse was killed in an event at the 2004 Marrabel Rodeo.
 
Marrabel still has another rodeo and 2 Bull rides being investigated for alleged breaches to the permit conditions by the RSPCA on top of the current prosecutions and trials!
 
In many cases breaches of animal cruelty laws are accompanied by preventative measures which prohibit the guilty party of owning animals in the future for a specified period of time. Yet at this stage Gail Gago does not seem concerned about allowing Marrabel to continue this year despite the previous injuries and illegal operation. It is
appalling that a Minister whose responsibility is that of animal welfare should be so complacent on this issue.
 
Please contact Gail Gago:
minister.gago@saugov.sa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8463 5680
Gail Gago, Parliament House, Adelaide, SA 5000
 
Dear Minister Gago,
 
I request that the organisers of Marrabel Rodeo not be given a permit to hold bucking, roping and steer-wrestling events but that they be allowed to hold Gymkhana style events instead.
In addition to the obvious animal cruelty reasons that should prohibit Marrabel and any other town from holding bucking, roping and steer-wrestling events, in the specific case of Marrabel there are other factors which compound the problem of animal suffering, these being:
 
The secretary of the 2004 Marrabel Rodeo was recently convicted for breaches of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for events that occurred at the 2004 Marrabel Rodeo.
 
The stock contractors involved in the 2004 Marrabel Rodeo are currently in court facing similar charges.
 
Amongst a series of animal injuries, a horse was killed in an event at the 2004 Marrabel Rodeo.
 
Marrabel still has another rodeo and 2 Bull rides being investigated for alleged breaches to the permit conditions by the RSPCA on top of the current prosecutions and trials!
 
Yours sincerely,
Name/Country
 
FRANCE
 
REINTRODUCTION OF BARBARIC STONE CRUSH TRAPS IN FRANCE
 
Source: Proact International
 
Last year, after a pause of several decades, the French Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development, Mme Nelly Olin, once again permitted the use of the most brutal and archaic of all traps available to Europe’s bird hunters, stone crush traps: a stone slab weighing several kilos is propped up with small slivers of wood and juniper berries are scattered around the trap. If a bird brushes against one of the sticks the slab falls and crushes the bird. The Committee against Bird Slaughter (CABS) has submitted an environmental protest to the EU but it looks as though that more than 75,000 of these – literally ‘stone age’ traps will be set out in the French Central Massif this November. A protest action is now being organised by CABS which Proact is supporting in parallel.Below a draft protest mail to Minister Olin in French and English.
 
To: ministere@ecologie.gouv.fr
 
Subject:
 
BAN THE BARBARIC AND CRUEL PRACTICE OF KILLING SONGBIRDS IN STONE TRAPS
To: Mme Nelly Olin Ministère de l'Ecologie et du Développement Durable
 
Madame la Ministre,
 
depuis novembre 2005, des milliers d´oiseaux ont été tué par des tendelles sur les causses à l´ouest du parc national des Cévennes avec votre permission. La légalisation de cette méthode de chasse tellement cruelle, non sélective et quasiment incontrôlable est, vu du terme de la préservation et de la protection des animaux, un scandale que je condamne sévèrement. Je vous somme d´interdire immédiatement cette forme de chasse aux oiseaux et de mettre en oeuvre la directive européenne sur la protection des oiseaux en France.
 
Je vous prie d´agréer, Madame, l´expression de mes salutations distinguées.
 
_____________________
 
Dear Minister,
 
With your express authorisation, thousands of song birds have been killed by stone crush traps on the limestone plateaux west of the Cevenne National Park since November 2005. The legalisation of such a indiscriminate, cruel and practically uncontrollable hunting method is, from the point of view of species and animal protection, a scandal and I/we condemn this practice unreservedly. I/we demand that you ban this outdated and barbaric form of bird trapping immediately and ensure that the EU bird protection guidelines are rigorously implemented in France,
Sincerely,
 
Name/Country
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
 
UPDATE - Bullfighting to be removed from student website
 
Source: ICABS
 
Thank you to everybody who contacted the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) about the bullfighting content on their website.
 
As reported the popular site was presenting details about bullfight times, dates and contact details for bullring venues.
 
We are delighted to pass on the good news that the ISTC have promised to have the bullfighting content removed from the site.
 
A spokesperson stated: "We certainly do not want to be seen as condoning bloodsports. As I mentioned before, this part of our website is supplied by an independent provider and we buy the content 'in bulk'. However, we have asked them to remove any references to bullfights in the content for publication on our website. They have agreed to look into how they can filter this out and so we are hopeful that this will disappear from our website shortly."
ROMANIA
 
CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF EU BIRD PROTECTION GUIDELINES IN ROMANIA
 
Source: Proact International
 
The escalating hunting of migrating birds, especially by foreign hunters, the widespread shooting of song birds with automatic weapons and using of electronic decoy devices, has made Romania into a death trap for European migrants.
The state earns enormous amounts of foreign currency, amounting to millions of Euro, from well-heeled foreign hunters mostly from Italy and Germany. This shameful trade affects highly endangered birds such as the Ruff (Philomachus pugnax). Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) and the Skylark (Alauda arvensis).
 
It is essential that Romania is reminded of its obligations with regard to the EU bird protection guidelines – and their implementation before accession to the EU in 2007.
 
Please send letters (sample letter in Romanian and English) to:
 
To: procetatean@presidency.ro
 
cc: stavros.dimas@cec.eu.int
 
Subject:
Opreste vânatoarea la pasari migratoare în România - stop hunting of migrant birds in Romania
 
To:
The President of Romania
His Excellency Traian Basescu
 
Stimate domnule Basescu,
 
În ciuda obligatiei României de a îndeplini în întregime directivele Uniunii Europene în ceea ce priveste protectia pasarilor pâna la data aderarii, guvernul dumneavoastra autorizeaza înca vânatoarea speciilor pe cale de disparitie, a pasarilor migratoare primavara si utilizarea armelor cu foc automat la vânatoarea de pasari. Pe deasupra, cred ca statul român, prin vânzarea licentelor de vânatoare pentru pasari cântatoare si migratoare catre vânatori straini, participa direct la aceste crime crude împotriva pasarilor. Va cer asadar, sa puneti în aplicare prevederile directivelor privind protectia pasarilor în întregime acum, înainte de aderarea la Uniunea Europeana.
 
Cu stima
 
__________________________
 
Dear President Basescu,
 
Despite Romania's pledge to implement the EU bird protection guidelines before its accession to the European Union, your government still authorises the shooting of endangered species, the hunting of returning migrants in spring as well as the use of automatic weapons for bird hunting. Even more scandalous is the fact that the Romanian government is directly involved in the marketing of this gruesome bird slaughter through its sale of hunting licences to foreign hunters permitting them to kill song and migrant birds.
 
I therefore demand that you use your office to ensure the full implementation of the bird protection guidelines NOW - before your country's accession to the European Union.
 

Yours faithfully,
 
Name/Country
SPAIN
 
Andalousia wants to introduce in the Statute of Autonomy the defense of bullfights
 
Source: ASANDA
 
According to the news appeared in the media, Antonio Sanz, General Secretary of the political group Partido Popular in Andalusia, has announced the presentation of an amendment to an article of the proposal of reform in the Statute of Autonomy defending the Bulls Fiesta in the Congress of Deputies. He argues in the proposal that it is necessary to give an answer to those who want to put an end to the feast.
 
We, the ones who want to stop the animal harassment and that show, which is the torture of the bulls, inappropiately called fiesta, want to express our deeply rejection to such proposal made by Antonio Sanz. We remind him of the results of the surveys. In them, the majority of Andalusian citizens are against the bull fiesta. We also want to appeal to Partido Popular leaders to stop such amendment.
 
The animals, including bulls, have no vote, and the animal defence associations want to avoid any kind of political orientation but if a political party decides to support activities of animal torture and ill treatment, we will no doubt recommend to those who respect animals not to vote them.
 
Please click on the link below ( scroll down to where the list of signatures begin, just before it you´ll see "firmar la petición" on the right hand side, click on that and then on the next page scroll down till you find the form to fill)
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Ciudad/City
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http://www.asanda.org/index.php?module=Peticiones&func=sign&id=2&catid=-1
U.S.A.
 
Ask ESPN TV tostop broadcasting bull-riding and other rodeo events
 
Source: Vegan Way
 
CONTACT:
ESPN
ESPN Plaza
Bristol, CT 06010
USA
askespntv@espn.com
 
To whom it may concern:

I urge ESPN to discontinue broadcasting bull-riding and other rodeo events. Tormenting defenseless animals is not sport.

In bull-riding and other rodeo events, animals are tormented and provoked into unnaturally aggressive behavior by use of such pain-causing devices as electric prods and bucking straps, which dig into the animals' flesh. Bulls often suffer injuries such as hemorrhaging, internal organ bruising, torn ligaments and muscles, bone fractures, and ripped tendons.

These tormented and frightened animals are sentient beings capable of suffering, and as such; they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect for their right to live in peace. Animals should not be used as sporting equipment. Such ridiculous and cruel display of dominance should not be tolerated by civilized society.

Again, please discontinue broadcasting this barbarism.

Sincerely,
Name/Country
PETITIONS
 
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http://ga0.org/campaign/ChinaDogCull?rk=3dSWSfd1%5fSLsW
 
We Want Truth in Fur Labeling!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/790810093?z00m=102488&z00m=102488&ltl=1157081009
 
Make hunting of wildlife illegal
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/670385343
 
Asking gov. to introduce regulation for the welfare of all racing greyhounds
http://www.greyhoundpetition.org
 
Ban Big Cat Exploitation
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/344896451?ltl=1140270431
 
Long distance transport - Send a postcard
http://www.ciwf.org/campaigns/primary_campaigns/long_distance_ecard.htm