Friends Reunited

Great example of why I back animal rights as opposed to animal welfare. Thank you to Viridis Lumen for blogging on this.

Live Exports from Ramsgate - CIWF

Good to see solid support against the live exports through Ramsgate:

	Dear Stuart, Hundreds unite in Ramsgate to protest against live exports On Saturday 13th August the people of Ramsgate were joined by Compassion supporters from far and wide in a fantastic show of unity, as hundreds turned out to protest against the live animal export trade. Following a march through the centre of Ramsgate, a rally was held overlooking the port from which young calves and sheep have been regularly shipped since May. Campaigners heard passionate speeches from Joyce D’Silva, Compassion’s Director of Public Affairs, and local activists including Councillor Ian Driver and Ian Birchall, Chairman of Kent Against Live Exports. As these pictures from the day testify, there can be no doubt over the strength of public opposition to this needless and unnecessary trade. The support for our One Way Ticket campaign has been truly inspiring Over 43,000 emails have now been sent to elected representatives asking them to oppose live exports, and almost £23,000 has so far been donated in response to this campaign. These generous gifts will help us to maintain local, national and international pressure on this critical issue for as long as it takes. And important progress is being made. As a result of your emails, we have already received positive responses from MPs and MEPs stating their desire to strengthen legislation to help end long distance transport of animals. And just last week, following their unanimous vote on this issue, Thanet District Council called on the UK Government to take the lead in EU negotiations on journey times for live animals. So thank you very much to everyone who has taken action for animals, came to Ramsgate, or made a donation to help us continue our vital work. The message is getting out there – but there is still so much more to do. Ending this needless trade from the UK will be the first step – but recent investigations have highlighted the widespread neglect and horrific suffering of animals transported around Europe, and further afield. We will not rest as long as any farm animal has to endure the horror of live export. If you have not already done so, please ask your MP and MEPs to stand up against the long-distance transport of farm animals, or if you are able, you can support our ongoing work with a donation. Together we can end the suffering of farm animals. Thank you,   Philip Lymbery Chief Executive

Stop the badger cull

87% of us think that we should work together to stop the government's plan to shoot thousands of badgers next spring.

The government is consulting on their plans now until Sept 20th. That means we could have just six weeks to push them to cancel the badger cull plan.

When thousands of us signed the 38 Degrees petition against England's forests being sold off, that helped persuade the government to cancel the plans. Now we can do the same to protect badgers with a huge petition against these plans to shoot them.

Can you sign the "stop this badger cull" petition now?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/badgers-petition

Badger cull is barbaric

So no real evidence that a cull would work and evidence that other methods such as vacination could be effective has prompted the Tories / Lib Dem goverment to opt for a method that satisfies their blood lust. Heartbreaking madness.

Caroline Lucas, Green MP, is an honorary vice president of the RSPCA and a longtime campaigner on animal protection issues, and has said: “The decision by Defra to give the go-ahead for a barbaric slaughter of badgers in our countryside shows a shocking disregard for animal welfare – and flies in the face of scientific evidence on the spread of bovine TB. The belief that badger culling represents an effective solution has already been disproven.”
After a nine year randomised cull trial which cost the UK taxpayer £50m and destroyed 10,000 badgers, the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB concluded that ‘badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain.

“Even the Government adviser responsible for a 10-year experimental cull in the 1990s, Lord Krebs, has now rejected the method. Perhaps it is this lack of evidence to support the policy that has made Defra so reluctant to publish the results of its consultation.”

Caroline continued: “Eighty per cent of bovine TB transmission is thought to be caused by cattle-to-cattle infection. Given that it is a respiratory disease, this high rate can be attributed to the trend towards intensive dairy farming, in which cattle are kept in crowded conditions. Rather than cruel and ineffective mass culling, restrictions on cattle movement and contact between badgers and cattle should be given high priority, in addition to greater efforts to introduce a vaccination programme.”

LIVE EXPORTS DEMONSTRATION

Saturday 13th August  major regional demonstration against live exports, organised by Thanet Against Live exports and Compassion in World Farming.

Saturday 13th August, bring your friends and family and help to show the level of opposition to this inhumane trade. We will meet at Ellington Park, Ellington Road, RAMSGATE, CT11 9SX from 11.00am, ready to march at 12.00 noon.

Updates at http://www.ciwf.org.uk/about_us/default.aspx and look for Thanet Against Live Exports on FACEBOOK. The demonstration is called to oppose live exports which have been newly instigated from Ramsgate, with unanimous opposition from the local councillors and over 35,000 people already having taken action to contact MPs and others about this activity.

Circus animals saved, oceanic ones not so lucky

I was please to see the results of the commons vote on circus animals this week. They are not banned yet but this is a significant show of support for a ban which I welcome. Good coverage in the Independent. We should not exploit animals for pleasure, whether that is hunting with dogs or getting lions to roll on their backs in front of a crowd, it is wrong.

Staying with animals, this is from the Independent: 

The world's oceans are faced with an unprecedented loss of species comparable to the great mass extinctions of prehistory, a major report suggests today. The seas are degenerating far faster than anyone has predicted, the report says, because of the cumulative impact of a number of severe individual stresses, ranging from climate warming and sea-water acidification, to widespread chemical pollution and gross overfishing.


The coming together of these factors is now threatening the marine environment with a catastrophe "unprecedented in human history", according to the report, from a panel of leading marine scientists brought together in Oxford earlier this year by the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

The journal Nature has been talking about the 6th Mass Extinction for some time. This is their latest piece.

Animal Aid calls for boycott of charities that fund animal research

Kent based Animal Aid are calling for a boycott of charities that fund medical research using animals. This is from Kent News:


The group’s director Andrew Tyler said: "Animal Aid is under no illusions as to the pro-animal research lobby’s significant financial and political clout.
"But the British public do not like the idea of animals enduring great suffering to no purpose – and our report Victims of Charity argues that this is precisely what is happening."
He called on the public to withhold fiancial support until the charities pledged to end funding of animal experiments.

And this from today's Independent:


Animal Aid plans to take out a series of newspaper adverts urging the public to stop giving money to Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, the Alzheimer's Society and Parkinson's UK unless they end their support for animal testing.

It is morally wrong to use animals in this way and the evidence of the benefits to research are questionable. We must put pressure to stop the testing.

Live Exports from Ramsgate

Disgusted that live shipments of animals are going to start going through Ramsgate acording to the BBC. This is the quote from the NFU:

Mr Langrish, a member of the livestock board of the NFU, said: "This is not export, it's inter-community trade. The advantage is that you have a much higher value market place. Europeans pay more money for the meat. Is farming not a business? If a farmer can receive a higher value for his stock, then that's good for everybody."

He may have well said, these are not animals, they are units of production with no need for welfare or rights.

My friend Steve Campkin who is our Animal Rights spokeperson for Kent:"The return of live exports from Ramsgate would be a step backwards for animal rights in this country. As long ago as 2002, three quarters of the public were opposed to live exports. The global problem of live exports depends upon the failure of governments to stand up for animal rights.

“Our own Government, by failing to act, promotes more suffering for the animals. Why is the British Government not supporting British small-scale organic farmers through subsidies, and encouraging reduced meat consumption, or avoiding meat altogether, for their own health as well as for the animals. When buying meat people should be able to afford and choose British reared, organically-fed and free range.

"The Coalition Government has also failed to ban animals from circuses; instigated a badger cull; and appears to be engaging in a general attack upon animal welfare legislatio.

"No community wants to be tarnished by being associated with cruelty to animals. Kent Green Party fully appreciates that Thanet District Council has taken a stand against the resumption of live exports. The Council must now consider other measures to thwart any attempt to introduce live exports to Ramsgate using all reasonable non-violent means."

Big Society to close animal rescue centre

Letter to the Kent Messenger:

You would think that the 'Big Society' idea of individuals taking responsibility would be ingrained in Maidstone's Tory led council, wouldn't you? So what is the council thinking trying to evict Maggie the owner of the animal recue centre in Teston?

Perhaps the 'Big Society' concept is less about promoting localism and more about cuts and clampdowns? Clearly the council seems to care little for local people when they they want to evict a woman who has committed 20 years of care to rescued animals and simply wants to continue providing this valuable service. Equally they seem not to be interested in helping one of our big independent shops, C&H Fabrics, from closing its doors in the town centre.

It is difficult to see where the council's priorities lie but it is clearly not with the altrustic spirit that is needed to build our communities and fostering local businesses. Sadly, I suspect their priorities will become clear when they start to cut jobs and services.

Stuart Jeffery
Maidstone Green Party

Too much happening to blog about...

• Disgusted that they can call this green. Treating animals (and Nature in general) in this way is as far from green philosophy as you can get. Raising pigs in factories also has no place in a green society. Disgusting.
• Latest U-Turn by Clegg, this time on control orders. What happened to the liberal part of Liberal Democrat?
• Castro's medical mission marches on to the shame of the civilised West. This time Cuban medics are in force in Haiti. 1200 of them. How many have the US or UK sent I wonder?
• Maidstone's town centre manager is quoted as saying: "Recession, what recession?" after higher than normal sales in the post Christmas period. I'm sure he meant no offence but I doubt the public are in such a boyant mood, I suspect they were having one final splurge before hunkering down.
• It seems that the FT are worried about the burgeoning oil price and its threat to the recovery. Oil hit $95 last week and I think the $148 high was part of the reason for the last economic collapse. Peak oil happened in 2006 and White's Law says the economy needs energy.

ConDems sickening disregard for animal welfare

This is from today's Independent:

Millions of hens will have their beaks mutilated; game birds will remain in cages; pigs, sheep and cows in abattoirs will lose crucial protection from abuse; badgers will be culled and lions, tigers and other wild animals will continue to perform in the big top. 

In a series of little-noticed moves, the Coalition has scrapped or stalled Labour initiatives to improve animal welfare some weeks before they were due to come into force.

The Tories have little regard for animal rights as their backing for hunting with dogs and for the ridiculous culling of badgers exemplify. The latest moves to scrap protection for animals sickens me.

We share the planet with others species - they are not there to be exploited. What is more, how we treat animals is a clear marker of how civilised our society is.

Greens know this - this is out today from Caroline:

Caroline Lucas today announced her support for a campaign led by Animal Defenders International (1) to finally end the suffering of wild animals in the handful of British circuses where this still happens.
Accusing the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition of continuing to toy with self-regulation despite years of continuing evidence of animal abuse, Animal Defenders International (ADI) has stepped up its campaign with the launch of a film portraying some of the violence against elephants, tigers and other animals in several UK circuses over the last fifteen years (2).
Caroline Lucas said today:
“There is simply no justification in the 21st century for the continued use of wild animals in circuses. The once-popular travelling freak shows have been relegated to the past where they belong – now the UK must ensure the same fate for animal circuses by finally bringing a ban into force.
“I share the concerns of ADI and other animal welfare groups that self-regulation of animal welfare in the circus industry is doomed to fail. The Government can only halt the abuse of captive animals kept for so-called ‘entertainment’ via an outright ban, which polls suggest the majority of British people support.”
Caroline Lucas and 142 other politicians have now signed a parliamentary Early Day Motion, EDM 403, calling for the wild animal ban to be implemented.
 
“...an industry where random acts of violence and cruelty are commonplace”
Jan Creamer, chief executive of Animal Defenders International said: “We applaud Caroline Lucas MP for helping strike a blow for wild animals currently languishing in UK circuses.
“We have recently learnt that even now, after five years, Government is still toying with the idea of self-regulation for the UK circus industry, even though they have already looked at this option on numerous occasions.
“Does Government really believe that the circus industry will adhere to self-regulation and suddenly stop the mistreatment and abuse of animals in their care as clearly evidenced in our video, because they ask them to – they cannot be serious, surely?
“Self-regulation cannot work in an industry where random acts of violence and cruelty are commonplace and there is no discipline, structure, and no way to enforce regulations. If government needs an overwhelming case to abandon consideration of self-regulation and immediately enact a ban on the use of wild animals in UK circuses then this video contains all they require.”
A statement issued by ADI today says that “Any potential u-turn on a ban by government would show contempt of the promise made by the previous government five years ago to ban wild animals in circuses and the 94.5% of respondents to the Defra public consultation in March 2010 who have backed a ban on wild animal acts."
ADI point out that national measures to prohibit or limit the use of animals in circuses have been adopted in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, Singapore, Bolivia, Costa Rica, India and Israel and similar laws are currently being discussed in Brazil, Chile, Norway, Peru and Greece.
 
Notes
1. Animal Defenders International (ADI) is a leading animal protection organisation working globally for the protection of animals. ADI has offices in Los Angeles, London and Bogota and campaigns to protect animals in entertainment, for the replacement of animals in experiments and on issues such as the worldwide traffic in endangered species, factory farming, pollution and conservation. ADI also rescues animals in distress worldwide. ADI-gathered evidence has led to campaigns and legislative action all over the world to protect them.
2. The film Self Regulation for UK circuses: Are They Serious?, which contains disturbing scenes, can be viewed at http://bit.ly/d8976H. A time Code Index which explains what and who appears on the video and in which year can be provided by ADI. Please contact prdesk@ad-international.org.

Kent Green Activist on the Badger Cull

This is from Kent Green Party and is an issue very close to my heart. It disgusts me that a blood thirsty Tory / Lib Dem coalition should overturn the government's own findings that a cull won't work.

Kent Green Party is opposed to a cull of badgers. Steve Campkin, Kent Green Party’s Animal Rights Campaigner, explains why:

“Kent Green Party opposes the badger cull. We do not believe that it is ethical or practical to carry out a sustained 'removal' of an indiginous species over a minimum of 100km2. We believe that addressing cattle to cattle transmission and the development of a vaccine is the key. Bovine TB is spread because of intensive farming. The constant use of drugs leads to drug-resistant conditions. Animals, unlike humans, breed to a sustainable level. It is very likely a cull this year would lead to a population explosion next year.

“The best option is organic farming, where the animals are naturally healthy and happy, which would boost their immune systems so they are naturally resistant to bTB. An overall reduction in meat consumption would help. Interfering with Nature has caused this problem, and further interference will only make things worse.

“In more detail: the initial, very expensive (£50million) and comprehensive, field trial by The Independent Scientific Group on Badger TB chaired by Prof Bourne found that:

In summary, the ISG conclude that neither the proactive or reactive culling of badgers can be recommended as a means of controlling bTB in cattle. Culling causes badgers to move, spreading infection and undermining reductions in TB in cattle achieved in the area where culling has taken place. We understand that bTB is a condition of great concern to farmers and which also has welfare implications for cattle. However, the answer to its lies with better diets and welfare policies for cattle to improve their immune systems, not culling badgers.”

Animal rights activism in Kent

Had this from my friend Steev in Ashford. Good to see lots going on around Kent opposing cruelty to animals. Also my friend David had a letter in the Kent Messenger challenging our new Tory MP to back the hunting ban but sadly she continues to want it repealed.

This is from ARK:

Animal Rights Kent staged a protest picnic on Saturday 31st July outside the 
gates of Charles River, opposite Manston Airport.  Charles River Laboratories 
supplies various rodents, from mice to rabbits, to the animal research 
community, including genetically modified species like the patented 
Immortomouse! (1)

The picnic lasted from 12 noon till 2pm, without incident, and was to raise 
awareness of the cruelty that goes on in Kent in the name of so-called 'medical 
science'.

"A.R.K. believes that animal experiments are morally disgusting, but this view 
is increasingly backed up with science.  The similarities between humans and 
other animals are enough to discontinue this barbaric practice, the differences 
are enough to render it useless.  Animal research has held back vital treatments 
for years, torturing animals while people suffer and die.  The whole industry is 
a fraud.

The best treatment is to stay healthy on a vegetarian or vegan diet with plenty 
of exercise."

A.R.K. are a collection of independent Animal Rights groups from around Kent.  
They take direct, non-violent action and work to educate and inform the public 
on the cruelty inherent in hunting, the meat and dairy industry, the pet trade 
and animal experimentation.

PDSA - new goods or old

Had an email from my friend in Ashford that struck a chord with me so I've reproduced it below:

I'd like to extend my congratulations to the P.D.S.A.  Not long ago their shops were awash with 'New Goods', which was not only bad news for the environment but were mostly "Made in China", no doubt in sweatshops by children.  Chinas' human rights and animal rights violations, including Tibet, Nepal, Turkestan, and their live skinning of cats and dogs, have been the target of many recent international boycotts.  These boycotts have not been aimed at the Chinese people but at the Chinese Government.

Visiting the shop last week I was pleased to see it had returned to a more traditional charity shop, and to find out that the P.D.S.A. is also reviewing it's new goods policies.

Animal lovers, like myself, are often accused of caring more for animals than we do for humans, but the P.D.S.A.'s review is showing that we cannot give with one hand whilst taking with the other, an holistic approach is required from all sectors, be it the environmentalists, animal rights supporters or human rights campaigners.

Steve Campkin, Ashford Green Party

Vote Cruelty Free

Have just signed the 'Vote Cruelty Free Pledge'. They have asked all parliamentary candidates to sign the pledge on animal welfare and the current list of candidates that have signed the pledge makes interesting reading as no Conservatives have done this (according to their website as at 8th July 2009). There are a good number of Greens, Lib Dems and Labour but no Conservatives at all, which doesn't bode well if they get into government next year.

This is from their website:

What is Vote Cruelty Free?

Vote Cruelty Free is a new non-partisan, coalition of non-governmental organisations working together to ensure the political process reflects public concern for animal protection.

Its members are the BUAV, Compassion in World Farming, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), League Against Cruel Sports and Respect for Animals. Vote Cruelty Free covers a broad range of animal welfare issues including wild and marine animals, animal experimentation, cruel sports, the fur trade and farming.

Vote Cruelty Free believes that bringing the animal protection movement together and working directly with candidates and elected officials is an effective way to achieve positive change for animals in the political arena.

SOUTH EAST EURO-MP WELCOMES EU VICTORY FOR KENT ANIMAL CAMPAIGNERS

The South East’s Green MEP has paid tribute to the commitment and hard work
of a Kent animal campaign group today, after its monitoring of livestock
shipments at Dover led to an EU investigation and subsequent damning report
to which the UK must now respond.

Kent Against Live Exports (KALE) alerted Green MEP Caroline Lucas to the
potential breaches of existing EU law on the transport of live animals
through the Dover harbour; she then took the campaign to the EU through a
series of formal complaints to EU Commissioners.

KALE, the Kent based volunteer- run organisation which campaigns against the
export of live farm animals to mainland Europe, has spent the last two years
documenting the movement of livestock through the port of Dover, uncovering
numerous breaches of EU animal welfare law.

When their pleas for action were ignored by the UK Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), KALE and the Green MEP took
their efforts to Europe; the EU Commission for Health and Consumer Affairs
in Brussels promptly sent a team of officials from the Food and Veterinary
Office department (FVO) to investigate.

Dr Caroline Lucas MEP, who is also Vice President of the RSPCA and VP of the
European Parliament’s Animal Welfare Intergroup, said: “I wholeheartedly
welcome the conclusions of the FVO report, which confirms that welfare
standards of farm animals being transported at Dover fall far short of EU
regulations – if only the UK’s own DEFRA had shown such concern.

“The report clearly identifies a number of breaches of EU Regulation 1/2005
on ‘the protection of animals during transport and related operations’. It
found a lack of adequate contingency plans, a lack of an unloading facility
for animals in the vicinity, and a general non-compliance with welfare
requirements, including lack of cleaning and disinfection of the vehicles
used in livestock transport.”

Dr Lucas concluded: “KALE’s continued commitment and hard work on the
campaign against long distance transport of live farm animals has really
paid off. With this report, the EU is sending a strong message to the UK
authorities that more must be done to safeguard the welfare of live animals
being transported in and out of Dover.

“Farm animal welfare standards in the EU are far from perfect, and this
report represents a small step along a very long road. The Green Party
continues to call for a complete end to all live animal exports, both within
and beyond the EU, to prevent unnecessary suffering."

Mark Johnson, EU correspondent for KALE, said: “Now that the EU / FVO report
has been published, KALE trusts that the UK authorities will now take note
of the suggestions and recommendations, and fully implement procedures to
ensure that we (KALE) do not continue to see animal suffering as regularly
witnessed by our monitors and observers at Dover harbour.

“KALE, as always, will be independently monitoring all animal shipments from
Dover, and if we find that the proposed recommendations are still not being
implemented, we will go back to Brussels asking for the EU to take legal
action against the UK for continual non-compliance with EU regulations on
animal welfare”.


ENDS

Notes to Editors

KALE has obtained access to the twenty-four page (FVO) inspection report,
number 2008/7690 titled “Animal welfare during transport”. It can be viewed
at http://ec.europa.eu/food/fvo/ir_search_en.cfm by entering the inspection
report number (2008/7690).

For more information on KALE, please visit http://www.myspace.com/snuffle.