Stop the Badger Cull!

Image Source: Care for the Wild

Tuesday saw the Badger Trust fail at the court of appeal in an attempt to stop the two pilot badger culls in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset.  The Trust say that killing badgers will not make a significant contribution to tackling TB in cattle and claims that it could lead to 40,000 animals being pointlessly killed over the next four years.

The appeal was unanimously rejected by Lord Justice Law, Lord Justice Rimer and Lord Justice Sullivan.

Patricia Hayden, VC of the Badger Trust told The Guardian "We are very disappointed.  We don't know what the next step is, but we will not give up."

The Trust is now deciding whether to take their legal action to the supreme court.

In Wales, a badger vaccination programme is replacing the planned cull which was abandoned following legal challenges and the election of a new political administration.  National Trust in Devon and the Wildlife Trust in Gloucestershire is testing the vaccination programme, this is despite the previous Labour government saying an oral badger vaccine would be ready by 2015 and the coalition cancelling five of the six planned trails and declaring a viable oral vaccine as being "years away".

It was reported in the Guardian on Wednesday that activists are threatening to disrupt the badger cull which is due to start this autumn.  Volunteers are planning to patrol the cull zones and do their utmost to make it impossible for the trial culls to take place.  Other proposals include raves and other music events that will focus attention on the cull thus making it more difficult to carry out.  A national rally against the cull was held in Bristol on Tuesday where animal rights activists turned out in force, animal rights campaigner Brain May (guitarist from Queen) spoke at the rally and said: "I think we are all hoping that David Cameron is looking at the possibility of reorganising and delaying the cull while they look more carefully at vaccination. You could kill all the badgers in Britain and it would not stop the problem of bovine TB in cows." 

The RSPCA, League Against Cruel Sports, Humane Society International/UK, Save Me and a host of local campaign groups have formed #TeamBadger

Please sign this petition and also join the Stop the Cull Facebook Community.  You are also able to quickly e-mail your MP and Tweet David Cameron at the click of a button using!

Brian May and Care for the Wild have set up this e-petition that will just take you a moment to sign please.

Save the Whale

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Japan continues to hunt whales every year despite it almost being 30 years since the ban on commercial whaling came into effect.  They say that they hunt whales for "scientific research" but in reality it is nothing to do with science.

Whales are already struggling to survive against pollution, climate change, ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear as well as Japan's harpoons.  As I type this post (July 3rd) HSI are in Panama attending the 64th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission, where they will fight for the whales.

We can help by clicking here and telling the Japanese prime minister that whaling is a inhumane, a dying industry and now is the right time to stop.

Please help stop the proposed foie gras production unit in China.

Image from The Telegraph Newspaper.

It's back to the Far East again, this time it is geese that are being cruelly treated.  

HSI and CIWF have learnt of plans to open a huge foie gras producing unit which just happens to be next to a vital wildlife habitat and water source.  

The facility aims to confine millions of geese with a goal of producing 1,000 tonnes of foie gras each year.  In order to produce foie gras, ducks and geese are force fed an unnatural amount of food via a long pipe which reaches directly into their stomachs.  This causes the birds livers to become enlarged and diseased.

This practice is prohibited in most of Europe as well as Argentina, Israel and more recently in the U.S state of California.

Despite this, a British company has recently been exposed by CIWF and HSI as helping to fund the development of this foie gras factory farm.  Creek Projects Investments PLC has invested millions of pounds into the project, both organisations have written to Creek Projects urging them to stop funding animal cruelty.

Please click on this link to ask the Chinese government to stop plans for the cruel foie gras production facility.

Protect Young Hares in the UK

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The population of Hares has suffered a serious decline in the UK with an estimated 80% reduction within the last 100 years.  A government target to double numbers by 2010 sadly failed.

HSI reports that due to a lack of protection of hares during their breeding season, every year tens of thousands of young hares are left to die when their mothers are killed.

Legislation has just come into force in Scotland making it an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take brown hares from 1st February to 30th September, and mountain hares from 1st March to 31st July.  Most of mainland Europe protects hares during the breeding season too.

Please contact your MP and ask them to help protect young hares in the UK by signing Early Day Motion 2531 which introduces a close season during this sensitive breeding period.

Please ask your friends to do the same by sharing on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you!

The Pigs Directive

Source: HSI

Back in 2001 a Directive was adopted in the EU to ban individual sow stalls in order to improve the welfare of pigs by moving all breeding pigs into group housing systems.  The ban on individual sow stalls is due to come into force on 1st January 2013.  This is under a year away and many pig producers have much to do before the ban begins.

Individual sow stalls restricts the movement of sows in such a way that they are unable to turn around for their entire pregnancy (four months).  HSI tells us; 

"These intelligent, inquisitive animals are practically immobilised, unable to express their natural range of complex social, foraging, and exploratory behaviour. The barren stalls also lead to behavioural and health problems such as bar biting, foot and leg disorders, and infections."

If this legislation is properly implemented the lives of thousands of pigs can be improved enormously, please sign this petition addressing Commissioner Dalli urging him to ensure this Directive is fully implemented throughout the EU in good time BEFORE the deadline.

Please tell your friends on Facebook and Twitter and encourage them to sign the petition as well.

Thank you!

Dogs being killed in Ukraine for the sake of football

{Image from HSI}

Humane Society International report that dogs who live on the streets of Ukraine are unfortunately being poisoned in a misguided effort to remove them from the streets in time for the Euro 2012 football tournament. Meat laced with poison is left out for the dogs resulting in a prolonged and painful death for thousands of dogs.

For over 20 years HSI has helped provide successful and life saving solutions to end the overpopulation of dogs throughout the world.  Although HIS has contacted Ukranian officials suggesting they work together in a humane approach to controlling the street dog population, no response has been received.

The overpopulation of dogs around the world can be humanely managed through spay & neuter campaigns, as well as the provision of rabies vaccinations, veterinary training and the education of communities in order to help change attitudes and behaviour towards vulnerable animals.

Please spare a moment of your time to click on this link and contact the President of Ukraine what poisoning the dogs is not the answer and this suffering must stop now.  

It is more likely that your message will be read if you amend it slightly as if they keep receiving the same message that HSI has prepared it is likely they will ignore or delete it.  If you don’t have time to change the message then amending the subject title works too.  In my message I have added, quite truthfully, that during Euro 2012 I shall be thinking of the dogs instead of football.

REMINDER! Action for Chimps.

We have until the end of today to contact the Fish and Wildlife Service to give all chimpanzees (captive and wild) full protection under the Endangered Species Act.  Please click here and fill in a few details before hitting send to remind the Service that giving chimpanzees full protection under the Act would show that the U.S. is committed to conservation of this amazing, intelligent species. 

Thank you.

Rhinos in South Africa Under Threat ~ Please Act Now.

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Rhinos in South Africa are under threat and needing our help due to a rise in demand for rhino horn in the illegal Chinese medicine trade.  Earlier in October HSI delivered a petition containing 31,000 signatures to the South African authorities.  The government has now launched an official consultation prompting HSI to ask for our help in convincing them that the protection of the declining population of rhinos is vital.

 

HSI reports that in South Africa alone (home to 70% of the world's remaining rhinos) 333 rhinos were killed in 2010 by poachers, this number is expected to exceed to over 400 by the end of this year and South Africa continues to issue permits to trophy hunters allowing rhinos to be shot legally.  Almost 150 permits have been issued this year, so far.

Even though it was suggested by the government that a suspension on hunting be considered, no action has been taken as yet and the public consultation just published neglects to mention introducing this measure.

The deadline for our comments is Sunday 30th October which leaves us very little time, we need to act immediately.  Please follow this link to be taken to the HSI site where you can enter a few details to the readily prepared correspondence to the South African Government.

Thank you.

Stop the Delay (Petition Bonanza!)

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My hiatus has been a lot longer than I anticipated, and I hope you will forgive me for this.  We have relocated again to the Big Smoke and this has been my first real chance to sit down and get cracking on The Animal News (and there is lots of it!) 

Back on 3rd August 2011 I posted about an EU Directive regarding lab animals being implemented into UK law threatening current standards, read it here.

Testing on animals for cosmetics is not only cruel and unnecessary but also selfish, is lipstick really worth the life of an animal?  

Back in 2003 it became illegal to test on animals for cosmetics within Europe.  Then in 2009 a ban on the sale of cosmetics that had been tested on animals came into effect.  By early 2013 every shop and Internet supplier must be free of and no longer market animal-tested cosmetics, the deadline for this is March 2013.  The bad news is that the EU is considering delaying this deadline for years.  This risks removing any motivation for companies to work on developing alternatives and condemning tens of thousands of animals to suffer and die.

Please can you spare some time to sign the petitions below calling for the European Parliament to adhere to the original 2013 deadline.  Members of the public are against animal testing in cosmetics on ethical grounds therefore it is important that the government listen to the overwhelming majority European citizens .

When you have signed each petition (it takes less than 2 minutes) please take advantage of the links provided and share the petitions on Facebook or Twitter, as well as e-mailing your friends.

To Do List

Please sign Peta's Petition here.

Please sign BUAV's Petition here.

Please sign HSI's Petition here.

Please sign Care2's Petition here.

P.S. Ladies, if you do wear make up I can recommend a good non animal testing brand in Urban Decay.

The latest on Whaling

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WDCS reports back after the International Whaling Commission:

At the end of July the US government announced that it is recommending that trade sanctions be imposed on Iceland over its commercial whaling activities. 

President Obama now has until mid September to make a decision.  There are still things we can do to help...  Click here to contact President Obama asking him to make the right decision, remember to let your friends know too.

Good News from HSI

During the 63rd meeting of the International Whaling Commission Japan withdrew its proposal to conduct commercial hunts in its coastal waters, which is fantastic news!

Please remember to take the action above and share with your friends, thank you!

Whaling Round Up

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This year's International Whaling Commission takes place this month and it is an ideal opportunity for our friends at WDCS International, IFAW and HSI to plead with the US government on behalf of the wales.  Representatives from 89 countries (both pro whaling and pro whale protection) gather in Jersey for this meeting.

News from WDCS

WDCS is currently asking for signatures on a petition which urges the US government to impose sanctions on Iceland for its out of control whaling.  So far, 200,000 people have protested leading WDCS to expect an announcement from President Barack Obama's administration at some point soon.

Please add your name to the protest here.

What about the EU?

WDCS is working to ensure that if Iceland joins the EU, it must give up whaling.  The Dutch and German parliaments have already passed resolutions making Icelandic whaling a "zero tolerance" issue. 

News from HSI

At the top of the IWC agenda is whether to create an ocean sanctuary for whales in waters neighbouring the Caribbean.  Unfortunately, four Caribbean island nations continue to vote against protecting whales each year, thus voting against a proposition that would be both a blessing for the whales and their own region.

Please click here and enter a few details to write to these nations asking them to support the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary.


News from IFAW

IFAW reminds us that Japan, Iceland and Norway continue to kill hundreds of whales.  Japan slaughters three different species of whales under a disguise of "scientific research".  Iceland and Norway are harpooning hundreds of minke whales and defying the global ban on whaling.  These three countries will target over 1,700 whales this season.

IFAW are encouraging government officials to join the global consensus for the conservation of whales.  More pressure is needed though so they are asking us to tell the UK Government to take action in order to end whaling.

Following these links and entering a few details can really make a difference, please remember to spread the word.  Thank you.

Bullfighting : Cruelty NOT Culture

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Lately there has been a lot of focus on the banning of wild animals in circuses, it seems an ideal opportunity to think about another instance of animal abuse for entertainment purposes - bullfighting.  This, believe it or not, is still very much in existence and Humane Society International have calculated it being responsible for the death of up to 250,000 animals worldwide each year.

People who support bullfighting are hoping to have this "sport" protected by listing it as a form of cultural heritage, in fact politicians in both France and Spain have voted on this issue very recently.  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has the job of preserving many forms of genuine Intangible Cultural Heritage and if bullfighting was listed successfully by UNESCO it would not only give it a facade of respectability but could also mean that subsidies to financially safeguard the future of bullfighting may be made available.  

How to Help

We must let them know that we would never support or accept bullfighting along with any other act of animal cruelty as a practice worthy of Intangible Cultural Heritage.  Click here and enter your details in order to allow HSI to contact UNESCO on your behalf expressing concern at the distressing possibility of bullfighting becoming acceptable and respectable.

Spread the word!

Canada's Seal Slaughter

On April 13^th Canada’s annual seal cull began to wind down, despite record low ice cover and dwindling support, this years hunt went ahead with a higher quota than previous years. Thousands of seal pups have been brutally killed despite the Canadian governments declarations that the slaughter will be humane.

In 11 months time the slaughter will begin again, this gives us 11 months to work together and stop this once and for all.

There is good news… Last week Peta informed me that despite increasing the allowable catch of harp seals by cull to be scaled back and close early. This proves that tireless work from Animal Welfare Organisations such as Peta, Humane Society of the United States, Respect for Animals and IFAW really is paying off.

It is vital that we keep pressurising Canada to stop the seal cull for good.

Depending on where in the world you live you can do something important to help.

If you live in the EU

Simply enter your details and when you get to the “State” box just select “none”.

If you live in Canada

Your role is very important as you have more of a say than anyone from another country, please do what you can as it will really make a difference. There are several things you can do here and I promise it won’t take you very long at all.

If you live in the USA

Also, please can you complete this pledge and send it to the address at the bottom of the page?

If you have some extra time have a look here at what else you can do to help.

Resources and Futher Information from the HSUS and HSIC.

Pocket Guide to Boycotting Canadian Seafood

More Information

Fast Facts

Myths and Facts

Seals and Fisheries

Economics of the Seal Slaughter

Why the Canadian Government Supports the Seal Slaughter

I’m sorry for the information overload but this should give you everything you need to know about the seal cull and hopefully inspire you to take action.