Send via mail to:
Subject: Manifesto ANIMAL
Date: February 27, 2008 2:43:51 PM GMT+00:00
To: pm@pm.gov.pt
Cc: miguel.moutinho@animal.org.pt
To the Prime Minister of Portugal:
Subject: Manifesto
ANIMAL
Faro, 27-02-2008
Dear Mr. Sócrates,
Action Against Poisoning supports
animal protection efforts in general and fights animal poisoning in
particular. We have been well informed on the Manifesto ANIMAL and
we have taken notice of an excellent supportive argumentation
presented to you by email on 23-02-2008 by Mr. Rich
Russom.
We link the severity and persistence of
Portuguese animal abuse and neglect to the total lack of animal
protection law enforcement. In our fight against a significant
Portuguese animal poisoning problem we hit the “no report – no
statistics – no problem” barrier. Denial en hypocrisy are standard
reactions to signals of abuse and neglect of domestic animals and
cruelty in bullfights, dogfights and circuses. In the rare cases
police reacted and in the single case a police report was filed we
have not seen a single follow-up. As police denies complainants a
copy of a report civilians have no access to information and
possibilities to monitor the outcome. This situation of judicial
arbitrariness reflects a serious omission in Portuguese animal
rights as well as human rights.
In addition to the arguments that might
have reached your desk we stress the following points regarding
stray and abandoned animals. This particular category of animals
has our special attention and priority as it is enormous in
numbers, primary target for poisoning and extremely vulnerable to
the widest range of daily human misbehavior.
In our view abandoned animals and
subsequently their stray offspring are the exclusive products of
human misbehavior. Ignorance, neglect and cruelty creates a steady
flow of diseased, abused and undesired domestic animals that are
dumped by Portuguese citizens.
We are stunned by a human mentality
that generates abandoned and stray animals as “Live Waste” in the
public domain.
In civilized countries human waste is a
public problem. This problem is recognized as a public
responsibility requiring public solutions funded with public
budgets. So why is live waste an ethical, legal and political blind
spot?
It appears that European animal welfare
and protection legislation mainly serves economic and public health
interests. Roughly, the legal protection covers wild animals and
domestic animals whilst stray and abandoned animals are outlawed.
It is a fact that wild animals care for themselves and domestic
animals are protected by their owners for emotional or economic
reasons. Abandoned animals however have no protection although this
– on human care and treatment dependent - category of animals needs
protection most of all.
We have noticed that in Portugal stray
and abandoned animals are the property of the Câmara’s, implying
proper shelter, care and treatment. However, without a rare
exception the presidents, veterinarians and police forces of those
Câmara’s have failed in every field of animal protection as animal
welfare has political and legal rock bottom priority. The sorry
Câmara budgets – if any – are restricted to confinement, feeding
and killing. It is disturbing to see that inadequate circumstances
turn Câmara veterinarians into cynical professional
misfits.
We are saddened by the fact that
veterinary treatment and compassion are left to private
initiatives. It is clear that the Portuguese society should do
better than that.
We highlighted this “Live Waste”
problem to illustrate the need for a solid animal welfare
legislation. It is not the only reason as we also take this
opportunity to state that a festive game with the single purpose of
torturing an animal to death – the bullfight – is in total
disaccord with the most basic animal welfare standards. In fact any
torture in a festive context is sadistic and a (public) mental
health threat.
Consequently we call on you “to put
Portugal on the animal welfare map” by your support of the
proposals as stipulated in the Manifesto ANIMAL.
With kind regards,
Action Against
Poisoning
www.actionagainstpoisoning.com
* . * . *
Mr Peter Mandelson,
Commissioner for Trade
European Commission
Wetstraat 200
1049 Brussels
The Hague, November
3, 2007
Ref: Canadian protest
against ban on seal products
Dear Mr
Mandelson,
Action Against
Poisoning fights animal poisoning in particular and supports animal
protection efforts in general. We all know that animal abuse is
often based on bad cultural or economic attitudes and habits. We
have learned that it is hard to change cruel habits. In our view EU
“respect” for such habits as expressed in Art III-121 of the draft
Constitution undermines that much needed change.
We
are informed that Canada has initiated a procedure in the WTO to
get the ban on their seal products by European member states
rescinded.
We
are saddened by this Canadian initiative as it ignores a global
dislike of animal cruelty and especially the seal culls. It also
ignores the emerging recognition of and growing support for animal
rights.
And
the Canadian initiative reflects a very poor understanding of the
heart of the matter. We do not so much ban “a trade”. Obviously the
only way to ban cruelty is to ban a trade in the products of that
cruelty.
We
are proud of a firm European stand against seal culls as it
expresses a clear ethical message that killing baby seals for their
furs and seal bulls for their penises is totally unacceptable,
regardless of the used killing methods.
Although we
understand that economic profit is the leading motive in political
decisions concerning animal welfare, we need to draw a line to
preserve a shred of human dignity and
credibility.
In
a world guided by human profit, civilization has to start
somewhere.
Why
not in your office?
With kind
regards,
Action Against
Poisoning
* . * . *
----- Original Message -----
From:
ActionAgainstPoisoning
To:
dxios7@otenet.gr ;
news@alithia.gr
Cc:
carlyprovan@london.com
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 11:21 PM
Subject: Att. of Mr Broulis: poison distribution plan
Dear Mr Broulis,
Action Against Poisoning fights animal poisoning as we have
witnessed many cases of slow and cruel poison deaths. For this
reason alone we are totally opposed to the use of poisons against
abandoned and stray animals. We like to point out to you - as
mayor - that the stray problem is caused by irresponsible
citizens dumping hunting dogs and domestic animals. This problem is
also caused by authorities who do nothing to prevent the creation
of this "live waste" flow, giving rock bottom priority to
animal protection law enforcement or animal welfare policies, if
any.
Sometimes poisoning happens accidentally by ignorance. In most
cases it involves deliberate cruelty towards stray animals
or domestic animals of neighbours.
In fact - like guns - poisons are very powerful and dangerous
instruments of destruction, especially in the hands of ignorant and
evil persons. To avoid abuse and accidents we advocate the use
of colors and smells that make poisons repulsive for consumption by
people as well as animals.
We are informed that you plan to distribute poison in Chios amongst
your citizens to kill stray animals. Poison has never proven to be
an adequate, let alone civilized solution to a stray animal
problem. On the contrary, the destructive effect of a controlled
action is random and unpredictable. We can only predict that the
free distribution of poison amongst citizens will lead
to horrible incidents.
Besides the fact that you probably violate existing animal
protection laws, you evoke a large scale abuse of poison by
people with undesirable wishes to kill animals or people for
different reasons.
So we urge you to stop the execution of this unhealthy solution
immediately.
With kind regards,
Drs P.M. Donker
Action Against Poisoning
The Hague, Netherlands
* . * . *
Subject: Support bullfight ban
Date: June 27, 2007 6:14:52 PM GMT+01:00
To: ciliaflores@an.gob.ve
Dear Mrs
Flores,
Action Against
Poisoning fights animal poisoning in particular and supports animal
protection efforts in general.
We
have a special interest in the relation between animal abuse,
mental health and social stability as we noted that animal cruelty
like bullfighting facilitates violence towards people. Senseless
violence is a contemporary mental health and public order problem.
It is clear that no Mayor wants his citizens beating up innocent
people as part of their “having fun” going out in his
city.
In
our view the bullfight is the cruellest form of animal abuse as it
is the only “game” we know with the sole purpose of death by
torture.
We
cannot find a shred of justification for the torture of an animal
that has not asked to be part of the game, that has been tampered
with to reduce the remotest chance to win and that has no escape
from the bullring.
We
emphasize the point that bullfights – or any other combination of
festivities and killing - breeds a notion that killing for fun is
socially acceptable or even heroic.
The ritual
performance of the acts and their sequence matches the definition
of sadism: the infliction of pain for the pleasure of
it.
Sadism is a certified
mental disorder. A healthy society does not want to have, let alone
breed, sadists amongst its citizens.
As
participants of the International Anti-Bullfighting Summit in
Lisbon on 18-19 May we were informed on the situation in Venezuela.
We understood that Venezuela is progressing towards a possible ban
on bullfights.
Especially for that
reason we voted as Dutch citizens against the draft EU Constitution
as its article III-121 condones animal abuse under the label of
religious or cultural traditions.
Like for African,
Indian or Maori war dances we respect the bullfight preservation of
the traditional display of costumes, music, dancing and stabbing
but please leave the bulls out of it. We also see a great future
for monumental bullrings for operas, concerts and
plays.
However, a society
that treasures traditional bullfights – or any other animal cruelty
- as cultural heritage has a long way to go towards real
civilization.
As
Venezuelan Member of Congress who values a non-violent society and
respect for life, we urge you to ban bullfights to the benefit of
public as well as animal welfare.
A
ban would be a keystone contribution to the global abolition of
animal abuse in general and the cruelest abuse in
particular.
We look forward to
your reaction.
With kind
regards,
Drs P.M.
Donker
Action Against
Poisoning
www.actionagainstpoisoning.com
* . * .
*
:: Action Against Poisoning :: ACTION :: LETTERS ::
Letters of Action
LETTERS SENT ON BEHALF OF VARIOUS ANIMAL CAUSES
Subject: to BBC - Your issue on bullfights
Tue, 21 Sep 2004
To:
bill.heine@bbc.co.uk
helen.boaden@bbc.co.uk
mark.popescu@bbc.co.uk
newsonline@bbc.co.uk
richard.sambrook@bbc.co.uk
Subject: Your issue on bullfights
Ladies and gentlemen,
Action Against Poisoning fights animal poisoning in particular and
supports animal protection in general. We have been informed on a
BBC program about the pros and cons of bullfighting for
youth.
Living in Portugal ourselves we think it unwise to leave any room
for positive feelings - especially for children - about this
folkloristic habit.
The Portuguese in general are sick of the few who force this
cruelty upon their fellow citizens. And they certainly do not want
matadors to be presented as a role model to their children by the
BBC.
For your information: the Spanish bulls probably are better off as
they are killed on the spot whilst Portuguese bulls may have to
wait for hours or days before they receive their coup de gr‚ce. In
our view the line of young man behind the one challenging the bull
with the fools cap reflect the mentality of Portuguese youngsters
killing themselves in cars with the bumper sticker "no fear". No
fear, no brains, we might say.
The BBC may display bullfights as an event of pride, courage and
honor.
You may call on tradition and culture to justify the postponed
killing of the bulls by hours or days. You may bring this as a
happy story, but the subject is not.
We are saddened by the fact that the BBC obviously does not see or
understand that animal abuse is wrapped in folkloristic festivals,
creating acceptance of violence in an atmosphere of "having a good
time". Which as you should know by now consequently leads to
multiple incidents of violence by people having fun.
And we are upset that the BBC creates a "why not" atmosphere around
this issue. An atmosphere that is totally contrary to a civilized
country with good animal protection laws, the RSPCA and a
population of probably the most respectful people concerning
animals.
Even the most fabulous, artful and mesmerizing dancing and stabbing
does not justify the torture and subsequent killing of a bull who
most likely had never asked to be part of such a performance in the
first place. So please stop highlighting the art-side of it, or we
might as well applaud the skills and merits of scalping and
cannibalism that allegedly have been very brave, artful,
traditional, cultural and running in the family as well.
In short, we would like you to refrain from exalted stories
involving animal abuse, especially when you address children and
when that abuse is played down.
It would be most refreshing and informative if you would feature a
program on the merits of intrinsic violent folkloristic expressions
like bullfighting, cockfighting, throwing goats from church towers,
hanging obsolete hunting dogs on trees etc. etc.
It probably may not fit a juvenile audience.
With kind regards,
Action Against Poisoning
Subject: China - "Amazing Spain, Shanghai 2004" event clearly is a
forerunner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, this will reflect on
China as a country that supports or even embraces animal
cruelty.
Letter sent to the relevant Chinese authorities on Sunday 29 August
2004
To:
gov@govonline.cn
szw@ccnt.gov.cn
manage@chsi.moh.gov.cn
webmaster@shanghai.gov.cn
webmaster@mfa.gov.cn
webmaster@agri.gov.cn
webmaster@ccnt.com.cn
WebMaster@cnta.gov.cn
webmaster@spp.gov.cn
Action Against Poisoning
29 August 2004
The Hague - The Netherlands
Ladies and gentlemen,
With Chinese friends we visited your beautiful country - and
Shanghai - in 1999. As we do not master your language we were
limited in our communications. However, with mutual respect and
understanding for our cultural differences we had open discussions
about our on 6 October 2004 experiences in China including Hong
Kong. In short, we were impressed by the technical progress and the
friendliness we met in the different parts of China.
Last year we were informed on global efforts to stop the
maltreatment of 'bile bears' in China. We expressed our
appreciation to the Chinese authorities for their work towards
eliminating bear farming. So we were happy that China was on the
right animal protection track.
A few days ago we were informed that on the 6th October 2004 a
bullfight will be performed at the Shanghai Stadium as part of
"Amazing Spain, Shanghai 2004". We think this is an unwise idea and
we wonder whether this is a Chinese or a Spanish initiative. If
this is a Spanish initiative it is indeed amazing that Spain is
unable to present her cultural wealth in a civilized way. We cannot
fathom the Spanish urge to export an embarrassing habit.
Our view on bullfights is as follows: We applaud the preservation
of cultural heritage. However, we protest against existing
folkloric festivities that involve any form of animal abuse. If
torture and killing is culturally conceived as a joyful occasion,
then animal abuse can be associated with fame and national pride.
We should not teach our children that any form of animal torture is
normal, let alone laudable. Although we do not seek to undermine
feelings of national pride, torture is a violation of existing
animal protection laws and an affront to the civilized countries.
So in our point of view it is unacceptable to support activities
that taunt the global opinion on animal welfare and the existing
animal protection laws.
Since this "Amazing Spain, Shanghai 2004" event is a forerunner of
the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, this will reflect on China as a
country that supports or even embraces animal cruelty. You may have
noticed that the massive poisoning of stray animals in Athens
before the opening of the Olympic Games 2004 caused violent
protests against and a boycott of these games.
We wish you success with your games in 2008. We urge you to refrain
from any (support of) animal abuse that will offend civilized
citizens and taint the image of China.
Yours respectfully,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Action Against Poisoning fights animal poisoning in particular and
supports the development of animal welfare in general. For an
actual and concise general motivation for animal protectors we
refer to "Spare a thought on our cruelty to animals" by Mohd Idris,
at www.rense.com/general42/crueltu.htm
Subject: Mubarak Library Killing
April 22, 2004
To: Ministry of Tourism, Egypt spare@menanet.net
Dear Minister of Tourism,
I am writing to report a horrifying, cruel event that I witnessed
today, April 18th between 5:15 and about 5:40 pm. I am an advanced
Ph.D. student at Harvard University specializing in the study of
Islam, including the Qur'an and Hadith. What I witnessed - the
torture and murder of an animal - was completely contradictory to
the ideals of Islam. I went with an Egyptian friend to visit the
Mubarak library. My friend was justifiably very proud of the
Library and wished to show me the library and its lovely
courtyard.
At around 5:15, while we were sitting in the courtyard, I noticed a
dog leap through the grassy area in front of the door to the
library and begin to struggle in some bushes about 15 feet from us.
At first, I thought he had only tripped and become entangled in the
bushes. But then as I watched him writhing in pain, shaking, and
twitching uncontrollably, I knew there was something far more wrong
with him. Greatly concerned, I jumped up and told my friend that we
must try to help the dog. My friend asked a few men standing nearby
- including some apparent library employees - whether they knew
what was wrong.
They told her they had poisoned him because he was diseased. When I
ran to the dog and started to cry, they said I did not understand.
I wanted so badly to hold the dog and make him stop suffering. I
told my friend I did not know what to do, that I thought maybe I
should give him some water. She convinced me -- wrongly -- that I
should not because (somehow) the poison might reach me. I felt very
angry at the men, and helpless. We remained there near the dog,
watching him as he continued to writhe in pain for many minutes. I
was crying with sorrow, frustration, and empathy for this dog. At
least twenty minutes passed. We then left because my friend could
not handle watching the dog suffer. He was still alive and in
agony.
Let me tell you that the men - the employees and maybe even the
veterinarian who gave him the poison - stood by without any sign of
remorse or pity for the suffering animal. It was as if they do this
every day. It was just a job. I will never be able to erase these
images from my mind, nor the callousness of the men who did this
cruel act. No animal should suffer for this long. I had heard
previously from expatriate Egyptians and Americans living in Egypt
that Egypt controlled its animal population through massive
poisonings and shootings, but I did not fully believe them. Now
that I have seen this with my own eyes, I realize the horror of
Egypt's methods. Of course Egypt must control its animal
population. But why not spaying and neutering like other countries?
I wonder: did they give this dog just barely enough poison to kill
him? Did they try, in other words, to save a few pounds by giving
him cheap poison or very little of it? I know there are quicker
ways to put a dog down than this (I also know that this dog was not
diseased, but rather a lie to send me away). It is these men - not
I - who do not understand the correct state of things. Their
methods are cruel and shameful and against the dictates of religion
(the Prophet, as we know, praised the woman who gave water to a
thirsty dog).
I am writing to you because I hope that you can do something to
help the poor animals, including the dogs, of Egypt. I can tell you
that no tourist visiting the United States would witness such an
act as I did today in as important a place as the Mubarak Library.
I will warn anyone I know traveling to Egypt about Egypt's policies
regarding its animal population, and suggest that perhaps they
should travel elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Sarah Bowen Savant
savant@fas.harvard.edu
Subject: AVIS sponsorship of bullfights in Portugal
To: AVIS Portugal
29 July 2004
Dear Sirs,
Thank you for this clear - and as we trust truthful - answer to our
protest, with which you restored the image of Avis.
We surely hope that civilised companies will refrain from showing
even a shred of sympathy for any folkloristic activity involving
animal abuse.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
---
29 July 2004
Reply from Avis - sponsorship of bullfights in Portugal
From: "PT Customer service" Customer.service@avis-portugal.pt
In the last few days Avis has received several e-mail messages
concerning the sponsorship of bullfights in Portugal.
As a result, Avis Portugal wishes to clarify the following
points:
1. It is not Company Policy to sponsor or advertise activities that
could in anyway be seen as harmful to animals.
2. As in prior years, Avis Portugal continues to make donations to
Casa do Pessoal da RTP, a Radio e Televis„o de Portugal, which by
its own initiative and without prior consent from Avis, included
the Avis brand in advertising space broadcasted by RTP.
3. We have requested a formal apology from Casa do Pessoal da RTP,
for inappropriate usage of the Avis brand without prior permission
by ANT and requested the immediate suspension of the site or
subsequent legal action by Avis against ANT. This can be confirmed
by the effective withdrawal of the ANT site from the Internet and
we expect to receive a letter of apology shortly.
4. Avis Portugal confirms its commitment to the "we try harder"
ethos in relation to the Community and Environment and does not
wish to see its brand name unfairly associated with inappropriate
activities in terms of animal rights and protection. Avis confirms
that it is not and will not be a sponsor of bullfights.
5. For many years Avis has actively supported several charities,
either through donations or logistical support to organisations
helping children, elderly and ill people. Examples include the Luis
Figo foundation, the Personal House of the National TV, the
Association of Lupos, the victims of fire, the Children Foundation,
etc.
Avis Portugal.
Subject: Your article on a Ronda bullfight, by Teresa Levonian
Cole
To The Financial Times
feedback@customercare.ftdirect.com
The Hague, 18 July 2004
Dear Sirs,
We appreciate the florid and passionate style of Mrs. Cole
describing the perfect setting for a "Corrida Goyesca" with its
skilful participants. She has the gift to let us see, hear, smell
and feel this magnificent event. She has the talent to let us
believe that this is an event of pride, courage and honor. It is a
happy story, but the subject is not.
The article reflects the schizoid character of the bullfight
phenomenon. We cannot fathom a mother commenting on the killing of
the bull with "Bulls are like my children. I feel so proud when
they are noble and fight bravely."
Although we do not assume that she is actually on the verge of
sacrificing her poor children or husband for that matter, such
exclamations are scary.
In our view it shows one of the mental deficiencies that occur when
animal abuse is wrapped in folkloristic festivals, creating
acceptance of violence in an atmosphere of "having a good time".
Deficiencies that have led to multiple incidents of violence by
people having fun.
Even the most fabulous and artful dancing and stabbing does not
justify the torture and subsequent killing of a bull who most
likely had never asked to be part of such a performance in the
first place.
In short, we would like you to refrain from publishing exalted
stories involving animal abuse, especially when that abuse is
totally disregarded.
It would be most refreshing and informative if you could feature an
article on the merits of intrinsic violent folkloristic
expressions.
With kind regards,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: dogs are kept amongst zoo animals
To: Sr. Rafael Gonz·lez Gonz·lez, Alcalde
Ayuntamiento de Ayamonte
Plaza de la Laguna s/n
21400 Ayamonte
Esp„na
fax (0034) 959.471320
10 June 2004
Dear Mister Gonz·lez Gonz·lez,
Action Against Poisoning fights animal poisoning in particular and
supports animal protection in general.
We, and many tourists with us, like your city very much. During a
visit to your zoo in a public park we discovered a cage between the
bears and a tiger where abandoned and stray dogs are kept. It could
be practical to show lost dogs in a public place where visitors can
identify the dogs and their owners. But we would like to express
our concern for the fact that pet animals should never be kept near
wild animals.
We were informed that these dogs could be collected via the
Ayamonte police station. At the police station we were told without
further explanation that we could not adopt a dog from the
zoo.
Further inquiries taught us that the El Campillo shelter 60 km away
in the Rio Tinto region collects the dogs from the zoo on a
contract basis.
Allegedly El Campillo kills perfectly healthy and beautiful dogs
after two weeks if they are not collected before that time. On 60
km distance it is most unlikely that they will be found and
collected by their owners. On top of this we heard of a shelter
with a non-killing attitude only 5 km East of Ayamonte.
In summary the factual Ayamonte policy is:
- confining dogs between wild animals
- forbidding the adoption of an abandoned dog
- using a far away killing shelter when a much better alternative
is nearby
- choosing for destruction rather than care for animals
Such facts express ignorance if not cruelty and disrespect for
animal life and animal protection laws. These facts reflect badly
on the image of the city of Ayamonte.
These facts also raise the question why public funds are spent in
this destructive way.
And there are other things you should know: By far most tourists
have no problem with dogs or cats as they see them as a colorful
part of city life. A vaccinate, spay, neuter and release campaign
can stabilize your stray dog population.
Adoption or killing gives shelters the room to receive new animals;
to keep shelters functional we rather like to see animals leaving
shelters alive than dead.
If you wish we would like to help you on these subjects.
For above-mentioned reasons we ask you to treat this letter as a
denuncia and urge you to use your powers to:
- close down the dog cage in the Ayamonte zoo
- call on your citizens to take responsibility for their animals
and stop dumping them for invalid reasons
- use and support the nearest shelter with a non-killing policy,
where your citizens can find their lost animal
- facilitate adoption of stray and abandoned animals
- inform your citizens and the tourists on your policy and
procedures
In short, we call on you to spend your public funds on a
constructive approach of the stray and abandoned animal problem.
And we trust that you will enjoy the positive public relations
effects of your new policy. We look forward to your answer.
Yours sincerely,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: Thai dog trade meat consumption and fur export
To the Ambassador of Thailand in Belgium
thaibx@pophost.eunet.be
25 May 2004
Your Excellency,
Action Against Poisoning fights animal poisoning and supports
animal protection in general.
We consider deliberate poisoning as a cruel, stealthy and cowardly
act. We see it as destructive behavior of the lowest level against
animal and human life alike. We are aware of the fact that violence
against animals paves the way for violence against people.
Consequently tolerance for animal abuse in the long term forms a
mental health threat and a public order hazard for society. In
short, we are convinced that animal protection is an integral part
of the fabric of a healthy and strong civilization.
First of all we like to emphasize that we respect and enjoy
cultural differences as they reflect the diversity of our planet
and bring color to our lives. On our travels we came to appreciate
Thailand as a country with lovely people, very good food, a vibrant
tolerant lifestyle and an impressive respect for life. We also
noticed a striking reverence for the Royal family. Like most
travelers we enjoyed our contacts with the gentle and beautiful
Thai stray dogs. And we were glad to hear that small scale
vaccinate, spay, neuter and release programs were active to control
the Thai stray problem.
With these impressions we expected that animals would have a good
life in Thailand. This image was affirmed when a good Thai friend
sent us a copy of "The Story of Tongdaeng", the Kings adopted pet
dog. His Majesty's observations of Tongdaeng reflect a deep
understanding of and love for stray animals. His arguments for the
adoption of stray dogs as described in the preface are strong,
moving and true.
This positive image was recently shattered when we were informed on
the Thai dog trade regarding meat consumption and fur export. On
top of this we were confronted with poisoning practices as a means
of controlling the stray dog problem. We do not elaborate on the
towns and regions where these sorts of animal abuse occur as it
appears to be a widespread Thai phenomenon.
We categorically disagree with the lame excuse of the killers that
stray dogs (and cats for that matter) are a health threat for their
illnesses or aggression. As far as transferable diseases or
aggression is concerned people are far more dangerous than dogs.
Survival training teaches that the licking of "dirty" stray dogs
cleans festering wounds and saves human lives. And we have met no
aggression of dogs, except when their masters, their territory,
their pups or their food were threatened. Very understandable and
in all other cases they either were curious and friendly or shy and
walking away from us.
We cannot understand how people can kill their most trusting and
loyal friends, the dogs. We are sickened by the reported cruel
catching and live skinning. We cannot imagine that the majority of
the Thai people, let alone their King, would approve of these
practices.
We therefore urge you to use your full powers to end any form of
animal abuse.
Yours sincerely,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: Bramby poisoning in Australia
letter sent 23 May 2004
To the Honorable Bob Carr
Australian Labor Party
Premier of NSW
bob.carr@www.nsw.gov.au
Fax international code 61+2+9349 4594
Dear Mister Carr,
Action Against Poisoning supports animal protection in general and
fights animal poisoning in particular. In our view poisoning is
cruel, stealthy, cowardly, savage, destructive and
indiscriminate.
Those who plan poisoning campaigns or commit the actual poisoning
have no idea of the physical and mental damage to animals and
people alike. They don¥t see that cruelty towards animals breeds
the same attitude towards people. They are not aware that poisoning
rebounds in the food chain and they have probably never witnessed
their pet dogs die a slow and agonizing poison death. And if they
do, they should urgently be admitted to a mental hospital for
permanent loving care. We are informed that the NSW National Parks
and Wildlife Service uses grain bait stations to poison Snowy
Mountains Brumbies.
We understand that a program to capture the Brumbies in the Mount
Morgan area failed and allegedly bait stations for a wild pig
baiting program have been installed. As we hear that no wild pigs
but Brumbies and Quoll bushfire survivors are living in that area
it seems that not the pigs but the Brumbies are targeted for
poisoning. Poisoned bait being a random killer, this policy
includes the killing of whatever other wildlife as well. Sickening
as all this deliberate destruction of harmless animals is, it also
eludes us totally why one would poison wild pigs.
Australian killing fields are quite new to us. We probably are
mistaken in our appreciation of this beautiful continent with a
high quality of life as is reflected in its efforts in health
protection. Poisoning however reflects a total disrespect for life
and an alarming lack of foresight.
We urge you to use your powers to stop this killing spree by
relieving the responsible executives from their tasks.
Yours sincerely,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: lack of animal protection and animal welfare in
Brazil
From: Action Against Poisoning
To: Brazilian Authorities ouvidoria@camaracaxias.rs.gov.br
Cc: mpcaxias@mp.rs.gov.br ; redacao@jornalpioneiro.com.br ;
ditofeito@saofrancisco.am.br
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 10:18 AM
The Hague - The Netherlands
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
Action Against Poisoning supports animal protection in general and
fights animal poisoning in particular.
Having visited South Brazil in March 2004 we were impressed by the
gentleness of your citizens, the beauty of nature and the
economical progress of your country. Under such circumstances and
with all respect for cultural differences we expected the
Brazilians to treat their animals better than we have witnessed. We
have seen neglected chain dogs and tied horses in the blazing sun
without shelter or water.
However we met a few special people showing genuine compassion and
love for stray and abandoned animals who changed our sad feelings
on animal welfare. After we returned to Holland we were informed on
a Brazilian case of - as it appears - abuse and neglect of horses.
Which brings us to address you on the item of Brazilian animal
welfare.
We expect that you have existing animal protection laws.
Consequently we expect that laws are enforced by police forces or
special authorities.
It would be wonderful if you have independent animal protection
inspectors active where law enforcement has low priority or is
lacking.
As it appears such protection has not been given to the horses
shown in this case.
We urge you to give more attention and a higher priority to animal
protection and animal welfare as it reflects on your civilization.
And we beg you to actually put an end to any abuse or neglect of
animals that you are informed on.
With due respect,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: killing of baby and adult seals in Eastern Canada
Letter sent to canadainternational.gc.ca/feedback-en.asp
17 April 2004
To The Canadian Government
Ladies and gentlemen,
Having Dutch nationality we will never forget the fact that your
brave soldiers liberated us from the Nazi oppression and most
probably from worse.
As you know we still honour these liberators every year in The
Netherlands. We ask you now to set seals free from their hunters.
This killing of seals is so barbaric that we cannot believe
Canadians to act like this. The fact that (baby) seals eat fish
should never be an excuse for misbehaviour or cruelty towards these
otherwise quite vulnerable and harmless animals. They are more
dependent on that diet than we are. Your children should not be
witness and eventually part of this sorry sort of massacre.
So we urge you to use your power and stop the seal slaughter.
We look forward to your reaction.
With due respect,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: monitoring of stray round up in ATHENS
Letter sent to: WSPA UK wspa@wspa.org.uk
18 March 2004
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are informed in contradictive ways about the stray dogs in
Athens in relation to the 2004 Olympic Games.
The most extensive text [1] reflects the general attitudes around
this issue
The next text [2] is an alarm on the handling of strays in the
harbour area
The last text [3] is an Olympic Organizing Committee stray plan
promising that everything will work out swell for the dogs
It is hard to believe that Greek authorities will execute an ideal
program for the stray dogs.
Can WSPA monitor the implementation of that claim and keep us
informed?
Action Against Poisoning
[1]
---- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Subject: LETTER/NY Times Sugarcoats Plight Of Greek Strays
Please Cross Post
SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
2004 ATHENS OLYMPICS - GREEK ANIMALS RACE FOR THEIR LIVES
The NY Times recently ran a story based on interviews with Greek
government officials, who naturally presented the "politicized"
version of Greece's longstanding war on domestic animals. (Times
article follows letter).
As most of you know, a crusade to sanitize the streets of Athens in
time for the 2004 Olympic Games has left a trail of dogs and cats
poisoned in the streets with strychnine, herbicides, pesticides or
ground glass. Humane advocates and some conscientious reporters
have revealed animals rotting alive in shelters--with
maggot-infested wounds, paralyzed limbs, malnourished, sick.
With the approach of the Olympic Games in Athens, the New York
Times needs to tell the REAL story, not a fabricated one from
government publicists.
LETTER TO USE AS GUIDE FOR WRITING YOUR OWN:
We read, with interest and disappointment, the New York Times
article "Pre-Olympic Event: Rounding Up City's Furry Loiterers," by
Frank Bruni (February 26, 2004). It appears that local politicians
gave Mr. Bruni misleading information regarding the seriousness of
the abandoned dog population of Athens, and for that matter, the
rest of Greece. While Athens may not be the only European capital
with rampant strays, it is the only European Union nation and
Western European capital with between 30,000 to 50,000 homeless
animals roaming the streets.
On October 1, 2003, Reuters and CNN reported that over 3,000 dogs
had been poisoned by "mysterious entities" and dumped in garbage
bags. The data was verified by Greek animal advocate Marianna
Polichroniadou.
We believe more accurate information could have been obtained if
your reporter had also spoken to animal welfare advocates familiar
with the stray situation in Athens. Instead, he presented a biased
account based solely upon sources with close ties to the Greek
government. A paper as reputable as the NY Times should have
disclosed the full story.
As Greece steps center stage for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games,
officials naturally welcome any opportunity to present a
compassionate and constructive program. The whole truth would have
been more constructive.
===================================================
New York Times article, February 26, 2004
Pre-Olympic Event: Rounding Up City's Furry Loiterers
By FRANK BRUNI
ATHENS--As it struggles to complete its odyssey of pre-Olympics
primping, this scraggly city finds itself pressed to prove more
than its ability to pave roads, plant trees and prettify
monuments.
It has to show that it hasn't gone to the dogs.
They are legion, and they are leashless. Strays saunter through
public squares, tails wagging or teeth bared, depending on their
dispositions and the nearness of meaty alms. Strays flank the
gilded portals to fancy boutiques like furry, four-legged doormen
with a naked hankering for table scraps.
In an unfortunate, widely publicized incident last summer, one
stray bit a Ukrainian archery coach who was in Athens for Olympic
test events and out for a run.
The wound was not serious, except to the scruffy image of Athens
and its environs, whose caretakers are now trying, in a manner that
might well be described as dogged, to tame the situation.
Just a few months ago the national government enacted legislation
meant to reduce the stray population by holding Greeks more
accountable, with toughened pet registration requirements and stiff
fines for abandoning their pets to the streets.
People here apparently do that with some regularity, which city
officials describe as the principal source of the problem.
Athens, for its part, is funneling about $2 million this year into
new animal shelters, new animal control officers and a major
sterilization project. Stray by randy stray, dogs are being rounded
up, neutered and then ~ if they are not adopted in two weeks ~ set
free to roam anew, but in a less reproductive fashion.
City officials concede that those combined efforts will not work
fast enough to make a major difference by the beginning of the
Olympic Games on Aug. 13, but they say there may be some
benefit.
" The city is trying to change," said Tonia Kanellopoulou, the
deputy mayor in charge of managing strays. That has become a
specially designated task and nearly full-time job.
Athens is not the only European capital with rampant strays, nor is
it the first Olympics host city to have to deal with a dog-related
problem before its turn in the international spotlight. Bucharest
has long been known for its vagabond canines, and Seoul had to take
dog meat off restaurant menus in deference to the sensitivities of
many athletes and spectators at the 1988 Olympics.
But the situation in Athens has its own special drama, in part
because Greeks exhibit such a broad, complicated range of reactions
to the strays in their midst.
Many Greeks not only tolerate but also admire strays for being
hearty, against-the-odds survivors, which is the way many Greeks
see themselves. But at least a few feel differently, and that
conflict in views has bred mysterious deaths, insidious accusations
and attention-grabbing antics in faraway locales.
In regard to the latter, an animal rights advocate put on a dog
costume and tied himself to a 12-foot cross outside the Greek
Embassy in Berlin last December. The advocate was protesting what
some animal welfare groups outside Greece said was a mass poisoning
of stray dogs and cats that had been ordered by Greek officials who
wanted the animals out of the way before the Olympics.
Greek officials denied any such slaughter, and several prominent
animal rights advocates here called the charges exaggerated and
unsubstantiated.
But they said that a little more than a year ago, as Greece assumed
the rotating presidency of the European Union and more foreign
dignitaries were due to arrive, dozens of stray dogs and cats went
missing from parks and squares that those dignitaries were likely
to pass by.
In at least one case, advocates said, carcasses were found, along
with containers of poison.
" It was organized," said Carol McBeth, director of the Greek
Animal Welfare Fund, referring to the killings. But, Ms. McBeth
said, "We knew the city of Athens wasn't involved. We knew the
Ministry of Agriculture wasn't involved."
The case was never solved, but the foreign animal welfare groups
raised a ruckus, and Greek officials confronted an unexpected
public relations nightmare. "This is the most fascinating side of
being a mayor," said Mayor Dora Bakoyanni, who took office in
January 2003.
" You have the most," she continued ~ and here she stopped the
sentence to search for the right adjective ~ "different
problems."
Toward the end of last year, Ms. Bakoyanni decreed that while the
city would sterilize strays, it would not kill any, not even the
sick ones, which would be cared for in shelters and clinics.
Athens is intent on an aura of compassion, and one of Ms.
Bakoyanni's aides made a point of mentioning, in an e-mail message,
that the mayor's dog, Manga, was a former stray that "seems to
believe he's of royal blood and acts as if he is king of the
house."
Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, president of the local committee
that is organizing the Olympics, said she adopted two female strays
last summer. Aphrodite, she said, is a blonde, while Olga is a
brunette.
Many other Athenians take assiduous care of the strays in their
neighborhoods, giving them food and even, in some cases, flea
collars. Most of the animals seem docile and surprisingly well
adjusted to life on the streets.
" It's like somebody's just let them out, like they're latchkey
dogs", Ms. McBeth said. "Some of them could actually benefit from a
diet."
www.nytimes.com/2004/02/26/international/europe/26ATHE.html?pagewanted=print&position
[2]
As reaction on your question: "Can you tell me when exactly did
they start the clean up of Athens. And, do you know how many strays
were in and around the area. I'm told there were up to 30,000 at
one time."
I don't know about that number but I can quote this information on
Athens by a direct witness, 17 March 2004:"It is difficult to say
as strays are poisoned all over the year, which is there way of
regulating birth control!
But it is strikingly worse since summer 2003.
Be informed that a group of strays in Athens, of which was spoken
in the newspapers about in September/October, was in fact taken to
be sterilised by an animal organisation and brought back to their
streets afterwards.
But NOW dogs disappear daily! In the harbour of Keratsini, where
formerly it was reasonably quiet if there were not too many, they
are fully active now! But there is a good reason for it : Athens
lacks good hotels (beds).
What they organised now : they will fill the harbour of Keratsini
(the part where they do not load and discharge) fill it totally
with cruise ships during the Olympic games.
That means there are a lot of hotels at once.
So total Keratsini is suddenly one big active warf and the dogs are
systematically exterminated ! In this pace Athens will indeed be
free of stray animals during the Olympic games."
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 16:27:23 -0000
From The official website of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic and Paralympic
Games
www.athens2004.com/athens2004/page/legacy?lang=en&cid=f718470429149f00VgnVCMServer28130b0aRCRD
[3] Stray Animals
The staging of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, is an
opportunity for the development of a long-term policy to deal with
the phenomenon of strays in the big cities. The Organising
Committee for the Olympic Games ATHENS 2004 has taken the
initiative to promote dialogue and cooperation with the Ministry of
Agriculture, the municipal authorities, the veterinaries and the
SPCAπs, in order to present a common, realistic and effective
solution to the issue. All stakeholders presented their initiatives
during a press conference held on June 26, 2003 at the ATHENS 2004
headquarters.
All parties involved have rejected euthanasia and have agreed upon
the following initiatives:
1. Stray animals will be collected from the wider area of Athens,
with the cooperation of the Municipalities and SPCA's.
2. A vaccination and neutering programme will be implemented in
cooperation with the Municipalities and the veterinaries.
3. All healthy, vaccinated and neutered animals will be brought
back to their natural environment.
These initiatives will be accompanied by an adoption programme, as
well as a public awareness campaign. The Hellenic Ministry of
Agriculture has already proposed an institutional framework that
covers these initiatives and actions taken by several
municipalities in the greater Athens area. ATHENS 2004 hopes that
this example will be taken upon by other agencies as well, so that
the necessary conditions for a long term solution to the issue will
prevail even after the Olympic Games.
Also see: Hellenic Ministry of Agriculture, Athens Municipality,
Piraeus Municipality, Agia Paraskevi Municipality
Subject: Royal Spanish wedding, bullfight and hunting programmed in
celebration.
Letter sent to the Spanish Royal Family, 16 March 2004 to
protocolo@casareal.es
The Hague, The Netherlands
16 March 2004
To the Royal Court of Spain
Your Highnesses,
First of all we share your grief for the victims of the train
attacks in Madrid on March 11th.
Action Against Poisoning is informed on some aspects of the
preparation for the wedding of Prince Felipe. We hope that the
Royal Family, their guests and the Spanish people will enjoy a
perfect day of joyful celebration that will be a mondial
event.
Allegedly bullfights and hunting are part of the program. If this
is the case we beg you to refrain from any such festivities that
include cruelty towards animals. We hope you can understand that
the majority of the people who witness the celebration get deeply
hurt by any (formal or folkloristic) ceremonial activity that
involves cruelty towards animals.
Festivities in particular do not match with any form of suffering,
either from people or animals. For that matter we are convinced
that cruelty is picked up easily by children when torture and
killing is connected with positive feelings like heroism and joy.
Besides that cruelty towards animals is one step away from cruelty
towards people.
We hope that your Royal Family will use the wedding of Prince
Felipe as an example for Spain and the rest of the world to tilt
the balance in well respected folkloristic customs towards a
greater respect for animal life.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: SPAIN, EL CAMPELLO - DO NOT KILL THE VICTIMS OF
MISMANAGEMENT
Ayto. de EL CAMPELLO
C/. Alcalde Oncina Giner, 1
03560 EL CAMPELLO (Alicante)
Tel.: 0034-965 63 72 00
Fax: 0034-965 63 29 82
campello@touristinfo.net
The Hague, 13 February 2004
Dear Madam Mayor of El Campello,
Action Against Poisoning is informed on the extremely dismal state
of the El Galgo Senior Kennel run by Mrs Patricia Osborne in your
community.
We will not dwell on the actual situation as we are sure that you
are well informed on all relevant details of the sorry state of the
dogs and the total lack of care and management by Mrs
Osborne.
Never before have we seen or heard of a such a mess. Never before
have we received so much accusing information on one single case of
massive animal abuse.
As the situation apparently is extremely urgent, and a world wide
known disgrace for El Campello, if not for Spain in general, we
suppose that you want to act swiftly in the closure of this hell on
earth. We beg you not to "solve" the problem by having the victims
of mismanagement and neglect killed to complete the story of this
animal Treblinka.
On the contrary, please show your compassion by cooperating with
trustworthy and professional animal rescue organizations like
Scooby and Sighthound Rescue, which are able to rescue and
repatriate as many animals as possible. We also trust that you will
never ever have any mentally and physically unfit person like Mrs
Osborne bear responsibility for any living thing, not even a
plant.
Please keep us informed on your actions. We would prefer to publish
a positive outcome of this nightmare in our web site.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: ROMANIA - Stray animal problem
To: ioniliescu@presidency.ro premier@gov.ro and
prefect@prefecturagorj.ro
Dear Mr President,
The Hague, 17 February 2004
Action Against Poisoning is regularly confronted with incidents of
human cruelty towards domestic and stray animals in your country,
mostly aimed at dogs. At this moment we are focused on the
slaughter in Matasari in the weekend of February 7th 2004, where
the Mayor Mr Gaspar Gheorghe obviously sanctioned and encouraged
the mass killing. We are saddened by the fact that we have to
appeal to you on this subject again. And we are especially
disgusted by the fact that allegedly a very influential PSD party
member on TV called on all inhabitants of Matasari to pick up
clubs, hit the dogs over their heads and kill them all. Such a
request may turn all inhabitants into animal abusers and killers
and it means that all domestic animals are at risk of being killed
as well.
Though we try to understand the economic and cultural background of
different societies we cannot fathom the pleasure that people
derive from the torturing, killing and even eating of their best
and most loyal friend, the dog. We are deeply worried about this
cruelty as in our opinion cruelty towards animals reflects an
attitude of disrespect for life in general. Disrespect and
indifference have a damaging influence on new generations. As you
certainly know this is a threat to any society.
We will not again elaborate on the solutions for possible stray
animal problems, the repercussions to your country of publicity or
our wish to have animal protection laws enforced. We know that you
and your advisors have been adequately and thoroughly informed on
decent solutions to prevent recurrence of this problem time and
again. So we will not repeat all messages that have reached you in
this case. But we repeat our plea to stop these practices and to
restore respect for animal ≠ and consequently human ≠ life in
Rumania.
With kind regards,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: THAILAND and VIETNAM - Pest Control, the recurrent global
failure
Message sent to the Embassies of Thailand and Vietnam via
www.ciwf.nl/vogelpest.html
30 January 2004
After repeated disasters in different regions pest control seems to
become a major global failure.
Action Against Poisoning is especially worried about the lack of
self regulation regarding livestock breeding, pest control
planning, livestock transport and communication. Only recently we
witnessed the mass cremation of livestock in a campaign against the
spreading of foot and mouth disease.
These images could not withhold parties around the world from
denying the problem and continuing the transport until the last
moment. These economically motivated postponed actions consequently
lead to more animal suffering and greater economical loss. Greedy
minds seem to have a very restricted learning capacity.
For these reasons we do not pity the self inflicted financial loss.
On the other hand we are devastated by the killing spree under
livestock caused by the umpteenth demonstration of lack of human
control.
January 2004 a new bird pest is spreading over Asia and threatening
to reach the rest of the world.
To contain this problem amongst an Asian society where poultry and
people are living together, the killing of the livestock seems to
be the only solution available.
Action Against Poisoning is informed by Compassion In World Farming
Nederland (see also www.ciwf.co.uk/AvianFlu) on their protest
against the current Thai and Vietnamese practice of putting living
poultry in bags and burying them alive.
Although we understand the health threat and urgency of the
situation, we beg the responsible breeders and authorities to at
least pay some respect to the victims of their care and policy by
killing their fowl in a decent way.
Above all we hope that the current pest will be contained as soon
as possible. We hope that the message gets through that we should
at all costs prevent animals from suffering. We hope that this
recurring global problem will get more serious attention in the
fields of ethics, (veterinary) health care, (third world)
agriculture, trade policy and last but not least education.
We ultimately hope that this disaster will lead to the wider
understanding that uncontrolled livestock breeding for whatever
kind of human" consumption" will backfire on ourselves.
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
(see also www.ciwf.co.uk/AvianFlu, www.ciwf.org and www.ciwf.co.uk
)
Subject: STOP CAT POISONING CAMPAIGN IN KFAR SABA
Letter sent to ISRAEL 26 January 2004
Dear Mister,
Action Against Poisoning has been informed by The Cat Welfare
Society of Israel (CWSI) that as a result of a single case of cat
rabies in Kfar Saba there are plans under way for mass poisoning in
that area.
We understand that authorities have confiscated cats from private
homes where the family could not prove that their cat was rabies
vaccinated.
Allegedly even exclusively indoors living cats that have never
ventured outside have been confiscated.
We presume you have noticed the resentment from your citizens to
such actions as the alternative could be a well organized effective
rabies vaccination campaign for domestic animals, strays and
wildlife.
In our view a humane way of killing of animals should only happen
as a last resort to a massive health threat.
Poisoning is the most random cruel and agonizing way of killing the
targeted animals. Of course it is popular as it is the cheapest,
most anonymous and - when you spread it everywhere - surely the
most effective method. Why not spread oral rabies vaccine in the
same way?
You might forget that poisoning kills or harms every non targeted
animal and sometimes children as well. Collateral damage you might
say.
While fighting a health threat poisoning leads to a considerable
new health threat.
Consequently you have to deal with the outrage and grief of the
owners and parents of the victims and numerous witnesses of your
poisoning campaign. In short, please refrain from the poison
approach. And please keep us informed on your actions.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
1. Comments Needed: Israel Cat Welfare Society Battles Against Mass
Poisonings.
We support The Cat Welfare Society of Israel (CWSI) which is asking
for help in stopping this inhumane campaign.
Source: The Cat Welfare Society of Israel, ellen@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
, www.cats.org.il
Animal News Center,
www.anc.org/pets/pets_article.cfm?identifier=2004_0122_cwsi
ASPCA, news-alert@aspca.org , 1/22/04
As a result of a single case of rabies in a cat in Kfar Saba,
Israel, plans are under way for mass poisonings in the area. is
asking for your help in stopping this inhumane campaign. According
to CWSI, inspectors have also confiscated pet cats at will from
private homes where the family could not prove their cat had a
current rabies vaccination.
Even "indoor only" cats who have never ventured outside have been
confiscated, they said.
Polite letters are needed to Israeli officials urging them to
cancel this plan. CWSI also recommends asking these officials to
demand comprehensive oral rabies vaccine campaigns for wildlife and
affordable vaccine programs for domestic animals.
CONTACT: (emails working as of 1/22/04)
Mayor of Kfar Saba
Fax: +97297659555
Email: mayor@ksaba.co.il
Danny Naveh, Minister of Health
Email: sar@moh.health.gov.il
Avraham Poraz, Minister of the Interior
Email: sar@moin.gov.il
Subject: MORE BULLFIGHTS IN FRANCE (English and French text)
Letter sent 25 JANUARY, 2004 to French Mayors
Via mairie-aire@wanadoo.fr, communication@ville-ales.net,
z.koukas@ville-arles.fr, mairie-bayonne@wanadoo.fr,
beaucaire@free.fr, mairie.de.beziers@wanadoo.fr,
commune.bougue@wanadoo.fr, mairie.bourgmadame@wanadoo.fr,
mairie.captieux@wanadoo.fr, webmaster@carcassonne.org,
contact.mairie.caveirac@wanadoo.fr, mairie.cazaubon@wanadoo.fr,
mairie.de.ceret@wanadoo.fr, maire@ville-chateaurenard.fr,
contact@collioure.net, ville.dax@wanadoo.fr,
eauze.mairie@wanadoo.fr, mairie.fontvieille@wanadoo.fr,
communedefourques.47@wanadoo.fr, gimont@wanadoo.fr,
mairiehagetmau@wanadoo.fr, communication@ville-istres.fr,
contact@labrede-montesquieu.com, mairie@ville-lunel.fr,
coste@mauguio-carnon.com, mairie@mont-de-marsan.org,
maire@ville-nimes.fr, mairie@parentis.com, mairie-rion@wanadoo.fr,
mairie-smc@ville-saint-de-crau.fr, stperdon@hotmail.com,
mairie.saintsever@wanadoo.fr, contact@mairie-soustons.fr,
mairie@tarascon.org, katy.guyot@vauvert.com,
villeneuve.mairie@wanadoo.fr aignan@wanadoo.fr
Dear Mayor,
Action Against Poisoning maintains the following general view on
bullfights:
We applaud the preservation of European regional cultural heritage.
However, we protest against existing folkloric festivities that
involve any form of animal abuse. In our view the association of
animal abuse and festivities is a hazard to the population. If
torture and killing is culturally conceived as a joyful occasion,
then animal abuse can be associated with fame and national pride.
We have noted that animal molesters tend to violence in general. So
in terms of mental health and public order especially a mayor has a
potential problem when we promote any form of animal abuse under
the disguise of cherished traditions. We should not teach our
children that any form of animal torture is normal, leave alone
laudable.
We regret the fact that several EU member states have lower
standards on animal protection than the more civilized member
states.
It is one of the targets of Action Against Poisoning to raise that
standard to the highest standard existing within the EU. It is sad
enough that some member states persist in the continuation of
traditional habits that involve the torture and/or the subsequent
killing of animals.
Believing that France was a civilized member state of the EU in
October 2003 we were informed on the efforts to stop the
reintroduction of bullfighting in Carcassone after a stop of 48
years. However, the judge decided that bullfighting could return to
Carcassone "as it had been an uninterrupted tradition" in that
city.
This motivation of this devastating verdict is a blatant lie and
with that the law is violated. The verdict also violates existing
EU animals protection laws. But above all the motivation is a
ridiculous argument.
Consequently witch burning, the guillotine and whatever medieval
traditions could be reinstated as "uninterrupted traditions".
We are saddened that as mayor of a growing number of
bullfight-cities you chose to ignore the average European opinion
on animal welfare and the existing animal protection laws within
the EU. Please reflect on our arguments against bullfighting and
use your influence to stop bullfighting in your community.
Yours truly,
actionagainstpoisoning.com
---
Monsieur le Maire,
La position de "Action Against Poisoning" (Action contre les
Empoisonnements) sur les corridas est la suivante:
Si nous nous fÈlicitons de la sauvegarde des cultures rÈgionales en
Europe, nous protestons contre les festivitÈs folkloriques
existantes qui impliquent n'importe quelle forme d'abus envers les
animaux.
Selon nous, l'association de mauvais traitements aux animaux et de
festivitÈs met la population en danger. Si la torture et le
massacre sont culturellement perÁus comme de bons moments, les
mauvais traitements aux animaux peuvent Ítre associÈs ‡ la renommÈe
et ‡ la fiertÈ nationales. Nous avons remarquÈ que les gens qui
font du mal aux animaux tendent ‡ la violence en gÈnÈral.
Un maire peut ainsi se retrouver dans sa ville face ‡ des problËmes
de dÈsordres mentaux et de sÈcuritÈ publique quand les mauvais
traitements aux animaux sont favorisÈs sous le dÈguisement des
traditions apprÈciÈes. Nous ne devrions pas enseigner ‡ nos enfants
que la torture des animaux, quelle qu'elle soit, est normale et
encore moins louable.
Nous regrettons que plusieurs Etats membres de l'Union EuropÈenne
aient des normes infÈrieures sur la protection des animaux que les
Etats membres plus civilisÈs. L'un des objectifs de l'Action contre
les Empoisonnements est la gÈnÈralisation cette norme au niveau le
plus ÈlevÈ existant dans l'Union EuropÈenne. Il est assez
regrettable que quelques Etats membres persistent dans ces
habitudes traditionnelles qui impliquent la torture et/ou le
massacre d'animaux.
PersuadÈs que la France Ètait un Etat civilisÈ de l'UE, nous Ètions
au courant des efforts faits en octobre 2003 pour stopper la
rÈintroduction de la corrida ‡ Carcassonne aprËs un arrÍt de 48
ans.
Cependant, un juge a dÈcidÈ que la corrida pouvait revenir ‡
Carcassonne "car cela avait ÈtÈ une tradition ininterrompue" dans
cette ville.
L'argument de ce verdict dÈvastateur est un mensonge flagrant qui
viole la loi. Le verdict viole Ègalement des lois existantes de
protection des animaux dans l'Union EuropÈenne.
En consÈquence, croyez-vous que les b˚chers de sorciËres, la
guillotine et quelques traditions mÈdiÈvales pourraient Ítre
rÈtablies en tant que "traditions ininterrompues"?
Nous nous rattristons que, comme les maires d'un nombre de plus en
plus important de villes taurines, vous ayez choisi d'ignorer
l'opinion publique europÈenne sur la protection des animaux et les
lois existantes de protection des animaux dans l'Union
EuropÈenne.
Nous vous demandons de rÈflÈchir ‡ nos arguments contre la corrida
et d'employer votre influence pour faire cesser les corridas dans
votre commune.
En vous remerciant de l'attention que vous avez portÈ ‡ notre
lettre, nous vous prions d'agrÈer nos salutations
distinguÈes.
Action Against Poisoning
Subject: ARGENTINA - Poisoning of animals on behalf of the tourist
industry in Buenos Aires
Letter sent to the President and other relevant Argentine
authorities
President of Argentina Email: WEBMASTER@PRESIDENCIA.GOV.AR
Ministry of Tourism Email: info@turismo.gov.ar
Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations Email:
argentina@un.int
Secretariat of Culture & Communication Email:
info@correocultura.gov.ar
www.petitiononline.com/ma1c2347/petition.html
www.canadianvoiceforanimals.org/Argentina.html
To The President of Argentina
6 January 2004
Action Against Poisoning is informed on the current poisoning
campaign aimed at stray animals on behalf of the Argentine tourist
industry. We pity the small minority of tourists who hate animals.
These unfriendly people are not able to recognize dogs and cats as
a peaceful and natural part of civilization. With that handicap
they probably are not able to value their own society, let alone
your culture anyway. Although you are better off without such
guests, we never heard that animal haters stayed away from tourist
spots where stray animals are treated well. On the contrary, most
tourists love animals and they enjoy a meeting with a wandering dog
or cat. And when you worry about health risks for your beloved
tourists, you should rather fear people for spreading diseases than
stray animals.
If however you want to control the amount of stray animals we
strongly object to poisoning, as this "method" is extremely
painful, cruel and indiscriminative. In a stealthy way strays,
pets, cattle, protected animals and people fall victim to this most
disgusting and degrading way of killing. You may never have seen
the horrible sequence of unrest, panic, vomiting, bleeding, spasms,
suffocating and final resignation of a poisoned animal. You may
have no idea of the agony of the victims or the emotional impact on
people who see (their own) animals die this way. We saw the outrage
and grief of guests watching 30 animals die around their Tunisian
hotel one sunny day in 1985. In effect these witnesses vowed never
to return to that country. So it is better to realise that
poisoning can strongly backfire on your tourist program.
Stray animals become a problem when they multiply freely and
consequently sterilization is the solution. Killing is not a
solution as other freely multiplying stray animals will fill the
gap at the feeding places. We advise you to control that problem
with a "vaccinate, spay, neuter and release" program that returns
healthy sterilized stray animals to the spot where they were
collected. This way they will keep other strays away and stop
multiplying. In short, such a campaign will give you a long term
solution to the problem. We realise that such campaigns require a
plan, adequate veterinarian care and a proper budget. We also
realise that poisoning is cheap and effective on the short
term.
And we know for sure that people should not treat their "best
friend" the dog so badly. Their loyalty, gentleness and unwavering
trust in men is unprecedented. They deserve our protection rather
than our cruelty. In our view economic motives should never lead to
any form of cruelty. Please be aware that cruelty towards animals
evokes cruelty towards people as well. We are not informed on the
existence of Argentine animal protection laws. If they exist, as we
expect from any civilized country, they should not be violated. For
these reasons we urge you to stop poisoning campaigns in Buenos
Aires or anywhere else in Argentine immediately.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: USA-Africa - New York Governor Pataki vetoed Bill S.2735a
against "canned shooting"
Letter to Governor Pataki sent on 4 November 2003
Phone: 518-474-8390 Fax: 518-474-1513
Email: www.state.ny.us/governor/form.htm ,
DIVERSE_LIFE@ecoterra.net ,
fund.org/library/documentViewer.asp?ID=1086&table=documents
To New York Governor
Mister Pataki
Fax 518-474-1513
Dear Mister Pataki,
Action Against Poisoning supports animal protection in general. We
are informed that you vetoed bill S.2735a that would have banned
"canned shooting".
Although we resent even the fairest kind of hunting as an unequal
contest, we are thoroughly disgusted with canned shooting. As far
as we know the average hunter views the shooting of a sitting duck
as "not done". And so is the killing of protected species. These
two ethical and legal aspects are enough to veto this sickening
kind of amusement.
Your decision to veto the bill reflects either ignorance of or
disregard for the extinction of exotic animals, human ethics,
public opinion and the consequences for U.S. foreign relations.
Your decision to continue the guaranteed bagging of exotic trophies
in foreign countries underlines the current unfavorable image that
Americans misbehave wherever and whenever they want.
In short, it makes us foreigners cynical about American politics.
As we do not understand why a U.S. governor would follow the lead
of the least respectable parties, we ask you: For what reasons do
you support canned shooting?
We will publish your answer in our web site,
actionagainstpoisoning.com
With kind regards,
Action Against Poisoning
Subject: EU - A majority of the EU Parliament wants to terminate EU
subsidies to fighting bull breeders
Letter sent to the European Commission on Wednesday 29 October
2003
To: European Commission and kabinett-fischler@cec.eu.int ,
sanco-mailbox@cec.eu.int , info@anti-corrida.de ,
helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk , eija.hemila@mmm.fi , info@cmlag.fgov.be
, fvm@fvm.dk , poststelle@bmvel.bund.de ,
grand-public@agriculture.gouv.fr , drys@otenet.gr ,
minister@agriculture.gov.ie , min.agri@ma.etat.lu ,
infotiek@dv.agro.nl , office@bmlfuw.gv.at ,
stampa@politicheagricole.it , mipabox@politicheagricole.it ,
gabinete.ministro@min-agricultura.pt ,
registrator@agriculture.ministry.se , redazione.web@governo.it ,
urpdie@governo.it , csansdel@mapya.es
Att. of Commissioner Michel Barnier
Wetstraat 200
B-1049 Brussel
FAX 0032-2.2981599
Subject: Support of the termination of subsidies to fighting bull
breeders
Dear Mr Barnier,
Action Against Poisoning already sent you a letter of even tenor
regarding the Interreg IIIC project Minotauro. This time we are
informed that current subsidies for the breeding of fighting bulls
are questioned in the EU Parliament. We strongly support the
termination of these subsidies.
Our general view on bullfights is as follows:
We applaud the preservation of European regional cultural heritage.
However, we protest against existing folkloric festivities that
involve any form of animal abuse. In our view the association of
animal abuse and festivities is a hazard to the population. If
torture and killing is culturally conceived as a joyful occasion,
then animal abuse can be associated with fame and national pride.
We have noted that animal molesters tend to violence in general. So
in terms of mental health and public order we have a potential
problem when we promote any form of animal abuse under the disguise
of cherished traditions. We should not teach our children that any
form of animal torture is normal, leave alone laudable.
We regret the fact that several EU member states have lower
standards on animal protection than the more civilized member
states. It is one of the targets of Action Against Poisoning to
raise that standard to the highest standard existing within the EU.
It is sad enough that some member states persist in the
continuation of traditional habits that involve the torture and/or
the subsequent killing of animals.
Although we do not seek to undermine feelings of national pride,
torture is a violation of existing animal protection laws and an
affront to the civilized member states. Consequently we oppose to
any kind of EU support for bullfighting, including the breeding of
the bulls.
We do not agree with the argument that these bulls have had a
wonderful pampered life before they enter the arena. There simply
does not exist any excuse for torture even of the shortest
duration.
So in our point of view it is unacceptable to support activities
that taunt the average European opinion on animal welfare and the
existing animal protection laws within the EU. Let the EU terminate
any support of activities, including the breeding of fighting
bulls, that maintain or promote cruel traditions in Europe.
Please hand this letter to the relevant decision makers.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning
Subject: China - Appeal to stop bear farming 'bile bears'
Letter sent to the Chinese Ambassador in Australia on Thursday 30
October 2003
www.animalsasia.org/beInformed/cbRescue/cbp001.html
His Excellency Ambassador Mr Wu Tao
Embassy of the People¥s Republic of China
15 Coronation Drive
Yarralumla ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
30 October 2003
Dear Ambassador Wu Tao,
With Chinese friends we visited your beautiful country in 1999. As
we do not master your language we were limited in our
communications. However, with mutual respect and understanding for
our cultural differences we had open discussions about our
experiences in China including Hong Kong. In short, we were
impressed by the technical progress and the friendliness we met in
the different parts of China.
Action Against Poisoning supports the welfare of animals in general
and particularly aims at the prevention of poisoning, which we see
as one of the worst offences towards animals. Last year we were
informed on the efforts of the European Union to stop the
maltreatment of 'bile bears' in China and more recently IAKA got
our attention on the same matter.
As their letter to you expresses perfectly our view and approach on
this issue we copy their format. We simply could not write a better
letter.
We would like to express both our concern over the deplorable
practice of bear farming and our sincerest appreciation to the
Government authorities in China for their admirable work towards
eliminating such a practice.
The agreement between the Animals Asia Foundation, the China
Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) and the Sichuan Forestry
Department (SFD), to rescue 500 suffering and endangered Moon
Bears, is one of the most remarkable and significant steps ever
taken to address the welfare of individual animals, as well as the
conservation of a species as a whole and we applaud their efforts
wholeheartedly.
In recent years China has experienced dramatic change and growth in
all arenas, which has led to an increased interest in business
investments and tourism opportunities from the international
community. As the spotlight continues to shine on China in the lead
up to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, it would seem only natural
that these advances should extend to ending such medieval and
disgraceful practices as bear farming which have no place in our
civilized world.
We implore you to add your voice and encouragement to the growing
call from within China and right across the world, to end bear
farming. Please alert your government to the good work of Animals
Asia, the CWCA and SFD and pass on our congratulations for their
endeavors to end such unnecessary suffering once and for all.
Yours respectfully,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: HOLLAND - A number of Members of Dutch Parliament demand
that animal welfare activists will be prosecuted as
terrorists.
Letter sent to The Members of the Dutch Parliament on Monday 13
October 2003
The Hague, 13 October 2003
To the Members of the Dutch Parliament
Lange Poten 4 Postbus 20018
2500 EA Den Haag
The Netherlands
fax 0031 (0)70 318 2234
Ladies and gentlemen,
Action Against Poisoning fights animal poisoning in particular and
supports the development of animal welfare in general. For an
actual and concise general motivation for animal protectors we
refer to "Spare a thought on our cruelty to animals" by Mohd Idris
( rense.com/general42/crueltu.htm or
www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200310030035396.php ).
We took note of the intention of a number of MP¥s to put active
animal protectors under anti-terrorist legislation. We are
surprised by this initiative as our current penal code deals with
crimes whether or not committed by activists, which we reject
categorically anyway. It eludes us which specifically by animal
activists committed crime would escape our penal code. Let us draw
a parallel between the welfare of men and animals.
Advancement of the welfare of "the Dutchmen" consequently leads to
active measures against actual maltreatment or other forms of
interference with that welfare. Thanks to multiple incidents of
`senseless¥ violence we know where passivity leads to and our
fellow citizens are called upon to perform a more active role in
the combat to stop it. On the analogy of human welfare, the
advancement of animal welfare leads to active measures against
animal maltreatment and interference with animal welfare as well.
Obstruction of these animal protective actions evokes questions:
Why the paradoxical difference in view on the welfare of men and
animals? Which MP¥s gain from the criminalization of animal
protectors and why? Are offenders of animal protection laws
protected? In short, what political or social interest is
involved?
When active interference with animal welfare is labeled as
terrorism, it is an absurd stigmatization of the most active
"terrorists" amongst us: the animal protection inspectors. We call
upon you to forestall further elaboration of this mental error,
that is also detrimental to our image internationally, and to stop
any further discredit of legal actions on animal protection.
But above all ≠ which is much more important than all the foregoing
≠ we call upon you to protect and improve the legislation on animal
welfare and animal protection.
We regret the apparent crumbling away of our animal loving attitude
and laboriously constructed laws during the current government
period.
With best regards,
Action Against Poisoning
www.actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: THAILAND - Ongoing slaughter of dogs for human consumption
in Thailand
Letter sent to the Government of Thailand on Monday 13 October
2003
webmaster@moac.go.th , info@dld.go.th , webmaster@health.moph.go.th
, somlak@hotmail.com , prdiv3@tat.or.th,
govspkmn@mozart.inet.co.th, anek@thaigov.go.th ,
loyleuan@thaigov.go.th
Dear Sirs,
Action Against Poisoning is informed on the ongoing slaughter of
dogs for human consumption in Thailand. We understand that adverse
economic situations create initiatives that should not have arisen
under better circumstances.
However, with all respect for cultural variety in feeding habits
and attitude towards animals, we do object to the inherent insanity
and cruelty involved in the selecting, collecting, transport,
killing and skinning - or worse: skinning and killing. We need not
go into details as we presume that you are well informed on them.
For these reasons alone this mentally and physically unhealthy
practice should be banned. Besides that it is hard for us to
understand how people can treat their " best friend" the dog so
badly. Their loyalty, gentleness and unwavering trust in men is
unprecedented. They deserve our protection rather than our cruelty.
In our view economic motives or a generally laudable cultural
tolerance might never lead to any form of cruelty. Accordingly
existing animal protection laws should not be violated, or
softened, leave alone revoked.
Please be aware that cruelty towards animals evokes cruelty towards
people. From our personal experience we know Thailand as probably
the most peaceful Asian society. We ask you to keep up to this
standard and promote education and legislation to finish this
trade.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: SRI LANKA - Stray round-up before the planned Cricket
Tournament in Kandy
Letter sent to the Government of Sri Lanka on Saturday 18 October
2003
To Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickramsinghe, Sri Lanka
To Mr.W.J.M Lokubandara
And to all who this may concern
Dear Mister Wickramsinghe,
Action Against Poisoning supports the improvement of animal welfare
in general and fights animal poisoning in particular. We were
informed on the fact that in the Kandy region of Sri Lanka
authorities chose for a humane approach of the stray animal
problem, as we understand through the help of the University and
Mrs Zellweger's organization. We were delighted with this vision,
that protects strays with a sound health and protection plan, of
enlightened authorities.
By now we are to understand that the approaching cricket tournament
in Kandy has turned this laudable vision into a destructive action
aimed at the killing of the same stray population. With all respect
for financial, organizational and bureaucratic limitations of a
country we cannot understand why a civilized low cost program is
abandoned for a killing policy.
If indeed this change in policy was inspired by fear of the
authorities of embarrassing the foreign visitors with the stray
animal population, we ask you to take into consideration the
following: Most foreign visitors are animal lovers who like to meet
even dirty or sick cats and dogs, rather than visit an obviously
temporarily sterilized city where strays have been wiped out. Most
animal lovers even tend to spend money on the care for animals in
need.
The civilization of a society is measured by the attitude towards
and treatment of its (especially stray) animals as performed by its
citizens and its animal welfare organizations. It is better to show
your animal protection efforts to the public, than to frustrate and
deny them. On these themes publicity can make or break the image of
Kandy and Sri Lanka. In short, no one likes to visit the killing
fields of Kandy.
We call upon you to turn the tide immediately on behalf of the
animals and the continuation of the planned cricket games. Instead
of evoking a boycott, why not use the tournament to raise financial
support for the ongoing good work for these stray animals in
Kandy?
With kind regards,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Send protest letters to:
To: prime_minister@sltnet.lk
CC: buddhasasana@eureka.lk , bbc@sri.lanka.net ,
gamini@unl.upali.lk
Subject: JAPAN - Plans for a Dolphin Healing Center in Sanuki
Letter sent to Japanese authorities on Friday 26 September
2003
To: Mr. Shinya Akazawa, Mayor of Sanuki city, &
Machidukuri-suishin-ka
Fax:+81-87-894-4440
E-mail:hisyo@m.sanuki.ne.jp
Dear Mister Shinya Akazawa,
Action Against Poisoning objects to any form of animal abuse in
general and animal poisoning in particular.
We are informed on plans for a so called Dolphin Healing Center in
Sanuki. Allegedly this will include an experiment to test if
dolphins can survive in adverse environmental conditions.
If this is true, then the name Healing Center is misleading as far
as the health of the dolphins is concerned. Although we keep a keen
eye on amusement purposes for the use of dolphins, we do appreciate
the healing effects of contact with dolphins for people with slight
or severe mental problems.
If the last is your purpose, we applaud that initiative, provided
the fact that the dolphins are held in only the best environmental
circumstances. If however this is not the case - as we fear - we
request you to stop the Dolphin Healing Center initiative.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: GREECE - Compliments to OIKO for their article against
hunting
Letter sent to Greece on Friday 26 September 2003
To: Greece OIKO editor@kathimerini.gr
Greece OIKO - Kathimerini syntaxi@kathimerini.gr
Greece argos animal welfare argos@spark.net.gr
Subject: Thanks
Dear Mr Tsichlias,
Although we have not read "the OIKO article against hunting" (we
have only seen the cover) the fame of the makers has spread around
the world.
Action Against Poisoning fights the poisoning of animals and
supports animal protection in general. As we have had bad
experiences with poisoning of stray and domestic animals by hunters
we are applauding your effort to stop this unfair kind of amusement
with its criminal side effects.
We are amazed that hunters are so afraid of their game that they
even wear camouflage suits. We would welcome the day when hunters -
and bullfighters for that matter - would discover the meaning of
¥sport¥ and ¥fair game¥ and go for their colleagues.
Anyway, we greatly admire your courage and support your effort to
change the public opinion in one of the most traditional hunting
areas.
Thanks a lot to all who did this article!
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: PORTUGAL - Sponsoring Down Syndrome patients by
bullfight
Letter sent to APPT21, Portugal on Friday 13 June 2003
AssociaÁ„o Portuguesa de Portadores de Trissomia 21
Rua Dr. JosÈ Espirito Santo, Lote 49, Loja 1
1900-672 Lisboa
TEL 00 351 21 837 16 99,
FAX: 00 351 21 837 17 12
E-mail: appt21@net.sapo.pt
13 June 2003
Ladies and gentlemen,
We were informed that you are staging a bullfight in Setubal on
July 5 to sponsor your work on behalf of people with the down
syndrome.
We applaud your work as we know that - although the acceptance of
and care for people with the down syndrome has greatly improved -
there is much to be done yet.
However, we are saddened by the fact that you have chosen for a
bullfight as it reflects the opposite of your goal: protecting the
vulnerable.
So far we have not heard of any welfare fund that collects its
money by torturing animals. Apart from this ethical aspect we
thought that bullfights are illegal in Portugal.
We hope that you are not inviting people with the down syndrome to
attend bullfights and warming your gentle clients to the art of
torture and subsequent killing. They probably are too gentle and
caring to take to it.
Anyway, we hope to have made it clear that welfare and loving care
are totally incompatible with the abuse of animals. Where your
association tries to improve the mental attitude towards your
clients, we see cruelty towards animals as a growing mental health
threat.
So please refrain from this intended bullfight on the 5th of July
before you do considerable harm to the good cause in general and
your organisation especially.
Yours sincerely,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: CANADA - At this very moment harp seals continue to be
ruthlessly slaughtered on Canada's east coast"
Letter sent to Canadian authorities on Tuesday 11 March 2003
Letter sent to the Canada's Prime Minister as a reaction on:
"Seals CANADA: At this very moment harp seals continue to be
ruthlessly slaughtered on Canada's east coast"
Subject: ANIMAL ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH
To: Hon. Mr. Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada; Hon. Mr.
Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans;Hon. Mr. David
Anderson, Minister of the Environment; Canadian Representatives
Abroad; major Canadian media
Our organization Action Against Poisoning is informed on the
increase of the Canadian quota for seals to be killed in 2003 as
seals are blamed for the decrease in the cod catch. We are informed
that overfishing rather than the feeding habit of seals is the
cause of the decrease in the cod population. In short, twisted
economical motives will lead to a further decrease of the seal
population and an increase of cruel slaughtering of young
animals.
Again animal welfare has rock bottom priority in government policy.
It is saddening and amazing that a civilized society like Canada is
the culprit in massive animal abuse. Especially when this slaughter
is executed amongst " sitting ducks", the most cowardly and
sickening form of hunting we can imagine. What kind of personality
isrequired to clobber helpless animals to death? What respect
deserve such husbands, fathers or sons?
We advise you to consider the effect of this practice, not only for
the image of Canada and tourism, but also for the mental health of
your citizens who are involved or confronted with legalized
massacre.
To stress this point we also advise you to read "Eternal
Treblinka", subtitled "Our treatment of animals and the holocaust",
by Charles Patterson, ISBN 1-930051-99-9.
We urge you to stop the seal hunt.
Yours Sincerely,
Action Against Poisoning Europe
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: CORFU - Round-up campaign to remove stray animals from the
streets of Corfu
Letter sent to Greek authorities on Monday 5 May 2003
Mayor of Corfu, Alexandros Mastoras; fax no. 26610 32779
May 5th 2003
Dear Mister Mastoras,
For most visitors and tourists stray animals are a colorful part of
a local scenery, mirroring the tolerance and kindness of a people.
The fishermans town of Alhao in the Portuguese Algarve is a good
example. Many inhabitants care for the stray animals who lead their
lives in parks and squares without causing any problem to public
life. These caring Olhanense inhabitants and their visitors know
that well treated stray animals are very friendly to everybody. The
non-existence of a stray problem is not a denial of a "problem",
but an understanding of the relationship between manís best friends
and the people. In short: most tourists love animals and the few
visitors who dislike animals tend not to be your most beloved
guests anyway.
We are informed that you are one of the authorities involved in a
round-up campaign to remove stray animals from the streets of Corfu
and collect them in the Tsagaraki shelter. A round-up campaign
invariably leads to an overload on even the best shelter, causing
suffering and killing of the animals involved. We are informed that
this Tsagaraki shelter does not meet any of the minimal EU quality
standards for animal care. Consequently the stray animals of Corfu
are in grave danger.
Our organization Action Against Poisoning is extremely worried
about the implicit cruelty to the animals that is unbecoming to the
civilized Greek culture. Please do not degrade this image to the
world. Tourists especially dislike any action that harms cats and
dogs, which are common domestic animals to them. As an alternative
a "vaccinate, spay, neuter and release" campaign for stray animals
could control your problem in a friendly and respectful way. Alas,
this is a long term solution and we are saddened by the fact that
usually an easy cruel short term policy is chosen. Saddened also as
we know that this policy will be repeated again and again as it
will not improve the situation in the long run.
Regarding your stray animal problem Action Against Poisoning urges
you to choose for the long term solution of a "vaccinate, spay,
neuter and release" campaign, using the aid of local citizens who
care about the fate of stray animals on your lovely island. Why
such a campaign? With vaccination, sterilization and release a
healthy and stable population of stray animals is obtained.
Sterilization prevents the population to grow; release prevents
other/new animals to take their place in the existing local food
chain; vaccination guarantees the health of the animals and the
public health. A stable and happy stray population and caring
people who know them live in harmony at ease.
What about the costs of such a campaign? The release of vaccinated
and sterilized animals relieves the shelters. The budget for the
miserable "imprisonment" in the shelter can be put to better use
for a happy life outside for the treated stray animals.
So please choose a strategy that will save the lives of animals.
Your caring attitude towards living creatures will command the
respect of your citizens and visitors alike.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: AUSTRALIA - Dog exporter sends dogs to Asian destinations
where their fate is insecure.
Letter sent to this Australian exporter on Wednesday 2 April
2003
via email scott@jetpets.com.au
DATE: 2 April 2003
Dear Mr. Scott,
We are informed that you are a main exporter of dogs to Asia.
Please be very careful about sending dogs to destinations where
their fate is insecure.
As "men¥s best friends" not only the pedigrees but all dogs deserve
a life in harmony with their nature. In our view they should not be
abused for any reason. For instance, if people love racing it is
fine if they wear themselves out or even kill themselves to reach
the top. It is silly but OK if it is their own choice.
Not so for dogs as inconsiderate and greedy behavior of their
owners often leads to abuse, abandonment or premature death. In
short: a horrible life. We need not go into any details of the
suffering of dogs that get into the wrong hands, as we are sure
that you are well aware of Asian standards of animal
treatment.
So please refrain from sending dogs to destinations where they will
meet an early and cruel death.
Yours sincerely,
ACTION AGAINST POISONING
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: ALASKA - About half of the Iditarod sled race dogs do not
reach the finish line.
Letter sent to CNN on Tuesday 11 March 2003
To the President of CNN:
Email: jim.walton@cnn.com
Date: 11th March 2003
Dear Mr. Walton:
We hope you understand the influence of CNN on the people
especially the children. You give attention to the Iditarod dog
sled race on your web site. Please, give your readers and viewers
the animal protection side of the Iditarod story. In contrary to
what this article claims now, Iditarod race rules do not promote
the safe treatment of dogs. On average, 50% of the dogs who start
the race cannot make it across the finish line.
Unlike many dog sled races in the United States, the Iditarod does
not ban the use of whips. Iditarod rules do not require vets to
give the dogs physicals at the checkpoints. In fact, many mushers
breeze through many of the checkpoints so that the dogs only get
visual checks, if that. The Iditarod rules do not require sick and
injured dogs to be under a vet's care. Many sick and injured dogs
are sent to a prison to be cared for by inmates and receive no
veterinary care. In the 2001 Iditarod, a sick dog was sent to this
prison, was chained up in the cold, and died.
Mushers treat their dogs abominably. In the Iditarod, dogs are
forced to run 1,150 miles over a grueling terrain in 8 to14 days,
which is the approximate distance between Atlanta and Portland,
Maine. Dog deaths and injuries are common in the race. USA Today
sports columnist Jon Saraceno called the Iditarod "a travesty of
grueling proportions" and "Ihurtadog." Fox sportscaster Jim Rome
called it "I-killed-a-dog." Orlando Sentinel sports columnist
George Diaz said the race is "a barbaric ritual" and "an illegal
sweatshop for dogs." USA Today business columnist Bruce Horovitz
said the race is a "public-relations minefield."
Please visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition (SDAC)
(www.helpsleddogs.org) website to see pictures, and for more
information. Be sure to read the quotes on
www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks.htm. At least 119 dogs have died in
the Iditarod. There is no official count of dog deaths available
for the race's early years. Causes of death have also included
strangulation in towlines, internal hemorrhaging after being gouged
by a sled, liver injury, heart failure, and pneumonia. "Sudden
death" and "external myopathy", a fatal condition in which a dog's
muscles and organs deteriorate during extreme or prolonged
exercise, have also occurred. The 1976 Iditarod winner, Jerry
Riley, was accused of striking his dog with a snow hook (a large,
sharp and heavy metal claw). In 1996, one of Rick Swenson's dogs
died while he mushed his team through waist-deep water and ice. The
Iditarod Trail Committee banned both mushers from the race but
later reinstated them. In many states these incidents would be
considered animal cruelty. Swenson is now on the Iditarod Board of
Directors.
Tom Classen, retired Air Force colonel and Alaskan resident for
over 40 years, tells us that the dogs are beaten into submission:
"They've had the hell beaten out of them." "You don't just whisper
into their ears, "OK, stand there until I tell you to run like the
devil"." They understand one thing: a beating. These dogs are
beaten into submission the same way elephants are trained for a
circus. The mushers will deny it. And you know what? They are all
lying." - USA Today, March 3, 2000 in Jon Saraceno's column.
Beatings and whippings are common. Jim Welch says in his book
"Speed Mushing Manual", "I heard one highly respected [sled dog]
driver once state that "Alaskans like the kind of dog they can beat
on". "Nagging a dog team is cruel and ineffective... A training
device such as a whip is not cruel at all but is effective." "It is
a common training device in use among dog mushers... A whip is a
very humane training tool". Mushers believe in "culling" or killing
unwanted dogs, including puppies.
Many dogs who are permanently disabled in the Iditarod, or who are
unwanted for any reason, are killed with a shot to the head,
dragged or clubbed to death. "On-going cruelty is the law of many
dog lots. Dogs are clubbed with baseball bats and if they don't
pull are dragged to death in harnesses....." wrote Alaskan Mike
Cranford in an article for Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper (March,
2000).
Jon Saraceno wrote in his March 3, 2000 column in USA Today, "He
[Colonel Tom Classen] confirmed dog beatings and far worse. Like
starving dogs to maintain their most advantageous racing weight.
Skinning them to make mittens. Or dragging them to their
death."
The race has led to the proliferation of concentration-camp-like
dog kennels in which the dogs are treated very cruelly. Many
kennels have over 100 dogs and some have as many as 200. It is
standard for the dogs to spend their entire lives outside tethered
to metal chains that can be as short as four feet long. In 1997 the
United States Department of Agriculture determined that the
tethering of dogs was inhumane and not in the animals' best
interests. The chaining of dogs as a primary means of enclosure is
prohibited in all cases where federal law applies. A dog who is
permanently tethered is forced to urinate and defecate where he
sleeps, which conflicts with his natural instinct to eliminate away
from his living area. Because he is close to his own to his own
fecal material, a dog can easily catch deadly parasitical diseases
by stepping in or sniffing his own waste.
Please inform your readers and viewers wider about this abusive
race.
Sincerely,
Action Against Poisoning, Europe
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: EUROPEAN UNION - Protest against bull fight subsidies
"Interreg IIIC project Minotauro"
Letter sent to the European Commission on Wednesday 5 February
2003
To: European Commission
Den Haag, February 5th 2003
Att. of Commissioner Michel Barnier
Wetstraat 200
B-1049 Brussel
FAX 0032-2.2981599
Subject: Interreg IIIC project Minotauro
Dear Mr Barnier,
We are informed that the EU provides subsidies for regional
cultural and economic development. We understand that within this
frame of reference a request for subsidy for Project Minotauro has
been submitted. We applaud the preservation of European regional
cultural heritage. However, we protest against existing folkloric
festivities that involve any form of animal abuse, leave alone the
development of new activities of that kind. In our view the
association of animal abuse and festivities is a hazard to the
population.
If torture and killing is culturally conceived as a joyful
occasion, then animal abuse can be associated with fame and
national pride. We have noted that animal molesters tend to
violence in general. So in terms of mental health and public order
we have a potential problem when we promote any form of animal
abuse under thedisguise of cherished traditions. We should not
teach our children that any form of animal torture is OK.
We regret the fact that several EU member states have lower
standards on animal protection than the more civilized member
states. It is one of the targets of Action Against Poisoning to
raise that standard to the highest standard existing within the EU.
It is sad enough that some member states persist in the
continuation of traditional habits that involve the torture and/or
the subsequent killing of animals.
Whatever the concerned regional authorities think, torture is a
violation of existing animal protection laws and an affront to the
civilized member states. So in our point of view it is unacceptable
to support an interregional project that taunts the average
European opinion on animal welfare and the existing animal
protection laws within the EU. Minotauro will not contribute to a
better Europe. Let the EU not be the instrument that promotes,
endows and excuses the spreading of cruel traditions over
Europe.
Please hand this letter to the committee that evaluates the
Minotauro project.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning
Subject: FRANCE - Novillada - young spectators learn to play
bullfights with calves
Letter sent to the Mayor of Carcassonne on Saturday 24 August
2002
To: Monsieur Raymond ChÈsa, Maire de Carcassonne:
Dear Mr ChÈsa,
Although Action Against Poisoning especially fights poisoning it
also opposes any other form of cruelty towards animals. We support
every initiative to stop events that - in a perverse way -
transform a cowardly ritual of torture and killing into a festive
folkloristic activity. We are aware that it is very hard to stop
folkloristic festivals once they are established. So we try to
contain this plague to Spain but we are saddened to see that more
civilized European countries like Portugal and France are
susceptible to it.
We are informed that a "novillada" - where young spectators learn
to play bullfights with calves - is planned in your town Carcassone
to take place on September 1st 2002. If this is true it marks a
dark page in the history of French civilization as such a
'festival' will even exceed the barbarism of the infamous Spanish
bullfights.
Please take note why we are concerned about this development:
As mayor of an European city you will be aware of the aggressive
behaviour of people who act out their frustrations on your society
in the most violent or damaging ways. You know that these people
are a burden to your citizens, your police forces and your (mental)
health system. We suppose you also know that people who kill
animals for fun have a very limited respect for life in general and
can be classified as mentally deranged.
We can not imagine that you welcome an extra influx of children who
are ignorantly or deliberately trained - under your supervision and
responsibility as mayor of Carcassone - to become violent citizens.
If you take this responsibility, please be so kind to keep these
new citizens in your city and cope with the consequences in the
future. Additionally, we advise you to beef up your police forces
and your (mental) health system.
And we will advise people to stay away from Carcassone. Anyway,
although we are upset we will not end our plea in a harsh way. We
count on your responsibility for your citizens. We expect that you
will stop this 'primeur' of a "novillada". Furthermore, please help
the people who have dreamed up this sick idea: put them in the
loving care of a good mental hospital. We thank you for taking the
right decision.
Yours truly,
Action Against Poisoning, The Hague
actionagainstpoisoning.com
Subject: FRANCE - Keep bullfights out of France
Letter sent to French authorities on Tuesday 14 May 2002
To: Mr. Philippe Douste Blazy
PrÈsident de la CommunautÈ de Toulouse
Mr. Nicolas Biscaye
PrÈsident de AFIPA
12 bis Rue des Coquetiers
11400 Castelnaudary
Subject: Bullfights
Dear Mr Douste Blazy,
As you can see in our web site, actionagainstpoisoning.com, we are
confronted with extreme cases of cruelty to animals. It is obvious
to us that any mistreatment of animals is unacceptable. We are
especially concerned when cruelty to animals is an expression of
folkloristic festivities like bullfights.
When public harassing, torturing and eventually killing of an
animal is part of recreation or ΩfunÖ, cruelty is accepted and even
applauded. Applause is in total conflict with animal protection
laws. Public approval of cruelty to animals - for that reason alone
- is most degrading for adult people and a horrible example of
human behavior for their children.
We are convinced of the relation of cruelty to animals and cruelty
to people. So for more than one reason bullfights should be
banned.
We urge you to stop the import of this "game" to France. It is bad
enough that other countries are addicted to this sad and silly
pastime. Please keep it South of the Pyrenees and out of your
beautiful Haute-Garonne!
With kind regards,
Action Against Poisoning
Subject: AFGHANISTAN - Animal poisoning in the streets of Kabul to
root out rabies
Letter sent to the President of the U.S.A. on Monday 5 February
2002
To the President of the U.S.A.
president@whitehouse.gov
Dear Mister Bush,
In the night of January 31st 2002 Dutch TV news showed the
poisoning of stray dogs in the Afghan capital Kabul. The poisoning
of all (!) dogs is done to root out rabies amongst dogs in Kabul.
In the pictures an Afghan man put a white powdery poison in meat
and fed this meat by hand to an obviously friendly golden
retriever. In the last pictures the dead victims were piled
up.
We expected that the war should be over by now but we are
distressed to see that the killing goes on. In this case it
concerns the elimination of feral and domestic dogs. We suppose
that vaccination was not considered as poisoning is cheap. On the
other hand we do not expect that rabies vaccines are available in a
destroyed city.
Poisoning is one of the most barbarian, painful and cruel ways of
killing. It is sad to see this killing as - in the showed footage -
these dogs showed no rabid behavior at all.
Anyway, a people that is in the process of restoring its
civilization should not kill its animals. With your contacts within
the Afghan leadership we urge you to stop this massacre. Please
provide the Kabul authorities with rabies vaccines and the means to
apply them before the genocide on "man's best friend" has been
completed. Only when we restore respect for life we might expect a
lasting peace.
We thank you for all you can do in this case,
Action Against Poisoning
Who can possibly know better about poisoning than a
seasoned veterinarian who assisted in numerous cases? Please read
his statement in Portuguese or English... and other people's
stories.