Action Against
Poisoning
WISH FOR 2007 BY
A.A.P.
We are
fed up by the fact that animal protection laws are not enforced,
degraded or revoked.
The
emergence of political parties for animals triggers violent
reactions reflecting ignorance or disregard for incidental and
structural animal abuse in hunting, animal research, live animal
exports, intensive farming and how we look after
pets.
It is
extremely alarming that under the proposed bill Animal Enterprise
Terrorism Act (AETA), legal activities such as peaceful protests,
consumer boycotts, media campaigns, legislative proposals, or even
telling the public what happens in puppy mills, factory farms, or
canned hunting facilities, could be classified as acts of
terrorism.
We get
unwell by well informed people believing in “our unique humanity”
or convinced of “a world without the exploitation of animals being
unfit for human habitation”. This unfeeling humanity may be unique
but we definitely do not share that kind
of humanity or such a world.
In terms
like: batty bunny-lovers, human-baiting time, political
zoophilia, Disneyfication or terrorists we find neither a shred of
animal abuse awareness, nor a base for argument against
parties for animals.
Indeed we cannot
let animals, called "ignorant as ever",
vote. However, it is remarkable that we let plenty
- ignorant as ever - people vote who can hardly count, write, read,
reason, let alone care.
So what is so disturbing about observant people voting on
behalf of the animals?
We cannot
fathom how one can be so scared or offended by animal rights or "a
voice for the animals".
However,
as members of the Dutch "Party for the Animals" we are grateful for
reactions that perfectly explain the need for our party
or the "Animals Count" party. Their aim is durability of
society, which is profitable for animals, nature and people
alike.
Such animal parties are less prone to political compromises
that move animal welfare issues to rock bottom
priority.
Their members have succeeded in making contact with animals,
understanding that chained and caged animals differ from
animals living in harmony with their surroundings.
These members derive no pleasure from inflicting pain or
killing but try to stop that. So far for these
“terrorists”.
A few
days after the election our new MP's got excellent news
coverage for issues that were ignored before, returning animal
welfare to the agenda. So the tide of animal welfare
degradation is turning and I would not call that "barking mad
politics".
We wish
that more parties for animals emerge to counterbalance the
political degradation of animal welfare and animal rights.
info
OUR WISH FOR
2006
Although European Union's main concern for animal protection is
related to economic or public health issues, we are delighted by
the sudden and strong decision to stop subsidies for international
cattle transport as of 24 December 2005. However, in 2005 we were
flooded with world wide animal cruelty information, reflecting a
total disregard for animal welfare.
For our wish for 2006 we focus on a non violent and therefore
underexposed forms of animal cruelty from our direct
experience:
Making inquiries to the origin of regularly dumped litters at
garbage dumps it appeared that hunters keep bitches to breed their
yearly new hunting dog under the following scheme: The "best" 2
pups are kept having all the milk and the rest of the litter is
dumped directly after birth. After final selection about 3 weeks
later the last rejected pup is dumped at the same spot.
Finding numerous abandoned diseased dogs it is clear that many dog
owners do not vaccinate their dogs against common local dog
diseases as only rabies vaccination is compulsive (as it is a human
health threat). It is cynical to realise that dogs are protected
against a disease that does not exist, getting them exiled when
falling victim to the real threats.
If people would not deny their litter inoculation against diseases
through mother milk and subsequent vaccination against dog diseases
we would not face this sorry mess. Given the low costs of doing
things right as a responsible dog owner we are infuriated by the
staggering costs and labour of the rescue of abandoned pups or
dogs.
We wish that, starting 2006, responsible authorities and dog owners
stop turning - by wilful neglect - perfectly healthy pups and dogs
into animal waste.
OUR WISH FOR
2005
As we know, Mega-events are often attended by massive animal abuse.
Especially the Olympic Games seem to be affected with an appalling
attitude towards stray animals. But political events like EU or
NATO summits are surrounded with the same "care". Building sites
and cities are cleared of "unhealthy or offending animals".
As usual, poisoning is the cheapest and most effective way.
Time and again we are baffled by the fact that authorities:
- believe that tourists and visitors hate to see stray animals in
the street scenery.
- do not realize that people are more offensive and a health threat
than stray animals.
- are so far away from reality that they do not know that stray
animals are the most docile and friendly animals on earth.
OUR WISH FOR 2005 IS A LAW ENFORCED RESPECTFUL NON KILLING APPROACH
OF STRAY ANIMALS ON BEHALF OF TRANSIENT GAMES OR MEETINGS, WITH AN
ALTERNATIVE ON THE BAN OF MONEY WASTING POMPOUS NONSENSICAL OR
SUPERFLUOUS EVENTS.
OUR WISH FOR
2004
Our wish for 2004 still is a global scientific effort to perceive,
understand and translate the animal languages. Beside malice and
greed, ignorance probably is the most common cause for animal
abuse. Especially the ignorant notion that animals have no feelings
or awareness may lower the threshold for violence or neglect. If
only animals could speak out to prove otherwise!
We regard publications that shed light on the animal psyche as
milestones on the road to understand and respect animals. It is
clear that our understanding of their behavior and expressions are
not enough to desist from animal abuse.
To fight ignorance our wish for 2004 is a global scientific effort
to perceive, understand and translate the animal languages. And of
course spread and publish that knowledge. If animals could talk to
us, or better if we could confirm their intelligence, reasoning,
intentions, affection and fears, we would not be ignorant any more
and less inclined to harm them.
Read this in other languages: Portuguese, Turkish, Spanish, German,
Dutch, French, Danish, Croatian, Greek, Russian
OUR WISH FOR
2003
A CLEAR DECLARATION FROM THE CHURCH IN THE MATTER OF ANIMAL
PROTECTION
In many more or less civilized countries animal rights and
protection laws are non existent or disregarded due to cultural and
economical reasons. Consequently animals are in peril of being
neglected, hurt or painfully killed without any repercussion for
the culprits. The issue has rock bottom priority on the political
agenda. So we can not depend on the political system for effective
laws and law enforcement.
We experienced that in Portugal people refer to their religion when
they refuse to sterilize their cats and dogs: "we should not
interfere in nature's course / God's creation". It is remarkable
that by the same people deliberate poisoning of animals is accepted
as a fact of life. Obviously this example shows a susceptibility
for religious authority and a failing moral concept of animal
rights.
It is sad to notice that the church - the herald on moral issues
regarding creatures - is not heard on the issue of animal
abuse.
If politicians fail to establish a better life for animals, the
clerical leaders should take the moral stand. The animals deserve a
honest and human judgement.
Please speak out!
You might be their only hope.