Foie gras off at Harvey Nichols
Famous British department store Harvey Nichols promised to take foie gras from its restaurant menus following a plea by legendary James Bond actor Roger Moore. The actor urged the company to ban the ‘delicacy’ which is made by force-feeding ducks and geese to enlarge their livers. "It's absolutely splendid news that Harvey Nichols has taken my appeal and that of other caring people into consideration and will be pulling foie gras from its menus," said Moore. The London store had already taken the product off its shop shelves and will remove it from menus in the new year. Moore's contribution is part of a larger campaign run by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) which has already enlisted the help of Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, who spoke against the food in a video aired in April. Debonair actor Moore promised he would continue to target other illustrious London stores. "I will now be turning my attention to a little shop in Piccadilly called Fortnum & Mason which PETA informs me is resistant to appeals for compassion for cruelly force-fed birds!" the 007 star said.

Animal rights protesters picketed a restaurant because it has foie gras on the menu. Viva members organised the protest outside the Lilly restaurant on Llandudno’s West Shore. The campaign group want the restaurant's owner to remove it from the menu. The production of foie gras is illegal in the UK but the product is allowed to be imported from the EU, mainly France. A Viva spokeswoman, Judi Hewitt, said: “This is why we took our protest to Llandudno and paid a visit to the Lilly Restaurant. I find it very sad that a few owners refuse to stop serving up this obscenely cruel dish despite knowing about the horrific abuse to birds.” The Lilly’s owner Phillip Ashe said: “We neither want to condemn or condone the production of foie gras but we don’t see ourselves in the position of having to make the moral decision for our clients.” “Our clients are sophisticated and knowledgeable diners who are aware of what foie gras is and what they are ordering.”

Pizza Express is currently promoting the sending of 6000 goats to "people who need them" Please complain or at least spread the word not to eat in Pizza Express during this promotion. Animal Aid has a leaflet about why sending animals is a bad idea.  It can be downloaded from www.animalaid.org.uk as a pdf or you could write to info@animalaid.org.uk to ask for some to take to any branches of Pizza Express near you.

Reindeer steaks in Lidl
Discount supermarket Lidl has angered animal rights campaigners by stocking reindeer steaks on its shelves. The German chain has introduced the £5.99 frozen steaks as part of its premium Deluxe range. Vegetarian campaign group Viva! hit out at Lidl for selling the meat, claiming the way in which the reindeer were herded was cruel.  “Lidl is destroying the magic of Christmas by selling dead reindeer,"campaigns manager Justin Kerswell told The Grocer. "What they term 'luxury cuisine' belies the truth behind an industry that exists to exploit wild animals. Reports show that up to 70% of reindeer killed for meat are calves." However a Lidl defended their decision to stock the meat. "The reindeer come from one of the world’s biggest reindeer herds which is looked after by the indigenous people in the Siberian Tundra on the Jamal peninsula," said a Lidl spokesperson. "They live in their natural habitat and have plenty of space to move around freely.”

Halal meat
Halal meat is being served in schools, hospitals and pubs.  The Mail’s Danny Penman went undercover at an abattoir to find the truth. Killing an animal by cutting its throat without stunning is ­illegal in this country. ­However, there is a legal loophole allowing this if it is being done for religious reasons for the production of halal or kosher meat. But this is an exemption that the British ­Veterinary Association and the Government’s advisers, the Farm ­Animal Welfare Council, are objecting to, saying this form of slaughter causes ‘intolerable cruelty’. They have repeatedly demanded that it be banned.  “During my 2-hour visit, I watch as lamb after lamb has its throat sliced open while fully conscious. They make pitiful bleating and gurgling sounds as they choke on their own blood. It’s a chilling sound that, once heard, stays with you for days afterwards. And then there’s the fact that the animals can witness each other being killed as they travel along the ­conveyor belt. (Not allowed with slaughter) Their hooves twitch wildly as they try to break free. One lamb cries out for more than 20 seconds before it flops off the end of the conveyor belt and on to a rotating table. From there, it is shackled by its hind legs and hauled up to the ceiling on a hook, where it is left with a dozen others to ‘bleed out’ - another ­important part of the halal process. Of course, no slaughter of an animal is easy to watch. But it is hard to remain dispassionate as I watch ­dozens of still-conscious animals bleeding to death, the floor covered by an inch of warm, frothy blood.”  ……. “That is not to say that conventional abattoirs operate without fault. ­Earlier this year, I investigated an organic slaughterhouse, certified by the Soil Association, that had been secretly filmed by Animal Aid. Inside, the staff were caught beating animals and failing to stun them before cutting their throats. Steve McGrath, chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, later said: ‘I have watched the film and have seen abject cruelty by the slaughtermen to the animals being killed; ­ineffective stunning; animals having their necks dislocated and heads decapitated before being fully bled; pigs being kicked; and shackling before stunning.’ Similar problems were found in every one of the 7 slaughterhouses that Animal Aid secretly filmed, despite the presence of ­Government appointed vets. At least in this halal abattoir, I do not witness any deliberate mistreatment.”  Read the full article at: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328616/Halal-meat-served-schools-hospitals-pubs-Vets-say-Islamic-slaughter-cruel.html#ixzz14zDR9DoI  And go vegan!

Live Exports farce
A livestock ship, Joline, was expected to arrive at Dover Eastern Harbour 12^th Nov to recommence the export of sheep. The ship is completely open decked and has a draught of less than 2 metres.  The drivers will have to travel on another ship and meet the lorries on the other side of the channel. How would this fit in with welfare laws that demand those trained in animal care (allegedly the drivers) must accompany the animals during the journey? Or will Defra bend the rules yet again to suit the exporters?  Well…. On the way the ship broke down and was towed back. As of 21^st Nov it was thought the ship may arrive within the next 2 weeks and it will then have to go through seaworthy tests. Note: not tests to see if it can safely carry animals.  The president of the EU animal intergroup has now put forward that there should be an 8 hour max journey time across Europe as the trade can’t be policed properly.

Australian live exports
MPs in Australia have joined animal welfare activists, meat workers and union leaders to call for the end of the trade for both ethical and economic reasons. The effort defies Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig, who recently reiterated support for live exports. One MP said she was compelled by research that showed a sheep processed locally was worth 20% more to the economy than a sheep exported live. In 2008, live sheep exports earned $341m for Australia, compared to $1.5 billion earned for sheep meat processed here. The Australian Meat Industry Employees Union says 960 meat workers have lost their jobs this year, with many plants down to 50% capacity and workers on a maximum 3 days a week. WSPA backed this with research that showed most Australians believe the practice is cruel. A Galaxy poll for the group revealed an overwhelming 79% believe live sheep exports are cruel, while 86% want it phased out if there's an alternative that saves jobs. Campaign manager Jessica Borg said around 40,000 sheep died in ships enroute to the Middle East every year. "Half die of starvation because they can't recognise their food as food," she told AAP. "They've been raised in paddocks and then they are given pellets, it's a horrible way to go. "It's really not a smooth cruise ship ... there's 3 sheep per sq m. and they spend a month at sea." Ms Borg said in that some respects, the sheep that die at sea are the lucky ones because video at arrival ports shows sheep with broken limbs and others shoved into car boots or on roof racks to be slaughtered at buyers' homes. While some were required live for religious ceremonies, many ended up in supermarkets and could have been processed in Australia as more than 70% of abattoirs here are halal accredited, she said. The coalition will not support the motion, maintaining Australia has made significant advances in welfare. Nationals Senator Fiona Nash recently called the motion a "nutty idea".

Australia's exports of live sheep and cattle are set to grow despite calls from animal rights groups for the trade to end. The industry is using new ships which can take more animals even further. Some customer nations prefer to be able to do their own slaughtering for religious reasons, or because of a lack of refrigeration. Others want animals for breeding. The executive director of live exporter company Wellard, Steve Meerwald, has been visiting current and prospective customers in the Middle East and elsewhere. "There's been a significant reliance on exports to Indonesia, smaller destinations in S. E. Asia and the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council]," he said.  "But we're now seeing a reinvigoration of some past markets and Egypt is a case in point; countries like Turkey, Russia, China, Mexico." Mr Meerwald says there is increasing demand for animals for breeding purposes and herd expansion.  "Very large sections of these very important markets for Australia and very wealthy markets, a lot of them, have a cultural desire to import livestock, have them slaughtered locally and have the fresh meat available in the market on the same day," he said. But the RSPCA wants the trade shut down. It has been focused on an AQIS report released earlier this month. The Quarantine and Inspection Service investigated the deaths of 295 cattle on the Ocean Shearer, which left Fremantle in late February. The animals had pneumonia.  The RSPCA's Melina Tensen says Australia needs to move to a meat only trade. "The conditions of transport should be a lot more stringent and the opportunity is there in the review of the Australian standards for the export of livestock, which is going to be conducted early next year to tighten those regulations for live exporters," she said.  "Certainly one of the recommendations that came out of the AQIS report following this investigation was that animals should be provided with more space, but in the long term of course, the RSPCA wants to see a phase out of this trade and replaced with a meat only trade." Ms Tensen says the RSPCA does not object to small numbers of animals going overseas for breeding purposes, but she says there are still issues with transportation. "It's well-known that transport is very stressful for animals and certainly the longer the distance, the greater the risk to the welfare of the animal concerned," she said. "For example, cattle going to Russia or sometimes even further for breeding, one could argue that those are incredibly long distances and even though these countries may want to rebuild their herds or build up numbers. The question is, can't we do that some other way? Can't we be exporting semen rather than live animals for example?"

Ahimsa milk
Ahimsa Milk, meaning milk produced without harm to any living being, produced by cows living at a Hare Krishna farm set up by Beatle George Harrison, is to go on sale for the first time. Cows are milked twice a day by hand, unless they are suckling calves, in a shed where ancient Sanskrit prayers are played over a loud speaker and massages are given to calm any skittish heifers.  Instead of slaughtering bull calves, the animals live a 'full and happy live' drawing the plough across fields or the mill to grind corn. The pasteurised milk will be sold for £3 a litre in shops around Harrow, London, where there is a large Hindu community. However monks are already in talks with Asda and Sainsbury’s about making the milk available across the country. Bhaktivedanta Manor was gifted to the Hare Krishnas in 1973 and has recently spent £2.5m to set up the “Hilton of farms”. Sita Rama das, Director of the Lotus Trust that runs the farm, said even organic or free range dairy products are from farms where animals are mistreated and eventually slaughtered. Ahimsa milk will be the first produce available for Hindus, whose religious beliefs mean they cannot harm any living animal. “This premium milk will offer consumers the chance to avoid buying from an industry which is based around slaughter and suffering, and instead buy from a fresh, new and compassionate alternative,” he said. The dairy has 44 dairy Short Horns and Meuse-Rhine-Yssel cows producing 1,000 litres of milk every week, although they hope to expand as demand is already outstripping supply.  All the animals are given herbal medicine in a special animal hospital when they are ill and a full Hindu burial when they die of natural causes.  The new farms will be officially opened by 30 saffron-clad priests and Dominic Grieve, the attorney general.

CCTV in slaughterhouses
Following the release of clandestine footage calling into question welfare standards at RSPCA endorsed Happy Eggs farms in Fife many of you who wrote to demand CCTV in all Freedom Food accredited farms received the following message from the RSPCA:  “……. many of the slaughterhouses currently approved by the RSPCA’s Freedom Food already have CCTV installed.” The way forward is to persuade local and national authorities, meat quality assurance schemes and supermarket buyers to include the use of CCTV/Webcams as part of any trading agreements or assurance schemes.  Note the RSPCA say that “…. many of the slaughterhouses currently approved by the RSPCA’s Freedom Food already have CCTV installed.”  Quite frankly many is not enough. The RSPCA can easily insist that ALL Freedom Foods endorsed animal handlers (from hatcheries and breeding farms all the way through to animal transporters and slaughter houses) have CCTV/Webcams and recording hard drives installed.  Before calling on everyone else to do something about it the RSPCA should lead by example.  Can you all, especially those who are members or supporters of the RSPCA (not the SSPCA!), contact the RSPCA Chief Executive and ask that they do just that. Also ask when the equipment can be installed and running and if they don’t intend making such monitoring part of the RSPCA Freedom Foods scheme, why not?” The RSPCA Chief Executive is Mark Watts and his e-mail address is: mwatts@rspca.org.uk  and copy it to his secretary ecasey@rspca.org.uk   Please send copies of any replies to acal@jfrobins.force9.co.uk or John F. Robins, Secretary, Animal Concern Advice Line (ACAL), c/o Animal Concern, P.O. Box 5178, Dumbarton G82 5YJ.  Mr. Watts and his staff have not bothered to reply to communications about this and about the use of RSPCA Freedom Foods in support of a planning application which will result in the death and displacement of seals in the Sound of Harris!

Morrisons became the first supermarket to promise to install CCTV at its abattoirs to reassure the public. The RSPCA called for other chains to follow suit. The supermarket said CCTV images from its Colne and Turriff abattoirs would be stored for 30 days and made available to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Abattoirs that do not install CCTV cameras could face additional inspection costs, under plans discussed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) board. The FSA board is being asked to endorse a proposal to encourage abattoirs to install CCTV as a tool to help protect animal welfare. FSA director of operations Andrew Rhodes has recommended the policy in response to undercover filming by Animal Aid, which has exposed breaches of animal welfare legislation at a number of UK abattoirs over the past year. In a paper discussed at an FSA board meeting in London on Tuesday, Mr Rhodes writes: “Breaches of animal welfare legislation will not be tolerated. The FSA is working with industry to ensure operators comply with the legislation, but where operators are unable to demonstrate compliance, the FSA will vigorously enforce the legislation on behalf of Defra. “The Board is recommended to endorse the actions taken by the Executive in encouraging the installation by Food Business Operators (FBOs) of CCTV in slaughterhouses, and active monitoring of footage, as a tool to help protect animal welfare.” The paper adds: “If FBOs are unable to prevent breaches of animal welfare legislation and are unwilling to take proactive corrective action, for example voluntary installation of CCTV with active monitoring, or additional training of FBO staff, then FSA will consider putting in additional staff to observe slaughter practices. The FBO would be charged for such staff until compliance could be satisfactorily demonstrated.” Animal Aid is campaigning to encourage supermarkets to only buy meat from animals killed in slaughterhouses fitted with CCTV cameras. It is urging its supporters to lobby retailers in a postcard campaign. “The slaughterhouse owners will listen to the supermarkets, who are their main customers, and the supermarkets will listen to their customers – you,” Animal Aid says on its website, “CCTV won’t make slaughter and the meat industry OK – far from it – but it will prevent some of the shocking cruelty and illegality that we found where we filmed undercover.”  Farmers Guardian

British chicken welfare not better
Shoppers who care about animal welfare should shun standard British chicken and buy meat imported from thousands of miles away in Thailand, according to the RSPCA. Britain's biggest animal welfare charity said that the standards in 2 of the biggest poultry exporters, Thailand and Brazil, were generally higher than in basic UK production. The RSPCA said Thai poultry had more space – around 13 chickens per sq metre compared with 20 per sq metre in basic UK production – and were allowed to grow for longer, 42 days, compared to as little as 35 days here. They were also allowed more rest; 6 hours of darkness rather than the 4 they have here. Although more variable, standards in Brazil were also often better, said Dr Marc Cooper, an RSPCA farm animal welfare scientist, who visited poultry farms in Thailand last year and in Brazil this year. In an interview with The Independent, he said consumers were wrong to assume that chicken from Britain was raised to a higher standard than cheaper birds from developing countries – where land and labour cost less. Dr Cooper said: "The UK industry always say we can't raise our birds to a higher welfare standard because we are always threatened by imports and imports are coming in at a lower welfare standard. That argument simply isn't true." Peter Bradnock, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, said: "I don't think Marc Cooper is right".  The breeds used in Thailand were not slower growing, he said, but producers had to grow the birds slower and give them more space because sheds used natural ventilation and outside temperatures were hot.  Still better to be vegan

Western Australia is one of only 2 states to veto ads on public transport exposing the cruelty of factory farming. The Animals Australia ads, which show confronting photos of caged chickens and pigs on commercial farms, will appear around most of Australia, but have been banned in WA and Queensland. The Public Transport Authority said it considered the advertisements too ``confronting'' to be inside its buses. But animal welfare groups accused the WA Government of hiding the truth from the public. Animals Australia director Glenys Oogjes said consumers had a right to know how their food was produced, and by rejecting the ads, the Government was stopping consumers from making informed choices. Transport authority spokeswoman Debra Bishop said internal advertising on buses was ``in your face''. ``We strongly believe these ads are unsuitable in this application. They could be considered confronting in this context because, from the passengers' point of view, they are inescapable,'' she said. Ms White said the organisation had requested advertisements which are not in your face but rather would fit into panels above bus windows like in other parts of the country. Ms Oogjes said it was not up to the Government to make decisions on what the public needs to know. ``I think it's terrible that they are censoring what information is provided to the community," she said. Questions on the issue had to be submitted to the State Government in writing.

Nocton super dairy cow numbers to be cut
The number of cows at a planned super dairy in Lincolnshire is set to be cut. The 22-acre facility at Nocton near Lincoln had originally been for 8,100 animals kept indoors, producing 220,000 litres of milk a day. But opposition from residents and animal rights campaigners led to the plans being withdrawn in April. Now Nocton Dairies Limited has said new plans will be for a smaller - but so far unspecified - number of animals. But critics insisted the sheer size of this operation, based on similar super dairies in the USA, would blight the area, damage smaller farmers and pose a risk to the welfare of the animals. Nocton Dairies director Peter Willes told BBC Radio 4's Farming Today they had altered the plans to give the animals more space and outdoor access. He said: "We do not feel there is a nutritional benefit for the cows to go outside. But we have listened to the concerns of welfare groups, the RSPCA and the public of what they feel is better for the dairy cows.” He added: "The application will be going in for less than 8,100 cows." Nocton resident and campaigner Andrew David said despite hearing reports the numbers would be halved, he was still opposed to the development. "4,000 is still twice the size, I think, of the largest dairy operation in the UK. "It is huge - and the significant difference between 8,000 and 4,000, does not address the 2 key areas that we are concerned about, one is environment, the other is health."

Won’t stock the milk Tesco, Sainsbury, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer have all said they won’t stock milk from the mega-dairy. Morrisons said it would consider buying from the farm. Asda refused to answer a "hypothetical" question.

A group of animal rights activists seeking to draw awareness to the cruelty of battery hen farming operations have hidden a webcam in a factory farm in Israel. The result: a live webstream that shows these animals confined in conditions that would widely be regarded as inhumane, and gross. The factory farm managers haven't been able to locate the cam.

'Dog meat' to go on sale in Birmingham
Bogus Labrador steaks, Greyhound burgers, and Beagle chops were on the menu at Birmingham Farmers’ Market. Boasting to be organic and free range, the pooch meat will be sold in packaging complete with pictures of happy dogs running through fields and swimming in streams to show that the animals were lovingly reared before being slaughtered. But pet lovers need not worry, as the products have not been made from real dogs.  Instead they are in fact a vegetarian meat substitute being sold in a bid to shock the public and persuade them to think twice before buying meat. Andrew Butler, campaigner for Animal Aid, which is behind the stunt, manned the 'dog meat' stall at the market in the city centre's New Street on 3 Nov. "Most people eat parts of various animals every day without thinking too deeply about what those animals' last moments were like," he said.  "We want people to confront the fact that all of these animals died with the smell of blood in their nostrils and terror in their eyes, and yet they are no different from the millions of dogs we dote on.  Our stall will engage the public about the way animals raised for food are killed and why certain animals are deemed unworthy of our compassion while others are treated as part of the family."  The stall was set up in a bid to highlight Animal Aid's recent slaughterhouse investigation.

12 large dogs that were destined for the dinner table began new lives after a Beijing woman saved them. The 12 were among 60 dogs being transported in appalling conditions by dog dealers in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Despite the best efforts of Li Jiahui, the other 48 dogs in the group were not so lucky. Li, who is a vegetarian and who has a former stray dog as a pet, was in Inner Mongolia with friends when she encountered the dogs.  Outraged, Li called police, who stopped the truck at a nearby toll station and questioned the driver. Li said she had a good look at the dogs and could see many of them were wearing collars, suggesting they had been pets. Li said the owner of the truck told her he was taking the 60 dogs to a kennel in Linhe where he would sell them for 100 yuan each. He said they would then be resold to nearby restaurants. With help from the police, Luo Ronggui, the owner of a nearby kennels, agreed to look after the dogs temporarily while they waited for the Beijing-based China Small Animal Protection Association (CSAPA) to intervene and buy them. Sadly, by the time the dogs arrived at Luo's kennels, 15 of the 60 were dead. And when the CSAPA and the police got in touch with Luo after the National Day holiday, Luo said only 21 dogs were still alive and he said they had been repossessed by Jiang who had taken them back to Yinchuan. Li said Jiang insisted he would not sell the 21 remaining dogs to the CSAPA for less than 9,200 yuan. Upon their arrival at Linhe, CSAPA staff found only 12 dogs remained. They struck a deal to buy them for 4,200 yuan and take them to Beijing. Li said it was tragic that not all the dogs could be saved and she called on people to pay more attention to the living conditions of small animals in China. Zhou Runrun, who works for CSAPA, said the association receives calls appealing for help to save small animals every day. During incidents such as the one involving Li, they can only get things done with help from the police. "Dog dealers are irresponsible," she said. "But the police can do nothing more than talk to them because of a lack of relevant laws." Zhou said there are no regulations governing acceptable conditions for transporting dogs and there are no laws about the quarantine inspection standards for dogs because they are not recognized as edible animals. In addition, there is not an animal protection law. "All we can do right now is buy them from the dealers," she said.  China Daily/Asia News Network

The police rescued at least 71 dogs from being butchered and sold for their meat in Northern Luzon in the Philippines. The police intercepted a van along the North Luzon Expressway in Angeles City in Pampanga. Some 73 dogs were traumatized when found inside the van. 2 of the dogs had already died.

Waitrose pork ad banned over 'outdoor bred' pigs.
A campaign for Waitrose pork has been banned for misleading consumers about the pigs' living conditions. The ads, featuring chefs Heston Blumenthal and Delia Smith, said pork sold under the retailer's Essential Waitrose label was "outdoor bred", despite the pigs living in sheds after weaning. A television ad showed Blumenthal outdoors with the pigs, saying: "In my opinion, some of the best tasting pork comes from British pigs that have been outdoor bred, just like these porkers from Norfolk." In a second ad, Blumenthal says: "Waitrose essential pork comes from pigs that are outdoor bred. Happy pigs do make for great tasting pork." 5 members of the public complained to the Advertising Standards Authority that the campaign misleadingly suggested Waitrose pork came from pigs that spent the duration of their lives outdoors. Defending the ad, Waitrose said "outdoor bred" was a standard industry term for pigs born in fields and kept there until weaning, when they were moved into "light and airy" sheds. The retailer said "outdoor bred" had a different meaning to "outdoor reared", another standard term for pigs that spent about half of their lives in fields. It was "very mindful" of using the correct term, and believed its use of "outdoor bred" was accurate and did not mislead consumers. Upholding the complaints, the ASA said "outdoor bred" might be commonly understood in the pig farming industry but the average viewer was unlikely to be aware of its particular meaning. It said: "We considered, particularly in the context of ads that showed pigs outdoors and referred to 'happy' pigs and pigs that got 'plenty of fresh air', that viewers were likely to understand 'outdoor bred' to mean that the pigs that were used to produce the product spent the duration of their lives outdoors. "Because that was not the case, we concluded that the ads were misleading." It ruled that the ads must not appear again in their current form and told Waitrose to ensure future marketing was not misleading.

Automatic crab dispensers have been installed at several underground stations in Nanjing by an enterprising local company hoping to capitalise on the increasingly hectic lifestyles of urban Chinese. The 'Dazha' hairy crabs are a popular regional delicacy along the Yangtze River delta cities. The crabs are packed into custom-fitted plastic boxes and chilled to 5c which is enough to sedate them but also keep them alive. A sign next to the machine offers 3 free crabs for anyone who is unlucky enough to get a dead one, the local 'Guangzhou Daily' newspaper reported.

China has urged zoos to stop serving wild animal products and holding wildlife performances in an attempt to improve the treatment of tigers, bears and other animals amid concerns over widespread abuse in zoos and wildlife parks. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural  Development posted the suggestions on its website and said inspections would be carried out to see if zoos were complying. Animal welfare groups have documented widespread abuse in Chinese zoos and wildlife parks, including animal neglect, beatings, and the illegal sale of wine or soup made from the bones of endangered tigers. Animals Asia Foundation released a report in August that said bears in Chinese zoos were regularly whipped and beaten with sticks, while elephants were prodded with metal hooks, and tigers and lions were defanged and declawed, causing them chronic pain. Earlier this year, 11 rare Siberian tigers died at a wildlife park in China's frigid northeast and zookeepers there said they didn't have enough funding to feed or take care of them properly. Rights groups said the zoo might have been selling the tiger skins and bones on the black market. Sales of tiger bone, penis, pelts and other parts are illegal in China but persist because some consumers believe the products increase potency or can cure ailments from convulsions to skin disease. The housing ministry said zoos should provide adequate food and shelter for their animals, halt all sales of wildlife products in zoo restaurants or stores and stop staging animal performances. It said zoos could be shut down or receive a citation if they disobey the guidelines during the 3-month inspection period that began Oct. 18. But it did not say whether the requirements would eventually be made permanent. The Animals Asia Foundation said black bears are the most popular animal performers in China, typically forced to ride bicycles, tricycles and even horses, and regularly whipped or beaten with sticks by their trainers.

Pigs left to starve
Nearly 1,000 pigs, shut in barns, were left to starve and probably had no water. The owner of the property in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, Daniel Clark, was last there in August. His wife, Kerron Clark, left in 2008. The bodies of the pigs estimated to have died in the last several months were found still inside the barns for the most part. Humane officer Dennis Bumbaugh described the situation as "horrible". He said the pigs "struggled" and "fought" to get out. These intelligent animals suffered terribly. The property has been listed for sale, and Realtor Rebecca A. Glesner is reported to have said the barn full of dead pigs is "very normal" and not likely to affect the property value. It is illegal in Pennsylvania to "wantonly or cruelly ill treat or neglect any animal ...or abandon any animal, or deprive any animal of necessary sustenance, drink".  Like many states, this law does not apply to "normal agricultural operations".  Farm animals have few legal protections and a violation is only a summary offence punishable by a fine of $50 to $750 or jail for not more than 90 days, or both. There is nothing "normal" about this, and nearly 1,000 counts of animal cruelty could mean justice for these animals.  Contact Rebecca A. Glesnerand let her know starving animals to death is not "very normal", that it is animal cruelty that must be prosecuted. Urge Fulton County authorities to prosecute Daniel Clark to the fullest extent of the law for starving and abandoning these pigs.  Fulton County District Attorney Travis L. Kendall 126 North 2^nd St McConnellsburg, PA 17233 USA Email: districtattorney@co.fulton.pa.us

Pig exports to China agreed
On the 8^th Nov David Cameron agreed a deal to export live breeding pigs to China.  There are no farming regulations there and we already know that animals are skinned alive. Pigs are highly inquisitive, social and intelligent animals. They are unable to sweat.  This is why they roll in mud, to cool themselves down.  We are about to start sending them on aircraft to a life of hell and torture. We should be bringing all animals away from China and not sending them there.  Voice your protest at: www.thepetitionsite.com/7/stop-the-export-of-live-animals-to-china

Chick exposé
The Mail (4^th Nov) did a massive exposé of the egg industry. It revealed how millions of fluffy yellow youngsters travel on conveyor belts at hatcheries dotted across the country – half to their death, the other half to egg farms. The males are immediately discarded – and either gassed or thrown into macerating machines, which kill instantly. Undercover filming by the campaigning welfare group Viva has captured the reality of the early days of factory farm chickens. While the females will survive this initial process, their heads are placed into machines that will automatically clip away the ends of their beaks and inoculate them against disease. In some hatcheries the tips of the beaks are removed using a hot wire. There was nothing illegal in the activities witnessed by Viva's undercover team, however the images demonstrate the reality behind the idyllic farmyard pictures plastered over supermarket egg boxes. The filming took place at 2 hatcheries in this country in August. At one, the male chicks are gassed in a machine before the bodies are then packaged to be fed to reptiles.  At the second the male chicks are picked up in handfuls and dropped alive into a mincing machine in a process known as IMD - Instantaneous Mechanical Destruction. Both of these slaughter methods are approved by Defra, and the Humane Slaughter Association.  In the past the male chicks were used for poultry meat but the broiler meat industry has now developed specific strains of chicken which grow quickly. The male chicks from egg-laying breeds are not suitable.

Freedom Food fish farm objection
Glasgow-based Animal Concern has urged the RSPCA to object to a planning application for a new fish farm off Berneray in the Outer Hebrides near seal breeding grounds.  Under the Conservation of Seals Act (1970), seals can be shot to prevent “serious damage” to fish stock or equipment. They asked the RSPCA for a total no-kill policy in seal control at RSPCA Freedom Food endorsed salmon farms. The RSPCA has refused to back down.  In a letter to the RSPCA’s chief executive, Mark Watts, Animal Concern’s John Robins said: “I see that you have recently updated your Freedom Food standards for farmed salmon and I note with great regret that you still allow participating farmers to shoot seals as a last resort. This policy appears to accept that RSPCA Freedom Food endorsed salmon farmers are breaking the animal welfare provisions of the Animal Health & Welfare Scotland Act 2006. This Act specifically includes fish in the animals it seeks to protect and it requires owners/keepers of farmed animals to protect them from stress or injury caused by predators.  Although it has yet to be tested in court this law is breached when a fish farmer allows a seal to get close enough to the cage nets to panic the fish or attack them through the nets. Fish farmers must exclude seals from making even visual contact with their stock to comply with the Act.  By the time a farmer decides to use the last resort option of shooting a seal that farmer has already broken animal welfare law by allowing the seal close enough to cause stress or injury to the stock.” Animal Concern said the proposed 20-cage salmon farm plus mussel lines on North Uist would be within yards of traditional grey and common seal haul-out sites, breeding grounds and a very important colony of cormorant. Mr Robins said the farm would be sited in totally the wrong place and would be in serious conflict with existing seal and seabird populations. A spokeswoman for the RSPCA scheme said: “All members of the RSPCA’s Freedom Food scheme must record and demonstrate that rigorous measures are taken at all times to deter predator attacks on their salmon. These measures must, in accordance with the standards, focus on physical exclusion, including the proper use of acoustic devices, properly tensioned and weighted nets and the efficient removal of dead and moribund fish from the bottom of the nets. “However, it is inevitable that from time to time a predator may be able to bypass all efforts to exclude them, which may result in an attack on the fish.  When such an occasion arises, there may be no other option other than to use a lethal method of control to prevent further suffering to the fish.  If a Freedom Food salmon farmer cannot demonstrate that any lethal action was taken only as a last resort, and that all required non-lethal deterrents were in place and fully functional, then the member will be suspended from the scheme.”

Plan for 'deer ranches' in Scotland
Plans are being laid to create a network of vast deer ranches in the glens and hills of Scotland to cater for the nation’s appetite for venison, once more commonly associated with historical banquets but now finding its way into shopping baskets as a low-fat, eco-meat. More than 20 farmers have held talks with Scotland’s biggest producer of venison about converting marginal land which may once have been used for sheep grazing into large-scale extensive deer farming.  Driving the expansion of deer farming – tiny compared with the number of wild animals culled for the table – is the public’s increasing taste for the meat, with sales rising by a third in just 3 years from £32m in 2006 to £43m in 2009, according to the latest report by Mintel, in July. Sales have been bouyed by venison’s low-fat, low cholesterol properties and perceived environmental and animal welfare benefits - there are no deer battery farms; the animals are farmed mostly outdoors with little interference, giving them a reasonably natural life before they are shot at under 2 ½ years. However the rising demand has left the industry with a shortfall and producers are having to rely on imports from New Zealand to supplement the 65,000 to 80,000 wild deer culled annually in Scotland, which far outnumber the few thousand animals coming from Scotland’s 25 small-scale farms. With the blessing of the Scottish government but not yet any financial support, Highland Game, the UK’s biggest supplier of venison, is thinking big... and is hoping to encourage dozens of new farms within a generation.  Since Christian Nissen, Highland Game’s owner and managing director, who first made the call on Eat Venison Day last month, says between 20 and 50 farmers have contacted him to explore the prospect of converting their land. His company, which supplies steaks, burgers and sausages to Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, is forced to import 15,000 deer carcasses annually from New Zealand.  A deer working group established by the Scottish Government is seeking funds for a feasibility study on the expansion of the industry.  An estimated 500,000 – 1m wild deer live in Scotland but their numbers have declined by between 10 and 20% in a decade due to human encroachment and management, meaning that the wild stock cannot produce enough for human consumption. While wild red, roe, fallow & sikha deer are all shot for meat, most farmed deer is Red deer.

A halal meat producing company has been fined almost £10,000 after hundreds of sheep were left without drinking water or room to move. Premier Halal Meats Ltd of Brookwoods Industrial Estate in Holywell Green, was fined £9,401 after pleading guilty to 3 counts of failing to look after their animals. Calderdale Magistrates heard how 864 sheep in the slaughterhouse were left for days without drinking water, enough space to lie down, stand up and turn around and were caused unnecessary pain and suffering. Mr Howard Shaw, prosecuting for Defra, said that sheep were standing on top of each other and that drinking water troughs had been turned off. The sheep had been forced into the pen by a delivery driver and the abattoir supervisor after a mix up regarding what time sheep would be delivered. In total 11 sheep died during the incident, many through asphyxiation and being trampled. A senior meat hygienist said that "he had never seen anything as bad as this" when he visited the slaughterhouse, Mr Shaw told the court. Debbie Wilson, who attended court as a representative of Halal Meats, said that the company had made significant changes to the way they operated following the incident. "There is no excuse and we have to take responsibility," said Mrs Wilson. The case against the slaughterhouse supervisor Mohammed Hussain, who failed to attend court, was re-listed to be heard on 27 October. Premier Halal Meats are a relatively new company, having started trading in June 2009. In October 2009 they were sent a letter by Defra advising them about the number of sheep kept in pens after concerns were raised.

Sow stall phase out in Australia
Following years of relentless awareness campaigning by Animals Australia, the Australian pig industry has finally agreed to pursue a phase out of cruel sow stalls. The decision announced on Nov 17 at Australian Pork Ltd's AGM will see the industry move towards a phase out of the stalls by 2017, more than a decade after the cruel system was banned in the UK. In a press release APL stated that the decision was due to "a growing unrest among customers about the industry’s use of gestation stalls". Whilst this decision is welcomed by Animals Australia, we will be actively campaigning to bring this date forward. Animals Australia has been at the forefront of national public awareness campaigns highlighting the suffering endured by mother pigs in sow stalls and farrowing crates in factory farms. Our television commercials shocked Australians, many of whom were unaware that mother pigs could be confined in metal crates barely able to move.  "As there were a number of pig producers who voted against this decision, we have justifiable concerns at their willingness to comply with this voluntary phase out even by 2017.  Whether intentional or not, the wording 'pursue the voluntary phasing out of gestation stalls by 2017' allows any disgruntled producer a clear loophole to not get rid of sow stalls by 2017.     "The reality is that the only way that consumers will feel confident that the entire pig industry is acting on the cruelty of sow stalls is if Woolworths and other retailers follow Coles' ethical lead and commit to their pork products being sow stall free by 2014. Further, given the significant market share of imported ham and bacon products, consumers will likely demand that Australian retailers also take steps to ensure that these products are 'sow stall free'." Whilst there has been a strong focus on sow stalls, the use of farrowing crates and surgical procedures without anaesthetic will also never be accepted by an informed community.

A new 94 page report – ‘Investigations Into the Live Calf trade Between Ireland and Mainland Europe – A Time for Change’ has now been forwarded to officials at the EU in Brussels by Kent Against Live Exports (KALE). This report includes full details of 6 further individual animal export investigations undertaken by leading European farm animal welfare organisations / investigators, including: ‘Eyes on Animals’ (NL); ‘Animals’ Angels’ (D)’ Protection Mondiale des Animaux de Ferme ‘PMAF’ (F) and ‘KALE’ (UK); and is further supported by a Press Release from the Netherlands ‘AID’ - the Dutch animal and animal products police who are part of the Netherlands General Inspection Service, an agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. All investigations and reports specifically concentrate on one issue – the transport of live, un-weaned calves between Ireland and France, and clearly exposes the attempts and undertakings of exporters and livestock hauliers to avoid implementation of existing EU animal welfare legislation. All investigations show clear breaches of existing EU legislation associated with live animal transport. These include’ journey log’ paperwork carried by the hauliers being signed / stamped at certain French control posts to show that calves in transport (from Ireland) have had a minimum of 12 hours rest at Cherbourg after their sea crossing from Rosslare. In reality, investigators found that the calves were given no rest at the official control post facilities, and that it was regular for livestock transporters to only stop at these ‘rest facilities’ in order to get their paperwork stamped – illegally attempting to show a 12 hour rest, feed and water stop for the calves, when in fact, stops were often of only an hours duration or less. During these short stops, and after enduring a sea crossing from Ireland, lasting up to 23 hours, calves were not even unloaded from the transporter once in Frances, but simply continued on their journey to locations including Spain, Italy and Belgium. KALE consider that it is vitally necessary to inform the EU about the lack of animal disease biosecurity measures when animals transported in these ways are not even unloaded and inspected at control posts which should provide veterinary equivalent inspections. The reports are now being presented to leading commission officials and departments at the EU. The European Commission's activities in this area start with the recognition that animals are sentient beings, their aim being to ensure that animals need not endure avoidable pain or suffering and obliges the owner/keeper of animals to respect minimum welfare requirements. The Eurogroup for Animals represents a united voice for animal welfare organisations in Europe. They speak for animals and for the millions of European citizens who are concerned about the way animals are treated. http://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/about/about.htm The combined report author, Mark Johnson of KALE, declares: “the evidence contained in these series of individual,(but now combined as one document) live animal transport investigations, clearly show that activities are being undertaken by certain factions of the livestock transport industry which clearly compromise the existing EU legislation for live animals in transport. With our European investigation partners who have been involved with us in this project, we are now providing clear evidence to EU commissioners and legal departments that (EU) transport legislation is not being enforced by national competent authorities; right from the initial journey approval checks made at pre journey applications, through to the avoidance of control posts stops en route during the journey at which animals in transport should be unloaded, fed, watered and rested. At the same time, these organisations are collectively working towards achieving new EU wide legislation for a maximum one off journey time of 8 hours for all animals in transport within EU boundaries. EU legislation exists to protect animals in transport within the EU; and once again, it is often being left to the animal welfare investigations units, rather than national agriculture competent authorities, to show that those directly involved in the trade in live animals are not complying with already existing EU legislation. As the title of the report says; it is a ‘time for change’, and for the EU commission and parliament to fully review all legislation and reduce journey times associated with community wide live animal transport. For years, the international livestock haulage sector has been given plenty of opportunity to comply with EU legislation, and our investigations have shown that for some hauliers involved in the live animal transport business, non-compliance with these same regulations through corruption and the illegal manipulation of data is common practice. For us as an animal welfare organisation, who have a duty to work to protect animals from suffering in long distance transport and to expose the wrong-doings, this expose of non-compliance with EU regulations is not acceptable; and we will now be working as united, international animal welfare organisation partners for an EU wide change of policy on long distance animals in transport legislation”.

National March for Farm Animals
About 600 protesters gathered in Cavendish Sq on 2^nd Oct, World Day for Farmed Animals.  After speeches from several people including Juliette Gellatley, Andrew Tyler, Richard Deboo and Kevin White, we marched through central London, leafleting and chanting “Stop the Slaughter”.  The march stopped at a couple of steak houses and shouts of “Shame on you” resounded through the street.  It ended in a side street opposite Horseguards on Whitehall and there were more speeches, incl Nitin Mehta of Young Indian Vegetarians, Marian from Friends Sanctuary and Sue, editor of this paper. Photos from the march and a report can be viewed at http://www.demotix.com/news/462916/national-march-farmed-animals-london

Giant Dairy Farm Protest
Dressed in orange jumpsuits and cow heads, animal rights activists struck out in protest against the first UK factory-style dairy farm. Gathering outside the headquarters of Defra on 1^st Sept, around 100 campaigners launched the WSPA campaign, Not In My Cuppa, which will attempt to stop the resubmitting of the plans for the intensive dairy farm.  Despite cows being housed for 365 days a year in herds of unnaturally large sizes, in battery conditions, several prominent animal welfare charities, including the RSPCA, have said they are not worried by the proposal.  Local community groups in Lincolnshire near the proposed site are not just concerned about the welfare issues, but also the problems of waste and the environmental impact of the huge industrial site.

Company pulls out of 'super dairy' plans
Plans to build the biggest dairy farm in Britain have suffered a blow after a company involved in the project pulled out following public outcry against "battery farming cows". The dairy includes 2 milking parlours running 23 hours a day and 8 barns, measuring the length of 3 football pitches, for more than 8,000 cows. Now it has emerged that one of the companies that had previously supported the plans has now pulled out. Farming company Patrick Dean Ltd was due to use some of the 'digestate', a material produced from the cows that can fertilise fields but is not raw slurry, on nearby fields. But the firm decided not to continue with the idea. Deborah Wilson, a local campaigner, said farmers are afraid of "negative publicity", especially if slurry ponds have to be built and muck is spread in the area. But Nocton Dairies director David Barnes said the plan for the dairy will continue. He said the spreading of digestate is a key part of making the farm environmentally friendly. "It's important we have a robust plan for the local spreading of digestate as this is one of the areas of greatest concern to residents," he said. "We're aware Patrick Dean Ltd had decided not to continue with their initial plan to make use of this digestate, but this changes nothing, and we are pleased they have acknowledged the benefits of the digestate and its organic matter to the soil. "We continue to investigate a number of options and the path we decide to take will be clearly outlined in the planning application when it is submitted. "We'd like to stress that the plan has changed significantly and we hope that rather than speculating, everyone waits to see the contents of the application before jumping to conclusions." A spokesman for Patrick Dean Ltd said it would be making no further comment. Daily Telegraph 4 Oct

What has come over Lidl?? They're labelling more of their products as suitable for vegans. Vegan-labelled ice cream wafers, Cream Crackers, Tortilla Wraps (plain + coriander), Coconut Ice.

Turkey to Eliminate Driftnets
About a month after Morocco announced it would ban driftnets, Turkey has followed suit, announcing they will stop using the destructive fishing gear next year. This is a huge victory for our European colleagues, who estimate that more than 500 fishing vessels have been operating illegally in the Mediterranean, with some nets up to 12 miles long. It is estimated that thousands of creatures, including whales, dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles, are captured in driftnets each year.

Badger cull
Farmers will be handed powers to slaughter badgers as part of a widespread cull in England aimed at halting the spread of TB in cattle herds.  Caroline Spelman, the environment secretary, has approved plans for a cull in the areas worst affected by bovine TB. Farmers who can prove that a cull is necessary on their land and the surrounding area will be granted powers to kill and vaccinate the animals over an area of at least 50 sq miles. The Coalition will launch a public consultation later this month on the precise details of the scheme, but a source at the Dept for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that a widespread cull is on the cards.  More than 150,000 cattle have been slaughtered in the last decade because of bovine TB, according to the National Farmers’ Union, and the crisis cost the Treasury £90m in compensation payments last year. But a decade-long study by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB concluded in 2007 that culling could not “meaningfully” control the disease because it displaces badgers, scattering them over a wider area. As a result the Labour government ruled out a cull and instead stepped up vaccination efforts.  But the Coalition has responded to pressure from farmers’ groups and some scientists who insist that culling is the most effective method of dealing with the epidemic.  A spokesman for the Dept said in an official statement: “The government has committed, as part of a package of measures, to develop affordable options for a carefully-managed and science-led policy of badger control in areas with high and persistent levels of bovine TB.  “We are currently developing proposals which we plan to publish for public consultation in the coming weeks.” David Cameron backed calls for “targeted culling” to protect livestock during the General Election campaign in April.  He said a Conservative government would support a policy in England based on that already put in place by the Welsh Assembly. Wales embarked on the first badger cull in 2 decades earlier this year in an attempt to control the spread of Bovine TB. But the scheme was halted in July after animal welfare activists won a legal challenge to stop it on the basis that the Welsh assembly had not been specific enough about how widespread the cull would be. The ruling is expected to halt the Welsh cull for months. The Badger Trust, which led the campaign against the scheme, admitted the decision could provoke farmers into “taking the law into their own hands”.  Geoff Hayden from the Badger Trust said he was “relieved with the result,” but added: “there were no winners in the appeal court today. The disease is still there, animals are still being culled.” Wales's first minister, Carwyn Jones, said: "It's important that we deal with TB in Wales because it's a problem that is growing. We will consider the implications of the judgment, but what's absolutely clear is that we cannot allow a situation to persist where TB increases year on year in Wales."  Scientific opinion remains divided over the effectiveness of a cull. Sir David King, the former chief scientist to the government, believes it is the "best option available at the moment to reduce the reservoir of infection in wildlife". But research from Imperial College London and the Zoological Society of London suggested earlier this year that, while repeated culling of badgers reduced the incidence of TB in cattle, the benefits disappeared four years after the programme ended.

Wales will attempt to push ahead with revised plans for a badger cull after previously losing a legal battle with wildlife campaigners, the Welsh assembly said. The move comes less than a week after ministers in England confirmed they would license farmers to kill the animals in defined areas next summer. The Welsh assembly government believes it can overcome hurdles outlined by an appeal court verdict in July which dashed its intention of starting the cull, mainly in N. Pembrokeshire, this year. The move is likely to provoke anger among opponents of culling, including the Badger Trust, which challenged the original plans, and the RSPCA. Elin Jones, its rural affairs minister, said she believed she could now meet the tests set by the 1981 Animal Health Act, which judges had earlier said she had failed to meet. She was satisfied that TB existed in wild badgers in the area, that it had been or was being transmitted to other animals, including cattle, and that "destruction" of badgers was necessary. "I am satisfied that, in the Intensive Action Area, it is necessary to cull badgers because there is no reasonably practicable alternative to culling badgers as a means of reducing TB in cattle. This is because it is the only proven method currently available to me," Jones told the assembly. A fall in the disease in cattle would be seen "in a relatively short time", and about 1,400 of an estimated 35,000 badgers in Wales would be culled and population levels would recover in 5 – 10 years, Jones claimed. Vaccination of badgers had not yet been proved to reduce TB in cattle, she said, and could not resolve the problem on its own. Launching a consultation on her "provisional decision", Jones insisted there was "overwhelming support" for the TB eradication programme, including tougher on-farm controls. The Welsh plans differ from those in England in that hired contractors will trap and shoot badgers, rather than farmers under licence. As in England, no cull will start before May 2011 and that month's assembly elections may further delay operations on which no final decision will be made until the new year. The National Farmers Union in Wales welcomed the proposals. Its deputy president Stephen James said: "Bovine TB eradication in Wales has had many fences to jump and sometimes it has felt that the height has been increased in mid-race but I am confident that we are on the home straight and that the finishing line is in sight."

The National Trust will not oppose the killing of badgers on its West Country properties, if a cull is allowed by the Government. The trust has updated its stance on a cull, having previously stated that its preferences for dealing with the spread of bovine tuberculosis would be cattle-to-cattle controls and vaccination. But in a new statement, which could prove unpopular among elements of its 3 ½ m members, the National Trust said it would not object to a cull on its tenanted farms and other land, provided all the correct checks and balances were in place. But the trust still stressed that badger vaccination should be used wherever and whenever possible. The statement said: "If the criteria for a successful cull can be met, and it is legal and carried out to the highest possible welfare standards as part of a package of measures that includes more rigorous approaches to reduce cattle-to-cattle transmission, then we would not object to culls taking place in areas that include our land, where it is shown all other routes have been explored." It added: "We accept there is no point addressing enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk

Causes of cattle death - So, if human health cannot be affected, why the big panic? Is it sympathy for the cows? Not a chance. Bovine TB is responsible for the killing of roughly 11,000 cows annually. Shocked? Well, the corresponding figures of cows killed for other reasons will shock you much more. Dairy cows killed because they contracted mastitis (an infection of the udder) – 51,000; cows killed because they were not in calf – 75,000; cows killed because they were lame – 25,000; cows who simply died on farms – 24,000; cows killed because they got too old – 21,000. There are actually 9 causes of death in cattle which outnumber those killed because they are suspected of having bovine TB. Part of article by Brian May The Guardian. 20 Sept

There are few certainties in British political life right now, but here is one. If the government follows through on its recent promise to allow the culling of badgers in areas infected by bovine TB, it will quickly find itself in trouble. Conservatives will be seen as the nasty party once more; there will be blubbing and hand-wringing among the Liberal Democrats. And, at the end of it all, the decision to allow farmers to blast away at one of the nation's favourite wild animals may well serve to spread the disease it was intended to eradicate. It is intended that the badger cull starts in May – just in time for the BBC's Springwatch programme, as it happens – and, more importantly, in the middle of the breeding season. The government will quickly find itself in deep difficulty with a sentimental, animal-loving electorate. The practical problems will be no less difficult. The combination of protesters seeking to protect badgers and enthusiastic farmers, armed with high-speed rifles and hunting at night, is unlikely to be a happy one. At least, with the demonstrations against fox-hunting, there was no danger of the demonstrators becoming the prey. Beyond the risk to human life, there is the inevitability of badgers being wounded and dying a slow and painful death. Terence Blacker The Independent. 21 Sept

Conklin Dairy
If you don't remember the horrifying abuses that took place at Ohio's Conklin Dairy Farm earlier this year, you might be lucky. Mercy for Animals went undercover and caught horrible acts of

GM salmon that grows and grow
The GM Atlantic salmon grows twice as fast as its wild cousin. Its genes have been artificially augmented with DNA taken from 2 other fish – the Pacific Chinook salmon and an eel-like species called an ocean pout (Zoarces americanus) – in order to boost the growth hormone that allows it continually to put on weight throughout the year. After 2 decades of research and development, and almost as many years of legislative wrangling, the company behind the GM salmon believes that it now stands on the verge of an historic decision by the powerful US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that will open the way to the sale of genetically engineered meat and fish both in the United States and the rest of the world. The Massachusetts company AquaBounty Technologies believes it has done everything possible to show that farmed GM salmon will be both safe for humans to eat as well as being harmless to the marine environment – although this had done little to quell the concerns of its detractors.  There is little risk of the GM salmon escaping to the wild, because they are designed to be grown in fish-farm tanks on land rather than in pens out at sea. Even if they do escape, the fish will not interbreed with wild salmon because the GM eggs have been designed to develop into sterile females, But there is already fierce opposition to the principle of GM salmon from consumer groups, animal welfare organisations and environmentalists. A coalition of 31 such groups in the US has stated their implacable opposition to a product they believe is potentially dangerous to human health and the environment, as well as cruel and painful for the GM fish, which they say are created to grow unnaturally fast.

Anti-McD advert
It is an image to sap the flabbiest of appetites. An overweight, middle-aged man lies dead on a mortuary trolley, with a woman weeping over his body. The corpse's cold hand still clutches a half-eaten McDonald's hamburger.  A hard-hitting US television commercial bankrolled by a Washington-based medical group has infuriated McDonald's by taking an unusually direct shot at the world's biggest fast-food chain, using a scene filmed in a mortuary followed by a shot of the brand's golden arches logo and a strapline declaring: "I was lovin' it." A voiceover intones: "High cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attacks. Tonight, make it vegetarian."  The commercial, bankrolled by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), goes further than most non-profit advertising and has drawn an angry reaction from both the Chicago-based hamburger multinational and the broader restaurant industry. The National Restaurant Association criticised it as "irresponsible" and said it was an attempt to scare the public with a "limited" view of nutrition. A McDonald's spokesman said: "This commercial is outrageous, misleading and unfair to all consumers. McDonald's trusts our customers to put such outlandish propaganda in perspective, and to make food and lifestyle choices that are right for them." The commercial, to be aired initially in the Washington area but potentially in further US cities, comes amid an increasingly lively debate in the US about healthy eating. The first lady, Michelle Obama, has made nutrition a signature issue and is leading a campaign to encourage physical fitness and improved diets – particularly among American children, a third of whom are overweight.

Worse Things Happen at Sea: the Welfare of Wild-caught Fish, a breakthrough report released last month on fishcount.org.uk. In most of the world, it is accepted that if animals are to be killed for food, they should be killed without suffering. Regulations for slaughter generally require that animals be rendered instantly unconscious before they are killed, or death should be brought about instantaneously, or, in the case of ritual slaughter, as close to instantaneously as the religious doctrine allows. Not for fish. There is no humane slaughter requirement for wild fish caught and killed at sea, nor, in most places, for farmed fish. Fish caught in nets by trawlers are dumped on board the ship and allowed to suffocate. Impaling live bait on hooks is a common commercial practice: long-line fishing, for example, uses hundreds or even thousands of hooks on a single line that may be 50-100km long. When fish take the bait, they are likely to remain caught for many hours before the line is hauled in. Likewise, commercial fishing frequently depends on gill nets – walls of fine netting in which fish become snared, often by the gills. They may suffocate in the net, because, with their gills constricted, they cannot breathe. If not, they may remain trapped for many hours before the nets are pulled in. The most startling revelation in the report, however, is the staggering number of fish on which humans inflict these deaths. By using the reported tonnages of the various species of fish caught, and dividing by the estimated average weight for each species, Alison Mood, the report's author, has put together what may well be the first-ever systematic estimate of the size of the annual global capture of wild fish. It is, she calculates, in the order of 1trillion, although it could be as high as 2.7tn. To put this in perspective, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that 60 billion animals are killed each year for human consumption – the equivalent of about 9 animals for each human being on the planet. If we take Mood's lower estimate of 1trillion, the comparable figure for fish is 150. This does not include billions of fish caught illegally nor unwanted fish accidentally caught and discarded, nor does it count fish impaled on hooks as bait. Many of these fish are consumed indirectly – ground up and fed to factory-farmed chicken or fish. A typical salmon farm churns through 3-4kg of wild fish for every kg of salmon that it produces. The nervous systems of fish are sufficiently similar to those of birds and mammals. When fish experience something that would cause other animals physical pain, they behave in ways suggestive of pain, and the change in behaviour may last several hours. Fish learn to avoid unpleasant experiences, like electric shocks. And painkillers reduce the symptoms of pain that they would otherwise show. Why are fish the forgotten victims on our plate? Is it because they are cold-blooded and covered in scales? Is it because they cannot give voice to their pain? Whatever the explanation, the evidence is now accumulating that commercial fishing inflicts an unimaginable amount of pain and suffering.  Extract from Peter Singer article in The Guardian 14^th Sept.

Animal Liberation's battery hen ads were seen by 1.5m viewers in New South Wales, Australia when they were shown during prime time TV

A Sacramento restaurant agreed to stop serving live shrimp after an animal-rights group said the practice was cruel to the shellfish. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the restaurant, Nishiki Sushi, suggested squeezing lemon juice on the shrimps' exposed flesh so they would writhe as they were eaten. The dish is commonly referred to as "dancing shrimp" and is considered a delicacy in Japan. PETA contacted the restaurant after receiving dozens of complaints about the practice. The animal rights group objected to the practice based on a 2007 study that explored shrimp pain from Queen's University Belfast in N. Ireland. The researchers found that prawns acted as if they had an injured paw when acid was dabbed onto an antenna, and the crustaceans also responded to numbing effects of painkillers.

Bushmeat - Congolese chimpanzees face new 'wave of killing' for bushmeat. Scientists say chimps face 'major and urgent threat' as the bushmeat trade expands in the country's north. Roughly 440 animals in the region are being slaughtered each year. The primatologist Dr Jane Goodall has estimated that for every chimp orphan that is sold as a pet, 10 others from its family group will have been killed. It is against DRC law to hunt chimpanzees and that the law is not enforced locally. Some of the people who had orphan chimps even showed the researchers documents signed by local officials that purportedly gave them permission to keep the animals.

A website advertising for a new “cannibal” restaurant in Germany which appealed for humans to donate body parts for cooking has been exposed as a vegetarian hoax. The website called for diners to "donate any part of their body" while also advertising for an "open-minded surgeon". But on the day it was due to open, vegetarian campaigners disclosed it was all an elaborate hoax. The German Vegetarian Society (Vebu) said that it wanted to highlight consumers' attention to the “evils of meat-eating”. Sebastian Zösch, a Vebu spokesman told reporters in Berlin "Nobody really thinks about those facts in their day-to-day routine. Because of that it was necessary to call this creative campaign into action." The restaurant’s website was replaced with a statement from the group condemning meat eaters. The restaurant claimed to be inspired by the "compassionate cannibalism" of the Brazilian Waricaca tribe.

A large billboard poster featuring a fisherman holding a bent rod and asking "Do anglers have small rods?" has been erected by an animal rights group close to a popular fishing lake where Britaiin's largest mirror carp recently died. 2 slogans on the advert read "Are you over-compensating for something?" and "The only large rod you'll ever hold." Anglers are furious that the poster was erected near the lake where a 45-year-old carp, known affectionately as Two Tonne, died of old age last month. The carp, which weighed 67lb 14 oz, was thought to be among Britain's largest freshwater fish. The campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has been accused of pulling "a crude and insensitive stunt" for placing the poster near Conningbrook Lake in Ashford, Kent, where the fish lived.  Chris Logsdon, the owner of the fishery, said: "These people are pathetic and ignorant. Thousands and thousands of people contacted us after Two Tone died, which shows just how concerned people are about angling. These do-gooders don't see the good work fisheries and anglers do, like protecting the environment and cleaning up litter around the river banks.  I'm sure most anglers will look at this poster and think it is just pathetic, but others will be upset by it, especially on top of the death of Two Tone." And Mike Heylin, chairman of the Angling Trust, said: "Members of all social classes and ethnic backgrounds fish in and around Britain.  Whether anglers have small 'equipment' or not is hardly a concern for anglers or the general public."  Anglers are invited to take a test on the PETA website to see how they "measure up" as part of the anti-fishing campaign. Participants are asked whether they drive a sports car and own 2 or more power tools before the test offers to guess their dimensions.  Mimi Bekhheci, spokesman for PETA, said: "A man who tortures and kills animals, who are much smaller and weaker than he is must be trying to prove something.  Are men who spend their time on a wet riverbank holding an extendable phallic object and being cruel to fish engaging in another form of over- compensation?"

Spent hens slaughter
After 80 weeks laying hens are sent to slaughter as their laying declines below the economic value and the egg shells are no longer “perfect” for the supermarkets. The 'marketing blurb' that goes with this killing contraption says: The birds are carried from the laying facility and are placed on the conveyor belt. There is a CO2 concentration of 50% in this almost completely closed system. Within a very short time the birds are euthanised as stress-free as possible. Vets and animal welfare organisations are thrilled with the process.  Depending on the design of the conveyor belt, between 5,000 and 12,000 birds an hour can be processed.  Yeah, we're really thrilled!!! whose starving animals were kept in such appalling conditions that they resorted to cannibalism has been spared a prison sentence. Investigators who raided the Happy Pig Company in Pevensey, near Eastbourne, E. Sussex, in January found 15 underfed pigs living with inadequate food, water and bedding. At least 2 pigs were dead and the remains of 2 others were found, which the live starving animals were eating because they had no other food. Farmer Keith Barnett, of The Square, Pevensey Bay, admitted 7 counts of animal cruelty and appeared for sentencing at Hastings Magistrates' Court. He was banned from keeping or owning pigs, given a 5-month curfew to run from 7pm to 7am and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £880. Gareth Jones, who prosecuted the case on behalf of East Sussex Trading Standards, said: "He could have received a custodial sentence and that was one of the options the court looked at. If you look after pigs, you have to make sure they have plenty of food, water and adequate bedding. The conditions here were pretty lousy. It's ironic it's called the Happy Pig Company."  Barnett was allowed by magistrates to keep his 12 chickens following the prosecution which was launched in conjunction with trading standards and the Animal Health agency. At a previous hearing the court heard that Barnett had started keeping pigs in 2007 but struggled to cope following a heart attack.

Mega dairy plans back

Any day now, plans to open huge US-style factory farms for cows will be put to local councillors in Lincolnshire. The owners are just putting their final touches on their factory farm plans before they go to the council to get permission to go ahead. Then we won't have long to persuade local councillors to block the proposals. The bigger the petition gets, the more chance we have of stopping the "mega-dairies" being built. We know our pressure is starting to have an effect. Even The Economist reported that the people-powered campaigning to stop the farm was starting to 'cause a stir'. Over 20,000 have now signed the petition and we're attracting attention. If we could double the number of signatures, it would be a huge boost to our chances of winning. The more people on the petition from all across the UK, the more likely we are to win. Please spread the word and ask your friends and family to sign the petition. They can sign by going to: www.38degrees.org.uk/no-megadairies  Animal and environment groups warn that factory farms of this sort are likely to be bad for climate change, bad for cows and bad for other farmers. Factory farming relies on huge quantities of imported feed. To grow this feed, rainforest is chopped down, destroying wildlife and increasing climate change. Local protests have already led to 2 plans for factory farms in Lincolnshire being stalled. But the big agricultural companies behind these plans will keep on pushing. We need to keep building the pressure and make sure people power stops cow factory farming coming to the UK.

380m eggs were recalled in the USA because of outbreaks of salmonella poisoning at a massive factory farm.

Exposed slaughterhouse closes

An Essex slaughterhouse has been forced to close after secret filming inside it by animal welfare campaigners led to allegations of serious cruelty towards pigs. A and G Barber, of Purleigh, used to kill a quarter of all cull sows in the UK. Its main buyer, said to be a German sausage manufacturer, cancelled its contract after viewing the footage, forcing the abattoir to close. The abattoir was one of a number exposed in secret filming by Animal Aid earlier this year. The animal welfare group said the film, shot over 3 days in April, showed scenes of ‘extreme and deliberately-inflicted suffering’, including use of electric tongs on animals’ snouts, tails and in their mouths. It said other breaches filmed include ‘incompetent and inadequate stunning’ for most of the 767 pigs filmed, stunned pigs left to regain consciousness, and pigs being routinely kicked in the face and hit in the face with shackle hooks. One worker and the slaughterhouse operator still face prosecution. Kate Fowler, Animal Aid’s head of campaign, criticised the failure of the regulatory system to pick up the abuses at an abattoir where veterinary inspectors were in attendance. “It is appalling that the cruelties meted out to animals at A&G Barber were allowed to continue and that all regulatory systems failed to detect and stop the abuses,” she said. “If Animal Aid hadn’t happened to film at the plant, we believe that workers would still be kicking, beating and causing deliberate suffering to pigs there. It is right and proper that companies who have seen our film shunned A&G Barber.” Animal Aid has covertly filmed inside 7 randomly chosen red meat slaughterhouses since Jan 2009. In 6 of the 7, it claims to have recorded ‘breaches of animal welfare laws and avoidable animal suffering’. A Government-industry group formed by the Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) to address issues raised by the filming has proposed changes to the way staff are monitored in abattoirs. The group fell short of accepting calls by Animal Aid and other campaigners for compulsory CCTV in abattoirs. But it agreed that plant operators and Official Veterinarians must have effective procedures in place either to constantly monitor stunning and slaughter operations, or to enable them to ‘inconspicuously observe’ them ‘at any time’. These arrangements may include an aperture or window into the stunning area or the use of CCTV, the group agreed. The organisations represented, include various meat trade bodies, Defra the Food Standards Agency and the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA), with the British Veterinary Association observing.

Advert banned

An Animal Aid advertisement claiming brutality and poor monitoring in the UK slaughterhouse industry has been banned by the advertising regulator on the grounds that some of its claims were misleading. The animal rights’ charity’s national print advertisement, calling on readers to watch an undercover video filmed in UK slaughterhouses as part of the organisation’s campaign to have CCTV cameras stationed in the facilities, will not be allowed to be reproduced again after a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority. The ASA ruled that Animal Aid’s claims that slaughterhouses ignore the law and brutalise animals, and that the current monitoring system was not working, were misleading. Animal Aid countered that the campaign and video were based on undercover investigations of 7 red meat slaughterhouses in the UK 6 of which found were found to commit breaches of animal welfare legislation. The advertising regulator ruled the charity’s evidence did not enable them to make sweeping statements regarding the practices in the industry as a whole. The regulator also ruled that Animal Aid had misleadingly insinuated that there were not moves already afoot to improve monitoring. Animal Aid won on 2 other issues brought up by the one complainant, with the ASA finding that Animal Aid could substantiate claims its CCTV campaign was supported by the RSPCA and Food Standards Authority and that the charity did not imply that ewes were slaughtered while their lambs were suckling them. Animal Aid has hit back at the ruling claiming, in a statement, that the decision is a “ringing blow on behalf of slaughterhouse cruelty”.  Director of the charity Andrew Tyler said the charity had demonstrated evidence of “cruelty, incompetence and even sadistic brutality” in its videos. “The ASA, by taking the comfortable route of endorsing the status quo, has struck a ringing blow on behalf of animal cruelty. Its adjudication is irrational and immoral. Animal Aid’s slaughterhouse campaign will continue with more determination than ever,” he said. Civil Society 2 Aug

NZ Pork industry board questioned

Green MP Keith Locke has this month asked Agriculture Minister David Carter whether he was aware Thompson and Clark Investigations was collecting information for the board on animal rights campaigner Rochelle Rees by a tracker under her car. Mr. Carter said he had written to the board but had not received an answer. However, the board contacted Mr. Locke and said they never asked the company to fit a tracking device on any vehicle. They subscribed to a monthly newsletter produced by the firm that provides a summary of publicly available information on international and domestic animal rights activities, an email said. “The incident followed recent criticism of the board after it did a nationwide audit of piggeries but declined to disclose the outcome publicly and was trying to get around the Official Information Act”. Asked why the board would reply to Mr. Locke before him, Mr. Carter said nothing the board did surprised him. "I certainly think that the board would be far better to focus on meeting the genuine concerns out there in relation to the consumption of pork products by consumers, rather than engaging in this sort of tactic." A draft of the new pig welfare code will be finalised over the next few weeks and then sent for peer review. New Zealand Herald. 3 Aug

'Callous' NZ Farming Practice

Dairy cows are being 'callously' injected so that they are forced to give birth at the same time and milking can begin earlier, according to a spokesperson for The Soil & Health Association (SHA) of NZ. The practice known as 'induction' has been carried out in NZ for 40 yrs although the number of farms using it has been decreasing. Induction allows cow herds to come into milk production simultaneously but the cost is high as the calves die as a result. Pregnant cows are injected 4 - 8 weeks before they are due to give birth. The practice, which was exposed by Television NZ News, is legal and 200,000 cows are affected. The SHA, the largest membership organisation supporting organic food and farming in NZ, is not the only body concerned about the practice. The National Animal Welfare Advisory committee (NAWAC) has raised concerns too saying in its 2010 Animal Welfare (Dairy Cattle) Code of Welfare report that induction 'has the potential to affect the welfare of both cow and calf adversely”. Although the NAWAC has made it clear that it does not support the practice, the animal welfare body is only in a position to make recommendations. Only the government can ban induction. There is also concern that the practice could damage NZ farming reputation. The North Island Manawatu company, Totally Vets, states NZ exports 95% of its dairy production and believes that induction has the potential to upset the export market. The veterinarian service says that animal welfare could be used by overseas customers as a trade barrier. “We have all seen what happens when the media and animal rights groups latch onto issues such as sow crates, bobby calf welfare, emaciated cull cows,” the company says on its website. Totally Vets believes that induction could be a case of poor planning. Only the government can ban inductions. Epoch Times 4 Aug

Change in how US turkeys are killed

Smithfield Foods' recent proxy statement includes a shareholder resolution asking the company to switch to "controlled atmosphere killing" of turkeys and the use of inert gasses. The source of the request is the animal rights group, the Humane Society of the US . In 2007 Smithfield announced plans to phase out the crates by 2017 but later said the economy would force a delay. As for controlled atmosphere killing of turkeys, "the research remains inconclusive," stated Smithfield . Results of shareholder resolutions will be announced at Smithfield's annual meeting in Sept. Pilotonline 9 Aug

Dutch animal rights groups attack cheap meat

Supermarkets in the Netherlands are increasingly bowing to pressure from animal rights groups whose campaigns target bulk meat sales. The C1000 chain decided to withdraw its advertising promoting their so called "kilo shots", huge chunks of cheap meat. It's a social trend that is cutting across modern consumers' increasing cost awareness. The Wakker Dier (Animal Alert) pressure group campaigned for weeks against the kilo shots, claiming that the cheap meat was produced by cattle farmers and slaughterers who did not care for the well being of the animals. The group aired regular radio commercials calling on consumers to boycott C1000 and buy their meat at other supermarkets. So the old adage that the purse comes first in times of crisis appears to have lost some of its truth. Advertising agencies tend to agree, according to Charles Borremans of the splendidly named Conclusion Communication Architects "Consumers still have a keen eye for low pricing; that is why cheap supermarkets are doing well at the moment. But there is also a kind of social responsibility which is increasing in importance, influencing people's decisions." The Wakker Dier pressure group has established a reputation for confronting the meat industry. In 2007 they began a successful campaign against the unanaesthetised castration of piglets. After a series of radio commercials Dutch supermarkets gave in to Wakker Dier's demands. An advertising analyst said supermarkets are extremely sensitive about their image. They are just as concerned about image as they are their customers' purchasing behavior. It is demotivating to hear that your chain is selling meat from animals which had a miserable life, or from animals which were slaughtered inhumanely. Such criticism particularly affects C1000, which calls itself the Netherlands ' biggest meat retailer." Dutch animal rights groups have been fighting the meat and fur industry for decades. Since the 1980s the Bont voor Dieren (Fur for Animals) campaign has been broadcasting commercials criticising the wearing of furs. Viewers were faced with a mannequin on the catwalk wearing a stylish fur coat oozing blood. Like pictures of seal calves being clubbed to death, it was a powerful image to turn people away from the use of animal fur. RNW 10 Aug

Cloned meat in food chain

The Food Standards Agency has confirmed that meat from a total of 3 offspring of a cloned cow has entered the food chain. The FSA said its investigation into cloned animals in the UK had revealed a male calf of less than a month old was slaughtered on June 16 and the meat sold in a London butcher's shop.  It said the meat and that from 2 other animals had entered the food chain without authorisation but stressed there was no evidence of a safety risk. The FSA launched an investigation in the wake of claims that a British farmer had admitted using milk in his daily production without labelling it as from the offspring of a cloned cow. The FSA said it had received assurances from authorities, the dairy industry and the farmers involved that no milk from any of the animals under investigation had entered the food chain. They traced all of the calves born in the UK from 8 embryos from a cloned cow in the US, confirming that meat from 2 bulls had entered the food chain. 5 of the 8 animals had produced offspring, which were all too young to have been milked or used for breeding. However, 1 male calf had become the third to enter the food chain. It confirmed that meat from the first animal, Dundee Paratrooper, slaughtered in 2009, was sold at 4 butchers' shops in Scotland and a single butcher's shop in N.E. England.  Meat from the second animal, Parable, which was slaughtered on May 5, was sent to Belgium . The agency said it had not yet decided if it would reveal the identities of those involved in the investigation. It added "While there is no evidence that consuming products from healthy clones, or their offspring, poses a food safety risk, meat and products from clones and their offspring are considered novel foods and would therefore need to be authorised before being placed on the market. The Independent 11 Aug

Meat Free Monday

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP has asked the parliamentary catering authorities to consider introducing Meat Free Monday to the catering outlets in parliament. Also Withington (Manchester) MP John Leech (Lib-Dem) is putting forward an Early Day Motion about Meat-Free Monday 

The meat paradox

A new study from the University of Kent has provided direct evidence that people who wish to escape the ‘meat paradox’ i.e. simultaneously disliking hurting animals and enjoying eating meat, may do so by denying that the animal they ate had the capacity to suffer. By engaging in denial, those participating in the study also reported a reduced range of animals to which they felt obligated to show moral concern. These ranged from dogs and chimps to snails and fish. The study, the results of which are published in the August issue of Appetite, was conducted by Dr Steve Loughnan, Research Associate at the University’s School of Psychology, and colleagues in Australia. Dr Loughnan explained: ‘Some people do choose to stop eating meat when they learn that animals suffer for its production. An overwhelming majority do not. Our research shows that one way people are able to keep eating meat is by dampening their moral consideration of animals when sitting at the dinner table.’ Dr Loughnan also explained that, broadly speaking, their study has shown that when there is a conflict between their preferred way of thinking and their preferred way of acting, it is their thoughts and moral standards that people abandon first – rather than changing their behaviour. ‘Rather than change their beliefs about the animals’ moral rights, people could change their behaviour,’ he said. ‘However, we suspect that most people are unwilling to deny themselves the enjoyment of eating meat, and denying animals moral rights lets them keep eating with a clear conscience’.

Foie gras demo success

Brighton Animal Action demonstrated outside Cote Brasserie in Church St, Brighton on Bank Holiday Sunday.  With a banner, posters and leaflets to give out we spoke to many members of the public, including those going into the busy restaurant.  After about 30 minutes a member of staff came out with a letter from the Operations Director saying that after listening to feedback from guests they had decided to withdraw foie gras from the menu with immediate effect.  We will be keeping an eye on the place and go straight to the papers with the letter if they slip back but for the moment we have now moved on to La Fourchette on Western Rd. Although they removed it from the menu on the evening we were there we’re certain it’ll be back again – and so will we.

Video released from veal farm

Mercy For Animals, whose undercover investigation of abuse at a Marysville dairy farm resulted in criminal charges, is releasing a new video shot in Ohio of young veal calves chained by the neck and confined in narrow wooden crates, to pressure the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to approve legislation phasing out use of "veal crates" by 2017. Nathan Runkle, executive director Mercy for Animals, sent a letter to Ohio Agriculture Director to enact the phase out in line with a deal brokered by The Ohio Farm Bureau, other agricultural organisations and the Humane Society of the US. "As the appointed body to create minimal standards for Ohio 's agricultural community, it is your responsibility to ensure that farmed animals in Ohio are not forced to suffer egregious cruelty," Runkle wrote, "however, the board has yet to implement a single standard." Typically, young male calves are taken from their mothers at very early age so the milk can be collected for production. The calves are confined to crates full time and fed a largely liquid diet that is iron deficient. Ohio is one of the 6 largest veal producing states Wisconsin is No. 1. 5 states, including Michigan, have passed rules or laws phasing out veal crates. Stock Analysis 30 Au 

Transport to Farm Animal march Sat 2^nd Oct: Midlands Vegan Campaigns have hired a coach, picking up in Redditch, Birmingham & Coventry at the following locations and times: 7.30am Redditch - taxi rank by Shipleys Bingo/Magistrates Court 8.15 Birmingham - Carrs Lane Church Centre, City Centre 9am Coventry - White St Coach Park (nr bus station) The cost is £15 waged £8 unwaged. Make cheques payable to 'Midlands Vegan Campaigns' and send to the Midlands Vegan Campaigns, PO Box 10202, Redditch, Worcs. B98 8YT. Include your name, the number of seats you require, telephone number & where you’ll be boarding. The coach will have a toilet on board & it will also stop at motorway services. Scheduled return from London at 5pm.

Slaughterhouses may face prosecution

4 meat suppliers, including 2 whose abattoirs cater to leading retailers, could face prosecution after hidden cameras revealed slaughtermen apparently inflicting “appalling” abuse on animals.  Film from one abattoir shows a slaughterman inflicting repeated electric shocks on the ears, snouts and bodies of terrified pigs. In another abattoir, which has supplied Sainsbury’s, slaughtermen were filmed misusing a bolt gun, leaving cattle wounded but potentially conscious. In a third, a pig that is meant to have been stunned is shown wriggling free of the overhead conveyor belt carrying it to have its throat cut — and then falling head first to the floor several feet below. The slaughterman and colleagues are also shown kicking the conscious and squealing animals, often in the snout. The videos came from covert operations by Animal Aid, a campaign group, which says it has found similar abuses in 6 out of the 7 abattoirs in which it took such films, suggesting they are endemic.  The footage has prompted investigations by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), a government watchdog, which have led to 4 staff at 3 abattoirs losing their slaughtering licences, and 4 more having licences suspended.  The FSA is gathering evidence for a possible prosecution. Animal Aid obtained its footage using controversial methods. Its operatives got into abattoirs at night and fitted tiny cameras above the areas where the animals were stunned, and then returned to collect the devices when filming was over. Andrew Tyler, the director of Animal Aid, said: “We filmed in 7 randomly selected UK abattoirs for an average of 2 to 3 days, and in 6 of them there were serious welfare breaches, incompetence and even sadistic cruelty.” 

Massive pig farm planned

One of Britain's largest livestock companies - Midland Pig Producers (MPP) - is planning to imprison 2,500 sows (and 26,000 pigs in total) on a massive factory farm in Derbyshire right next door to a women's prison. Surrounded by barbed wire fences, the massive complex would imprison sows that would never go outside. Good welfare is impossible with such large numbers; there is a threat to human health, with the prison and village close by – remember swine flu? The environmental impact - the methane from the pigs will produce over twice as much carbon equivalent gases as the neighbouring village of Foston. The anaerobic digester used to strip the slurry of methane and to stop smell can actually be responsible for producing smells and toxic gases, and in the worst case scenario can provide a fire or explosion risk. Good practice dictates that these should not be built next to residential areas (especially one of this size) - and to do so would potentially put lives at risk. It will also use huge amounts of water - as will the farm itself - and would potentially pollute surrounding land. Noise: the developers say that the noise will be minimal. This is hard to take seriously, as noise will be generated by machinery and from the animals themselves as they are taken to slaughter (a thousand a week). MPP say that the nearby road will drown the noise out, but some residential units are closer to the farm than they are to the road. Impact on wildlife: the development will obliterate a productive Greenfield site, whilst Brownfield sites are nearby. Bat roosts have been potentially identified, and building work - and the farm itself - whilst perhaps not encroaching directly onto it, will still have a negative effect on wildlife. Increased traffic: the A50 through Foston is already a busy road. Jobs for local people: MPP have said the development will provide jobs for local people. However, the acquisition of residential properties from the women's prison suggests that workers from outside the area will be brought in - further increasing traffic. Precedence against the development at Foston: in the past, a neighbouring property had its planning application turned down because of its potential effect on the view (Maidensley Farm - where the erection of a chimney was refused). The pig farm development at Foston will change the local view incalculably more and should not be allowed. Environmental Policy: this development may contravene S. Derbyshire District Council Environmental Policy by polluting, increasing traffic, being noisy and generally disruptive. Objections had to be sent to S. Derbyshire County Council by the end of June. 

Indian dairy farming

PETA India's recent undercover investigation of several dairy farms revealed shocking cruelty to cows and buffaloes. Tabelas – animal factories with no provisions for health care or animal welfare – are steadily replacing small family farms. Buffaloes in Delhi's main dairy facility stand knee-deep in foul-smelling excrement, suffering from skin infections, foot disease and other illnesses. Garbage is piled up everywhere. Drainage, electricity and designated waste disposal sites are lacking. In Mumbai, calves are tightly tethered on short ropes in order to prevent them from reaching their mothers, but in their struggle to get free, they often become entangled in the ropes and strangle themselves. One dairy owner reported that half the calves die shortly after birth.  Cows are beaten into submission and artificially inseminated so that they will keep producing milk. Although this practice should be performed by trained professionals, most cows are repeatedly inseminated by "barefoot healers" who ignore the most basic hygienic standards and use equipment that has not been sterilised, exposing cows to infections and diseases.  Most of a cow's day is spent confined to a narrow, filthy stall. Cows are injected with Oxytocin, an illegal drug that causes them to produce unnaturally large quantities of milk and suffer severe stomach cramps as though they were in labour. Cows are impregnated repeatedly. They grieve for every calf they deliver who is ripped away a few days after birth. Cows often develop mastitis – an infection of the udders – from rough handling and rumen acidosis from unwholesome food.

Mega farming

In an article titled “The toxic truth about mega-farms: Chemical fumes, distressed animals and poisoned locals driven from their homes and worse”, the Daily Mail (5^th July) reported on what some Americans have had to put up with when the giant farms came to their areas.  People are literally driven from their homes by the stench and toxic fumes and the polluting run-off is filled with bacteria.  If the giant dairies attempting to set up in Lincolnshire get their way this is what we will have to put up with. Not to mention the misery for the cows enslaved in this system.  According to the article, Nocton insist that animal welfare will be at the forefront of its concerns, with animals having sand on which to bed down, open-sided sheds and vets available 24 hours a day. During a radio interview with BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Mr Willes said conditions at Nocton would be '5 star' and that cows would opt for his facility if given the choice. In the same interview, he also said that cows 'did not belong in fields'. To a large extent, if his anticipated application were to be approved, the people of Nocton would have to take his stewardship of Britain's first mega-dairy on trust. They might be disappointed, then, to learn that Mr Willes's stewardship of some of his other farms has been decidedly chequered. In 2005 he was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £4,000 costs after an investigation by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (part of Defra) found that he had bought unauthorised antibiotics to be administered to his animals. His company was also fined £6,700 following a release of milk into Dipple Water in 2008 from Higher Alminstone Farm nearby. An Environment Agency spokesman described the spill as: 'One of the worst we have seen for some time.' Furthermore, Mr Willes has displayed a cavalier disregard for planning regulations. He recently enraged members of Parkham Parish Council when he got planning permission for a slurry lagoon at Sedborough Farm, but built a much bigger one. He later applied for retrospective planning permission but the parish council opposed this. A letter from the chairman of the parish council to Torridge District Council in Devon says the council is concerned over 'creeping industrialisation of our parish arising from development by stealth and cynical misuse of retrospective planning procedures' by Mr Willes. Hardly the blemish-free record one would hope for a man hoping to pioneer industrial farming to Britain.

Fined for attempted liberation

An animal lover has been fined after attempting to liberate battery hens from a farm near Wimborne. Mark Organ and 7 others had hired a van and gathered cages and bags in order to free unhealthy or distressed birds late one night in January last year. They were foiled by a man out walking with a powerful lamp as they approached a Witchampton farm. A jury at Bournemouth Crown Court found Mr Organ guilty of conspiracy to steal, and on June 17, he was ordered to pay £1,515. Judge James Meston, QC, told Mr Organ: “It is clear you have a long-standing serious concern about the welfare of animals, and believe yourself to be morally justified in stealing chickens. “I do not suppose the verdict of the jury will alter your views. “There was no evidence the farm was run unlawfully or improperly, and it was at that time running down.”  The targeted unit has since closed for economic reasons, he added.  Police easily traced Mr Organ, of Lancing, W. Sussex, because he hired the van in his own name, and Judge Meston said he did not believe the group would have forced entry to a locked barn. “I understand that in 2012 changes in the law will improve conditions for poultry,” he said. “You thought your strong disapproval for battery hens was in the mainstream part of public opinion, and I accept that you were just going to get unhealthy birds that might not have been missed.” Timothy Greene, defending, said: “This was not an offence committed for reasons of personal gain, but for beliefs sincerely held in relation to an issue my client feels strongly about, with others.”

Catholic publication’s radical review

The Tablet is a highly respectable Catholic publication, read by bishops and the like.   In the beginning of July edition there is a review on a book on animals and the abuse in the eating of them.    The review winds up with a query, “have we got it all wrong in our idea that we have stewardship over animals?” I think it will cause some sitting up and thinking. Jenny Pothecary

Vegan diet best to save the world says UN

A global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change, a United Nations report said. As the global population surges towards a predicted 9.1 billion people by 2050, western tastes for diets rich in meat and dairy products are unsustainable, says the report from UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) international panel of sustainable resource management. It says: "Impacts from agriculture are expected to increase substantially due to population growth increasing consumption of animal products. Unlike fossil fuels, it is difficult to look for alternatives: people have to eat. A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products."  Professor Edgar Hertwich, the lead author of the report, said: "Animal products cause more damage than [producing] construction minerals such as sand or cement, plastics or metals. Biomass and crops for animals are as damaging as [burning] fossil fuels." The recommendation follows advice last year that a vegetarian diet was better for the planet from Lord Nicholas Stern, former adviser to the Labour government on the economics of climate change. Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has also urged people to observe one meat-free day a week to curb carbon emissions. Agriculture, particularly meat and dairy products, accounts for 70% of global freshwater consumption, 38% of the total land use and 19% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, says the report, which has been launched to coincide with UN World Environment day. Last year the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation said that food production would have to increase globally by 70% by 2050 to feed the world's surging population. The panel says that efficiency gains in agriculture will be overwhelmed by the expected population growth. Prof Hertwich, who is also the director of the industrial ecology programme at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, said that developing countries – where much of this population growth will take place – must not follow the western world's pattern of increasing consumption. Guardian 2^nd June

US factory farms to be held responsible for polluting waste

In a legal settlement that could affect the entire U.S. meat industry, the EPA has agreed to identify and investigate thousands of factory farms that have been avoiding government regulation for water pollution with animal waste. The settlement requires the agency to propose a rule on greater information gathering on factory farms within the next 12 months. It will require the approximately 20,000 domestic factory farms to report such information as how they dispose of manure and other animal waste. The Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and Waterkeeper Alliance filed the suit in 2009 over a rule that exempted thousands of factory farms from taking steps to minimize water pollution from the animal waste they generate. "Thousands of factory farm polluters threaten US water with animal waste, bacteria, viruses and parasites that can make people sick," said Jon Devine, an attorney with the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council. "Many of these massive facilities are flying completely under the radar. EPA doesn't even know where they are," said Devine. More than 30 years ago, Congress identified factory farms as water pollution sources to be regulated under the Clean Water Act's permit program. But under a Bush administration regulation challenged by the environmental groups in this lawsuit, large facilities were able to escape government regulation by claiming, without government verification, that they do not discharge into waterways protected by the Clean Water Act. Under the settlement reached in May, the EPA will initiate a new national effort to track down factory farms operating without permits and determine if they must be regulated. The specific information that EPA will require from individual facilities will be determined after a period of public comment. But the results of that investigation will enable the agency and the public to create stronger pollution controls in the future and make sure facilities are complying with current rules.

US egg farm to settle animal cruelty case

Animal rights activists say it is the largest penalty in a farm animal abuse case in the country. Jack DeCoster, the owner of Maine Contract Farming LLC, formerly known as the DeCoster Egg Farm, has agreed to pay more than $130,000 in fines to settle a case involving 10 counts of animal cruelty. The case was first brought to light by an undercover investigator from the Illinois-based group Mercy for Animals. For 2 months last year, the undercover investigator worked sided by side with other egg farm employees and documented what he saw with a hidden camera. When the video was turned over to investigators with Maine 's Animal Welfare Board, even they were shocked to see birds crammed into cages with inadequate food and water, left untreated for injuries and illnesses and live birds swung by the neck and thrown in the trash. "That was incredible video. I think it basically portrayed what we found the day of the search warrant," says Dr. Christine Fraser, a state veterinarian who worked on the case. "It was inexcusable. It wasn't just 1 bad day at the chicken farm. It was a chronic problem and it had just been allowed to slide to the point that it got to cruelty."  Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson cited Maine Contract Farming with 10 civil counts of animal cruelty for depriving hens of necessary sustenance and proper shelter. The farm agreed to pay $2,500 dollars in fines for each count, to reimburse the Animal Welfare Board more than $9,000 for the cost of its investigation; and to make a 1 time payment of $100,000 to the Maine Dept of Agriculture for ongoing monitoring of hen treatment at its facilities as well as those of other egg farms around the state. Nathan Runkle, executive director of Mercy For Animals, says he hopes the landmark settlement will send a strong message to egg producers across the nation that animal abuse will not be tolerated.  Mercy for Animals say the case illustrates the need for undercover investigations, "because the government, in most cases is not regulating, no oversight of these facilities, so that's why it's important for watchdog organizations like Mercy for Animals to conduct these investigations."

Canadian standards for farm animal transport dangerously lax

Poultry workers opened the doors of a chicken truck at a Toronto slaughterhouse in Dec 2008, to find that nearly 1,500 birds had frozen to death in sub-zero temperatures during their final journey from the farm. At about the same time, 16 neglected horses animals so emaciated they had not developed winter coats were sent to a meat factory in Alta., in an unheated truck as the thermometer dipped to -12c. Govt inspectors who witnessed their arrival took note of the incident but let the transport company off with a simple warning. Those and other anecdotes are included in a report by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), to be released imminently, that looks at the conditions in which animals intended for Canadian dinner plates are transported often for the last time. The study, which was based on inspection reports filed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) between Oct 2008, and Jan 2009, was initiated in response to the listeriosis crisis of 2008 that killed 22 people. It finds that Canadian standards for the transport of animals are significantly weaker than those of other jurisdictions, including Europe and the US. Under CFIA policy, an inspection is warranted if 1 % of a shipment of broiler chickens arrives dead, whereas the U.S. threshold is 0.5%. The report also found that the CFIA standards are not strenuously enforced. In fact, much evidence suggests that food borne illnesses are readily transmitted among animals that are crammed into trucks and train cars.  CFIA indicate that 2-3m animals die during transport every year and another 11m arrive at their destination diseased or injured. We have to ask the question, how many of these animals that die in transit are ending up on people’s dinner plates? If there is only one inspector for every 2m animals slaughtered for food every year in this country, how can they possibly ensure this isn’t happening? CIFA says its inspectors see the animals both before and after slaughter and they would move quickly to shut down a plant that attempted to process animals that were dead on arrival which is strictly prohibited by federal regulations. They also admit they cannot be in every meat plant at all times. The greatest animal suffering observed in the study occurred on long journeys especially in freezing weather. Canadian cows can be in transit for 52 hours without food, water and a rest break. In Europe , the standard is 12 hours.

Abuse at US duck hatchery

A Washington, D.C.based animal rights group is bringing attention to a case of abused and neglected ducklings at a local hatchery that led to 88 birds getting confiscated by Santa Cruz County Animal Services Authority. Compassion Over Killing (COK), the nonprofit animal advocacy organization that focuses on cruelty to animals in agriculture, released an undercover video showing what they believe are "shocking abuses and suffering" practices at Cal Cruz Hatchery. The video was taken by an employee of COK who was hired by Cal Cruz Hatchery in Jan 2009 to perform maintenance work. He worked at the hatchery for only a few weeks, secretly documenting the mistreatment of ducklings with a hidden video camera. Spokeswoman for COK comments "We believe the evidence clearly shows abuse.  "The ducklings were literally treated like trash. They were mangled in the machinery. It's quite horrible." The video was turned over to county animal services officials in Feb 2009 and a separate investigation was conducted by local authorities that turned up corroborating evidence of abused ducklings, said Lynn Miller, interim manager of Animal Services. State law prohibits torture, needless suffering and killing of any animal. A report from Animal Services was given to the District Attorney's Office, which declined to press charges against Cal Cruz Hatchery, Miller said. Of the 88 ducklings confiscated in May 2009, 40 were on the verge of dying and had to be euthanized .All birds were dehydrated. Some had burns, hypothermia, were covered in faeces and malnourished, some were beyond saving."Cal Cruz Hatchery employees are now cooperating with the investigation and have since halted the duckling part of the business to focus on chickens. The surviving ducklings were stabilized and moved to a farm sanctuary. COK routinely conducts undercover investigations of slaughterhouses animal facilities across the country. A recent investigation also exposed an egg factory in Minnesota.

US dairy farm owner cleared of abuse

A Union County grand jury has decided the owner of a Union County dairy farm caught in an abuse scandal should not face criminal charges. A grand jury met last week and heard testimony from an Ohio Dept of Agriculture veterinarian, the Union County Humane Society and others before deciding that dairy farmer Gary Conklin did nothing criminal, according to Union County Prosecutor David Phillips. Jurors saw hours of video tape recorded by an undercover employee of the animal-rights group, Mercy For Animals, not just the few minutes the group posted on YouTube, Phillips said. On the tape, Conklin employee Billy Joe Gregg is seen viciously beating and abusing cows and calves at the Plain City farm. Gregg has since been fired. He has been charged with 12 misdemeanour counts of animal cruelty and faces a felony weapons charge. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Also on the tape, Conklin is shown kicking a cow that is lying down. Phillips said the portion of the tape shown publicly was spliced together and that Conklin's behaviour was taken out of context. The Union County sheriff's office said it had 4 vets with experience in large-animal care review the tape. "In context, Mr. Conklin's actions were entirely appropriate," Phillips wrote in a news release this morning. "The vets told law enforcement that cows who remain down are at risk of injury or death. A cow's muscles may atrophy. Once that happens, the cow may never get up and may suffer or die." In an e-mailed statement, Gary Conklin called the announcement bittersweet. "It is gratifying that the grand jury found no reason to bring any charges against our farm, family members or current employees," he wrote. "However, we remain extraordinarily saddened by the willful abuse of animals on our farm by one of our former employees." Jurors also reviewed the actions of another Conklin employee as well as the Mercy for Animals investigator, who admitted to poking animals with pitchforks to maintain his cover, and they found nothing that merited criminal charges, Phillips said. The criminal investigation isn't over, however. Phillips said threats of violence and murder made by animal-rights activists against the Conklins are still under review and information may be forwarded to the U.S. Attorney's Office for possible charges under the federal Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. Mercy For Animals reacted to the announcement today and said that Union County has failed the animals and Ohio residents who care about them by giving Conklin Farms "a free pass." "If such abuse is considered legal in Ohio, compassionate citizens should have serious concerns regarding the array of acceptable abuses animals ensure in the dairy industry." The organization presented the sheriff's office with tape proving that Conklin knew of the abuse and created a culture that allowed it, said Daniel Hauff, director of investigations for Mercy For Animals

Undercover Alert!

Due to the recent success of investigations conducted by undercover animal rights operatives, the Animal Agriculture Alliance issued a warning to farm hiring managers to be “watchful” for either current or potential employees fitting the criteria of an activist incognito. Thanks to Drovers.com here are the signs that a farm employee might actually be one of those squirrely animal rights types. Befriending or mingling with upper management asking questions about operations including security matters or time schedules; volunteering for jobs before or after normal business hours; volunteering for jobs that are less desirable, but would provide them access to the animals, often before or after normal business hours; seeking employment in jobs below their skill or education level; demonstrating previous jobs or experiences out of character for the job they were seeking; seeking employment with no pay so they can “learn more about the business before committing to that field” either with regard to their education or possibly before starting their own business; using an out of state driver's licence (US). So if your farm employee displays any of the above behaviours either you have an undercover investigator on your hands or a potential employee of the month candidate. Also according to Drovers.com, the Alliance “recommends that all producers ensure high standards of animal welfare” but then proceeds to accuse activists of utilizing “highly edited images of violence and neglect to prey on the emotions of the public. Finally the good ole’ boys at the Alliance end their news release with the following. “The agriculture industry must be wary activists have shown that they will work every angle in their quest to put all farmers, ranchers, and meat processors out of business. The first step for every farm operator is to ensure that top quality animal care is provided at all times. It is also critical that those in the industry take extra security precautions to prevent getting targeted by animal rights groups looking for video to aid in their fundraising efforts and political campaigns.” Maybe at some point, when epiphany finally strikes, the animal slaughtering industry will realize that if anyone puts them out of business fingers crossed it will be because of their actions not the actions of activists. One can at least hope.  ThisDishIsVeg 23 June

Beak trimming ban under threat

The UK ban on the beak-trimming of egg-laying hens is under threat. Please help us ensure that it is not abandoned. The welfare of millions of hens around the UK is at stake. There are around 26m hens in the UK's laying flock. The majority of these will have had part of their beaks cut off shortly after hatching. This mutilation is a painful and unnecessary solution to feather-pecking. It was due to be banned on 1 Jan 2011, but the Government will soon make a decision on a possible postponement. We must not allow the new Government to postpone the ban on beak-trimming of laying hens without setting a new commencement date. Please write to your MP today: www.ciwf.org/edm260

Bluefin tuna freed

800 endangered bluefin tuna were released from fishing nets by Sea Shepherd anti-poaching activists off the coast of Libya. The action was carried out as part of Operation Blue Rage, targeting the illegal overfishing of bluefin tuna. The fish are being pushed out of existence as a sushi delicacy popular in Japan.  The Sea Shepherd's vessel, the Steve Irwin, has been patrolling the Med during summer 2010 to monitor fishing of the species. The fishing of the bluefin tuna is supposedly monitored by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, yet evidence suggests that their quota of 13,500 tons a year is exceeded to the tune of tens of thousands of tons and there is little enforcement.  Activists on the Steve Irwin approached the Italian trawler Cesare Rustico in the afternoon of June 17^th, but when confronted, the crew insisted that the haul did not exceed any quotas, and that the nets contained fish caught by other vessels. These excuses evaporated when activists inspected the nets. A 5 person crew then took the risky decision to dive down to the cage and succeeded in releasing the lucky 700-800 fish.  2 days later, the Steve Irwin was attacked in Libyan waters while attempting to inspect the contents of the second of the Cesare Rustico's nets. The Cesare Rustico was supported by 3 other vessels, which fired a barrage of flares at the deck and wheelhouse of the Steve Irwin. The activists were forced to retreat to safety, yet, demonstrating true Sea Shepherd resilience, the mission now continues the search for bluefin poachers in the waters of Cyprus and Turkey.  Sea Shepherd organisation said: It is our position that the bluefin tuna we freed from that cage held a large number of juveniles and that the fish were caught after the official closure of the season. It is also our position that the fish that we freed exceeded the quota. After freeing the bluefin tuna, the Steve Irwin headed north and out of the waters claimed by Libya. The Maltese media reported that Libya had dispatched warships to pursue the Steve Irwin. There are claims in the Maltese press that a bluefin tuna fisherman was injured by our actions. No one on the Steve Irwin, in the helicopter, or in the Delta saw any incident where a fisherman was injured. We saw one man dive into the water from the side of the cage. Then, we saw him get up and give us the rude Italian arm signal. Another fisherman slashed at the crew with a hook on the end of a long pole, and one of the vessels rammed us in the port stern area.  Given the very bad weather conditions in the zone north of Tripoli until the closure of the legal fishing season on June 14^th, it is impossible that this catch was taken during the legal season. The tuna were caught post-closure, during a period of very calm weather that has predominated over the area since the 15^th.  It appears that illegal fishing has been seriously reduced this year and thanks to the European Commission decision to close the European fishery on June 9^th, I believe the bluefin tuna catch has been seriously diminished this season. One thing is clear is that the fishing companies are not happy. The fishermen are calling the closure by the EC “unacceptable.” EC Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki explained that the advancement of the closing was due to the fact that the Community fleet had exhausted the quota it had been assigned. The President of Europêche, Javier Garat, has called the decision “intolerable” and is demanding that the EC justify their decision. According to the fishing companies, the decision was made as the result of  “pressure from the radical ecological movements” and they are complaining that they have been put into a state of  “legal insecurity.”  What is amazing is that the fishery was closed because the quota was reached but the fishermen appear to be arguing that they should have the right to continue fishing until June 15^th. It is gratifying to see that the fishermen are blaming us “radical ecologists” for the closure. Personally, I think that Europe has finally realized that unless action is taken now they will be making the same mistake the Canadian government made in presiding over the destruction of the N. Atlantic cod fishery. This year could very well be a success just by all of us being here to keep an eye on both the fishermen and the governments responsible for enforcement.  See www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-100617-1.html

Anti-fishing campaigner injured during raid

A British environmental campaigner was injured during a raid on tuna fishing boats when a grappling hook stuck in his leg. Frank Hewetson, an activist with Greenpeace from London , is recovering in hospital after campaigners for the charity ambushed a French fishing boat in the Mediterranean .. Oliver Knowles from Greenpeace said the protesters were met with an "extremely violent reaction" from the fishermen, and a number of activists were injured In a video released by the charity he said: "It's clear that the blue fin tuna in the Mediterranean is a massively over fished species, already 80% of it fished out, and what has happened here this afternoon in the water around us is that commercial interest has won out over the need to preserve a species." Greenpeace used 2 inflatable craft to try to collapse one side of the fishermen's net to prevent them catching tuna. A video of the incident shows the French crew driving a larger boat into the dinghies, sending one activist flying into the water. Greenpeace said their inflatable boats were sunk when the fishermen slashed them.

Japan fleet set sail on another Pacific whaling trip

Japan launched a summer whaling mission during the first week of June with the target of killing 260 of the giant sea mammals in the N.W. Pacific waters despite legal action by Australia. 3 harpoon and 2 research ships set sail from 3 separate ports in Japan with more than 200 crew to hunt whales in the Pacific waters, said the Institute of Cetacean Research, which sends the state backed whaling fleet. Japan hunts whales using a loophole in a 1986 international moratorium on commercial whaling that allows "lethal research" on the giant mammals, and it makes no secret of the fact that the meat is then sold as food. Opposition to Japan 's research whaling has become increasingly violent in recent years, including harassment and high sea clashes with militant environmentalists during annual expeditions in the Antarctic waters. Due to obstructions by the US based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Japan reported its catch was sharply down to 507 whales in the 2009/2010 expedition to the southern waters, below a target of about 850. "We cannot rule out any possibilities," said Japan 's Fisheries Agency official Hiroshi Kawamura. "Crews are trained for any contingencies." In the latest whaling trip, the fleet led by the Nisshin Maru mother ship plans to catch 100 minke whales, 100 sei whales, 50 Bryde's whales and 10 sperm whales before returning in late August, the operator said. The expedition comes after Australia launched legal action with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in an effort to stop Japan killing hundreds of whales a year in the name of science.

'Ultra-fine' wool growers supply an elite international market and wealthy buyers from the world's foremost fashion houses.  Ultra-fine wool growing is an intensive animal industry. Specially-bred sheep are kept indoors in individual small pens 24 hours a day for 4 or 5 years. Nylon coats are worn by the 'shedded' sheep to further ensure that dust and dirt does not enter their fleece - and, like every other intensive animal industry, the behavioural and social needs of the sheep are completely ignored. The impacts of chronic stress caused by an inappropriate environment are obvious. The confined sheep continually chew on the wooden slats and strands of wire which enclose them. Repetitive body movements were also observed - classic stereotypic behaviours caused by a barren environment (which leads to chronic boredom), combined with the inability to exercise, or to perform simple natural behaviours such as the ability to graze on grass.

Ask Peru to save Roos!
The government of Peru has announced plans to import kangaroo meat from Australia, allegedly under the impression that kangaroo meat comes from animals who are farmed and killed humanely. No such product exists. There are no kangaroo farms in Australia. All kangaroo meat comes from animals who have been shot in the wild. Australia's commercial kangaroo shoot is the largest land-based wildlife slaughter in the world. Kangaroos are killed in their millions in locations so remote that effective regulation is impossible. In 2002, an RSPCA study found evidence that many kangaroos are not killed by a single 'humane' shot to the head. Based on their survey, each year an estimated 100,000 kangaroos endure prolonged suffering after being shot. Countless more animals are injured from gunshots and not retrieved, left to slowly bleed or starve to death. But they are not the only victims - every year around 440,000 unwanted joeys are clubbed to death, decapitated, or left to die from starvation or predation after their mothers have been killed. Countries around the world have banned products from clubbed baby seals, yet more joeys are being clubbed to death in order to provide kangaroo meat products. Your help is needed to urge the Peruvian government to reconsider its decision to import kangaroo meat, and to remind them that there is no such thing as kangaroos "raised for meat consumption" - all kangaroo meat is the product of a cruel wildlife slaughter.  Go to: www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/save-our-roos/

Animal Freedom Day

Animal Freedom Day takes place on July 24^th and was initiated by animal rights activist and filmmaker of the documentary 'Don't Eat Me', 18 year old Nadia Masoudi. Animal Freedom Day aims to creatively tackle the ongoing topic of animal rights. It is a day in which people cease to consume animal products. Our goal is to create awareness and put an end to the slaughtering of animals, animal abuse and create an alternative food source.  Animal Freedom Day is a multi-venue music festival that will be streamed live online for the world to see. It will feature many performances from independent music artists to legendary music icons. Many high profile celebrities, environmentalists, politicians and several others from around the world will take part and have their voice heard to free the animals. Animal Freedom Day is much like a live-aid event, to spread the message of animal rights. Although it is international, Animal Freedom Day will be held in Burlington, Ontario, Canada at the Burlington Jazz & Blues Festival (a vegetarian music festival). We also encourage you to use our event registration to host your own online event. By doing so this would help to spread the word about your belief, cause and contribution for the animals. I believe that together we can unite and help spread awareness for animal rights and vegetarianism. Nadia Masoudi  www.animalfreedomday.com

Farmer & Ex-JP fined for badger killing

Dairy farmer and former High Sheriff of Dyfed Richard Harold James has been fined for trapping and shooting a badger which he dug up his garden. He caught the badger in a snare near his Pembrokeshire home and blasted it to death at close range with a shotgun. The ex-JP was given fines and costs totalling almost £3,000 by Swansea Magistrates for killing a protected animal and using a snare to trap it. James threw the animal onto a slope leading on to National Trust land. It was witnessed by National Trust worker David Jarman who works on land near Home Farm. He went back to his office and called in the RSPCA. James, former chairman of the Clynderwen and Cardigan Farmers Co-Operative, later told an RSPCA inspector who questioned him about the killing: “What about the damage badgers cause us?” John Tarrant, prosecuting, said the RSPCA brought the case because it felt not to have prosecuted would have diminished legislation protecting badgers irrespective of the Welsh Assembly Government’s planned cull of the creatures in W. Wales in an attempt to eradicate bovine TB. And after the case, RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben said: “We hope this case will send the message that killing badgers without a licence is illegal. “The Welsh Assembly Government may be pursuing a cull under special measures in its bid to prevent bovine TB but the fact is badgers are still protected by law and unlicensed killing of them will lead to court.  Mr Hogben added: “Our advice to people who have trouble with badgers digging in their garden is first to consult with a local badger group. “There are badger proof fences that can be used or various sonic devices and one method is to feed badgers so they will not bother digging in to a garden to get worms or other food.”

Badger Trust wins appeal against Welsh cull

The Badger Trust has won their appeal. Welsh badgers are safe for the moment. Thismeans that the threat to English badgers by Clegg Cameron conspiracy has diminished considerably. Stand by for media stories of armed badgers storming orphanages and hospitals!!  The Badger Trust argued that the assembly government and Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones had not shown that a cull would "eliminate or substantially reduce" the rate of TB infection, as the law meant it had to, and that ministers had a duty to weigh the harm to the badger population against the possible benefits to farmers, but had not done so. At least 1,500 badgers were due to be killed during the 5 year programme.

How you can help: We mustn’t assume that a cull won’t happen in the future.  Go to www.badger-killers.co.uk for info on killing areas and to help you recognise traps and vehicles and to download the petition. For more info or to donate, contact Coalition of Badger Action Groups PO Box 129, Plymouth PL1 1RY or e-mail cbag@webtribe.net 

Fish jumps into traders mouth!

An Indian trader holding a bag of fish preparing to sell them got a surprise when all of a sudden, a fish jumped into his mouth. He has the good will of 3 teams of doctors to thank for his life. After it jumped into his mouth, the fish made its way inside the trader's lungs. He started choking and he nearly died. The final team of doctors found the fish inside of his lungs and extricated it. Well, the fish nearly got its revenge

Labour 'will drop pledge on banning battery hens'

Labour's promise to ban the battery farming of hens is set to be dropped, according to a leaked Whitehall letter. Ministers had planned to outlaw the practice by 2012. But in an 'outrageous' U-turn officials have written to other European governments, which were also due to stop battery farming under an EU directive, saying the ban should not be enforced. They claim that farmers do not have the time or money to change their buildings – despite the ban first being promised in 1999 – and that the move will lead to a shortage of eggs. Animal rights campaigners have accused the Government of scaremongering tactics and say reneging on the ban will condemn millions of hens to misery. The tiny battery cages prevent birds from performing natural activities such as foraging and nesting. Hens routinely have the tips of their beaks sheared off with a hot wire to prevent the frustrated animals pecking each other. The secret plan to renege on the ban is contained in a leaked letter from Defra. Senior official Richard Jones writes that the economic downturn has prevented farmers converting their buildings and argues a ban 'may severely damage the EU industry by causing a massive shortage of eggs'. The letter says farmers should be allowed to battery farm hens after 2012 provided the eggs are sold only in their national markets. Philip Lymbery, chief executive of Compassion in World Farming, said the move would reward farmers who have dragged their feet in phasing out the cruel practice. CIWF's Peter Stevenson added: 'The whole idea they have not had enough time to prepare for these changes is just outrageous. 'It is nothing other than scare mongering to claim there will be a shortage of eggs.'  Mail 1^st Jan

Slaughtermen suspended after expose
An Ashburton abattoir could face prosecution and has had 3 of its slaughtermen suspended after an undercover investigation by Animal Aid. The 3 employees were recorded on film at Tom Lang Ltd, Gages Farm, Buckfastleigh Rad, between Oct 19 & Nov 3 slaughtering sheep and pigs. The national campaign group claims its film shows livestock being 'kicked, slapped, thrown and improperly stunned at the Soil Association approved abattoir'. Steve McGrath, chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, said the Government body had 'acted quickly' when Animal Aid provided them with footage filmed at the slaughterhouse. A spokesman for the meat hygiene inspectors confirmed that one of the breaches of welfare regulations on the film was that the heads of 6 sheep were removed before they had been left to bleed for a minimum of 20 seconds. "We suspended 3 slaughterers immediately and evidence to support a potential prosecution of the slaughterhouse operator and slaughterers is being collated," added Mr. McGrath. The hygiene inspectors have installed a raft of measures since. Senior vets have visited the abattoir and additional staff have been installed on a temporary basis in the slaughterhouse to 'ensure standards of slaughtering are acceptable'. The agency's on site vet is also making additional random checks on slaughtering. The abattoir is now working with the hygiene inspectorate to ensure any similar incidents do not happen again and has employed a foreman to supervise operations and is installing CCTV to record the slaughtering process. Andrew Tyler, director of Animal Aid, said "Just because pigs and sheep aren't kept as pets, it doesn't mean they don't suffer like dogs and cats. They can sense the slaughterhouse environment is a very bad place for them to be. If, in addition, they are treated callously in the process of being killed, it is a nightmare for them. You can see the distress in the footage. I think it is for people who do eat meat to take a look at this footage and make a judgement as to whether it is fair that animals should be treated in this fashion. We think it is thoroughly immoral ThisisSouthDevon 17 Dec

Songbirds killed and eaten
More than 1m songbirds are being killed and eaten every year in Cyprus. Trappers, often petty criminals linked to organised crime, use pieces of wood coated with glue that often rip feathers from the birds as they struggle to escape. Robins, song thrushes and other birds are then sold to restaurants where they are made into a Cypriot delicacy of pickled or boiled birds known as ‘ambelopoulia’. A helping for one person could be up to a dozen birds. The traditional dish was first eaten centuries ago when it was difficult to get any other meat in Cyprus and has remained popular ever since, despite the demise in songbirds. In fact the RSPB suspect the number of birds being trapped and killed has increased as organised gangs have started to move into the lucrative business. This autumn the RSPB estimated 700,000 birds were trapped, an increase of around 30 % from recent years. The birds are migrating to Cyprus for Christmas to escape winter in the Ukraine and other areas of N.E. Europe, rather than Britain.  However one of the trapping hot spots is on the British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekalia. Hundreds of thousands of British tourists also stay near where the birds are trapped. Tim Stowe, of the RSPB, said the trapping is an "industrial exercise that involves planting and irrigating acacia forests to attract the birds. The birds are then either trapped in their hundreds in mesh nets or caught on ‘traditional’ limesticks coated with glue a concoction made from locally occurring fruits. He said the British authorities should be helping to stamp out the illegal activity on their doorstep. For this to be going on in an area supposedly controlled by the British authorities is unbelievable and unacceptable." Telegraph 23 Dec

Call for monks to close farm
PETA is calling for a Rogersville monastery to shut down its farming operation, alleging its practices are inhumane to animals and contrary to Catholic beliefs. Our Lady of Calvary Abbey, a Trappist monastery, operates a factory farm that confines hundreds of thousands of chickens to massive sheds in deplorable conditions. PETA claim they were alerted by Catholic members in New Brunswick to investigate the operation. "Sadly, the abbey is treating these animals in a way that would warrant cruelty charges if they were dogs or cats rather than chickens and cows, it's a denial of God to treat God's creatures with such complete apathy for their welfare and that is what these monks are doing." PETA objects to the standards of all factory farm chicken operations in Canada and has had success in targeting similar practices in another monastery in the USA. Following PETA's 2007 release of an investigation of Mepkin Abbey factory farm, the S. Carolina monastery started growing mushrooms instead. "We urge members of the Our Lady of Calvary community to follow their brothers' example and switch to an income generating industry that does not include the use of animals. Catholic catechism, the Bible and common sense all dictate that animals are granted compassion." Monastery Abbot Bede Stockill comments: "Please note that we follow all government and veterinary approved methods in our farming,"  He declined to comment on whether the monastery is looking into alternative practices and would not grant a phone interview. The monastery operates a dairy farm and roughly 350 acres of pasture and crop fields, raising broiler chickens for roasting, and chicks until they are ready to lay eggs for another producer. Roughly 240,000 broilers and about 60,000 chicks are also raised up to laying hen size each year. The farm also has 75 mature cows, 40 heifers and 15 calves. Friedrich said PETA contacted the abbey directly in July about the farm operation. "We had a very unsuccessful and frustrating exchange of emails, the abbey continues to insist they are considering our request." Friedrich admitted that the farm is within provincial and federal regulations, but that those standards are deplorable to anyone who witnesses them. They are also contrary to Catholic beliefs. "Anybody who spends 30 seconds thinking about it knows that chickens should not be crammed into sheds, around excrement, unable to do anything that is natural to them." Telegraph Journal 11 Dec

Netherlands to slaughter more animals in Q fever epidemic
The Netherlands has stepped up measures against the world's biggest Q fever epidemic that has killed 10 humans, by ordering the slaughter of over 30,000 animals. The ministry of agriculture announced the "preventative slaughter" of 34,000 expectant goats and ewes, and 1,200 billy goats who will be killed too as they can transmit the infection through their sperm. Q fever, found in 55 Dutch farms so far, has killed 6 people in 2009 and Dutch authorities say 10 farm workers have died in total since the fever appeared in 2007 in the south of the country. The slaughter had involved 15,000-20,000 non vaccinated expectant goats, but this has now been extended to vaccinated animals in an attempt to limit the spread of bacteria when animals give birth or during forced abortions. The slaughter accounts for more than half the livestock from the 55 infected farms, mostly situated in the southern Brabant province. The authorities warn that the slaughter will now be carried out in all farms where the infection is found. All reproductive activity in ovine and caprine farms is forbidden until July 2010 and reproduction between animals in the infected farms has been banned for life. An obligatory animal vaccination campaign was launched at the start of 2009 in the Netherlands, but due to a lack of vaccine it was not able to cover the whole country. In humans the symptoms of Q fever are similar to flu. The Independent 17 Dec

An average N. American eats 3 times more meat than the average European. The USA feeds its cattle mostly on soya protein. Therefore, if the USA reduced its meat intake by a 3^rd (still twice as much as a European) it would, effectively, release enough soya protein to feed the entire population of the world.  Of course it's all GM Soya these days so who'd want it now? In the UK we feed 80% of our root crops to cattle. As we only get 10% back in food, if we gave up meat and ate the crops ourselves then we could have a huge land area set aside for nature. Cows and other animals could roam free.  Food crisis?

Judicial Review

The Badger Trust is applying for a Judicial Review of the decision made in Sept 2009 by the Welsh Assembly Government (W.A.G.) to include the killing of badgers in its bovine tuberculosis eradication scheme. The Badger Trust challenges the legality of the decision.  The Badger Trust has exchanged several letters before action with the W.A.G.’s legal department to state its case and clarify the W.A.G.’s intentions. However, there have been considerable delays in receiving answers from the W.A.G. and the 3-month time limit is about to expire. The Badger Trust has been advised that further delay could risk the application being declined. However, the W.A.G. says its Sept announcement did not amount to a decision and that the Badger Trust’s challenge would be premature. If the Badger Trust’s application were refused on these or any other grounds, they could still make a further application, but not if the application was ruled too late despite the delays being caused by the W.A.G. and not by the Badger Trust. David Williams, Chairman of the Badger Trust, said: “It is with some reluctance but nevertheless firm resolve that we must, as an organisation dedicated to the welfare and protection of the badger, enter into these proceedings at the highest level. The decision is unjust and goes against the scientific evidence, and the law affords us this opportunity of challenging the legality of the W.A.G.’s intention to kill badgers, and we are now taking it”.

Animal rights activists in Flintshire protested against the badger cull on 9^th Dec.  Dozens of protesters gathered in Daniel Owen Square over an Assembly decision to kill badgers in an effort to prevent the spread of bovine TB. Protester Judi Hewitt said badgers could not be blamed for spreading the disease. “AMs have no real proof that it’s badgers passing TB on to cattle,” she said. “Yet they still want to steamroll into a horrible killing programme that will wipe out badgers from many areas in Wales.” The protest was timed to coincide with a surgery held by N. Wales AM and Cilcain farmer Brynle Williams, who has supported the cull.

Veggie diet better than cholesterol lowering drugs
Increasingly larger numbers of people confronted with abnormal blood cholesterol levels eventually require treatments with statins or other similar cholesterol lowering drugs. While such medications are considered to be effective in preventing and reducing high blood cholesterol levels, they don’t produce dramatic results, generating less satisfactory effects in certain categories of people. In addition, most cholesterol lowering drugs are known to cause serious side-effects, rendering long term treatments with such medications very unsafe...) After accumulating and analysing a vast amount of data regarding blood cholesterol and its risk factors, a team of Canadian medical researchers and nutritionists has come up with a very effective natural cure for high cholesterol, a vegetarian diet. The Canadian medical scientists have proved it to be a very powerful and not to mention safe alternative to common cholesterol-lowering drugs.... Evana 13 Dec

A former Australian-owned live export ship sank near Lebanon, drowning almost 18,000 cattle and over 10,000 sheep. More than half the 83 crew members are missing. The MV Danny F II was on its way from Uruguay to Syria. The ship, formerly owned by Elders, transported sheep from Australia to the Middle East until several years ago. Animals Australia Exec Director Glenys Oogjes reacted with horror to the news. "The live export trade has a history littered with disasters. One can only imagine the terror for both the crew and the animals as the Danny F II went down. Attempts to rescue the crew were hampered by floating animal carcases, providing a stark image of the scale of the suffering and death caused. "This disaster should provide a further wake up call to the Rudd Government that there are inherent and unacceptable risks every time these huge livestock vessels take to sea. When something goes wrong - such as fire, ventilation breakdown, or extremes of weather such as the storms that hit the Danny F II, thousands of lives are lost. "Whilst such disasters occur sporadically, the routine loss of life resulting from live animal export is equally appalling. Almost 4 times the sheep death toll on the Danny F died on Australia's live shipping fleet in 2008. Each year some 40,000 sheep die on 'our' ships due to their failure to eat the pellet food provided, from salmonella infections, and from injuries or heat stress.  "The sinking of the Danny F II is a tragedy, but our unethical trade in live animals is a daily disaster for the animals involved," concluded Ms Oogjes. For a listing of major disaster in the Australian live export trade over the past 30 years: www.liveexport-indefensible.com/facts/litany.php

On getting a text about a cat-napper truck, cat rescuers with a reporter managed to intercept it and called the police. It was taken to the police station where they found 30 cages with about 600 cats.  Police said they’d make a decision in the morning so the rescuers stayed with the truck through the night in freezing temperatures. Some cats died. As the cat-nappers showed legal paperwork and quarantine certificates the police said they’d let them go, refusing to believe the rescuers when they said the papers were fake. So they staged a poster protest which the police broje up during scuffles.  Other rescuers arrived on the scene and 5 rescuers’ cars blocked the access for the truck to leave. The police officers, under pressure, agreed to negotiate with the rescuers. 3 representatives went into Director Shen’s office while one was sent to town find a way to prove that the cat-nappers’ certificate was fake. After failing to do this the police said they’d either get the truck out of town or the rescuers could have 200 cats.  This they refused, say8ng they wouldn’t abandon even one cat.  To prepare for the worst  the rescuers called for more help, and split the rescuers, with some going to the access of the Jiaxin highway and with some staying at the police station. At 4:00pm, more police arrived – fully armed. Some rescuers still went and lay underneath the truck to prevent it from moving. Mr. Shen’s order, the police surrounded the rescuers and the truck and dragged the rescuers out from under the truck one by one. When the access was all clear, the cat-nappers returned to their truck and left towards the highway. Mr. Shen said that the rescuers could leave half an hour after the truck had left. All the rescuers then contacted the 2 cars that were waiting over at the highway access, and knowing that the truck was stopped at the toll pay highway station.  They called the police in the Jiangsu Province and  went to the Wu Jiang Police Station and called the Jiangsu Agriculture Bureau in hopes that the police officers there will release the cats. At the same time, more rescuers from Shanghai arrived, and the local police officers showed mercy to the rescuers and had the truck transported to the police station. After negotiations with the rescuers and the cat-nappers, the cat-nappers were forced to have all 600 cats released to rescuers. The rescuers had an urgent meeting, and decided that the 600 cats will be released to the Wuxi Cat Rescuer Group. On  Dec 20^th, 30 cages containing the rescued cats were safely back in Wuxi, and the cats were released to homes in Wuxi. At 4:00am, after 36 hours, the Shanghai cat rescuers finally returned to Shanghai for a well deserved rest. We won!

Seal shooting in Scotland

The Scottish Government has made it clear that they are going to support seal shooting salmon farmers and not the protection of seals, in the forthcoming Marine (Scotland) Act. At a crucial committee debate on the proposed Act, Scottish Government representatives strongly opposed moves to keep the close seasons which give seals at least some protection during the breeding seasons. Instead the Government wants to allow fish farmers and others to shoot heavily pregnant seals and mother seals with dependant young thus leaving baby seals to starve to death. Blatant barbarism. The Save Our Seals Fund, Animal Concern and the Animal Concern Advice Line all called for a ban on allowing salmon farmers to shoot seals. Apart from any moral, welfare or conservation issues the fact is that salmon farmers can exclude seals from their floating factory farms thus removing any need to shoot them. The problem is that exclusion is more expensive than shooting seals. The Scottish Government not only opposes banning salmon farmers from shooting seals, it will not even support a compromise calling for salmon farmers to at least try all the exclusion methods before resorting to shooting seals. The SNP have a terrible record on Marine conservation and continually lobby for bigger catch quotas for Scottish fishermen while fish stocks continue to decline due to commercial over fishing.  In Scotland the same Government Minister is responsible for protecting seals and the environment AND for protecting the industries which are in direct and deadly conflict with seals and the habitat which is their home.  The time has come to tell Scottish politicians that their failure to protect the globally important seal populations which live in Scottish waters is a very serious matter with extremely serious consequences for the Scottish economy. Protest e-mails should be sent to: FirstMinister@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or by post to The First Minister, St. Andrew's House, Regent Rd, Edinburgh EH1 3DG, Scotland

Thousands of farm animals face being frozen to death as Scotland experiences its worst winter weather in almost 50 years. Upland sheep farmers fear that their flocks could be killed as a result of deep snow. Those in hilly areas of the country, where snow drifts are already up to 4ft deep, are finding it increasingly difficult to get vital feed to their herds of cows and flocks of sheep. Contact the Scottish Govt. Animal Health and Welfare Directorate on: 0131 244 6015 and ask what's being done about this situation while Minister Richard Lochhead is working out a plan that ensures this won't cost either farmers or the SNP administration any money. Please give them your full details and ask for complaint to be logged and for a reference number. You can also contact Richard Lochhead here: scottish.ministers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Why can’t feed be dropped from helicopters?

US : Animal activists are crucifying farmers

Activists pushing for changes in animal agriculture actually want to end the practice of raising animals for food. That’s the message from Missouri Farm Bureau President Charlie Kruse, and others at the group’s annual convention. In his address to Farm Bureau members in Missouri, Kruse talked about actions begun in Missouri by the Humane Society of the United States. “We’ve already seen what they’ve done in states like Florida, Arizona, California and Colorado. They dramatically changed the way producers in those states are able to raise livestock and poultry,” said Kruse during his address. “Right now they’re saying their goal is just simply to protect animals, but I know we all know there can be a strong argument made that their real goal is to eliminate animal agriculture,” he said. Betty Wolanyk with Ag Literacy Works says animal rights activists are reaching and influencing people from the time they’re youngsters. “The fact that so many college students claim to be vegan tells you something’s happening here,” Wolynak told Brownfield prior to speaking to Missouri Farm Bureau members, “and that’s the best way I can tell that activists are really being effective.” Washington, D.C. analyst Steve Kopperud says agriculture interests have to fight even harder against activist-coined terms such as “factory farm” and “puppy mill”. “The problem we have has almost doubled because we have allowed the activists to define us, we have allowed the activists to tell the public what we do and how we do it and frankly, we’re sitting back and continuing to allow that to happen,” said Kopperud. “Now, Ohio, Michigan, places like that; we’re starting to see farmers and ranchers stand up and say, ‘we’re not going to take this anymore.’” Kopperud refers to laws passed in those states designed to thwart activists’ efforts. On the other hand, the Humane Society of the United States has filed 2 initiative petitions with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office seeking to crack down on dog breeders that they refer to as “puppy mills”. Livestock agriculture interests say it’s the opening volley of the HSUS effort to restrict animal agriculture practices in the state. Kopperud says farmers have to bring their story to major consumer markets. “Your products are bought in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas and Miami. Those are the people who must hear from you,” said Kopperud. “If they don’t, I can guarantee you they will hear from HSUS President Wayne Pacelle, and he will portray you as the worst of the worst.” Meat Trade News Daily

Man dies while trying to roast pig
A Phoenix man's attempt to prepare a special holiday meal for his family took a tragic turn, when he dug a 3ft deep fire pit to roast a pig, but somehow fell into the fiery hole… Authorities say family and friends ran to the pit, but couldn't pull him out of the fire before he died. Yet more proof that meat is dangerous for your health!

Marcus the lamb

Lydd Primary School head mistress Andrea Charman decided that children should learn about the food chain, so a small farm has been set up at the school.   The animals are reared and then sent to slaughter.  After naming the lamb Marcus the kids naturally became attached to him so when slaughter time came many were traumatised and the story erupted in the media. Carol Midgley (a vegetarian), in The Times, reckons that Marcus has done valuable work in waking people up to the horrors of meat.  Here’s a small piece from her article of 17^th Sept.: Already some kids are saying they’ll never eat meat again thanks to the martyr of Romney Marsh. I’ve heard tales of horrified children looking up slaughterhouse footage on Google to discover how Marcus met his maker - no Disney ending. If this effect ripples countrywide then one animal’s death could mean the saving of thousands more. I’m beginning to wonder whether Andrea Charman, the headmistress, who looks like a woman you wouldn’t pick a fight with, is really a secret agent for Peta and waging counter-intuitive warfare against the farming industry. Ms Charman would have done no favours to Britain's millions of farm animals if she’d relented and let Marcus live. That would have allowed everyone to feel all was right with the world, then go back to buying their Tesco Value mince. I’m glad there was a campaign to save him - but I bet many of those weeping are carnivores who seldom give serious thought to animal welfare standards as they throw another bacon vacuum pack in the trolley. But what a masterclass in realism that teacher has given those children and their parents! What a valuable dose of truth. We can hardly claim it wasn’t needed. Children are becoming so remote from the food production process that a recent survey showed many think that cows lay eggs and bacon comes from sheep. 1 in 10 eight-year-olds has no idea that pork chops come from pigs. One of the parents confirms that her 10 year old daughter has now turned vegetarian. Take a bow, headmistress. As for Marcus - rest in peace, old son. Your work here is done. The Times. 17 Sept.  Shame Ms Charman didn’t take the to the slaughterhouse

A slaughterman's licence has been suspended and a Somerset abattoir faces prosecution after secret footage showed "callous" animal welfare breaches.  Food Standards Agency (FSA) executives are considering criminal action against bosses at AC Hopkins and the individual slaughterman caught on film.  Animal Aid managed to install secret CCTV cameras in 3 abattoirs across England. They are now calling for CCTV to be placed in all UK slaughterhouses. The unnamed slaughterman was seen stunning multiple animals - strictly forbidden by EU law - and stunning a ewe as it suckled a lamb.  As a result of the publication, the employee was immediately removed from working with live animals at the firm in Creech St Michael.  He will not be permitted to work with live animals while the investigation proceeds, and faces the permanent withdrawal of his licence. Animal Aid shot 40 hours of secret footage at 3 abattoirs over 6 months from Jan to July.  From that they compiled a 10-minute clip, published on YouTube and the group's own website.  Footage from an abattoir in Cornwall led to official advice on 'areas of improvement', while images from a Derbyshire site failed to reveal any breaches.  Kate Fowler, Head of Campaigns at Animal Aid, said: "We believe that millions of animals across the country are suffering untold torment when they are stunned and killed.  Animals were kicked, hit, goaded, sworn at and stood on. In our view, one worker in particular combined incompetence, stupidity and callousness." The man who is being investigated had worked for 3 months for AC Hopkins when the recording was made. He had previously worked for many years for a large abattoir which is now closed, and holds a certificate having been trained in animal welfare but the standard of his work was not satisfactory." Mr Lomax pointed out all abattoirs are supervised throughout by veterinary and meat hygiene inspectors. "The company is disappointed the official vet did not notice any problems and had expected any to be drawn to the owner's attention," he added.

Help needed for abattoir/supermarket research
Trying to find out which abattoirs supply which supermarkets can be tricky but very useful. It is easiest to track backwards and look at the meat in the supermarket, which has a 4-digit code on it (in an elliptical circle) which will say something like 'EC4075' or 'UK9012'. These codes indicate where the animal was slaughtered. I know it's a grim job, but when you are next in a supermarket, would you take down as many of these codes from the meat as you can and send them to me please? I would need to know the date you visited, the name and town of the supermarket and what species of animal that the meat came from, along with the code. I would really appreciate your help. Thank you in advance! Kate Fowler Head of Campaigns Animal Aid 01732 364546 ex 236 kate@animalaid.co.uk

Live exports from Portsmouth?
We now have reliable information that Portsmouth may be the next port to become involved with live animal exports. Celtic Link Ferries (Ireland) started a Portsmouth-Cherbourg route from Sun 4^th Oct. and this carrier and this route may be the next attempt by exporters to get animals to Europe.  Shipments may start the week commencing Mon 12^th Oct. The vessel is likely to be the ‘Norman Voyager’, which has capacity for up to 800 passengers, 200 cars and up to 120 freight vehicles. These animals could be destined for both further fattening and immediate slaughter. According to our records, Portsmouth declared in 2007 that only around 10 breeding animals may be exported from its facility each week.  So now it appears strange that Portsmouth may potentially have a future policy allowing a lot more animals to be exported live in 2009.  We hope that the port will clarify its position in the very near future. For anyone wishing to contact Mr. Putman about this issue, his contact number is: 023 9229 7391, or email info@portsmouth-port.co.uk  KALE

Sheep exported in refrigerator lorry
On 1^st Sept, an Amsterdam based haulier attempted to transport ‘products’ through Dover to Calais.  The ‘load’, which was declared to UK port and ferry operating officials as refrigerated, ‘boxed meat’, actually turned out to be 320 live sheep.  As if conditions for live animals undergoing long distance transport across the EU are not bad enough, all of these sheep had been loaded into a single refrigerated truck trailer in a blatant but obvious attempt to deceive the authorities. KALE suspects that this is not the first time in recent weeks that an attempt has been made to evade the authorities and get UK livestock across the channel.  Kent livestock markets have been circulating rumours for several weeks now that animals were being shipped to Europe on a regular basis.  Despite attempts by animal welfare organisations to further investigate how and where this has been happening, no firm evidence was found.  It was only through the vigilance of the crew on the P&O vessel ‘Pride of Dover’ that the trade in actual live animals was discovered.  Concerned crew alerted the captain regarding the consignment, who then took decisive action and refused permission for the truck to disembark at Calais.  Instead, the vehicle was shipped back to Dover where it was immediately handed over to officers from Defra for further investigations.  KALE is currently aware that the incident has now been passed to Kent Trading Standards, who have the ability to undertake a full investigation into the shipment and to prosecute where necessary. This trade in live animals would have potentially many more ramifications regarding the transmission of several (livestock) diseases across EU borders.  The vehicle trailer was specifically designed only for carrying refrigerated meat rather than that for live animals. Carriers of livestock have to adhere to high welfare and ventilation standards in accordance with existing EU ‘protection of animals during transport’ legislation - Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 of 22 Dec 2004.  The fact that 320 animals were carried on one single tier within a completely unventilated ‘box’ refrigerated trailer for many miles is simply beyond belief. KALE demands that the perpetrators of this sordid abuse of animals now be prosecuted by whatever means, to send a clear message that inflicting this kind of suffering will not be tolerated within the EU.  Despite many incidents having been ‘investigated’ by Kent Trading Standards in relation to live animal exports in recent years, to which KALE feel there was overwhelming evidence for prosecution, KTS have never prosecuted.  KALE now hopes that the evidence of this case will see action by KTS. Dr. Caroline Lucas MEP has contacted KALE and will be acting on our behalf and writing to the EU Commission asking for a full investigation of the entire incident to be undertaken. We hope they will use this incident as further justification as to why new EU legislation regarding live animal transportation needs to be introduced across the entire EU at the earliest possible opportunity. KALE pays tribute to the crew of the P&O ‘Pride of Dover’ for their attentiveness and actions in relation to the incidents of 1^st Sept.  “It was because of their actions on the Channel crossing that 320 live animals were discovered rather than 320 dead, suffocated animals somewhere between Calais and their eventual destination”, a KALE spokeperson stated.

Fri 18^th Sept - Contacts at Ipswich Animal Rights have informed that at 6.30am a single Dutch livestock transporter loaded with sheep entered Felixstowe. Vehicle registration was WJ-TN-74. Haulier: Van Beers. Demonstrations at Felixstowe organised as a welcome for future shipments.

Tues 29^th  Sept - we have heard from a trusted source that a 'shipment of animals' went out of Dooley Terminal at Felixstowe port this morning.  

There have been 3 small (but very loud) protests at Gate 2 over the last week or so.   Sometimes the demos are very spontaneous.  Protesters are very visible (near a large roundabout) where they can be seen by hundreds of passers by.

Wed 30^th Sept - we have had confirmation from Mr. Paul Davey, – Head of Corporate Affairs, Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd, that they (Felixstowe) will no longer have any involvement with live animals exports to mainland Europe. Mr. Davey declared in his statement to KALE: I can confirm that we have handled a limited number of live animal exports in recent months. We did this on the understanding that the highest standards of animal treatment would be adhered to, and that no animals would suffer as a result being transported through the Port of Felixstowe.  Consignments have been checked by Defra, Food Standard Agency and EU officials, and we are confident that the highest standards have been maintained. We have, however, kept our policy under constant review and, following further deliberations, I can confirm we have decided to cease our involvement in this trade.  I hope this gives you the certainty and clarity you require. Best regards Paul.  There have been a very small number of shipments of live sheep from Felixstowe over the past few months, each shipment taking one vehicle to our knowledge; however KALE is very thankful to Mr. Davey, the Directors and Management of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited in making the correct decision and withdrawing from all involvement with the trade. In addition, we offer our congratulations to Melanie and all the crew in the region who have been directly involved with this campaign on a daily basis by organising demonstrations, dealing with the press and media etc. We trust that other ports within the UK who are possibly still contemplating some future involvement with this sordid business will follow the decision of the Board of Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd. - The Correct Decision!

Thurs 1^st Oct - we have been contacted by Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited who has informed that there will be one final export shipment from Felixstowe on Fri 2nd. As the booking for this consignment was made in advance of recent events of this week, and advanced payment was made for the shipment, it now has to go ahead. KALE was categorically informed that this will be the very last shipment to go from Felixstowe.

Seal meat has been put on to the menu in some of Canada's top restaurants as part of a patriotic backlash against an EU ban. Anger at the EU ruling, combined with the curiosity of tourists, has driven soaring demand for dishes such as pan-seared seal filet, seal stroganoff, seal pate and seal burgers. The European Parliament voted for a ban on the import and sale of commercially caught Canadian seal products, primarily fur, in May, after a long campaign by anti-hunting groups. In July, foreign ministers of the EU's 27 nations decided formally to adopt the ban. The Canadian government has reacted by threatening to take the EU to the World Trade Organisation.

Bull runs for his life
Police say a 1,400lb bull who escaped from a New Jersey slaughterhouse, dragged officers with a lasso down a street and ran 10 blocks before being captured and sedated. Chief John DeCando, spokesman for Paterson Police's animal control division, says the bull was being unloaded at ENA Meat Packing Inc. when it broke loose. Police tried to corral the bull by lassoing a rope around his neck, but he dragged officers down the street instead. DeCando says traffic was light during the bull run. Officers finally corralled the bull and DeCando was able to sedate him. No (human) injuries were reported. The bull was returned to the slaughterhouse.

Boar farmer given chance to stay
A boar breeder from Devon can make a fresh request to live on his land, the High Court has ruled.  N. Devon District Council served enforcement notices on Allan Dedames, of West Anstey, S. Molton, in 2007. The council said he was living on the farm without lawful permission. Mr Dedames said he had to live on the site to protect his animals. The High Court said that he should be able to apply for planning permission. Mr Dedames was at the High Court in London to fight against a planning inspector's rejection of his appeal against the enforcement notices. The notices required him to remove caravans and other items from the site on the grounds that he was living on his farm without lawful permission. Mr Dedames argued he had to live on site to protect his animals and, if forced to move out, he would be left homeless. He withdrew his High Court action after senior judge Sir George Newman called for "a fresh start". The council agreed not to enforce the notices in order to give him time to formally apply for planning permission. The judge urged the compromise because of costly delays and the overall expense of the legal action. After the hearing, Mr Dedames said: "The judge was very fair, as it turned out."  But added he had been left feeling "empty and blank" at "having to start everything over again".  If his new application is turned down, he could have to go through the appeal process, and its subsequent legal challenges, again. Mr Dedames' farm was attacked in Dec 2005, and on subsequent occasions, by suspected animal rights activists. It led to more than 100 boars being released. He estimated that at least a quarter of his stock were pregnant sows at the time they were released, with the average litter being about 5 piglets.  He said he calculated that there could be more than 200 wild boar now breeding wild in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

A bill that would ban the practice of tail docking dairy cows was introduced in California last Feb.  The bill has since passed through both the state Senate and the California Assembly with bipartisan support. But the bill still needs to be signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, whose record on animal welfare is shady at best with his previous proposals to shorten shelter stays, ignore puppy mills and tax veterinary care. Tail docking is performed to (supposedly) prevent the spread of leptospirosis to dairy workers, along with promoting udder health of cows. Various procedures to remove the tail are performed with no painkillers, and typically involve severing the tail off, or using a band to cut off circulation, causing the tail to fall off on its own. However, the process of removing up to 2/3 of the tail is considered cruel, inhumane and unnecessary by many and has been banned in several European countries. Scientific findings have also concluded that there is no benefit to cows having their tails docked in regards to the health of cows or people and that docking also causes additional stress for cows during fly season. Neuromas, or growths of nerve tissue, may also appear, which indicate tail docking can cause chronic pain, according to the AVMA.  The bill to end tail docking is also supported by the Humane Society of the US, the California Veterinary Medical Assoc, the ASPCA, the California Farm Bureau and the California Cattlemen's Assoc. Despite having no arguments, Schwarzenegger has openly mocked this bill on his twitter page, along with making a video to prove his point, with the stance that no one should be bothering with cow tails when the economy is suffering. I bet that the 1.8m dairy cows in California would beg to differ with the governor. It also seems completely inappropriate for someone in his position to blatantly ridicule the suffering of animals and the work of animal welfare supporters, especially considering that the bill would end an inhumane practice, while having no fiscal impact on the state whatsoever. If signed into law, California would be the first state to ban tail docking in dairy cattle.

Tescos
As well as selling the rabbit logo, BUAV approved, cleaning products and toiletries, Mark & Spencer's and Waitrose were the winner in both 2005 and 2007 in CIWF's welfare meat survey. Compare these Supermarkets who take pride in having standards, to Tesco's Foie Gras in Hungary, live turtles boiled and sliced alive in China, caged hen eggs, low welfare meat, not bothering to stock vegan food, and their statement, "We can't impose our standards on China." Which Supermarket would you rather support with your money? Tesco, for all of the above reasons, are a despicable Supermarket. Please write to the Tesco CEO and express how you feel about their unnecessary complete disregard for animal welfare, mentioning all of the above problems and tell him you will boycott Tesco. Sir Terry Leahy, CEO Tesco, Tesco House, PO Box 44, Delamare Rd, Cheshunt, Herts. EN8 9SL  You can phone Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy on: 0845 600441 Please, let's not let him get away with it.

Food bug present on 65% of chicken on sale
A food bug that causes 55,000 people to fall ill every year is present on 65% of chicken on sale in the UK. Campylobacter, which causes diarrhoea, cramping and abdominal pain, was found in almost 2/3 of chicken samples tested, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) found. Salmonella was in 6% of samples. The illness, which can be prevented by properly cooking meat, usually lasts 1 week, although some people don't show any symptoms. Those with compromised immune systems are at risk of the bug spreading to the bloodstream and causing a life-threatening infection, according to the US-based Centre for Disease Control. The levels of campylobacter in chicken remain almost unchanged since the agency's last survey in 2001 and Andrew Wadge, director of food safety at the FSA, said it showed more action needs to be taken by the poultry industry. Campylobacter is the most common bacterial cause of food poisoning, according to the FSA. As well as chicken it can be found on other meat, unpasteurised milk, and untreated water. The FSA tested 3,274 samples of fresh chicken at retail across the UK between May 2007 and Sept 2008 for the presence of campylobacter and salmonella.

Vested interest in baby formula study
A group of Scientists are claiming that infants consuming baby formula with an additive have higher IQs than breast-fed children. When publishing an article in a scientific journal an author MUST list any possible conflicts of interest. The lead author is James Drover. After investing hours of my time for investigative research, I've come to the conclusion that he's clean. The second listed author is Dennis R. Hoffman. My investigation has uncovered some powerful conflicts. The study conclusion which is fuelling the controversy is that baby formula may be healthier for an infant than milk from the mother's breast. I've discovered that Dennis R. Hoffman has a financial arrangement with Mead Johnson. Mead Johnson is the world's No 1 manufacturer of baby formula. Dennis R. Hoffman expects to become a very wealthy man as he has a patent pending for the use of the same baby formula additive as is the subject of today's study. The Sept 14, 2009 study is published in: Child Development Volume 80 Issue 5, Pages 1376 – 1384. Robert Cohen. Notmilk.com

A New Jersey judge has dismissed animal cruelty charges against a cop accused of committing a sex act with young cows, saying a grand jury had no way of knowing whether the animals were "tormented." Moorestown police officer Robert Melia, who is currently suspended, allegedly engaged in oral sex acts with 5 calves in 2006.