Thirsty and hungry, they lick the bars of their lorry. They eat their excrement. Heavily pregnant, they give birth to a baby who is immediately taken away. Exhausted, some succumb in the lorries on the Turkish border. Some are born in France, others come from elsewhere in Europe. Their ordeal is indescribable, the images are unbearable.
CIWF's investigation
The association CIWF is one of One Voice's comrades. Its partners Tierschutzbund Zurich, Animal Welfare Foundation and Eyes on animals carried out an investigation in Kapikule in June this year, on the border between Bulgary and Turkey as part of an investigation which began in 2010. Out of the 200 lorries that crossed the border, 109 were inspected. The cattle had been shut in these lorries in the sun for several days, without clean water or food. The temperature was more than 38oC in these vehicles, where the smell of ammonia mixed with the smell of the bodies… not everyone can survive in such conditions. 5 calves were born there, one of them by caesarean, its mother cut open without anaesthetic, in the road. The calf was already dead. Exhausted and with her stomach still open, she didn't manage to get back into the trailer. So her throat was cut whilst she was fully conscious, next to the lorry.
France is guilty
France's involvement in this genuine scandal is far from being anecdotal. France was the largest exporter of live animals to Turkey in 2015. The number then fell following the bluetongue virus epidemic, but agreements are currently in negotiation to increase exportations again. We must also highlight that during a 6-year investigation, 350 lorries transporting sheep and cows were inspected. Of these, 89% coming from France's direction were in violation of the European legislation. And French and European authorities have been aware of this for a long time!
We must say stop!
Faced with this unacceptable horror, One Voice is supporting the request addressed to Stephane Le Foll (the French Agricultural Minister) by CIWF to stop all live animal exports to Turkey. You can do something by sending him a request on the ministry website.
But you can also help us to alter consumption habits. These cows undoubtedly originate from the dairy industry… Right until the end, they are treated like production machines and their calves like by-products. To help you in the change towards a vegan diet, you can visit The Vegan Society's website.
Crédit photo : www.AWF-TSB.org & Eyes on Animals
Comments 61
their voice | Monday 11 December 2017
claire | Wednesday 05 April 2017
dommajeur | Monday 09 January 2017
Jacqueline | Friday 18 November 2016