Decree “circuses”: One Voice against the Ministry of Ecologically and Transition, hearing to be held at the State Council on 25th October 2018 at 9:30 am

In
view of the evolution of scientific knowledge and animal rights, One
Voice attacked the inter-ministerial decree of 18^th
March 2011 called “circuses” before the State Council. One
Voice demands that this decree be rescinded, that the possession of
any wildlife be prohibited in these establishments and that these
animals be transferred immediately to sanctuaries.
The
hearing will be held on Thursday October 25^th
at 9:30.

The
questioning of this decree “laying down the conditions for
keeping and using live animals from non-domestic species in itinerant
shows” is based in particular on the fact that animals kept in
captivity have a new status¹ which defines them as sentient beings,
and as such have fundamental rights such as:

• the
  right to a life compatible with the biological imperatives of the
  species concerned, whose well-being is an integral part;
• the
  right to dignity or to life (unless otherwise required);
• the
  right not to be abused, tortured or abandoned;
• the
  right not to be abused.

The
One Voice association has been defending the interests of animals for
nearly twenty-five years and was the first in France to bring to
court the case of an animal held in a circus. They have saved many
who, under their responsibility, now live a life in semi-freedom in
sanctuaries.

Before
attacking the text in front of the State Council, the association had
met the Ministry of Ecologically and Transition and Solidarity and
had written to him and to the minister of Agriculture and Food,
asking them to cancel the text. But without a response from them, One
Voice had to seize the corresponding jurisdiction. What was
surprising to them when they learned that the Ministry of the
Ecologically and Solidarity Transition, who is supposed to be
defending the interests of nature and animals, had expressed himself
in a written brief submitted on March 1^st,
2018 to the State Council, requesting to reject the demands of One
Voice!

There
are only eight countries in Europe that have not yet legislated,
France is one of the latter, which continues to blame its
municipalities for this responsibility. Children are the first
spectators to witness the misery of these animals that are part of
our common heritage. How will they protect them if they have this
vision of them, when these animals are already experiencing a 6th
mass extinction?

Muriel
Arnal, president and founder of One Voice says:

1.
Article 515-14 of the Civil Code, which states: “Animals are
living beings endowed with sensitivity”.