News Archive - Page 105 of 145

A unified mobilization from Paris to Rome to tell the EU to: STOP using palm oil in fuels!

A unified mobilization from Paris to Rome to tell the EU to: STOP using palm oil in fuels!
21.01.2019
Paris
A unified mobilization from Paris to Rome to tell the EU to: STOP using palm oil in fuels!
Natural habitat

A coalition of NGOs has mobilized today in five European capitals – Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome and Brussels – to ask the European Union to put an end to subsidies for palm oil being used in fuels.

In Paris, 75 people gathered in front of the European Commission’s representation. Activists from ANV COP21, Canopée, Friends of the Earth, One Voice, SumOfUs and Greenpeace, have installed a « rainforest », with fake oil palms and people dressed as orangutans. The leaders of the associations were even received in Paris inside of the premises of the Commission, right in front of the National Assembly. During the interview, it was confirmed to them that the message would be brought to the European level.

The protesters also handed over to the European Commission petitions from a dozen European organizations – including Canopée, Friends of the Earth and SumOfUs – having collected more than 500,000 signatures calling for the end of European subsidies for palm oil in fuels.

Last May, the European Parliament passed a law to end the incorporation of raw materials into fuels that are « high risk » for the climate, such as palm oil. This law proposes to cap and then eliminate controversial products and asks fuel distributors for more transparency. The European Commission must ratify that this will be a delegated act, expected by the 1st February.

In France, agrofuels are responsible for 75% of the palm oil consumed. According to NGOs, these « biofuels » are in fact three times more harmful to the climate than conventional fuels because of the deforestation they cause. Oil palm plantations are ravaging the world’s last primary tropical forests and the precious biodiversity they harbour.

For Muriel Arnal, founding president of One Voice, « The fact that biofuels can contain palm oil is unthinkable at so many levels … First of all, for orangutans who are dying from the disappearance of their habitat and to add to
the absurdity of this situation, it’s all for ecological pretences! How can one dare to turn a blind eye? »

For Sylvain Angerand, president of Canopée Forêts Vivantes and spokesperson of the federation of Friends of the Earth France for this campaign: “The National Assembly has removed the tax advantage allowing the incorporation of palm oil into fuels, but Total, owner of the biorefinery in La Mède, has announced that it wants to call into question the vote of the deputies by asking to be made exempt tax duties. If the Commission does not settle this clearly and allows an exception here, it is certain that Total will rush to abuse this loophole”.

« The European Union has been under pressure from lobbies for years to support the use of palm oil in fuels, and has managed to move this industry from destruction to an ecological alternative, » said Fatah Sadaoui , campaign manager at SumOfUs. « Yet, hundreds of thousands of people have mobilized to say to the EU: we do not want to be complicit in the destruction of tropical forests, so we do not want more palm oil in our fuel tanks. The European Commission must act as quickly as possible to save the last orangutans, the tropical forests and the communities that live and depend on them. »

Clément Sénéchal, Greenpeace France’s Forests and Climate campaigner, says: « The production of agrofuels in palm oil is ravaging forests, while they are one of the best protections against climate change. It is urgent to end this false solution. We are counting on the European Commission today to hear the expectations of citizens and to resist the calls from the multinationals, such as Total, who favour their destructive profits. »

Additional Information

Pictures:
Please find photos of the
event here: https: //www.flickr.com/photos/ …

Petitions:
https: //actions.sumofus.org/a/ …
https: //www.act.transportenvir…

SumOfUs is a global group of consumers, workers and investors campaigning for corporate accountability. More than 14 million people have led more than 50 million shares worldwide with SumOfUs since its launch.
www.sumofus.org/fr

One Voice is a radical association (taking the issues at the source), they have been advocating for animals since 1995. Active on all fronts of animal suffering in France and around the world, the association fights against the exploitation of animals in circuses, dolphinariums and
laboratories, from fashion to hunting etc. It fights against strays and works in consultation with the authorities to obtain exemplary sentences of torturers of animals and place their victims into safety. Nonviolent, One Voice believes in the uniqueness of fighting and wants to be the same voice for animals and the planet. As animal, human and environmental issues are closely linked, only a global approach will provide a world living in peace for future generations!
www.one-voice.fr

Greenpeace is an international network of independent organizations that act on the principles of non-violence to protect the environment, biodiversity and promote peace. It is based on a movement of committed citizens to build a sustainable and equitable world. www.greenpeace.fr

Share on

Little Grey and Little White, soon to be free!

Little Grey and Little White, soon to be free!
21.01.2019
Islande
Little Grey and Little White, soon to be free!
Exploitation for shows

Moving two young belugas from an aquarium in China to a bay in Iceland is not easy! Thanks to hard work, Little Grey and Little White will be able to travel by air, on land and at sea, to reach the beluga sanctuary of Klettsvik Bay, off the south coast of Iceland. A wonderful process of releasing belugas that have been kept in captivity, which will have taken several months … if not years to achieve.

Belugas, such delicate and fragile beings

Captured in Russia when they were very young, Little Grey and Little White are now twelve years old. They have lived most of their lives in captivity in the Shanghai Aquarium.

Belugas have the greatest difficulty surviving in captivity, let alone breeding. Perhaps that is why China agreed to release these two 4-meter-long ladies weighing in at 900 kg each. For now, they are unable to survive alone. But now it’s the end of the tunnel for Little White and Little Grey. Circling nonstop in a tiny pool is soon to be behind them. We have known this since June 2018, and we are rejoicing for them.

Little White & Little Grey, deux femelles #bélugas de 12 ans, vont être libérées dans quelques mois de l’#aquarium de Shanghai, pour bénéficier du magnifique espace naturel du #sanctuaire islandais @BelugaSanctuary! #StopCaptivité @WHALES_org @SeaLifeTrust https://t.co/MzEl7CHuBc

— One Voice (@onevoiceanimal) 28 juin 2018

A project that puts a smile on your face

Since last summer, everything has been done to prepare for their arrival. The Sea Life Trust’s « Beluga Whale Sanctuary » takes shape off the south coast of Iceland, in one of the bays on the Heimaey Island. It is there that Keiko, the trained orca used to play in the film series « Save Willy! » was able to taste the freedom and to find large spaces.

If all goes well, Little White and Little Grey will be able to live another 40 to 50 years in the 32,000 m² bay with depths up to 10 meters.

10,000 kilometres to go before freedom!

If all goes well, because they still have to cross almost 10,000 miles, by air, on land and by sea before arriving. Thirty hours of travel, under painkillers and half covered with water. The stress that this trip brings will not be easy.

In the meantime, to ensure a brighter future for them, the humans who care for them are trying to train them for their future life at sea. Splashing about in a tiny aquarium does not allow them to strengthen their fins nor to be able to hold their breath long enough.

#WhaleHelloPlane! We’re relocating two #beluga #whales with transport partner @Cargolux_Intl to the world’s first @SeaLifeTrust #belugasanctuary! Our policy manager Rob Lott was there when a very special plane was unveiled! #BelugaFlight
Track it here: https://t.co/66A9dHdl2O pic.twitter.com/GjGVpkFX3A

— WDC (@WHALES_org) 13 janvier 2019

A project that is emerging thanks to many organizations

This project is the will and results of many humans, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, CargoLux (in charge of air transport), and many others!

Dr. Lori Marino, a specialist in neurobiology and cetacean behaviour with whom we work on an ad hoc basis, is a long-time friend of the association. She has been involved in this project for a long time and plans to create another sanctuary in North America, the Whale Sanctuary Project, a major project she presented to us at the Superpod 6 conference. Belugas, dolphins and orcas such as Morgan and Lolita.

Dre Lori Marino explique le @whale_sanctuary et revient sur le nombre de cétacés captifs dans le monde. #Superpod6 #BlackfishEffect pic.twitter.com/KFKLCxpwWZ

— One Voice (@onevoiceanimal) 18 juillet 2018

One Voice follows closely these two projects of marine sanctuaries. We are still hoping for a new ministerial decree to emerge and ban dolphinariums. A decree prohibiting trade and reproduction in captivity would suffice for us, like the previous one. But it is urgent that the state take its share of responsibility on this subject. We fight this in the interest of cetaceans currently captive in France, like (Wikie, Inouk, and others), but we would much rather not have to go that far … or so often.

Please sign and share our petition to definitively close the French dolphinariums!

The United States and Australia: Pioneer Territories in The Link Research

The United States and Australia: Pioneer Territories in The Link Research
18.01.2019
France
The United States and Australia: Pioneer Territories in The Link Research
Domestic animals

The United States and Australia, pioneering countries, who already have thirty years of research experience concerning the Link.

The National Link Coalition: A pioneering American institution in the promotion of the Link

Today, it is increasingly recognized that animal abuse is a potential indicator of aggressive or violent behaviour towards humans, and a variety of initiatives are emerging around the world in favour of measures and procedures. These measures and procedures take this gathered knowledge into account in order to prevent the escalation of violence within families and society. The National Link Coalition, headquartered in the United States, is a pioneer in promoting the Link internationally. The coalition is led by a steering committee of US specialists in the prevention of all forms of domestic violence, and its mission is to promote policies and practices to improve the safety of people and animals. National Link Coalition groups have been formed in 20 US states. (8)

There is little doubt that animal abuse is often linked to other forms of interpersonal violence. This discovery is now firmly established in the literature on domestic violence and criminology, whether the perpetrators are students, offenders, criminals, partners of battered women, or children (9).

Most of the previous studies were based on convenience samples * and cross-sectional data. In a study conducted in 1999, Arluke and his colleagues compared the criminal record of 153 individuals convicted of animal abuse with those of a control group of 153 individuals who did not abuse animals, with correspondence on the subject. Gender, age, socio-economic status and street or neighbourhood (10). Animal abusers were at least three times more likely to have a criminal record and at least five times more likely to have committed a crime or violent offense.

In the first US animal cruelty study, based on a representative sample of the adult national population, researchers (11) analysed data from the 2001-2002 national epidemiological survey on alcohol-related problems (NESARC). This survey covered 43,093 residents aged 18 and
over, excluding residents of specialized institutions and a comparison was made between those who reported having abused animals and those who had never abused them, concerning 31 different antisocial behaviours. Individuals who admitted to mistreating animals were significantly more likely than others to have exhibited all of these antisocial behaviours. The strongest links between antisocial behaviour and animal cruelty have been observed in individuals guilty of robbery or assault, arson, harassment or
threats.

This study also indicates a significant relationship between cruelty to animals and a number of psychiatric disorders such as alcohol-related disorders, pathological gambling, behavioural disorders, antisocial personality disorders, and many other disorders. personality (obsessive compulsive disorder, paranoid disorder and histrionic
personality disorder *).

These links were observed even after taking into account a number of relevant socio-demographic variables:

Age,

Sex,

Ethnic
origins,

The
level of education,

Income,

The
family situation,

The
region and place of residence, in urban or rural areas.

In a 2009 study of 860 undergraduate students, DeGue and DeLillo found that 60% of students who witnessed or participated in acts of animal cruelty during their childhood were also abused. witnesses of domestic violence at home (12). Those who have been directly abused or neglected have the highest probability of abusing animals. Those who have witnessed acts of animal abuse are eight times more likely
to have abused animals, and 30% of those exposed to domestic violence have also experienced animal abuse. However, only about 30% of those who experienced domestic violence also experienced animal abuse.

«Animal abuse may therefore be a more reliable indicator of family violence than the other way around.» In all cases, animal abuse is a strong indicator of multiple forms of violence against family members.

Australian input into the Link research

Research conducted in Australia has essentially confirmed the results observed in other countries, predominantly in the United States and the United Kingdom. Several books and articles have been devoted to this work (12 to 20). The Link research in Australia was conducted by a small team of researchers. These include Gullone, who has demonstrated a connection between animal cruelty on the one hand and harassment and bullying of teenagers, domestic violence and witnessing acts of cruelty to animals committed by persons of significant importance to the witness (12 to 16). Dr. Tania Signal, among others (19), conducted a significant number of studies in Australia and contributed significantly to Australian research (13). Groups and resources (20) to study the Link in a concrete way have been developed across the country. A relatively new project called Lucy’s project was launched (19).

*Convenience sample: the subjects in the study are chosen for practical reasons, and because the researcher did not find it useful to choose subjects that are representative of the global population.

*Histrionic personality: Personality disorder characterized by a marked tendency to dramatization or theatricality. Frequently it is easy to be influenced by others or by circumstances.

Sources

8 http: //nationallinkcoalition.o …
9 Flynn, Clifton P., Understanding Animal Abuse: A Sociological Analysis, Lantern Books, 2012.
10 Arluke, A., Levin, J., Luke, C. and Ascione, F. (1999), « The Relationship of Animal Abuse to Violence and Other Forms of
Antisocial Behavior ». Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14: 963-75.
11 Vaughn, Michael G., Qiang Fu, Matt DeLisi, Kevin M. Beaver, Brian E. Perron, Katie Terrell and Matthew O. Howard (2009), « Correlates of Cruelty to Animals in the United States: Results from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Journal of Psychiatric Research 43: 1213-18.
12 DeGue, Sarah and David DeLillo (2009), Is Animal Cruelty a Red Flag for Family Violence? Investigating Co-occurrence Violence toward Children, Partners and Pets. » Journal of Interpersonal Violence 24: 1036-56.
13 Clifton Flynn, Professor of Sociology and Rector at the University of South Carolina, Spartanburg, SC, USA.
12 Gullone, E. (2012), Animal Cruelty, Antisocial Behavior and Aggression: More than a link. Palgrave Macmillan Ltd., Hampshire.
13 Gullone, E. and Clarke, J. (2008), « Human-Animal Interactions: The Australian Perspective. » In F. Ascione (et al.), The International Handbook of Theory and Research on Animal Abuse and Cruelty (pp. 305-335). West Lafayette, Indiana: Purdue University
Press.
14 Gullone, E. (2012), « Animal cruelty and family violence ». In Reyes, C.L. and Brewster, M.P. (et al). Animal Cruelty and the
Criminal Justice System (pp. 237-262), Durham, NC, Carolina Academic
Press.
15 Gullone, E. and Robertson, N. (2008), « The relationship between bullying and animal abuse in adolescents: The importance of witnessing animal abuse ». Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 29, 371-379.
16 Thompson, K. and Gullone, E. (2008), « Prosocial and antisocial behaviors in adolescents: An investigation into associations with attachment and empathy ». Anthrozoos, 21, 123-137
17 Volant, A., Johnson, J., Gullone, E. and Coleman, G. (2008), « The relationship between family violence and animal abuse ». Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23, 1277-1295.

18 https://scholar.google.com.au/…
19https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au…
20 http://www.mysavinggrace.org.a…

A superficial reform to better maintain hunting?

A superficial reform to better maintain hunting?
15.01.2019
France
A superficial reform to better maintain hunting?
Domestic animals

A draft decree proposes to modify the conditions of practice for hunting with hounds, whereas 82% of French society asks for its abolition. Tradition cannot justify barbarism, it is time for France to take its responsibilities in terms of respect for animals. Let us take part in a public consultation to demand the outright abolition of this cruel and outdated practice, and not a cosmetic reform that will only perpetuate this heartless « leisure activity ».

More than a year after a deer was slaughtered at the Croix-Saint-Ouen and even though the vast majority of the country is opposed to this archaic and cruel practice, the State is submitting a draft decree modifying the 18^thMarch 1982 « concerning the exercise of hunting and is aiming to limit incidents at the end of hunting close to inhabited areas ».

What is in this text?

A superficial reform, even cosmetic, of hunting with hounds, horns and screams. Instead of banning it and replying to the request of 82% of the French who oppose it, the State decides to keep it away from view and « limit » by six tenths the number of dogs allowed to chase these poor targeted animals. Dogs are piled into transport boxes, into the back of vans, stored as equipment, without water or food. They don’t waste a minute in the morning … Who cares for these dogs, used as tools to hunt and living by with the whip?

The stag of the Croix-Saint-Ouen and the one at Pont-Sainte Maxence, the hunters who were filmed by our cameras, the hunters who were pardoned because the stags were too close to villages, finally stabbed, drowned…, an all too common practice that we have become aware of. To prohibit the hunting of an animal until the limit of housing is not enough, it is only a way to allow these morally indefensible practices to persist against the majority view, it’s not enough. It will not alleviate the suffering of these sentient beings.

Tradition cannot justify barbarism

The huntsmen revel about a book about sociology (Hunting with hounds (La Chasse à courre), its rites and stakes) that describes their practices in every detail. But sociologists do not judge. A « total social fact » does not mean that it is good or morally acceptable. Ethics and modernity must prevail over barbarism, even if it were codified! Anthropologists keep repeating: a tradition changes over time and can be abandoned. Especially if the times have changed to the point that it becomes antiquated, obsolete or old fashioned. Traditions are the roots of a society, by nature changing and not its limiting framework.

We urge you to participate in a number of public consultations to block this ministerial draft order on hunting with hounds, which will only reinforce the practice for years again, by giving the argument to the huntsmen that they will have been « reformed ». Let’s ask the ministry to abolish the hunt altogether!

Take part in removing traps that drown!

Take part in removing traps that drown!
14.01.2019
France
Take part in removing traps that drown!
Wildlife

In the context of the ongoing hunting reform, the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition finally takes animals into account. A consultation is underway for a draft decree for the removal of traps that drown. Join with us to participate in the abolition of these traps, this decree must be validated!

Finally, a draft decree that we support wholeheartedly! It will allow for traps that drown animals that are classified as pests « likely to cause damage » to be banned. In other words, mainly the nutria and muskrats, but they can still trap other animals, including our companions such as mink for example. Death by drowning, it’s hard to anything worse.

Four and a half years ago, the National Council of Hunting gave an unfavourable opinion towards the suppression of this type of trap, but since then, civil society has changed and no longer wants this. Our systematic opposition to all situations that cause suffering to animals is supported by more and more citizens. The barbarism of humans is no longer accepted. The Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition finally seems to take this into account, at least for this particular subject and bypassing the opinion of hunters. This is one of the demands we made in our petition supported by more than 166,000 people, for a radical reform of hunting: the ban on traps that kill.

Admittedly, this is only a first step. If this project is adopted, only this method will disappear, not the trapping of nutria and muskrats … But this small advance allows to move towards a more emphatic society. We will have already taken the first step forward if this is well and truly published. Let’s take part in this public consultation!

The Link: a topic at the heart of One Voice’s concerns

The Link: a topic at the heart of One Voice’s concerns
11.01.2019
France
The Link: a topic at the heart of One Voice’s concerns
Domestic animals

Find out, over the weeks, some key initiatives in countries where important organizations have found evidence of reciprocal links between animal cruelty and violence against people, and act to prevent escalation of violence in homes and in society. Recommendations for key measures for policy makers and providers of services to people and animals are also formulated, to contribute to a debate on how social and legal mechanisms can be developed in France, to ensure the well-being of humans and animals.

For forty years, there has been a growing interest in what is now called « the Link », that is to say

«The discovery that acts of interpersonal violence are preceded or accompanied by acts of cruelty to animals in a predictable manner (1)»

Over the past two decades, more and more factual studies have been published on animal abuse and its links to violence against human beings, and this area of research is now recognized as a discipline in its own right. Sociologists, criminologists, social workers, psychologists and lawyers (2). In this field, animal abuse is commonly defined as:

«Socially unacceptable behaviour that intentionally causes pain, suffering, preventable stress or the death of an animal.»

Today, it is increasingly recognized that animal abuse is a potential indicator of aggressive or violent behaviour towards humans. A variety of initiatives are emerging around the world in favour of measures and procedures that take this knowledge into account in order to prevent the escalation of violence within families and society.

The National Link Coalition The National Link Coalition, headquartered in the United States, is a pioneer in promoting the Link. This coalition is led by a steering committee of US specialists in the prevention of all forms of domestic violence, whose mission is to promote policies and practices to improve the safety of people and animals.

In 2008, One Voice led the company in recognizing the relationship between animal abuse and violence against people by sponsoring an inaugural conference at Oxford University entitled « The Link Between Animal Abuse and violence against humans « . This conference was a start for the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics (OCAE), (3) whose president and co-founder, Andrew Linzey, is also vice president of One Voice. It brought together leaders in this field to analyse the Link and its profound implications in social and legal policy around the world and to set up an essential research agenda.

Papers presented at this conference by academics and specialists in crime and crime prevention, law enforcement, social action, animal welfare, child protection, education and compassion, veterinary services, spousal care and the elderly were the subject of a published book,
the Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence (4). This book has been translated by One Voice (under the
title Link: violence on animals and humans) to raise awareness of these issues in France (5).

The problem of the Link is particularly important for One Voice, which bases its action on an ethic of non-violence and works to promote the protection of animals as a societal value, based on the belief that all life must be respected. In 2008, as part of its mission to build a better, non-violent future for humans and animals,One Voice also launched the « I listen to my conscience » initiative (6).

53 %

French households have a pet

28 %

French households have a cat

25 %

French households have a dog

The Link question is very relevant in France, where 53% of households have at least one domestic animal. About 25% of households have a dog and 28% of households have a cat. France is even the country with the highest pet population in Europe with 7.5 million dogs, 11.5 million cats, 7 million birds, 2 million rodents and 27 million fish (7).

Sources
1 Phil Arkow, dans sa préface de l’ouvrage d’Eleonora Gullone Animal Cruelty, Antisocial Behaviour, and Aggression: More than a Link, The Palgrave MacMillan Animal Ethic Series, 2012.
2 Flynn, Clifton P., Understanding Animal Abuse: A Sociological Analysis, Lantern Books, 2012.
3 http://www.oxfordanimalethics….http://jecoutemaconscience.one…
4 The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence, Sussex Academic Press (1er déc. 2009).
5 Andrew Linzey, Le Lien : Violences sur les animaux et les humains, One Voice, 2012.
6 http://jecoutemaconscience.one…

Wildlife forever a commodity, One Voice is a co-complainant against a ministerial order

Wildlife forever a commodity, One Voice is a co-complainant against a ministerial order
10.01.2019
France
Wildlife forever a commodity, One Voice is a co-complainant against a ministerial order
Wildlife

One Voice and its partners have filed an appeal against the State Council to suspend the ministerial decree of the 8th October 2018 called « captive wildlife », which modifies the Biodiversity law, by reducing and facilitating the formalities previously ensuring controls to guarantee the protection and a minimum of welfare for wild animals held captive. This very technical and therefore difficult to access order has gone through completely unnoticed, while it will inevitably have serious consequences.

Between the resignation of the minister Nicolas Hulot, the eleven decrees concerning « birds » or the injuries and homicides due to hunting, this decree passed by entirely unnoticed. But what the State Council introduces is all the more serious as the population wants to see stronger protection for animals, including wild animals, but there is a regression in this good standing. A written question to the National Assembly sent in mid-December will also be submitted to the Minister of the ecological and solidarity transition on January 15^th2019, in regard to this regression. François de Rugy will have to answer this question and we will not be satisfied with double speak or empty speeches.

Probably without prior consideration of the services of the minster on their protection, many species will see the terms of their captivity radically simplified, including that of the vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered species of animals. In parallel with this, the trafficking of exotic animals continues to grow, it is the third world after that of drugs and weapons … Why does the executive make so many decisions going against animals, who are dramatically in decline?

The animals concerned are becoming increasingly rare in nature, their market value is increased tenfold, for the benefit of collectors and merchants whose trade is now facilitated.

It is the legalization of the most lucrative trafficking in the world, which favours collectors and other commercial captive activities, all at the expense of the welfare and protection of the animals concerned, which are then purchased as animal « companions » much more easily, such as lion cubs, exhibited in particular on social networks by celebrities.

No formality constrains the holders of these juvenile animals, whatever their species!

If it is not countered attacked, this decree may give new opportunities for lion cubs to be born in circuses, an additional form of exploitation. This is an open door to all abuses in terms of animal protection… and dangerous for humans, because of their wild nature.

For some birds, whose species is classified as seriously in danger of extinction, whose populations is estimated at less than 50 individuals on the planet, humans can own up to 10 at a time! No birth control is imposed either… What traceability and what controls can be made from now on?

The text even goes so far as to render obsolete the last ramparts of protection of these species. No longer a need for a certificate of competence to obtain them, a simple declaration on the internet is enough.

Sit tight, the baleen whales and even other whales are concerned, this is all absolute nonsense! Anyone can own one. We are literally swimming in delusion.

These are huge sales in wildlife, we are totally against this!

Instead of tightening its protection policy to combat this scourge of wildlife trafficking, and to prohibit their reproduction in captivity, the State creates all the conditions for the perpetuation of misery and exploitation of wild animals in the wild through these commercial channels!

We are presented with this « captive wildlife » order, simplified so therefore progress. But it allows for abuse and at all excesses: it does not take into account the principle of non-regression or scientific knowledge of wild animals, and is not in line with current environmental principles.

We challenge the legality of this decree « laying down general rules for the keeping of non-domestic animals », and consider that it endangers local and foreign biodiversity. ONE VOICE therefore attacks the State Council along with BIOME, CENTER ATHENAS, and SEA SHEPHERD FRANCE. The hearing will take place on 17^thJanuary 2019 at 3.00 pm.

Foxes or the perpetual hunting season in Moselle

Foxes or the perpetual hunting season in Moselle
09.01.2019
Moselle
Foxes or the perpetual hunting season in Moselle
Wildlife

Again, the Prefect of Moselle attacks the foxes by issuing an additional authorization to hunters to hunt them, without the slightest proof of necessity and against the opinion of the population. As often, it is more nor less just a favour granted to a group with a special interest in the detriment of the biodiversity and wildlife. We challenge this decree.

Last July, the Prefect of Moselle has issued a decree authorizing for two years – so until July 10^th, 2020 – Wildlife Control Officers to hunt foxes in addition to the official hunting season that already allows them to persecute these animals to an excess. As always, the prefect does not publish the proof of « this absolute necessity » (a criterion however imposed by the law) of these particular hunts, nor the « damages » caused to the breeding by the foxes.

What about the public opinion, also denied again? 380 opinions were opposed to the draft decree, only 8 were in his favour…

The publishing of a relaxed order for two years allows the Prefect to evade all consultations and formalities of shorter orders. This is a worrying signal, in fact a permit to the hunters, a permanent license to kill. However, foxes are on the list of « huntable » animals in the Moselle only for 2019. This decree presumes that they will be part of it in 2020, without any foundation.

The hearing is scheduled at the Administrative Court of Strasbourg on January 16th at 9.30 am. One Voice will be the voice of the foxes and it will be heard in Moselle where they are particularly targeted, not only by hunters but also by the authorities.

Cruel traps for birds, move along there is nothing to see!

Cruel traps for birds, move along there is nothing to see!
27.12.2018
France
Cruel traps for birds, move along there is nothing to see!
Wildlife

We did not win the fight against the eleven decrees allowing the use of these traditional methods of hunting birds, they were not even suspended urgently enough by the State Council.

The hearing on Monday December 17^th2018 took place at the State Council concerning the eleven ministerial decrees authorizing the trapping of birds in many departments of France, which are according to cruel and traditional methods.

Without prejudging the decision, on leaving the hearing we felt that the court seemed sensitive to our arguments, which was not always the case at the State Council. For example, the chair interrupted our lawyer in the middle of the presentation to tell him that he did not need to reaffirm his statements from sources when he said that birds were intelligent and sensitive. They were already convinced of that. We were hoping that this mindset would guide the decisions that were made. But it didn’t work.

We have lost this battle

Certainly, we have not won the cases for all ministerial orders. We sought to convince people that not only was it necessary to see the urgency of each individual animal and not for a disembodied « quota », but also that there were inconsistencies between what the *Birds Directive is and that which is required, the reality of these decrees… The ministry took refuge behind technical considerations and the State Council was satisfied.

For some of the appeals, the State Conseil considered that the condition of urgency was not fulfilled because the number of individuals to be killed would « only result in a very modest levy on the population of the birds concerned, which ‘[was] not likely to bring sufficient serious injury to the full protection of these species‘. This attack was not considered as « serious enough » by the State Council to suspend these orders. However, they will lead to the death of thousands of birds: crested lapwings and golden plovers in the Ardennes, and skylarks by means of nets or falling traps in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

For the other side of the appeals, the actual number of birds to be killed had already reached its quota at the date of the hearing, there still was no place for appeal. In other words, for the larks of the fields of the Gironde, in the Landes as well as in the Lot-et-Garonne, hunted by means of nets and spring traps. For thrushes and blackbirds serving as decoys caught with glue in the Alpes de Haute Provence and the Alpes Maritimes, as well as in the Bouches du Rhône, Vaucluse and Var. Also, for the thrushes and Blackbirds captured by means of nets in the Ardennes: all were killed up to the number at which had been signed for by the Minister in September. The hunters did not waste their time!

This fight for a change in our society is long-term. Consider this as a battle, certainly lost, but that should not discourage us. We will continue to lead from the front in the defence and protection of animals in cases of cruelty wherever it is needed: through social networks, on the streets, in Parliament, in the Ministry and in court.

Protected birds targeted in cruel traps, against popular opinion

Many of the birds covered by these orders are on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) red List. They are therefore in danger at a European level. Yet our country still gets the European Commission to be able to divert from the rule for cultural reasons … The countryside birds have suffered a massive decrease in their population for 15 years, it is not for nothing that they are protected.

Not to mention that the ONCFS (National Office of Hunting and Wildlife) controls are based on declarative data from hunters and trappers. We can only deplore the positioning of this institution, both judge and party to it. We had already denounced this, and ask for a reform of the hunt whose supervision must be improved.

Lapwings, golden plovers, larks, thrushes, or blackbirds, all of the same size are taken indifferently by these traps which have obscure names, which are – or not – released later by a hunter or trapper. But these traps such as they are, do not make any distinction; cruel in essence, they have reason to be only a tradition, and of the pleasure that some people feel in using them! Those who are released have their legs or wings broken, feathers torn off by the spring traps, snares or nets. Not to mention the real psychological suffering that they also feel.

The government must accompany the evolution of society

Power cannot continually make decisions that negatively impacts on nature and its inhabitants, and presume to make efforts in protecting the environment. But developments are underway here too: the ministry had admitted at the hearing « of a very strong social opposition against this method of hunting. » Tradition must not take precedence over animal cruelty. Our people are sensitive to that of animal well-being, and this must be reflected in the decisions that are to be made.

We look forward to explaining this as part of the Animal Welfare Working Group at the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition.

Please continue to sign our petition for radical hunting reform, calling for the abandonment of traditional hunting methods.

* The Birds Directive is a European directive. It requires EU Member States to put in place measures to protect migratory bird species whether they are migratory or not. For example, hunting is allowed only if the number of the birds concerned are at a « compatible » level that is within the scope of the agreed management of the species population figure.

When Larousse explains the circus to toddlers…

When Larousse explains the circus to toddlers…
24.12.2018
France
When Larousse explains the circus to toddlers…
Exploitation for shows

For Larousse, circuses necessarily exploit animals, and « it’s magic! » The renowned publishing house gives toddlers the belief that traveling circuses are normal living places for animals. However, psychologists warn about this distortion of reality, hindering the healthy development of their empathy, which in the long term hinders the defence and protection of animals, some of which are, however, in serious danger of extinction in the wild. One Voice is protesting against this propaganda with deleterious consequences!

« The encyclopaedia for little ones » (L’encyclopédie des petits) published by the Larousse Publishing House shows that a circus for animals is no problem in the collective imagination of a whole generation of children, even though it is a form of trivialized violence.

On the cover « read, discover and understand ». But what do they understand? How normal is it for an elephant to contort into difficult positions? For tigers to suffer the lash behind bars?

The cartoon about Dumbo shown in 1947 already illustrated the shame of exploitation! And yet, more than 70 years later, we are still in this position. Still here after 20 years of incessant struggle for the animals who are ripped from their families, sold, transported, brutally trained and to end up continually exhibited. To end up dependent in the worst psychological situation, where the hand that holds the whip or the ankus is also the one that feeds.

Not happy to show real images – certainly always drawn – but in that cartoony style, with animals that seem happy to be there, disguised, locked up in a small enclosure, an elephant on a stool, ridiculed, the accompanying text suggests that it is all « magical » and impressive. No perspective, no real position taken! Where is the balanced and correct information that is expected from an encyclopaedia?

These animals are in fact in circuses, individuals of veterinary institutions have reiterated that their well-being could not be ensured in these itinerant establishments. Psychologists have also warned of the dangers of letting children believe that animals play while they act only under duress… This spectacle of the strongest over the weakest is unacceptable, both for children and the animals. Larousse and the parents must take responsibility for wild animals (tigers and lions), elephants and hippos, but also for monkeys, llamas, bears, camels … and other animals that form our planet’s biodiversity of which we all share.

We have immediately written to Larousse to demand that these illustrations be removed, from the cover to the inside pages, and have this definition of a circus corrected!