News Archive - Page 113 of 153

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 Let us take part in a public consultation to demand the outright abolition of this cruel and outdated practice, and not a cosmetic reform that will only perpetuate this heartless « leisure activity ».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.

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 (6).

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 Ibid

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!

New Song the valiant horse riddled with lead pellets!

New Song the valiant horse riddled with lead pellets!
24.12.2018
France
New Song the valiant horse riddled with lead pellets!
Domestic animals

Is it to scare and put pressure on a family (a human couple and their companions New Song the horse and his friend donkey) that the marsh which they own, has been the scene for a month of drama that nearly became a disaster? Or was it just a crude desire to make animals suffer? Destruction of the fences, setting fire to a shed, troughs overturned, then since that was not enough, the poor horse was targeted with fire! He paid with his health. One Voice goes to court for the New Song family: the culprits must be found and punished!

Since November 11^th, the horse New Song and the donkey who keeps him company have been harassed. The fence of their paddock was cut down, poles were broken, their troughs moved and turned upside-down … They were taken from their home by strangers who on several occasions sought to make them disappear. This stratagem did not have the expected result, a fire was then lit in the corner of the shed that serves as a shelter, fortunately it was quickly extinguished. But the wickedness of these people involved did not stop there: a few days later, the poor horse was hit twice by a rifle in his side and leg. Only 14 pieces of shot were removed out of 150 that hit the horse, this was recorded by the veterinarian who treated him urgently.

New Song had spent that morning with his human friends. But then two hours after their departure, gun shots riddled his body, scared, in pain, bleeding and soon to be overwhelmed by fatigue.

The veterinarian found swelling from an oedema and wounds, although New Song’s life is not at stake here, the pain and stress he has experienced is real. The life of the horse is forever upset. It will take at least a year to recover and cannot resume all its past activities. For our lawyer, « there is no doubt that the author of these facts was willing to inflict pain or even death of the horse, having fired point-blank twice at his flanks. »

We have therefore pressed charges for acts of cruelty against a tamed domestic animal with the public prosecutor at the Sables-d’Olonne High Court, and our Zoe Cell will also represent the family of New Song.

We do not know anything about the people involved at the moment, but all of these attacks which this family has suffered and who adore their animals can only raise questions and disgust. Whether it is to pressure and threaten them or whether New Song and the donkey caused any inconvenience to people in the neighbourhood, it is still unacceptable to target animals!

Make ponies jump with a monkey on their backs

Make ponies jump with a monkey on their backs
21.12.2018
France
Make ponies jump with a monkey on their backs
Exploitation for shows

In this circus, it is not only Jumbo who suffers … There is also a monkey and ponies that are exploited and exhibited all year long. Their place is not there, let’s continue to fight to have circuses without animals!

What are these poor animals doing in this place? What do these words mean, cage, truck and dressage? while the public who have followed our actions for twenty years, claim every day a stronger feeling towards an end to circuses with animals. Indeed, it’s been 20 years since we launched the campaign for circuses without animals, a birthday which would have been nice to celebrate.

A circus tent with animals, it’s all but a smoke screen. Only the circus people still believe in this hoax, or cynically seek to sell it to us. Sequins that sparkle, these are the psychological wounds that animals have engraved in their memories. They are reminded every day. To these memories are added the means of coercion – including physical means- used to break them from the inside.

What is festive about this show? Let’s ponder for a moment on how this monkey lives: trained not to move on the back of the pony while the latter runs, he knows that if he loses his grip he will fall – this must have already happened – and that he will then have to undergo again the training « to teach him » how to hold on better. Thus, even if he is afraid of noise, even if the crowd in the stands frightens him, he still must obey. As for the ponies, if they do not jump or run side by side, the whip will remind them what the trainer expects of them…

And here, we see only the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the time, the vast majority of the time, they see the world only through bars, in a totally urbanized universe, a world of permanent stress. And for animals, stress rhymes with risk to their health.

Fear burns them from within, their vitality is confiscated. They deserve something else from life. Animals must no longer be exploited and exhibited year-round until death ensues.

Let’s continue to fight for animal-free circuses! Please sign our petition to break their bars!

The capture of orcas and belugas in Russia is considered illegal!

The capture of orcas and belugas in Russia is considered illegal!
18.12.2018
Russie
The capture of orcas and belugas in Russia is considered illegal!
Wildlife

The ongoing orca and beluga whales for dolphinariums has just been stopped by the Russian justice system, which considers their capture illegal!

A detention centre in a bay in the Okhotsk Sea has been spotted this summer in Russia. The orca and beluga whales were trapped in tiny floating pens, waiting to be transferred to China, where dozens of giant dolphinariums are waiting for them.

Sold for a high price, these incredibly intelligent and highly social beings are forced into lifelong captivity and forced to reproduce in tiny pools. With shows vaguely resembling recreation from a life of boredom.

Visibly, images that moved the world have alerted the public. We wrote to the Russian Embassy and urged everyone to do the same to demand that these young cetaceans be released. Russian justice was then seized by the animal advocates on the spot.

Ecrivons à @ambruspresse pour faire cesser ce trafic indécent de jeunes #belugas & #orques, capturés et parqués dans des enclos flottants, pour être vendus sur le marché de la captivité en pleine expansion dans l’Empire du Milieu! #StopDelphinarium https://t.co/Oy6mg49ua1

— One Voice (@onevoiceanimal) 19 novembre 2018

Shortly after, Russia decided to ban all new sea captures of these marine mammals by 2019. An important step had been reached, because with Norway and Japan, this country was very difficult to convince to stop this shameful trade.

La détention de 90 bélugas et 13 orques dans une prison flottante de l’Extrême-Orient russe a provoqué un scandale international. La Russie vient d’annoncer l’interdiction de la capture d’orques et de bélugas en 2019. #StopDelphinarium pic.twitter.com/RyBjqTfi2F

— One Voice (@onevoiceanimal) 20 novembre 2018

Thanks to Russian justice, the belugas and orcas that were captured in November and whose fate remained suspended, cannot be sold as planned. South Sakhalinsk City Court has recognized the fishing of 90 belugas and 11 illegal orcas! It’s a first and a strong signal for the rest of the world. When will it be the end of dolphinariums everywhere on this planet and to stop this evil trade at its roots?

Alors que dans le monde, la capture des orques et des bélugas pour les delphinariums a été abandonnée, la Russie continuait à fournir ses parcs et ceux de Chine. En 2019, ce sera terminé! A ce jour, la France n’a toujours pas interdit la captivité des cétacés #StopDelphinarium pic.twitter.com/Z5PuWHgcif

— One Voice (@onevoiceanimal) 21 novembre 2018