A Win for the Bees?


300px-Bee_Collecting_pollenthe-earth-is-not-dying Published on Monday, April 29, 2013 by Common Dreams A Win for the Bees: EU Votes to Ban Bee-Harming Pesticides Victory for bees, but more must be done to ensure safety of bee population, global food – Jacob Chamberlain, staff writer In a historic vote on Monday the European Union banned the use of bee-harming pesticides across the continent for a minimum of two years, garnering praise from environmental groups who have said that the population of the vital pollinators, along with the global food supply are in grave danger, due to the widespread use of the chemicals. The vote is the first of its kind and suspends three of the world’s most widely-used pesticides—known as neonicotinoids. However, critics have said the two year suspension is not enough, meaning bees are not safe until the chemicals are banned permanently. Though the vote did not reach the required majority under EU voting rules, the hung vote moves to the European commission (EC) who will implement the ban. “It’s done,” an EC source told the Guardian. The Pesticide Action Network reports: Despite pesticide industry influence, a majority of countries voted to place a two year restriction on three neonicotinoid products linked to a wide-range of harms to honey bees: clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. The EU vote comes after significant findings by the European Food Safety Agency that these pesticides pose an unacceptable risk to bees and their use should be restricted. Along with habitat loss and pathogens, a growing body of science points to neonicotinoid pesticides as a key factor in drastically declining bee populations. The Guardian Reports: The landmark suspension is a victory for millions of environment campaigners concerned about dramatic declines in bees who were backed by experts at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). But it is a serious defeat for the chemical companies who make billions a year from the products and also UK ministers – who voted against the ban. Both had argued the ban will harm food production. Paul Towers, a spokesperson for PAN North America today urged the U.S. to follow suit and listen to growing scientific evidence, rather than voices from the pesticide industry: European leaders followed the weight of the scientific evidence and moved swiftly to protect bees from the harms of neonicotinoid pesticides. U.S. officials, especially the Environmental Protection Agency, should be emboldened by European action rather than yielding to pressure from pesticide corporations. Unless U.S. officials act soon, bee populations may not recover, threatening the livelihood of beekeepers and the agricultural economies that rely on pollination and honey production. However, the vote is only a temporary ban on the use of the pesticides, which, according to critics, does not go far enough to protect the survival of bees. As Keith Tyrell, executive director of PAN-UK, stated: Whilst we welcome the EU vote as a significant step forward, we are dismayed that it is only a temporary half measure which goes nowhere near far enough in protecting our bees and other vital pollinators from the harm of neonicotinoid pesticides. Friends of the Earth’s Head of Campaigns Andrew Pendleton said: This decision is a significant victory for common sense and our beleaguered bee populations. “Restricting the use of these pesticides could be an historic milestone on the road to recovery for these crucial pollinators. “But pesticides are just one of the threats bees face – if David Cameron is genuinely concerned about declining bee numbers he must urgently introduce a Bee Action Plan. The countries that voted against the ban were: the UK, Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Austria and Portugal. Ireland, Lithuania, Finland and Greece abstained. Those in favor: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Cyprus, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden. from http://www.CommonDreams.

Source URL:  http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/04/29-3 .. 

EU set to ban Pesticides blamed for Decline of Bees! WE NEED YOU, BEES!


Desert with PhaceliaEU set to ban pesticides blamed for decline of bees: source by Staff Writers Brussels (AFP) April 25, 2013

The EU appears set to impose a two-year ban on the use of insecticides blamed for a sharp and worrying decline in bee populations, an EU source said Thursday.

A committee of experts is due to vote Monday on the ban in an effort to protect bees and other insects which play an indispensible role in food production through plant pollination.

A vote earlier this year failed to produce a large enough qualified majority in favour, forcing the European Commission to try a second time.

Under EU procedure, if Monday’s vote is the same, the Commission has the authority to proceed on its own with the ban.

“The most likely outcome will be the same as last time … and in that case, the Commission will decide to put the ban into operation,” the source said.

The Commission wants the insecticides banned for use on four major crops — maize (corn), rape seed, sunflowers and cotton — in a bid to protect the bee population.

“The nightmare scenario that there would be a qualified majority against the ban is virtually impossible,” the source added.

Experts have isolated three compounds causing concern — clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, known as neonicotinoids — which are present in insecticides produced by pharmaceutical giants Bayer of Germany and Switzerland’s Syngenta.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said earlier this year that the insecticides posed “disturbing” risks to bees and other pollinating insects vital for human food production.

Swiss-based agrichemical giant Syngenta has urged Brussels to withdraw the plan, saying the EFSA report was “fundamentally flawed.”

don´t close your eyes: here are those horses whose meat are aten by meat-eaters. A NIGHTMARISH HORSE-MARKET IN POLLAND


SHARE, SHARE, SHARE!!! Dear Friends, we need your help to carry this message as far as possible, and reach everyone who can be in Poland next month. A peaceful road blockade to stop Skaryszew’s illegal transports to slaughterhouses is planned for February 17-18, more info: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.397712946982886&type=1 (in Polish)
FYI: Skaryszew – the shame of Poland. It is one of the most brutal meat markets in Europe. This is where animals (mostly horses) are sold to Western European slaughterhouses. This is also where drunken farmers use metal rods to beat the already abused, exploited and terrified animals, as well as the activists… This is where it is normal to see animals kicked or hanged… It’s an annual “event”. Support Polish activists, who are trying to stop this horror: https://www.facebook.com/events/421896777883856/

1st update from Skaryszew.
Documented sick and injured horses brought to the market to be sold for meat to Western European slaughterhouses. The horse pictured here was purchased by the activists and rushed to the hospital, where he is currently under the vet’s care. Photographer: Tadeusz Klocek
Source: http://www.echodnia.eu/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130218%2FPOWIAT0210%2F130218890
More info about Skaryszew’s brutal meat market: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=401279666626078&set=pb.368534609900584.-2207520000.1361160727&type=3&theater

DARK DAY for IRELAND: LIVE EXPORTS of CATTLE to LYBIA


http://action.ciwf.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=119&ea.campaign.id=18854&utm_campaign=transport&utm_source=actionemail&utm_medium=email&ea.url.id=127201&ea.campaigner.email=UT7G1F0IHMgobMkfo0%2FH%2BCXWQF2DtY5M2t8RM2eLScw=&ea_broadcast_target_id=0

Live Exports: A dark day for Ireland

Close up of bulls being loaded onto a ship in Ireland

A new front is opening up in the war on live exports. Ireland is due to re-start a trade in live cattle with Libya. The re-emergence of this trade after 10 years would be a disaster for animal welfare and the reputation of Irish farming.

Ireland to Libya – suffering piled on suffering

The journey by boat from Ireland to Libya could take 10 days – not including the journey to Waterford port and the onward journey in Libya. Animals suffer terribly during long journeys. But for these animals the end of the journey will bring no relief. Slaughter conditions in much of North Africa are frequently inhumane, with completely unacceptable practices being commonplace.

Demand the Irish Government takes action

The Irish Government has given its full support to the resumption of the live export trade with the Agriculture Minister, Mr Coveney, describing it as “progress”.

At the same time, Ireland is currently President of the Council of the European Union and, as part of this role, they hold the Presidency of the EU Agriculture Council.

Allowing this trade to go ahead – in the face of the extreme suffering it will cause and strong public opinion – clearly shows it would be unacceptable for the Irish Minister to act as President of the EU Agriculture Council when animal welfare is on the agenda.

Inhumane journey by road and sea

Long journeys are stressful for animals and can include:

  • deprivation of food and water
  • lack of rest
  • poor handling by humans
  • overcrowding
  • insufficient headroom
  • stress caused by noise and vibration

Cruel slaughter

Previous Compassion investigations into slaughter conditions in North Africa/Middle East have found:

  • animals being roughly – even brutally – handled
  • animals dragged into the place of slaughter
  • cruel methods of handling e.g. the leg tendons of cattle being severed with a knife to control them

BASF halts EU approval process for genetically modified potatoes


 

BASF Ludwigshafen site 1881

BASF Ludwigshafen site 1881 (Photo credit: BASF – The Chemical Company)

Victory! BASF halts EU approval process for genetically modified potatoes

January 29, 2013.  Source: Industry Week, Agence France-Presse

BASF (IW 1000/33), the world’s biggest chemicals company, said Tuesday it has decided to no longer seek European approval of its genetically modified potato products in the face of stiff resistance.

BASF said in a statement it will “discontinue the pursuit of regulatory approvals for the Fortuna, Amadea, and Modena potato projects in Europe because continued investment cannot be justified due to uncertainty in the regulatory environment and threats of field destructions.”

A year ago, the giant had announced it would halt the development and marketing of new genetically-modified products destined for the European market over concerns in some countries over the technology.

And it also moved its plant science headquarters to the United States.

BASF’s latest decision comes only days after the European Commission in Brussels announced it will freeze the approval process for genetically modified food crops through the end of its mandate next year while it works towards an agreement with EU member states.

Climate Connection org.

Swedish Argricultural Authorities are Recommending a Tax to Reduce Meat Consumption …


The legislative triangle of the European Union

The legislative triangle of the European Union (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Swedish agricultural authorities are recommending a tax to reduce meat consumption and say

such a levy should be adopted across the European Union.

With the European Parliament’s agricultural committee beginning two days of deliberations today (23 January) on future support for farmers, Sweden’s Board of Agriculture proposed the tax aimed at reducing the environmental impact of meat production.

Experts on the government board said there are environmental and health benefits to eating more vegetables.

“Voluntary actions have to be etc… please, read complete article there: Link above

Video: Meg elt a kutya, amikor kontenerbe dobtak egy sintértelepen: Makóban! VIDEO


Tötungsstation Sopron/Ungarn

Tötungsstation Sopron/Ungarn (Photo credit: Notfellchen)

Older Hungarians from Makó

Older Hungarians from Makó (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Videó: Még élt a kutya, amikor konténerbe dobták egy sintértelepen

2013. január 08., kedd, 13:17
Szerző: hvg.hu

 VIDEO: Nyomozás és belső vizsgálat a makói állatkínzás ügyében (12): http://youtu.be/BNu2B_ouFBU via @youtube

Megdöbbentő felvételeket tett közzé a Facebookon egy makói állatvédő. A felvételek miatt belső vizsgálatot rendeltek el a makói gyepmesteri telepen, és nyomoz a rendőrség is.

Titkárnő
Fuvarszervező/Fuvarszervező asszisztens
Angol- és némettanár

Álláshirdetés

Egy makói állatvédő a Facebookon tette közzé azt a videót, amelyet egy makói gyepmesteri telepen készített. A telepen egy konténerben fejbe lőtt elpusztult kutyák között egy még élő kutyát talált. Az állat orrából dőlt a vér, halálán volt, de még lélegzett – adta hírül a Délvilág nyomán a Délmagyar.hu.

A makói kórházban boncmesterként dolgozó állatvédő naponta kijár a sintértelepre, kutyákat etet és felvételeket készít. Állítja: a minap lefotózott, konténerbe dobott kutyákat lelőtték. Többet közülük korábban etetett, tehát kizárt, hogy a tetemeket idegenek hordták volna a gyepmesteri telep konténereibe. Mint elmondta, a kóbor kutyák lelövését törvény tiltja: kizárólag 2 injekcióval lehet őket elpusztítani, először altató, majd méreganyag befecskendezésével. Az állatvédő szerint Magyarországon gyakori, hogy a drága szereket megspórolva egyszerűen lelövik a kutyákat a gyepmesterek.

Daróczi András gyepmester azt mondta, a szabályszerűen altatták el az állatokat, az is okozhat orrvérzést. Az altatásokat állatorvos végzi, és dokumentálják. A sok kutyatetemet azzal magyarázta, hogy a konténerek mindenki számára nyitottak, így a városból is ide hordják az elgázolt vagy másképp elpusztult ebeket.

A telepet üzemeltető Kommunális Nonprofit Kft. felfüggesztette a gyepmestert, amíg a telepen elrendelt belső vizsgálat lezajlik. A telepet alig egy éve újították fel.

A rendőrség állatkínzás miatt nyomoz az ügyben ismeretlen tettes ellen

An: “buzasp@mako.hu” <buzasp@mako.hu>; “ugyelet.makork@csongrad.police.hu” <ugyelet.makork@csongrad.police.hu>; “miniszter@vm.gov.hu” <miniszter@vm.gov.hu>
Gesendet: 17:19 Mittwoch, 16.Januar 2013
Betreff: Hundetötung Makó !!!

Tisztelt Hölgyeim és Uraim,

a magyar és más európai uniós valamint svájci emeberek nevében kérjük az illetékes intézményeket, hivatalokat és a magyarországi állatmenhelyek vezetőit arra, hogy az állatmenhelyekkel, gyepmesteri telepekkel, különösen a Makói Gyepmesteri Teleppel kapcsolatos kétségeinknek, aggályainknak és aggodalmainknak helyt adjanak és az ehhez kapcsolodó intézkedéseket a lehető leggyorsabban meghozzák.

Európa döbbenten figyeli azt, ahogyan ezeken a menhelyeken és gyepmesteri telepeken az állatokat az organizált állatkínzásnak kiteszik. Mindez történik annak ellenére, hogy Magyaroszágon az sintértelepek betiltásra kerültek.

Makó csak az egyike ezeknek az sintértelepeknek. Állítólag további sintértelepek építését is tervezik Magyaroszágon, és ez olyasmi, amit feltétlenül meg kell akadályozni. Számunkra megfoghatatlanok azok az információk amelyek arra vonatkoznak, hogy milyen brutalitással kínozzák, gyötrik, gyilkolják, verik, lövik, rugdossák agyon illetve dobják félholtan a szemetétre az állatokat Makón. Az állatoknak nem jut osztályrészül a “humánus” megöletés, feltéve, hogy van ilyen. Helyette, egy szadista menhelyvezető a legbrutálisabb erőszakot alkalmazza, akkor, amikor a magyar Állatvédelmi Törvény az állatok elfogadható ok vagy körülmény nélküli életének kioltását tiltja.

A képek magukért beszélnek.

Egy országban, amelyik Európa részének tekinti magát, az ilyen helyzet tarthatatlan és azonnali változásra van szükség. Magyaroszág más településein található menhelyeken is teljesen elfogadhatatlan körülmények uralkodnak.

2010 januárjában, az állatok védelme érdekében, új változások kerültek bele a magyar Állatvédelmi Törvénybe. Más előírások, amelyek a védelmet hivatottak szolgálni, már régóta részei a törvénynek.

Miért nem kerül a törvény alkalmazásra illetve annak végrehajtása miért nem kerül ellőrzésre? Mind az sintértelepek, mind az állatmenhelyek bűncselkményt követnek el ezzel a magatartással.

Az sintértelepek nem kerülnek törvényi szabályozásra, mivel, ezek a törvény szerint nem léteznek. A valóság viszont más és a valóságot letagadni nem lehet.

A következő kérdésink megválaszolását kérjük:

Hány sintértelep létezik valójában?

Hány “kóborkutya” van még Magyarországon?

Miért nem tisztelik az állatmenhelyeken a törvényt?

Miért kínozzák és gyötrik halálra az állatokat a felelősök szeme láttára?

A háziállatok ivartalanítása, megfelelő állatorvosi ellátása valamint chipkötelezettsége megakadályozza az említett körülményeket mint azt komoly tanulmányok, pl. WHO, is bizonyítják.

Miért nem tud Magyarország nyugati szomszédaihoz alkalmazkodni ahol nincenek kóbor állatok?

Az magyar állatok nevében is kérjük a következőket:

A sintértelepek bezárását, illetve azok átalakítását megfelelően vezetett állatmenhelyekké, olyanokká, amelyek az Állatvédelmi Törvénynek megfelelően az állatok védelmének megfelelnek.

Az olyan állatmenhelyvezetők és más személyek szigorú megbüntetése, akik sintértelepet vezetnek és ezáltal az állatok szenvedésért felelösek illetve ahhoz hozzájárulnak.

Az állatmenhelyek megnyitása a nyilvánosság számára.

Köszönjük a megértésüket és fáradozásaikat!

 Name, Adresse 

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

Videolink: hvg.hu/itthon/20130108_Video_H.

Im Namen von Menschen aus Ungarn und vielen anderen europäischen Ländern und der Schweiz, bitten wir die zuständigen Institutionen, Behörden und Tierheimleiter in Ungarn dringendst, die Verzweiflung, die Sorge und die Angst über die Zustände in den Tierheimen, Tötungsstationen, insbesondere der Tötungsstation in Mako umgehend zur Kenntnis zu nehmen und zu handeln.

Europa ist schockiert über die Art und Weise wie die Tiere in diesen Asylen und Tötungsstationen der organisierten Tierquälerei ausgeliefert sind. Zudem sind in Ungarn Tötungsstationen verboten.

Mako ist nur eine dieser Tötungsstationen. Und in Ungarn sollen angeblich noch mehr davon gebaut werden. Das darf auf keinen Fall geschehen. Wir sind fassungslos über diese Informationen, dass Tiere in Mako brutal gefoltert, gequält und getötet werden. Erschlagen, erschossen, getreten, noch lebend in Müllsäcken entsorgt. Die Tiere werden nicht annähernd einer “humanen” Tötung (wenn’s so was überhaupt gibt) zugeführt, sondern ein sadistischer Tierheimleiter übt brutalste Gewalt aus. Grundsätzlich verbietet das ungarische Tierschutzgesetz die unsinnige Tötung von Tieren. Die Fotos sprechen für sich. Für ein Land, das sich Europa zugehörig fühlt, ist das ein absolut unhaltbarer Zustand und das muss sofort geändert werden.

Wir haben zudem die Partnerstadt von Mako, Löbau in Deutschland verständigt.

An vielen anderen Orten Ungarns herrschen in Tierheimen völlig unzumutbare Zustände. Im Januar 2010 wurden neue Änderungen zum Schutze der Tiere in Ungarns Tierschutzgesetz integriert. Andere Gesetzesartikel, welche den Schutz garantieren, sind schon längst enthalten. Warum werden diese Gesetze nicht umgesetzt, vollzogen und vor allem nicht kontrolliert? Grundsätzlich machen sich Tötungsstationen als auch Asyle mit dieser Vorgehensweise strafbar.

Hier ein paar Auszüge:

Bei Strafe verboten ist (§4, §5, §6, §11):

- einem Tier grundlos Leid zuzufügen, insbesondere es zu quälen
- ein Tier auf Menschen oder andere Tiere zu hetzen
- ein Tier für den Tierkampf abzurichten
- medizinisch nicht notwendige Zwangsfütterungen an einem Tier durchzuführen
- ein Tier auf eine Art und Weise zu bewegen oder aufzustellen, die für das Tier unangenehm ist
- es zu Leistungen zu zwingen, die es nicht erbringen kann
- es an unnatürliche oder selbst zerstörerische Verhaltensweisen zu gewöhnen
- Tiere auszusetzen, zu verlassen oder zu vertreiben
- Eingriffe an einem Tier durch nicht fachkundige oder unerfahrene Personen durchzuführen
- Das Töten eines Tieres ohne triftigen Grund
- Tiertransporte müssen so verlaufen, dass dem Tier keine Schmerzen, Leiden oder Verletzungen zugefügt werden. Das Entladen der Tiere am Zielort hat sorgfältig zu erfolgen (§11).

Die Eröffnung von Tierpensionen und Tierheimen wird durch die Tierschutzbehörde geregelt. Eine entsprechende Genehmigung kann erteilt werden, wenn die Bestimmungen zu den Tierhaltungsbedingungen dauerhaft erfüllt werden, eine ordentliche tierärztliche Betreuung gesichert ist, der Betrieb von Tierpension oder Tierheim nicht die allgemeine Ruhe stört, der Leiter von Tierpension oder Tierheim die entsprechenden notwendigen fachlichen Fähigkeiten besitzt und die entsprechenden finanziellen Mittel zur Unterhaltung von Tierpension oder Tierheim vorhanden sind (§41).

Bei Verletzung der Tierschutzbestimmungen dürfen im Interesse des Tierschutzes juristische Personen und staatliche Stellen bzw. Organe der Selbstverwaltung um Mitwirkung gebeten werden.

Tötungsstationen sind im Gesetz gar nicht geregelt, weil es sie ja laut Gesetz gar nicht gibt. Die Realität ist aber eine andere.

Wir bitten Sie zudem um Stellungnahmen zu unseren weiteren Fragen:

Wie viele Tötungsstationen gibt es wirklich?
Wie viele “Straßenhunde” soll es in Ungarn überhaupt noch geben?
Warum werden in Ungarn in den Tierheimen die Gesetze nicht respektiert?
Warum werden die Tiere unter den Augen der Verantwortlichen gefoltert, misshandelt und zu Tode gequält?

Kastrationsprogramme als auch die medizinische Versorgung sowie eine Chippflicht von Haustieren würden diese Zustände verhindern. Seriöse Studien (u.a. der WHO) belegen dies schon längst.

Warum kann sich Ungarn nicht an seinen westlichen Nachbarländern orientieren, die keine Straßentiere haben?

Wir bitten aber fordern auch auf im Namen der Tiere von Ungarn:

Das Schließen der Tötungsstationen beziehungsweise das Umwandeln in korrekt geführte Tierheime, die dem Tierschutzgesetz zum Schutz der Tiere entsprechen.

Tierheimleiter und Menschen hart zu bestrafen, die solche Tötungsstationen führen und für die Qualen der Tiere verantwortlich sind.

Das Öffnen der Tierheime für Publikum.

Danke für Ihre Bemühungen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Destination: unknown


 

English: Compassion in World Farming's founder...

English: Compassion in World Farming’s founder, Peter Roberts, campaigning for farm animal welfare (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

http://action.ciwf.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=119&ea.campaign.id=18266&utm_campaign=transport&utm_source=actionemail&utm_medium=email&ea.url.id=123342&ea.campaigner.email=UT7G1F0IHMgobMkfo0%2FH%2BCXWQ photo-sequence

http://action.ciwf.org.uk/ea-action/actionF2DtY5M2t8RM2eLScw=&ea_broadcast_target_id=0

These animals experience some of the worst welfare conditions imaginable. Every email sent really can make a difference to the plight of these animals. Please ask friends and family to take action now and help stop this horrific trade.

Destination: unknown

Millions of animals are transported every year from the EU to destinations including the Middle East, Turkey, Russia and North Africa. Journeys might last hundreds of hours and can even result in the death of the animals involved before they reach their destination. Please act now to stop this trade.

Compassion in World Farming’s Investigations Unit, and European NGOs Eyes on Animals and Animal Welfare Foundation have trailed animals travelling from the EU to Turkey.

The footage taken during recent investigations is truly shocking: Delays at the border crossing between the EU and Turkey, and overcrowding, led to hunger, dehydration, injury and even death.

Every year, around 700,000 sheep and cattle are exported from the EU to Turkey. Hundreds of thousands are destined for countries in the Middle East, Russia and North Africa. View map in more detail (pdf).
 

The more we care for the happiness of others,

the greater our own sense of well-being becomes.

Dalai Lama

Farm animal photo - a pig

Polish Court Rules Religious Animal Slaughter illegal – but!


 

http://www.care2.com/causes/polish-court-rules-religious-animal-slaughter-illegal.html

Polish Court Bans Religious Animal Slaughter, But Victory Could Be Short-Lived

 

Polish Court Bans Religious Animal Slaughter, But Victory Could Be Short-Lived

  •  

Following a petition brought by animal welfare groups, a top court in Poland ruled this week that the ritual slaughter of animals by religious groups violates the country’s constitution and animal protection laws.

        http://youtu.be/h_bZzxep87c (horror!)

The court found regulations that allow animals to have their throats cut and to subsequently be left to bleed to death without prior stunning to be against a 1997 Polish law that slaughter should only “follow the loss of consciousness” after stunning and that the agricultural minister didn’t have the authority to issue such regulations in the first place.

The decision comes weeks before an EU law allowing the practice on the grounds of religious freedom will go into effect on January 1. According to Poland’s Agriculture Minister Stanislaw Kalemba, the EU law will take precedence and remove any doubts about the legality of ritual slaughter in Poland, reports the BBC.

Critics of the ruling are concerned about what message it will send about religious tolerance and how it will affect exports of kosher and halal meat. A similar measure was supported and approved in the Netherlands last year, but failed to pass after public outcry that a ban would violate religious freedom.

However, animal advocates still see the ruling as a victory and are arguing that Poland may still be able to request an exemption from the EU law.

“It’s up to us to decide whether we want a law authorising this kind of slaughter or not,” Dariusz Gzyra of the campaign group Empatia told the AFP.

In most countries, stunning is believed to be more humane and is required prior to slaughter. However, there are many exemptions for religious slaughter, where Muslims and Jews argue that animals feel no pain. Animal advocates disagree and believe it is inhumane and that it causes severe suffering and stress to animals who are conscious through the process. It’s a debate that’s likely to continue

Warning: Graphic video comparing stunning versus halal slaughter methods.

EU ends shark finning, practice of mutilating, leaving sharks to die | The Raw Story


 

English: NOAA agent counting confiscated shark...

English: NOAA agent counting confiscated shark fins. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

EU ends shark finning, practice of mutilating, leaving sharks to die | The Raw Story.

 

The European parliament on Thursday called a definitive halt to shark finning, the long contested practice of fishermen slicing off fins and throwing the live body overboard to drown.

The EU prohibited shark finning in 2003, but an exemption allowed fishermen with special permits to remove the fins from their carcass out at sea and bring back the remainders or land them in different ports.

In March, fisheries ministers endorsed a proposal to force fishermen to bring sharks to port intact, but the measure needed the approval of the parliament.

Marine conservation group Oceana applauded the move, saying it marked a key chapter for shark conservation.

“The measure closes long-standing enforcement loopholes in EU policy on shark finning, will improve the collection of valuable data about shark catches, and will help to prevent the trade of fins from threatened shark species,” it said in a statement.

Asia’s taste for shark fin soup is viewed as a key threat to sharks, with marine protection groups saying up to 73 million are killed annually to satisfy demand for the delicacy.

EU nations combined account for the second-largest share, with 14 percent of the world’s catches.

Slow to grow and with very few young per birth, sharks are exceptionally vulnerable with several dozen species threatened with extinction.

Shark finning has also increased due to a strong demand for traditional medical cures in Asia, the ministers added.

“The EU is finally accepting its responsibility as a major global player in shark fisheries and shark fin exports,” said Xavier Pastor, who heads Oceana Europe.