Letter Writing Campaigns – October 2023 – Feb 2024

_{Marian Hussenbux – International Campaigns Secretary}

In addition to AIA’s proactive advocacy work, outlined in its five year strategy 2022-2026, we also react to current situations of animal cruelty .

AIA’s International Campaigns Secretary, Marian Hussenbux is responsible for AIA’s global animal advocacy work. This involves writing to people of influence about animal suffering and cruelty around the world, often in support of campaigns run by other organisations.

AIA’S CAMPAIGNING ACTIVITY

October 2023 – February 2024

EUROPE

We appealed yet again to the government to implement their much promised live export ban – this was via a Compassion appeal.

You will remember that, at the Co-op AGM last year, 96% of the members who voted for an end to the sourcing of the fast – growth chickens were ignored. There is a new Chair, Debbie White, and we repeated our request to make this change. We await a reply.

There were over 377.000 signatories to Chris Packham’s petition on this matter – including nearly 2000 Co-op members, whom they should really bother about.

Another issue where we have had no response is the imports of macaque monkeys for vivisection via Manchester Airport. We wrote to all the Greater Manchester MPs, the airport and the leader of the Council and received not one reply. Having heard that a Lib. Dem. Councillor for Stockport was opposed to these flights, we wrote to thank him and ask if there was any action we might take together. We had no reply.

A Cat Extravaganza show was held in October in Liverpool. This is basically a promotion of breeders. As there is a huge over-population of cats in Merseyside, we joined with local rescues to ask if they could be represented and thus try to help cats in great need rather than help breeders to create more. There was no reply.

We submitted to a Health and Safety Executive consultation on lead ammunition and air rifles. Lead bullets are banned for shooting wildfowl, but other creatures can be killed with lead, which is toxic in any quantity, and carcasses left about will poison scavengers. Pregnant women and children are advised by the government not to eat grouse and partridge – so one wonders why lead ammunition is allowed to be used at all. The Consultation closed in December 2023.

Ren’s Wildlife Hospital in Holderness (East Yorkshire) applied to use land they owned at Winestead to help local wildlife. They have been running for many years and are the only hospital in East Yorkshire that rehabilitates foxes and deer, plus they plan to work with badgers in the future too.

Their planning application went in over a year ago. The hospital has huge local support and clearly would be a very valuable asset to the community, so we asked the Council to expedite matters.

We were happy to thank the Chair of Chesterfield Football Club for agreeing to cancel Barlow Hunt’s Ball at its premises, at very late notice. We hope this can be made a permanent policy.

SCOTLAND

We repeated our opposition to the use of snares to Minister Gillian Martin. We supported a ban on all snares, whatever they’re called (the term “humane cable restraints” has been cynically used by proponents of this cruel device). This was a Revive campaign.

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill was presented, after public consultation, on November 30 2023. We wrote to Ministers Martin, Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and the Islands, and Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, asking for it not to be watered down. It would restrict some particularly damaging practices of grouse shooters.

In January this year, MSPs were due to debate amendments to the Bill, the use of animal traps and the burning of the moors. Colin Smyth MSP brought forward the following amendments, which our alliance supported – viz:

to end the killing -to -kill on grouse moors (i.e. every year hundreds of thousands of foxes, stoats, weasels, crows and so-called ‘non-target species’ like hedgehogs are snared, trapped and killed so that more grouse can be shot for ‘sport’) – for a robust snaring ban – for stronger trapping legislation – to end muirburn to increase grouse numbers and to stop muirburn on the peatlands.

The news that Merrick, a reintroduced golden eagle, was missing, highlighted the urgent need for reform on the grouse moors.

We appealed to Minister Goujeon for farming subsidies that favour the environment and nature, rather than the big landowners.

The proposed golf course at Coul Links again – a new set of billionaires want to build another course. We used a template sent by Scottish Greens to the Minister as many objections had stopped the previous development.

We thanked Monica Lennon MSP for her opposition to salmon farming and asked her to add our opposition when the issue is raised with colleagues and the companies with whom she is in discussion.

We thanked the government for consulting on a phase- out of cages for egg-laying hens and gamebirds this year. However, we are disappointed to learn that farrowing crates for sows has not been included, despite a previous Programme for Government commitment to do so.

FRANCE

Via the excellent organisation One Voice, we made formal opposition to a proposed anti-wolf plan submitting this to the government web site.

In support of a Welfarm campaign, we contacted the large company Bigard, asking them not to castrate piglets, reminding them that Spanish companies leave them entire.

We wrote to Max Mara, via a One Voice campaign, asking them to abandon the use of fur as so many of their competitors already have.

SPAIN

Via Animanaturalis, we wrote to the Mayor of Palma de Mallorca, asking for the no-corrida status on the island to be reinstated. He is of the Partido Popular, the large rightwing party, and the status of Ciudad Taurina (Bullfight City) is also supported by the far-right party Vox.

We wrote to the Mayor of Canovelles in Catalunya about a dog who had been tied up and ill -treated over some 2 years. 2 legal attempts to have the dog confiscated by the animal rights group FAADA have so far received no response.

In response to an alert by Igualdad Animal, we wrote to the authorities about the killing of male chicks in the egg industry. This is now illegal in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, France and Italy.

It is time Spain did the same – and, by the way, Britain too, where 40 to 45 million newly hatched male chicks hatched into the laying sector are killed each year.

FAROES

We wrote yet again to the Faroese government about their appalling Grindadráp. They have a new Minister – Dennis Holm, Minister of Fisheries & Infrastructure. This was a campaign of the Oceanic Preservation Society.

We made the point that a recent assessment of Faroese hunting methods, as published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, concluded that they are ethically and morally unacceptable, and also claims that the hunts fail to account for pilot whales’ slow reproduction rate and the detrimental impact the hunts have on entire social units, so they are not sustainable.

This pitiless slaughter is hallowed by tradition and it is likely they will not stop because foreigners ask them to. But we have to try –and hope that opposition to this futile cruelty is building up in the islands.

EUROPEAN UNION

End the Cage Age – an ICE, a European Citizens’ Initiative, was very well supported in most of the EU nations. 1.4 million Europeans signed it.

Coinciding with a Compassion demo in Brussels, in October ’23, we wrote to Ursula von der Leyen to complain that there is no sign of any animal welfare measures in future planning.

We reminded her that, 2 years ago, the Commission promised to end the use of cages in farming over the whole of the EU. We asked her to promptly present formal proposals aimed at revising the legislation that governs animal welfare and end the cage age for millions of animals.

UNITED STATES

Sloth Encounters yet again: – the owner of this “exotic petting “ zoo in Long Island, Larry Wallach, was found guilty and fined for his illegal activities. The fines were not paid, so we wrote again to several authorities including Angie Carpenter, the Supervisor of Islip township. She replied promptly and rehearsed the history of the matter, which we already knew, but as the legal case was still running could not say more.

In January this year, petitions were circulating against the owner’s continued exploitation of sloths and other exotics. As he had been told by the Supreme Court to close, this seems to be completely illegal. He was already in contempt of court. We await an update from Long Island Humane Society which has been acting against him in the courts.

Friends of the North Atlantic Right Whale National Marine Sanctuary is proposing a new national marine sanctuary adjacent to Stellwagen Bank that will cover some 6,000 square miles with a perimeter of 550 miles that includes 200 miles of coastal Massachusetts, including Cape Cod Bay and around the outer Cape across Nantucket Shoals to Block Island, Rhode Island.

We signed up to the establishment of this much – needed sanctuary. The Right whales are very endangered.

Here’s a petition to sign for these whales: https://action.ifaw.org/page/143404/action/1?pu=0%3Fms%3DKONDG240226002&cid=701KV000001mhhQ&utm_campaign=FY24_G240226_NARW&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=82468432&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9EqE2FT3YZKLjZxJjNcJcZn6bBJgLH-iaTuvc9AsalAg6nabkAN3Ps1Q8Ww2z0fs5N9Io7Ghq6gtM2evwdXUykGEghJaN5v9ULwTPteANy8O6jmTM&utm_content=82468432&utm_source=hs_email

Please also see: https://www.oceanriver.org/causes/call-for-the-right-whale-national-marine-sanctuary/

Wolves are being killed in many appalling ways in the Northern Rockies. We wrote to the Governor of Montana, via his contact form, to remind him that, to our shame, the British eradicated our wolves centuries ago, so please don’t do the same to yours.

Species Unite writes: “Wolves were delisted from the Endangered Species List in 2020 in part due to ranching industry pressure. Despite federal protections being reinstated in 44 states in February 2022, the Northern Rockies, where 80% of wolf slaughter occurs, remains unprotected. Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have since passed laws allowing hunters to decimate their state’s wolf populations.”

www.speciesunite.com

However, wolves have a toe hold in California:

“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported… that it has named two new wolf packs that were confirmed in the state last summer.

The newly named wolf families are the Beyem Seyo pack in Plumas County and the Harvey pack in Lassen County. Another of 2023’s newly discovered packs, the Yowlumni pack, ranges in Tulare County and was named in December.

“These awe-inspiring animals continue to show us that California’s wild landscapes are great habitat for wolves and that they’ll find their way here,” said Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Wolves belong in our state, and we should do everything we can to ensure they thrive.”

The department’s quarterly report covered known wolf information from August through October 2023. It reported that the state has five wolf packs plus several groups of wolves, including new individuals and groups in four northeastern California counties…

Based on the department’s count, California is currently home to around 45 wolves including adults, yearlings and pups of the year…”

Please see: www.BiologicalDiversity.org

Bears are another species at great risk in the USA. In Florida, the state legislators very recently debated and voted on the killing of bears who, hungry, were encroaching on residents’ properties and, thanks to the indolence of some residents, were going through their unsecured dustbins.

We wrote to all the Committee members involved and had a few positive replies – in they will vote against. However, the Bill keeps making progress.

One of the Representatives who opposes this cruel Bill informed us of the status quo as of Feb. 7:

“HB 87 is not yet law. It passed out of all its committees favorably, but it still has to be passed by the full House chamber, Senate chamber, and signed by the Governor in order to become law.”

There is a glimmer of hope.

Again in Florida, we thanked the Mayor of Miami Dade for ordering the closure of the notorious Seaquarium – but asked when this would be. World Animal Protection reported:

“After multiple and repeated animal welfare violations, the county is seeking to terminate Miami Seaquarium’s lease. This is a historic move and marks the beginning of the end for Miami Seaquarium which has been responsible for over 115 dolphin and whale deaths since opening in 1955.”

Four dogs are chained outside in Eldon, Missouri. There is an obvious risk of hypothermia and death. We asked the local sheriff to take urgent action.

Los Angeles Councillors were voting on whether to ban rodeos – this Bill succeeded with some amendments which took into account cultural factors.

Thanks to an alert from Long Island Humane, we thanked the Mayor of Jefferson Port for agreeing not to use horse-drawn carriages at their Ice Festival.

You will remember that for some years we have supported Hawaiian Humane Society in their campaigns to achieve animal-friendly legislation. Their legislative session is now open and we have already submitted our comments in favour of the following:

Bill HB2058 establishes requirements and penalties for owners of so-called dangerous dogs – HB1888 Relating to Fireworks imposes a statewide limitation on consumer fireworks, except by permit for use at cultural events – SB2565 Related to Public Parks prohibits counties from barring leashed dogs from public parks and establishes penalties for leaving dog excrement on public or private property – SB2114 Relating to Feral Animals prohibits the feeding of feral animals within a certain distance from Department of Education public school campuses *- SB2563 Relating to Public Housing requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to allow any resident of a public housing project or state low-income housing project to keep one or more companion animals in the resident’s unit.

Some of these Bills have passed their first Committees and are moving on to the next readings. As in all jurisdictions, there is a long process to go through before Bills can become law.

Several more are already in the pipeline and, guided by Hawaiian Humane, we shall lend our support.

*Please note re SB2114: this might arouse your concern, but HH says:

‘We would endorse an amendment based on language in Hawaii Revised Statutes 143-2.2 stating that “Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to animals being cared for as part of a designated population management program.”’

MEXICO

We were informed that Ely the elephant is being kept alone in inappropriate conditions at San Juan de Aragon Zoo in Mexico City. We asked the authorities to have her checked by an independent specialist vet and transferred to the excellent Global Sanctury for Elephants in Brazil, which currently cares for six female elephants in an excellent environment.

Please see: https://globalelephants.org/

UPDATE: We received a detailed reply from the General Director of Zoos and Wildlife Conservation, correcting some information we had read – this is not verbatim, I have abbreviated a little.

He writes that Ely the African elephant was transferred in 2012 from a circus. The objective was to ensure her health and welfare, since the zoo has the facilities and trained personnel required. The San Juan de Aragon Zoo is a well-established institution with 59 years of history, not a “roadside” zoo.

Ely is not alone now, but lives with another African elephant named Gipsy who was transferred on June 26 2023 from Zoofari in the state of Morelos.

The space available for the elephants has everything they need for their professional care and represents almost 7 times the space established internationally for 2 African elephants in human care; most of the surface of their enclosure has a natural dirt floor suitable for elephants and they have shade available at all times.

The San Juan de Aragon zoo has adequate facilities and the capacity for specialized veterinary medical care and a team of more than 20 people that includes caretakers / keepers, biologists and zoo veterinarians who are involved in the professional care of both elephants.

Ely has formed a close bond with her keepers and now with Gipsy. It would be detrimental to Ely´s health and welfare to move her to another location.

N.B. We in AIA continue to have concerns about animals in captivity.

We also have to trust that information disseminate – from opponents and proponents –is correct.

In the photo supplied, Ely is on the left and Gipsy on the right.

CANADA

We wrote to the House of Commons Agriculture Committee, asking them not to support Bill C-27C An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act (biosecurity on farms) the so-called Ag-Gag Bill. We are all aware that it is usually only because of undercover investigations that the cruelty of intensive farming and abattoirs comes to light.

As we have reported before in respect of dairy cows, Canada has no effective animal welfare protection for farmed animals and the government seems very resistant to introducing any.

Animal Justice, an organisation we have consulted on many occasions as they are the experts in legal matters, testified before the Commission and their latest update is that Bill C-27C has not yet passed in the Senate.

Again via Animal Justice, we wrote to British Columbia ministers about their province’s farming practices. CCTV, though it is by no means a panacea, is sorely needed there.

MPs in the House of Commons have voted 181-137 in favour of banning the live export of Canadian horses to Japan for slaughter and have sent Bill C-355 to the Agriculture Committee for further study. We have written to this Committee to ask them to support the Bill.

For more information, please see: www.animaljustice.ca

EGYPT

We wrote again to EgyptAir officials to protest against their transporting of monkeys for vivisection labs.

ISRAEL

We wrote to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Director of Veterinary Services and Animal Health about live imports into the country, which are on the increase. Israel Against Live Shipments reports that, in 2023, Israel witnessed a surge in the trade, with 750,000 calves and lambs imported into the country, placing Israel as the third-highest importer of live animals in recorded history.

We pointed out that a study conducted by Human Behaviour Change for Animals, with Support from Israel Against Live Shipments, questions the economic and ecological viability of live animal transport. It reveals that importing frozen or chilled meat is not only less polluting but also more economically viable, compared with the importation of live animals.

We understand that Israel Against Live Shipments has collaborated with partners on legislative initiatives aimed at reducing and ultimately phasing out the importation of live animals, particularly lambs, and are informed that Jordan is discontinuing the practice of live animal shipments for slaughter.

We appealed to the authorities to take the compassionate step to improve the welfare of defenceless animals, G-d’s creatures too, saying that we very much respect the Judaic code of laws tsa’ar ba’alei hayim, the enlightened requirement to prevent the suffering of living creatures, treating them at all times, even on the Sabbath, with compassion.

AUSTRALIA

We asked Victorian ministers to protect dingoes. They are being poisoned andbounties are offered for pelts. We reminded the Ministers that the First Nations respect this apex predator.

Kangaroos were being killed on the roads in Penrith New South Wales because of disturbance by construction works. The Animal Justice Party was asking for survivors to be relocated to safe areas, as per a model tried elsewhere in Australia, and we joined in that request.

A tiger shark was very cruelly killed in Queensland by Queensland Shark Control Program contractors. We wrote to Steven Miles, the new Premier. The government denied all wrongdoing, saying this was all done in alignment with protocol and even “humane”. We asked the PM to bring the contractor to book and ensure this never happened again.

Salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour is killing endangered Maugean skates, of whom there are only 1000 left. We asked Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to revoke the 2012 decision, cease salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour in light of the new scientific evidence and circumstances, and ensure that the Australian Government addresses the extinction crisis facing their biodiversity.

The Maugean skate risks becoming the world’s first marine fish extinction directly caused by aquaculture, emblematic of the direct consequences from the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.

Finally – the perennial subject, live exports: we were all appalled – but hardly surprised – to be informed that animals were also caught up in the Red Sea conflict.

The MV Bahijah was sent back from Red Sea with 16,000 cattle and sheep on board and stood in 40 degrees heat off the Australian coast. We wrote to Minister Murray Watt and to the Mayor of Fremantle, from which most live export ships leave. She replied very promptly:

“Thank you for contacting me about the more than 15,000 animals aboard the ship MV Bahijah, which has now docked at Fremantle Port. I share your concern about the welfare of these animals, which have been on board the vessel for weeks and now face sweltering temperatures over the coming days. This is an unacceptable situation, which I have stated publicly.

My understanding is that some animals will be taken from the ship, but the future of those remaining on board is not clear at this stage. I will continue to monitor the situation on behalf of the Fremantle community, which lives with the effects of the live export industry on an ongoing basis. The situation on board the MV Bahijah is once again shining a spotlight on this cruel industry.

Fremantle Council called for a phase-out of the live animal exports as early as 2010, a position which was reaffirmed in 2018. We welcome the Federal Government’s decision to phase out live exports.

On behalf of the City of Fremantle, I remain committed to ending live animal exports, and I will continue to advocate this position in the future.”

We thanked the Mayor for her kind sentiments, that much more significant as Fremantle is such an important live export city.

The latest update from Animals Australia is this, received on February 5:

“…The Federal Department of Agriculture has announced that it will not approve the application, citing the failure to meet animal welfare and importing country requirements…

…It’s unclear what will happen to the animals now, as this situation is unprecedented. One possibility is that the exporter will unload the animals, rest them and in weeks to come, re-apply for another export permit, meaning these animals may still face further export.”

Let’s hold these poor animals in the Light. Their pitiful future is not really in doubt, but surely they should now be given some respite from the rigors of this appalling industry.

Phew! If you have reached this far in my report, thank you and well done!

Marian Hussenbux Feb.11 2024