July 2009 Volume 9
EU seal products ban, Poland joins IWC, Rhino Toliwe found Murdered by Poachers
EU Foreign Ministers Approve Ban of Seal Products 29th July 2009
EU foreign ministers agreed to ban the import of seal products at a meeting on Monday, amid pressure from domestic constituents. The ban is a victory for animal rights groups but has drawn strong criticism from Canada, which believes the embargo on seal imports violates international trade rules. Canada's annual seal hunt is the largest in the world and is an integral part of some coastal Canadian economies, generating US$ 2.4 million per year.
The ban would apply to all goods that contain seal products, such as fur, meat, and omega-3 diet supplements made from seal oil. However, the regulation contains an exemption for seal products produced from the traditional hunts of Inuit communities in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia. The law also creates an exemption for non-commercial hunts to control seal populations, but products derived from these hunts are not allowed to enter the EU. The ban does not prohibit shipment of seal products through EU member countries.
No countries voted against the proposal in Monday's meeting, although Denmark, Romania and Austria abstained. Austria said that it wants to see even tougher regulations on seal products. The EU parliament voted 550-49 to pass the ban in May 3rd this year.
The announcement of the vote drew a quick reaction from Ottawa, which says the ban is unwarranted and plans to raise the issue with the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). Canada will request consultations at the DSB, a step that will initiate bilateral consultations on the matter. If those talks fail to produce a resolution after 60 days, Ottawa will have the right to launch an official appeal, asking the international trade court to rule on the issue.
Day and Shea accused the EU of pandering to political pressure. Lobby groups make emotional appeals by incorrectly portraying white coat seal pups as the targets of the hunt, Shea explained, but these animals have not been hunted in Canada for two decades.
CATCA and our lobbying to get a new member country to join the International Whaling Commission
CATCA launched an international campaign in February 2008, to get Poland to join the IWC. CATCA successfully lobbied and got Poland to join as a new member country In April this year, when Poland signed as the newest member country of the International Whaling Commission and prepared to assist to the IWC61 Annual Meeting, held in Madeira in June this year. But some few days before the IWC Plenary, the Ministry of Environment of Poland, announced us that they were not going to send a Delegation to Madeira, after paying their membership fee to assist.
As a last minute desperate action, CATCA launched an urgent campaign (mostly asking help of IWC NGO's to contact their governments to add pressure in Poland), and two days later, we got Dr. A. Kepel as the first Polish Commissioner representing his country during the first day of the Plenary. I am glad to report that Poland had a very active role during the IWC61 in favor of whale conservation and our CATCA leader, was advisor to the new Commissioner during the Plenary.
In other news:
Toliwe, a tame, hand-raised White Rhino, was found in Mount Savannah, dead from six bullet wounds, and his horn partially hacked off. In a shocking rhino poaching incident, poachers have boldly killed South Africa's celebrity rhino, Toliwe.
Rob Dickerson, Toliwe's owner, told The Times that the rhino was most likely still alive as the poachers were sawing off the horn. It was later reported that someone flying over Mount Savannah nature reserve saw the murderers trying to remove Toliwe's horn, and called authorities.
Toliwe was a tame rhino, who was known to approach people and allow them to pet him. He is featured in the Cell C commercial (see above) and can also be seen in Wild at Heart, broadcast on the BBC channel.
Animal Rights Day in Vancouver
We will be again with our tend for CATCA/CFNWIC/CMEPS
during Animal Rights Day. The event will be this
Saturday August 8th, from noon to 5pm at Coopers Park
in Yaletown, Vancouver (west of the Cambie bridge and
west of the dog park).
Volunteers needed!
Contact us at: ericka@catcahelpanimals.org
if you can help us during that day.
THE COVE movie in Vancouver on August 12th. Directed by Louie Psihoyos, tells the amazing true story of how Psihoyos and an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers embarked on a covert mission to penetrate a hidden dolphin cove in Japan, shining light on a dark and deadly secret. The mysteries they uncovered were only the tip of the iceberg. Website and trailer: http://thecovemovie.com/
The event will be on FIFTH AVENUE (2110 Burrard Street in Vancouver) on Wednesday August 12, 2009 at 7PM.
Petitions
Alternative to animal experiments in Europe The most important petition you will be asked to sign this year. New rules for animal experiments across Europe are to be agreed by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers. This is a unique opportunity to influence animal experiments across Europe and secure commitments to replacing animals before the issue slips back behind closed doors. Please sign this petition and circulate it as widely as possible.
http://www.ad-international.org/petitions
Take action against bullfighting in France! The French seaside resort of Mimizan is holding a novillada, a bullfight with young bulls on 5 August. Although picadors, the men on horseback, who thrust their lance into the bull's flesh during a corrida, are absent in a novillada, the bull is still mutilated during the fight. It still suffers horrendous injuries and is eventually killed by the matador.
What's more, no bullfighting has ever taken place in Mimizan and the mayor wants to "revitalize" the city with the event. Don't let this happen!
Urge the mayor of Mimizan to cease plans to hold a novillada by clicking here. We need your support to stop this event from happening. We need you to help us make bullfighting history!
Click here now to email the mayor or
go to form
egarcini@yahoo.com&forwarded=true
México Unido por el respeto a los Animales,Le
Mexique uni pour le respect envers les Animaux,
United Mexico for respect towards Animals
Petition for Tonka
Tonka is a 25-year-old elephant who has been used by
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus since
1989. Since Tonka was born at Circus World In 2009,
an undercover PETA investigator documented how
Ringling treats Tonka and other animals that are
forced to perform for the circus. Our investigator
captured on video numerous Ringling workers beating
and whipping these sensitive, intelligent animals
dozens of times in venues across the country. The new
investigation video shows elephants that are struck
on the head, face, ears, trunk, and legs with a bull
hook. During our investigation, Tonka was repeatedly
captured on video engaging in "stereotypic"
behaviours strongly suggesting her severe
psychological distress, yet despite her condition,
she was forced to perform for crowds night after
night. Ringling's crew didn't appear to care if Tonka
was suffering mentally or physically.
While a verdict is pending on a lawsuit alleging that Ringling's use of steel-barbed bull hooks, electric prods, and shackles violates federal law, the outcome might not be enough to help Tonka and the other elephants on Ringling's Red Unit whom angry circus thugs may be beating right now.
Visit the new Web site RinglingBeatsAnimals.com to watch the undercover footage and write to the secretary of agriculture to demand that the USDA seize the elephants in Ringling's hands immediately, investigate PETA's evidence, and vigorously enforce the Animal Welfare Act. We need you to take action now to help these elephants. Every minute that passes might mean another beating for Tonka and her companions. Please, write to the secretary of agriculture now.
We are in need of a good size portable table for our events. Donations for our printed materials and other office expenses are always welcome!
Check our website: www.catcahelpanimals.org to donate today by Paypal.
Want to sign on to be an e-volunteer? Contact us at: info@catcahelpanimals.org
This e-newsletter was written by CATCA.
We are an educational organization founded 21 years ago in Europe. Our purpose is to raise awareness about animal cruelty and animal conservation, inviting the general public to participate and to do their share to help the animals worldwide.
CATCA
P.O. Box 16021, 617 Belmont St.
New Westminster BC V3M-6W6 Canada
E-mail: ericka@catcahelpanimals.org
Website: www.catcahelpanimals.org
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Ericka Ceballos is the proud Canadian Ambassador of World Animal Day. Click on the WAD logo above to check for the events that we will hold to celebrate the animals in Canada.
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Ericka
PO Box 16021
617 Belmont Street
New Westminster
British Columbia
V3M 6W6
Canada
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