Vegaplanet
Elephant Protest, South African Embassy
ALiberation Press Release.
Activists will demand South Africa reconsider Elephant extermination.
|
As of 1st May, despite widespread international protests, the ban on culling of elephants as a “management practice” in South Africa has been lifted.
South Africa claims this is a “cull” (an often used euphemism for extermination) to protect the bio diversity of the region. With no proof that the elephants are causing damage nor any will to use more scientific and humane methods for environmental control, South Africa is proving again her real intentions. South Africa has for years tried to overturn the CITIES ban on the ivory trade and are now trying to covertly restart the industry that is the very reason that elephants are endanger of being extinct. Instead of methods including relocation, expanding park spaces, contraceptives and creating corridors between parks to allow more even population distribution, South Africa prefers to lift the ban on “culling”, putting the elephants on a death row. |
 As part of an international campaign to save the elephants, animal action group ALiberation will demonstrate outside the South African Embassy. With posters, leaflets and megaphone, activists will demand that South Africa reconsider banning this atrocity. Alexandra House, 2nd Floor, Earlsfort Centre, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 |
Elephants and the Ivory Curse
On Elephants
As of 1st May, despite widespread international protests, the ban on culling of elephants as a management practice in South Africa has been lifted.
|
The slaughter of elephants is disguised under the name of “cull”, a sick euphemism for mass murder of highly intelligent and social beings, a cull that is driven by and for profits, benefiting the ivory, hunting and safari industries.
“Scientists argue that culling is a crude technique to tackle issues that grew from poor wildlife management. Although built for long seasonal migrations, elephants are being parked in reserves with permanent watering points, thus, making it easier for tourists to spot them, but also disrupting their natural movements as the population cannot spread out. Culling is never the answer. Relocation, expanding park spaces, contraceptives and creating corridors between parks to allow more even population distribution are more efficient and humane than just to pick up a gun and resort to a violent and quick fix. South Africa, with over 3 million hectares of National Parks, claims it does not have enough room for 18,000 elephants (although Kenya with less National |
Park land has nearly 70% more elephants).
African elephants are an endangered species, and any renewal of culling policies can revitalize the ivory trade and jeopardize their survival. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 3-5 million elephants in Africa. 90% of the ivory is exported to Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, where the kilogram of ivory is sold for 80 Euro. |
Pigs Exploited for Entertainment, Naas, Co Kildare.
A Few Laughs
|
A.F.A.R has called to cancel a planned pig race that will take place in Naas, next week, on the grounds that racing pigs is cruel and inhumane. The race will be part of a family fun day and according to Fine Gael councilor Darren Scully, pigs will “be allowed to go around the track at their own pace.” The councilor got the approval of the ISPCA. On the other hand, Bernie, A.F.A.R spokesperson, has stated that “pigs do not deserve to be degraded or used as part of what is an event that is basically |
 centered around club and pub participation” and that it sends out a message to children that it is ok to use animals as entertainment for humans. |
|
A.F.A.R and ALiberation vehemently encourage people to oppose this race as humans should not have to resort to using animals for entertainment purposes.
Please email the councillors (see post-it on the left), especially Cllr Darren Scully. |
Maggie, Confined in Dublin Zoo for 24 years. A.F.A.R Statement
The story An adventurous orang-utan went on-the-run on the 5th of April 08 in Dublin Zoo making a bold bid for freedom after 24 years in captivity.
|
Normally protective mother Maggie left her baby Mujur behind and managed to enjoy an hour on the loose wandering around in front of her enclosure. Zookeepers believe the 26-year-old ape made a long stretch for branches at the edge of the compound, grabbed a wall and climbed over at around midday.The alarm was raised within minutes but it was an hour before zookeepers managed to confront Maggie and shoot her with a tranquilliser dart gun.
The Alliance for Animal Rights (AFAR) is saddened by hearing of the Oranutan Maggie s bid to find freedom yesterday even to the point of leaving her baby The understandably frustrated animal has been confined in an enclosure for 24 years, more than the length of a sentence that would be imposed on a human for the crime of murder. Zoos are but Prisons to non human animals, yet they have not committed any crime. Those in captivity are driven insane, deprived of a natural life and are |
 basically kept imprisoned for life so that our species can amuse themselves. Zoos are a throwback to the menageries of Victorian times. They should be abolished in this day and age as they are cruel and archaic. Just like blacks are not made for whites nor are women made for men these animals are not on this planet to serve humans. Its their world too. |
Bernie Wright,
Spokesperson AFAR.
087 2651720
More Info :
A.F.A.R. Statement on Zoos
From Bernie Wright, AFAR,
Irish Times 12th April 08
|
A Zoo is simply a collection of animals. It makes money by attracting paying visitors .The quality of life for the animals varies from totally inadequate to barely adequate. 3,000 years ago, Zoos were started in the Middle East, animals were merely objects of curiosity from far away places.
Trapped from the wild with sometimes parent animals being killed ;young animals being easier to train and manage, many of them died on their long and horrific journeys to other continents and climates. These animals were treated as prized public attractions or captive slaves. They experienced fear, hardship, an alien environment ,barren enclosures, and their mental and physical needs ignored. In 2008 Dublin Zoo sits on roughly 60 acres. It boasts African Plains, fringes of the Arctic, Rainforests, Kaziranga Forest Trail, shops, Restaurants .Oh yes! All of this and 600 animals as well. Ranging from tigers, elephants, and chimps to red pandas. Even with limited mathematical skills 100 animals per acre seems like a |
 miraculous natural environment. To quote the Zoo, they invite visitors to “go wild in the heart of the City”. It’s a pity the animals cannot do the same. Indeed, it is well documented that Elephants can roam over 40 miles in a day in their natural surroundings, and that’s just Elephants. They also mourn their dead and live in family groups. Explain this to the Dublin Zoo Elephants. Instinctive behaviour is still evident in third or fourth generation captive bred animals. Most animals on display in Zoos are not threatened by extinction, yet Captive Breeding Programs are one of the most common reasons that Zoos use to justify their existence. They endeavour to save species that are faltering in the wild from going extinct. |
AR Gathering 2008, Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th of August.
The AR Gathering is Back!
|
Thinking of sunbathing in South of Spain or going overseas this summer? You might have to change your plans!
The international AR gathering is back, this time in Austria, near Vienna, from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th of August. The Gathering will celebrate the first decade of this international event. |
|
