Dear Mrs. B,

PETA Asia has just blown the lid off a horrifying and heartbreaking case in the Philippines that involves cruelty to two of the most vulnerable members of any society—children and animals. You will need a strong stomach to read on, but please know that for the first time in history, something is being done about what you are about to read:

For the last year, PETA's affiliate in Asia has been working to expose and stop those behind a series of pornographic snuff videos in which girls as young as 12 are videotaped torturing and killing animals. These "crush" videos depict the girls stepping, standing, and stomping on animals—from the smallest of mice to large dogs—and are made for a niche market of demented individuals all over the world who derive sexual pleasure from watching animals being abused and slowly killed. Such videos are so heinous that the U.S. enacted a federal law to ban their sale just last year.

The content of the videos associated with this case in the Philippines is beyond sickening. They show scantily clad young girls in high heels crushing puppies, cutting the ears from screaming rabbits who are then set ablaze, driving a sharp stiletto heel repeatedly into a monkey's eyes, and other scenes that are so disturbing that I will spare you the details. The abuse of these animals is prolonged as their limbs are broken and organs crushed until they bleed from the eyes and finally succumb to the agony. But please keep reading.

PETA Asia staff approached and have been working with the Filipino National Bureau of Investigations for more than a year. Finally, after overcoming painstaking hurdles, the police have now charged two people with cruelty to animals, the corruption of minors, and other crimes. The couple has now fled; warrants have been issued for their arrest, and PETA Asia is offering a substantial reward to help locate and bring them to justice.

Although the two fugitives are being pursued by law enforcement and we are working the tips hotline, there is still much more to be done. We need your help to stop similar atrocities, as this isn't the only case, and we need your support for all PETA Asia's wonderful and often lifesaving work for animals. The following are two simple ways that you can help right now:

1. Contact the Philippine Ambassador to the United States and urge him to do everything in his power to promote the passage of a law banning the sale of these videos in his country.
2. Make a desperately needed gift today to help PETA Asia's work. The cost of necessary legal work, support for some of the children ensnared in this case, and all PETA Asia's groundbreaking efforts to stop animal abuse throughout Asia is quickly draining this affiliate's budget to pursue cases like this one. PETA will direct 100 percent of your gift to PETA Asia.

South Korea: Don't Bury Live Animals to Control Disease!

In a misguided attempt to control an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, the Republic of Korea has culled approximately one million farm animals, at least 90 percent of which were reportedly buried alive.

Burying an animal alive is unspeakably cruel. Korea is part of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and live burial is against their Guidelines on the Killing of Animals for Disease Control Purposes.  According to a report from the Korean government, another million animals could still be killed. Help us stand against this cruelty today!

Tell the U.S. ambassador to Korea Kathleen Stephens to request an immediate stop to this outrageous cull and suggest vaccination as a more humane way to handle Foot and Mouth Disease.

**UPDATE 1/24/11: New reports state approximately 4 million animals have been buried alive. Help stop these deaths by signing the petition!

To read more and sign:  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/515/958/279/

South Korean government to consider ending bear farming

© GKU

Following the tabling of a bill on 15 September by National Assembly member Hong Heedeok, the South Korean Parliament began the process that could result in the phase out of South Korea’s bear farming industry.
Chris Gee, manager of WSPA’s program to end bear farming said: "This is a historic opportunity for South Korea to adopt a policy to end bear farming. Since 2005 WSPA has worked in partnership with Green Korea United (GKU) to raise awareness of bears’ suffering, build public support, promote the alternatives to bear bile and lobby decision makers within South Korea. The world is willing South Korea to do the right thing by bringing this cruel and unnecessary industry to an end as soon as possible."  The bill is now expected to be considered by the Environment and Labour Committee as well as other relevant ministries. Subject to securing enough support, this process could see South Korea putting a policy in place to end bear farming by the end of 2010.

Bear farming is cruel

Over 1,400 bears are currently held on South Korean bear farms, in horrific captive conditions, to be slaughtered for their bile. Because the extraction of bile from live bears has been illegal in South Korea since the early 1990s, bears are instead raised to be slaughtered for their bile when they reach 10 years old. Under present South Korean law, this industry is still legal. The captive conditions have a terrible impact on the physical and psychological wellbeing of the bears. WSPA staff have witnessed South Korean bears rocking and pacing in their small cages, and seen the severe wounds, sores and stress the caged conditions cause.

Bear farming is unnecessary

© GKU

Academics, experts and Traditional Asian Medicine advocates in South Korea and around the world agree that there are many readily available herbal and synthetic alternatives to bear bile. Even South Korean bear farmers themselves are prepared to consider a phase out as they acknowledge their farms are losing money.  In 2006, the South Korean Ministry of Environment (MoE) informally requested WSPA and member society GKU to research workable ways to phase out the practice of bear farming. WSPA and GKU consulted with a range of stakeholders and experts, ensuring they examined the issue comprehensively. In addition, GKU has been working closely with the government to refine the options open to them. 

Thousands of South Koreans have joined GKU campaigns, and in the last four weeks over 85,000 WSPA supporters around the world have signed up to support an end to this industry.
Many thanks to everyone who took action and showed their support for a bear-farming phase out in South Korea. If you haven’t yet had a chance to complete the action there is still time for you to make a positive difference.

Please visit WSPA’s South Korea supporter action >>

We will continue to keep you updated on progress. As South Korea prepares to celebrate its Thanksgiving Day next week, we also give thanks to the South Korean government for tackling this issue head-on.

To read more: http://www.wspa.ca/latestnews/2010/south_korean_government_to_consider_ending_bear_farming.aspx

 Sep 16, 2010

Dolphin Slaughter Exposed by Eco-Activists. Take action now.

Thousands of starving animals affected by severe flooding in Pakistan need your help!

URGENT! Emergency aid needed for animal victims of natural disasters.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is currently responding to the extensive and ongoing flooding in Pakistan. Pakistanis displaced by the country's biggest floods in decades are struggling to save their livestock. Hundreds of thousands of cattle drowned during the tragic floods in Pakistan which have claimed 1,400 human lives and affected more than 15 million people. The surviving animals are at severe risk and in desperate need of feed and veterinary care.

Help feed animals in Pakistan by making a donation towards WSPA's disaster relief fund.

WSPA is partnering with Vets Care Club, a group of veterinary students and staff from the University of Veterinary and Animal Science in Lahore to provide feed to cows, buffalos, goats and sheep in the Layyah District, Punjab. Your donation will be used to buy nutritionally-balanced feed for animals who will most likely otherwise starve as their owners cannot afford to buy them fodder. This region has 252 farmers with 4,458 animals.

How your donation will help

• $30 can feed a buffalo or cow for a week
• $5 can feed a goat or sheep for a week

WSPA's 30-year history treating animals in disasters has shown animals are crucial to the recovery of the region. Agriculture, including livestock, is the livelihood mainstay for nearly 90% of the flood affected community in Pakistan's rural areas. When people's properties are destroyed, animals' homes often disappear too. Wild animals often have to flee their habitat to survive. Domesticated animals are at risk of remaining trapped or abandoned with no food or water. Helping animals affected by disasters not only reduces their suffering, it helps restore entire communities. WSPA leads the way in treating animals affected by disasters but we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Please give generously now so we can respond to this current crisis and to other disasters around the world. For updates you can visit WSPA's Animals in Disasters blog.

https://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/3436_pakistan_emergency_appeal_8_10_version_a.cfm

Urge Indonesian Authorities to Improve Conditions for Horses on the Gili Islands

Forcing horses to pull over-sized loads is extremely cruel. These gentle animals often develop debilitating leg problems from walking on hard surfaces, and carriage drivers often beat horses who are too tired to continue. In other places around the world, horses have dropped dead from heatstroke after working in scorching summer heat and humidity. Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) has offered to help implement systems on the islands to help ensure the welfare of horses, including making sure that sand is cleared off roadways in order to minimize horse injuries and that horses on the islands have fresh water, suitable harness equipment, and regular access to veterinary care and a farrier.

You can help! Please use the form below to contact Indonesian officials and urge them to show their commitment to animal welfare by accepting JAAN's offer to help improve conditions for horses who are used to pull carriages.

To take action:  http://action.petaasiapacific.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=110&ea.campaign.id=6842&ea.param.extras=ea_source_code:papadvgihenews~c=papenews

 Help Stop Indian Bio Tech Company From Conducting Experiments on Animals in Malaysia

Vivo Bio Tech Ltd., an Indian Bio Technology company, plans to build a $140 million animal testing facility in Malaysia—where there are no laws to protect animals in laboratories. The company would then ship beagles and monkeys to the laboratory for experiments; these animals would be condemned to lives of pain, loneliness, misery, and death with no government oversight to monitor their use. The animals could be burned, cut open, shocked, poisoned, socially isolated, starved, dehydrated, forcibly restrained, addicted to drugs, brain-damaged, and more.

Please contact Vivo Bio Tech Ltd. and urge it to halt all plans to conduct or fund animal experiments in Malaysia immediately.

To take action: http://action.petaasiapacific.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=110&ea.campaign.id=7022

You recently received an e-mail about WSPA's work to bring hope to stray dogs like the puppy above - He was born under an old abandoned car in a dump in Sierra Leone, along with two other brothers and sisters. Their mother was so malnourished and thin that the outline of her ribs was visible under her matted fur, yet she did all she could to keep her puppies safe and warm. When local people were unable to care for the puppies they considered drowning them so they would not have to starve to death. Help us bring hope...for suffering and sick dogs struggling to survive in some of the worst situations in the world; for puppies who have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves; for all abused, neglected, and forgotten animals trying desperately just to stay alive.

So what is the National Kangaroo Protection Coalition, and what does it do?

The National Kangaroo Protection Coalition arose from the ashes of a Kangaroo Symposium held at the University of NSW, in Sydney in 2001. This Symposium provided the impetus for leading Australian wildlife protection groups to form a strong new Coalition to campaign against the commercial kangaroo industry. The coalition became known as the National Kangaroo Protection Coalition. It started as a loose alliance of several groups, and now in 2006 consists of a powerful coalition of 30 Australian groups, all of whom work independently to end the commercial killing of kangaroos. The goal of the Coalition was origonally to end the commercial killing of kangaroos, but now with populations so low it is imperative that all kangaroo shooting, commercial and non-commercial must cease.
The Member groups of the National Kangaroo Protection Coalition

* initiate and take part in public forums raising awareness of the animal welfare, environmental, economic, tourism and other issues associated with the commercial kangaroo kill at district, state and national levels (write letters to the paper write and meet with politicians, run stalls, provide displays in libraries, organise conferences etc.) * gather information on companies making use of kangaroo products and provide the public with this information

* conduct fund raising activities to fund campaigns

* work to widen the membership of the Coalition as far as possible incorporating animal welfare, environmental and other organisations

* work cooperatively with the International Coalition against the commercial killing of kangaroos

* produce campaign materials.

People or groups supporting the campaign can receive regular information emails about the National Kangaroo Protection Coalition, by visiting the NKPC website and there subscribing to Kangamail, the NKPC ezine. 

http://www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.com/kangaroos-NKPC.html

We are getting closer than ever before !!!!

From Planet Green: In China, the culinary tradition of eating cats and dogs may come to an end as the pet-loving urban middle class finds the practice increasingly distasteful. A recommendation to ban the practice of dog and cat consumption will be submitted in April as part a draft bill to tackle animal abuse. Online petitions have garnered thousands of signatures and videos of maltreatment, spurring protests in Chinese markets where animals are bought and sold. Considered medicinal in ancient times, dog meat is still widely available throughout the country. The planned ban is causing heated debate between defenders of traditional values and animal welfare groups. Via: Guardian

dogs.

If you like to read more or help:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/saving-the-dogs-of-bali.html?&page=2

Folks Helping Stop The Use Of Dogs And Cats As Fish Bait...

Sea Shepherd's Mission Statement

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.                                                                                                                                                                

Home Page:  http://www.seashepherd.org/

If you'd like to help or donate:

https://my.seashepherd.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=184

They are also trying to stop the use of cats and dogs as live bait!!!!
Sign their Petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/peopleagainstdogscatsasbait

Help Stop Bullfighting From Expanding.

 How would these men and women who call themselves rodeo sportsmen like to be yanked around the neck by a rope or stabbed with swards ?  I can only imagine the fear and terror these animals must have when they are running for their lives and not understanding what made these barbaric people hate them so much.  What fun could possible come out of terrorizing these animals ? Please support not paying to watch this kind of cruelty.

The issue here is not entirely the cruel treatment of the bulls. After all, animals are slaughtered for food everywhere, sometimes just as painfully as these bulls are put to death in the ring. Rather more important is the idea that people consider the killing of an animal in this way 'sport', and will pay money to watch it.

This brings into question the entire notion of killing animals for 'sport' at all. It could be argued that killing animals for 'sport' is hardly a sport at all, if the animal has no chance to survive.
In the ring, the bull has no chance.

Many prominent former bullfighters report that the bull is intentionally debilitated with tranquilizers and laxatives, and beatings to the kidneys. It has petroleum jelly rubbed into its eyes to blur its vision, heavy weights hung around its neck for weeks before the fight, and is confined in darkness for hours before being released into the bright arena. A well-known bullfight veterinarian, Dr. Manuel Sanz, reports that in 1987 more than 90 percent of bulls killed in fights had their horns "shaved" before the fight. Horn shaving involves sawing off several inches of the horns so the bull misses his thrusts.


The matador, two picadors on horses, and three men on foot stab the bull repeatedly when he enters the ring. After it has been weakened by fear, blood loss, and exhaustion, the matador attempts to make a clean kill with a sword to the heart. Unfortunately for the suffering bull, he rarely succeeds, and must make several thrusts, often missing the bull's heart and piercing his lungs instead. Often a dagger must be used to cut the spinal cord and spare the audience the sight of a defenseless animal in the throes of death. The bull may still be fully conscious but paralyzed when his ears and tail are cut off as the final show of "victory."

Mexican bullfighting has an added feature: novillada, or baby bullfights. There is no ritual in this slaughter of calves. Baby bulls, some no more than a few weeks old, are brought into a small arena, where they are stabbed to death by spectators, many of whom are children. These bloodbaths end with spectators hacking off the ears and tail of the often fully-conscious calf lying in his own blood. This is 'sport'?
 This is the sort of thing you should not admit, but it is because such things have not been admitted that the bullfight has never been explained."

If you'd like to read more:
http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/bull/fighting.html

 
There were bullfights in Shanghai. After attempts were made in 2005, 2006 and 2007 to hold bullfights in other Chinese cities.
 
According to several articles published in Spanish newspapers, bullfights will return to China to stay.

Make DENMARK STOP!!!

Horror as Philippines Horses Are Forced to Fight to the Death!

On Sundays or fiesta days in the Philippines the so called "sport" of Horse Fighting is illiegally conducted. Two stallions are pitted against each other and results in horrific injuries and deaths and often last for hours.
Some stallions are hit so hard in the head their eyes are popped from their sockets. If death does'nt result from the kicks and bites and gruesome injuries, then the horses are inhumanely slaughtered and barbecued and fed to the crowd. Others limp around in the arena with a glazed look in their eyes or break limbs as they try to escape from the bloody arena.
These stallions fight due a mare on heat which is used as bait in the arena for up to six hours - often she is hit by stray blows from the stallions and has to suffer being mated by the winning stallion of each bout - up to 30 times in one tournament. The more blood shed, the louder the crowd during these fights.
Although horse-fighting is illegal in the Philippines, corruption and lack of enforcement ensure that the tournaments continue - and with apparent official sanction.Matches are featured on TV, and local businesses sponsor horses and tournaments. Local authorities offer prize money.The tournaments are promoted as a "cultural tradition", but in fact they are largely organized and controlled by crime syndicates, who rake in huge profits from gambling.

By signing this petition you are urging the Government of the Philippines to uphold its own Laws and ban this barbaric "traditional" sport.

The petition :

We, the undersigned, call on the Government of the Philippines to uphold Animal Welfare Legislation and bring the cruel and barbaric sport of horse fighting and the inhumane slaughter of horses to an end.
The Undersigned may also consider boycotting travel to the Philippines while Horse Fighting in this country continues.

( Online petition - Ban Horse Fighting In The Philippines)

See the video: