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  1. Help CIWF #BanLiveExports with Compassion in World Farming

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    Compassion in World Farming are campaigning to ban live exports and stop animal suffering.  And they have a donation match underway.

    In their email with news of this match fund (which is up to £30,000), they remind us of three terrible events which took place fairly recently:

    • In the Suez Canal in March 2021 when the Ever Given, a 400 metre container ship, got stuck.  She blocked a busy transport route – and that meant long delays for about 200,000 on the 16 livestock ships waiting to pass through the Suez Canal.

    • In February 2021, two ships carrying 2,600 young cattle going from Spain to Libya got stranded at sea after an outbreak of bluetongue.  They were refused entry at one port after another – and food and water for the animals started running out.  Dozens of young calves apparently died on board.  The ships had to go back to Spain and the rest of the animals faced being enthunised.

    • And in November 2019, a ship carrying 14,000 sheep from Romania to Saudi Arabia overturned and sank.  All but 180 of the animals on board died, either from drowning or of exhaustion and injuries.  The salvage company reported secret decks that were loaded with more sheep than the cargo plan had actually declared – and that could have caused the ship to capsize.

    We need to ban live export.  

    And with this match, every pound you give could be doubled.

    CIWF say that 2021 could be the y ear live animal exports for slaughter and fattening from England and Wales come to an end.  But they need to be banned from or via Scotland and Northern Ireland as well – this loophole needs to be closed.



    #BanLiveExports


    CIWF has a battle plan and I quote from their website:

    "STEP 1: 
    Push the UK Government to honour its Brexit promises and ban live animal exports in England and Wales.

    STEP 2: 
    Persuade Scotland to follow suit and ban all live animal exports, closing the loophole to Northern Ireland and Europe.

    STEP 3: 
    Convince the European Union to follow our good example on animal welfare and ban live exports from the EU and long journeys within the EU.

    STEP 4: 
    Leverage this success to persuade other countries around the world to ban cruel live exports for farm animals."

    I do not know how long this match fund is going on for – it goes up to £30,000 – but every penny counts and will help CIFW campaign hard to stop live exports. 


    PLEASE DONATE HERE – THANK YOU

    Visit Compassion in World Farming to find out more about their work and how you can get involved and help.

    Other ways to help stop ban live export

    1. The 10th to 16th May is National Vegetarian Week and a good opportunity to take a step in that direction, however small a step we all take.  Look at the Vegan Society's website too for help with vegan meals.

    2. If you do eat meat, look carefully at the package to see where it has come from.  Buy meat that has been locally produced.

    3. If you eat out, ask where the meat on the menu has come from.   Show you care.

    4. Visit Ban Live Export’s website to find out more about live export and the world trade – it is incredible how far these animals have to travel when they are alive and packed in to transport, many without water or food.

    5. Spread the word – many people don’t think about animals travelling long distances like this, only to be slaughtered when they reach land.

    6. Put the date of 14 June 2021 in your diary – it’s Ban Live Exports International Awareness Day

    7. Support CIWF by giving a gift of compassion to celebrate a special occasion, perhaps a birthday or anniversary.   Make a donation of at least £15 to Compassion in World Farming, and your nominated friend or relative will receive a gift certificate, a compassionate pen, a hand-written card from CIWF, and a copy of the latest Farm Animal Voice magazine.

     Celebrate a birthday or anniversary with a gift of compassion


    We need to put the pressure on!

    New Zealand have announced that live animal exports are to be phased out over a two year periods to uphold high standards of animal welfare.  Other countries need to follow suit.  Read all about New Zealand’s news here.

    #BanLiveExports 

     

  2. World Binturong Day

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    The 8th May 2021 is World Binturong Day.

    The aim is to raise awareness of this mammal who lives in the primary and secondary forests of South East Asia in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal and the Philippines (on the Palawan Island).

    How much do you know about the Binturong?

    Here are 7 facts about binturongs:

    1. The binturong uses its tail to balance – they can grab things and hang from branches with their tails.
    2. Binturongs are also called bearcats – but they aren’t cats or bears!  They are part of the Viverridae family
    3. Their conservation status is Vulnerable (according to the IUCN in 2016

    The conservation of binturongs isn’t easy – most of the studies on their behaviour and diet and reproduction are from binturongs in captivity – only three were done in the wild, so it’s hard to get an idea of the size of their territory, their diet and the way they all interact with each other.  In addition, they are mostly active at night and they live 10 to 20 metres high, so it can be difficult to get accurate information on the binturongs.

     

    ABConservation work to protect the binturong

    They are based in France and in the Philippines.  They undertake a number of activities:

    • They have a BearCat Study Programme to improve knowledge of binturong ecology and try to find out the remaining number of binturongs in the forest of the Palawan Island

    • They have created partnerships with local organisations and also a method of canopy camera trapping from 5 to 20 metres high in the treetops to help detect binturongs.  They also take part in conferences to spread information and they are involving Filipino and French university students in the implementation of various research protocols.

    • They are now mapping the distribution of binturongs on the island with lots of study sites, and undertaking an ecological study of binturongs through camera trapping.

    • They are raising awareness of the importance of nature and the threat it faces, and working to create tangible actions and solutions to face the threats that will impact humans.

    • They also have a wildlife rescue centre as well.

    Ways to support ABConservation in protecting binturongs are by donating, becoming a member and/or volunteering.

    Visit their website here

     

  3. Please help Northcote Heavy Horse Centre, Lincolnshire

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    I adore horses, so loved to see the happy horses at Northcote Heavy Horse Centre having fun in their field in the morning!



    The centre is based in Lincolnshire, near Skegness.   Their main aim is to give a peaceful, rich and rewarding life to the animals in their care, and to give them a forever, loving home. 

    They also help educate the public on the legacy and history of the horse, and the impact of the horse on the world today.

    The coronavirus has hit them hard

    Like so many places, they have had to close during the coronavirus but they say the good news is that they will be opening up soon – we all  need to keep an eye on their Facebook page to watch for news!

    This is very good news because the centre needs help if it is to get through at the moment.   The centre was opened in 1988 and it has had many horses and animals through its doors, giving them a loving, caring forever home. 

    You can see their current animals here – not just horses and ponies!  There are also ferrets, pigs, alpacas, terrapins and turtles, goats and birds of prey!  One big happy family, needing help.

    Ways to help the Northbrook Heavy Horse Centre:


    Kick up your heels and canter over to their Facebook page.

    Gallop off to the Northbrook Heavy Horse Centre's website here