LAP Newsletter August 2014

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Andy P

Hello to all Leeds Animal Protection members and supporters.

RECENT EVENTS

We have been busy campaigning for the animals at Horsforth, Garforth and Kirkstall Summer Fairs.

LEEDS ANIMAL PROTECTION CAMPAIGNING

Our current campaigning  includes the following issues :-

Animal Aid

vivisection – information leaflets about animal experiments, petitions and  lists of medical research charities which do/do not test on animals
– information about factory farming  and petitions
www.animalaid.org

BUAV

– information about the Leaping Bunny symbol, and about cruelty-free companies
www.crueltyfreeinternational.org
“Our Best Friends” campaign – to end the use of dogs and cats in scientific research
www.buav.org/undercover-investigations/born-to-die

League Against Cruel Sports
– info about their petition to get snares banned.
www.league.org.uk

Captive Animals Protection Society

– We are giving out information about the zoo industry and circuses. CAPS have several campaigns, including one against pinioning – where captive birds have part of one wing severed, and will never be able to fly again – so that they can be held captive in zoos.  Also information about  reasons to boycott aquariums. details at   www.captiveanimals.org

SOME NEWS

WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES

Captive Animals Protection Society, along with other animal campaigning groups, have had a meeting with the Minister responsible for the promised ban  on the use of wild animals in circuses. The Minister was keen to reiterate his department’s commitment to the ban, but parliamentary time has not been given to allow the ban to pass into law.On the CAPS website  www.captiveanimals.org/uk-circus  there is a link to contact the government and demand immediate action on the implementation of a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

PAMPLONA BULL RUN

League Against Cruel Sports report that STA Travel have stopped all sales to Pamplona – following the LACS campaign – to not support bull running and bullfighting
Details at  www.league.org.uk

ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS
The government has admitted that during 2013, the number of animal experiments rose to 4,121,582, which is, shockingly more 11,554 experiments started than in 2012. Behind every number is an animal’s life – a life of suffering and fear. BUAV point out that what makes the rise even more shocking is that it is the third consecutive increase since the Coalition Government took office in 2010 – pledging to reduce animal experiments.
Details at   www.BUAV.org

VIVA

Viva’s online survey of supporters is asking people what campaigns you think they should prioritise etc.
http://www.viva.org.uk/survey

and now……. SOME LOVELY PLACES TO VISIT!  These places are new to us:- Please check their current opening times before you set off

NEW veggie restaurant in Leeds

Anand Sweets, 109 Harehills Road, Leeds, LS8 5HS.  Until about a month ago it was an Indian takeaway only,  but they have now opened a restaurant. It serves plenty of curries and savoury foods, and their samosas are very highly rated. Tel: 0113 248 1234.

Hollybush Conservation Centre, Broad Lane, Leeds, LS5 3BP has a veggie cafe open Tues – Thurs 11 – 2. It’s run by the Conservation Volunteers and has a wildlife garden. Tel: 0113 274 2335.

http://www.tcv.org.uk/hollybush/cafe

Inkwell Saturday veggie cafe, 31 Potternewton Lane, Leeds, LS7 3LW. Open Sat 10-4. Large garden, family friendly.

http://www.inkwellarts.org.uk/cooking-up-a-treat/

Bundobust is Leeds’ newest vegetarian Indian street food kitchen. It combines world beers and food by vegetarian Indian restaurant Prashad.

6 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ
email  hello@bundobust.com
www.bundobust.com      and Facebook

The founder of Facebook group “Leeds Vegan Families” has had recent success with Catering Leeds in getting vegan school meals for his early years kids. He is happy to give advice to other vegan parents in this situation. Email Drew on drewmonkey@btinternet.com.

Cafe in Beverley

Sugar and Spice veggie/vegan cafe in Beverley, E Yorks.
http://www.happycow.net/reviews/sugar-and-spice-beverley-33604

and at THE SEASIDE

Bridlington

Little organic bakery and cafe, 12 Wellington Road, Bridlington YO15 2BG
Vegetarian and some vegan dishes  also an outdoor garden eating area,  Tel – 07853 303049  and on Facebook
[closed July 25th – August 6th]

Scarborough

C-A-L-F Cafe  Compassionate, Animal, Liberators and Friends
Vegan Cafe and Takeaway
62 Eastborough, Scarborough, North Yorks  YO11 1NJ
www.c-a-l-f.com
They also have an online shop. All profits from their shop go towards running their animal sanctuary  Tel Sharon on  07919310839

FUTURE EVENTS

We will have stalls at the following events

SATURDAY AUGUST 2ND

LAP stall at UNITY DAY, HYDE PARK, LEEDS 11.30am till 6pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 3RD

DR HADWEN TRUST  information stall at  DOGS TRUST OPEN DAY at Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre,  York Road, Leeds LS15 4NL  11am onwards

SATURDAY AUGUST 9TH

Ramble against Bloodsports on Ilkley Moor  https://www.facebook.com/stoptheshoot/photos/gm.324595364358059/740233532685187/?type=1&theater

SATURDAY AUGUST 23RD

Street collection for Animal Aid, in Leeds City Centre – please see www.animalaid .org.uk  for details of their campaigns that we will be supporting.

SATURDAY AUGUST 30TH

LAP stall at CHAPEL ALLERTON  ARTS FESTIVAL, LEEDS  [tbc]

October 15th

Dr Dan Lyons, who is the CEO of the Centre for Animals and Social Justice [CASJ]  will be giving a lecture in Leeds on October 15th. The lecture is on “Animal Protection Public Policy: Questions of Ethics, Power and Democracy”
At the Centre for Applied Social Science, Leeds Metropolitan University
3.00pm – 4.30pm

Please see their website  www.casj.org.uk   for more details, and to register [which is free].

On the website there is also information about putting animal protection into General Election manifestos, calls for the establishment of an Animal Protection Commission – as a new independent regulatory body, and much more.

If you can help at any of the stalls or the collection  please let Jenny know

email  jenny@bluecloud.plus.com    Thanks

The following meetings – for 2014 – will be   Wednesday July 23rd (where Luke Steele will be doing a talk on Grouse Shooting), Wednesday August 27th and Wednesday September 24th.  Meetings are at Leeds Civic Hall at 7.00pm

New members are always welcome.  Hope to see you soon and Happy Holidays!

Jenny and Carla

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LAP Newsletter July 2014

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Andy P

Hello to all Leeds Animal Protection members and supporters.

RECENT EVENTS

Beeston Festival   We held a busy and successful stall at Beeston where we got a good sun-tan too! Leeds veg shared the stall so lots of people went away with lovely veggie recipes as well.Some of our members helped at a street collection in Leeds for Dr Hadwen Trust, and we also held a DHT  information stall at Hope Pastures Fun Dog Show – which was a lovely day.

LEEDS ANIMAL PROTECTION CAMPAIGNING

Our current campaigning  includes the following issues :-

Animal Aid

vivisection – information leaflets about animal experiments, petitions and  lists of medical research charities which do/do not test on animals
– information about factory farming  and petitions
www.animalaid.org

BUAV

– information about the Leaping Bunny symbol, and about cruelty-free companies www.crueltyfreeinternational.org
“Our Best Friends” campaign – to end the use of dogs and cats in scientific research www.buav.org/undercover-investigations/born-to-die

–          Time is running out for the Yorkshire Beagles, and we urgently need your help today.  B&K Universal is appealing the decision which prevents them from erecting a new beagle breeding facility in Yorkshire.  If they are successful, hundreds, if not thousands, of beagles will be born to die in laboratories.  Please help by doing two things for the Yorkshire Beagles today:
– 1. Sign our petition urging the Planning Inspectorate and Secretary of State to reject this appeal. http://buavnews.org/LN3-2LZ4W-4DGA20-15KPBX-1/c.aspx>*
– 2. Help us spread the word by joining our Thunderclap so that on 9th July at 7:30pm our campaign floods social media as all those who oppose the facility speak with one voice, urging people to sign our petition.  http://buavnews.org/LN3-2LZ4W-4DGA20-15KPBY-1/c.aspx

All it takes is a couple of clicks. Let’s speak out together for the Yorkshire Beagles.

League Against Cruel Sports
– info about their petition to get snares banned.
www.league.org.uk

Captive Animals Protection Society
– We are giving out information about the zoo industry and circuses. CAPS have several campaigns, including one against pinioning – where captive birds have part of one wing severed, and will never be able to fly again – so that they can be held captive in zoos.  Also information about  reasons to boycott aquariums. details at   www.captiveanimals.org

CASJ

LECTURE ON THE POLITICS OF ANIMAL PROTECTION

Dr Dan Lyons, CEO of CASJ [Centre for animals and Social Justice] is going to give a lecture on the politics of animal protection date Wednesday October 15th time 3pm – 4.30 place at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds Metropolitan University.  The event is FREE but you need to register.  Booking can be done through CASJ website www.casj.org.uk/news/autumn-2014-lectures/

SOME NEWS

BADGERS     Sadly, badger culling may be starting again very soon. June 1st 2014 was the first day that licensing allows badger culling to start again in Gloucestershire and Somerset, The licensing allows for six consecutive weeks of shooting at any point between June 1st 2014 and January 31st 2015.  It is not known when the culling will start. Teambadger is doing all that is legally possible to challenge and prevent the culls.

There is a report in The Ecologist  that  new  DEFRA figures released on June 12th show that biosecurity works, and that even if  by a small amount, the incidence of BTB in England is dropping, and it’s falling fastest where the strongest biosecurity measures are in place. Wales  has managed to achieve a drop of nearly 50% in the number of cattle slaughtered with not a single badger killed.  Scotland has achieved official TB-free status – without killing badgers. www.theecologist.org

If anyone wishes to support the Wounded Badger Patrols in Somerset and Gloucestershire – please see  Somerset Wounded Badger Patrol Facebook,  and Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting   www. glosagainstbadgershooting.org   [GABS]

For information on badger and cattle vaccination, the League Against Cruel Sports suggests that we go to  www.bacvi.co.uk    to support this initiative
Please keep an eye on the following websites for details of any developments regarding the culls and what we can do to help the badgers.

www.animalaid.org

www.teambadger.org

www.league.org.uk

www.careforthewild.com

Yorkshire Against The Badger Cull – on Facebook

www.networkforanimals.org

The following update is from GABS:

1  Badger Cull Update

Whilst the cull still hasn’t started yet there continues to be a lot  going on to try and prevent it and at the same time to prepare for the worse.

1.1       Badger Trust legal challenge

The Badger Trust’s legal challenge to the cull took much longer to be considered by the Judiciary than anticipated, but last week they finally agreed that there was a case to be heard. The Badger Trust’s legal Team are now negotiating a court date with DEFRA. There is a risk that the cull could start before the case gets to court but the Badger Trust are hoping they can avoid this happening. Details of the legal challenge are set out below:

http://www.badger.org.uk/news/posts/2014/government-advisors-support-badger-trust-high-court-legal-challenge.aspx

1.2       Warwick University report

A new report by scientists at Warwick University suggests that the spread of TB in cattle can only be controlled if more radical measures are adopted. It suggests that culling of entire cattle herds, more testing and cattle vaccination are needed to reverse the spread of the disease. It also confirms that culling badgers will at best slightly slow down rather than stop the epidemic.  Lord Krebs, who developed much of the scientific underpinning to assess the effectiveness of culling badgers to control the spread of TB in cattle said that the study’s conclusions “give further support to the view that culling badgers is not an effective strategy for controlling bovine (cattle) TB”.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/02/tuberculosis-tb-threat-mass-cull-cattle-not-badgers-study

1.3 Patrols preparations

Many thanks to all those who made one of the practice Wounded Badger Patrols over recent weeks. We had good turn-outs and feel that they have helped patrol members prepare for if and when the cull does start.

2       How you can help

2.1       Write to your MP this weekend : One of the main things we need to do at present is make sure politicians and the NFU do not think that people have forgotten the Gloucestershire badgers just because the government has decided the cull is not fit to roll out to the rest of the country.

We know many of you have written many times to your MP already, but it would be great if you could write again this weekend telling them that there is even more evidence to show that culling is not the right way forward. You could mention issues such as the Warwick Scientific Study highlighted above and the foolhardiness of planning to go forward with the supposedly pilot cull without any independent scientific evaluation.

We understand that the Badger Trust and Care for the Wild will be hosting a legal briefing for MPs in the Palace of Westminster chaired by anti-cull Conservative MP, Anne Main this coming Monday, 7th July. It will update MPs and Peers from all Parties on the key legal challenges ahead on the badger cull policy. Ask your MP to attend. Links to your MPs e mail address are in the link below:

http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/

3       Upcoming local events

Tewkesbury Medieval Festival Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July 

GABS supporters are running a stall at this local 2 day event to raise the profile of the cull within Tewkesbury, sell some badger materials and try and recruit new supporters. Entry is free so drop in and say hello or let us know if you’d like to help out for a few hours. Details of the festival are set out on the link below:

http://www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/index.htm

Tewkesbury Badger March Saturday 19th July

This march is not being organised by GABS but Carol Cook from GABS will be speaking alongside others including Dominic Dyer of the Badger Trust. The only details we have so far are as follows:

Saturday 19th July Meet at 1pm at the Ham, near Tewkesbury Town Centre. GL 20 5DU. See link below:

http://www.careforthewild.com/badger/badger-cull-protests/

ROYAL ASCOT – THREE HORSES DEAD      Two horses – two year old Case Statement and five year old Sir Graham Wade both died at Royal Ascot on June 17th. The injuries of these poor horses received little mention during the TV coverage. In the final race five year old Tiger Cliff also collapsed and died after crossing the finishing line. Full details on Animal Aid’s website

PAMPLONA BULL RUN    The Pamplona Bull Run takes place in Spain, and this year runs from July 6th – 14th. The League Against Cruel Sports campaigns to the public not to support this barbaric practice and to boycott bullfights. Details and a film showing what happened last year – are both on the LACS website.

MIGRATORY BIRDS The League Against Cruel Sports have a new film featuring Bill Oddie. The film exposes the massacre of migratory birds in Malta. LACS ask that people watch and share this film and help to expose the horror of spring hunting.

The BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT  have campaigned successfully  for Minnesota USA, to pass legislation ensuring that animals who have been used in laboratories are adopted after the research is over. This is the first legislation of its kind in the world.

http://beaglefreedomproject.org/the_beagle_freedom_law

LOBSTERS, CRABS AND OTHER CRUSTACEANS    The RSPCA, VIVA, Animal Aid  and other animal welfare organisations are calling for greater protection for these animals, based on sound scientific evidence which suggests that they do experience pain and fear. The Animal Welfare Act states that its protection can be extended to other types of animals if it can be proved that they are capable of experiencing pain. Details on Animal Aid website.

VIVA have lots of information about factory farming including a clear and informative  graphic showing silhouettes of various animals, and the age at which they are killed – compared to their natural lifespan. Most people have no idea how young farmed animals are when killed.

To help celebrate VIVA’s 20th anniversary, they are inviting everyone to get involved and have fun – entering their video competition. Sing and shout [and maybe dance] about being veggie/vegan. Have a look at the excellent Kizz & Cazz video “ Vegan and you know it”.

FUTURE EVENTS

We will have stalls at the following events

KIRKSTALL FESTIVAL Saturday July 12th – we could really do with some more helpers here so please get in touch with Jenny if you can spare some time

Summer Fairs are a really good place to meet people and to chat about the animal issues.

If you can help at any of the events in and around Leeds please let Jenny know   email  jenny@bluecloud.plus.com    Thanks

The following meetings – for 2014 – will be Wednesday July 23rd and Wednesday August 27th.  Meetings are at Leeds Civic Hall at 7.00pm

Finally, one of our members has heard about Sugar and Spice – a veggie/vegan cafe in Beverley, E Yorks.

http://www.happycow.net/reviews/sugar-and-spice-beverley-33604

New members are always welcome. Hope to see you soon.

Jenny and Carla

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LAP Newsletter June 2014

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Andy P

Hello to all Leeds Animal Protection members and supporters.

RECENT EVENTS

On April 26th the National March and Rally for Animals in Laboratories took place in Nottingham.  The day was a great success, with many protesters arriving from all over the country.  The AVC managed to get plenty of attention in their bright red boiler suits and there were various reporters for the local media on hand to talk to them.  There was much interest from passers by, a range of great speakers/stalls and as always fantastic food from the Veggies

On May 10th Leeds Animal Protection held a stall at The Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival  – the first one to be held in Leeds.  This was a huge and excellent event with over 100 stalls, workshops, presentations and demonstrations. We couldn’t believe how big and busy it was – there were over 2,000 visitors!

The festival was organised by The Friends of IAPWA Cumbria Group.  IAPWA stands for International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals and is a UK registered charity, which is dedicated to bringing hope and protection to street animals worldwide. The current major project is focussing on Borneo ,where there are thousands of unwanted and un-neutered animals roaming the streets.  These animals have to compete for food, water and shelter.  They have short and difficult lives, which often end in very cruel ways.

IAPWA are introducing TNR [trap, neuter, release] programmes, running education programmes, providing veterinary support and campaigning to prevent cruelty, neglect and inhumane practices.  For more information and for ways to help their work – please go to www.iapwa.org or facebook.com/IAPWA

IAPWA will be back in Leeds next year with an even bigger and better festival!

PUDSEY CARNIVAL

We had a very pleasant day campaigning in the sun at Pudsey Carnival.  Our stall was next to Leeds Veg and people were able to choose some delicious new veggie recipes, as well as taking info from the LAP stall, and signing petitions.

We used our “Choose your own prize” activity as a fund-raiser and we will be doing this at all our summer stalls.  If you have a small unwanted gift that someone might choose as a prize then please bring it along to one of our stalls or meetings – Thanks

LEEDS ANIMAL PROTECTION CAMPAIGNING

Our current campaigning includes the following issues:-

Animal Aid

Information leaflets about animal experiments, petitions and lists of medical research charities which do/do not test on animals, as well as information and petitions about factory farming – www.animalaid.org

BUAV

Information about the “Leaping Bunny” symbol and cruelty-free companies – www.crueltyfreeinternational.org LAP will also be promoting the “Our Best Friends” campaign to end the use of dogs and cats in scientific research www.buav.org/undercover-investigations/born-to-die
League Against Cruel Sports

LAP will be promoting their petition to get snares banned – please sign this if you have not already done so – www.league.org.uk/snaring – there is much information about this and their other campaigns on the website.

Captive Animals Protection Society

We are giving out information about the zoo industry.  Remember Marius?  He was a healthy young giraffe who was killed by staff at Copenhagen Zoo in February.  Unfortunately he is not a tragic exception – thousands of healthy animals are deliberately killed by European zoos every year.  CAPS have several campaigns, including one against pinioning – where captive birds have part of one wing severed and will never be able to fly again – so that they can be held captive in zoos – details at www.captiveanimals.org

SOME NEWS

PUBLIC CONSULTATION: Review of SECTION 24 of the Animals [Scientific Procedures] Act 1986

On May 1st the government opened a public consultation on Section 24, the notorious secrecy clause which has long been used to prevent even the most basic information about animal experiments from being released.  The consultation will last for six weeks.  Animal Aid will be producing advice for anyone who would like to participate in the consultation – so please keep checking their website and social media for more information.

Dr Hadwen Trust also is encouraging its supporters to take part in the consultation.  There is a link on their website and a statement is being prepared.

CCTV IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES

Animal Aid continues to work hard on its campaign for mandatory CCTV in UK slaughterhouses. They have launched a Number 10 petition for us to sign and share. Details and a link to the petition at www.animalaid.org.uk

BADGERS

On April 3rd the government announced that there will be no roll out of the badger cull, but that it will continue in Somerset and Gloucestershire.  Defra Minister Owen Paterson said that – when the culling is “perfected”, he will allow badgers to be targeted in other parts of the country.  Hundreds more badgers will be killed this year – possibly from June 1st.  If anyone wishes to support the Wounded Badger Patrols in Somerset and Gloucestershire – please see Somerset Wounded Badger Patrol Facebook,  and Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting – www.glosagainstbadgershooting.org [GABS]

For information on badger and cattle vaccination, the League Against Cruel Sports suggests that we go to www.bacvi.co.uk to support this initiative

There is an independently organised 10 day march from Gloucester to London, beginning on May 22nd.  It is called the Great Badger Trail and is to support the anti badger cull movement [details on LACS website]

Please keep an eye on the following websites for details of any developments regarding the culls and what we can do to help the badgers.

www.animalaid.org

www.teambadger.org

www.league.org.uk

www.careforthewild.com

Yorkshire Against The Badger Cull – on Facebook

SEALS

Humane Society International reports that The World Trade Organisation has made a decision to uphold the European Union’s ban on products of commercial seal hunts, keeping one of the largest markets closed to this cruelty – details at www.hsi.org

NEW VEGAN FACEBOOK group in Leeds – Leeds Vegan Families and Interfaith Vegan Alliance

VIVA!

Have some gorgeous new recipes at www.veganrecipeclub.org.uk Type in “summer recipes” to get details for
Indian Summer Salad
Gazpacho
Onion filo tart
Coleslaw
Tropical mango and pecan cheesecake
Frozen Fruit kebabs
and many, many more.
FUTURE EVENTS

We will have stalls at the following events:

BEESTON FESTIVAL – Saturday June 14th –  Cross Flatts Park  12.00 – 5.00

HORSFORTH GALA – Saturday June 28th Hall Park, Horsforth  late morning – 5.00

GARFORTH GALA – Sunday June 29th [to be confirmed] Glebelands, Ninelands Lane, Garforth  10.00 – 5.00

KIRKSTALL FESTIVAL – Saturday July 12th

If you can help at any of the events in and around Leeds please let Jenny know – email  jenny@bluecloud.plus.com  Thanks

The following meetings – for 2014 – will be Wednesday May 28th, Wednesday June 25th [England are not playing that night!] and Wednesday July 23rd.

Meetings are at Leeds Civic Hall at 7.00pm

New members are always welcome.  Hope to see you soon.

Best Wishes

Jenny and Carla

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LAP Newsletter May 2014

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Andy P

Hello to all Leeds Animal Protection members and supporters.

RECENT EVENTS

The weather was not kind to us at our latest stall in Leeds City Centre – where we had wind and hail stones to contend with!  However we had a successful day at Otley Green Fair – where we campaigned for the badgers and against the Grand National.  We also collected signatures to end the testing of household products on animals and gave out information about cruelty-free medical research.

We used our “Choose your own prize” activity as a fund-raiser and we will be doing this at our summer stalls.  If you have a small unwanted gift that someone might choose as a prize then please bring it along to one of our stalls or meetings – Thanks

Some LAP members helped at a street collection in Leeds for NAVS (National Anti-Vivisection Society).  Please see www.navs.org.uk for details of their work to support the replacement of animals in research.  Others helped at an AVC – Anti Vivisection Coalition campaigning stall.  Details of their campaigns can be found at www.stopvivisection.org  Some LAP members held veggie recipe and nutritional advice stalls in Leeds market.

SOME NEWS

SEALS

The Humane Society International has reported that the killing of seals has started again in Canada.  Baby seals are being shot and clubbed to death for their fur in Newfoundland. HSI are asking for emergency donations for their Protect Seals Team.  If you would like to help fund this campaign then please go to www.hsi.org for details.

IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) have a petition calling on the Canadian Prime Minister – Stephen Harper, to end the commercial seal hunt and are asking for the action alert to be passed on and to be shared on Facebook – www.ifaw.org/united-kingdom

BADGERS

On April 3rd the government announced that there will be no roll out of the badger cull, but that it will continue in Somerset and Gloucestershire.  DEFRA Minister Owen Paterson said that when the culling is “perfected”, he will allow badgers to be targeted in other parts of the country.  Hundreds more badgers will be killed this year.  If anyone wishes to support the Wounded Badger Patrols in Somerset and Gloucestershire please refer to the Somerset Wounded Badger Patrol (on Facebook) and Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting www.glosagainstbadgershooting.org [GABS]

For information on badger and cattle vaccination, the League Against Cruel Sports suggests that we go to www.bacvi.co.uk for further information and to support this initiative.

Please keep an eye on the following websites for details of any developments regarding the culls and what we can do to help the badgers.

www.animalaid.org

www.teambadger.org

www.league.org.uk

www.careforthewild.com

Yorkshire Against The Badger Cull – on Facebook

BIRDLIFE MALTA

The League Against Cruel Sports and Bill Oddie (conservationist and wildlife expert) are travelling to Malta to support Birdlife Malta’s campaign to abolish the spring hunting of thousands of migratory birds; details at www.league.org.uk

CAPTIVE ANIMALS

On our summer stalls we will be supporting CAPS campaign to help educate people about zoos and on the issue of animal captivity.  European zoos kill thousands of healthy animals every year and thousands of birds suffer wing amputation so that they can be held captive in zoos.  Details at www.captiveanimals.org

VIVISECTION

On their Victims of Charity website – www.victimsofcharity.org Animal Aid have exposed and challenged cruel and futile experiments paid for by another charity.  Marmoset monkeys have been repeatedly dosed with a toxic chemical called MPTP in order to damage their brains and induce symptoms that mimic Parkinson’s disease.  They were left in this state for several months and then given high doses of a drug.  Some were given ecstasy.  Some of these poor monkeys had already been used previously in similar experiments.  The experiments were performed in Canada, but are co-funded by a UK-based charity – the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.  We can easily take action through the Victims of Charity website and contact the charity, urging them to change their research policy.

BUAV have reports from their new investigation, which has uncovered details of the killing of puppies, kittens and other baby animals “BORN TO DIE” in a UK laboratory.  The BUAV went undercover at MSD Animal Health for 8 months in 2013.  For details and for ways to help please go to www.buav.org/undercover-investigations/born-to-die

ALLTRIALS CAMPAIGN – MEPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new law that will require all drug clinical trials in Europe to be registered and their results reported in a public database.  This will come into force in 2016, but will not address the far bigger problem that we still don’t have full reporting for the medicines that we are using now.  For further information please go to www.alltrials.net

FUTURE EVENTS

Saturday April 26th   World Day For Animals In Laboratories – National March and Rally – 12.00 noon – Old Market Square, Nottingham, NG1 2DT. www.wdail.org www.facebook.com/savelabanimals  Campaigners will march through the city centre calling on the Government to halt animal experiments and will expose the horrific conditions that animals in laboratories have to suffer, including those in labs in Nottingham.

TRANSPORT – If you would like to come to the World Day for Laboratories march in Nottingham on 26th April, a coach has been arranged by the AVC to go from Leeds and Sheffield.  It will pick up outside the West Yorkshire Playhouse, St Peters Street, Leeds, LS9 8AH at 9am on the day and from Sheffield Meadow Hall Tram and Train Station car park at 9.30am.  Seats cost £15 each, places are currently available, but please book as soon as possible to reserve a seat.  You can easily do this by contacting the AVC on info@stopvivisection.org.uk   mob: 07899 951 693 or check out the Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/events/453197721450337/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Saturday May 10th THE GREAT YORKSHIRE VEGAN FESTIVAL – at the Queens Hotel Leeds next to the Train Station 10.00am – 6.00pm. There will be over 100 stalls, workshops, presentations and demonstrations.  Leeds Animal Protection will have a stall there.  This is going to be an exciting and very busy day and we will be supporting other stalls as well as our own – so PLEASE DO GET IN TOUCH IF YOU CAN COME ALONG AND HELP.  Details are on Facebook and at www.yorkshireveganfestival.com

Saturday May 17th – Pudsey Carnival – Queens Park, Pudsey time approx 11.00 – 5.00

Saturday May 17th – also on this day it will be Manchester Vegan Fair.  This will be held at Chorlton Irish Club, 17 High Lane Manchester. 11.00am – 5.00pm.  Details at www.veganorganic.net

Sunday May 18th – Hope Pastures Spring Fair.  We will hold a Dr Hadwen Trust stall there. Details of DHT work at www.drhadwentrust.org

Hope Pastures are now collecting used postage stamps, to help fund their work. Please collect stamps and take them along when you visit.  It is open 7 days a week 10.00am – 3.00pm www.hopepastures.org

Bank Holiday Monday May 26th – there will be a street collection in Leeds in aid of Dr Hadwen Trust.

Horsforth Gala – Saturday June 28th – Hall Park, Horsforth

If you can help at any of the events in and around Leeds please let Jenny know – email  jenny@bluecloud.plus.com  Thanks

 

The next meetings for 2014 will be Wednesday April 24th and Wednesday May 28th.  Meetings are at Leeds Civic Hall at 7.00pm

 

New members are always welcome.

Hope to see you soon.

Jenny and Carla

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LAP Newsletter April 2014

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Andy P

Hello to all Leeds Animal Protection members and supporters

 

SOME NEWS

 

HUNTING BAN UNDER THREAT – PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION – CONTACT YOUR MP

The government has indicated that it is considering amending the Hunting Act by using an Affirmative Statutory Instrument [SI], a type of legislation that can be used to push unpopular changes through Parliament with less scrutiny than a full vote would require. This SI would lift the limit on the number of dogs used to flush our wild mammals, effectively repealing the Hunting Act.

 

The League Against Cruel Sports believe that the vote could take place on Wednesday March 26th and they ask us to CONTACT OUR MPs IMMEDIATELY  Please go to   http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=122&ea.campaign.id=26535 to send a template letter to your MP telling him/her that you do not want a repeal by the back door, and to vote against this amendment.

 

At present the Hunting Act allows a maximum of two dogs to flush out a fox to waiting guns. The amendment would allow a full pack of up to 40 dogs to be used.  Details at www.league.org There are also details and a template letter on the Humane Society International website www.hsi.org

 

BADGERS

 

BREAKING NEWS – There are reports in the press today [Sunday Times March 23rd] that the government’s badger culls are to be restarted this summer, with a third killing zone in Dorset, added to the two existing ones in Somerset and Gloucestershire, according to Whitehall sources. Defra is expected to make an announcement this week.

 

An independent scientific assessment of last year’s pilot badger culls has concluded that they were neither effective nor humane. The farming minister George Eustice said that the government was not bound to heed the advice of the report and that it could approve a nationwide badger killing programme.  On February 13th there was a backbench debate in parliament at which MPs voted 219 to 1 for the motion to refrain from granting any further licences, pending development of alternative strategies to eradicate bovine TB, namely a cattle and badger vaccination programme.  Following the vote, George Eustice refused to say if the government would bring a vote on the badger cull to the full house or not.

 

Please keep an eye on the following websites for details of any developments regarding the culls and what we can do to help the badgers.

www.animalaid.org

www.teambadger.org

www.league.org.uk

www.careforthewild.com

 

Yorkshire Against The Badger Cull – on Facebook

 

URGENT – this petition was mentioned in the previous newsletter.  There are council petitions set up across the country calling for the councils to prohibit the culling of badgers and to promote the vaccination of badgers in their area. To sign the petition for Leeds please go to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-leeds-city-councils-badgers-from-culling Please share this as widely as possible.

 

HORSE RACING

 

Animal Aid – www.animalaid.org report that four horses died at last week’s Cheltenham Festival.  Our Conor, Akdam and Stack The Deck died during the first few days and in the final race at this year’s festival, eight-year-old Raya Star died, after suffering a suspected fractured spine.  Please see their website for details and for why Cheltenham is so dangerous for the horses.

 

Animal Aid’s Horseracing Awareness Week takes place in the seven days leading up to the Grand National [March 29th – April 5th]. This is a particularly good time to talk to people about the notoriously cruel Aintree event and about the racing industry in general.  At our stalls we have been giving out information about the horse injuries and deaths which happen when racing, and have been collection signatures against the Grand National.

 

VIVA!

 

March 30th is Mothers Day and is VIVA!s Day of Action for mother cows – whose babies are taken away from them at just a few days old. It is a good time to inform the public about the dairy industry and how cows milk is obtained. Most people are unaware that cows spend seven months of each year both pregnant and producing so much milk that it could feed eight calves. Because of this, cows suffer serious problems and develop mastitis – a painful udder infection. Most cows are slaughtered at around five years of age.  At our stalls we are able to tell people about this, to hand out delicious dairy free recipes and to tell people about the benefits for both ourselves and the animals.

 

www.whitelies.org.uk for details about the farming of cows

www.viva.org.uk for dairy free recipes

 

FUTURE EVENTS

 

Saturday April 5th Leeds Animal Protection stall at Otley Green Fair. Otley Courthouse, Courthouse Street, Otley LS21 3AN – 10.00am – 4.00pm.

 

Also on Saturday April 5th – Aintree Protest – There will be a protest outside the gates at Aintree Racecourse – against the Grand National. 11.00 a.m. – 2.30p.m. This is organised by Animal Aid – details at www.animalaid.org

 

Saturday April 26th   World Day For Animals In Laboratories – National March and Rally – 12.00 noon – Old Market Square,  Nottingham, NG1 2DT. www.wdail.org    www.facebook.com/savelabanimals  Campaigners will march through the city centre calling on the government to halt animal experiments and will expose the horrific conditions that animals in laboratories have to suffer, including those in labs in Nottingham.

 

TRANSPORT – Luke from the AVC is trying to organise transport from Leeds. If you would like to join us and go to Nottingham please register your interest for transport ASAP by either posting on facebook or by contacting Carla at lapenquiries@hotmail.com  We need at least 50 people from the Leeds and Sheffield areas to warrant organising a coach.

 

Saturday May 10th The Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival – at the Queens Hotel Leeds next to the Train Station 10.00am – 6.00pm.  Leeds Animal Protection will have a stall there. Details at www.yorkshireveganfestival.com

 

Saturday May 17th  Pudsey Carnival –  Leeds Animal Protection will have a stall there.

 

Saturday May 17th  also on this day it will be Manchester Vegan Fair. This will be held at Chorlton Irish Club, 17 High Lane Manchester. 11.00am – 5.00pm. details at www.veganorganic.net

 

Sunday May 18th  Hope Pastures Spring Fair. We will hold a Dr Hadwen Trust stall there. Details of DHT work at www.drhadwentrust.org

 

Bank Holiday Monday May 26th   There will be a street collection in Leeds in aid of Dr Hadwen Trust.

 

If you can help at any of the events in and around Leeds please let Jenny know – email  jenny@bluecloud.plus.com     Thanks

 

The following meetings – for 2014 – will be Wednesday February 26th, Wednesday March 26th and Wednesday April 24th.  Meetings are at Leeds Civic Hall at 7.00pm

 

New members are always welcome. Hope to see you soon.

Jenny and Carla

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LAP Newsletter March 2014

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Andy P

Hello to all Leeds Animal Protection members and supporters.

RECENT EVENTS

Several LAP members attended an Anti Vivisection Coalition event in Leeds City Centre on February 1st. Wearing red boiler suits and monkey costumes, protesters gathered signatures to stop the UK  government funding cruel monkey experiments.

For details of AVC campaigns, including the recent Torchlight Protest at Cambridge University, and for ways to help – please go to  www.stopvivisection.org.uk

In February we held a stall in Leeds City Centre, where we supported Animal Aid’s Veggie Month by giving out veggie and vegan recipes, and we  collected signatures on petitions to ban the import of fur, and to ban the Grand National. We also supported Cruelty-Free International’s campaign  – “Clean Up Cruelty” – calling on the government to finally ban the use of animals to test household products and ingredients – as promised by a Home Office minister in parliament in 2011.  For details and to sign the petition online please go to www.crueltyfreeinternational.org

SOME NEWS

VIVA!

In the last newsletter we mentioned that VIVA! invited people to go vegan for the month  of January – through its Veganuary campaign. VIVA! is continuing to offer the 30 Day Vegan – with no date limits. Anyone who missed it and is still interested – it’s free – all you have to do is sign up and a daily email bulletin will bring you the recipes!  www.viva.org.uk/30dayvegan

BADGERS

Animal Aid report that there are strong rumours that the culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset are likely to resume from June 2014. Badgers in other areas of the country – most likely starting in Devon and Cornwall – will also probably be targeted. The government has now commissioned research into gassing badger setts. Nothing is definite yet, and the level of opposition to the culling is increasing.

If anyone wishes to sponsor badger vaccination, please have a look at WWW.BACVI.CO.UK  Donations fund vaccinations of badgers in the listed cull zones and risk areas.  The fund is supported by Brian May, Team Badger, IFAW, League Against Cruel Sports and others.

Please keep an eye on the following websites for details of any developments regarding badgers:-

www.animalaid.org

www.teambadger.org

www.league.org.uk

www.careforthewild.com

Yorkshire Against The Badger Cull – on Facebook

URGENT  This petition was mentioned in the previous newsletter.  There are council petitions set up across the country calling for the councils to prohibit the culling of badgers and to promote the vaccination of badgers in their area. To sign the petition for Leeds please go to   www.hsi.org   click on United Kingdom, then on Cull Fiasco and then on “actions you can take”  Please share this as widely as possible.

The LEAGUE AGAINST CRUEL SPORTS reminds us that this year  will be the 10th anniversary of the passing of the Hunting Act. The charity works to help prevent cruelty to animals associated with sports such as fox hunting, game bird shooting and wildlife crime. This includes campaigning to keep the Hunting Ban and to prevent illegal hunting with dogs. Details of their campaigns at   www.league.org.uk

HORSE RACING

Cheltenham remains Britain’s most deadly horse racing track. Over the past six and a half years 48 horses have perished there. Animal Aid started their Race Horse Deathwatch  in 2006 when 11 horses died there. In this initiative, all known deaths on British racecourses are recorded on their interactive web database. The Cheltenham Festival dates are March 11th – 14th, and Animal Aid will be leafleting about this issue in Cheltenham.  www.animalaid.org  for details if anyone wishes to help.

Animal Aid’s Horseracing Awareness Week takes place in the seven days leading up to the Grand National [March 29th – April 5th]. This is a particularly good time to talk to people about the notoriously cruel Aintree event, and about the racing industry in general. Please see “Future Events” for details of the protest.

 

 

 

MARIUS the young giraffe   There was great anger and sadness when we learned about the killing and public dissection of poor Marius the giraffe at Copenhagen zoo, before feeding his body to lions. Very soon after,  another Danish zoo announced that they too were considering killing another young giraffe – also named Marius.  The general public have for so long – been told that the zoo industry is vital for the survival of species, and that animal welfare is its top priority. Petitions were immediately started – to let the zoos know how people felt. It has also been announced that lions have been killed at Longleat Safari Park  “on more than one occasion”  when breeding of their lions got “out of control”. Captive Animals Protection Society tell us that the killing of healthy animals is rife across the entire zoo industry, and that thousands of animals are deliberately killed in European zoos each year.   CAPS will be holding their Zoo Awareness weekend at Easter time, and whilst it is too late to save Marius and the family of lions, we can help to raise awareness of his plight and that of thousands of other animals in zoos.

 

FUTURE EVENTS

Saturday March 1st Lancaster Vegan Fair – at Lancaster Library.

Saturday March 8th National March Against the Badger Cull in Newcastle. 12.00. details at NorthEast Anti Badger Cull Action – on Facebook

We hope to hold a stall in Leeds City Centre on a Saturday in March/April.

Saturday April 5th Leeds Animal Protection stall at Otley Green Fair. Otley Courthouse, Courthouse Street, Otley LS21 3AN   10.00am – 4.00pm.

Also on Saturday April 5th – Aintree Protest – There will be a protest outside the gates at Aintree Racecourse – against the Grand National. 11.00 a.m. – 2.30p.m. This is organised by Animal Aid – details at www.animalaid.org

Saturday April 26th   World Day For Animals In Laboratories –  National March and Rally  12.00 noon – Old Market Square,  Nottingham, NG1 2DT. www.wdail.org    www.facebook.com/savelabanimals

For anyone wishing to travel to Nottingham by coach, National Express run regular services from Leeds.

The following coaches may be useful-

Coach leaves Leeds 8.45 arrives Nottingham 11.00  adult fare is £13.85

return journey – as part of a return ticket – coach leaves Nottingham at 16.55pm  [£3.15]  or  at 18.20pm  [£0.15]

Saturday May 10th The Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival – at the Queens Hotel Leeds next to the Train Station 10.00am – 6.00pm.  Leeds Animal Protection will have a stall there. Details at www.yorkshireveganfestival.com

Saturday May 17th  Pudsey Carnival –  Leeds Animal Protection will have a stall there.

Saturday May 17th  also on this day it will be Manchester Vegan Fair. This will be held at Chorlton Irish Club, 17 High Lane Manchester. 11.00am – 5.00pm. details at www.veganorganic.net

Sunday May 18th  Hope Pastures Spring Fair. We will hold a Dr Hadwen Trust stall there. Details of DHT work at  www.drhadwentrust.org

Bank Holiday Monday May 26th   There will be a street collection in Leeds in aid of Dr Hadwen Trust.

If you can help at any of the events in and around Leeds please let Jenny know   email  jenny@bluecloud.plus.com    Thanks

The following meetings – for 2014 – will be Wednesday February 26th, Wednesday March 26th  and Wednesday April 24th.  Meetings are at Leeds Civic Hall at 7.00pm

New members are always welcome. Hope to see you soon.

Jenny and CarlaA

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LAP Newsletter February 2014

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Andy P

Hello to all Leeds Animal Protection members and supporters and a very Happy NewYear

SOME NEWS

VIVA!

You may have thought that the New Year started with the month of January! Well VIVA! have other ideas and suggest that the first month be “Veganuary” and that everyone should take this opportunity to try a Vegan diet (at least for one month).  They have Step-By-Step recipe guides and a new menu for every day [although we are sure it would be all right to do it in February]!  They also have health and nutrition tips and loads of other useful stuff –    www.veganuary.com

BADGERS

The League Against Cruel Sports report that the effectiveness of the badger cull trials is currently being assessed by an Independent Expert Panel, who are expected to report back to the Secretary of State in February.  The government will then decide whether or not to proceed with extending the badger cull pilots to other parts of England.  Details at www.league.org.uk

URGENT – there are council petitions set up across the country calling for the councils to prohibit the culling of badgers and to promote the vaccination of badgers in their area. To sign the petition for Leeds please go to   www.hsi.org click on United Kingdom, then on Cull Fiasco and then on “actions you can take”  Please share this as widely as possible.

Animal Aid – www.animalaid.org have an overview of the badger cull and report that if this government has its way, the culls will continue from June 2014 – most likely in Devon and Cornwall initially, but they could be permitted right across the country. There is also a link on their website to contact Oliver Letwin to ask that the badger cull policy be abandoned.

Care For the Wild is one of the groups which are totally opposed to the badger cull, which took place in 2013 and is due to be rolled out across the country in 2014. The group helped to organise peaceful, local badger cull protests around the country – including a very well supported one in Leeds – and they will continue to do so in the coming year. For all of their news and ways to help, please go to www.careforthewild.com

Owen Paterson – the government minister responsible for the badger cull has admitted that the number of cows infected with bovine TB over the past two years has been “overstated”, due to a problem with Defra’s IT system. He has said that the data “will be revised significantly downwards for 2012 and 2013” Details on www.animalaid.org

HUNTING

The League Against Cruel Sports report that the Hunting Act is under threat. We can help protect wild animals and keep cruelty history by going to their website – www.league.org.uk and contacting our MP by following the link, and by sharing their “no joke” video.

VIVISECTION

Animal Aid have a new online initiative as part of its campaign to stop medical charities funding vivisection. Every few weeks, the Victims of Charity website www.victimsofcharity.org will expose and challenge cruel and futile experiments paid for by charities.  A detailed critique of at least one more experiment will be added and the public will be able to take action by email and social media. The first experiment featured is financially supported by the British Heart Foundation and involves the mutilation and suffocation of twelve heavily pregnant sheep. Please see the website for further details and actions you can take

Safer Medicines have a petition going to David Cameron about using better science than animal tests    http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Safer-Medicines/

CENTRE FOR ANIMALS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

On the CASJ website – www.casj.org – there is a report about a major international symposium on animal politics, which CASJ contributed to. The symposium was in Istanbul and brought together academics and animal advocates from around the world. The first presentation was given by Tom Regan from North Carolina University, and the second was political philosopher Prof Will Kymlicka, who has produced a new study called “Zoopolis A Political Theory of Animal Rights”. There were discussions about translating animal protection into actual practice in the real world – a goal which reflects the CASJ’s fundamental mission, and speakers from many countries included CASJ’s own Dan Lyons.

ANGORA

More than 20 retailers have dropped angora, following recent publicity about horrific animal suffering. To find out which companies are listening to their customers and ditching rabbit fur, please go to www.peta.org

LOCAL RESCUE CENTRE NEEDS HELP

Local Rescue – Camp Nibble have a rabbit welfare petition going to the government. To support this please go to http://campnibble.co.uk/

ANTI-FREEZE can kill

Many animals die a horrific death after ingesting antifreeze, which they like as it has a sweet taste. Some companies add a bittering agent to stop animals being attracted to it, while others have so far refused to do this. Please sign the No 10 petition calling for the mandatory inclusion of a bittering agent – epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions This petition is on page 4. There are also a lot of other government petitions that animal campaigners may wish to sign.

FUTURE EVENTS

On Sunday January 26th there will be a national protest outside the Manchester Deansgate Hilton hotel, where the Greyhound Board of Great Britain will be holding an awards ceremony. Time of protest is 16.00. Please see www.cagednw.co.uk for details

We hope to hold a stall in Leeds sometime in February – possibly 22nd.  If you would like to help please contact Jenny – jenny@bluecloud.plus.com

Saturday February 8th – Bradford Healthy and Alternative Living Fair at Bradford Club 1 Peace Hall Yard, Bradford BD1 1PJ from 10.00 – 4.00. There will be talks, vegan food stalls, DHT stall, reiki and brahma kumaris.

The following meetings – for 2014 – will be Wednesday January 22nd, Wednesday February 26th and Wednesday March 26th. Meetings are at Leeds Civic Hall at 7.00pm

New members are always welcome. Hope to see you soon.

Jenny and Carla

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LAP Newsletter December 2013

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Andy P

LEEDS  ANIMAL  PROTECTION      NEWSLETTER  DECEMBER  2013

RECENT EVENTS

We held stalls in Leeds City Centre and at Bradford Peace Fair in Saltaire.

We have campaigned for the badgers, for a ban on the use of snares, for gun magazines not to be allowed to be sold to children under the age of 18, and also against the import of fur.       We have informed people about cruelty free household products, about the BUAV “Broken Promises” campaign and about which medical research charities still test on animals and which use solely non-animal means for their research.

We held a stall at the Feral Cat Welfare Charity Auction – for Dr Hadwen Trust which was another good chance to talk to people about the work of the charity and we  also sold some of their merchandise.

On Remembrance Sunday we were able – for the second year, to take part in the ceremony at Leeds Cenotaph and we laid a wreath of purple poppies so that the animals who were injured or killed in wars are remembered and included in  peoples’ thoughts.

SOME NEWS

BADGERS

The badger cull pilot trials were extended. The cull in Somerset continued until November 1st, and the cull in Gloucestershire was extended by another eight weeks and will not finish until December 18th. The extended licences were granted after Defra revealed that the pilot trials had fallen short of their “kill targets”.

There is a link on the Teambadger website   www.teambadger.org.uk   to BACVI which has been set up to fund the vaccination of badgers in the cull zones and risk areas. Details at   www.bacvi.co.uk

Please see the “Future Events” section for details of the march and rally against the cull – in Leeds.

HUNTING

The League Against Cruel Sports report that the Hunting Act is under threat. Hunting wild animals with dogs, for sport was banned in England and Wales in 2004. The Coalition Government have promised a vote in parliament – on repealing the Act, and pro-hunting groups are putting pressure on MPs to get rid of the Act, or to weaken the legislation. There is a link from the website  www.league.org.uk  to send a template letter to our MPs – to remind them of  the public support for the Hunting Act.

VIVISECTION

A planning application for a breeding farm in Grimston, Yorks has been rejected by local councillors. The farm would have been used for breeding beagles, ferrets and rodents for use in the research industry. This is not the first time that a planning application for this site has been rejected. In 2012 the Secretary of State Eric Pickles turned down plans for a similar breeding facility which would have been constructed by the same company.

Details at www.buav.org

At our October meeting we had a very interesting talk about the work of the  AVC and how primates have been saved from vivisection and then relocated. The Anti Vivisection Coalition  believes that all animals have the right to live without fear and pain and they work as advocates on behalf of animals of all species.  To find out about their successes and their work go to     www.stopvivisection.org.uk

CLINICAL TRIALS

New research shows that around one third of clinical trials on the global Clinical Trials.gov register have not published results. In a BMJ paper, researchers report that they estimate that more than 250,000 people have volunteered for clinical trials where the findings have been kept secret. Please go to    www.alltrials.net    for ways to help.

CAPTIVE ANIMALS

The minister in charge of the proposed bill concerning animals in circuses, has vowed to continue with plans to ensure that ALL wild animals [and not just big cats and elephants – as recommended by a government select committee] are spared a life of circus suffering. This news means that in two years time, all wild animals will be free from performing in circuses in England.

On our summer stalls we campaigned against the practice of pinioning. Pinioning happens to thousands of birds in UK zoos, when, at just a few days old, the end of one of their wings is deliberately severed. These birds will never fly again.

CAPS have now been told that expert Government advisors on zoos have joined them in calling for an end to the pinioning of birds.

Details at  www.captiveanimals.org

BULLFIGHTING

On our summer stalls we also gave out postcards for people to send to The Spanish Embassy in London asking for bullfighting not to be declared a cultural heritage.

Sadly, the Spanish Senate has decided in favour of legislation that will see bullfighting protected by the State. Spanish groups will launch a citizens’ initiative in 2014 – to reverse the new legislation.  Details at   www.league.org.uk

LOCAL RESCUE CENTRE NEEDS HELP

Bramley Animal Rescue unfortunately had to close in October. Over the last three years they have rescued over 1,000 animals, given advice to many people and completed 300 educational visits. They have a great deal of local support  and plan to do small animal boarding with some profit going to the rescue, continue the education side and open a charity shop. At their website    www.bramleycavierescue.com/save-the-rescue   you can find out about the ways to help them.

FOIE-GRAS

Foie-gras is typically made from force-feeding ducks and geese so much grain that their livers expand up to ten times their natural size. The production of foie-gras is illegal in the UK, but it may be imported. After a campaign by VIVA!, Amazon have ended their sale of foie-gras. VIVA1  are now calling on eBay to also stop the sale of this product. Details of this, and of other VIVA! campaigns at  www.viva.org.uk  Animal Aid ask us to take action against Fortnum and Mason, which still sells foie gras  www,animalaid.org

Animal Aid ‘s annual Christmas Fayre will be held on Sunday December 9th at Kensington Town Hall.S

CHRISTMAS

In their Vegetarian Recipe Club VIVA! include  some gorgeous recipes for cooking at Christmas time. All recipes are vegan. How about;-

Individual Mediterranean Nut, Olive and Marinated Tofu Roasts
Cream Cheese and Cranberry Parcels
Baked Butternut Squash  with Savoury Rice
Chestnut Pate en croute
Big Boozy Yule  Cake
Christmas Brandy Truffle    and lots more!

Animal Aid have lots of suggestions for a Compassionate Christmas – food, festivities and lots of lovely presents    www.animalaid.org

 

 

FUTURE EVENTS

LEEDS STOP THE BADGER CULL RALLY   SATURDAY DECEMBER 7th

Come and join us in Leeds City Centre for a rally and march, setting off from Leeds City Square [opposite train station] at 12pm. We are pleased Dominic Dyer from Care for the Wild will be giving a speech. Family and dog friendly event. Please bring banners and placards and dress in black and white. Lets get the message to the Christmas shoppers.

Please see the Anti Vivisection Coalition website   www.stopvivisection.org for details of a demonstration at NIBSC Primate Laboratory, Hertfordshire on December 14th. Possible transport from Leeds.

There may possibly be another LAP stall in Leeds before Christmas. Please contact Jenny   jenny@bluecloud.plus.com   if you would like details – thank you.

Our December meeting will be on the 2nd Wednesday which is. on December 11th.

Do come along and meet us and have a chat.

The following meetings – for 2014 will be Wednesday January 22nd and Wednesday February26th. Meetings are at Leeds Civic Hall at 7.00pm.

The next newsletter will be the February one.

New members are always welcome. Hope to see you soon.

Thanks to everyone who has helped this year and all that’s left is to wish everyone and all  the animals a very Happy Christmas and NewYear.

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LAP Newsletter November 2013

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Carla Van Hal

Hello to all Leeds Animal Protection members and supporters

SOME RECENT EVENTS AND NEWS

At our stall in Leeds City Centre we campaigned for the badgers, and against the use of snares and the sale of shooting magazines. We gave out leaflets for “Safer Medicines” and also “Little Books of Cruelty Free”

We travelled to Manchester to take part in the Badger Section of the TUC march at the Conservative Party Conference. The badger section was very well supported with many people wearing black and white for the badgers, and it was an opportunity to meet campaigners from other parts of the country – some of whom had recently been helping the badgers in the cull areas. The message that the cull should be stopped was well received and supported by the other marchers. Dominic Dyer gave an excellent speech – which can still be viewed on the Badger Trust website www.badger.org

We also held another candlelit vigil in Leeds – for the badgers.

We held two events in aid of Dr Hadwen Trust. The first was a collection and leafleting at Leeds Railway Station, which raised just over £100.00. The second was a stall at Hope Pastures Open Day where we gave out DHT info and talked to people about the work of Dr Hadwen Trust.

BADGERS

DEFRA has admitted that the culls in both Somerset and Gloucestershire have failed to kill the target number of badgers. The cull in Somerset has been extended by three weeks. The government has revealed that its original badger population estimates were so inaccurate that the kill target in West Somerset was set higher than the actual number of badgers living in the area! To kill even the number of badgers that they already have done in Somerset, the shooters have had to use cage trapping rather than the proposed free shooting method. With the poor badger in the cage, it would have been as simple to vaccinate as to shoot him/her.

The League Against Cruel Sports has expressed horror at the news that the government is looking into alternative methods of killing badgers – such as gassing. The gassing of badger setts was outlawed in 1982 after it was shown to be inhumane.

The Badger Trust has challenged the proposed eight week extension of the cull in Gloucestershire details www.badger.org.uk
Also there are reports in The Guardian newspaper [October 21] that the lead scientist on the board of Natural England [the organisation charged with making the decision] has said that the cull in Gloucestershire should be stopped immediately, and that pertubation has already been caused.

The cull is a failure, and should be stopped immediately, before any more badgers are injured or loose their lives.

EDM 299

This Early Day Motion calls for a debate and vote in parliament before the badger culling could be rolled out across the country. If anyone has not done so already, please go to www.league.org.uk and ask your MP to sign. If he/she has already signed, they can be thanked, and even those MPs who cannot sign EDMs can be made aware of how people feel.

HUNTING

There have been reports of a proposal to increase the number of dogs allowed to flush out foxes to guns. At present the Hunting Act 2004 allows a maximum of two dogs to flush a fox to waiting guns. Joe Duckworth, Chief Executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, stated that this is nothing but an attempt at repeal by the back door. Please see www.league.org.uk for the full story.

RUDOLPH’S CHRISTMAS WISH

Captive Animals’ Protection Society report that as Christmas approaches, organisers begin to advertise live reindeer parades and shows. This involves transporting the reindeer around the country; small pens, glaring lights, people and noise. These animals are adapted to live in large herds in cold regions and they can suffer huge welfare problems, and even death due to poor management when used in this way.

We are asked to make Rudolph’s Christmas Wish come true! by taking actions such as emailing CAPS info@captiveanimals.org if we see a reindeer event organised nearby, following CAPS on Facebook and Twitter and looking out for “Reindeer Action Alerts” www.captiveanimals.org

PURPLE POPPIES

Many people around the country now wear a purple poppy – in addition to the red one – to remember all the animals who have been injured or killed in wars. This year – for the second time – Leeds Animal Protection have been given permission to take part in the Remembrance Day Ceremony at The Cenotaph in Leeds.

We feel honoured that we will be able to lay a wreath of purple poppies again this year for the animals who have suffered so much, and it is fitting that they will be included in the service. Do come along to this solemn occasion if you can. You can buy a purple poppy from Animal Aid www.animalaid.org and we will have some for sale at the meeting on Wednesday – price £1.00

Victoria Gardens – in front of the Art Gallery at 10.30 – Sunday November 10th

BUAV – BEST FRIENDS

BUAV have a campaign called “Our Best Friends” Dogs and cats are our best friends – they don’t belong in laboratories. Yet each year hundreds of cats and thousands of dogs are harmed in cruel experiments in the UK. The campaign is calling on the Government to ban all experiments on dogs and cats in the UK.

On the website www.ourbestfriends.org there are details of ways that we can help. For example – if anyone has not signed the petition to stop experiments on kittens at Cardiff University – the details are there.

TWO VERY IMPORTANT ANTI VIVISECTION PETITIONS- URGENT – TIME RUNNING OUT

Please see www.animalaid.org for details of these two very important petitions.

We have just a few days to stop a facility from being built that would breed dogs and ferrets to be used in animal experiments. Last year, campaigners stopped a similar application from being accepted, but a smaller version has now been submitted to East Riding of Yorkshire for a unit on the same site. Please sign the petition NOW to stop the new breeding unit – Yorkshire Evergreen.

Time is also running out for the Stop Vivisection petition, which has a goal of one million signatures and could give us the opportunity to call for a new European Directive that would end experiments on animals in the EU.

ADVICE SHEETS BE KIND DON@T KILL

We may at times be asked for advice from other people who have a “problem” with a wild animal, or may even have one ourselves. As cold weather approaches, wild animals may search for warmth within our homes. Animal Aid reminds us not to panic and call in “pest” controllers, and they have produced fact sheets with advice on how to deal with squirrels, foxes, rats, mice and birds. We can find out how to take practical steps to encourage the animal to move on.

On their website www.badgertrust.org.uk the Badger Trust has guidelines and advice to help people who have a problem with badgers in their garden. People can also be put in touch with their local badger conservation group.

FUR IN LEEDS SHOPS

There are demos in Leeds [and other cities] again – to inform customers about the cruelty involved in the fur trade and where fur items are being sold.

For details please see Campaign Against the Fur Trade www.caft.org.uk The CAFT Winter Newsletter can be downloaded from their website, and we can find out about the Fur free policy of various shops around the UK. There are contact details for various shops so that we can ask them to reinstate their fur free policy.

VEGAN FESTIVALS – Have a lovely day out!

Saturday October 26th West Midlands Vegan Festival at Wolverhampton – www.veganmidlands.org.uk

Saturday November 2nd Manchester Vegan Fair – facebook.com/events/410298329077140

Saturday November 9th 6th Lincoln Veggie Fayre – All proceeds to local animal rescues and charities – veganlincs.co.uk

Saturday November 16th Huddersfield Free Vegan Food Fair – http://theveganapproach.com

Sunday November 17th Vegan Food Sampling at Holmfirth Farmers Market – http://theveganapproach.com

North East Vegan Festival at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. This one is organised by Farplace Animal Rescue www.farplace.co.uk – music and comedy on the evening of Saturday November 16th and stalls, speakers, cookery demos etc on Sunday 17th – www.northeastveganfestival.co.uk

FUTURE EVENTS

Saturday November 2nd – possible stall in Leeds City Centre

Sunday November 10th Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Cenotaph [in front of the Art Gallery] 10.30

Saturday November 16th – Dr Hadwen Trust stall at the Feral Cat Welfare Charity Auction Please see Feral Cat Welfare website for details

Monday November 18th – fundraising night at El Piano (York) for the Morrocan Primate Conservation – £10 per ticket – 1930 – please visit the event page on Facebook for further information – https://www.facebook.com/events/624485437574155/?fref=ts

Saturday November 23rd – LAP stall at Bradford Peace Fair at the beautiful Victoria Hall in Saltaire. Veggie food, entertainment and lots of stalls and crafts.

We always need people to help on stalls and it is a very effective way to meet and talk to people. Please do get in touch with Jenny – jenny@bluecloud.plus.com if you would like to help for an hour or so.

The next meetings will be held in Leeds Civic Hall at 7.00 pm on the following Wednesdays:-

Wednesday October 23rd
Wednesday November 27th
Wednesday December 11th [meeting is held on 2nd Wednesday in December]

New members are always welcome. Hope to see you soon

Jenny and Carla

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LAP Newsletter October 2013

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Andy P

Hello to all Leeds Animal Protection members and supporters

SOME RECENT EVENTS AND NEWS

We have held very busy information stalls at Chapel Allerton Arts Festival, Otley Vehicle Transport Extravaganza and in Leeds City Centre.

We campaigned to get the badger cull stopped and to get snares banned.  Many people knew about snares and the horrific suffering they cause and are surprised that they are still legal.  We have also been collecting signatures on a petition for “Safer Medicines” and have given people BUAV “Little Books of Cruelty Free”, which contains a list of cruelty free companies. We have also given out lots of lovely veggie recipes and nutritional information.

One week after the start of the cull, campaigners from Leeds and York gathered in Briggate in Leeds one evening to hold a candlelit vigil for the badgers.  We were able to talk to the people who were around and some signed Brian May’s petition there and then.  Photos of the vigil were sent to campaigners in the cull areas, to show our support for those who are enduring the difficulties and demands of witnessing the slaughter, and caring for the badgers.

THE BADGER CULL
The government’s pilot cull of badgers began in Somerset on August 26th and in Gloucestershire on September 3rd.  The shooting of badgers, by shotgun or rifle, will last for up to six weeks.  It is reported that the marksmen have not been able to kill anywhere near the number of animals they intended to, thanks in part to the wonderful work of campaigners in the cull areas.

On the Animal Aid website there are links to Somerset Badger Patrol and Gloucester Against Badger Shooting.  These groups would really appreciate more help if anyone can get there for a night or a weekend, or even make a donation to enable someone else to go.  There is a link on the Animal Aid website to an article by a Somerset County Councillor – Mike Rigby – which is well worth reading.

Humaneness – What is it?  Well don’t ask the government’s Chief Veterinary Officer because he doesn’t know!  Despite the fact that one of the government’s stated aims of the trial culls is to assess it.  Although the assessment of badger suffering was ordered to be released in August, Humane Society International are still waiting for DEFRA to reply to their questions about badger cull humaneness assessments and also about how badger carcases will be selected for post mortem examination.

Brian May’s e-petition to stop the cull closed on September 7th and achieved 304,028 signatures – the most signed e-petition ever.

Please check that your MP has signed EDM 299 [if they are able to sign EDMs].  This is calling for a debate and vote in parliament before any extension of the culling to other areas of the country.  If they haven’t done so then please ask them!

SNARING

League Against Cruel Sports “Snare Aware” continues for the rest of September.  On their website you can find details about different kinds of snares and how they are used.  If anyone has not signed the petition please go to www.league.org.uk/bansnares

GUN MAGAZINES

Animal Aid have a campaign to end the sale of gun magazines to children, which we will be supporting on our stalls.  The aim is to get magazines that encourage the killing of animals for “sport” to be consigned to the “top shelf” positions in shops and sales to be restricted to over 18s.

Such magazines act as front-line advocates for the shooting lobby and are on sale in high street newsagents.  A recent poll shows that the overwhelming majority of people want these magazines kept away from children.  You can help by signing the petition at http://tinyurl.com/Ban-shoot-mags

If you would like to receive Animal Aid’s E-news to receive their updates – please go to www.animalaid.org.uk

SAFER MEDICINES

On our stalls recently we have had a petition for “Safer Medicines Campaign”.  The petition calls for the Government to mandate the use of new technologies that can predict the safety of medicines for patients more reliably than current methods.  Safer Medicines are an independent group of scientists and doctors, with extensive expertise in drug discovery, development and testing.  Their aim is to change the way that medicines are tested, so that they are safer for human beings – moving from a system based mainly on tests in animals – to one focused firmly on human biology.

To sign the petition and for details of their work – please go to www.SaferMedicines.org

At www.buav.org we can download a Schools Guide about animal experiments.  This is a good overview for students – and for everyone else.  On their website we can also read about how BUAV are showcasing their campaigns such as Broken Promises, Our Best Friends and Licensed to Kill at the various party conferences.  They are asking MPs from all parties to sign EDM 442, which calls on the Government to uphold its pledge to reduce animal experiments and also EDM 514, which calls for an end to cats and dogs in research.

FUTURE EVENTS
BADGER CULL PROTEST outside the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.  This is at Manchester Central Convention Complex [formerly known as the GMEX centre], Windmill Street, Manchester M2 3GX – Sunday September 29th at 1.00pm – please wear black and white – for the badgers details at www.animalrightsuk.org/

DR HADWEN TRUST COLLECTION – we will be holding a collection for Dr Hadwen Trust at Leeds Railway Station on Saturday October 19th.  This is a really good chance to collect some funds, meet people, give them a leaflet to introduce them to the work of DHT and encourage them to look at the website.  Dr Hadwen Trust funds and promotes non-animal research to replace the use of animals in medical research.  Please see their website www.drhadwentrust.org for details.  We need people to help collect at the Railway Station.  Please get in touch with Jenny jenny@bluecloud.plus.com for details if you can help.  Please state which times you could do.  We have to sign in and have a brief safety talk – The times are 10.00 – 12.00, 12.00 – 2.00 and 2.00 – 4.00.  We could stay till 6.00 if anyone is interested.  Anyone collecting will need to show photo ID – valid passport or photo driving licence – Thanks.

There may be some actions when the pilot badger culls end in October.  If so – there will be info on Leeds Animal Protection website and Facebook page; we will also send out an action alert by e-mail.

Two dates for your diaries for November:

Remembrance Day Ceremony at Leeds Cenotaph, where we will be laying a wreath of purple poppies in memory of the animals who died in warfare – Sunday November 10th.

Bradford Peace Fair at Victoria Hall, Saltaire – Saturday November 23rd

The next meetings will be:

Wednesday September 25th
Wednesday October 22nd
Wednesday November 27th

LEEDS ANIMAL PROTECTION MEMBERSHIP

New members are always welcome at any time, but the Leeds Animal Protection year begins in September, so now is the perfect time to join (or renew your membership).

Hope to see you soon.
Best Wishes
Jenny and Carla

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