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Photo Source: Stop Shark Finning

Every proposal to protect marine species at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Doha, Qatar was voted down. Even the previously approved proposal to protect the extremely endangered Porbeagle shark was brought back onto the table by Japan and voted down.

Japan were responsible for lobbying other countries to vote down the marine protection proposals. Although countries such as China also voted down the proposals off their own back, so that they can keep overfishing endangered sharks for their ‘traditional’ shark fin soup.

It is disgusting that bluefin tuna, many species of shark and 31 red and white coral species remain unprotected. Overfishing will continue and the next CITES meeting is not for 3 years time.

“This is truly catastrophic for sharks,” Peter Peuschel, director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said in a release. “Close to 100 million sharks are caught every year and some shark species may have declined by as much as 80 per cent in the past decade – yet Parties voted irresponsibly against any increased protection.”

It is disgusting that this group of leaders that are meant to come together to protect our oceans prefer to concentrate on short term greed and backroom deals.

How can these supposedly intelligent people not see that emptying our oceans non-stop is going to end in disaster? It is simply not sustainable and practices such as shark finning are incredibly wasteful and cruel.

What do we have to do to get these idiots to wake up and take some responsibility?

One of the tigers shot dead by police at Cocodrilos Park Zoo

Considering it is meant to be the year of the tiger, the poor animals are having a terrible time in 2010. First 11 die of starvation at a Chinese zoo and now this…

On May 23rd 3 tigers wandered out of their enclosure in Gran Canaria Island’s Cocordrilo Fun & Theme Park. This was due to an error by a cleaner who accidentally pressed a button that opened the enclosure gates.

The tigers did not get to enjoy their new found freedom for long as they were shot dead by police. This was in spite of the fact that they were still on zoo grounds and the zoo was closed.

Why the hell didn’t they use tranquilizer darts?

Yet another example of why these amazing animals should not be kept in captivity.

This is how Tourism Australia is selling our country to the world:

Less than three weeks after the Herald Sun revealed the shocking treatment of Rocky the red kangaroo in a Texas circus, these disturbing images and video footage have emerged.

Filmed by New Zealand expat Kylie Mackenzie, the images show a kangaroo on display in Beverly Hills in January as part of the “G’day USA” marketing campaign.

Ms Mackenzie said she was horrified to see the kangaroo kept for hours on end in such an unnatural environment, with barely a bucketful of straw covering the concrete pavement.

“I just couldn’t believe that this is how they were trying to promote Australia,” she said.

But Tourism Australia saw nothing wrong with the stunt.

“When you are doing things with Australia, people – particularly children – are really interested in seeing animals,” spokeswoman Rachel Crowley said.

She said the kangaroo came from a reputable Los Angeles animal handler and was on display for four hours at a time.

Ms Mackenzie said Humane America, the US equivalent of Australia’s RSPCA, was not concerned by the footage.

“Their view was that it wasn’t (in distress) and that when it did a bit of rocking it was just maybe a bit of boredom,” she said.

Australian Reptile Park animal expert Tim Faulkner said it was clear the kangaroo was not acting normally.

“The animal is obviously distressed, there is no question about it,” he said.

“The sort of stress I see here suggests it has endured long-term problems.”

Animal Liberation spokeswoman Angie Stephenson said the noise of a busy city street and the confinement of a small cage were highly unsuitable for a kangaroo.

“Kangaroos live in mobs and they have a tight-knit family group,” she said.

“For this kangaroo to be standing there swaying probably means it either has mental health problems from being in captivity for so long or may have been sedated.

“It’s tragic they are using them like this to promote Australia and tourism.”

Tourism Australia said it was working on a policy governing the use of animals in promotions.

Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au

We abuse kangaroos in our own country by slaughtering them en masse and we abuse them abroad as well. Not good enough is it?

Photo Credit: Live Export Shame

Much to my dismay (as well as every other animal activist in the country) Australia has lifted the ban on transporting live animals by ship to Egypt. Along with many others I wrote letters to local and national MPs, but to no avail – the exports have started. Today I read that over 260 cattle have died onboard a ship bound for Egypt. It was the first shipment of live cattle to Egypt since trade was banned in 2006.

The Managing Director of the export company says he doesn’t know why so many cattle died.

He doesn’t know?! That’s inexcusable. To think I was expected to believe the mumbo jumbo about welfare standards that my local MP emailed me.

At least those poor cows will not have to endure the painful death their companions will face in Egypt,

The animal is grabbed from the sides and, while it’s fully conscious has it’s throat cut. And knowing that a cattle may take up to two minutes to die by bleeding out, it is just such an incredibly cruel death and it’s no way to treat Australian animals – Melinda Tensen RSPCA

I am so disappointed in Australia for starting this disgusting trade again, knowing full well the horrific cruelty involved.

I believe that kindness and compassion to animals should extend to those we refer to as ‘pests’. So many animals are labeled ‘pests’ these days; from insects and rodents that invade our homes to non-native rabbits, foxes and Indian miners. Dingos, goats and camels and even native icons such as kangaroos are killed in their masses as they are ‘pests’ to farmers.

If we must control the numbers of these animals then there are humane methods, such as sterilization, but perhaps that is not as cheap as shooting kangaroos from trucks and stamping on their joeys’ heads? Sometimes money should not be the priority.

We will look at the bigger issue concerning pests in a future post, but today I want to introduce you to some humane ways to keep unwanted critters out of your house. After all just because you have compassion for the animals, doesn’t mean you want to give your home over to them!

I like to think of a trail of ants or other insect as a little reminder that I need to keep the house cleaner. I have bought a very fine dusting brush and I dust them up and put them outside. But what if the problem is more serious that that? No worries – you won’t have to turn to poison. Whatever you do, don’t let the situation get out of control, as that may leave with you with no choice but to get professional help.

Cockroaches –

These are the critters that are most likely to have a party at my house, unless I take steps to prevent them.

• Prevention is better than cure. Keep a clean house and make sure food is sealed away. Do any big cleaning jobs you have been putting off.
• Be sure to fix any leaking taps and wipe up the sink after use. Cockroaches are always on the look out for water.
• Keep doors and windows well sealed with caulk so that access isn’t as easy for the crawly critters.
• Sprinkle bay leaves, cucumber, catnip and garlic around your home, in places that you have spotted cockroaches before. Cockroaches hate these things!
• Drop some citronella, teatree, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils on some cotton wool balls and leave in the back of cupboards and drawers.
• Use an electronic pest control method to repel pests. These are very effective at getting bugs and rodents to leave your house! However not suitable for me, as I have pet rats. They are fine if you have cats or dogs. Click here to buy an electronic pest repeller from Amazon for $21.95
• Gentrol – If you have to resort to chemicals, try Gentrol. You can use it to stop the reproductive cycle in cockroaches, without killing them. Click here to buy Gentrol from Amazon
• Make a humane trap to allow you to remove any cockroaches left in your house. Tape some newspaper to the outside of a glass jar, smearing Vaseline along the inside of the lip of the jar, and placing food (fruits, bread, vegetables) inside. You will find that the roaches who climb into the jar are unable to climb back out through the Vaseline, and you can release them outside.

Ants –

• Be sure to keep your kitchen clean and your food sealed away.
• Watch where the ants are entering your home and seal the point off with caulk
• Place peppermint essential oil on cotton balls where you have seen the ants
• Ants also hate, cinnamon sticks, coffee, chilli peppers and paprika, so you could use these to keep them away
• Buy a delicate dusting brush to gently sweep the ants into a dust pan and empty them outside before sealing the house.
• An electronic repeller like Pest Offense will work to keep ants at bay without killing them. This is not suitable if you have small pets like rats, mice or guinea pigs. Click here to buy Pest Offense from Amazon for $21.95

Rodents –

Oh how I love rats and mice…but not in my kitchen cupboards!

• To catch the rogue rodents use a humane trap and a tasty treat. These are readily available at any hardware store, but you can also buy one here.
  Please check the trap very often as the rodents could starve to death. Release them in a wooded area or meadow at least 100 feet from the building.
• Rat proof your building. Seal holes wider than 0.25 inches. Keep food in sturdy, sealed containers. Keep any outside wood tightly stacked away from the house. Keep your garden weed free and bushes at least a small distance from the house. Seal cracks in doors, floors and walls.
• Rodents just hate peppermint oil. Soak cotton balls in peppermint and leave where you have seen/heard rodents and at points of entry.
• Another useful rodent deterrent is a mixture of lots of cayenne pepper, salad dressing, horse radish and garlic. Leave this to sit for a few days and then put it into a spray bottle and spray around the infested area. This is great if the rodents are under the hood of your car, as it won’t hurt the car, or the rodents.
• An electronic pest repeller like Pest Offense works well with rats and mice. Buy one by clicking here.

So now you have an idea of how to humanely deal with those critters that won’t leave on their own! Please never resort to cruel poisons or glue traps. One product that works well in each pest category is an Electronic Pest Repeller. I would recommend you buy one or two of these for around your house, as I have read excellent things. Please do not buy one if you live with pet rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs etc.

Click here to find out more about the electronic humane pest repeller.