Worldlog week 27 – 2013

We had yet another breakthrough this week! Animal transport inspection is now 100% the government’s responsibility. The government accepted the motion I tabled and animal transport supervision is once again the government’s domain as of 1 January 2014.

The inspection is currently left to the animal transport industry itself. This had lead to countless problems. Over the past few years, the cabinet has been promising it would step in if self-regulation wasn’t working. The Party for the Animals has been critical for a while now of how animal transport inspections are performed. Self-regulation within the animal transport industry appears to fail on a structural level.

Parliament has been clear on the issue: the government must do what it is there to do – that is set standards, inspection, and enforcement. After all, the association of motor car, garage, and allied trades and the Automobile Association aren’t in charge of speed cameras. We’re glad the government is back in charge of these inspections and we will continue to work to stop animals being shipped all over the place. Animals are subject to hours, and often days of being stuffed into overcrowded lorries and being shipped to the cheapest abattoir.

This week saw the Lower House hold many debates. In the debate on additional cutbacks, I called on government parties to stop their feverish search for renewed growth as a solution to the economic crisis. It is naive to keep believing in economic growth in world with ecological limits. The parties in power are working towards a society where increased consumption is the goal. Believing in economic growth while the system has shut down only goes to show how powerless traditional political parties are. The quality of our existence, such as a clean living environment and preserving nature, will never form the heart of policies for as long as we continue to express our cares and desires in financial terms.
The Party for the Animals argues for a radical change of course in government policy. My book ‘More!’ contains great action perspectives!

There was also a debate on the goose cull, which I wrote about in my blog in week 22. I have worked to end fox hunting. Every year, 30,000 foxes are shot in the Netherlands alone. It is an absurd idea to gas geese and let hunters shoot them while we also thin out the goose’s natural enemy’s numbers. Gassing geese is pointless and cruel and does nothing to secure human or animal safety. We need to find animal-friendly alternatives to improve safety around Schiphol Amsterdam Airport and to reduce agricultural damage.

We need to put an end to culling geese around Schiphol Amsterdam Airport. Killing animals en masse is like trying to mop the floor while the tap’s running, because the Netherlands and its intensive agriculture is a veritable cornucopia of food for geese. Safety will continue to be an issue for as long as harvested crop remnants lure geese to Schiphol Amsterdam Airport. Air passenger safety cannot come down to the decisions made by the farmers who grow crops around Schiphol Amsterdam Airport, often on land the central government owns.

And now for something different to close with: this autumn, we’re organising the World Conference for Animal Rights Parties! To be continued!

Marianne