Worldlog week 29 – 2013

In this last Worldlog before the summer recession, I would like to inform you of the latest news.

On our urgent request, State Secretary Dijksma of Economic Affairs, which includes Agriculture, will investigate the dumping of fish at sea. Greenpeace recently revealed that a Dutch supertrawler threw one and half million dead herring into the sea to make room for a school of herring of a (n) (even) better quality. This so-called ‘high-grading’ is prohibited, but there is hardly any control on the fishing on open sea. We want the government to tackle illegal fishing and have asked the State Secretary to investigate the extent of the fraud. In response to our motion, the State Secretary has promised to start such investigation.

Summer has started and many people are enjoying the warm summer days. But during these days many animals are suffering, like the animals packed in tight stables where ventilation is not working (properly).

Ventilation is essential for animals to be able to survive in closed stables. Ventilation is vulnerable to technical failures, which can impact animal welfare in a major way. Ammonia concentrations in stables can greatly increase through bad ventilation, which can lead to animal health problems, such as irritated airways and the creation of germs. High temperatures in summer also lead to serious welfare issues. The animals have no access to fresh air and have no possibility to cool down when temperatures are hot. Unfortunately, incidents are regularly reported involving defective ventilation in stables through which animals can suffocate because of the lack of fresh air. For example, 1100 pigs died in June after the ventilation system in the stable broke down.

This should not happen again and that’s why our party called the government through a motion to carry out extra inspections during the summer months on temperatures and air quality in stables. I am really pleased that our motion was supported by enough members of the Parliament, as a result of which extra inspections will be carried out.

In Kenya three tonnes of ivory was intercepted that would be transported as peanuts to Malaysia. Ivory trade should be banned quickly!

As previously said, this is my last Worldlog before the summer recession; a new Worldlog will appear again at the end of August. There is no better way to finish this blog than by showing the films of Severn Suzuki and Luiz Antonio; two young and inspiring animal protectors. Great stuff to watch!

Have a great summer!

Marianne