Not only China, but also the Netherlands with the densest livestock population in the world has become like a ticking time bomb: a hotbed for infectious diseases such as corona, which can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonosis). First, we had to deal with bird flu occurring in the poultry sector and then we were confronted with “Q fever”, which spread from goat farms in particular and mad...
An official audit by the European Commission confirms that far too little is done to prevent serious animal suffering in long-distance sea transport, particularly in Romania. "This check confirms what we have known for a long time: animal transports by sea that Romania facilitates are unacceptable," said MEP Anja Hazekamp. Last year she called on the European Commission to take action, but it deci...
Fifteen animal rights parties across the world call on governments around the globe to take urgent action to create a safer, more sustainable and compassionate food system. In order to achieve this, the parties propose eight measures and have launched an online petition that will be delivered to different governments around the world. "The Covid-19 pandemic is another warning: the way we treat ani...
Large numbers of laboratory animals are used worldwide in the search for a vaccine against the coronavirus. Because animal testing is seen as a crucial part of medical research according to stubborn assumptions. But the idea that "animal research could get us out of the lockdown at an accelerated pace is a false reassurance for which there is no indication whatsoever", said member of parliament fo...
In my previous blog I already wrote: a safer world for animals is a safer world for people. The ruthless exploitation of animals and nature by humans has significantly increased the risk of pandemics over the past decades. The United National Environmental Programme (UNEP) warns that the risk of diseases being transmitted from animals to humans is increased by large-scale and intensive livestock f...
This month, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam formally embraced the doughnut economy model developed by economist Kate Raworth as the starting point for public policy decisions. Amsterdam is the first city in the world to make such a commitment. To the Dutch Party for the Animals this is a strong sign that its ideals are gaining ground: "Kate Raworth's model of the doughnut perfectly reflects our vie...
With the adoption of 'Lucy’s Law' last week, third party puppy and kitten sales are officially banned in England. UK’s Animal Welfare Party welcomes the new legislation as an important first step to end puppy farm cruelty and advocates additional measures to prevent the suffering, abandonment and disposal of pets.
The Dutch Party for the Animals and sister parties worldwide call for measures to help people and animals through the corona crisis. Vulnerable groups are hit hardest and it takes courage, compassion, and solidarity to provide help where it is needed. Worldwide, for people and animals. The Party for the Animals supports measures to contain the coronavirus and calls for additional measures to limit...
The corona pandemic is causing mixed feelings: fear, but also solidarity. Many people are helping each other and are brave enough to do the most important jobs: in hospitals, supermarkets, homeless shelters, cleaning, and animal shelters. I sympathise with all those who have lost a loved one, those who are worried about the health or their next of kin, and those who are finding it hard to keep the...
The Dutch Party for the Animals urges the European Commission to immediately suspend all cross-border animal transports as corona measures lead to extreme delays at borders, causing much animal suffering. In addition, the Party for the Animals is calling for more attention to the prevention of future pandemics - especially now. Party for the Animals MEP Anja Hazekamp: "The way we treat animals inc...
The Netherlands Party for the Animals pleads for a substantial increase in flight tax. The current government's proposal to implement a flight tax of 7 euros per ticket is much too low to have a serious effect. The Party for the Animals’ member of the Lower House Lammert van Raan wants to increase flight tax to at least 90 euros. Additionally, it will bring the Dutch flight tax more in line with t...
Local authorities in the Moldovan capital Chisinau let dogs die every day from misery in a crowded kennel where they are kept, report local animal protectors. In 2018, the municipality had promised the Dutch Party for the Animals to implement animal-friendly stray animal policy in the short term.
In my previous blog I wrote about the disclosure of animal abuse in Dutch slaughterhouses. Severe animal abuse took place in a slaughterhouse that was supposed to be one of the ‘best’ in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, we have officially pressed charges against the slaughterhouse concerned and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), the supervisory authority that should lega...