Animals are living creatures, not gadgets, toys or accessories and no products or means to entertain people. Animals deserve proper protection. This starts with the recognition of their rights and respect for their own nature and needs. It defines the limits of the purposes for which animals may be used.
We want to move away from the automatic assumption that animals can be used for just any purpose. Entertainment, sports, advertising purposes and fashion are not good reasons to use, harm or kill animals.
The welfare of animals is in peril due to the manner in which they are bred, traded, held and slaughtered. Any abuse or neglect of animals by humans calls for immediate and strong action.
To prevent future pandemics we should end the production of mink fur, Party for the Animals’ MEP Anja Hazekamp urged the European Commission last week. ‘Introduce a European ban on mink breeding as soon as possible,’ she said. ‘Or do you think the breeding and gassing of mink for fur is more important than the health of employees and neighbours of these companies, and of the rest of the world's po...