For the Animals say NO to the European Constitution!
The International Movement Against Bullfights recommended every member in Portugal and Europe to vote NO to the referenda to be held about the European Constitution.
After reading the future E.C. we realise that certain animals are totally disrespected and can be a target to torture according to the laws of each Member State, whenever this is made in name of cultural tradition.
This is the content of the Article III - 121º "In formulating and implementing the Union's agriculture, fisheries, transport, internal market, research and technological development and space policies, the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the requirements of animal welfare, while respecting the legislative or administrative provisions and customs of Member States relating in particular religious rites, cultural tradition and regional heritage".
Although the E.C. considers animals sentient beings nonetheless excludes certain animals when it came to religious rites and cultural traditions. Therefore countries with bullfights like, Portugal, Spain and France can continue to torture bulls in the name of cultural tradition. Also ritual slaughters like Halal and Kosher are allowed in the name of religious rites. Even circus with animals or other kind of animal torture can be allowed as long as a Member State claims that is a cultural tradition.
Every year thousands of bulls are tortured in Portugal, Spain and France in the name of cultural tradition. Obviously this Constitution does not protect the animals and therefore we appeal to all animal defenders to vote NO and speak for those who have no voice.
For the Animals say NO to the European Constitution.
Dutch Political Party for the Animals : say NO to the European Constitution - do not accept this Trojan Horse!
Organisations for animal protection searched for a compromise to get at least something on animal rights and animal welfare into the European Constitution. The result is dramatic: according to the article we should consider the welfare of animals, but all religious and cultural practices with animals are excluded from this. This means that bullfights, religious slaughter, picking eggs of protected birds, catching and shooting birds, circusses that use animals, hunting, forced feeding of geese and ducks and other forms of animal torture will still be allowed, as long as it is done under the disguise of tradition. This text does not protect animals, it protects people's traditional ways of abusing animals. If the Constitution is accepted as it is written now, the possibility of a European recognition of animal rights will be even harder to accomplish and with this article, we will have accepted a Trojan Horse. From that point onward all animal unfriendly traditions in Europe will officially be protected by the European Constitution!
Also, the way free trade is currently fixed in the European Constitution will be a guarantee for even more animal unfriendly businesses and a block for countries who want to ban animal unfriendly products on ethical grounds.
NO because :
If the proposed Constitution is ratified now, all its unwanted features, false compromises and the lack of democracy will be set in stone.
"We have enslaved the rest of the animal creation, and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form." ~ William Ralph Inge
