Julie's Sharebook 

Check out http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/scotland-seals524.html

October 2008 - New figures reinforce importance of Advocates for Animals' campaign to end needless seal killing.

Advocates for Animals has renewed its call on the Scottish Government to end the killing of seals in Scottish waters as new research shows a frightening fall in the numbers of common (harbour) seals around the coast.

Scotland has internationally-important populations of harbour and grey seals in its waters and is guardian to 90% of UK seal populations. Advocates for Animals is calling on the Scottish Government to use its upcoming new Marine Bill to introduce full legal protection for seals.

SHOOTING SEALS - Although a number of different factors are thought to be responsible for the decline in seal numbers, the unnecessary shooting of seals is clearly an important issue. Many people are unaware that every year thousands of seals are needlessly shot in Scotland.

The existing Conservation of Seals Act 1970 is widely agreed to be ineffective and unenforceable, allowing seals to be shot even when they are pregnant or with dependent pups. The Act does not require any standard of marksmanship, meaning that seals can suffer and die at sea after being shot and wounded. Unbelievably, no records are required to be kept of the numbers of animals shot.

MARINE BILL - Advocates for Animals' Campaigns Director, Ross Minett, said: "This new research showing continuing declines in seal populations is most concerning and reinforces the need for the Government to use the new Marine Bill to give seals full legal protection. Now more than ever there are overwhelming animal welfare and conservation reasons to end the unnecessary killing of seals by members of the fishing and fish farming industry.

The vast majority of people of Scotland expect our Government to bring this slaughter to an end. Members of the public can quickly and easily support our campaign to protect seals at www.lookoutforseals.org."

Thousands of people have supported Advocates for Animals' LOOK OUT for SEALS campaign and responded to the Scottish Government's recent consultation on a new Marine Bill asking for an end to the killing of any seals on Scottish waters. Such a move would be supported by 75% of people in Scotland

Check out http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/85.asp

 “Illegal tortoise trade is happening in Britain” (DEFRA, 2004)
An estimated 10 million tortoises were shipped into the UK for the commercial pet trade between 1890 and 1984 before the initial ban was introduced.  This trade is back!  … and tortoises are being imported in substantial numbers.  However, DEFRA are failing to prevent this illegal trade and are in fact licensing it. These tortoises go through untold misery and often arrive here with chronic worm infestations and dehydrated, which far too often contributes to their early demise.

The Tortoise Protection Group (TPG) is campaigning for a ban on the importation of tortoises for the pet trade. Please help us keep tortoises in their natural environment by signing the on-line petition or downloading our paper petition and help us collect signatures

This tortoise was taken from the wild in Turkey in 2007    

                        Help us to stop this trade

                  With your help we can make a difference!

...NOT THIS!
 

I know that the above photo is graphic and disturbing. I have been educating myself on the poaching ( "bushmeat" ) of primates over the last few months, with a strong focus on the Mountain Gorilla. I can only say, that the gentle gorillas need saving more than ever. It is bittersweet that this small population has been 'discovered'. It is great for the population #, but now the gorillas will be easier to trek by poachers & can become victim to diseases &/or sickness via human.

If anyone would like a listing of links related to Mountain Gorillas,( &other primates) anti-poaching organizations, primate groups... I will be updating my Care2 page with information in the next few days with info & links pertaining to the gorillas & the issues surronding their existance.

I also have another webpage at: http://julesrs007saveanimals.blogspot.com/ 

If you still want more info, please  let me know & I will give you any inforation I have.  Thank you all for your time & help.

Sincerely,

Julie

PLEASE sign, forward & X-POST this petition. I know that we can do better than 2300 signatures!

From Protect Gorillas From Deforestation - The Petition Site:

Protect Gorillas From Deforestation
Target: Congo's Ministry of Environment
Sponsored by: Care2.com

Great news for one of the world's most endangered animals: researchers have discovered some 125,000 western lowland gorillas that were previously uncounted in the Congo Basin. Until now, scientists believed there were only about 50,000 of these endangered gorillas left.
But this exciting new population estimate does not mean gorilla numbers in the wild are now safe. The western lowland gorilla continues to come under threat as timber companies move into the Congo Basin, home to more than a quarter of the world's tropical forest. Without careful management of the forest resources, western lowland gorillas and other gorilla subspecies will remain severely endangered.
Now more than ever authorities need to stem rampant deforestation, to preserve the habitats of the great apes and to support long-term sustainability of the region's natural resources.
Please urge Congo's Ministry of Environment to deny all deals that were signed illegally under the country's moratorium on new logging contracts.

ACTUAL PETITION:

"We are happy about recent news that researchers have discovered some 125,000 western lowland gorillas that were previously uncounted in the Congo basin. Until now, scientists believed there were only about 50,000 of these endangered gorillas left.

But this exciting new population estimate does not mean gorilla numbers in the wild are now safe. The western lowland gorilla continues to come under threat as timber companies move into the region. Logging and land clearance for farming are eating away the Congo Basin, home to more than a quarter of the world's tropical forest. Without careful management of the forest resources and strict enforcement of protected areas, the western lowland gorillas and other subspecies of gorillas will remain severely endangered.

Now more than ever it is essential to preserve the habitats of the great apes and support reforestation.

In 2002, with the Democratic Republic of Congo partially under the control of rebels, the country issued a five-year moratorium on new logging contracts to try and stem rampant deforestation. But the measure went largely unheeded and companies continued to sign new deals.

We ask that officials review the government-sponsored working group's recommendation on August 6, 2008 to cancel more than three quarters of its logging deals for not meeting necessary standards. But we are concerned that these recommendations did not go far enough. Sixteen of the 29 titles received a favorable opinion from the working group, despite being obtained in clear violation of the five-year moratorium on new logging contracts.

We urge you to comply with the five-year moratorium, and deny all logging contracts that were signed under moratorium.

Thank you for protecting the future of endangered gorillas and the biological diversity of the Congo basin."

I know that the above photo is graphic and disturbing. I have been educating myself on the poaching ( "bushmeat" ) of primates over the last few months, with a strong focus on the Mountain Gorilla. I can only say, that the gentle gorillas need saving more than ever. It is bittersweet that this small population has been 'discovered'. It is great for the population #, but now the gorillas will be easier to trek by poachers & can become victim to diseases &/or sickness via human.

If anyone would like a listing of links related to Mountain Gorillas,( &other primates) anti-poaching organizations, primate groups... I will be updating my Care2 page with information in the next few days with info & links pertaining to the gorillas & the issues surronding their existance.

I also have another webpage at: http://julesrs007saveanimals.blogspot.com/ 

If you still want more info, please  let me know & I will give you any inforation I have.  Thank you all for your time & help.

Sincerely,

Julie

PLEASE sign, forward & X-POST this petition. I know that we can do better than 2300 signatures!

From Protect Gorillas From Deforestation - The Petition Site: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/269086042

Protect Gorillas From Deforestation
Target: Congo's Ministry of Environment
Sponsored by: Care2.com

Great news for one of the world's most endangered animals: researchers have discovered some 125,000 western lowland gorillas that were previously uncounted in the Congo Basin. Until now, scientists believed there were only about 50,000 of these endangered gorillas left.
But this exciting new population estimate does not mean gorilla numbers in the wild are now safe. The western lowland gorilla continues to come under threat as timber companies move into the Congo Basin, home to more than a quarter of the world's tropical forest. Without careful management of the forest resources, western lowland gorillas and other gorilla subspecies will remain severely endangered.
Now more than ever authorities need to stem rampant deforestation, to preserve the habitats of the great apes and to support long-term sustainability of the region's natural resources.
Please urge Congo's Ministry of Environment to deny all deals that were signed illegally under the country's moratorium on new logging contracts.

ACTUAL PETITION:

"We are happy about recent news that researchers have discovered some 125,000 western lowland gorillas that were previously uncounted in the Congo basin. Until now, scientists believed there were only about 50,000 of these endangered gorillas left.

But this exciting new population estimate does not mean gorilla numbers in the wild are now safe. The western lowland gorilla continues to come under threat as timber companies move into the region. Logging and land clearance for farming are eating away the Congo Basin, home to more than a quarter of the world's tropical forest. Without careful management of the forest resources and strict enforcement of protected areas, the western lowland gorillas and other subspecies of gorillas will remain severely endangered.

Now more than ever it is essential to preserve the habitats of the great apes and support reforestation.

Imported from external blog