STALINISM MAOISM AND WORLD CAPITALIST CRISIS…AND CHINESE STURGEON GOES EXTINCT

(140 million years later only seen in Zoos?)

(Article below is from Newsweek. Issue is also being covered on BBC News) 

Sturgeon’s general warning: a long-lived, ancient Chinese fish is “nearly extinct,” the BBC reported.

The Chinese sturgeon, which hasn’t changed much over the last 140 million years, hasn’t reproduced in the last year, according to news reports.

“It is the first time that we found no natural reproduction of the endangered sturgeons since records began 32 years ago when [the Gezhouba] dam was built,” Wei Qiwei, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, told Xinhua, the state press agency.  

 

A survey from this past winter turned up no sturgeon eggs in the Yangtze River, the main water body the species inhabits. And a month-long search for young fish swimming down the river that began in August also came up empty, according to Xinhua. Like salmon, Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) spend much of their time in the ocean but return to rivers to reproduce.

Populations of Chinese sturgeon are primarily threatened by habitat loss, overfishing and reduced water quality, driven by dam construction. Dams cut off areas the sturgeon previously used to spawn, and pollution has hurt their ability to reproduce, scientists said.

Like other sturgeons, this Chinese species is long-lived and reproduces infrequently, so it is difficult to build up populations of the animal once they are depleted. From 1973 to 2010, the animals’ numbers dwindled by 98 percent, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which considers the fish critically endangered. They can grow up to 13 feet in length or more. 

Chinese sturgeon have been “nicknamed aquatic pandas,” according to Xinhua, and are “listed as a wild creature under… national top protection.” But as there are no existing plans to tear down newly-built dams, it seems unlikely that the species will turn around unless some drastic action is taken.

Another denizen of the Yangtze River, the baiji or Chinese river dolphin, was declared “functionally extinct” by scientists in 2006, and none of the animals have been seen since. 

STEPS TO SAVE THE IRISH HARE. FIRST STEP IS TO REMOVE URGENTLY THE EUROPEAN HARE

1. Remove the European Hare from Ireland.

2. Do not cut silage until July 1 and then cut from the inside out. Every field must have a border left uncut

3. All dogs chipped and registered. Fox population controlled.

These are the key issues in saving The Irish Hare. By far the most important is to take decisive action on the European Hare issue. Hamane measures such as transfer to the European mainland should be used. Massive and crippling fines for anybody bringing hares into Ireland need to be imposed. But action must be taken now.

1, 2 and 3 above are in order of importance and 1 suspasses all others in importance and in urgency.

The silage issue: there are two aspects here. 4international believes that farmers of Ireland are good people and we must try to convince this new thinking to start at once on a voluntary basis. But the answer is not voluntary. This must be law, again with huge fines imposed, for any breaking of this law (It needs to be law)

The dog issue is self explanatory. The chipping of all dogs in all of Ireland is vital. The registration fees for having a dog needs to go to saving The Irish Hare.

We have left the issue of Hare coursing to the last. 4international has nothing good to say about this. We do oppose it totally. However the issue of Hare Coursing has been used by Anarchists in order to provide a cover for the need for action on the above. Anarchists oppose taking action in the form of real practical steps especially on the issue of removing the European Hare in order that we can save the Irish Species of Hare, the Irish Hare. The Anarchists see this as tampering with Nature and thus they are the total and complete enemies of The Irish Hare, and they will behind their pious words and lies bring about the extinction of The Irish Hare.

This is horrific…the way that animals are abused in search for profit

(from http://www.hsi.org/news/press_releases/2014/02/vietnam-dog-meat-trade-crack-down-021314.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=posts&utm_campaign=dogmeat)

 

It is a big issue for us on 4international. We are a Trotskyist movement fighting to créate a leadership internationally. But dogs and other animals cannot speak up and so are at the mercy of capitalist, greedy, profit seeking man. De we not have a duty to speak up for animals who cannot speak. I think we do. We also send our support and Greetings to campaigners against hare coursing in Ireland, and support the calls to ban bull fighting in Spain, even as I write that it seems really peculiar to have to call for humans not to hunt bulls in 2014. Capitalism is truly a despicable system. Make no mistake profit lies at the centre of all of this…www.facebook.com/felix.quigley

 

Vietnam Gets Tough on Illegal Cross-Border Dog Trading

 

   Asia Canine Protection Alliance   

• 

  We’re working to end the illegal dog meat trade. istock

Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health has issued a directive ordering provincial authorities to crack down on the illegal trafficking of dogs for human consumption as rabies concerns rise. The action will help put an end to the cruel and inhumane dog meat trade in this region.

The move follows a ground-breaking meeting in Hanoi last August, when members of the Asia Canine Protection Alliance met with the authorities of Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos agreed to consider a five-year moratorium on the commercial transport of dogs from one country to another. ACPA is made up of Change For Animals Foundation, Humane Society International, Animals Asia and Soi Dog Foundation.

The DAH directive specifically instructs DAH sub departments to strengthen the inspection and prevention of illegal import, transport and trade of animals or animal products. The government has also instructed the DAH to work with international organisations to raise awareness about the dangers of consuming dog meat, and the illegality of much of the cross-border trade.

Donate to support our Street Dog Welfare initiative.

Tuan Bendixsen, Vietnam Director for Animals Asia, said:

“The dog meat trade has long been characterised by cruelty and corruption. Companion animals and strays are snatched and crammed into cages to be transported long distances. Their proximity and lack of care means diseases are rife. They are dangerous to those who choose to eat them and dangerous to anyone who comes into contact with them. Vietnam has long been the destination for trafficked dogs, from surrounding countries – if governments are serious about stopping trafficking then the corrupt and unregulated dog industry is the obvious place to start.”

Kelly O’Meara, Director of Companion animals and Engagement with Humane Society International, stated:

“This new directive is a big step in ending this cruel and illegal trade of dogs over international borders. ACPA intends to assist the Vietnam government to ensure this new directive is implemented to its fullest, preventing the intense suffering of thousands of dogs and the further spread of rabies.”

Lola Webber, Programmes Leader for Change For Animals Foundation, said: “Given the dog meat trade involves the only current mass movement of known or suspected rabies-infected dogs, there is a strong argument to stop the cycle of infection by banning this trade entirely.”

While the unregulated trade of dogs into Vietnam has been illegal since 2009, limited resources have meant the law is often unenforced and has remained, until now, a low priority. It is estimated that up to 5 million dogs are slaughtered in Vietnam every year for human consumption. All countries in the region have already banned the transport of dogs without evidence of rabies vaccinations, health certificates, export licenses and proof of origin.

John Dalley, Vice President of Soi Dog Foundation, said: “The Government of Vietnam is to be applauded for taking this initiative, and we hope other countries in the region will follow this lead. Many people cite culture in defence of the trade, but rabies and cholera and other diseases associated with it are no respecters of culture.”

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has pledged to wipe out rabies in the region by 2020. Rabies is responsible for the deaths of up to 29,000 people in Asia every year. Rabies cannot be eliminated from the region without provincial authorities stopping illegal dog trafficking. Take action against the illegal dog meat trade in Thailand and the Philippines, then donate to support our campaigns.
Media Contact: Raúl Arce-Contreras: +1 301-721-6440, rcontreras@humanesociety.org 

IN A LAWLESS COUNTRY LIKE CHAD SOON THE ELEPHANTS WILL BE WIPED OUT

QUOTE FROM BBC

Poachers in Chad in Africa have killed 86 elephants in less than a week.

The tusks were removed from the animals in order to be sold, because of the high prices that ivory can fetch.

It is the worst killing spree of elephants for a year – in early 2012 up to 650 elephants were killed in the neighbouring country of Cameroon.

The animal charity, International Fund for Animal Welfare, says people from across the globe need to take action to stop the ivory trade.

BBC RADIO REPORT THIS MORNING

Gave more details. According to their report the poachers were from Sudan. They start by shooting some calves. Then the elephants form a circle as a natural reaction to protect their young. They thus fall into the trap of the evil poachers without pity. They simply pick off the elephants with their high powered guns. Just imagine.

They quickly butcher the elephants only for the ivory. They take the ivory on their high powered 4by4s and make off.

But the next twist is also horrifying. They take a little meat which they selll to the residents of the nearest village where the villagers in return for the meat (they are poor people maybe starving) give the poachers information on the next family of elephants.

Something like 36 of the elephants were in calf, you can see how quickly such poachers in a lawless country will rid it of elephants.

HARE COURSING IN IRELAND IS BARBARIC

THEY NET THE HARES PREVIOUS TO THE “EVENT”

THEN THE “SPORT” IS TWO GREYHOUNDS AGAINST ONE HARE

THERE IS A FULL COMPLEMENT OF VIDEOS ON THE INDYMEDIA IRELAND SITE…FOLLOW THIS URL

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/103426

I placed this comment along the lines that man has developed a larger brain THROUGH ACCIDENT and it is thus through these accidents of nature that we now have to take care of animals and plant

This runs smack bang up against the demands of a capitalism in deepening gloom and crisis

“As capitalist crisis deepens all animals are very vulnerable
by Felix Quigley – http://www.4international.me Sat Mar 16, 2013 08:50
My goodness i did not expect tp come up here, and thanks for thoughts.

yes this hare coursing has to be ended. these inoffensive animals, and all animals are inoffensive, are netted for this kind of barbarity.

And what an insult to the dogs too. The situation is totally artificial. I often think when I see the way dogs are mistreated that man should have left the wolf alone.

Man has to learn in a new socialist society to not intervene in the world of animals, except very carefully for their good.

man has a responsibility which arises because of accidents in the past, where man developed a large brain.

it is this responsibility to animals that can not be carried out by capitalism especially a capitalism in crisis.

Everything is connected to this. I am still trying to get my head around this pig farmer from Waterford barbarity…

I always read articles on this on Indymedia and send my support even though other differences separate us”

Hare coursing cruelty continues to shame Ireland…

Another Saint Patrick’s Day…A Great Day for the Irish…what a pity that the Irish Hare, part of our wonderful wildlife heritage, is still at the mercy of coursing gangs backed by our government…

Protest at St Patrick’s Day parade in New York (1992)

The hare coursing season runs from about the last week in September to the third week in February and involves approximately 7000 hares each season that are captured for the purpose. Though most coursing events are staged in the southern counties, coursing has a presence in twenty two of the twenty six counties. Clubs become “thinner on the ground” the further north one goes. For example, counties Mayo and Donegal have only club each. The counties without coursing clubs are Longford, Leitrim, Wicklow, and Monaghan. It is banned in Northern Ireland since 2011. The actual number of clubs has been declining since the 1930s.

Hare coursing is a blood sport that has nothing to do with any alleged “pest control”. It exists purely for the amusement of the people involved. It consists basically of contests in which pairs of greyhounds are set on hares, the aim being to test the speed and stamina of the dogs. While the intention is not to harm the hare (it serves as a mere lure for the dogs), the animal inevitably suffers when the dogs come into contact with it.

Hares are forcibly struck by the dogs, or mauled, or pinned to the ground, or tossed up in the air. The hare is a brittle-boned creature and its injuries in most cases cannot heal. This is why so-called “dispatchers” are used by every coursing club to kill off injured hares. Hares also suffer when being captured (with nets), and during captivity as they await coursing. Coursing can be held in all weather conditions…literally hail, rain or snow. Videos have been posted on YouTube of hares being coursed in water-logged fields.

The cruel nature of live hare coursing that all animal welfare groups, and (according to opinion polls) the majority of the Irish people, object to, has been repeatedly captured on film. The veracity of the following footage has not been questioned. As you will see, the “action” filmed is very similar to the types of incidents observed and reported by NPWS rangers.

The following three pieces of footage were filmed at the 2013 “Irish Cup” live hare coursing event, held at Limerick Racecourse in February:

1)

Cruel coursing scene at Limerick Racecourse

2)

Hare cries out when hit and mauled

3)

Hare severely mauled and carried off field