Old ships, ancient customs FREMANTLE, Australia––Seventy thousand Australian sheep aboard the 38-year-old livestock carrier Al Messilah, or anyhow those who survive the journey, are due to reach Kuwait on May 14, 2018, according to VesselFinder.com. The voyage continues a trade that Animals Australia likens to whaling in terms of cruelty and obsolescence, but which […]
South Sudan bans hunting; follows Kenya, with Chinese support
Kenya banned hunting in 1977 JUBA, South Sudan––Emulating one of the longtime keys to economic success in neighboring Kenya, the seven-year-old nation of South Sudan on March 6, 2018 “banned all forms of wildlife hunting, including commercial trade in wildlife trophies,” the Xinhua news agency reported. The specific mention of “wildlife trophies” by the […]
Who killed ivory trade investigator Esmond Martin, why?
Survived more than 30 years of work in some of the world’s most dangerous places, only to be stabbed in his bed NAIROBI, Kenya––Nairobi police homicide detectives appear to believe that renowned elephant ivory and rhino horn trafficking investigator Esmond Bradley Martin Jr., 75, was murdered on February 5, 2018 in connection with a […]
Losing their asses: China trade deals deplete global donkey population
Is the demand real or a bubble? Either way, donkeys suffer BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan; NAIROBI, Kenya; JOHANNESBURG, South Africa––Developing nations from South Africa to Kyrgyzstan have become urgently concerned about losing their asses in trade deals with China. Literally. But whether Chinese donkey-brokers are buying donkeys for slaughter because of authentic market demand within China […]
Egyptian writer gets three years in prison for criticizing Eid slaughter
Allegedly insulted Islam CAIRO, Egypt––Found guilty of insulting Islam for criticizing mass public slaughter of animals at the 2015 Eid al Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, Egyptian writer Fatima Naoot, 52, was on January 26, 2016 sentenced to serve three years in prison and to pay a fine of 2,000 Egyptian pounds, amounting to […]
Keeping the Horn of Africa impaled on dilemma
How rebuilding drought-stricken herds perpetuates starvation & poverty PARIS, NAIROBI––The 2014 film documentary Cowspiracy was rarely mentioned among the many conspiracy theories pertaining to global warming and climate change that were bandied about in connection with the recent COP 21 Paris Climate Conference. Most of the COPs, “COP” in this context being short for United […]
How plastic reindeer can feed the world
(at least as well as livestock gift charities) The 2015 holiday giving season is here. Predictably as plastic replicas of Santa Claus’ reindeer appearing on Sunbelt rooftops where no snow ever falls, livestock gift charities including World Vision, Oxfam, and the original, Heifer International, are saturating mass media with appeals to donors to subsidize distributing […]
What did the Prophet Mohammed really say about dogs?
Kindness toward dogs could bring forgiveness for sin Will Islamic refugees from conflict in the Middle East respect western values? Of particular concern to animal lovers, will the refugees respect our cultural concern for the well-being of dogs? Vehement foes of refugee immigration frequently allege that Islam is intolerant of dogs, but reality is considerably […]
Vultures at play keep ghouls away
Loss of vultures haunts the Indian subcontinent CHANDIGARH, NAIROBI, LITTLE ROCK––Vultures darkening the sky, trees, and rooftops in growing numbers near slaughterhouses throughout the U.S. South and Midwest in recent years signify as Halloween 2015 approaches that the U.S. has little to fear from ghouls. Ghouls, in original definition, are grave robbers and scavengers […]
Fallen crane & stampede take spotlight from haj animal victims
At least 900,000 animals killed among 24 nations RIYADH, Saudi Arabia––After decades of global controversy over animal transport and slaughter in connection with Eid al Adha sacrificial rites, the animal victims of the 2015 Islamic pilgrimage season went almost unnoticed amid furor over human victims. The start of the pilgrimage season, called the haj […]