Over
the past few days I have noticed much controversy surrounding An
Evening With Lions and Tigers with trainer Thomas Chipperfield on in
Cardigan, Ceredigion Mid-Wales.
I
am not an animal expert nor do I claim to be. I have not been to the
show so cannot comment first hand to the treatment and well-being of
the animals. That being said, looking at the petition for local MP
Mark Williams to oppose the show is full of generalizations. It's
gained over 2,700 signatures in two days. Many of the signatures are
not from members of Mr Williams constituency, many of them are not
even located in this country or continent.
Signatures
coming from cities across the United States, Canada, Japan and all
over the world. None of these people have any first hand experience
with the trainer or the animals in question.
nazli
siddiqui SAN
ANTONIO, TX
This
is barbaric.
明
百井 愛媛県,
JAPAN
カーディガンでのショー「ライオンやトラとの夜のサーカスショーに反対!
署名にご協力お願いします。
Cynthia
Sandoval SANTA
FE, NM
Disgusting!
I hate circuses but love the poor animals! They arent yours to
enslave! How dare you keep them from their natural habitat, from
being free! They for damn sure dont belong in a cage!
Valerie
Quan DANVILLE,
CA
I'm
signing to protect wild animals from human abuse.
Monique
Carlens LANAKEN,
BELGIUM
Lion's
are only beautiful to see in the wild, were they belong!
Teresa
Campbell LAS
CRUCES, NM
This
is a travesty against these animals! It should be titled "An
Evening with an Animal Abuser Who Makes Money Off of Animal
Suffering"!
The
people running this show have had so much abuse. I find it hard to
observe and not interject with my opinion. I have seen one person comment via Aberystwyth Swap Shop
that they had seen the film BLACKFISH which disgusted them towards
all animals in parks and exhibitions. What does Blackfish and
Seaworld Florida, USA have to do with Lions and Tigers here in Wales.
It's generalizations like this which lead to misinformation and
ignorant, intolerant attitudes.
There
seems to be a sweeping generalization where all animals should be
treated the same. When every animal just like every person is
different. Individual circumstance needs to be addressed before
speculation has people worked into a needless frenzy.
On
19th
august 2015 the Cambrian News published a story about two lions from
Noah's Ark Zoo, Bristol being relocated to the Animalarium, Borth.
There was no outrage then. No protest or petition. What is the
difference between Zulu and Wilma (Borth Lions) and Assegai and Tsavo
(Mr Chipperfield's Lions) I am sure that in both cases all the
animals are well looked after. They are both businesses which adhere
to relevant government regulation.
Yet
from my perspective the local MP has been bullied into interfering in
a private citizens livelihood, which I don't think is right. The
petition claims that animal rights activist group Animal Defenders
International (ADI) has documented the Chipperfield big cats
exhibiting abnormal repetitive behaviour which indicates how their
welfare is being compromised by their inadequate environment. Where
is this documented, where is the proof to go alongside these claims?
Then
Marc Abraham (possibly the ITV vet? Is referenced) describing it as
"a sure sign their welfare is severely compromised".
I
have contacted Mr Abraham for comment but have not heard back from
him yet.
I
love animals, I have rescued cats, dogs and injured birds over the years. It's the
relentless militant animal rights activists that I find difficult to
relate to. Where they force their agenda on other people which I
think is fundamentally wrong. You can't go around hurling abuse at
someone else then claim to have the moral high ground.
I
myself refuse to use a Smart Phone. After watching the Documentary
Blood Coltan which exposed me to the realities of conflict minerals.
I don't go protesting outside Carphone Warehouse, or belittle people
who buy all the apple products. I can't change the world, I can't
change how people think or act. It's not mine or anyone else’s
responsibility to do so. I can't change the system, but I don't have
to take part in it. By not participating, at least I am not part of
the problem effecting the poor people of the Congo. I wonder how many
of the 2,700 people who signed the petition have done so on their
smart phones. In which case they are part of the larger problem which
is not only effecting people but landscapes in the Congo, which in
turn effects the indigenous wild life of the region.
Is
it my place to tell all these people how wrong and misguided they are
by buying these status symbols. No. Just like it is not the place of
animal rights activists to force their views down the throats of
others.
When
Mr Chipperfield had a show booked in Wrexham July 2015 a petition was
raised and signed by 54,197 people, resulting in the following show in Hereford being
cancelled. Now this next petition for the show in Cardigan. At what
point does the activism encroach upon Mr Chippperfield's human
rights. Particularly regarding Protection From Discrimination. The
man is criticized and vilified by strangers that don't even know him.
How can anyone be so quick to condemn someone they have never met
before?
I
think activism is great, but I think in this respect the energy is
misplaced. Instead of focusing on individuals like Mr Chipperfield,
petitions should be raised to debate new legislation. At present
animals are legally defined as personal property. That may not be
morally right but it is the current legal standing. If laws were
adapted to include living property then Animals could have more
rights.
Early day motion 192
WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES
a
ban on the use of wild animals in circuses was included in the
manifestos of the Conservative, Labour and Green parties at the
recent general election, showing the unified support across the House
on this animal protection issue; recalls that 94 per cent of
respondents to a Defra public consultation supported a ban and the
House of Commons voted unanimously in favour of such a ban in 2011;
further notes that currently two circuses with fewer than 20 wild
animals are touring England and Wales; notes that a deadline of
December 2015 was included in the Government's draft Wild Animals in
Circuses Bill; notes that the UK has fallen behind 31 countries which
have introduced similar national measures; notes the work of Animal
Defenders International highlighting circus suffering in the UK and
currently assisting the Peruvian government to enforce a ban; and
calls on the Government to bring forward this manifesto commitment at
the earliest opportunity (source http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/192 )
Signed
by 67 Members of parliament. One MP is quoted as saying how great it
is that this act has gained so much cross party support. Of course
something like this is assured to gain cross party support. No one
wants to see animals being hurt. It's like passing a law to protect
children. Of course everyone will support it. To do otherwise would
have you portrayed as a monster in the media.
Blood Coltan
(FULL DOCUMENTARY)
The mobile (cell) phone is a remarkable piece of engineering. But look inside. There's blood in this machine. There's blood in this device because your mobile contains tiny electronic circuits, and they couldn't work without mineral called COLTAN. It's mined in the eastern Congo. There is blood here, the blood of Congolese who are dying in a terrible conflict.
The West's demand for Coltan, used in mobile phones and computers, is funding the killings in Congo. Under the close watch of rebel militias, children as young as ten work the mines hunting for this black gold. 'Blood Coltan' exposes the web of powerful interests protecting this blood trade. Meet the powerful warlords who enslave local population and the European businessmen who continue importing Coltan, in defiance of the UN.
Year : 2007 / Duration : 52 min / Production : Tac Presse / Director : Patrick Forestier
NON COMMERCIAL USE OF UPLOAD
The mobile (cell) phone is a remarkable piece of engineering. But look inside. There's blood in this machine. There's blood in this device because your mobile contains tiny electronic circuits, and they couldn't work without mineral called COLTAN. It's mined in the eastern Congo. There is blood here, the blood of Congolese who are dying in a terrible conflict.
The West's demand for Coltan, used in mobile phones and computers, is funding the killings in Congo. Under the close watch of rebel militias, children as young as ten work the mines hunting for this black gold. 'Blood Coltan' exposes the web of powerful interests protecting this blood trade. Meet the powerful warlords who enslave local population and the European businessmen who continue importing Coltan, in defiance of the UN.
Year : 2007 / Duration : 52 min / Production : Tac Presse / Director : Patrick Forestier
NON COMMERCIAL USE OF UPLOAD
Reference Material
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/terrifying-moment-lion-lashes-out-6084563
http://www.ad-international.org/media_centre/go.php?id=3970&si=12
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/stop-an-evening-with-lions-and-tigers-from-taking-place
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/325/200/002/petition-text-for-evening-with-lions-and-tigers-in-wrexham/
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/your-rights/human-rights/what-are-human-rights%3F/the-human-rights-act/protection-from-discrimination
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/your-rights/human-rights/what-are-human-rights%3F/the-human-rights-act/protection-of-property
https://www.animallaw.info/article/living-property-new-status-animals-within-legal-system
http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/anim2&div=4&id=&page=
http://www.ad-international.org/media_centre/go.php?id=3970&si=12
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/stop-an-evening-with-lions-and-tigers-from-taking-place
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/325/200/002/petition-text-for-evening-with-lions-and-tigers-in-wrexham/
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/your-rights/human-rights/what-are-human-rights%3F/the-human-rights-act/protection-from-discrimination
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/your-rights/human-rights/what-are-human-rights%3F/the-human-rights-act/protection-of-property
https://www.animallaw.info/article/living-property-new-status-animals-within-legal-system
http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/anim2&div=4&id=&page=