ITD Update 18/12/07

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" It's Their Destiny "

 

News items on Asian animal abuse

 

 

December 18, 2007

 

1) Taiwan Strengthens Ban on Cat and Dog Eating

Dear Friends

 

Although separated from mainland China by the Taiwan Strait, the

people of Taiwan share many of the customs and traditions of China.

Following a Chinese military defeat in 1895 Taiwan (or Formosa as it was

then known) was ceded to Japan, not reverting to Chinese control until the

end of the Second World War. With the success of Mao's communist revolution

in 1949, Taiwan (under the leadership of General Chiang Kai-shek) declared

its independence from China, an independence still hotly contended by

Beijing. Even with (sometimes tepid) US support and in spite of the fact

that it has only been under Chinese dominion for four years since the 19th

century, Taiwan to this day remains under constant threat of militarily

enforced Chinese " reunification " .

 

It is against this background that animal welfare issues in this

Asian country should be considered. Even with a " cultural " tradition of dog

eating, Taiwan has already banned this practise - the new legislation

refered to in the news report below is a clarification and strengthening of

existing laws. Even though there is still considerable room for improvement

in its animal welfare legislation, Taiwan has shown itself prepared to raise

and enforce its standards, not just pay lip-service to them. Contrast this

with Communist China, where there is no legal protection for animals from

the most obscene cruelty and exploitation.

 

While other countries in the region either ignore animal welfare

or pass legislation that they have no intention of implementing, Taiwan

continues to set an example that its neighbours would do well to follow.

 

The following is from the Taipei_Times. We have added the values

in US$.

 

--

 

Lawmakers pass overhaul of law on animal rights

 

By Flora Wang

STAFF REPORTER

Saturday, Dec 15, 2007

The legislature overhauled the Animal Protection Act yesterday,

introducing better protection of animal rights as well as tougher fines and

prison sentences for those who abuse or abandon animals.

 

The amendment also defines animal abuse for the first time,

stipulating that any " violence, undue use of drugs or other behavior that

harms animals or prevents them from maintaining normal physiological

functions " is considered abuse.

 

According to the amendment, animal owners are required to

provide vaccinations for their animals in addition to satisfying their basic

needs such as food, water and protection from harassment and abuse.

 

Also included is a new requirement for the government to provide

public play areas for pets.

 

The amendment clarifies the ban on killing " pets " for meat or

fur by specifying dogs and cats as pets.

 

It also bans inhumane methods of slaughtering livestock.

 

The amendment, however, allows for the killing of animals that

pose " immediate danger " to a person's life, health, freedom or property or

to public security.

 

It also requires pet breeders to renew their licenses every

three years, while authorizing the government to inspect their facilities.

 

According to the amendment, anyone who abuses or causes serious

harm to animals or kills a dog or cat may be fined between NT$100,000 and

NT$500,000 (US$3,000-15,000) -- double the fine before the bill was passed.

Photographs and names of violators may be published as part of the

punishment.

 

Violators who repeat their offense within two years may be fined

between NT$200,000 and NT$1 million (US$6,000-30,000).

 

Upon a third violation within five years, violators may be

sentenced to one year in prison and be fined up to NT$1 million.

 

Anyone who uses live animals as game prizes or sells dead dogs

or cats may be fined between NT$50,000 and NT$250,000 (US$1,500-7,500) and

have his or her name and/or photograph made public. This means that vendors

who offer hamsters and rabbits as game prizes at night markets will be

subject to fines if they do not cease the practice.

 

The amendment also introduces tighter penalties for people who

abandon animals.

 

Abandoning an animal that could negatively affect the ecosystem

is punishable by a fine of NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 (US$900-4,500).

 

Abandoning animals not detrimental to the ecosystem is

punishable by a fine of between NT$15,000 and NT$75,000 (US$450-2,250).

 

The same fines will apply to animal owners who fail to provide

adequate medical care for sick or injured pets or livestock after having

been warned by the government.

 

The amendment also empowers the government to remove animals

from an owner's care where there is evidence of abuse or negligence.

 

In addition, if owners neglect to control their animals and this

results in damage to the property of others, authorities may confiscate the

animals.

 

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim, one of

the proponents of the amendment, called it " a humane and progressive bill. "

 

" The amendment helps Taiwan improve not only its international

image but also animal protection in the country, " she said.

 

 

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2) Chinese crap and cafepress.com

With the plague of Chinese (NOT Taiwanese) goods that fill the

shelves of most of our shops in the West, it is increasingly difficult for

those of us who have chosen to boycott products from the Red Empire in

protest at their appalling treatment of animals and lack of any laws to

offer them even the most rudimentary of protection. It is particularly

galling for many of us when animal welfare or animal rights groups sell

Chinese products to raise funds, perhaps sometimes unwittingly, yet this is

what many of them are doing.

 

Cafepress.com is one of several companies that offers a

partnership with anyone who wants to sell its range of promotional clothing

online - you create the designs, logo, slogans etc, and sell for a

commission t-shirts and similar goods through a virtual " shop " created by

Cafepress. Many animal groups use this as an extra way of generating funds.

Unfortunately, what neither they nor Cafepress tell you is that many (if not

nearly all) of the items for sale originate in China. Even PETA use this

service, which is a little ironic considering that the last we heard, they

also were advocating a boycott of China.

 

We have heard some justify their partnerships with cafepress.com

on the grounds that they are " using fire to fight fire " , selling cheap

Chinese products to help fund animal rights. If they really believe that

argument, then fine. We just believe that you have the right to know if you

are being sold Chinese crap when you thought you were helping to fund animal

protection.

 

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Our continued thanks for your support and for caring enough to

want to make a difference.

 

From all the team at ITD

 

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