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Petition Tag - trade
1. Please elevate Schneider to senior list - Not another Kennedy Mistake! 
This is to plead to the club to do the sensible thing. It may seem a no brainer to us, but we should make sure we do something about this before its too late.
2. Suspend TPPA and EU-Malaysia FTA talks
The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is a free trade agreement under negotiation among nine countries, including the US and Malaysia.
The problem is the agreement deals with other non-trade issues, like investor rights, which affect how foreign companies do business, and patent rights, which affect access to affordable medicines. To make matters worse, the agreement is being negotiated in secrecy. And the countries hope to sign the agreement by the end of the year.
The EU-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement is another free trade agreement being negotiated between Malaysia and the 27 member states of the European Union. Similar to the TPPA, there are elements in the agreement that governs patent rights, which could harm access to cheap medicines. Although the negotiations are top secret as well, we are already seeing the destructive effects of such an agreement in India.
For more information, go to http://www.ftamalaysia.org
Perjanjian Kerjasama Trans-Pasifik (TPPA) ialah perjanjian perdagangan bebas yang sedang dirundingkan antara sembilan negara-negara, termasuklah Amerika Syarikat dan Malaysia.
Perjanjian ini malangnya, juga merundingkan isu-isu yang tidak berkenaan dengan perdagangan, seperti hak pelabur yang memberi kesan kepada cara syarikat-syarikat luar negara menjalankan perniagaan mereka di negara lain, dan hak paten yang membawa impak kepada ubat-ubatan yang dijual pada harga yang berpatutan. Selain itu, perjanjian ini juga dirundingkan secara rahsia. Hal ini merumitkan lagi keadaan dan negara-negara yang meyertai perjanjian ini ingin menandatangani perjanjian ini sebelum hujung tahun ini.
Perjanjian Perdagangan Bebas antara Kesatuan Eropah (EU) dengan Malaysia ialah satu lagi perjanjian perdagangan bebas yang sedang dirundingkan antara Malaysia dengan 27 ahli Kesatuan Eropah. Sama seperti TPPA, perjanjian ini juga mempunyai elemen-elemen hak paten yang boleh menghalang akses kepada ubat-ubatan yang murah. Walaupun rundingan-rundingan tersebut dijalankan secara rahsia, impak-impak negatif perjanjian ini boleh disaksikan di India.
Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila layari http://www.ftamalaysia.org/
3. Sagt NEIN zum legalisierten Handel mit Nashorn
„Der Interessenverband der Befürworter für den Handel mit Hörnern der Tiere hat versucht, sich mit wirtschaftlichen Verbindlichkeiten zu rechtfertigen. Diese zweifelhaften Rechtfertigungen sind fehlerhafte und gefährliche Täuschungen, nur um den eigenen,
handelsorientierten Interessen zu dienen.“
4. Provide a Practical Exam for Red Seal Certification
We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, respectfully request the addition of a practical exam be administered to all red seal certification exams.
This exam is currently 100% written and does not reflect the TRUE experience level of the apprentice.
5. China says ready to help solve EU crisis - NO thanks!
BEIJING - 14 February 2012 - EU meeting with China in Beijing.
China's Premier Wen Jiabao said China wanted to see Europe -- its biggest trading partner -- "maintain stability and prosperity", a day after ratings agency Moody's downgraded Italy, Spain and Portugal.
The two sides also agreed during the talks to give fresh impetus to Beijing's efforts to attain full market economy status (MES) for China in the European Union, according to a joint communique issued after the summit.
"China is ready to increase its participation in resolving the EU debt problems," the Chinese premier told journalists after meeting EU president Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.
China was considering using Europe's bail-out funds to help address the continent's fiscal woes, Wen added, without elaborating further on how the Asian power might be prepared to contribute.
"China will continue to fully meet its World Trade Organization commitments," he said. "It will continue to expand market access."
Read more: EUbusiness http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/china-finance-debt.f6g/
//In this case we have the spotlight on China as it concerns a political position. The petition says that we European citizens do not want to increase our trade with China. We want instead to an end. We want to INCREASE the embargo against China.
This is to force China to adjust its animal welfare. This is only possible through the economic force of China, to institute laws prohibiting Chinese to torment, torturing and skinning animals alive. Some Chinese people seem completely brainwashed to carry out these atrocities.
We know there are good people in China who are fighting for the animals and there are those we sustain through this petition. For animal friends there are no borders.//
Fair trade is a trading partnership that provides sustainable development for poor producers and workers. The concept has been developed as response to current trade rules, which have not delivered for the overwhelming majority of small and vulnerable producers and poor workers in developing countries. We are writing to you today in honour of World Fair Trade Day, run by the WFTO.
Cotton is the most used natural fibre in the world and should be the ‘white gold’ that propels ten million West African farmers out of poverty. But the West African cotton industry is obstructed by a wall of subsidies paid by the United States and European Union to their farmers. Combined, the US and EU have spent $32bn on their cotton farmers over the past nine years. The result is to dampen down cotton prices for West African farmers, with devastating effects.
With an average GDP per capita of $637, and among the least developed countries on earth, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali (the Cotton-4) rely on cotton more than any other commodity for their export revenues. These countries also produce cotton more cheaply than anywhere else – a competitive advantage that logically should place them in a prime position to benefit from the world’s ever increasing desire for cotton products.
In 2003 the Cotton-4 brought this issue to the negotiating table at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) but have yet to secure a settlement. The Great Cotton Stitch-Up, a campaign spearheaded by the Fairtrade Foundation, explains that breaking through the wall of cotton subsidies hinges on reform of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the US Farm Bill – both of which are under review over the next two years.
7. More Fairtrade Products in Schools - Fairtrade the Fair Way
On average, producers are able to sell only 20% of their output through Fairtrade channels; the rest of it still goes to the ordinary market...thus proving the need for us to buy more products of this nature.
Our petition demands for more Fairtrade products to be sold on our supermarket shelves, regardless of cost, and for more of these products to be available in local schools in order to encourage their sale and set an example for future generations.
8. Stop Potential BSE (Mad Cow) Beef Imports to Australia
On 20 October 2009, the Australian Government announced a change in Australia’s BSE (Mad Cow) food safety policy for imported beef and beef products.
This means from the 1st March 2010 beef imports will be allowed from countries with a history of mad cow disease which clearly pose potential health risks unless strictly managed before they are sent to Australia.
9. African nations should unite under stable government
Africa has ALOT of problems at the moment. Zimbabwe is suffering under tyrannical leadership of Robert Mugabe and is suffering all kinds of relationship problems, such as racial genocide, bankruptcy from lack of trade and constant wars. A huge part of the cause is the fact that the governments are insecure and cannot govern/be stable properly.
Stable government will generate more money for them as they will have a single currency, peaceful trade routes and less red tape. This will lead them out of poverty into a more developed society which will allow them to buy machines for farming-which will strongly reduce famine in that country! This will actually generate more money for the rest of the world and could even help get us out of global recession.
10. Fur is Pure Evil
Right now millions of helpless animal are being drowned, stabbed, stomped on, crushed, hit, and basically skinned alive, and for what? So some rich woman can wear them as a coat. We need to stop this now!
11. Stop Live Skinning of Cats and Dogs
Millions of cats and dogs are bred in inhumane conditions and sold to markets for their meat, or skinned (sometimes not completely unconscious) for their fur. The methods at which these animals are slaughtered are cruel and must be stopped immediately.
Video footage of slaughter houses and pictures of how the animals are transported provide irrefutable evidence that such cruel practices are still taking place, particularly in China and Korea. Fur pelts are sold to the US very cheaply and may be mislabeled as faux fur. And because cat/dog fur is so cheaply acquired, recent reports have shown evidence of them being mixed into other materials, and found on cheap, everyday products like stuff toys and pencil cases. More information may be obtained here:
http://stopliveskinning.wordpress.com/be-aware-of-the-facts/
To view video, click here: http://animalsaviors.org/
Many animal welfare organizations and humane societies have protested against the fur trade, as well as the inhumane killing of cats and dogs for meat. They include PETA, Friends of Dogs, Animal Saviors, International Aid for Korean Animals, etc. Through education and awareness, we hope to change hearts and minds, and eventually change laws. The objective of this petition is to raise awareness for this issue and to gather support from people all over the world. With your support, we hope that this practice will be banned on grounds of inhumanity. Please send this link to all your friends and family now.
To find out more information or to track our progress, see : www.stopliveskinning.wordpress.com
Chinese translation:
停止活剥皮猫和狗
成千上万猫和狗在无人道的情况养殖并且被卖对市场为他们的肉或者为他们的毛皮被剥皮(有时还自觉) 。这些动物被屠杀的方法是残暴的，并且必须立刻停止。
屠宰场录影镜头和图片的动物怎样被运输提供铁证这样残暴的实践仍然发生，特别在中国和韩国。毛皮兽皮非常便宜地被卖到美国并且也许是错误标注的当虚假毛皮。 并且，因为猫或狗毛皮那么便宜地获取，最近报告显示了被混杂许多材料的证据。这些材料用各式各样的产品如玩具和笔匣。更多信息也许这里得到：http://stopliveskinning.wordpress.com/be-aware-of-the-facts/
要观看录影，这里点击： http://animalsaviors.org/
许多动物保护组织和人道社会抗议了反对毛皮贸易，并且猫和狗无人道的为肉杀害。 他们包括 PETA, Friends of Dogs (狗的朋友)，Animal Saviors (动物救主)、International Aid for Korean Animals (国际援助为韩国动物) 等等。 通过教育，我们希望改变心脏和想法和最终更改法律。 这个请愿宗旨将提高对这个问题的了悟和会集支持从全世界人。 与你的支持，我们希望这实践根据无情将被取缔。 现在请寄发这个链接到所有你的朋友和家庭。
要寻找更多信息或跟踪我们的进展，请看: www.stopliveskinning.wordpress.com
请愿
我们，签名于末尾，恳求中国使馆和当局承认杀害猫和狗为肉和毛皮如无人道。
因为无人道，必须禁令剥皮猫和狗的毛皮贸易。
12. Don't put 20,000 Bolivians out of work!
Petition to the Bush Administration, Congress, and Incoming U.S. President
Nearly two decades ago, under President Bush's father, the U.S. began the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPDEA). That program offers Bolivia and a handful of other Latin American nations reduced U.S. tariffs, allowing them to develop new industries and jobs exporting products such as textiles, jewelry, and hand-carved furniture.
In September, as part of the Bush administration's feud with Bolivian President Evo Morales, President Bush announced that he will use his executive authority to axe Bolivia out of those trade preferences.
The actual victims of President Bush’s move, however, won't be President Morales, but women and men who eke out modest livings as weavers, jewelry-makers and carpenters, creating products for U.S. markets. The U.S. Congress knows that, and just two weeks ago approved a six-month extension for Bolivia. But as recently as October 16 in Washington, President Bush repeated his intent to sidestep Congress and use his powers to cut Bolivian workers out of the program.
The Democracy Center, based in Cochabamba, Bolivia, has begun this petition to give people an opportunity to speak out against President Bush's plan. On October 31 we will present the petition, including the names of all who sign it, as part of our formal comments to the Bush administration, as allowed under U.S. law.
The Democracy Center has also produced a five-minute video featuring the testimonies of three Bolivian workers who will be directly impacted by Bush's action. That video can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiJp5k5g4qs
*By signing this pledge, your email will not be shared with anyone.
**If your organization wants to join the petition please send us an email telling us so at: bolivia@democracyctr.org.
13. Please don't trade Alan Didak!
Refer to the many reports that have been written up on the subject.
14. Tell Nordstrom to Stop using Fur
Every year, over 50 million foxes, minks, rabbits, otters, and other animals across the globe are killed for their fur.
For animals raise in fur farms, their life is a miserable one. They spend their existence in tiny, cramped cages, without enough room to stretch or even pace. They are surrounded by thousands of other animals in such chaotic conditions that many animals go mad and turn to self mutilation out of desperation.
When it comes time for these animals to be slaughter, they are beaten, drowned, or electrocuted- all in the name of preserving the pelt. Even worse, many animals are simply knock unconcious, and regain their senses as they are being skinned alive. Because of these atrocities, many major companies in the Untied States have sworn never to use fur again.
Nordstrom however is one of the last major clothing companies to use fur. Please sign this petition to let the officials at Nordstrom know that there is a large number of consumers who are disgusted by the atrocities Nordstrom supports through it's continued use of fur.
15. Stop animal cruelty in circuses
Behind the scenes, elephant trainer Tim Frisco instructs would-be trainers how to dominate elephants and make them perform circus tricks. “Sink that hook into ’em. When you hear that screaming, then you know you got their attention.”
An elephant trumpets in agony as Frisco’s bullhook, with its sharp metal hook and spiked end, tears through her sensitive skin. Frisco, a Carson & Barnes elephant trainer, learned the trade from his father, a former trainer for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
The fact is, animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire. To force them to perform these confusing and physically uncomfortable tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other painful tools of the trade.
We applaud trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, tightrope walkers, and acrobats, but let’s leave animals in peace. Sweden, Austria, Costa Rica, India, Finland, and Singapore have all banned or restricted the use of animals in entertainment—it’s time for the U.S. to do the same.
Animals are dying daily in appalling conditions due to the fur trade.
Animals are crammed in crates and thrown off trucks, often shattering all their limbs. The animals are then skinned alive and left for death.
This is a sickening trade and needs to be stopped!
17. Stop Illegal Chinese Trade in Black Rhino Horn
Black rhino are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List 2002 and listed on Appendix I of CITES.
Latest findings indicate that there are only around 3600 black rhino remaining worldwide.
However, trade in black rhino horn and its by-products continues in the far east, namely China; even though such trade is prohibited under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
This is because some Chinese people believe the horn has medicinal value.
There is absolutely no scientific evidence to indicate that the horn, which is made up of a substance similar to hair, has any medical value.
This means that this proud and majestic species has been poached to near extinction for no legitimate reason. Since 1960, the population has fallen from around 70,000; around 96% over less than 50 years.
While rhino populations have increased recently, much of the remaining species must be kept in some level of captivity, or dehorned to deter poaching.
It is sad that an animal of such grandeur is killed for something so small. It is sadder still that this only occurs through the greed and ignorance of a small global minority.
As an increasingly developed and modern society, I believe that the People Republic of China should take action to stop this illegal, but more so, immoral trade.
Further information can be found at:
www.iucn.org
www.cites.org
www.wwf.org
www.sosrhino.org
www.rhinoresourcecenter.com
_____
March 27th Update
In correspondence with numerous organisations, I have frequently been asked why I have chosen only to petition for the black rhino. There are many reasons for this choice, although I do understand why people ask! All five of the rhino species are affected by the same Chinese and wider eastern Asian trade. The Javan Rhinoceros for example, is currently in a far more dire position with only 100 individuals remaining; the Sumatran with only 400, the Indian with 2000 and the White with around 11000. However, I felt that the Black rhino better highlighted the issue. It is the best known of the five species, and as a mammal originating from Africa, emphasises the relationship between China’s actions and the global community, without the argument of sovereign ownership that applies to the Asian species. Ultimately, all the rhinoceros species are effected by the same trade, and to end one is to end them all!
_____
April 16th Update
For those interested in the subject of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), ‘A world apart’ (WWF, IUCN, TRAFFIC) will be of interest; an in-depth survey of TCM in both Hong Kong and the USA.
When asked “Would you try to understand the content of TCM before using them?” only 33% answered “Yes”.
Of those asked “What would you do if the TCM you use contained ingredients from animals protected by law?” only 30.8% answered “Stop using immediately”.
When asked “If the sale of rhino horns are banned by law, would you continue to use TCM?” 23.1% answered “Yes”, 11.9% answered “Hard to say”.
The full document can be found at http://www.traffic.org/tcm/ChineseMedicine.pdf
18. September 11th, A Day To Remember
On September 11, 2001 two terrorist planes struck the World Trade Center along with one other terrorist plane that struck the pentagon. The World Trade Center collapsed, with people still inside.
In total, 2973 people were confirmed dead, and 24 remain missing as a result of the terrorist attack. Those people were ordinary people, citizens of the United States. Those people had family all around our country and even the world.
Because of the terrorist attack on 9/11, The United States remains in a war in Iraq, where al-Qaeda and the other terrorists came from. It has been almost five years, and the war goes on. An official count of 19,890 Americans have died in combat, but it has been estmated as 20,000 - 48,100.
Sharon's Card Crafts moved to Swanley and began trading here at Meridian House in October 2005, and has recently been informed by Swanley Council that the site is based on Wholesale Trade and not Retail.
SCC are fighting to change the terms of the site for trade.
There is also a local resident that is opposed to SCC trading at all.
20. BAN ON FUR TRADE
April 20, 2006
It is estimated that over two million cats and dogs are raised under appalling conditions in Asia and then cruelly slaughtered for their furs and skins to supply the EU market.
These products then enter Europe unlabelled or with false labeling and consumers, as well as small merchants are often duped into believing they are buying or selling faux fur.
This is why the introduction of strict labeling would have little or no effect as it is unlikely to represent a strong enough deterrent for the traders and manufacturers of these items.
Moreover, these items have also been proved to be toxic as they often contain chromium due to the tanning process. We need a worldwide ban on the fur trade! to help sign the petition now!
21. Make Trade Fair: Our Human Rights Can't be traded
The time remaining befre the WTO ministerial affords the people at the grassroots level to have a say on the issues affecting their human rights and their livelihood.
The fifth World Trade Organization's Hong Kong Ministerial will take place in December 2005, where vital TRADE issues/agreements will be decided. The time prior the ministerial affords us the opportunity as the citizens to influence our WTO ministerial not to sign for issues that affects our human rights and that exacerbate the level of poverty in our country and other developing nations.
The WTO has implemented agreements that have had a negative impact on people's human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other Human Rights instrument such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and cultural rights e.g. The Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) that allows the multinational companies the right to patent access to live saving drugs like ARVs (aids DRUGS) for people living with HIV/AIDS, this agreement violates the people's right to health, the Agreement on Agriculture that benefit the developed countries yet violating people in developing countries the right to food and adequate standard of living by allowing the developed nations (e.g. The US and EU) to continue subsidizing their exports flooding the domestic markets of developing nations such as South Africa and therefore resulting in job loses and poverty.
Another agreement that has had a negative effect on the livelihood of the people is the General Agreements of Trade on Service, privatizing essential human needs such as health, water, education and technology thereby increasing the level of poverty and inaccessibility to essential services.
Sign this petition and mandate of government not to sign for any agreement that will negatively affect our human rights as the citizens of the developing nation.
On the upcoming Hong Kong Ministerial the delegation will sign for the new agreement that was put forward by developed nations called the JULY FRAMEWORK, that will give more power to emerged economies to continue to bully the developing nations and to increase subsidies of imported goods in South Africa and thereby causing more job loses and poverty, making our farmers uncompetitive as a result of cheap imported goods that are less than our domestic cost of production.
SIGN FOR FAIR TRADE AND STOP TRADE LIBERALIZATION THAT BENEFIT THE RICH WHILE THE POOR SUFFER.
22. Changes To WORK PERMIT LAWS to help the Bangladeshi restaurant industry
The growing problems we are facing in the Bangladeshi Restaurant industry is a countrywide dilemma.
Throughout the country, Indian restaurateurs say they are struggling with a staffing crisis. With the younger generation preferring college than work in the restaurant trade, Restaurant owners are looking to their homeland to fill vacancies for chefs and waiters.
Thousands of work visa applications are being blocked by one side of government e.g. the British High Commission in Bangladesh, despite having been given the go ahead by Home Office, Work Permits U.K at a cost of £153 per visa.
As many work permits are refused because David Blunkett strict migration rule on Bangladeshi's placed upon Work Permits U.K to stop Permits being issued without reason. As they are meeting the criteria. I have many cases of this around the country.
The 'Indian' restaurant sector has traditionally been dominated by Bangladeshis and this is still very much evident. For example, of the 9,500 Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants and takeaways in the UK, employing over 72,000 personnel (more than the coal, steel and shipbuilding industries combined) and with an annual turnover of some £2.3 billion, approximately 85% are exclusively owned by Bangladeshis. A recent Labour Force Survey conducted in 1997 discovered that over 60% of male Bangladeshi employees and self-employed worked in the restaurant trade compared to 40% of Chinese but only 2% of Indian and 1% of white males.
We think and believe it to be true there are about 20,000 people short, we cannot understand what the David Blunkett is achieving by stopping people coming when they would contribute to the economy and pay taxes.
The Bangladeshi Restaurant industry is highly concerned is the Sector based scheme, the staff that the restaurants has already employed on the scheme, how does David Blunkett desire to explain to the Bangladeshi Restaurant industry that they will have to provide service with out staff to fill the places of the returning Work Permit Holders.
The Bangladeshi Restaurant industry is anxious and very stressed on the situation. The feel that some law should come in separately for the Sector based Scheme a suggestion made from the Bangladeshi Restaurant industry is that the Sector based Scheme permit holders should be able to remain without recourses to public funds and they are not eligible for U.K settlement entitlement on Sector based Scheme but may work as long as they wish. We only see this as the only way to save the Bangladeshi Restaurant industry from this dilemma.
The Full Skilled Work Permit law should be changed to standards that cannot be discriminated against, e.g. a standard that is recognized for Bangladesh as it does not have same specifics to U.K but equivalent, but a standard must be met by David Blunkets that he cannot select at his discretion and choose time of breeding new Work permits.
If the above concerns in question are not a concern for David Blunkett then the scheme in question was not designed to solve restaurant staffing, it was to kill the Bangladeshi Restaurant industry.
23. Make Global Trade Fair - time to be fair to poor countries!
Millions of impoverished farmers are being exploited on a daily basis by major coffee roasting companies. These companies pay minimum prices for coffee beans grown yet post large profits annually. This petition is asking the major coffee roasters to Make Trade Fair by paying the coffee farmers more for their coffee beans so they can afford to support their families, send their children to school and receive adequate health care.
24. Ban live animal export trade!
Most of us are familiar with the horrific conditions aboard the Cormo Express, where thousands of sheep suffered in appalling conditions. The only certain of preventing future cruelty like this is to ban the live animal export trade and deal only in a carcass trade.
We've all been annoyed by the unwelcome presence of salt rock in our trade skill experience, together we can solve the problem!
26. Ban the Auctioning Of Dogs on trademe.co.nz
BREAKING NEWS
"On Friday 25th July 2003, less than 24 hours after this petition was started, Trade Me agreed to stop the practice of auctioning of not just dogs but also cats, birds and horses. They have also sought the advice of the SPCA on how to make their site more animal friendly an encourage responsible ownership. Thank you to everyone who supported this petition. It worked a lot faster than we were expecting and just shows what people can do when they band together.
Thank you again."
This Online Petition has been set up to try to discourage the New Zealand based buy, sell, trade and exchange internet site Trade Me (www.trademe.co.nz) from allowing the auctioning off of DOGS on their NZ based Auction Site. We feel very strongly about dogs being auctioned off and would like as much support as we can get to try and convince Trade Me that this is not the way of responsible dog ownership. Dogs are our much beloved family pets and there are far more suitable ways of selling your dog or puppy to the best possible home through advertising and lots of contact with the prospective owners rather than as an auction. We are concerned that once the reserve price is met on these auctions, the seller is legally obliged to go through with the sale, and therefore has no say on whether the home is suitable or not.
Please sign our petition and support the stopping of dog auctions on Trade Me.
Thankyou, Joanne, Maree and Jan.
27. End Live Animal Exports from Australia
June 26, 2003
While death and suffering has been endemic throughout the history of the live export industry, Australia's relentless drive to expand its market for 'live exports' has resulted in a corresponding increase in casualties associated with the long-haul overseas trade in live cattle over the past 7 years.
With the resumption of the live sheep trade with Saudi Arabia in 2000, there are now even larger numbers being exported to the Middle East.
After the stress of transportation, all the surviving cattle and sheep face death on foreign soil, many into countries which have no animal welfare laws or, at best, inadequate laws.
They will usually be killed without pre-stunning and often even without adequate restraint facilities. Animals Australia has eye-witness harrowing accounts of slaughter facilities and methods.
The result is inherent and persistent suffering.
28. Better Trade Deal for Bangladesh
Bangladesh and India have ended three days of acrimonious trade talks, leaving major disputes unresolved.
A huge trade deficit with its giant neighbour has caused Bangladesh to requested tariff exemptions on 191 items, of which India agreed to 40.
"The duty-free access to 40 items will not make much difference considering the size of the (trade) imbalance," Bangladesh's Commerce Secretary Suhel Ahmed said.
The items range from prepared foods and toiletries to leather products and electrical goods, a joint statement said.
The Bangladesh's trade deficit ballooned to $1.1bn in 2001 from $53.3m in 1985, which has caused growing unease among Bangladeshi exporters.
Sourve: BBC World
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1921000/1921500.stm
Stop the cruelty of fur farms, ivory trade, etc...!!!
Please sign if you cant stand to see animals in pain!!!
The ivory trade has pushed elephants steadily toward extinction. In the 1980s, 2,000 elephants were being killed every week across Africa. Only a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) ban on the international trade in ivory could stop the bloodshed. And yet there is constant pressure on CITES to reopen the international ivory trade.
CITES agreed to a partial lifting of the ban, but this did nothing to curb poaching, to provide adequate funding for enforcement of wildlife protection laws, or to uplift local communities. Still elephants across Africa and Asia continue to be slaughtered and ivory traded in huge quantities. Today there are only an estimated 519,461 wild elephants in Africa and approximately 30,000 wild elephants in Asia.
At the height of the international ivory trade in the 1970s and 1980s, Zambia's elephant population dwindled from 200,000 to fewer than 20,000, according to Zambia's Deputy Tourism Minister. This trend was reversed only when the international ivory ban was agreed. Any relaxation in protection for Zambia?s elephants could wipe out the remaining elephants in a very short space of time.
Zambia's elephants can earn far more for their country alive than dead. In 1989 Kenya's elephants were estimated to be worth US$25 million in tourism each year. Zambia should not allow itself to be lured by the prospect of the quick money to be gained by allowing elephants to be killed for their ivory when there is a long-term profit in keeping elephants alive.