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World Stars Turn Out to Support Phuket Team's Campaign to End Dog Meat Trade
By Soi Dog Foundation media release Monday, October 20, 2014
PHUKET: Oscar winning actress Dame Judy Dench, comedian and actor Ricky Gervais plus stars of the international hit series Downton Abbey have joined forces to produce a hard hitting short film calling on the Thai people to put pressure on the Government to stop the illegal dog meat and skin industries in Thailand.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luSggyByBMQ&feature=youtu.be
It comes at a crucial time as the National Legislative Assembly consider Thailand's first animal welfare bill.
Currently the bill avoids the dog meat and skin issue by stating that only animals usually considered as food can be used for that purpose.
Soi Dog Foundation, who have released the film with Thai subtitles, produced for them in the UK by Environment films, stated today that they are working hard to have the eating of dogs and the killing of them for skins made illegal.
John Dalley, Vice President of the foundation stated that ''Thai people do not consider dogs or cats as food.
''Some ethnic groups and foreign nationals working in Thailand do, but this is no excuse not to make the practice illegal in a country where the vast majority of its citizens find dog meat consumption abhorrent.
''By not specifically making the practice illegal it provides a huge loop hole for the traders to continue stealing and trading dogs.
''In addition to the animal welfare issues surrounding what is, from start to finish, an extremely cruel industry, the trade poses huge issues for human health.
''The spread of rabies has been clearly linked to the trade, leading the Vietnamese Government to ban the import of dogs for meat from neighboring countries.
''It is also clearly linked to outbreaks of cholera and trichinellosis as there is no regulation covering hygiene in any country where the practice exists''.
A recent case in Germany where a Vietnamese migrant faces three years in prison for killing and eating his neighbor's cat highlights the issue.
His defence was that this is normal for him, but as other Vietnamese in Germany pointed out, when living in another country one has to abide by the laws of that country.
Thailand should not allow such an horrific industry to exist just in order to suit ethnic minorities who choose to live here.
The trade in dogs for meat and skin in Thailand is largely run by organised crime families, who make up to US$25 million per year, mainly through exports of live dogs and dog meat to Vietnam and China, and a growing domestic skin and meat industry.
There is also evidence that dog meat is being used in the production of meat balls for consumption in some areas of Thailand, mixed with other meats.
The international release of the three minute film is expected to be seen by millions across the world, where the stars are household names.
Viewers will be asked to sign a petition to the Thai government demanding that the illegal trade in dogs for meat and skin be immediately banned.
About Soi Dog Foundation: Soi Dog Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2003, is a legally registered charity in Thailand, the United States, Australia, the UK, France and Holland. Our mission statement is to improve the welfare of dogs and cats in Asia, resulting in better lives for both the animal and human communities, to create a society without homeless animals, and to ultimately end animal cruelty.
For more information please visit www.soidog.org or www.facebook.com/SoiDogPageInEnglish.
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Comments
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OK, let's dramatize not really wide-spread issue.
What is important to reduce number of soi dogs and for that they need to be sterilized or find a new home. This is what Soi Dog foundation is doing, and I'm ready to support it with some donation.
But sounding too much efforts on ephemeral matters of Vietnamese eating dog meat in Thailand..?
If there is fewer soi dogs on the streets of the Kingdom, then there is less space for dog exporters to get ones for trade in the Vietnam.
Posted by
Sue
on
October 20, 2014 18:40
Editor Comment:
It's a horrific trade, unlikely dog-lovers would call it an ''ephemeral matter.'' Cruelty to animals telegraphs what kind of people you are.
If any human that has ever had a dog as a pet, friend or companion knows that catching these dogs, pushing them into cages in very hot and humid conditions, transporting them for long period to then be in some case skinned alive.........Thailand is this the image you want. Only enforcement can stop this. Please Thai people stop this, you want you country to be known for this.
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
October 20, 2014 19:23
Thailand is a source of dog meat not because there is no law banning eating dog meat, but because there are too many soi dogs.
One should not mix up Cause and Effect.
Of course the issue of "ethnic minorities in Thailand consuming dog meat" is absolutely ephemeral matter, as this happen on negligible scale and even if completely eradicated will not change dog meat trade pattern, as it is export-driven and exists only thanks to wide of availability of source soi dogs.
To install new law in Thailand where laws in general not obeyed well, is not efficient in the Kingdom, it doesn't work here to install a new law.
One should find to make changes on the ground with other means (example: just by action to remove sunbeds&their lords off beaches; while proper laws were always in place), in this case to reduce number of soi dogs by the means well-employed by SDF - sterilization and assistance with an adoption.
Movie stars should better give more money to SDF or alike for these programs , than to waste efforts on lobbying for a law as the latter method will not bring any sizeable effect.
They obviously don't understand well situation in Thailand and got a wrong opinion what can have make a real change.
Posted by
Sue
on
October 20, 2014 20:09
@ Sue "If there is fewer soi dogs on the streets of the Kingdom, then there is less space for dog exporters to get ones for trade in the Vietnam" Ed, please publish this so when they meet Sue they know who she is.
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
October 20, 2014 20:14
A sickening video that can bring tears to your eyes, how disgusting and cruel. They have no thought for the dogs other than making money from them. No thought for the cruelty they inflict. I wish Soi Dog all the best in their efforts and will certainly being sending them a contribution
Posted by
Josh
on
October 20, 2014 21:58
Sadly, this is tip of the iceberg. The slaughter of many animals which we deem as acceptable to eat also are also subjected to extraordinary cruelty, which then end up on our supermarket shelves. I am as guilty as the next person in eating meat. Most of us are ignorant of the facts, but once you do know, then you do have an informed choice as to whether you want to consume it or not.
Posted by
reader
on
October 20, 2014 23:49
Pigs are just as intelligent as dogs and we eat them........what's the difference?
Posted by
sir burr
on
October 21, 2014 07:25
What about cows and pigs? They are no different from dogs and cats. It's inhumane conditions animals are housed, shipped and slaughtered under that is the issue. Banning one animal over another is just imposing western hypocrisy.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
October 21, 2014 07:49
I agree with Burr and Night Mare
If the issue is the terrible treatment dogs are subjected to in the ILLEGAL dog meat trade, then one option would je to legalize the trade and have it regulated to the same standard as the pig meat trade, so dogs get better teeatment before ending up at your local Tesco Lotus. Everybody happy then? Riiight
Posted by
christian
on
October 21, 2014 08:57
Guangdong China, is one of the final destinations for dog meat. I have seen it with my eyes. Chinese soup made with dog meat is common during winter in Guangdong. They believe dog meat will protect them from cold. How bizarre and foolish!
I have never seen soi dog or soi cat in Guangdong. Also there are NO birds in the sky. There are various seafood restaurants serving food made from sharks, whales and dolphins.
As they use to say in Guangdong: Everything can be eaten!
Now with more of them on Phuket roads, rolling in big white tourist buses with stops at remote restaurants where no locals or other guests are attending, i would call for a proper investigations to be done.
Posted by
Sam
on
October 21, 2014 09:54
Well I know Halloween is coming, it usually brings out the freaks and this year Sue has found a soul mate in Chrisian.( appropriate and sweet all souls day) Its well documented on Phuketwan that neither of you have any compassion for anything living other than the human master species.You are quite content to dismiss abject suffering in other species, simply because other more traditionally domesticated aniamls also suffer in abject cruelty somehow you think its fine for yet another species to suffer.
I seem to rememeber that it was suggestd that Christian may have been the subject of abuse in his early childhood and bullied in his youth which may explain his jaded confused morality, and a phobia about killer Poodles. Its also hard not to feel compassion for an east european street walker who swallowed a dictionary and is trying so hard to elevate herself.
Perhaps you 2 can go out to a romantic Halloween dinner and feast on street dog, dolphin and sharks fin? Happy Halloween!
Posted by
Sue has a Soul Mate but no Soul
on
October 21, 2014 10:45
Dogs are significantly different from pigs and cows. Research has proven that the part of their brain that controls emotional activities is many times larger in comparison to other parts. Dogs are incredibly sensitive to anything and everything about humans and feel a strong bond to them. They can feel sadness, love, compassion and jealousy - emotions generally attributed to humans only.
Though pigs are intelligent and can be easily kept as pets too, this emotional awareness is not present in their brains. Cows are not in the same ballpark.
Whatever your personal sentiment and opinion about dogs is, please try to understand how different dogs are from any other domesticated animals.
Posted by
Herbert
on
October 21, 2014 11:24
Hello Sue its your mum.Just writing to say how proud,ashamed I am of my little boy, I mean girl, or do I mean "mean girl"? that translation software your pimp gave me is always on the blink. Its great to know that you have finally found a forum to express all that bitterness self loathing and hatred,and you were right, I managed to make 2 pairs of gloves and a scary mask out of the neighbor's cat that you kicked to death with your stilettos last time you visted me in the ghetto.The carcas is just air drying above your bed next to your bear paw collection under your signed Pol Pot and Idi Amin Poster collection. Your new man sounds ideal although better you tell him not to punch you in the face its bad for business,unless of course its pay to view. Got to go now the Russian marines are in town and I have a whole platoon to service before my night shift.Next time you see a large labrador can you save the fur its starting to get cold now. Love to Christian.
Posted by
Sue's Mum
on
October 21, 2014 12:44
So, me highlighting the idiocy in travelling to other parts of the world and imposing ones own cultural ideals on other people, in this case a large portion of Asians, is now considered "freakish"? And makes me an obvious victim of bullying and child abuse? Ok, that makes sense..Not.
What if Indians came out and started movements to ban the eating of beef in the west? Would be warmly welcomed by all?
Posted by
christian
on
October 21, 2014 14:46
@Sue's Mum exactly but what can we expect from your uneducated East European daughter. She will soon realise that everyone thinks she is showing her ignorance.
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
October 21, 2014 14:58
Sue you won't know me but my name is Vlad, they call me the impaler ( for reasons your mother understands) and I think I may be your father. I saw your mother's post on Phuketwan as an ex security professional I still monitor foreign media which may be why you show such an apparent interest in mdeia related subjects. We have an interesting family tree which goes back to the original impaler, which may also explain your cruel streak. I am now part of work program for ex security people and work for a company called CGB Cake GB guarding cake counters in Moscow. Hopefully we can get together and kill a few defenseless animals. Your loving father. Vlad Ps all the best to your new guy Christian perhaps we can go shooting together.
Posted by
Sue's Dad Vlad the Impaler ?
on
October 21, 2014 16:00
@ Christian, your second comment shows how oblivious you are to the pain, suffering, and exploitation of innocent animals. Something has desensitsed you, usually it relates to incidents or trauma during childhood. In any event you come across as a callous unfeeling individual. All the comments you make in this publication highlight your selfish attitude, and our demonstrative of a feeble minded person, in short seek help, you may then actually start to appreciate the benefits of positive thought and good karma, however that's extremely unlikely.
Posted by
shameless
on
October 21, 2014 16:26
The laws that could be applied to prohibit export of dogs to Vietnam etc., has ever been in place, and have been sporadically invoked.
So, the issue is as always with a law enforcement.
What is targeted by now is a new law to explicitly ban eating dog meat on Thailand soil.
What I argue is that this law would have virtually zero effect, as consumption of dog meat in the territory of Thailand is of negligible proportions.
The goal of the lobbied law is stated as "to prevent ethnic minorities to eat dog meat".
These incidents are of such small and don't contribute in any manner to the export trade, so to spend any efforts of banning eating dogs in Thailand is simply superficial pseudo-activity .
As said already the problem is that there are too many soi dogs. If there are too many stray dogs they are surely will be object of such or another abuse, export to restaurants is just one of them.
Number of soi dogs simply has to be reduced, via sterilization and adoption, so simple.
SDF and other are doing this, but there is a lack of funds to do it on sufficiently regular basis and to cover all regions.
So world stars would better bring extra monetary donation , that would make a difference, not just lobbying "for one more law in Thailand" that makes virtually zero difference on the ground.
Posted by
Sue
on
October 21, 2014 16:45
@Fiesty Farang
You are just spreading pure insults...
Are you citizen of Canada please?
May be not knowing that in the EU exactly the ones you are expressed are criminally punishable now basing on common EU rules, and yes, are applied extra-territorially too .
You surely are aware that to track the online postings to a person isn't a problem and the Kingdom has a technical ability to do it as well it satisfies on regular basis such data requests from the EU member countries.
So don't be surprised if one day while in transit or entering EU port of entry you can be stopped for further processing.
Details of your comment on 21.10.2014. at 14:58 ICT may well be falling under criminalized Racist Hate Speech definition as provided by
"European Union Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA of 28 November 2008
on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law"
http://goo.gl/xmx8vj
the Article 1 whereof stipulates the following acts that to be criminalized by the EU member countries:
"(a) publicly inciting to ... hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to ... descent or national or ethnic origin;
(b) the commission of an act referred to in point (a) by public dissemination or distribution of tracts, pictures or other material;"
There few optional qualifiers in the Article 1(c), that have been adopted e.g. by the UK, which criminalized by the mean of Sec. 18(1), Sec.5 et al of the Public Order Act of 1986 the conduct of stirring up hatred that is threatening, abusive or insulting.
( there is 2014 report on implementation of the Framework Decision by the member countries
http://goo.gl/C2ugZv
that discloses that the said provision have been fully implemented)
At first just to warn you to give you a chance to grow not only fiests but your brain too, and to educate yourself a bit on the matter, otherwise you could have at one moment some hard legal times, even if traveling via EU after 3 years from now.
Have a nice day! ;)
Posted by
Sue
on
October 21, 2014 16:47
BTW Christian's and TNM comments on rising a discussion on the subject is absolutely valid.
Although would I have to vote myself on a law banning dog meat, I would surely support, but that reflects that I came from Europe; would it be from Vietnam , whether to support it is an open question.
Laws, unless natural laws, reflect social facts of the place, so that is one of the reasons why laws are different.
Dog meat eating banning laws in Thailand are not really necessary as it virtually doesn't happen there, it is an easy technical task to adopt such laws - and they most probably will be adopted without debate , but not much sense out of it here.
Much more challenging task how to prune gate something similar in Vietnam and PRC, that is a real task, not just bravado about unnecessary easy-to-adopt law in the Kingdom that makes no change.
Posted by
Sue
on
October 21, 2014 17:57
So FF you are on the EU most wanted list.
Surname: farang
Given name: feisty
Added with that identifying avatar there is no chance of escape.
Where is Freddie when you need him?
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 21, 2014 18:14
shameless
Your name really suits you. You know zero about me. I'm not interested in eating dog meat. I'm also very happy it's not part of my own culture at home. My parents have a dog, so does my sister. I have plenty experience with living around dogs, have had a great time with it too, and have not been subjected to any abuse ever.
I do however think it's crazy for people to try to impose their own culture on other people, just becuse they have have some special realtionship with in this case dogs. You seem to think it's fine to come riding in nd explain to China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Korea that from now on they have to think about dogs the way you do. You and everybody else of this mindset are the truly disturbed people. Also I discuss the topic at hand in general terms, but you and others here think you are funny being keyboard warriors spewing personal attacks, among other things majking fun of bullying which most sane people think is a serious societal problem.
Personal attacks usually comes when people have no argumnets left, then it's better to just try to say that the other person is "bad" instead of admitting you can't debate the issue for whatever reason. It's pathetic and not a little stupid. Go on and play tough on the internet keyboard cowboys.
Posted by
christian
on
October 21, 2014 19:14
@Manowar
Tomorrow afternoon we will know where we are on this topic with local enforcement .
Still managed today to get an appointment for tomorrow.
Then we will see.
Posted by
Sue
on
October 21, 2014 20:18
@christian, its not worth debating with you, for there to be a debate the other party has to have an intellect, combined with humanity, so you are ruled out. Please clarify where I made fun of bulling in my comments -or mentioned abuse - oh thats right I did not!
Posted by
Shameless
on
October 21, 2014 20:32
ED..why, oh why are you letting this ongoing verbal diarrhea between sue and all the other related correspondents [many of which are very obviously one and same person using different sigs]continue to besmirch so many otherwise interesting and informative news reports on PW.
I frequently see you chastising and exposing multi sig users and also moderating comments from many people who don't agree with you.This is all fair enough and necessary to keep this site up to as good a standard as is possible,so i am puzzled as to why this mindless, non sense to and froing from these noisy few gets to be displayed by you.There is absolutely no added value in the vast majority of their comments.They totally detract from an otherwise good news reporting site..
Posted by
DwayneD
on
October 21, 2014 20:51
Editor Comment:
I don't edit commenters for not agreeing with me, DD. I do edit them for not backing what they say with reliable information. But i also have a sense of humor.
Shameless
So you now lay down certain groundrules before debating a person on the internet? And those you deem not worthy of debating will then be subject to personal attacks? Oh yes, obviously a refined intellect at work..Highly intelleigent behaviour.
Posted by
christian
on
October 21, 2014 21:24
I swair to god this is beyond heart breaking their r no words for this theses people ain't even human to do this to a animal what they do to dogs and cats I swair to god this needs to be done to them they need to be torchered beat knocked in the head skin a live and killed they deserve the same treatment as they do to theses helpless animals my god how sick can u be this p***s me off beyond and destroys my heart I can't even sleep at night please stop thesrs people u don't eat dogs r cats theses people r sob I swair omg I have all hate for theses people for every animal they have killed I pray all bad comes to them threw god 10 fold triple and who ever takes r films r videos this crueltly and let's it happen and go on u r just as guilty no matter what this is sickkkk god don't sleep and theses people all who ever involved will all suffer karma big time in the worst way possible sickkkkkk
Posted by
janet hutto
on
October 24, 2014 11:28
I hope they all get sick all get diseases rabies and wind up the same way as they have done to all dogs and cats unhuman no words sickkkk sob I hope god punishes everyone of them sorry pieces of s*** for what they do and have done to every animal
Posted by
janet hutto
on
October 24, 2014 11:37
It is so sad, to see that the majority of the world still has not evolved in to human beings! I don't care what culture you come from, the abuse to these animals are horrific and barbaric!! Cats and dogs are domesticated, so stoppppp comparing them to cows, and pigs! There is something missing in these so called human beings that still keep them primitive. It saddens me to hear educated people okay with this barbaric tradition. All I can say is you as we'll are missing something that makes up a warm, kind humane being! Shame on any of you who think brutally hurting these animals is okay! No animal including pigs,goat, cows etc should ever be subjected to the horror these dogs and cat endure EVER!!!! Cat and dog are pets not food it's 2015 evolve people anyone else should go back to your cave with your club because that's were you belong and maybey you should be tormented like these animals and then let's see what you have to say they feel pain and sadness and are very intelligent and trust man! I prey that one day all these rotten people are wiped out by disease!!!
Posted by
Jackie
on
January 7, 2015 04:39
Herbert,
I have raised a baby Brahma bull, and lived with multitudes of cats and horses for 8 years. I can tell you that they too experience jealousy, love, fear,etc.., all the emotions attributed to dogs. It is beyond hypocrisy to bemoan the way one species is slaughtered while accepting in for others. Stop eating all animals- it really is no longer sustainable with seven billion humans on the planet, anyway.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
January 7, 2015 10:43
I just wish the dog eaters could come to Phuket and eat up every dog that does not live in a household. I hate stray dogs. Eat away with my blessings.
Posted by
Robin S
on
January 7, 2015 10:59
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OK, let's dramatize not really wide-spread issue.
What is important to reduce number of soi dogs and for that they need to be sterilized or find a new home. This is what Soi Dog foundation is doing, and I'm ready to support it with some donation.
But sounding too much efforts on ephemeral matters of Vietnamese eating dog meat in Thailand..?
If there is fewer soi dogs on the streets of the Kingdom, then there is less space for dog exporters to get ones for trade in the Vietnam.
Posted by Sue on October 20, 2014 18:40
Editor Comment:
It's a horrific trade, unlikely dog-lovers would call it an ''ephemeral matter.'' Cruelty to animals telegraphs what kind of people you are.