STOP LIVE EXPORTS FROM SUFFOLK PORT

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hotrod

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After a dreadful tradgedy at the port of Ramsgate where 45 sheep died whilst awaiting shipping to the continent, that port has been closed to live animal export. Sadly, rather than put an end to this trade altogether, a new port, Ipswich, has been chosen. Live animals, including horses, will now be exported from Ipswich to abattoirs in countries whose facilities and laws concerning humane destruction are far from those strictly supervised in the UK. There will be a meeting in Ipswich at 7pm this Friday 28th September... please go and support the case against this awful trade.
http://www.ipswich-rspca.org.uk/Help_End_Live_Exports_-_Meeting_on_Fri_28th_Sept.html
 
The vessel used for these exports ( the Joline ) does not carry equines and never has, it is used for the export of farm livestock. Whilst I do not agree with this trade I am saddened by this cynical ploy to strengthen support for a cause by false propaganda. It deflects public attention away from the real issue - there are ports within the UK where horses are exported in large numbers on commercial RoRo ferries and as we all know this is a less than beneficial effect of the Tripartite Agreement.
 
giantpringle said:
The vessel used for these exports ( the Joline ) does not carry equines and never has, it is used for the export of farm livestock. Whilst I do not agree with this trade I am saddened by this cynical ploy to strengthen support for a cause by false propaganda. It deflects public attention away from the real issue - there are ports within the UK where horses are exported in large numbers on commercial RoRo ferries and as we all know this is a less than beneficial effect of the Tripartite Agreement.
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Thanks for extra info
People do need to ask why lame sheep were pts rather than treated, who caused sheep to be unloaded in unsafe location etc

Totally agree about Tripartite which allows lower value horses from UK to be traded with horses out of abattoir trade in EU.

As Amymay says ''on the hook'' not hoof BUT ask the farmers--they need to sell this way to stay in business and as long as it is done properly with the SHORTEST sea crossing--not exactly achieved by pushing trade to Ipswich..................
Bangs head!!
 
Naively, I once asked a farmer why sheep couldn't be dispatched humanely in or near their fields, to reduce stress, in specially set up fit-for-purpose mobile abattoirs, and then transported on the hook in refrigerated lorries. His answer was "Dead sheep don't load themselves." Cuffey, I join you in banging my head!
 
Why are we still exporting meat with a pulse.
Surely in today's world of refrigeration we export meat safely. Don't we get lamb from New Zealand after all.
Refridgeration lorries must fit more in than cattle trucks.

Why does this country enforce such strict rules & regulations( & all the extra expense) on farmer's over here & then that disappears when they leave our shores?

What about animal welfare, why is it necessary to export live meat?
Am I missing a genuine reason why animals bred for meat in this country cannot be slaughtered in this country.

I can understand export for breeding purposes but not just because someone wants them slaughtered in their country.

Shame on you Ipswich putting money over morals.
yes I know the state of the economy yadda yadda.


Oh yes it is all down to making money out of export to keep the economy going
 
This is only the tip of the icerberg, sadly. A recent tragedy involved thousands (3000?)of sheep going from the US to Russia. I can't remember the exact number that died in transit, but it was well over 1000. If you look up Compassion in World Farming on Facebook, they keep you updated.
 
The shortest possible crossing from Dover to Calais was effectively cut-off by protest action, similarly the crossing from Ramsgate to Calais ................... now it ends up in Ipswich. Own goal or what? In answer to an earlier post I understand it was the RSPCA who insisted on the sheep being unloaded at Ramsgate on the 12th September and an RSPCA Officer who deployed the captive bolt. Sadly this action came just a few days after their proclamation that Ramsgate was an unfit port.
 
giantpringle said:
The shortest possible crossing from Dover to Calais was effectively cut-off by protest action, similarly the crossing from Ramsgate to Calais ................... now it ends up in Ipswich. Own goal or what? In answer to an earlier post I understand it was the RSPCA who insisted on the sheep being unloaded at Ramsgate on the 12th September and an RSPCA Officer who deployed the captive bolt. Sadly this action came just a few days after their proclamation that Ramsgate was an unfit port.
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What is your agenda ? Do you work at Ramsgate ? To call the suspension of live exports at Ramsgate 'an own goal' hardly conveys the impression that animal welfare is your motivation.
 
giantpringle said:
In answer to an earlier post I understand it was the RSPCA who insisted on the sheep being unloaded at Ramsgate on the 12th September and an RSPCA Officer who deployed the captive bolt. Sadly this action came just a few days after their proclamation that Ramsgate was an unfit port.
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Sorry, I'm a bit confused. What point are you trying to make here?
 
I was replying to Cuffey's post concerning the actions at Ramsgate on the 12th September. In reply to Horserider ...................... I don't have an agenda. However it seems pretty clear to me that mass protest closing a potential route of 1.5 hours (Dover), 5 hours (Ramsgate) and moving it to Ipswich 15 hours is something of an own goal - if you are concerned with animal welfare that is. As repellent as many of us find this trade it has to be accepted that it is the legislation that allows it. Change the legislation = change the trade.
 
giantpringle said:
I was replying to Cuffey's post concerning the actions at Ramsgate on the 12th September.
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Ahh, righto - hadn't seen that.

My understanding is that the majority of the sheep that were destroyed due to lameness did in fact have broken or dislocated limbs. Due to the fact that they weren't adequately protected from the hydrolic action of the floors.
 
Change the legislation certainly, but meanwhile enforce the legislation already in place to ensure the ports deal with livestock correctly. Ramsgate did not have the correct facilities and I'm guessing Ipswich doesn't either. The crossing is too long according to present agreements so surely, Ipswich port cannot load livestock there ?
Have the lorry drivers who were arrested at Ramsgate been charged ? If more stringent checks had been made - and were routinely done, then making life difficult for the transporters would have a positive effect. And isn't there some criticism of the boats being used that are not suitable for live cargo ?
Enforcing current legislation is better than waiting for changes in this trade to happen.
 
Signed - you have to click on 'for further information click here' at the bottom of the first page and that takes you to the page to sign.

It doesn't take long and just helps to support keeping good animal welfare - of all species - on the political agenda.
 
with an open view on the whole episode, if you google the rspca report on the incident, sheep fell in the water from were unloaded in to an area under rspca instruction. bottom line they are there for animal welfare not to put them in a position to cause more injury or suffering!
 
unless pedigree sheep or cattle, there is no need, apart from greed or way of butchering to allow live transport. ALL animals should be slaughtered in OUR abbatoirs, under OUR rules.....Live transport of animals should be stopped NOW...
 
amymay said:
Ahh, righto - hadn't seen that.

My understanding is that the majority of the sheep that were destroyed due to lameness did in fact have broken or dislocated limbs. Due to the fact that they weren't adequately protected from the hydrolic action of the floors.
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Amymay, that was how you were meant to read it, my understanding of the situation is completely different.
Will PM you
 
There is no statutory requirement for any port to have facilities to unload live animals - it is simply a proposal put out by Gavin Grant, CEO of the RSPCA and has no legal standing. If it where to be implemented throughout the UK it would also apply to horses - would any ports actually build these facilities?
Back to the Legislation - EU 1/2005 makes provision for a longer sea crossing on a RoRo vessel, provided a 12 hour rest is taken close to the port of disembarkation - so it would appear that no rules were broken last Friday - in this area at least.
Unfortunately back to my original point - the authorities can only enforce legislation - if it isn't being broken they are powerless. Therefore change the legislation to change the trade!
 
Good news indeed. Thanks to the RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming, the Ipswich MP and councillors and all those who protested either in person or by letter.
Wringing hands and saying nothing can be done without a change in legislation is a cop out. The trade in live export is vile and won't go away unless the ports and transporters realise people won't turn a blind eye.
 
How about the trade from Ireland to France - far, far worse and you won't stop it unless you change the legislation. All the actions of the last few days will have done is drive it somewhere else. I'm certainly not 'wringing my hands' or 'copping out' ............ facing facts perhaps!
 
partypremier said:
Live exports of sheep have been SUSPENDED from Ipswich.
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ipswich_..._live_exports_are_suspended_at_port_1_1532438
At least it is making people think about it all at last.
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When I started this thread it was because I felt that NO port should take the trade. I have signed so many petitions against the cruel trade of exporting live animals, that I have lost faith in petitions; it'll be money talking somewhere that keeps the trade going, I suppose.
Sadly the link above makes no mention of the reason that I was given about why the trade from Ipswich has now been stopped - that the crossing was longer than could be permitted under health and welfare restrictions. Hopefully if this is the case then fears that other East coast ports could be used might be unfounded. But I think it is also disappointing that the writer of the article suggests that tonights meeting will be a 'celebration' - that is not the reason those who are attending will be going. Questions about the handling of sheep at Ramsgate must be answered by the RSPCA - there is a long way to go before there is celebration. Hook definitely!
 
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