Worldlog Marianne Thieme 13 March 2018 - Main contents
Last week it was International Women’s Day, a topic to which we devoted much attention. Women around the world (cisgender and transgender) have been at the forefront of the fight for civil and animal rights from the outset. Of all participating political parties in the upcoming municipal elections of 21 March, the Party for the Animals is the only party with more women than men on its candidate list. Being an emancipation party, we have fought against the discrimination of different groups since our establishment, because we believe all beings deserve to be treated equally and with respect, regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and kind. It is unacceptable that other political parties, media and companies keep failing to attract sufficient numbers of women. The Party for the Animals is extremely proud and thankful to work side by side with so many inspiring and tenacious women, in the Netherlands as well as in our international movement.
Female leaders on the Party for the Animals’ list of municipal elections candidates
Last week, it was five years ago that animal-testing for cosmetics was banned in the European Union (EU). Together with Dr Jane Goodall amongst others, the Party for the Animals joined the call for the EU and national leaders to actively engage in a global ban on animal-testing for cosmetics. In the following weeks, the European Parliament will vote on this issue. Despite sufficient acknowledged alternatives, most countries still use animal-testing for developing cosmetics.
Good news from the European Parliament: earlier this month, a majority supported an appeal to the European Commission and to the member states to step up their efforts to protect the bees. Furthermore, the Parliament supported a proposal for a total ban on neonicotinoids, insecticides that are harmful to insects such as bees, hereby following earlier national and European calls from the Party for the Animals. Recent scientific research demonstrates that there are plenty of environmentally and bee friendly alternatives for these toxic substances. We hope that on 22 March, EU leaders will finally have the courage to vote in favour of a total ban on neonicotinoids.
Screening of the documentary “Kangaroo” in the European Parliament
Last week, I watched the première of the impressive documentary “Kangaroo” in the European Parliament. The screening was organised by our European group in collaboration with our Australian sister party Animal Justice Party amongst others. In 2016, I gave a series of lectures in Australia and I was given the honour to take part in this film. Using shocking footage, the film reveals the enormous animal suffering behind kangaroo hunting and stresses the food safety risks associated with kangaroo meat. Kangaroo hunting in Australia is the most extensive slaughter of mammals in the world. Every night, thousands of kangaroos are hunted and shot. European countries such as the Netherlands import relatively high amounts of kangaroo meat and skin, which makes them jointly responsible for the atrocities in Australia. Our MEP Anja Hazekamp and I have therefore dedicated ourselves to achieve a Dutch and European import ban on kangaroo products.
The next Worldlog will undoubtedly be dominated by the outcome of the Dutch municipal elections. Did you know that not just Dutch citizens, but also EU citizens have the right to vote in the municipal elections, as long as they are registered with a Dutch municipality? The same goes for non-EU citizens who have lived in the Netherlands for an uninterrupted period of at least five years. Read more about it and use your right to vote on 21 March!
Until next time,
Marianne