China Shuns Rushdie's Human Rights Lecture

China has reacted to Salman Rushdie's article that he wrote for The Telegraph this month in which he wrote that China is the world's biggest threat to freedom of speech.

China's embassy in London responded with an open letter titled, 'Human Rights lecture not needed'. China denounced Rushdie's call for the release of Ai Weiwei, the Chinese artist who has been detained since April 3rd.

China feels this is interference in its judicial independence and violates its judicial sovereignty. China, therefore does not accept what Salman Rushdie wrote. China is a country under the rule of law. The basic rights and freedoms of Chinese citizens, including freedom of expression are protected by the law as they claim. China feels its people have immense amount of freedom to express whatever they like.

Wow, I feel China is definitely a country that does not allow freedom of speech to its people. People are locked up and threatened. They are not allowed to speak freely, use twitter and facebook openly. And Ai Weiwei detention was just another case of China's intolerance. Same goes for its treatment of animals and animal torture that takes place there more than often.

STOP HEARTSTICK & GASSING EUTHANASIA! INHUMANE CRUELTY!

Please help ban the cruel and painful way of euthanasia at animal shelters throughout the United States known as Heartsticking*. Dogs and cats are denied basic care and are put to sleep using Heartstick* & Gassing (both cause a slow, painful, stressful death) methods. These forms of cruel euthanasia are banned in most states. They are considered to be cruel and inhumane by the Humane Society of the United States.

*Intracardial injections, commonly referred to as "heart sticks," are considered inhumane and cruel when performed on animals that aren't anesthetized or comatose. Using the "heart stick" method is painful because the needle containing sodium pentobarbital - a schedule II controlled substance used to euthanize animals - passes through the chest wall and several layers of muscle before puncturing the heart. If the euthanasia substance isn't carefully and accurately administered, an animal's lungs could be punctured, causing them to fill with fluid, a cruel and painful way to die.

Intracardial injections are difficult to administer effectively on fully conscious animals because in the animal, the lungs and the heart are constantly moving, said Dr. Bonnie Beaver, a veterinarian and professor of veterinary medicine who is considered a euthanasia expert by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/alert-stop-heartstick-gassing-euthanasia-as-inhumane-cruelty/

Bulgaria is nothing but hell for animals

This is something that happens in Bulgaria every day. Even prominent journalists believe that love for animals is illegal & so they think it’s okay to torture & kill animals on a daily basis.

I’m sorry for sharing these graphic pics but I don’t see any way of expressing myself. I just don’t have words. Go through this entire album on FB & you would know what I mean. This is so fucked up. Animals deserve love & respect & these people have crossed all the limits; they insult humanity every day & it just goes on.

They kill healthy animals just like that. It means nothing. I think even hell would be a lot better, cause God can never be unfair. I’m simply ashamed of humans. There is no hope.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31937&id=100001289103932

And please sign this petition…thank you!

http://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-mima-make-animal-cruelty-a-crime-in-bulgaria

Tell Mississippi It's Time for an Animal Abuse Bill

Mississippi recently was ranked one of the Five best states to be an animal abuser due in part to the state's lenient animal protection laws. Currently, abuse crimes are a misdemeanor in Mississippi. The penalties are limited to a short jail stint and small fines.

Though a tougher bill was passed through the state's Senate, it was defeated - for several years in a row - by the House.

Senator Bob Dearing is pushing for the House Agriculture Committee to debate a bill in 2011. House Agriculture chairman Greg Ward needs to allow the debate. Stricter laws are required to protect Mississippi's cats and dogs.

You must live in the US to sign this particular petition.

Please sign this petition…thank you!

http://animals.change.org/petitions/view/tell_mississippi_its_time_for_an_animal_abuse_bill

End the Cruelty Exposed at Tucson Greyhound Park

For over sixty years, the public has been prevented from seeing the terrible way dogs are treated at Tucson Greyhound Park.

Last year, GREY2K USA released a report documenting that a dog was injured every 3- 4 days at Tucson Greyhound Park in 2008. Greyhounds suffered broken legs, fractured skulls, dislocations, and muscle tears. Now, our investigators have proven that dogs at Tucson Greyhound Park also endure lives of terrible confinement.

- The kennel compound consists of a series of warehouses surrounded by a barbed wire fence and blocked by a guard shack.

- Greyhounds are kept inside these warehouse style kennels in small, stacked cages which are barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around.

- Greyhounds at Tucson racing kennels are kept in complete darkness.

- Greyhounds at Tucson racing kennels are fed raw, untreated 4-D meat.

- The majority of dogs our investigators observed were muzzled right inside their cages.

This is no way to treat a dog!

Please support our efforts to prohibit dog racing and close down Tucson Greyhound Park. We will pursue a strategy of legislative lobbying while also working on a ballot question for the greyhounds. Won’t you please help?

The greyhounds at Tucson Greyhound Park just can’t wait any longer.

The time is now. Please sign our petition to end this cruelty. Thank you!

PS You must live in US to sign this petition.

http://animals.change.org/petitions/view/end_the_cruelty_exposed_at_tucson_greyhound_park

Animal torture and burning bulls alive

Just now I read this piece when I went to search for petitions. I feel sick that animals are being tortured in a variety of ways in this world. Anyway this is the link, which means it's not a figment of my imagination & more importantly, I don't have anything against the reputation of other countries...I'm here to highlight animal abuse.

http://animalrights.change.org/actions/view/live_bull_to_be_set_on_fire-spain-action_needed

Animal cruelty is not acceptable as entertainment or tradition in the 21st Century. Yet the Toro Jubilo annually occurs in Medinaceli, a province of Soria, Spain. Jeering mobs ~torture~ a bull with balls of burning tar or turpentine (called "pitch") attached to his horns. A bull’s horns, body and eyes are scorched. Some try to escape hours of agony by smashing into walls. While different cultures may not understand each other’s customs, all rational humans comprehend cruelty. Setting fire to a live animal — known as Toro de Fuego or “bull on fire” — is sadistic and hideous.

Animal cruelty is never acceptable in any civilized culture, giving Spain a reputation as barbarians and hinders tourism. We see it as senseless, and makes us fearful of your people and Country representing a violent and dangerous nation that derive pleasure from torture and sadism.

Please sign this petition...

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/firebull---stop-the-burning-of-live-bulls