Online petition hopes to stop live animal exports from Ramsgate
AN ONLINE petition has been launched in an attempt to bring a halt to live animal exports from Ramsgate port.
The petition calls the Government to review the 1847 Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act and give port owners the right to refuse the shipment of live animals overseas.
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BARBARIC: Protesters continue to picket against live exports Ramsgate port in the latest shipment which took place on Saturday Photo by Valerie Cameron
Campaign organiser and Thanet councillor Ian Driver said: "This is a unique and exciting chance for the people of Thanet to play a role in changing the law of the land.
"I call on every man woman and child in Thanet to log on to the internet and sign our petition against this cruel and barbaric trade.
"It takes only a couple of minutes to sign and you will make a massive difference."
If the campaign can secure 100,000 signatures the issue could then be debated by MPs at Westminster and even eventually become law.
Thanet council has said it is opposed to the live animal exports but does not have legal power to stop the trade.
Protests against live animal exports have meanwhile continued at Ramsgate port.
On Saturday, September 3, campaigners went out in the rain to picket the port until 3am.
Five lorries carrying sheep and cattle boarded the Latvian ex-Soviet battle tank carrier the Joline.
Protesters against live exports say they plan to hold a 24-hour vigil at port but have not set a date.
4 Comments
by SHAMEN27
Wednesday, October 26 2011, 10:25AM
“I respect the aims of the protesters, however they do not stop to think that hounding the lorry driver does not help - he just has a job to do, he might not agree with the idea of shipping livestock like this anymore than they do, but he is paid to deliver goods and is hardly in a position to change the policy of the company he works for. Secondly, the loss of the ship coming into Ramsgate is one less order in the books for the port - do the protesters really want to be the cause of people working there losing their jobs? The economy of the Thanet area is run down enough without adding to it. Lastly, the protesters have been seen filming the Police. Why? The Police film them back, and unlike the protesters, they DO keep a record or number plates, names and addresses. If any other farm or facility is targetted by activists, guess who`s doors they will be knocking on first. Also, the longer they stay at the Port, the longer the Police are diverting resources to it needed elsewhere, and the more it will eventually cost the Council Tax payer`s of Thanet - including those protesters who live in the area. There are other ways, more diplomatic ways in this day and age of getting your views heard rather than sitting on a roundabout shouting abuse. If Ian Driver is backing this campaign, he should really be putting his efforts behind talks with the shipping company and the port rather than backing a rag-tag bunch of protesters.”
by paloma333
Monday, September 19 2011, 5:02PM
“Thanks for your comments Valian 555, I don't know if I can do this but here is the link to the petition http://tinyurl.com/43y4v4c
Also if you are on facebook join the groups protesting this cruel practice... the more people the better 'Stop live exports from the port of Ramsgate'”
by Valian555
Monday, September 19 2011, 4:39PM
“Totally agree paloma333. It is bad enough that animals have to travel across the UK for slaughter, but to then endure further days of travel before their eventual slaughter or incarceration in veal crates etc is not only inhumane but barbaric!”
by paloma333
Thursday, September 15 2011, 10:31AM
“So many police for so few protesters ... out of proportion ??? Please sign petition on facebook we must put an end to this barbaric trade. We must urge the government to ban this cruel and archaic practice. If uk animals have to be slaughtered it should be done as humanely as possible and on our shores. They should not have to endure hours/days of travel in terribly cramped conditions without care, food or water. Where is DEFRA ??? where is the RSPCA ???”