Nicky, I thought of you today, whilst off to go shopping. A truckie
from the livestock industry was on the radio, discussing the new
transport guidelines. He says that they are hopeless, that somebody
from the industry needs to rewrite them, not some university type
who knows nothing about the industry. I was rather amused :)

I am sure that MLA would have done some studies on the value of
the equipment that they have installed in SE Asia, for IIRC it
was 40 last year, another 30 in this years budget. But their
job to members is to present outcomes, not step by step detailed
results. I doubt if they would present them to you, as firstly
you are not qualified in the field and secondly they are well aware
that talking to animal liberation people is pointless, as they
are unable to be objective about anything, their minds are made up,
end of story.

As to the UAE, clearly there is progress! Animal welfare laws
are being introduced. I note that the Dubai people have also
engaged the services of WSPCA as consultants, to advise them
about dealing with pets, stray animals etc. More progress!

WSPCA now have a foot in the door and clearly can do some good,
wheras you and your ilk will be left out in the cold, where you
belong.

I certainly have never said that everything which Livecorp says
should be taken as gospel. I am all for informed criticism and
progress. But unlike you, I don't take everything that AA says
as gospel either, I am able to think objectively and look at both
sides of the argument, something which you are unable to do.

I make my point again. 10 million $ worth of proper slaughtering
equipment could work wonders for animal welfare in the ME. But we
can't even discuss those kinds of things, as for you the whole thing
is black and white, case closed. Ah well.

WSPCA now have a foot in the door and clearly can do some good,
Actually Nicky I hear something about this from the Sheep council.
I think but dont quote me its MLA funded.

Have you hear anything about that Yabby - being MLA funded?

That certainly would be a step in the right direction.

Yabby, all those countries are already signatories to OIE animal welfare standards, those VERY minimal standards, and look how well those are enforced. Forgive my scepticism. Having animal welfare laws is one thing, enforcement of them is entirely another (as we see in Australia).

In one sense you are right - nothing will fix live exports. You cannot persuade any rational person that putting millions of animals on crappy ships to endure journeys of thousands of kilometres just to butcher them is acceptable. Sending animals from an Australian winter to a Middle Eastern summer must seem wrong even to you.

In all these decades, why have these "improvements" never been implemented before? More importantly, why are they being implemented now? Simply Because Animals Australia has exposed the reality so many times to the Australian public. It had nothing to do with concern for the animals; it's because the Australian community despises what you do.

As for the new transport standards, I've been asked to prepare a submission, and I'll do that, because they (as much as I have read so far) appear to feature some very retrograde steps. For example, there cannot be any justification for having animals on trucks for days at a time without feed and water at the discretion of the truckie (for God's sake!) about whether or not they are distressed. Whose agenda is the truckie running? His own. There are also issues to do with sufficient head room for the animals to stand comfortably that I'll be addressing, and those are only my preliminary thoughts.

Cheers
Nicky

Yabby = Please Click here and view- and tell me honestly what you think

http://www.handlewithcare.tv/au/index.asp

Gertrude, Dubai is so wealthy, they don't need MLA money. Take
a look on the internet, as to what is going on there. I remind
you that the Sultan of Dubai has just paid 400 million$ for one
of Australia's major race horse studs. His horses are housed
so well in Dubai, they would put many peoples houses to shame.
He is a very smart fellow btw.

Nicky, lots of countries sign lots of agreements, that is as far
as it goes. The fact that UAE are going out on their own here,
is a very good sign IMHO.

No country will ever match the kinds of standards you would like
enforced, but that has more to do with your nature, then with
anything.

Two things that farming has taught me are patience and compromise.
Its never an ideal world, so make the best of what you have and
take one little step forward at a time. A small step forward is better
then no step.

You will never understand or accept why the live trade exists, but
it is for very good reasons. Perth has a major problem of isolation,
we are closer to Singapore then to some ES capitals. Farmers being
forced to simply accept a captive market, would ruin many families.
You don't care, but of course they are not your family, neither your
friends.

The solution has to be market based, with win-wins for all. Anything
else just won't be politically or economically acceptable. You have
tried for 28 years to deny that fact and for 28 years you have lost.

For all her faults, at least that is one thing that Gertrude understands, which the rest of you don't.

Personally I am pleased at the progress being made and yup it is
being made. The live trade is not what is used to be, things are
slowly changing in the ME, all around is slow progress. I still
think we should speed up change in the ME, with more modern
equipment. Some is already being installed in places like SA,
as Kim Chance reports.

Gertrude, what do you want me to say about your website?

The RSPCA have just had an advert made by I think its the
Campaign Palace, that reduces women to tears. Its about
a guy beating up his wife, whilst the dog whimpers.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23546019-2,00.html?from=public_rss

Sounds like these guys know their jobs and are pushing
emotional buttons. Just like the insurance company who
wants to sell housing insurance, shows your house burning
down. People are shocked and run to the phone, to insure their
houses.

All I have ever seen by AA is on a similar level, great marketing.
I gather some of the ex Peta people work there, but I am not
into having my emotional buttons pushed by slick advertising.

I have yet to see a rational, objective evaluation by AA of anything.
Perhaps it exists, I have just never seen it.

Do sheep pant when it hits 45 degrees here? Sure they do.
Do sheep have their legs tied here when carted around? Sure they
do. Do sheep behind bars tell me anything? Not really.
Are sheep affected by pinkeye in the paddocks? Yup they
sure are, we need a vaccine.

Sorry Gertrude, but I don't fall for the old slick marketing
ploys, but I know that many do. Fair enough.