Today, Thursday 2nd October, saw 7 transporters of sheep bound for the ritual slaughter of Eid, which takes place on Sunday 5th October, arrive at Ramsgate port to load on the Live Export ship Joline But today the transporters had to face over 80 people who did not want this to happen. This is a David and Goliath battle because we are faced with a supposedly legal trade under European free trade laws but from experience the long distance transportation of animals causes tremendous suffering to the animals. The people who run this trade are unfeeling, inhumane people who see the animals as slabs of meat and pay no heed to the distress they cause these Sentient Beings.Only profit rules, the government turns away and Animal Health civil servants are blind to what is happening as long as they get their large salaries and good pensions. I hope they sleep well in their beds at night! A very brave protester rode his bicycle into the road and slowed the vehicles down as he peddled towards the port thus making it impossible to charge the crowd who had pulled plastic barriers across the entrance to the port and sitting on them. The lorries left the scene and regrouped only to return and park 100 yards down the road to give the police the opportunity to move the protest. This took some time and in total the lorries were held for 45 minutes. A small victory but never the less a victory. Animal Healths inspections were the shortest we have ever seen with a glance and a check of the paperwork so 7 trucks were inspected in less than 15 minutes. There then followed the pantomime of fitting 7 lorries on a barge that has only room for 6 vehicles under normal circumstances. These people are not normal. They pushed and shoved the vehicles, backwards and forwards till they managed to get all the units on except one tractor unit cab which was held out of site as the police realised our attendance at the port entrance could result in trouble for this driver. Packed like they were on this rust bucket there is no way anyone could get between the vehicles and check if the animals were alright during the 4/5 hours crossing so the idea that the drivers are trained in animal husbandry is ludicrous and what they know about taking care of live animals can be listed on a postage stamp. We heard the ship was about to sail and once again we blocked the port entrance. The police were busy removing the barricades for this cab that would not fit to exit the dock when we heard a commotion behind us and realised the vehicle in question was exiting the port via a side entrance. He tore down the road behind us at high speed, taking the roundabout on the wrong side and sped on down the road swaying from side to side. The police were witness to this, agreed with us and contacted the traffic units putting out a bulletin against him. We are awaiting to find out if they stopped him on his way to either Dover, for the ferries, or Folkestone for the tunnel. However, we have been assured that even if they dont catch him today he will be seen when he returns to the UK. These men believe they are beyond our laws and dont believe the police will do anything to them. Unfortunately to date that has been the case as one of our people who was kicked in the face by Onderwater himself has yet to hear he has been charged with assault. These sit down protests are very effective and means standing shouting at the lorries is no longer necessary as it makes us look ineffective. People watching from the esplanade must realise that anyone that hates the cruelty these animals suffer can join these protests because anyone can sit down and they do not have to shout but just sit there in silence. KAALE
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 19:32:12 +0000
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