[HelptheAnimals] Victory! Greece bans animal circuses

[Jenie]

From: ADI News <adin...@ad-international.org> Subject: Victory! Greece bans animal circuses Date: Friday, February 3, 2012, 10:41 AM Victory! Greece bans animal circuses   I am delighted to announce that the Greek Government has banned the use of all animals in circuses following a campaign by Animal Defenders International and the Greek Animal Welfare Fund (GAWF), backed by over 50 local animal protection groups across Greece . The new animal protection law also addresses a number of important issues concerning stray animals.   When we launched our Stop Circus Suffering campaign in Greece in 2006 we saw horrific suffering. I remember a hippo (see opposite) living in a small, filthy cage on the back of a lorry with a stinking pool barely bigger than a bath tub to wallow in.    Find out more about ADI's Greek campaign     Home for a circus hippo… a small filthy cage on the back of a lorry   This is a great day for animal protection in Greece and indeed Europe . We applaud the Greek Government for taking a strong, unequivocal stand against animal suffering in circuses and together with the GAWF are committed to assisting the government with enforcing the ban.   It is fantastic to be able to report on another huge victory for our Stop Circus Suffering campaign but we can only keep exposing the cruelty and continue campaigning for change if you keep supporting us.   URGENT PLEASE DONATE NOW   Greece is the first country in Europe to ban all animals from circuses and similar performances.  Austria currently has a ban on wild animal acts, and several European countries including Portugal , Denmark and Croatia have measures to ban or phase out wild animals in circuses.   As you many of you will know, Bolivia was the first country to ban all animals from circuses with ADI completing an enforcement operation with the Bolivian authorities last February, closing down and rescuing every animal from circuses defying the law. This included relocating 29 lions to the USA in our Operation Lion Ark as well as rescuing primates and horses. And, in July 2011, Peru banned wild animals in circuses following an undercover investigation and campaign by ADI.    It is clear now that the days are numbered for keeping animals in travelling facilities and forcing them to do tricks in the name of entertainment.  Legislation is currently being considered by the Governments of the USA , Brazil , Colombia , Chile and Ecuador .   The UK will now be under considerable pressure to implement a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses which was called for by an overwhelming vote by back bench MPs last year. The British Government had cited a legal challenge to Austria 's ban on wild animal acts as a reason for not implementing a UK ban. However, in December the Austrian Constitutional Court in Vienna announced that it had thrown out the application by Circus Krone to overturn Austria 's ban.   With your help, we can stamp out circus suffering worldwide.   Thank you so much for your continuing support.     Tim Phillips, Campaigns Director Animal Defenders International       You’re receiving this newsletter because you requested email updates from ADI. Animal Defenders International, Millbank Tower , Millbank, LONDON , SW1P 4QP , UK . Tel: +44 (0)20 7630 3340   If you live in the US and would like to receive email updates on our US campaigns, please email ADI News.