Galgos Ethique Europe was formed in 2009. Those of you who have read my book will know I mention them. 4 years have now passed and I was recently in contact with Joelle for an update on their work. Here’s what she writes.
‘In 2009 Galgos-Ethique-Europe (GEE) was formed to create a collective mouvement for the protection of galgos, podencos and Ibizan hounds found in Spain and adopted in Europe. They issued an ethical chart aimed at creating a strong partnership between people involved in their rescue, having the same ethics and together move towards a collective effort to improve the law at the european level.
In 2010, their first petition to the EU Parliament was co-signed by 69 european orgs. It was asking for an enquiry commission on the unnumerous animals tortured in Europe because of the lack of a duly applied legislation. It also pointed out the traumatisms that European citizens were undercoming due to the lack of animal protection. They advanced the fact that European citizens have the right to see the European legislation on animal wellbeing applied and enforced at the level of members States. Later, this petition was signed by more than 20000 people and was presented at the European Commission on 16 Sept 2013, proof that such an indepth work needs years of involvement.
In 2012, having obtained the principle of a written declaration at the Euro Parliament, in partnership with Greyhounds Rescue Holland they initiated the “Collectif Européen pour la Protection des Lévriers” and asked for enforcement of the law to stop the torture and mistreatment of all racing and hunting greyhounds in Europe. Thousands of citizens joined their efforts. For numerous MEPS, it was the first time Greyhounds got such a visibility at the European Parliament. Unfortunately, as we know, only 221 MEPS signed this written declaration proposed by the collectif and launched by Mrs. Michèle STRIFFLER and 11 others MEPS.
For more info, the blog of the collectif is still available, with all statistics showing the strong mobilization of numerous organizations: http://galgos-europe.over-blog.com
Re. Petition 1254/2012, not satisfied by the answer of the EU Commission on Sept. 16th, 2013, GEE is now organizing for September October 2014 a citizen mobilization at the European level to intensify the pressure.
Another petition registered at the European Parliament is still running on AVAAZ (today March 29th, 2014 : 42292 signatures). It is asking for the statute of “pet” (animal de compagnie) for all types of Greyhounds and Galgos in Europe to stop their suffering (traces system, birth control of females, enforced controls at the origin, etc.).The European Parliament did not answer yet.
Link : https://secure.avaaz.org/fr/petition/STATUT_DANIMAL_DE_COMPAGNIE_POUR_LES_LEVRIERS_EN_EUROPE/?launch
Other actions and petitions are proposed on their World Animal Revolution page on Facebook, the main action being prepared for September next. An important action of GEE near UNESCO to ask for an additional protocol to the Patrimoine mondial culturel de l’Humanité will after the European elections be proposed to MEPS. Its aim is to avoid the inscription at the P.C.I. de l’Humanité of all activities based on animal suffering for the pleasure of man (cf. bullfighting, Tordesillas and so many others all over the Earth).
You can participate in this citizen movement on Facebook and organizations are welcome to send them their action, they will relay it as they do usually for the sake of all animals.
Link : https://www.facebook.com/pages/GEE-World-Animal-Revolution/1460166740870085?fref=ts
Especially to prepare our September 2014 intervention at the European level for the sake of all animals, as we are also convinced that if the global animal condition progresses at the European level the Spanish condition will progress undoubtedly, like we now see for the Galgos with this meeting at the Spanish parliament recently.
Our concern for the time being is to contact MEPS who will support our different proposals (also the UNESCO protocol additionnal at the present studied by an expert working for the UNESCO). We are just starting to prepare the ground and it is there that your help is precious. Sorry we are still working on the line to follow so I prefer not to develop but if by September we get a good mobilization of citizens it will be easier to make the main wall of torture fall down.