Circus sues senior education official for libel

wendy mamo

Dec 13th 2009, 22:19

well done to all those who joined us @ the protest. and shame on all those that think its ok for wild animals to be kept in captivity. abused and forced to perform for some selfish suckers just so they can clap their hands at every stupid stunt.. like charmaine marmara said-can you not see the sadness in their eyes? you must all be blind or you simply dont give a damn about these beautiful animals. SHAME ON YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i only hope that what goes around comes around and one day it will be you and your children caged in confided spaces and FORCED to do stupid pathetic things for some closed minded spoilt snobs. i only hope!!!!

isabella Peresso RFiorentinop

Dec 13th 2009, 20:34

D Calleja - I participated and always did in these protests and proud that I do. The reality behind these circuses is far, far from what they want us to believe !!

A.Laferla

Dec 12th 2009, 10:16

@ R.Buhagiar
Let me assure you that M.Delia will not pass any place see dogs barking on roofs and not report it, however one must not forget that the report has to be made to the animal welfare. Now the animal welfare director thinks that animal lovers are exagerrated when thay claim that circus animal kept in cages and so on are is being cruel...... So i will let yourself ,BRAVU, think what he will do, if he had to rec a call that there is a dog barking on a roof....

Afterall did you ever bother trying to report this type of animal cruelty yourself?........ I guess no ha? you were waiting for Ms Delia to do it for you, or even expect her to go climb up that roof to save the poor dog....

Charmaine Marmara'

Dec 12th 2009, 10:04

YES CIRCUS IS CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. HAVENT YOU PEOPLE EVER SEEN THE SADNESS IN THEIR EYES IN THEIR CAGES. YOU MUST BE ALL BLIND. JS IS DISGUSTING . THESE ARE NOT ALLEGATIONS THESE ARE FACTS. FACTS WITH PROOF.

Maria Williams

Dec 12th 2009, 09:13

@ Dennis Catania
If you think most circus animals are treated better than your average pet, I'm sorry for any pets you own! While not denying that some pets are ill treated , genuine animal lovers try to give their pets the best quality of life they can and before anybody jumps in with stupid comments about pet ownership these are mostly ex-strays/sanctuary dogs which have been abandoned by previous callous owners.
Genuine animal lovers check that their make-up has not been tested on animals and avoid wearing fur, and wool where possible.......you must have a very good eye to be able to tell whether a garment is wool or synthetic from a photo!
Why be so negative? Maybe the drummer girl is supporting people in Africa. YOU are the one who is stereotyping, if the picture was of a white person would you have made that comment?In previous letters people say that animal lovers do not care about humans, now you come up with this totally unrelated comment. There's no pleasing you, is there!
You are correct about one thing and that is the right to a peaceful protest during which people can defend those who have no voice.

Denis Catania

Dec 11th 2009, 17:37

The only good thing that came out of this is. The right to a peaceful protest. As far as circus animals go. Most if not all are treated better than your average pet. I also see a lot females wearing makeup in this picture, which most of it is tested on animals. A lot of people wearing wool, did anyone ever see all the crying a sheep does when is being shaved for your pull over. Little drummer boy/girl has an African on her shirt. I hope she isn't stereotyping. Africans are not animals. Wonder if she/he drummer boy knows this.

Ray Buhagiar

Dec 11th 2009, 16:44

Maybe Ms Delia should protest against those who keeps dogs barking on roof tops for no apparent reason except CRUELTY!! Shame.

Robert Callus

Dec 11th 2009, 16:25

Withough a single doubt, I know that circuses with animals are cruelty. However, let's put this issue aside for a moment. Let's say HYPOTHETICALLY that it isn't. What is the educational and cultural value of them, as JS Producions are alledging? Entertainment oK, but educational?
Isn't it much more educational to show children movies about wildlife, and the billions of species that exist than an elephant or tiger making fools of themselves?
And cultural? What are the cultural benefits? We live in a country that rightfully boasts of a large heritage. We live in an age where Maltese artists, actors, writers and musicians realised that we are inferior to no one. Gone is the time where we appreciated an artistic work by saying 'bhal ta barra'. We are proud of what we have. A circus for a cultural visit?

D.Calleja

Dec 11th 2009, 16:03

@Jessica Henry

I fail to understand your strategy.

So first you agree that these animals would never survive in the wild and then state "we need to stop this cycle! Once circuses stop using animals, then the captivity breeding will stop, and these beautiful creatures can be left to live out their lives in the way they were meant to. "

Are you saying that the ones that have been bred in captivity should still be released into the wild or are you suggesting that they should be neutered so as not to produce further offspring? Or would you prefer killing all the animals in captivity to stop the cycle?

Jessica Henry

Dec 11th 2009, 14:23

On Behalf of all those who Protested for Circus Animal Rights;

Just because animals are bred in captivity doesn't mean it's right! Obviously these animals can't survive in their natural habitat because of it, but that is exactly why we need to stop this cycle! Once circuses stop using animals, then the captivity breeding will stop, and these beautiful creatures can be left to live out their lives in the way they were meant to. Look at it this way, if it were humans in cages, instead of animals, how would it be viewed then?? Animals deserve the same respect as humans do.. And it's people like those who protested yesterday who are devoted to showing the people of Malta that this ISN'T RIGHT.

Saviour Pace

Dec 11th 2009, 14:22

IN MY OPINION, THIS IS ALL A REVENUE PROBLEM BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES INVOLVED, I.E. CIRCO FANTASY & JS PRODUCTIONS !!!! SELLING A LARGE QUANTITY OF TICKETS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF CIRCO FANTASY AT THE END OF THE TOURNEE !!! BEAR IN MIND THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 20K SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ALL !!!

Tanja Cilia

Dec 11th 2009, 13:46

It's called Cirque du Soleil: >

D.Calleja

Dec 11th 2009, 13:42

To all those who participate in such protests.

If animals bred and raised in captivity are released in the wild they do not stand a chance of survival. They have been raised and trained to perform and can't harbour any craving for the wild and free life in the savanah! If the issue is just related to them being kept confined for days on end then they are in the same boat as your domesticated cats, dogs, canaries etc.

Please grow up and realise that a valid protest is only so if it is called against people or organisations who are really abusing the animals who are in their care.

Antoine Grima

Dec 11th 2009, 12:16

WHAT ABOUT THE TURKEYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get your act together and be realistic. Nobody likes cruelty on animals , but a lot of people like seeing animals perform . Same faces same stories .

S. Camilleri

Dec 11th 2009, 11:50

@Joseph Cauchi
Finally some sense..As long as any animals used are
a. captive bred
b.kept in decent conditions
c. subject to regular inspection and review
what is the problem?? What's the difference with keeping a dog half the time locked inside? Or overfeeding your fluffy cat? These people have a deep bond with their animals and egoistically, they have or should have a vested interest in taking the best care of these animals. Yes, do close the circus but not because some animal freak starts screaming like a circus monkey, but because of ill treatment.

Ramon Casha

Dec 11th 2009, 11:02

1. Circuses have an entertainment value, not an educational one.
2. Circuses keep animals locked up in severely confined spaces for long periods as they are transported from one place to another. This alone is already animal cruelty, even if not enough to constitute a crime. Training methods are another potential source of cruelty.
3. The school authorities are under no obligation to organise school outings to the circus for their students.
4. There are, of course, worse forms of animal cruelty, but that's not a good excuse to turn a blind eye to the circus - especially since the circus is a highly visible event.

Joseph Cauchi

Dec 11th 2009, 10:36

I am all for the humane treatment of animals and condemn all sorts of cruelty.

Are we going only agiainst animals in circuses and why not on animals that are kept in confined spaces as already mentioned by some commentators, like cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits etc.. etc…

A national campaign should be orchestrated in order to bring to the fore the serious situation these type of animals, cows, pigs etc… etc… are constantly going through.

All animals should be treated humanly and all of them should be in their natural habitat.

By the way, what’s a circus without animals?

JC.

edwin formosa

Dec 11th 2009, 10:35

I hope these ladies and gentlemen that are so excited defending the wellbeing of well fed lions and tigers that are kept alive in a cages have the same feelings about human beings that butchers right now are delivering feet first in the last trimester of pregnancy (that's right - up to the day the baby could be naturally born), then puncture their skull before the head is free of the birth canal (which is why this infanticide is called partial-birth abortion). .

G.Pisani

Dec 11th 2009, 10:02

JS you keep on disgusting me.

Mark Cassar

Dec 11th 2009, 09:52

Let's say that this circus has found some miraculous way of training tigers to jump up and down and elephants to balance on one leg without using punitive measures....as farfetched as this is let's just assume that it is the case for arguments's sake. Spending 90% of their time in cages, weeks on end travelling in long haul overland journies and never ever having the opportunity to experience life in the wild as they should IS CRUELTY!!! It might not be illegal because the law is still catching up with reality but if we confiscate dogs who are well fed and healthy but kept in dark rooms....then we should do the same with circus animals.