300 protest against circus animals exploitation
A crowd of some 300 protested against circus animal cruelty and exploitation this evening as a circus started presenting its shows in Floriana.
The protesters walked from City Gate to Floriana Granaries, where the circus has been set up.
The crowd included representatives of 20 NGOS which form the Circus Animal Rights Coalition.
Some of those present shouted' No to animal cruelty No to animal circuses'.They also carried banners against animal cruelty and jeered and booed the people who walked into the circus tent.
No incidents were reported.
A spokesman for the coalition said the NGOs were concerned that notwithstanding the public's opposition to the exploitation of animals in circuses, JS Productions had still brought to Malta a circus which featured animals.
In the morning, circus organisers Silvio Zammit and Johann Said said the circus featured two lions, two bears, a tiger and a hippo. They were born in captivity and cared for in line with EU rules, they insisted.
The circus also features acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers and a water show.
Video shows the scene at the circus this morning and the protest in the evening
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Shirley Ann Brincat
Dec 9th 2011, 11:13
ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES ARE WELL TREATED ????? B.S. !
jcamilleri
Dec 10th 2010, 14:45
Ground hog circus ... same old story ... same old paroli ... just don't go !
Christopher Debattista
Dec 10th 2010, 13:57
Qedt ninnota li hafna minn nies li ikkumentaw ghawn taht huma paroli biss u fatti xejn. Kullhadd jghid missek taghmel hekk, u misskhom taghmlu hekk. Jekk vera thobbu l-annimali qumu minn hemm u semmghu lehinkhom ukoll !! Min hu l-vera ipokrita issa ? Dak li mar issemma lehnu jew dak li qieghed komdu fuq il-computer go daru jparla fil-vojt ?
D. Sacco
Dec 10th 2010, 11:57
Nirrispetta l-opinjoni ta kulhadd. Pero ma nara xejn hazin li c-cirkli jgibu annimali selvaggi sakemm dawn jigu trattati tajjeb. Mhux kulhadd jista jaffordja biex jiehu l-uliedu barra minn Malta halli jkunu jistghu jaraw annimali live. Mela issa anke l-annimali se naghmluhom prijorita tas-sinjuri biss? U x'qeghdin jaghmlu barra minn Malta? 'Qed jipprotestaw biex jghalqu z-zoos?
PJ Mifsud
Dec 10th 2010, 11:24
@ M Farrugia
When did all the assembled NGOs organise a mass demonstration on such a large scale against the hunting and the senseless slaughter of birds as the one held on the 7th December ?
I am all against animal cruelty, exploitation and disregard of animal riights. But can you explain why mass demonstrations by animal welfare NGOs are only organised annually whenever a circus turns up? These are double standards and whoever perpetrates such actions is a hypocrate.
Moreover NGO members do not have the right to jeer and boo persons who happened to attend the circus show. That only goes to prove how democratic your members are. We are living in a free country and we are bound to respect opposing views and not exercise extreme intollerance towards people who opt to attend circus shows.
Be assured that when local NGOs start demonstrating PUBLICLY against ALL FORMS of animal cruelty, not just against circuses, if such can be proved, I will take part. The cowards are those who take a firm and vociferous stand against the weak but are scared stiff of organising similar large scale protests against local renowned perpetrators of animal cruelty.
Wayne Scicluna
Dec 10th 2010, 09:59
Nies,
Mux ahjar nipprotestaw ghal affarijiet iktar serji milli ghal annimali?
wtf dawk jiklu u jixorbu u ma jhallsu xejn u mohhom mistrih...
Minix wihed iffissat fuq politika ejw ekk... imma ahna irridnu namlu protesti ekk biz zikk ta 1.16 li
zidna! l-ewwel milied li it-tfal tijej se jkellom jaddu nahseb bla rigal...
( FYI : Wahdi ma nista naghmel protesti ta xejn... )
yaz tabone
Dec 10th 2010, 09:07
i WILL be taking my son to the circus, i remember going when i was young and loving it!
maltese are just HYPOCRITES! these are the same people that think shooting birds for fun is ok, and i still have to meet a maltese vegetarian - havent come across one yet. the same people that carry out dog fights. what bout horses? i saw a horse being kept in his 'box' for hours!! not to mention those left in the sun. go do a protest in a local farmyard - you wont stay long cos of the smell and filth. there's also the domestic animals - disgusting that people own dogs and just keep them on the roof for days! then you phone the animal sanctuary and they just say "we can't do anything bout it"
these are the maltese animal lovers.. hypocrites. this protest was just a show, just for attention. shame on you for verbally attacking children.. CHILDREN!
Steve Zammit
Dec 10th 2010, 19:57
Your silly comment doesn't even deserve a reply. You went off track by far...what hypocrites? Hypocrites that went to protest in favour of animals and against wild animals being kept in cages in misery for all their lives???The same people that attended are the same people that have protested several time about issues that you raises yourself! Where were you in summer when several NGO's wrote against horses bing kept in the sun?Thank you for calling me a ''hypocrite''. All the things you mentioned are wrong but it doesn't justify that animal circuses are right! Don't tell me a bear belongs in a small cage? He belongs in the forest-HIS REAL HOME. Don't tell me a lion belongs in a small cage? He belongs in the savanah-HIS REAL HOME. Get it???
Marco Cremona
Dec 10th 2010, 09:04
"Our house is a cage" - Mr. Silvio Zammit.
Unless he's under house arrest, I don't know what he's talking about. He has the free will to move around and even sleep in the street if he's feeling restricted at home.
His grizzly doesn't even have the possibility to yawn (with that muzzle).
Victor Vella
Dec 10th 2010, 01:18
This place called Malta or lill Din l-art Helwa is filled with people that are enigma in their state of mind. How can we do not give care to animals when we are being treated like animals always beaten by our "oppressors" called human beings of a high caliber called polticians chosen by stupid human animals. The difference from the animals of four feet is that the two legged animal is called homus stoltus erectus while the animal of four feet is called homus socialis intellectus.
Joy Gatt
Dec 9th 2010, 19:49
For saying or believing they were born there, its nonsence. How could they be born there? They were stolen from their mother while still having milk to train them for the circus, coz otherwise there will be no way or chance to do so. If they have them born there its because they mated the stolen ones. Tigers & lions gets their claws & teeth pulled off. They are humiliated & tortured with trainers tools, while they're supposed to be so proud of their power & strength. I don't need to explain what tools & how, if you would like to learn go on you tube & watch serious hidden recordings from PETA. These trainers are nothing but cowards, humans please think when you watch these animals perform, how could they have learned to do & remember these tricks? Whats behind this? Nothing but fear from getting hurt & stay in hunger. Lets stop changing the beauty of nature & be selfish thinking we're better than animals. We're all God's creation and we should all look up to him in everything created by.
Mario Abdilla
Dec 9th 2010, 17:47
Jien ma naqbilx mal kruelta ta lannimali imma Skuzani! alija l protestanti huma kollha bla sens, msiken t tfal dehlin ic cirklu u kulhadd jibbujwalhom, kulhadd itektek fuq l kompjuter u jitfa lopinjoni tijaw ima min intom biex takom huwa tajjeb u ta haddihor hazin? Min intom tajdu lil persuna biex ma tmurx? Demokrazija mwaqqa an nejk, u kiku biss hsibtu li lannimali fil habitat tahom kolox sabih ikun, mela ma qrajtux fuq national geo li hafna iljuni qedin imutu bis shana li qeda tamel, u kiku biss:
LANNIMALI MA JITKELLMUX, IMMA INTOM FEJN TAFU XIRIDU? Forsi iqum u jajdlek jein aw irrid noqod!
Raymond Sammut
Dec 10th 2010, 14:52
To answer your question, you need only to google, say, "wild animals captivity". Then care to do a bit of reading. You will find, for example, that a number of journal articles have been written by scientists who study adverse effects of captivity on sense acuity and on dexterity of these wild animals. Enough to say that there is an enormous contrast between a wild tiger spending 8-10 hours hunting in one day on the African plains and a captive tiger pacing back and forth in a 2x2 metre cage waiting for the next "show". The contrast should be disturbing to any thinking person.
annalise falzon
Dec 10th 2010, 16:03
Tajba din Mario. Mela lilek nitfghuk f'xi akwarju kbir f'xi pajjiz iehor ghax malta daqt nispiccaw kollha minghajr ilma.
Fittex ftit siehbi ha tara kif dawn l-annimali jigu mcaqilqa kontinwament minn pajjiz ghall iehor minn klima ghal ohra. Qatt ma smajt b'dak l-ippopotamu li filghodu sabih mejjet ghax l-ghadira li kien fiha ffrizatlu u hadd ma induna? Jew bl-ors li mdorri fis-silg u kulma kellhom kien fan zghir ghal fuqu? Jew bil-pingwini fis-shana mediterranja?
Ma tafx li jekk hemm problema dinjija ta tibdil fil-klima din irridu nsolvuha mill-iktar fis u mhux nuzawha bhala skuza biex naqflu annimal iehor! Dan x'diskors banali hu? Mela inti biex tevita xi incident fit-triq jew id-dar ghax ma tmurx go habs hajtek kollha?hemm jitimghuk u anki sodda jtuk.
M. Farrugia
Dec 9th 2010, 15:07
P.J. Mifsud you are living in another planet or else during the sprint and autunm migration you are not in Malta. NGOs protest not against the illegal hunting but on all animal welfare issues. They join in the Bird Gaurd and Bird watching camps, take part in TV and Radio programme and also report illegal activities to the police and animal welfare officials. I am of the opinion that some of those who write in this blog are among those who are always ready to critise others and they just sit and do nothing. It is about time that your voice is heard. I represent a local NGO and receive a considerable number of calls from the public who want other to make the reports instead of doing themselves. Come on do not be coawrd do nothing for the animals and the nation
c. schembri
Dec 9th 2010, 15:00
M. Bezzina, Jiena natendi il-marsa spiss u naf ir-regolamenti tat-tigrijiet. Ebda ziemel ma jaqla id-daqqiet li qed is-semmi. Ikun hemm judges apposta u jekk xi hadd jabbuza dan jigi penalizat. Id-daqqa tkun fuq is-serkin u mhux fuq iz-ziemel.Qabel titkellem ara x'jghid.
steve bajada
Dec 10th 2010, 07:23
u inti tahseb li ziemel postu man nies u ejja ma tafx li mijjiet ta snin ilu i nies hatfu lokkazjoni u immansaw liz ziemel? dan kollu biex idahhlu il flus . illem spiccaw anke il karettuni allura ghaliex ghandhom izommuhom mghaluqin jew jitlajjaw fit toroq lesti jaqilghu xi daqqa ta karozza msieken dak mhux annimal ukoll . l esportazzjoni tahhom ma tahsibx li iggenerat flus lin nies allura anke l annimali tac cirku listess u tkunux ipokriti . jien ghalijja mhemx cirku jew le l annimal mhux postu mal bniedem jek ma ikunx xi pet.
Richard Cini
Dec 9th 2010, 14:15
What everyone should do is NOT to vote. That is the only way how to get our message through. That we are disgusted with ALL of them.
Robert Callus
Dec 9th 2010, 18:16
Your comment is very unfair. The Greens never cut any corners, especially when it comes to environmental issues and animal rights. Not voting will not make any difference for the duopoly.
It will NOT give the right message.
mary anne farrugia
Dec 9th 2010, 13:25
@ A,Galea - heres an idea for you. why not buy a tiger outfit, lock yourself in a cage and go infront of a kinder garden for the children to see you. that would be way more entertaining. even i would come and watch that show :)
gaffarena joseph
Dec 9th 2010, 13:13
Better if those NGO,s protestedon a more important issues that surely are more important than
those few animals that are kept in good health in that circus.
Let us enjoy this circus that come to visit us once in a while. Why theydo not protest against illegal hunting or give a helping hand to the dog,s santuaries that really need help, instead of going there and making a fool of trhemselves with all the thetrical moves that they made.
Go,to the AA,dogs santuary, and help that young lady that is taking care more than 150 dogs , nearly all by herself.
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 14:50
Interesting logic. But why stop there? Let's not protest against child abuse. After all, child murder is much worse.
Don't think so.
J.Henry
Dec 9th 2010, 15:44
i suggest you do some research before making accusations. as a matter of fact, all us animal rights activists DO multi-task... between helping out with the sanctuaries, helping bird-life in their battle against illegal hunting, and speaking for myself, i'm also a vegetarian AND a single mother.
and where exactly do you get off calling us fools? have you ever stood up for anything in your life? you have no right to judge us. you're yet another person being selfish and not caring about how the animals feel. i can't afford to go see them in their natural habitat, but i don't care, as long as i know they're there, and not being kept in cages. how would you like to be caged all your life and dragged out only to perform silly tricks for people? i'm sure you wouldn't like it.
Raymond Sammut
Dec 9th 2010, 11:33
@ Joseph Cauchi
It should be clear that this protest was aimed at the fact that these are exotic animals held in captivity for a commercial purpose. Keeping these animals in captivity cannot be justified simply by saying that they were "born in captivity".
Captivity, like slavery, remains captivity even if you were born into it. The exotic animal needs to continue on in the way it had evolved in the wild. Even a zoo environment is hard on these wild animals, though at least there they are in a fixed location, and sometimes are part of a species protection program.
Animal welfare groups around the world also mount campaigns against exploitative conduct towards animals in husbandry. For example, egg producers are being encouraged to use free-ranging chickens as opposed to light-controlled cages.
Calling these protesters "hypocrites" is just simply not on. Animal cruelty and exploitation are real, and take many forms. People are affected, no matter how benign the issue may appear on the surface. The EU will need to start and gradually phase out this type of circuses, as has been done in several countries, and promote instead creativity in the circus.
Steve Zammit
Dec 9th 2010, 18:13
Well said
PJ Mifsud
Dec 9th 2010, 11:21
Can any of the loud-mouthed protesting demonstrators explain to me the reason why they never protest against the senseless slaughter of thousands of migratory birds by local hunters who pride themselves as being conservationists.
I suppose that birds are also animals and the fact that they are ruthlessly slaughtered as a sport (sic) also constitutes animal cruelty, exploitation and disregard of animal rights. This is blatantly a case of having two weights and two measures.
The real reason may be attributed to cowardice. Protesting against visiting circuses once annually does not involve meeting any real and solid opposition. Protesting against the senseless slaughter of birds would attract the ire and the savage reaction of hunters who are renowned for the respect they show to others who hold opposing views.
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 13:18
You must have been away from Malta for a long time if you have never witnessed an anti-hunting protest.
e vassallo
Dec 9th 2010, 10:27
Where all these animals and nature lovers were, when last month I saw 3 trees of over 40 years of age being destroyed because they needed to restructure a small central strip or roundabout !!!
I would love to have a look in one of these persons house to check maybe they have a small bird in a cage or an aquarium full of fish. It's nice to be in front line of a protest for some publicity. Why they don't go and help some dogs centuries instead of loosing time doing 'Circus acts in front of a Circus'. Clowns!!
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 13:19
Two wrongs don't make a right.
Steve Zammit
Dec 9th 2010, 15:58
We are talking about tigers, lions and bears, not a fish or a canary. While the latter have been domesticated for centuries and are considered as pets, we are taliking about animals that do not belong in cages but in the wild where nature intended them to be and aren't pets,. Simple as that.
Yes, unfortunetly trees are being shamefully uprooted. That is wrong and this is wrong too. A local NGO a few weeks ago exlaimed concern over the uprooting of trees in roundabouts on this newspaper . As Mr.Kenneth Cassar rightly said, two wrongs don't make a right. Many of the persons that attended really do love animals, and yes they do help in abandoned dog homes too and other related issues. So I don't really get your argument...it would be better if instead of critizing, you give a helping hand yourself.
Regards
A,Galea
Dec 9th 2010, 10:21
This is the only chance for us and our children to see live animals of this type in Malta, we have no Zoos and maybe we will not have before 100 years. Stop this nonsense protests. Aren't any more, are for example horses ment to be raced, and more other things.
The rest of Malta wants to see this type of circus with animals
Well done organizers
keep it up and Thanks
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 13:22
Oh, I see. So its ok to harm animals if that's the only way you can see them in person.
Raisa Ferranti
Dec 9th 2010, 15:31
should we also bring over some mountains , rivers , lakes, volcanoes for our children to see , since we don't have these in Malta ?!
Steve Zammit
Dec 9th 2010, 18:12
''This is the only chance for us and our children to see live animals of this type in Malta''
If you desperatly want to see wild animals go on a safari in Africa. Or do like me and watch National Geographic, Animal Planet and Discovery Channel and you see the true beauty of such animals in the wild(their REAL home) as they are meant to be enjoyed!!
When I was a little boy, I use to watch these stations on a daily basis and I still do so now when I have free time. I rather see them on TV then chained up in small cages:(
''The rest of Malta wants to see this type of circus with animals''
Speak for yourself...
O Farrugia
Dec 9th 2010, 21:12
I agree with A. Galea because it is what I think too. Children in Malta don't have any opportunities to see any wild animal. If this circus is the same as last year, it was more of a display of animals.
I would not call it a 'nonsense protest' because the wild animals' lives are compromised due to the lack of mobility and the travelling conditions. When wild animals are born in captivity their chances of survival in the wild are very limited. Unfortunately, its the dominance of mankind that brought this 'captivity lifestyle' about. With circuses and zoos, the cages are there to protect humans at the end of the day. Animals do not understand urban jungle and we do not understand their reactions amongst us, so we ought to respect them more.
In my opinion, it is clearly the law that is failing these animals on the cruelty that goes on behind the scenes in some circuses, and not the people who go and see them. A judge in the UK on this subject acquitting a circus owner of cruelty to train ruled, 'it is legal does not mean it is right'. Shocking!!!
chanel galea
Dec 10th 2010, 12:17
if you want to see these kinds of animals, see them in their true nature, hunting and bathing themselves, not standing on two feet and jumping through hoops
J.Borg
Dec 9th 2010, 09:45
Why generalise, is anyone sure that this circus treat animals bad? Have anyone proof?
These animals are born and raised in a circus, they are not much better then an animal so called lover who has a dog at home that perform silly tricks and dress up in T-shirts, hats and woolies!
Animals that are raised in captivity if send back to the wild are as alien as we are to the enviornment ... a badgie if you open the cage will fly to freedom but if he survives it returns back to feed somwhere to a human as it does not know how to live in the wild!
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 13:25
Is anyone sure that this circus treat animals bad? Of course. Let's ignore coercive training. Don't you think having animals in small cages stacked on each other while travelling long distances, is treating them bad? Enough said, I think.
J.Borg
Dec 10th 2010, 09:17
Dear Kenneth
Same principal that an exotic or not animal that is chosen from a petshop, many of them come from abroad and locked in small boxes tucked in a plane and then ending living in a confined space or cage that for us is home ... or a dog dressed like a little boy strolling with his animal lover caring owner, personally I feel all these are under the same umbrella!
Martha Kane
Dec 9th 2010, 09:01
I have never seen such lack of freedom of expression as i did yesterday , with the organizers being left to do anything and everything to muffle our protests even though they themselves were given every opportunity to promote what they call '' entertainment''. We went there peacefully carrying only candles and teddy bears , not bull hooks and other instruments of torture that are part and parcel of most animal circuses and that cause scars that are pretty evident for those who care to look closely at the footage .This was a pure and blatant act of discrimination from the side of the authorities to stop those of us who went there peacefully to speak up for creatures who do not have a voice let alone a choice to be where they are and this has been duly noted by all. As for animal lover Mr Silvio Zammit . He showed us exactly where his interests are when in this footage he calls the animals ''prodott '' I rest my case !
clint catania
Dec 9th 2010, 08:59
FREEDOM .its a matter of freedom no matter if its a human an animal a bird.Everyone one of these mentioned have feelings.Take away my freedom and i m done.
Darren Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 08:59
Why don't these NGOs protest against human exploitation first. Something which we see and feel around us everyday like having to face political injustices at the workplace, removal of leave days which fall on holidays, voting against maternity leave extension amongst others .
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 13:26
Why not protest against both human and animal exploitation. You will find that several of the protesters do both.
victor caruana
Dec 9th 2010, 08:41
The problem is that in order to make these circus visits economically viable schools are given the approval to organise visits by school children who are natural lovers of animals. Sort of political back scratching.
In order to stop such abuses on animals and discourage them coming over here a campaign should be started advising parents not to opt for their children to go to the circus with their school. Then a pre arranged riskless flow of revenue will be cut short.
annalise falzon
Dec 10th 2010, 00:04
the campaign is ongoing and has been for ages. let me know when you want to pick up posters to give to schools. you can email us on [email protected]
annalise
Alison Bezzina
Dec 9th 2010, 08:23
For more lovely scenes check this out : http://www.alisonbezzina.com/circus-cruelty/
Joseph Cauchi
Dec 9th 2010, 05:33
Part 2.
Why don’t you, all protesters and so-called animal-lovers, visit one of these “sate-of-the-art” farms and see for yourself the living conditions of these poor and helpless animals?
Is any one of you prepared to live in an enclosed pen for 24 x 7 x 365, as these Maltese pigs and cows do?
Or is it that you are only after the media spot-light because, unfortunately the media in Malta only gives exposure to animal living conditions in circuses, but NOT to animals in our farms?
Show us that you are serious in your protests and target also those farms in Malta that keep these pigs and cows in these appalling conditions; and if you do, I shall be on one of the hundreds, if not thousands, that will also join you in your struggle for the ameliorating of living conditions of ALL animals in Malta!
Show us you mean business and that you are NOT hypocrites but real animal lovers!
JC.
Steffi Thake
Dec 9th 2010, 09:34
I think you raise a very valid point and the subject needs to be looked into properly by NGOs, but as much as the conditions of farms aren't perfect, they're not as bad as other countries! The EU has better welfare regulations that the US for example. There are other ways people can protest against something like that, by not buying Maltese meat and buying free range, or by simply becoming a vegetarian or even a vegan, there don't need to be street protests for stuff like that. You can do them yourself on a more personal level.
You don't have to have a go at the people who are trying to make a difference for certain animals and not others when you have no idea whether they're doing something about it or not! These 300 people felt that seeing animals performing in front of them the way they are in a circus is too inhumane for them to sit back and do nothing about it, and they protested in front of people who may not know whats going on behind the scenes at an animal circus. That was the point of the protest! Awareness!
alan Montanaro
Dec 9th 2010, 11:08
Our house is a cage??? Thats got to be one of the stupidest arguments I've ever heard. Last time i checked i could leave my house when and as often as i pleased. And I've got no master forcing me to stand on my head for a scrap of food. And to insinuate that circuses are doing these animals a favour because "they were born in captivity" is arrogance beyond belief!
@ Mr Cauch, thats was quite a rant - And I still don;t know whether you're arguing in favour of having animals in circuses, or whether you're against the abysmal treatment of animals in farms.
Either way, you can't ignore the fundamental difference that cows and pigs are bred for food, whilst Tigers and hippos are being used as crude entertainment. Any argument that circuses are educational are rubbish because nowhere in the wild would you see tigers balancing on one leg.
Joseph Cauchi
Dec 9th 2010, 05:31
Part 1.
To all those animal protesters I have to say only one word to you.
H Y P O C R I T E S !
Yes, you are all HYPOCRITES, because you are only targeting one section of the problem.
Why don’t you also target other sections of this problem?
Haven’t you noticed how animals in Malta are being treated especially pigs and cows in our so-called state-of-the-art farms?
These pigs and cows are kept in pens which do not permit the animal to move either left, right, forward or backward, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week for three hundred and sixty five days a year (24 x 7 x 365).
They are simply used to produce on the principle of an industrial assembly-line of mass-production!
Is this right and where is the DIGNITY of these animals?
I have noticed from the above video clip, that the pigs of this circus are in much better living conditions than those kept in our Maltese farms!
But no, we do not protest for these animals, because some animals are MORE equal than others!
../continued
R Frendo
Dec 9th 2010, 08:24
Farm animals, the suffering of karozzini horses, the plight of animals used for experiments, the conditions in which animals reared for slaughter are kept in.... the abuse in the pet trade .. all of these are issues that the Animal Rights Coalition is seeking to address. Please join our Animal Rights Coalition on Facebook and we will be so glad to have the support of anybody willing to help us out make this a better world for our friends....
R Frendo
Dec 9th 2010, 08:26
We shall be glad to show you the minutes of many meetings we have had over the past months to show you how we have actively been trying to find the best way to tackle such issues. hence as you see, we are NOT HYPOCRITES! We are the only voice the animals have - please do not resort to abuse before you are aware of facts - documented....
Fabien Sant Fournier
Dec 9th 2010, 11:08
Wow, Cauchi you must be an all seeing god to know that the protestors are only active in protesting to the circus!
protesting against the industrialisation of meat production is a lost cause! The only thing one can do is create awareness about the issue & to stop eating meat. Something I have been doing for the past year.
Matt Bonanno
Dec 9th 2010, 02:43
And then the anti-censorship protests barely managed to scrape together 200. Not saying this isn't a just cause, but where are people's priorities?
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 13:30
While I oppose both censorship and animal circuses, one must understand that censorship, at the most, means limiting freedom of expression. Animal circuses mean life imprisonment and slavery. Both are wrong, but if I were to choose, I would choose the former. Wouldn't you?
Pauline Vella
Dec 9th 2010, 02:29
You have got to be kidding! We live in New York City and the circus travels around the world, there are circuses everywhere. These animals are a part of these peoples lives, they are their breadwinners, they would never dream of hurting the animals...this is not the 1800's. Do you see any scars on these animals? Do you have any idea what it is like to live in the jungle or in a barren land with no food or possibly no water??? These animals are fortunate to have food brought to them. There are children around the world that are starving, yet no one goes out of their way to do a collection to send them food. Yet we are ready to run out and protest against a form of educational entertainment...this is something fun, and should be fun for the whole family.
Please stop making a joke of yourselves and our country. Fight against real issues. Put that energy to good and productive use.
Y Sant
Dec 9th 2010, 09:38
By comparing Malta to New York, you already went off track. When exactly did New York become the perfect moral example of all countries? How can you justify an act simply because it is done in New York?
In any case, let's say that New york is the perfect example. Let's say you, God forbid, end up in prison for a crime you did not commit, but simply because you were tricked into being there. You won't have any scars either, you're fed everyday, in reality you're better off than being in some dangerous ally in the middle of a shoot out, but how would you like being held in captivity? Freedom, even if being free imposes more danger than being held captive, is always the option a human would choose, and I would dare say, what an animal would choose if given the choice.
Also, educational entertainment? lol, go watch the panto.
K Camilleri
Dec 9th 2010, 00:19
People are getting more concerned about animals, and much less concerned about other People. There are much bigger issues against what to protest, issues that effect people in their everyday life, if not during their whole existinnce.
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 13:33
"People are getting more concerned about animals, and much less concerned about other People".
Why don't you organise an anti-human abuse protest. And if you don't, does that mean - using your own logic - that you care neither about people nor animals?
Raisa Ferranti
Dec 9th 2010, 15:40
People have what animals don't , they can speak and reason for themselves , I'm sure if they could speak to us , they would thank all the animal lovers which are trying to make their life easier . I don't mean just for the circus animals but also for those who dedicate their lives in saving stray dogs and cats .
B. Saliba
Dec 8th 2010, 23:41
I do not understand the fact that when people protest against something, other people who do not agree + take part in the protest, criticise that there are other issues to protest about. Why don't you yourself go protest then at what you think is unjust?
Secondly- it does not matter from where the people came, the fact was that at least some took the initiative to protest against what for them was not right
Thirdly- it seems that each argument has to be taken into extremes, the 2 questions I put are= how different are we from animals, would you like to be put into a cage, when obviosuly you do not belong there?
Ryan Ruggier
Dec 8th 2010, 21:51
To those who said that this protest was noisy, unfortunately it was. Even though the intention was for it to be a silent protest in order not to further hurt the animals it turned out to be a very loud one due to the people having to fight against several loud speakers playing cheerful Christmas tunes which had their volume turned up as soon as the people got on the scene to protest. It's also true that the number of people who attended was nowhere near the number of people who RSVP-ed to the event through Facebook. The aim of this even was to raise awareness about what happens behind the scenes of these money making shows, If nobody takes a stand for these animals, then what will?
J. Cutajar
Dec 9th 2010, 10:00
It was nice to hear christmas songs and carols instead of the hypocrites noisy protesters shouting against people going to the circus. What we need is some christmas spirit with christmas songs and not useless noise by the so called protesters. I pity them.
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 13:35
@ J Cutajar:
One doesn't enhance the Christmas spirit by exploiting and harming animals. I thought the Christmas spirit was all about kindness and charity.
R Frendo
Dec 8th 2010, 21:34
Many years ago I was one of those who flocked to see the circus, because i loved animals. Little did I know that there is much suffering behind the scenes. The United Kingdom banned animal circuses. Wht can't we do the same? Let's enjoy the circus - WITHOUT ANIMALS. And to all those who think that we NGOs sit on our backside for most of the year and show our faces when a circus comes along - you are most welcome to join us at any of our monthly Coalition meeting where we show the work that we have put in all the year round. From educational visits to public awareness activities, all I am asking is for greater support to help stop the cruelty on our islands - cruelty in ALL its forms. Please join the Animal Rights Coalition on Facebook and sign the petition. And Mr Zammit - my house is certainly not my cage - I and many others do not profit on the suffering of vulnerable and broken spirits. Bring us a circus, one without animals.
Stephen Koludrovic
Dec 8th 2010, 21:32
Lets not exaggerate on the number of people protesting. Unless there were 200 invisible people there were not more than a hundred at most. cheers.
Jeremy N Grech
Dec 9th 2010, 15:29
Be it a hundred... a fifty.. or even 10 people.... the message was shown and sent :)
Joseph g
Dec 8th 2010, 21:14
1. if the circus was not regulated with all eu regulations it wouldnt be allowed in malta by the authorities.
2. All animals were born in the circus and not in the wild
3. I suggest everyone to read eu regulation abot mobility of circuses
J.Henry
Dec 9th 2010, 16:10
let me ask simply this- were these species always in captivity? obviously not. now, somewhere down the line, this company had plucked the animal out of the wild, held it captive, and forced it's offspring to live in cages.
how is that right?
M.Bezzina
Dec 8th 2010, 21:13
Allura min jirkeb fuq iz ziemel mhux mohqrija u dawk is swat kollha li jaqilaw il marsa waqt it tigrija ??Biex ma nsemmux ukoll l injections li jbellawlhom biex jigru iktar eh!!!
L. Calleja
Dec 8th 2010, 21:06
The protesters behaved in an uncivilised manner by shouting and booing people going inside the circus tents. Those who protested should be ashamed of themselves. What were they trying to do? Scare the children??? A protest should be held in that way. They should have carried placards and not shout towards people. What a bunch of losers they are.
DGalea
Dec 8th 2010, 20:29
Why target circuses? What about the dog fights that are said to be held regularly in the outer harbour area?
annalise falzon
Dec 8th 2010, 21:43
D Galea please report these immeidately to the POLICE! these are illegal. what are you waiting for? stop criticising and do something about it.
I.Calleja
Dec 8th 2010, 22:56
and why not protest again circus animals if there is evidence of animal cruelty going on! and why dont you organise a protest yourself against dog fighting rather than only complianing about and asking why target circuses??? Are you in for the challenge? I would be the first one to join one. I did make my part today by attending to the protest.
Matt Bonanno
Dec 9th 2010, 02:42
Or people who keep birds in cages for that matter
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 06:41
Dog fighting is already illegal. That's the job of the police.
Steve Zammit
Dec 8th 2010, 20:23
I quote from the above interview
''Everyone is kept in cages, even us...our house is a cage''
Silvio you should know better!! The difference is that unlike these animals that belong in the WILD, we have the choice of leaving our house anytime we please to go wherever we want. As far as I know, no one keeps you in your house against your own will! On the other hand, these poor animals are locked in their cages against their own will and are only left out to perform.
The rest about certificates no comment
How childish for you to go on and compare animals such as Tigers, Lions, Bears (That are wild animals) etc to pet domestic dogs!
Animals like Tigers belong in their natural homes=the rainforest and not in cages
Animal Circus=Animal Cruelty
Raisa Ferranti
Dec 8th 2010, 22:58
Proset Steve , cannot compare our home to a cage !! their home is the wild so lets keep it that way. Thanks for all who attended the protest :)
M. Farrugia
Dec 8th 2010, 20:19
@Anthony EllulI said "I don’t know why make protests against circus animals? The masters that take care of their own animals are treating the animals better then themselves and children’s". May I ask Mr. Ellul whether he is employed with the circus or else work and travel with circuses.If he is not an insider how can he say how animals in circuses are treated behind the scene.? We wait for an answer please.
M.zammit
Dec 8th 2010, 20:14
@D.Farrugia Jekk kont vicin tal-protesta qieghed tipprova tinganna bin-nies. Dawk li kienu qed jipprotestaw veru li bdew ikantaw imma l-kant zgur ma wasalx sa hdejn l-animali. Jekk kien hemm xi hadd li ghamel storbju esagerat kienu tal-kummidja stess meta fethu id-diski full on tant li l-pulizija marret tghidilhom sabiex inaqsu l-volum. Lil dawk li kienu qed jipprotesta hadd ma gibdilhom l-attenzjoni. Xi haga li weggatni hafna lili kienet il-gagga fejn kien hemm l-iljun vicin hafna minfejn jghaddu l-karozzi. Jidher li id-diski bdew jinqaddu b'volum gholi sabiex jitfi l-ghajjat ta' dawk li kienu qed jipprotestaw. Proset lil dawk li marru jipprotestaw ghax kienu ta vuci ghal dawk li ma ghandhomx.
Daniel Cuschieri
Dec 8th 2010, 20:08
if the maltese boycott them, simple they wont come again. the organiser is not gonna bring them again if he makes a loss.
Andrea Portelli
Dec 8th 2010, 20:08
Whilst I am against Circus', this is a very uncivilized way of carrying out a protest, with those people present I think their presence and their respective placards would suffice.. it's not as if they can't be seen anyway.
They shout and the circus increases its speaker volumes, they win I'm sorry to say.
and one more thing.. dressing as an animal and banging randomly on a drum and shaking a barricade isn't going to fix much.
Franco Farrugia
Dec 9th 2010, 06:38
Perhaps you should have joined the group and told them what to do in order to 'fix' more. Other than that, you're just a critic sitting down behind your old computer!
Andrea Portelli
Dec 9th 2010, 10:23
I guess so... what a useless sod I am :(
Like I said hold more civilized protests and you attract more people. Fail to do so and you'll remain with the usual 100 (if your even lucky enough to reach that number)
E. Cassar
Dec 8th 2010, 20:02
I was at the show and definitely they scared the animals with their loudness putting in risk many children watching the show. I'm totally against animals cruelty however, I wished to see such protests for human rights first rather than animal rights. i.e. pension at 65yrs, 4 days of leave taken off, increase in the N.I., and much much more...but unfortunately no protests took place!
I.Calleja
Dec 8th 2010, 23:06
your comment shows your egoism to the full!!! you are only interested in YOURSELF - quoting "pension at 65yrs, 4 days of leave taken off, increase in the N.I., and much much more"! While these are'nt nice things however in some cases they are a necessary evil!! But then who's going to speak about animals and their rights?? Not you for sure from what i read! And the best comment was that the protesters scared the animals....then when the animals heard the extra loud music the same organisers were playing they should have ran away from the tent!! Dont make me laugh!!!
John Borg
Dec 8th 2010, 19:49
300 people from 20 NGOs. Wow that's an average of 15 people from each NGO assuming no one else joined in. Would be interesting to compare these numbers to those attending to the circus shows.
Randolph Spiteri
Dec 8th 2010, 19:48
Since when does a group of 300 people protesting qualify as "the public" ?? I believe the majority of the "the real public" (400,000 +) have a different opinion and will enjoy the circus shows as they have a right to, since this is all legal and in accordance with EU regulations.
Noel Calleja
Dec 8th 2010, 19:35
Why not protest as well about the fact that no Animal Ambulance is available in Malta for private pet owners? Isn't this a better cause to sound your voice to?
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 06:49
Why not organise the protest yourself? Nobody's stopping you.
Marcel Ellis
Dec 8th 2010, 19:26
How could these animal rights activists say animals are mis treated? The video above clearly sows how "lovingly" they are cared for. For more evidence of how circus animals are lovingly trained, why not have a look at some more tender loving treatment which goes on behind the scenes? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2KEjdcceng
Steve Zammit
Dec 8th 2010, 20:57
To add on:
There was also a female lion in a very small cage situated less then a metre away from the pavement where persons and cars wre passing by. If the circus really loved animals it wouldn't leave a female lion to be kept in such a shabby location with all that disturbance taking place.
R. Caruana
Dec 8th 2010, 19:23
20 NGOs...300 protesters. Wow, that's not even all the committee members of the NGOs taking part!
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 06:50
What difference does that make? Would slavery be ok if only a few persons protested against it?
Joe Camilleri
Dec 8th 2010, 19:21
Rowdy behavior, I bet they scared the annimals.
And btw, there were not 300 people. It really shows how the maltese take these kind of silly protests with a pinch of salt.
Franco Farrugia
Dec 8th 2010, 19:43
If, as you claim, the MALTESE are taking these protests 'with a pinch of salt', then, allow me to say that the Maltese do not deserve any better than what they are presently getting and that they do not deserve to be treated better than they are now. Animals need to be taken care of much more than human beings, because whereas the latter can stand up and defend themselves, four-legged animals cannot. And i say 'four-legged' because you seem to forget that we are also animals. Some say, an inferior species!
Joseph Debattista
Dec 8th 2010, 20:06
One can see and watch these kind of circus performances all over the world. Even on T.V. mind you. You protesters get a life and let others enjoy.
Franco Farrugia
Dec 9th 2010, 06:34
@ Mr Debattista: On the contrary, sir, I think that it's those who have no life and find the need to fill their time and that of their children by going to watch an animal-circus, who need to 'get a life'. Protesters have the well-being of animals at heart and that is a noble thing. Those protesters left the warmth of their homes, or their other forms of entertainment, in order to be a voice to those poor, defenceless animals! I think that's saying a lot! A real lot!
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 06:51
@ Joseph Debattista:
Ah, everybody's doing it, so why don't we? Interesting logic.
Anthony Ellul
Dec 8th 2010, 19:20
I don’t know why make protests against circus animals? The masters that take care of their own animals are treating the animals better then themselves and children’s. It is better to make protests against the natural greens area that are being destroyed and used for building while no one is noticing that we are destroying the animals and birds and living creatures that exists in Malta. Those animals of the circus are protected, but in Malta the creatures are protected? ????
Franco Farrugia
Dec 8th 2010, 19:45
Any person who speaks about circus animals being protected, should go himself and put himself inside those cages himself, since, as he says, animals are well-protected. Animals in circus cannot be protected because circus-life itself is a menace to these animals. These animals' places is in the wild, their natural habitat.
C. Farrugia
Dec 8th 2010, 19:56
I love animals and I'm all against their exploitation ANYWHERE....but please, let the people who enjoy the circus do so! There are so many exploitations on this island and everywhere else in the world... how can anyone stop the moguls? Smoking kills... dangerous driving kills... drugs kill.... The human animal is also used like a puppet in so many other ways....
I do abhor any physical abuse towards circus animals...but people who are middle aged I have a question for you. When you were young and taken to the circus by your school...what do you remember about it, and what made you the most excited? The Trapeze? The clowns?..... I bet it was the animals. It's the only Maltese children's opportunity to experience what a live tiger or elephant looks like.....there is no other way to do so unless they go abroad. And NOT everyone affords to do so. Any by the way, shall we have protests for the close-down of Zoos as well, isn't that exploitation too??
C. Borg
Dec 8th 2010, 21:09
I think what Mr. Ellul is trying to say is that whilst these animals are somewhat sheltered our local animals and their natural habitat is vanishing before our very eyes thanks to developers, however for this nobody protests.
The answer is simple. None of the celebrities taking part in this protest dare step on any developers toes because they will be making powerful enemies.
How does the saying go? Money talks and bu11$h!T walks.
Kenneth Cassar
Dec 9th 2010, 06:53
@ Anthony Ellul:
"The masters that take care of their own animals are treating the animals better then themselves and children’s".
Do you realise that if what you say is true, the "masters" would be prosecuted and charged with child abuse?
D. Farrugia
Dec 8th 2010, 19:06
Next time please organise a silent protest. There is no need to be loud to put the message across. Simply put, the protest has exacerbated the noise which is definitely not in the best interest of the animals. And to clear any shadow of doubt, I am against cricuses that feature animals. But I refuse to join a loud protest.
Franco Farrugia
Dec 8th 2010, 19:47
It seems, then, that you have never been to a mass-meeting, a protest march or some other public manifestation. Do you have to criticise the noise coming from 300 - Joe Camilleri seems to have counted them and claims there weren't as much - people in the dead of night? And you claim to be against animals in circuses? You should have been there yourself, then.
Tony Caruana
Dec 8th 2010, 19:03
Wow as many as that eh ?
J. J. Borg
Dec 8th 2010, 19:28
At least they're not sitting on the butt staring at a computer screen!
Tony Caruana
Dec 8th 2010, 23:13
Better than staring at stupid Plants
Chris Galea
Dec 8th 2010, 19:03
funnier than the clowns of the circus !!!!
G Caruana
Dec 8th 2010, 19:03
Scary animals.
Please choose the reason of your report below: