Protest march as circus animals invade Floriana
Protesters walked through Valletta yesterday evening calling for an end to the use of animals in circuses, even as lions, a hippo and a camel were drawing curious stares from the public just up the road in Floriana.
A circus agent who has been refused a police licence to set up a big top in a car park adjacent to the Granaries had brought his animals down from Kordin in open pens and set them up by the side of the road.
The agent, Johann Said, said he could not keep the animals “closed up any longer”.
Mr Said has had an 11th hour application to set up in Marsa instead accepted and was last night making preparations to run a first show tomorrow.
Meanwhile, one of the protestors, Myriam Kirmond of the Animal Rights Coalition, said circuses should no longer be welcomed in the country.
“We want their existence to stop – it is cruel as animals are always kept in small cages,” she said.
The protestors walked from City Gate to Great Siege Square where several bands played music.
The campaign is called Animal Circus = Animal Cruelty and aims to raise awareness about exploitation and cruelty involved in animal circuses.
“We should start campaigning for non-animal circuses instead,” she said.
Another circus involving animals is being held in Naxxar over the Christmas period.
Mr Said, however, has been barred by the police from setting up in Floriana even though a tribunal – to which he had appealed after the Police Commissioner turned down his application – ordered the police to issue a permit.
The shows were meant to have started on Tuesday but police officers blocked the car park.
Although the public could not watch any shows yesterday, passers-by stopped to gawk at the animals inside their pens on the street just by the planned venue.
A long line of circus trucks and pens were last night being moved to Marsa.
Mr Said said the move was without prejudice to a judicial protest he has filed against Police Commissioner John Rizzo after the Administrative Review Tribunal had instructed the police to allow him to operate.
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51 Comments
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Bronwyn Cini
Dec 15th 2012, 16:03
I am no advocating that animal circuses are appropriate anymore but surely these protestors could fight for the dog fights that happen throughout the year and regularly. Also it's seems hypocritical to me that's it's ok to lock your pets up in small terraces which are no bigger than these cages!!!
keith perry
Dec 14th 2012, 10:12
What a country! most of the complainers are only mentioning their feelings about protesters not the Animals - not one reply about the video from them, they just want to be entertained by animals in cages.
You talk of the hypocrisy of others actions but cite cases you have observed, re fish or birds and say 'they should protest about that'! But did YOU do anything about it? no? thats Hypocrisy!
Albert Borg
Dec 14th 2012, 08:16
Please can these animal lovers make a protest for us residents that our homes are air-raided by pigeons. We are also living in a cage-like situation in our homes as a neighbour may decide to begin pigeon racing hobby in a residintial area and let them fly over our homes with the consequences that thier dirty BOMBING does us. CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME. It's better to see how some humans are living.
Antoine Ferrito
Dec 14th 2012, 07:17
Dear annimalisti, how about a trip to the vatican?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121202/world/pope-meets-circus-performers.447719
E Schembri
Dec 14th 2012, 10:35
What rubbish!
If you eat meat and fish, and have a pet dog, cat, bird or fish tank, you are no better than the circus owners as you too use animals for your own pleasure and needs.
The only difference is that the pope is an easy target for church-haters, but in reality, YOU are no different.
A.f Ellul
Dec 14th 2012, 06:39
To make a protest against the Circus animals ,first have to protest against of destroying nature and creatures.In Malta have always destroyed the crows and the national bird(Merill) and even other birds.Now what next?
carlo Saliba Bonnici
Dec 14th 2012, 00:11
we bring these things every year and every year we make the same fuss and nothing changes,see them is nice but seeing them perform just to make people lough i just hate it,traning a dog i one thing coz even the dog will start to like you and fish in aquarium are more like decorations than pets,i love animals and i love there nature but i can't stand watching them being intertainment for people.
Ms.D. Galea
Dec 13th 2012, 22:43
I have yet to see some of these animal loving groups protesting publicly in Marsa, where, it is well known that dog fights occur regularly.
Shirley Ann Brincat
Dec 13th 2012, 22:36
Just drove past the Addolorata cemetry and had a great shock to see that the circus tents etc have all been put upand parked in the grounds next to the cemetry. Who authorised such a disrespectful thing? Whoever is concerned should be ashamed. If people want to enjoy a circus, they can always look around them.
Christian Sciberras
Dec 13th 2012, 20:16
SURE!
Let's get rid of animals in small cages and instead put humans in small cages!!!!
James Sultana
Dec 13th 2012, 18:56
Hypocrisy sees no end. So many organized protests campaigning for animal rights and demanding that circuses with animals should be banned, but at the same time they don't care for the rights of the circus staff's children. As if a lion in a cage is denial of natural habitat but a child forced to live as a gypsy receiving "education" in one month periods in different countries is normal
Carmel Camilleri
Dec 13th 2012, 18:46
What right has Myriam Kirmond to deny the public from this entertainment.? Who is Governing this country? Just a couple of no ones or the Government elected by the people.? Myriam should be stopped from interfering with the circus. She can protest as much as she likes but let us enjoy ourselves seeing the animals in the circus.
P. Attard
Dec 13th 2012, 21:00
Agree with you one hundred per cent Mr. Camilleri! As I had said on other occasions regarding this matter; I am a true animal lover but don't agree with exagerations!
Mr Lawrence Calleja
Dec 13th 2012, 17:38
At least the police did their part. Why don't all these animal activists hire top lawyers and take these circus promoters to Court. It seems that all these protesters know how to do is walk around the streets chanting slogans and holding silly banners.
Joseph Barbara
Dec 13th 2012, 16:23
What a bunch of hypocrites some people are! These protests take place every time a circus comes to Malta. Have we forgotten that we still shoot and kill hundreds of birds on a regular basis each year? And yet, I don't recall that a protest march against this atrocity takes place every year. I'd like to see Myriam Kirmond leading a protest march with the opening of every hunting season.
keith perry
Dec 13th 2012, 15:59
Well circus lovers and those who try to deflect the issue to other animals - just what did YOU do about those situations you mention?
This is Circus life for you : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv5NzOHwP3g
Britains last circus elephant.. due to public pressure Annie now has freedom to roam in retirement.
Animals in ciruses are now banned in UK and her owners were found guilty a month ago.
George Abela
Dec 13th 2012, 15:58
when i was young in chrismas i used to go and watch a circus with family so if these animal rights junkies have it there way i will not be able to anymore. They say its unfair to keep animals in small cages, but i tell them that they must go and tell everyone whos got an aquarium, birds , dogs, cats etc to set them free as thats cruelty. as long as they arent beaten up and well looked its ok
fleur cilia buckett
Dec 13th 2012, 16:32
and you think to train ANY animal there isnt some sort of abuse that is carried out?!!
Ms Maria Vella
Dec 13th 2012, 16:58
Is that all you can think of? Not being able to see animals? Do you think it is natural for an elephant to perform tricks for example? If you want to see animals then save up and go see them in their natural habitat
C Calafato
Dec 13th 2012, 21:04
@fleur cilia
Are you shoes of leather?
do you eat meat?
Do you use medicines? ( they are animal tested)
do you have a pet at home that you keep closed at home all day while you are at work?
Leave us enjoy a circus in peace please
keith perry
Dec 13th 2012, 15:41
Absolute stupidity that a Hippo is in a small flimsy makeshift 'cage' like that with people so close! to all the clever people below, do you know that Hippos are the biggest killers of people in Africa? having seen how fast a hippo can go from standing still when startled that 'cage' wouldnt be any barrier and the people would be in great danger - wonder if you would say aaah if were in its way?
N Chetcuti
Dec 13th 2012, 14:14
No animals perform in the Cirque du Soleil. Notwithstanding this it is always an excellent performance watched by millions during the year. What's keeping the organizers from bringing such a show on our shores?
Victor Rodenas
Dec 13th 2012, 16:19
Cirque du Soleil is very expensive to see,12 years ago it costed about 70 dollars to watch,I do not think that many people can afford that much.Now it must cost much more.
Michelle Caruana
Dec 14th 2012, 09:23
Totally agree. I saw the Cirque du Soleil in London a few years ago, fabulous entertainment by people not animals in tiny cages where they can hardly move around.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGkm78aVl1g
Kevin Grixti
Dec 13th 2012, 13:34
- But it is all right to close dogs in farms
- It is all right to leave pets on the roof all day
- It is completely ok to leave your pet outside in the road all night
- ofc lock a small bird in a small cage for all day
- Its ok to leave a husky in this hot weather
People are just getting obsessed with animals cruelty but small things are considered 'normal' and ignored
fleur cilia buckett
Dec 13th 2012, 16:33
animal activists address all forms of animal cruelty!
Maria Williams
Dec 13th 2012, 21:33
Mr Grixti, all the situations you mentioned are all examples of cruelty, probably practised by the same people who think it's entertainment to watch abused animals in a circus. People who care for animals care about all animals (including birds) and try to improve their situation in any way they can. it is just that some campaigns are more high profile than others.
M Mallia
Dec 13th 2012, 13:33
Dak x'qieghed jiekol? Tarmac?
I Bugeja
Dec 13th 2012, 13:24
Irrispective of whether it is cruel or not on the animals, have the police thought of people in Naxxar and Marsa as second class citizens compared to those in Floriana?
Joseph Zahra
Dec 13th 2012, 13:00
Dejjem l-istess ucuh jaghmlu panic. Halluna ingawduh u nghixu fil-paci
Karl Consiglio
Dec 13th 2012, 12:33
I like the circus having animals ,its just not necessary to expect them to perform tricks.
A Sultana
Dec 13th 2012, 14:21
and spend their entire lives in small cages/pens and travel long distances shut in containers? that's why i don't have any birds because i prefer "making" mine those living outside by feeding them scraps of bread and put out water for them in summer. i only have a dog which is 90% blind and it's not a natural breed. it's was a stray poodle. there's no place in the wild for such dogs.
Karl Consiglio
Dec 13th 2012, 20:04
Ok not their entire lives, they deserve a pension like the rest of us.
Maria Williams
Dec 13th 2012, 21:36
Have you ever wondered what happens to circus animals when they can no longer perform and so become unprofitable! I don't think pension comes into it!
Oswald Spiteri
Dec 13th 2012, 12:33
A few weeks ago, there was an exhibition of colourful song birds, HUNDREDS of them in small Cages. So by the same criteria of these so called 'anti animal circuses' rightists, these birds should have been released and let free, because it is not right to keep animals in cages.
Ms Donna Degaetano
Dec 13th 2012, 15:12
And a few weeks before that there was a tropical fish show held at Mount Carmel hospital. The state of some of the fish confined to very small aquariums was a sorry sight. I bet you that most people protesting about circus animals have a bird, fish, hamster, rabbit or something else at home in a cage. But because they love it and they call it their pet they don't mind it being kept in a cage.
keith perry
Dec 13th 2012, 16:11
Ms Donna Degaetano: thats a very sweeping bet your making - would you care to sustantiate such a claim?
are you just saying people on the little island of Malta? Other countries have strict laws on keeping Animals and their treatment.
please watch the video. theres a subtle difference between an elephant and a hamster in a cage in someones house!
Maria Williams
Dec 13th 2012, 21:40
Ms Degaetano, you obviously cared about the fish, did you protest to anyone about the state they were in? If everyone who cares speaks out, hopefully things will eventually improve for ALL animals.
Oswald Spiteri
Dec 13th 2012, 12:27
I am totally against any form of animal cruelty. But if i remember correctly last year, when the Doctor from the local animal welfare watchdog carried out an impromptu inspection at a Circus in Floriana, he found one of the owners "playing with a tiger in her cage" - This definitely does not indicate any animal cruelty. This is the same way as what we do with our cats and dogs in our homes !!!
Robert Callus
Dec 13th 2012, 12:43
So if you go to prison and see the warders playing card with the inmates you assume they're happy? Are you OK with leaving an innocent (like these animals are) person in jail, forced to do things that aren't in his nature because he might actually enjoy playing a game of cards?
Francis Grech
Dec 13th 2012, 14:10
I agree with you 100% Oswald circus animals are well looked after and well fed they are trained to perform to entertain people and young children all these people that are complaining about these animals for being caged are all frustrated glum people that have nothing better else to do with their boring lives, and take pleasure for spoiling other people lives.
Michael Asquith
Dec 14th 2012, 07:44
@ Francis Grech
You sum up in one paragraph what is so wrong and disturbing about the general Maltese attitude to animals.
Charles Mangion
Dec 13th 2012, 12:14
Why only Circus annimals hey give great joy to a lot of families how about birds chicckens and rabbits they never protest
Pierre Micallef-Grimaud
Dec 13th 2012, 12:03
“We want their existence to stop – it is cruel as animals are always kept in small cages,” she said. Perhaps Myriam Kirmond was trying to say that criminals should be kept in small cages, hearing so much wrong doing on the news, lately.
Info Note
Dec 13th 2012, 11:50
In my opinion, this is a case where people should vote with their wallets.
The circus protestors need to 'educate' the public, explaining why they should not go to these events.
Then if the public agrees, people will not go, and demand will fall which in turn will make other circuses not come to Malta.
This is assuming that the circus is not illegal in any way under Maltese and EU law.
Mr Anthony Zarb
Dec 13th 2012, 11:02
It really hurt my heart to hear that a local Christian Church was to organise a Xmas Gospel Service under the Circus tent in Naxxar. If I am not mistaken it was held yesterday. Christians should be the first to set the example so that animals are not mistreated. This Service only helped to indirectly publicise the Circus. Kindly note all Christians..
Andre` Vella
Dec 13th 2012, 10:59
AD only party opposing animals in circuses....PNPL bah!
Charles Micallef
Dec 13th 2012, 10:05
Nothing run smooth in this country, and the poor animals are made to suffer !
mario delicata
Dec 13th 2012, 09:41
I cant understnad, Mr.Said had 2 court sentences in his favor. The Police blocked the car park. So is the Police stronger that the court ? Hawadni ha nifhmek.
Victor Rodenas
Dec 13th 2012, 09:39
Annimals must not be kept in cages even if they were born in cages but what about birds in cages and fish in acquariums.Shall we also protest against caged birds and the goldfish we keep at home,....are all annimals equal?
C Cassar
Dec 13th 2012, 11:08
caged birds anf fish in tanks at home are just as bad. If animals are kept in confinement for scientific studies in relation to protrecting and enhancing thier habitats then that is acceptable.
Please choose the reason of your report below: