Stop Korea from legalizing dog meat consumption/ URGENT!!!

[Renee`]

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/save-dogs-in-korea

Target:Mayor Oh Se-hoon, President Lee Myung-BakSponsored by: C.A.R.E (Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth), KAAP (Korean Association for Animal Protection)

DOGS IN KOREA NEED YOUR HELP DESPERATELY !!!
for campaign updates, please visit
http://care.savedogsinkorea.com-a.googlepages.com/main2

Animals in Korea currently are in a horrible situation. But we find it too difficult for us to protect our suffering furry friends on our own in this country.

1. Korea is a country of cruelty to animals. A large number of people in Korea have no trouble accepting the fact that animals are being taken advantage of and mistreated as long as it is done for human purposes.

The idea of living a well-off life predominates over this nation nowadays, and the reckless experiments done on animals are notorious. For those who have their hearts set on profit oriented greed, improving animals' inferior and ruthless living conditions doesn't concern them a bit. These poor creatures are born and live until they get slaughtered in the same confined filthy places where no living soul can bear to stand even for a single minute. Furthermore, animals living in such condition are vulnerable to various kinds of deadly viruses and diseases.

Korea is now facing the sky rocketing spread of AI virus among poultry brought about by horrific living environments. And their way of handling this calamity is to bury all those birds in the ground ALIVE.

Animal rights activists had reported the very site to the press to notify the society about this act of brutality but it was never made in to a written article because of one single phone call from the government saying that national interests should be taken into consideration above all.

2. Korea is a DOG EATING country. China, Vietnam and Korea are the only three countries left in Asia that allow dogs to be eaten, though consuming dog meat has been somewhat illegal in Korea up till now. But the Korean government is now trying to pass a bill that would legalize dogs to be a part of livestock. If such a thing comes to reality, no dogs in Korea are guaranteed of their safety or protection and, worst of all, THEIR LIVES!

3. At the same time, there are many people who love our canine friends. The number of people who own dogs (as a pet) is increasing and there are still a great number of people who oppose 'dog meat' in Korea.

However, unfortunately, some Koreans now perceive 'eating dog' as a matter of personal choice and taste. This is due to the Korean government and some media who are knowingly involved in convincing citizens to believe so.

As seen, a tense debate over 'dog meat' is prevailing currently. This debate is further fueled by the Korean government trying to pass a bill to legalize butchering dogs (dog as a livestock) only because it believes that there are people who eat dogs.

The city of Seoul has announced that it will hold a public hearing in May of 2008. It is simply a matter of time before the bill is passed and Korea would be the first and the only nation that legally allows the killing and eating of dogs.

4. For dogs that are eventually killed for consumption, if they even have a life, it is a life of sheer misery. We have found that even lost, abandoned and stolen dogs are sacrificed for meat consumption besides ones from dog farms. Owners of some dog farms have the dog's eardrum ruptured by putting a hot iron into dog's ear. This is done because they don't want the dogs to bark while they are kept in cages. Also, because dogs get extremely stressed in the farm cages, they often get into fight and some dogs are bitten to death. Some people even set the dogs on fire until death!
On the way to market from farm, several dogs are put together into a tiny net. They say this is because they don't want to give enough room for the dogs to fight. When arriving at the market, dogs are again kept in small cages while waiting for a couple of days until 'selected' as meat. They are rarely fed. Dogs see other dogs led away and killed. Dogs' eyes shy away from humans. Dogs try to avoid attention by only showing their back to not to be selected earlier than others. Dogs tremble with fear and their heads are bent down. They are seized with terror but all they can do is wait for death.

5. Demand for 'dog meat' can increase if the bill is passed. Even cosmetics that contain some part of dog were introduced. People might import dogs that were bred in countries such as Vietnam and China for lower prices. This is a possible scenario that can really happen. And there may be more serious problems beyond Korea.

6. But there is hope. With a straight and righteous mind, there is nothing we can not accomplish. Animal cruelty recognizes no boundaries.

Korea is a nation with high self-respect that values its own dignity more than anything else. The Korean government has been manipulating the media and celebrities in our society to sign a %u201Cstatement of non-intervention regarding the dog meat issue. Mass media in Korea hypnotizes the public into believing dog meat is cultural heritage to be proud of. Let me give you an example:


There is a Korean TV program called "Chattering of Beauties" that hosts female foreigners living in Korea. The female foreigners talk about various issues that they encountered in their personal life while in Korea. One of the issues that is discussed frequently is their experience with dog meat. Their response on the tv show is, of course, that they accept and respect dog meat as traditional Korean cuisine, which simply comes out of their respect for the Korean public.

This is one of many examples for how the mass media in Korea spreads and implants the idea of accepting dog meat as Korean pride and tradition into the public's mind.

However, the Korean government is also very afraid of the country's international image being tarnished by legalizing the trade of dog meat. The Korean government is very sensitive to world wide public opinions on the matter of the use of dog meat for human consumption. Protests and campaigns by leading animal protection societies in other countries on the issue of dog meat trade in South Korea are very important in preparing the legislation for the banning of dog meat in Korea. During the Seoul Olympics, the government actually banned dog meat in Korea because of the worldwide opposition on dog meat trade in South Korea. The sole reason and motive for the recent amendment of the Korean Animal Protection Law by the Korean government was to improve Korea's international image. International pressure on the issue of dog meat in Korea would force the Korean government to create enforceable laws that ban butchering dog for human consumption.

Dogs are animals that have been tamed by humans over a long time. Dogs are neither wild animals nor livestock. We-the human- are responsible for keeping the long-time relationship and friendship with dogs, the only species tamed by humans. Animal related issues recognize no frontier. Everyone all over the world must act now.
Save dogs in Korea. We believe you can.

CARE, Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (http://www.fromcare.org/)
KAAP, Korea Association for Animal Protection (www.kaap.or.kr)



-----------------------------------------------------------
Developments Update

After two days of protests on March 25 and 26, we, CARE and KAAP, visited Taiwan on April 8 at the invitation of EAST, a Taiwanese group. We had a press conference and managed to collect hundreds of thousands of signatures from the Taiwanese, which were delivered to President Lee Myung-bak and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

On April 15 we met with the manager of food sanitation of Seoul Government. We found that Seoul will be making sanitary inspections in May of some 500 dog meat restaurants. If harmful ingredients to cause food poisoning are found in the inspections, the restaurant will be closed down. Seoul will provide standards for hygiene surveillance. After public hearings, it plans to propose administration legislation to the central government. The manager said, "As long as Koreans eat dog meat, relevant institutions are required."

Having celebrated Earth Day on April 20, we tried to pitch a tent for sit-up before the city hall. But we failed to pitch it by officials' interruption. We have had relay protests in front of the city hall since

On April 22 we visited the government of GyeongGi-Do on the news that this local government also plans sanitary supervision for dog meat restaurants. If so, it is most likely that the law on livestock slaughtering will be revised to include dogs.

According to a 2004 report by Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery, it is estimated that some 2 million meat dogs are raised and about the same numbers are slaughtered every year for consumption in Korea. Another survey shows about 20 thousand meat dogs are traded a day across Korea.

Whenever bird flu breaks out in Korea, a great number of chickens, ducks and pigs are buried alive. We are worried if dogs are classified as livestock, those in bird flu outbreak areas should be buried alive as well.

We would like to ask you to distribute this message to your subscribers and other animal protection groups. We also would like you to send protest e-mails at the following addresses.

1.The City of Seoul
Email: [e-mail]

Mayor of Seoul Mr. Oh Se-hoon
Email: [e-mail]

2. Korean President Mr. Lee Myung-bak
Email: [e-mail]

3. The Provincial Governor of Kyungki-do Kim, Moon-soo

Email: [e-mail]


DOGS IN KOREA NEED YOUR HELP DESPERATELY !!!

[Vladimir]

About the only thing that will have an influence, is international pressure to shame Korea into recognizing the damage to its public image. This, they ARE concerned about.

[Renee`]

EXACTLY!! They are all about "face".

[Wanda P]

I agree they are all about now, not the future the chinese have a dictator ship that controls food sources in these countrys, and when u are desperate and have had your home stolen from for the olymipic buildings beeing built, the chinese took peoples home and kicked them into the streets, millions of them.. it is horrendous, we have to start at some level of human compassion and understanding for all that lives.. u can't just take the blue doplphine that has been extinct now due to the chinese wanting a bay or needed the passage way in which all these bloved aquatic animals, once lived..GONE Forever,, boy cot chinese is hard as they have ahuge manopoly, not impossible but challenging.. Korea, is going to take a smooth talker to try and get thru to the koreans,, only they can make change.. we can yell.. and i will.. luv ww

[Linda]

I agree Vladimir we can write letters shaming them.

The Korean government has been manipulating the media and celebrities in our society to sign a %u201Cstatement of non-intervention regarding the dog meat issue. Mass media in Korea hypnotizes the public into believing dog meat is cultural heritage to be proud of. (If we can send this part to the celebrities that are in pet organizations, we can get them to wake up and act against it.)

During the Seoul Olympics, the government actually banned dog meat in Korea because of the worldwide opposition on dog meat trade in South Korea. The sole reason and motive for the recent amendment of the Korean Animal Protection Law by the Korean government was to improve Korea's international image. International pressure on the issue of dog meat in Korea would force the Korean government to create enforceable laws that ban butchering dog for human consumption. (It's worse now since they want to make dog into live stock. I am thinking that our efforts are not as strong this time around to ban dog meat for the Bijing Olympics in China.)
To me their is no such "Korean Animals Protection Law" if they don't inforce laws.

[Linda]

Thanks Renee for posting this petition. This is very URGENT! and must be passed to everyone.

[Dia]

Please keep in mind that not all Koreans eat dog meat. The majority eat dog meat through traditional teachings.

Not all dogs are kept in cages mainly for the production of dog meat. Dogs can be kidnapped and strays are often sold to markets for this purpose.

You are being extremely biased without knowing all of the facts. You cannot blame a culture for being a culture. As for the burnings, many of those occur in Chinese territories not in Korea. Japan has whaling. China poaches tigers and turtles among other things.

I do not agree with human consumption of anything that is not prey material.

[Renee`]

This is a LOT of dog meat restaurants!!!!


On April 15 we met with the manager of food sanitation of Seoul Government. We found that Seoul will be making sanitary inspections in May of some 500 dog meat restaurants.

[Vladimir]

You are being extremely biased without knowing all of the facts. You cannot blame a culture for being a culture.

Honestly, I have to say that personally, I DO "blame a culture for being a culture," and in a sense, although I can speak only for myself, I also feel that is what some of the posters here have in mind without articulating it. Some "cultures" (obviously, more than this one in discussion here), have not only terribly selfish and narcissistic frameworks, but ones which seem "stuck in time" developmentally; that is, the practices of so-called "traditional" methodologies and medical treatments that should be seen for what they are: cruel. There are "cultures," for example, that believe that the pain suffered by an animal during it's killing enhances the flavor, and so they pursue great lengths to ensure a prolonged and painful death. I will not accept this sort of callousness explained away merely by relying on clichés (and I am not referring to your post, just to be clear) regarding "tradition" and "culture." For me, there is no "wiggle room," these people are ignorant and barbaric oafs, undeserving of our respect in any way. For me, these practices by these "cultures" bring shame to the name of man itself.

[Linda]

IDA Protests South Korea's Plan to Classify Dogs as Livestock

Demonstrations to be held Friday at South Korean Consulates
in San Francisco and Los Angeles


IDA has long protested the cruelty associated with South Korea's dog and cat meat trade. The country remains one of the few places in the world where dog meat is still eaten. We have been working with a South Korean organization to end the practice, and we urge the government to enforce existing laws that ban dog and cat consumption that are not being enforced.

The push to classify dogs as "livestock" is an attempt by the South Korean government to legalize the practice of eating dogs. The horrific conditions in which dogs are raised for meat on farms as documented during investigations are tragically all too common in South Korea. Not only are the trade in and consumption of dog meat still common, but the dogs are raised in hideous and cruel environments, including animals stacked together in cages where they can barely move for months on end.

Recent widespread bird flu outbreaks raise questions about South Korea's animal husbandry practices. Whenever and wherever this occurs, all chickens and pigs within a certain radius are slaughtered. Worse yet, in South Korea, almost all of them are buried alive. If dogs are classified as livestock, their current dismal care will become much worse, and the struggle to rescue them from the dinner plate will become even harder.

"It's inconceivable that, as the rest of the world is strengthening animal protection laws, the South Korean Government is allowing 'man's best friends' to be boiled alive, beaten, butchered, and eaten under its knowing watch," says IDA president and founder Elliot M. Katz, DVM.



If you live in California, please attend one of IDA's demonstrations in San Francisco or Los Angeles this Friday:

What: Demonstration to Protest the Treatment of Dogs in South Korea
When: Friday, July 18, 2008, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Where: South Korean Consulate, 3500 Clay St., San Francisco

What: Demonstration to Protest the Treatment of Dogs in South Korea
When: Friday, July 18, 2008, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: South Korean Consulate, 3243 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles

For more information on IDA's efforts on behalf of dogs in South Korea, please visit www.idausa.org/campaigns/korea/index.html.













In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi, India, and Cameroon, Africa.

In Defense of Animals is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your donations. Please join today! All donations to IDA are tax-deductible.

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