The Animal Rights Coalition has announced that on Wednesday, the 12th of December it will be holding its annual symbolic protest walk against animal circuses. This walk is envisaged to start at 6.15pm from City Gate Valletta and will come to an end at Great Siege Square,Valletta.

The NGO said that following this walk, a musical event featuring a number of local artistic bands is going to be held at the Royal British Legion, Valletta.

This activity which forms part of the campaign entitled, ‘Animal Circus = Animal Cruelty’ was initiated to raise awareness on the exploitation and cruelty involved in animal circuses.

Continuing their statement the Animals Rights Coalition said that “according to the 1st principles of The Animal Welfare Act the Government is obliged to ‘protect the life of animals and to prevent and punish acts of ill-treatment in their regard. The state must protect such animals from undue labour and work practices which are beyond and not consonant with their nature.’ Despite such an obligation under national legislation, the government persists in allowing the setting up of animal circuses, an industry that conditions animals to perform tricks. This certainly cannot be considered consonant with their nature.”

“Repeatedly,” the Animal Rights Coalition said, “it has called on government to abide by the Animal Welfare Act and conduct not solely veterinary checks on the animals used in circuses since these analyse only the physical health of an animal. This limited form of assessment merely covers up for the exploitation of these animals for commercial interests.

“The Animal Rights Coalition believes that there should be frequent and regular animal behaviourist’s checks from those that are qualified in this field so that the animals are assessed correctly on the basis of psychological health, confinement, frequency of use in shows and travelling schedules from one circus to another. It is only through comprehensive investigations of these animals wellbeing that the truth of Animal Circuses will emerge.”

The NGO said that according to the 2nd principles of the Animal Welfare Act ‘The State recognises that it has the duty to promote the welfare of animals, and that the welfare of animals is to be protected through the intervention of the State through its legislative, judicial and administrative organs.’

“There is increased public support for better protection of all animals, especially when these animals are exploited for economic gains of a private operator. In the absence of government will to halt the operation of animal circuses on our shores, in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act, the government needs to take all necessary safeguards to protect the welfare of these vulnerable animals.” The NGO continued, in accordance with the 3rd and last principle of the Animal Welfare Act, ‘The State recognises that it is its duty to collaborate with voluntary organisations in the field of animal welfare and that it is its duty to promote the culture of respect towards animals.’ The Animal Rights Coalition is calling for action based on the principles in an open, accountable and transparent dialogue.”

“Animal Directive 2006 states that services must comply with the law of the country, therefore if Malta says no to animal circuses than that’s what it should be. In this case, the people are showing that they do not want animal circuses, by signing petitions year after year and protesting to ban the circuses.

“Curia also stated they do not agree with animals in circuses. This year Naxxar residents even disagree for animal circuses being in an urban area. Therefore the citizens and councils are not considered when such profits and mistreatment of entertainment is taken place,” the Animal Rights Coalition said.

“Also, as recently as June of 2011, the EU informed the UK that there is no EU legislation on circus animals.” The NGO commented, “in his letter of 2nd June to the UK, Mr.Potocnik, the Commission stated yesterday that: ‘Circuses are specifically excluded from the scope of the Zoos Directive, and are not covered by any other EU legislation. Therefore, the welfare of circus animals remains the responsibility of the Member States.’ This means that each EU member state can decide for itself what to do about circuses! Austria and Greece banned the circus. Finland only allows domesticated animals in circuses. Bolivia, Singapore and China are also banning the animal circus.”

“The only thing that animal circuses teach children is to laugh at and mock the suffering of animals. People have the power to change things, we can make a difference. Together we can get circuses banned from Malta, like they are getting banned from other European countries. There are many circuses that are exciting and entertaining without abusing animals. Cirque du Soleil, The New Pickle Family Circus, Circus Smirkus, Cirque Eloize, Circus Oz and the Mexican National Circus are all wonderful circuses that offer family entertainment using only willing human performers.

“By supporting animal-free entertainment and boycotting circuses that use animals, we can move towards an end to the use of animals in circuses,” the Animal Rights Coalition concluded.

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