JAKARTA, Indonesia—More than 30 stars from the world of performing, trend and music―together with Billie Eilish, Charlize Theron, Clint Eastwood, Kim Basinger, Courteney Cox, Ricky Gervais, Andie McDowell, Jeff Bridges and Zooey Deschanel―have known as on President Joko Widodo in a joint letter to finish Indonesia’s brutal canine and cat meat trades following the rescue of determined animals from one of many nation’s most infamous markets, Tomohon Extreme Market.
More than 130,000 dogs and numerous cats yearly are slaughtered in public markets throughout the Indonesia’s island of Sulawesi. In July this 12 months, Mayor Caroll Senduk of the town of Tomohon in North Sulawesi province labored with animal charities Humane Society International and Animal Friends Manado Indonesia to completely shut down the sale and slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption on the notorious market, ending years of struggling. The charities rescued the remaining animals discovered alive on the market’ slaughterhouse.
In the letter to the president, the celebs together with Dame Judi Dench, Alicia Silverstone, Alfie Boe OBE, Leona Lewis, Daisy Fuentes, Eddie Vedder, Goran Visnjic, Kristin Bauer and others praised “those leaders throughout Indonesia who have taken action to eradicate the dog and cat meat trades in their jurisdictions, saving tens of thousands of dogs and cats every month from the cruel and dangerous trades. There are now 28 cities and regencies that have passed Directives and regulations prohibiting the trades, as well as the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, and the groundbreaking and progressive action taken by the City of Tomohon in July ending the sale and slaughter of dogs and cats, and their meat, at the nation’s most infamous market – Tomohon Extreme Market.”
They ended their letter by urging the PM to make sure “a nationwide ban is introduced so that we can soon celebrate a truly dog and cat meat-free Indonesia.”
The letter, which was additionally signed by a few of Indonesia’s greatest mega-stars together with Bubah Alfian, Cinta Laura Kiehl, D.J Bryant, Davina Veronica, Luna Maya and Prilly Latuconsia, acknowledged the truth that most individuals in Indonesia wish to see a ban. The stars wrote: “We stand strong with the overwhelming majority of Indonesian citizens and international visitors who oppose the dog and cat meat trades and believe in protecting animals from cruelty and exploitation; and applaud those leaders who have taken steps in prioritizing their citizens’ health and safety.”
The stars felt impressed to pen the letter after listening to concerning the canine and cat meat commerce ban achieved at Tomohon Market by HSI and AFMI and their rescue of the final 25 dogs and three cats discovered alive on the slaughterhouses supplying the market. All six canine and cat merchants who provided and labored on the market signed an historic settlement to completely finish involvement within the canine and cat meat trades, which in flip disrupted the huge provide community of animal thieves and traffickers concerned of their punishingly long-distance transport.
Animal cruelty at Tomohon market has been documented throughout exposés spanning many years, displaying stay dogs and cats cowering and shaking as merchants yanked them one after the other from their cage to bludgeon them repeatedly over the pinnacle and blow-torched them to take away their fur, generally whereas nonetheless aware. Most not too long ago, upsetting footage was filmed by HSI at Tomohon market in March and July this 12 months, together with rows of blowtorched canine and cat carcasses on show at market stalls.
Lola Webber, HSI’s director of campaigns to finish the canine meat commerce, mentioned: “We are so grateful to these outspoken Indonesian and global stars who are using their voices to speak up for the millions of dogs and cats who endure the most horrific abuse for the meat trade. We echo their praise for those Indonesian leaders working with us to end this cruelty at and we join with them in urging President Widodo to introduce a nationwide ban.”
Frank Delano from AFMI mentioned: “The dog and cat meat trades are not only obscenely cruel, but they also jeopardise public health through the spread of the deadly rabies virus during dog slaughter, butchery and consumption. So to see these celebrities stand with the majority of Indonesian citizens in calling for an end to this miserable trade is really encouraging.”
Karin Franken from Jakarta Animal Aid Network, a DMFI coalition founding member, mentioned: “Indonesia is a popular tourist destination for travellers from the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe, so the celebrities who signed this letter are representing both the international and national community who want to see a dog and cat meat-free Indonesia. These poor animals have endured enough. We hope that President Widodo and provincial leaders take action to rid Indonesia of the scourge of this cruel and dangerous trade that tarnishes our reputation across the globe.”
Read the letter
Download video/pictures of HSI rescuing of the last dogs and cats from Tomohon market
Download video/pictures of the dog meat trade at Tomohon Extreme Market
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