|
|
DoNotEatUs.org Help Us Help The Animals |
|
Siegen, Germany Demonstration March 10, 2007 |
|
|
DEMO REPORT – Siegen,
Germany
Until now, Siegen has never experienced such a demonstration for the animals! Over 400 demonstrators came together on Saturday, March 10 at 12:30 Noon on the plaza before the train station. There, they were welcomed by the AJ-Gang, an animal rights band.   
Many organizations joined Universal Life for this
demonstration: The Animal Rights League, the international PETA,
AKTE: Animal Rights and Ethics, the Initiative to Abolish Hunting
with their 65 Anti-Hunting Demonstrations, Home for Animals,
Political Workers for Animal Protection, Workers for the Humane
Treatment of Animals and Against Animal Testing, the Independent
Animal Protection Agency of Germany, the Hans Rönn Foundation, The
Gabriele Foundation for Nature and Animals, the Association for a
Nature Free of Hunting, Animal Voices, Animal Liberators of
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Animal Rights Emergency Treatment, Animal
Rights Initiative of Freibug, KAMEHA, Mail Order House for Animal
Testing-Free Cosmetics, Vegan Initiative in Erkrath, Medicine Free
of Animal Testing, representatives of the Animal Rights Party:
People – Environment – Animal Protection…
From Switzerland, support came through the Society for Protection of Animals from central Switzerland, the Association of Friends of Pigs, and the Association Against Animal Factories. From several European countries like Italy, France and Spain came vocal support for this demonstration.
Apparently, in Siegen, other laws are valid for the youth than in the
rest of
The choice of motif seemed to be rather arbitrary, and so, for example, the following picture could not be shown,
and yet the banner below, could be carried without reactions.
In any case, the regional administrative offices of Siegen-Wittgenstein do not orient themselves to the first president of the German republic, Theodor Heuss, who said: The earlier our youth learns to see every crude act against the animals as reprehensible … the more clearly will they be able to apply their powers of observation to differentiate between what is right and not right in the world of the adults.
How the law for the protection of animals was trampled underfoot in Siegen can be read on the flyer distributed at the demonstration by representatives of PETA. During the march, there was a pause before the district attorney’s office in Siegen and the regional veterinary offices, which were denounced in a speech by Dr. Edmund Haferbeck, the scientific advisor for PETA – Germany, making quite clear how the courts of justice and the veterinary offices in Siegen-Wittgenstein are joined at the hips. Instead of protecting the animals, animal-keepers are protected – a pattern of behavior which is known not only in Siegen, by the way. Dr. Haferbeck demonstrably placed in the mailbox of the courthouse in Siegen the complaint filed by PETA against their modus operandi, before the eyes of 400 animal friends on the march.
During the march, as in previous demonstrations that took place last year in Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Düsseldorf, Karlsruhe, Wiesbaden and other cities, statements about the consumption of meat sounded out over loudspeakers: People, Don’t Eat Meat! Away with the animal ghetto wardens! Down with the slaughterhouses! The attention of the passersby was not only drawn through these statements but through the deafening cries on tape of cows as they were being slaughtered and other horrible sounds from the slaughterhouses. Many became quite thoughtful as they heard how much each person contributes to the suffering of the animals. Because in Germany, 6 animals must die each year for the meat-eaters. This means that with an average life-expectancy of 75 years, every meat-eater has 450 animals on his conscience!
An unforeseen stop was made at the municipal building next to a church because the march had to turn around with the cars carrying the loudspeakers. The opportunity was taken by a few of the speakers to address the fact that for many animal rights advocates, going to church has become a problem, because how much the churches have contributed to the suffering of the animals is becoming more and more known. They denied that animals have a soul and degraded animals to being simply objects, thus shaping the consciousness of western man. For this reason, the sham Christian churches are responsible for the abuse
and degradation of animals. Whoever fights for the rights of animals cannot feel comfortable as a church member – but can certainly be a Christian! For Jesus, the Christ, came not only for the people, but also to help the animals. In the final analysis, the 5th Commandment “You shall not kill” applies not only to people but also to animals. The fasting period of the churches taking place now during Lent also points to another absurdity of church doctrine: Meat is not supposed to be eaten during this time, but fish is encouraged. Fish – which don’t even have a voice to express their pain – are offered by the mainstream churches as a substitute meat, instead of simply refraining from eating meat altogether and avoiding causing suffering to the animals. And at that, today, even though it is known that fish in the oceans are dwindling at an alarming rate.
During the march, the relationship between climatic change and livestock production was addressed, using facts: The fatal consequences of the climate change is caused far more by the greenhouse emissions of livestock production than by all the harmful emissions produced by the transport sector worldwide. And so, it is pure hypocrisy and false pretense to cut back on speed limits and substitute conventional light bulbs with energy-saving lamps while meat continues to be produced and eaten so plentifully and with full abandon. Slowly, the seemingly endless demonstration wove through the pedestrian center of Siegen back to the train station where the rally was held.
There, passers-by were invited to listen to the rally led by international animal rights speakers and to try the vegan-vegetarian hamburgers being offered, so as to show the people that eating meat isn’t absolutely necessary for having a tasty treat.
The many participants of this demonstration came together to give voice to those without rights in our society – the animals. The rally began with a quote from Albert Einstein: Nothing will increase the chances of survival for life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. This sentence has taken on much greater significance through the discussion on climate taking place in the world today. Scientists are showing a devastating picture of what the climate change will bring with it. The immense contribution of livestock production to climatic change is becoming ever more clear. But it is not only the climatic changes that can be laid at the door of meat consumption. World hunger and numerous other ecological disasters bringing immeasurable suffering to human beings, animals and the whole earth are also a result of a human meat diet.
Dr. Edmund Haferbeck from PETA took up the word and described the procedure of the authorities in Siegen in relation to the Krämer pig factory farm. As a high point of the demonstration, passers-by had the opportunity to watch an undercover film of what takes place in this pig factory, the cruelty and revolting conditions of which can hardly be surpassed. This film can meanwhile be seen online at the German PETA site. Dr. Haferbeck did not shy away from spelling out the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church which charges other people with leading a sinful life, while most corpses – whether of people or animals – can be laid at their door.
 Dr.
Arno Schneider explained the consequences of a meat diet to our
health. He not only made it easy to follow the association between
eating meat and certain illnesses, but also spoke in the name of the
animals asking whether it is by coincidence that human beings are
suffering after having caused so much suffering to the animals.  Stefan
Eck, speaker for A.K.T.E.: Animal Rights and Ethics and the League
for the Animals, discussed the political relationships of animal
protection in Germany. His dream is a world without the suffering of
animals.
In closing, representatives of the Spanish, English
and French-speaking world brought greetings and declarations of
solidarity from all over the world, showing that this dream is
shared by many and can become reality because ever more people are
working together and supporting each other in the work for animal
rights.
  
Representatives of the Gabriele Foundation, Daniel Zopfi and Hermann Dürr, described their experiences and encounters with animals that live in a peaceful setting without fear of death, thus developing their own personality and showing people how it is possible for humans and animals to live in harmony with all of nature in a peaceful and friendly way.   
Between speakers, the AJ-Gang entertained passersby
and participants with their rhythmic and dynamic anti-hunting and
anti-meat-eating songs.
   The rally ended with the following call to all people: Help bring an end to the murder of animals! Help bring an end to the war in woods and fields, in the slaughterhouses and laboratories! Make peace with the animals, with nature and the Earth! Don’t eat the meat of your fellow creatures! And of course, with an invitation to the next demonstration on April 28, 2007 in Augsburg!
|
||
|
Free Paraphernalia Items for Sale Donate Order Form Visitors Comments Contact Us Gabriele Foundation Universal Life
|
|||
|
© Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Universal Life PO Box 3549 Woodbridge, CT 06525 Phone 1-800-846-2691 | E-mail info@universelles-leben.org | www.universal-life.cc
|
Or
did the authorities in Siegen do this on purpose? For a main reason
for the choice of this city for the demonstration was the Krämer
factory farm for pigs and the scandal of the justice system
connected with it that was denounced by PETA. 
Christoph
Michels, Food Technology Engineer, described the cruelty behind the
meat counter, because the suffering of the animals in factory
farming is not known to many people. His alternative: Learn to cook
vegetarian! 
The
representative of Political Workers for Animal Protection, Dr.
Wolfgang Karnowsky from the University of Dortmund, made clear that
animal protection has been included in the constitution but is far
from being widely upheld. This is why Dr. Karnowsky has directed
eight political demands on the legislators of the country. 
Kurt
Eicher, biologist and speaker for the Initiative to Abolish Hunting,
pointed to scientific studies that show that nature regulates
itself. In regions where hunting is not allowed, the balance between
nature and animals is indisputable. The true motive for hunting is a
lust for killing, said Eicher. 
