L'horreur du commerce du cuir en Inde

Je transmet

L'horreur du commerce du cuir en Inde

Merci d'écrire aux adresses mél figurant au bas du message pour
protester contre le traitement scandaleux des animaux entrant dans la
chaine de fabrication du cuir.
http://www.petaindia.com/feat/f-leathertrade.asp


Abuse and Murder

For seven years, PETA India and its affiliates have conducted undercover
investigations into the transport and slaughter conditions that are
endured by the cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats who are used in the
Indian leather trade. The leather produced from the skins of these
animals is exported throughout the world, including to the US and Europe.

The investigators have gathered graphic evidence of the widespread
illegal abuse of these animals as well as evidence of unhygienic and
dangerous conditions in slaughter facilities. The animals are subjected
to cruelty that includes being crammed into lorries in such large
numbers that many become severely injured when they are crushed or
gouged by the horns of other animals. Many of them die en route. The
evidence also reveals that most of the animals are dragged into
abattoirs before they are cut open -- often with dirty, blunt knives and
in full view of one another -- on floors that are covered with feces,
blood, guts and urine. Some animals are even skinned and dismembered
while they are still conscious.

*Broken Promises*
The investigations have also brought to light the fact that -- despite
the directives that top Indian government officials gave to state
governments and the assurances that they made to the public regarding
improvements in animal welfare six years ago -- virtually no
improvements in the treatment of animals have taken place. Abattoirs
continue to be unsanitary and to pollute the environment; unlicensed,
illegal abattoirs remain in operation; animal-transport conditions
remain deplorable; and even though it is required by law to do so, the
government has failed to form enough branches of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to enforce the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Act of 1960 and its rules governing the transport and slaughter
of animals.

*Blatant Crime*
India's own minimal animal protection laws regarding transport and
slaughter are blatantly ignored, and although it claims to have an
Animal Welfare Reform Programme, the Indian Council for Leather Exports
(CLE) refuses to take any action to prevent leather-selling businesses
from obtaining hides and skins from unlicensed, illegal abattoirs.
Animals of all ages, including small calves, are illegally killed and
used in the leather trade.

*The Supreme Court*
PETA India has a case pending before the Indian Supreme Court against
the Union of India, each state-level government and the Animal Welfare
Board of India (AWBI) for their failure to enforce animal protection
laws and for allowing the unnecessary and extreme suffering of animals
who are used for leather and meat. The Court has publicly expressed its
shock at the evidence of cruelty that PETA India has submitted.

In fact, more than one year ago, the Supreme Court directed the AWBI to
inform it, within a month, about steps that the Board was taking to
prevent cruelty to animals.

The AWBI was then to set up an inspection plan for abattoirs throughout
the country. To date, there is still no suitable abattoir-inspection
system in India. The Supreme Court has also directed the government of
Tamil Nadu to address and rectify the illegal abuse of animals used for
meat and leather there, but it has not done so.

*The Skin Traders*
The CLE's supposed Animal Welfare Reform Programme lacks the vigour and
commitment that are required in order for concrete and long-lasting
improvements to be made in animals' lives. Almost one year ago, PETA
India and its affiliates called upon the CLE to come to the negotiating
table by offering it a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU raises issues that are considered crucial to animal welfare. It
asks that the Indian leather industry end its support of abattoirs that
are operating illegally; end its support of municipal abattoirs that
have been condemned for animal welfare violations; undertake at least
three reform projects a year in order to improve the animal-handling
process from the market through transport and slaughter; and move
towards procuring hides and skins only from markets, transporters and
abattoirs that adhere to India's animal protection laws.

After sitting on the MoU for nine months, the CLE ultimately refused to
even negotiate with PETA.

*Support for Animals Abused in the Indian Leather Trade*
When PETA's campaign to alleviate the suffering of animals used for
leather was first launched in 2000, about 40 major companies stated that
they would not use leather sourced from Indian animals. An estimated
US$68 million was reportedly lost by the Indian leather industry as a
result of these companies' decisions not to support unlawful cruelty.
The campaign also gained the support of celebrities all around the
world, including *His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sir Paul McCartney,
Pamela Anderson, Jackie Chan* and others.

Recently, US retailer Liz Claiborne -- which has annual sales of US$4.8
billion -- has assured PETA US that it will not use leather from India.
Kenneth Cole, another US retailer, which has annual sales of US$518
million -- has also weighed in, giving its commitment to PETA US that it
will not sell leather produced from Indian animals.

*You Can Help*

* The best thing that you can do to help animals is not to eat or
wear them. Let others know about the abuse that animals endure and
ask them to say no to meat and leather too.


* Write to the CLE and ask that Indian leather traders stop
supporting the illegal treatment of animals who are used in
leather production and that the organisation initiate and adhere
to a plan that will have a real and positive impact on the lives
of the animals used in this trade:

Dr K. Elangovan, IAS
Executive Director
Council for Leather Exports
3rd Floor, CMDA Tower II
Gandhi Irwin Bridge Road
Egmore, Chennai 600 008
+91-44-28594367
+91-44-28594363/64 (fax)
cle@cleindia.com; cle@vsnl.com


* Write to government officials and ask them to take steps to stop
the illegal cruelty that animals endure during transport and
slaughter:

His Excellency Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Room 152
South Block
New Delhi 110 001
+91-(0)11-23012312
+91-(0)11-23016857 (fax)
http://pmindia.nic.in/write.htm (e-mail available via Web site)

Shri Kamal Nath
Minister of Commerce & Industry
Government of India
Udyog Bhawan
New Delhi 110 011
+91-(0)11-23061008
+91-(0)11-23061492 (fax)
commerce.hub@nic.in