Euro success boost for ending blood sports

A major milestone has been achieved in the campaign for animal protection with the election to the European Parliament of a candidate standing for Holland’s Party for the Animals (PvdD).

Seven animal protection parties from around Europe had come together to promote a change in our overall attitude to animals, whether domestic, wild, laboratory-raised, or farm livestock, and to seek Euro-parliamentary representation.

Among the alliance’s objectives is the abolition of so-called cultural and traditional practices that cause immense suffering to animals, such as bull fighting, hare coursing, and fox hunting.

Hopefully the presence of a strong voice for animals in the Euro-parliament will hasten the end of these latter sports, in particular, in addition to improving the lot of all animals in Europe and, ultimately, countries that trade with the EU.

In Ireland the capture and terrorising of hares for coursing has also had the banner of ‘tradition’ wrapped around it.

The rising strength of the animal protection lobby in Europe is heartening, but the election of a Party for the Animals candidate will surely signal a new phase in the campaign to end blood sports in the EU.

John Fitzgerald

Lower Coyne Street

Callan

Co Kilkenny