Romanian MEP Daciana Sârbu
signs an impressive pledge for animals.
But can we believe her to be sincere?
May 5, 2014 - An election promise, or a pledge, is a promise made to the public by a politician who is trying to win an election. They have long been a central element of elections and remain so today. Election promises are also notable for often being broken once a politician is in office.
In fact, election promises have been broken for as long as elections have been held and this is likely to continue, although defining what a broken promise is, is hard. There are strong pressures on politicians to make promises which they cannot keep. A party, or a candidate, that does not make exaggerated promises might appear bland, unambitious, and uninteresting to voters compared to the one that does. Sometimes this can give the exaggerating party an advantage over the truthful one. Promises are usually based on the rosiest of possible futures...
In light of the 2014 EU Elections, Eurogroup for Animals is campaigning to put animal welfare at the heart of the European Elections and make animal welfare an issue that gets citizens to vote and make a difference, according to their website.
"In the year of the citizens the distance between the EU institutions and European citizens seems larger than ever", states Eurogroup for Animals.
Eurogroup for Animals' idea is to engage the members of the next European Parliament, as the only directly elected EU institution, to bridge the gap between a world of paper and the interests of real citizens and animals, of flesh and blood... For this, Eurogroup has got a quite significant number of MEPs to pledge to:
Work to ensure an animal welfare framework law is adopted that provides thehighest level of welfare possible
Endeavour to minimise live animal transport, review the existing legislation to maximise the protection of animals and ensure it is enforced across the EU
Promote a comprehensive EU strategy to decrease animal testing while driving the acceptance and uptake of alternative methods
Ensure animal welfare is clearly included in the EU-US Trade agreement
Introduce legislation that will ban the cloning of animals for food
Develop EU wide standards for breeding and trade of companion animals to protect animal welfare and ensure traceability
Work to reduce the number of species and animals being kept as exotic pets and to maximise their welfare
In addition I will strive to ensure that animals are recognised as sentient beings in all legislation that comes before the Parliament and strive to ensure all existing animal welfare related legislation is properly enforced.
To see the list of MEPs who have signed the above pledge, please click here.
When checking the list, we were happy to find a number of MEPs who are well known for fighting hard for ALL animals of Europe, such as Andrea Zanoni, Janusz Wojciechowski, Sirpa Pietikainen, Erminia Mazzoni, Claude Turmes, Marianne Thieme, Keith Taylor, Alyn Smith, and Carl Schlyter, for example.
And then, as belief grows and the promise of hope brings hearts to begin to race, one name emerges and the cold water of reality cascades over these hopes... Daciana Sarbu has pledged! Has promised to help animals!
WHO is SHE?
Daciana Sârbu, who is married to Victor Ponta --- who was proven to have lied about a master's degree and to have plagiarised much of his doctoral thesis (the accusation came from the camp of President Băsescu, who seems oddly unaware that himself exaggerated his own daughter academic credentials in 2009 when defending her nomination for a place in the European Parliament) --- had little on her curriculum vitae when she entered politics, but immediately became an adviser to the Năstase government – in which her father served as a minister. She is now a member of the European Parliament, and a Vice-President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals – one of the best-paid jobs possible for a Romanian politician. She is also a co-initiator of the Written Declaration on Dog Population Management 0026/2011.
Daciana Sârbu, the wife of the Prime Minister of Romania, of the country which exhibits horrendous abuse of any humane animal rights and which has recently introduced the most draconian stray animal solution ever introduced, occasionally, albeit infrequently, travels to become her alter ego as a Vice President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conversation of Animals, where she is permitted to represent those millions of European citizens who seek humanity, justice and security for all.
Daciana Sârbu, the wife of the Prime Minister of Romania, of the country which exhibits horrendous abuse of any humane animal rights and which has recently introduced the most draconian stray animal solution ever introduced, occasionally, albeit infrequently, travels to become her alter ego as a Vice President of the European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare and Conversation of Animals, where she is permitted to represent those millions of European citizens who seek humanity, justice and security for all.
WHERE was SHE
when the screaming began and the children cried in terror?
We don't know WHERE she was, but we know that she wasn't there when she was needed most.
As the wife of Romania's Prime Minister Ponta, a Member of the Intergroup, a co-initiator of the Written Declaration on Dog Population Management 0026/2011, she had, and still has a unique position and opportunity to bring change to her country regarding stray animals population control and welfare, but we haven't - sadly and to our very great deception - heard of any actions taken by Mrs Sarbu in this field. In fact, we haven't heard anything from her since the adoption of WD0026/2011.
And now she appears...
As the death count grows higher in her native land and the suffering of people and animals is palpable, emerging from the shadows and blinking into the daylight of reality, Daciana Sarbu babbles her electoral promises to a sea of disbelieving faces as soon as someone has whispered the word 'election'.
If she 'will' tomorrow, where was she yesterday? Where was she as the reputation of her country was washed into the gutter to merge with the blood of so many sentient beings?
In her native country, her bed mate has presided over the greatest animal genocide ever experienced in Europe. Evidence is growing at an alarming rate about how this mismanaged ill compliance with standards and directives is impacting on the human population. Mme Sarbu watches, alongside her husband, as the piles of animal copses grow higher, totally negating her declaration of concern for sentient beings... animal and human.
OFA's Simone Brennan "had a problem" with Mme Sarbu's pledge and decided to write to Eurogroup for Animals. Below, Simone's correspondence:
Dear Mr XXX
I hope you are keeping well.
I have a problem. With the European Elections coming up, my vote needs to be very carefully placed.
Of course, I understand that protocol dictates that you can not discuss with me the intricacies of the Eurogroup - but as you know, one of my major concerns has been the stray dog situation in Romania - and tied in with that, the inefficiency and, to be honest, the complete lack of empathy demonstrated by Daciana Sarbu.
So imagine my surprise, when checking the Eurogroup website last night, and reading the Pledge, and being offered the opportunity to see who has signed the pledge... well you could have knocked me down with a feather!! There she is - Daciana Sarbu.
If I can explain... my problem is, how do I vote for ANYONE, when a structure within the EU with MEP's declaring their allegiance to animal causes, knowingly retains someone who we all know has only one interest - and that is her own self-preservation?
I am not being rude, but to be honest, all the people I work alongside with regards to animal welfare, are seeing the Intergroup as a toothless tiger, when it comes to the welfare of stray companion animals. Animals that are intended for houses and homes, for laps and love, for gentleness and kindness. And all we see is a structure - with people within it - who hear what we say - at Intergroup level and higher - but do nothing?
So if I can not trust what presents as a structure established with ultimate concerns for animal welfare - what do I do?
Is it beyond the realms of possibility to expel someone from the Intergroup, if they are failing in what they claim to be there for? I can not imagine any job where people remain in situ, being paid and claiming expenses, for not fulfilling the job title?
I shared with you the details of the very terse 'text' conversation between myself and Ms Sarbu. The whole conversation has been long in the public domain. And how she must laugh, her and her fellow MEP's, at how they can literally get away with any behaviours at all?
It makes me sad, and angry, and makes me want to fight even harder for justice for the animals - and people - of Romania, who deserve much much better than the corrupt structure that exists there in authority, as an even worse replacement of the Ceaucescu years... at least the Romanian people knew where they were with Ceaucescu. The present and continuing authorities there are corrupt to the nth degree - and we all know it.
I am sorry, I had to get this off my chest. And none of what I say is libellous, so I feel comfortable saying it, because all of my opinions can be backed up by evidence.
Maybe ask Madame Sarbu, and her husband, about Mr Bancescu, a powerful, corrupt, hard-hearted miscreant... I think you will find that he is running the country - and certainly Bucharest - more than anyone else.
I thank you for reading this... and at the end of this, maybe perceived rant, I finish as I started. With the privilege of a vote - and no-one who deserves it.
Yours sincerely,
Simone
Dear Mrs Brennan,
I can understand your surprise seeing Mrs Sârbu among the Romanian candidates who signed the pledge considering her reticence to act and speak out for the protection of Romanian stray dogs. However, you have to consider that a signed pledge is a perfect tool to bind politicians to certain commitments. If they don’t comply, the pledge is written evidence to blame them.
Without aiming to defend Mrs Sârbu it must be acknowledged that she has been on the forefront for several animal welfare related dossiers during this term.
She was notably the shadow rapporteur of the S&D Group for two major animal welfare and conservation related dossiers:
· REPORT on the European Union Strategy for the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2012–2015
· REPORT Recommendation for second reading on the Council position at first reading for adopting a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on novel foods, amending Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 258/97 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1852/2001
She was the draftsperson for the :
· OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 302/2009 concerning a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
She was the shadow rapporteur for the
· OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1185/2003 on the removal of fins of sharks on board vessels
She was the co-author for the adopted:
· Written declaration on dog population management in the European Union (She has been the main initiator of this written declaration).
· Written declaration on support for strengthening the European Union ban on shark finning
With this record Mrs Sârbu remains one of the MEPs of this term who has been much more supportive than the average for the promotion of animal welfare in the European Union.
I hope this clarifies why we have accepted her pledge and we wish that www.voteforanimals.eu will be a useful tool for you to select a British candidate for whom you will vote for in the upcoming European elections.
Kind regards
XXX
Dear Mr XXX
I thank you very much for your time and trouble to write back to me with explanation and details.
You know of course that here will come the 'but'...
But surely it is the easier option to put one's name and effort towards things that actually require the minimal effort in practical terms - rather than make a difference in her own country. I have a theory about kindness that I apply at the most basic levels, including my own life, when we attempt to justify our behaviours. Is it kindness to do what we want, or what we cherry-pick as being perceived as kind. Or is true kindness doing the things that are needed, that actually make a difference to the lives of people we know and claim to care about?
Ms Sarbu aka Mrs Ponta is not helping her own people in her own country - the true animal lovers, who have nothing, but give everything, to rescue animals from the brutality and cruelty and wanton lust for violence towards them. How is she helping her own?
Her 'compassion' for the distant animals is easy - we can all do that, and wear the T shirt. She has had a chance to make a real difference in her own country - to sidestep the traditional political mindset of 'I'm alright Jack' - to show true empathy and compassion. Her concern for 'other animals' does nothing for the starved, brutalised, metal-noosed, traumatised dogs in her country. What crumb of comfort for them?
Two wrongs do not make a right. What respect would I gain, if as an example, I told you that I supported endless causes, donated money directly to ordinary people ( who I have never met but trust implicity ), campaign when I can, stand outside vivisection labs... and then I go indoors and brutalize my pets, hidden from view???
Would my 'public goodness' negate my evil behind closed doors?
You see, I do not understand the 'either/or' argument. If you care about animals, you surely you do everything possible to help? I don't ignore animals in my own country! I just as readily give a packet of dog treats to the young man sitting on the pavement with his dog in London. Need is need, hunger is hunger, cruelty is cruelty.
I think, Mr XXX, that you and I are actually singing from the same hymn sheet - the difference is that I can say exactly how things are - and you are not in a position to collude with me !!!
By writing to you, I am hoping to enlighten you, beyond the constant emails and information that you and your fellow MEP's receive - and tell you how it is for me, for my fellow animal lovers, for the ordinary EU citizens... who are angry and despairing at anyone doing what it says on the label... Actually Being The Group Established For The Welfare Of Animals.
I wish you a good weekend... and once again, I thank you for your time and attention.
(Whatever I say about Ms Sarbu/Mrs Ponta is nothing that I would not say to her face, so please feel free to share any of my communications with her)
Yours sincerely,
Simone
Pictures showing the treatment of
Romanian 'sentient beings'
Open Letter to Daciana Sarbu
On the western edge of a European city, lies a road. A typical highway, as found in any other city. But this road is different. This is the ‘Road of Death’.
Every week it carries the corpses of the condemned... Hundreds of ‘sentient’ beings pass this way on their final journey. Within a 10 km stretch of road, you see the names which bring chill to the blood of all who know of them: the ‘Death Camps‘ of Mihailesi, Cornetu and Bragadiru, applying the Romanian ‘Slaughter Law’, the animals are taken from the streets, contained and then after 14 days... slaughtered.
‘Sentient’ beings'... what qualifies and differentiates 'sentience', 'consciousness'? Is it the ability to feel emotions?
In the USA it was found that 52% of dog owners considered their pets to be ‘members of the family’. To the lonely, sometimes their only companion is their pet. Their love... Their sentient being...
You - the wife of the Prime Minister of Romania, who presided over the introduction of a law which has identified his country as medieval in its government determined ethos and simply ‘evil’ in its application - you now claim in your election pledge that you will strive to ensure that animals are recognized as sentient beings in all legislation that comes before the Parliament.
Madame, is this a new concept of yours?
Where were you when the ‘extermination’ authorization of Law 258/2013 was enacted?
Where was your bed mate?
What did you do when the death screams of ‘sentient beings’ echoed around the ‘Death Camps’?
What did you reply to the massive volume of voiced outrage from every civilized country?
Did you yourself not call your country ‘third world'?
Sentient beings... what about the homeless animals in YOUR country? Are they not 'sentient'?
Where were you to defend these 'sentient beings' when your husband sentenced them all to death?
But consider: nothing happens in isolation. All are connected. What you do in the darkness will later be viewed in the light and what was covertly conducted in silence will later be heard as a cacophony. Your husband's diminishment of the status of these animals and encouragement of financial exploitation of their deaths can never remain within a contained domain. We know from study results how your ‘management’ of this issue impacts on children... on society.
During our visit in Romania last week, we saw two young children who raced us to take three young pups from a busy road.
Heartwarming? But no!
These children had been invited by the dogcatchers to give them as many puppies as they could find and they would be rewarded. The dog catchers, too, would receive their financial rewards.
And the puppies?
They would be confined in one of your death camps and if not claimed, adopted, or perished before the end of the '14-days-pre- slaughter-period', simply be killed and incinerated... according to your law.
No capture of the few aggressive dogs... but the simple, easy target of new born pups.
Daciana Sarbu, THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY! What does this teach the children of YOUR country? What does it teach them about 'sentient beings'?
Be cautious Madame! In your delusional categorization and nil application, you may come to the final, ironic conclusion that the decision makers of Romania are ‘sentient beings’.
The 3 puppies, safe in our car... saved from the children who wanted to catch them and sell them to the dog catchers.
And here, in our friend's private shelter, together with all the other puppies that have been abandoned. Our friend has found and saved 21 puppies only in the last few days.