Slaughterhouse

The Elephant Project Introduces Lulu: The Newest Addition to The Elephant Project's SaveUs Collection™, Advocating for Dog Rescues Worldwide

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Lulu stands at an adorable 8 inches, alongside her plush companions, Kiki, Tembo, Chaba, and Oba, as the newest addition to the Elephant Project’s plush animal family.

Key Points: 
  • Lulu stands at an adorable 8 inches, alongside her plush companions, Kiki, Tembo, Chaba, and Oba, as the newest addition to the Elephant Project’s plush animal family.
  • The launch of Lulu represents the company’s efforts to make a tangible and meaningful difference in the lives of dogs in rescues and shelters across the United States and beyond.
  • Fueled by this inspiration, McKean resolved to channel resources and awareness towards these dogs and their counterparts worldwide.
  • With Lulu's unveiling, The Elephant Project solidifies its commitment to creating change on a global scale.

Prices are up and the supply of things we need is in flux. How did we get here?

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 22, 2023

But since March 2021 prices have been climbing faster than wages.

Key Points: 
  • But since March 2021 prices have been climbing faster than wages.
  • In the first year of COVID, to the June quarter 2020, Australia went through its first year of negative inflation since 1997.
  • Fast-forward only two years, and the quarterly consumer price index hit 7.8% in December (and the more experimental monthly index hit 8.4%.)
  • Going from bottom to top at such a speed only increased the pain.

It began with broken supply chains

    • The acceleration in inflation began with a mismatch between supply and demand.
    • Before COVID, the world experienced more than three decades of stability and high predictability in supply chains, thanks to an intense move towards globalisation.
    • This prosperity was based on the assumption that goods and people could move freely across the globe.

Then governments sprayed us with money

    • Then there was a huge increase in demand for products as governments splashed around money in an effort to keep their economies afloat.
    • Being unable to travel, dine out or get a proper haircut, people went online to buy bicycles, air fryers and hair dryers like never before.
    • Online shopping accelerated faster than expected, with big waiting lists for items as diverse as cars, video games, pool chlorine and pet food.

Then Russia invaded Ukraine

    • In early 2022 just as the world was preparing to open up, Russia invaded Ukraine.
    • Russia, a major global supplier of gas and oil, was driven out of several markets by international sanctions in what is a textbook trigger for inflation.
    • The third wave came as prices for parts, components and materials increased downstream in a domino effect.

And climate change accelerated

    • But the time span of both pales when confronted with something that will impact Australians for generations: climate change.
    • The Bureau of Meteorology’s report on the State of the Climate 2022 highlights the ongoing changes for Australia including amplified storms, floods, droughts, heatwaves and blizzards with “one in a 100 year” events multiplying.
    • Take the rollercoaster ride of an iceberg lettuce going from $2.50 to $12.50 due to floods in Australia last year.
    • The move to renewables, which is fundamental to mitigating climate change, has a price tag attached to it at the moment.

Yet there’s a silver lining

    • Supply chains are more robust after the pandemic, evidenced by container transport prices going back to what they were in 2020.
    • Wind and solar energy are becoming cheaper at a remarkable rate, and there is promising news on hydrogen as a fuel.
    • Read more:
      You don't have to be an economist to know Australia is in a cost of living crisis.

Why Australia banning live sheep exports may be a net loss for animal welfare

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 6, 2023

Australia’s government wants to end live sheep exports.

Key Points: 
  • Australia’s government wants to end live sheep exports.
  • Chaired by the former head of the Murray Darling Basin Authority, Phillip Glyde, the panel is expected to report by the end of September.
  • The thornier question is whether the ban – something animal welfare activists have campaigned for decades – will be a net gain for global animal welfare.

Scandals, bans and reforms

    • In 2022 it accounted for about 4.7% of the global trade, mostly shipping cattle to Asia and sheep to the Middle East.
    • These markets either lack reliable refrigeration and cold-chain facilities for processed meat or have a cultural preference for freshly slaughtered meat adhering to specific practices, like halal.
    • Exports to Indonesia were suspended for six weeks in 2012, following an ABC Four Corners expose of cruelty to cattle in abattoirs.
    • These scandals, however, have led to significant reforms in the industry, with the federal government imposing stringent obligations on exporters for trade to resume.

Regulating treatment in importing nations

    • Two sets of Australian regulations oversee the treatment of animals being shipped for slaughter overseas.
    • Treatment in importing countries is covered by the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS).
    • They require exporters to ensure all handlers and facilities (ports, transport vehicle, feedlots and abbatoirs) in importing countries to comply with both local and Australian welfare guidelines.

Imperfect but ‘unique and innovative’

    • A 2021 review of ESCAS by the federal Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports identified a number of regulatory gaps and ways to make the system more efficient.
    • In particular it noted that loss of control and traceability, sometimes with poor animal welfare outcomes, still occurs at low but chronic levels.

Reporting non-compliance

    • Anyone can make these reports, which are publicly available, along with the investigations arising.
    • For example, in 2021 the animal rights group Animals Australia reported non-compliant slaughter of sheep in Jordan.
    • The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry agreed, and that the control arrangements of the exporter, Livestock Shipping Services, had failed.

Why Australia banning live animal exports may be a net loss for animal welfare

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Australia’s government wants to end live animal exports.

Key Points: 
  • Australia’s government wants to end live animal exports.
  • Chaired by the former head of the Murray Darling Basin Authority, Phillip Glyde, the panel is expected to report by the end of September.
  • The thornier question is whether the ban – something animal welfare activists have campaigned for decades – will be a net gain for global animal welfare.

Scandals, bans and reforms

    • In 2022 it accounted for about 4.7% of the global trade, mostly shipping sheep to the Middle East and cattle to Asia.
    • These markets either lack reliable refrigeration and cold-chain facilities for processed meat or have a cultural preference for freshly slaughtered meat adhering to specific practices, like halal.
    • Exports to Indonesia were suspended for six weeks in 2012, following an ABC Four Corners expose of cruelty to cattle in abattoirs.
    • These scandals, however, have led to significant reforms in the industry, with the federal government imposing stringent obligations on exporters for trade to resume.

Regulating treatment in importing nations

    • Two sets of Australian regulations oversee the treatment of animals being shipped for slaughter overseas.
    • Treatment in importing countries is covered by the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS).
    • They require exporters to ensure all handlers and facilities (ports, transport vehicle, feedlots and abbatoirs) in importing countries to comply with both local and Australian welfare guidelines.

Imperfect but ‘unique and innovative’

    • A 2021 review of ESCAS by the federal Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports identified a number of regulatory gaps and ways to make the system more efficient.
    • In particular it noted that loss of control and traceability, sometimes with poor animal welfare outcomes, still occurs at low but chronic levels.

Reporting non-compliance

    • Anyone can make these reports, which are publicly available, along with the investigations arising.
    • For example, in 2021 the animal rights group Animals Australia reported non-compliant slaughter of sheep in Jordan.

Many urban waterways were once waste dumps. Restoration efforts have made great strides – but there's more to do to bring nature back

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 15, 2023

Melbourne’s major river, the Maribyrnong, was full of waste from abattoirs, tanneries and factories.

Key Points: 
  • Melbourne’s major river, the Maribyrnong, was full of waste from abattoirs, tanneries and factories.
  • I live near Darebin Creek in Melbourne’s north, which was next to a tip and often polluted until cleanup efforts began in the 70s.
  • Here’s what the restoration of Darebin Creek shows us about the successes and challenges of bringing life back to our urban waterways.

Rivers or rubbish dumps?

    • European settlement had a big effect on creeks and rivers, we’ve often used them as convenient waste dumps.
    • Treating rivers as dumps can (unsurprisingly) damage or even wipe out the life in it.
    • Read more:
      A tale of 2 rivers: is it safer to swim in the Yarra in Victoria, or the Nepean in NSW?
    • The group spent decades removing weeds and rubbish and planting trees.
    • Rivers such as the Ovens and the Murray, and even the Yarra in places, are in poorer condition with low flows and high sediment and salt levels major issues.

How do we fully restore our city waterways?


    Native species reliant on our city waterways still face threats. These include:

How can we help bring life back?

    • If there’s a lesson in the restoration work done so far, it’s that we can’t expect life just to bounce back.
    • Join a local Waterwatch program to monitor river health, or join the national waterbug blitz to learn more about invertebrate life.

Widodo Makmur Perkasa Secures IDR 600 Billion Equity Funding Package from LDA Capital, Strengthening the Consumer Goods and Agricultural Commodities Ecosystem

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, April 9, 2022

Widodo Makmur Perkasa (IDX:WMPP), has signed an IDR 600 billion Rupiah Put Option Agreement (POA) with global alternative investment group, LDA Capital (LDA).

Key Points: 
  • Widodo Makmur Perkasa (IDX:WMPP), has signed an IDR 600 billion Rupiah Put Option Agreement (POA) with global alternative investment group, LDA Capital (LDA).
  • Over the past 26 years, WMPP has become one of the largest providers to Indonesias fast-growing consumer goods and agricultural commodities sector.
  • LDA Capitals investment is a recognition of the track record and milestones we continue to achieve in the agricultural commodities and consumer goods sector.
  • Started in 1995, Widodo Makmur Perkasa (IDX : WMPP) is one of the leading consumer goods and agricultural commodity companies in Indonesia.

Commercial Adoption of Herdscreen® ASFV Antibody Test in Europe

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 28, 2021

Herdscreen ASFV is a point-of-care rapid diagnostic test that identifies animals which have been exposed to the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) using whole blood, plasma or serum samples.

Key Points: 
  • Herdscreen ASFV is a point-of-care rapid diagnostic test that identifies animals which have been exposed to the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) using whole blood, plasma or serum samples.
  • Herdscreen uses a highly specific antigen produced using CrisBio, Algenex proprietary Baculovirus vector-mediated expression platform that uses insects as natural single-use bioreactors for the production of recombinant proteins.
  • This antigen is able to capture antibodies developed during infection with ASFV with 100% specificity and higher sensitivity than a commercial ELISA test, as evidenced in field and experimental samples from infected animals gathered by the European Union Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever (CISA-INIA)1.
  • The adoption of Herdscreen ASFV by a major Spanish meat producer highlights the value of the test which resides in its ability to allow rapid individual testing in situ and aid in the certification of ASFV-infection status through the entire food supply chain.

Eight Month Undercover Investigation Exposes Illegal Activities & Companion Animals Slaughtered in South Korea’s Dog Meat Industry

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 12, 2021

LOS ANGELES, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last Chance for Animals (LCA) , an international animal rights organization, and their South Korean sister organization, Animal Liberation Wave (ALW), have released a comprehensive undercover investigation into South Koreas dog meat industry.

Key Points: 
  • LOS ANGELES, July 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last Chance for Animals (LCA) , an international animal rights organization, and their South Korean sister organization, Animal Liberation Wave (ALW), have released a comprehensive undercover investigation into South Koreas dog meat industry.
  • Narrated by Academy-award-winning actress Kim Basinger , the footage documented systemic cruelty and illegal activities towards companion animals and purpose-bred meat dogs, at auctions, markets, farms, and slaughterhouses.
  • The investigation gives a glimpse into the cruel pipeline of the one million dogs raised, sold, and slaughtered for meat in South Korea each year.
  • For eight months, beginning in October 2020 to May 2021, the investigation focused on two of the largest dog meat vendors in the Seongnam Moran Market, a.k.a.

Animal Legislation: China's Amended Animal Epidemic Prevention Law Comes Into Effect

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 28, 2021

China's amended Animal Epidemic Prevention Law came into effect on 1stMay 2021.

Key Points: 
  • China's amended Animal Epidemic Prevention Law came into effect on 1stMay 2021.
  • Under the public spotlight since it was proposed, the new law has inevitably stirred up controversies soon after its implementation.
  • Since the amended Animal Epidemic Prevention Law came into effect, all slaughterhouses in China can only process animals that are on the National List of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources, a government-issued "white list" that does not include dogs as livestock.
  • The amended Animal Epidemic Prevention Law imposes better regulations on the care, transportation, slaughter, and consumption of animals, signifying an improvement on the animal protection front in China.

South Africa Red Meat Production, Processing and Preserving Market Report 2020 with Profiles of Beefcor, Karan Beef, Tiger Consumer Brands, Cavalier, Doornplaat and Upington - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 8, 2021

The "The Production, Processing and Preserving of Red Meat in South Africa 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Key Points: 
  • The "The Production, Processing and Preserving of Red Meat in South Africa 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
  • This report focuses on the production, processing and preservation of red meat and red meat products, with a specific focus on cattle (beef and veal), sheep (lamb and mutton), pigs (pork), game and goats.
  • Between 2012 and 2019, meat exports grew 30%, with the biggest export markets outside of Africa being the Middle East and China.
  • There are profiles of 43 companies in the sector including major players such as Beefcor, Karan Beef and Tiger Consumer Brands and abattoirs such as Cavalier, Doornplaat and Upington.