Stop the killing of 65,000 pigeons in Barcelona!
- by: Alhy
- recipient: Isabel Ribas i Seix, presidenta de la Agencia de Salut Publica de Barcelona y toda su Junta de gobierno:
Barcelona, the most famous, modern and cosmopolitan city of Spain, is experiencing problems with feral pigeons, which are considered as a 'plague'. The main problem with the expansion of this 'pest', is the increased dirt, damage to buildings and street furniture and allergies and disease.
Nevertheless, a few weeks ago the city council announced a solution to this problem: culling. Barcelona has put out to tender, worth 118,000 euros, a contract to 'remove' 65,000 pigeons over the next 18 months. This figure represents 25 percent of the 256,000 pigeons that live in the city. The contract specifies that the selected operator must capture the pigeons, kill them and then remove the bodies. The terms of the contract specifically requests that firms use of a 'painless' that is 'rapid' with no negative consequence on the environment.
Thousands of animal lovers in Spain are disgusted and shocked by this cruel, barbaric, and unplanned reaction. Why can't Spain follow the example of other countries?. There are plenty of humane, more practical (and cheaper) ways of reducing the overpopulation without resorting to killing. When pigeons are culled, they very quickly start breeding back up to and often beyond the original flock numbers, as flock sizes are governed by the amount of available food.
Hence, although very lucrative for pest control companies, culling is not a useful solution and simply results in more business for the pest controllers.
I am extremely disappointed that Barcelona, the most progressive city in my country, continues to allow this sadistic, unnecessary, counterproductive, expensive and outdated practice. Whilst this beautiful city commendably strives for animal rights (Barcelona and Catalonia lead the fight against bullfighting), it seems their government has a blind spot for the welfare of one of the most fragile and reviled animals there is: pigeons.
Spain's international reputation is not exactly as a country which respects its environment and animals. This is a very shameful, unfair and painful burden for all the Spanish people who really love, protect and respect life.
Unfortunately, our voices are not strong enough to stop this horrible massacre, that's why I ask you, the whole world, to scream along with us:
Please, don't kill the pigeons in Barcelona!
%uFFFDNo a la matanza de 65.000 palomas en Barcelona!
* You can protest here: http://www.bcn.es/ajuntamentescolta/english/welcome.htm
* Puedes protestar aqu%uFFFD:
http://w10.bcn.es/APPS/irsconsultesWeb/continuar.executant.do?i=e&origen=civisme_contacta&tema=122
El Ayuntamiento de Barcelona ha convocado un concurso p%uFFFDblico con el fin de matar a 64.780 palomas (el 25% de la poblaci%uFFFDn) en 19 meses y retirar la mayor%uFFFDa de huevos y nidos de gaviotas. Todo ello con un presupuesto inicial por valor de 118.750 euros y mediante el m%uFFFDtodo m%uFFFDs cruel imaginable: la captura con red y muerte mediante asfixia. Allende lo cruel, nos ofende que nos tomen por tontos publicitando dicho m%uFFFDtodo como "indoloro" y "causante del m%uFFFDnimo estr%uFFFDs posible para el animal".
Teniendo en cuenta que seg%uFFFDn un amplio estudio realizado por la UB en 1998: %u201Cmatando palomas en la ciudad s%uFFFDlo se consigue que vengan otras de fuera a reemplazarlas%u201D y que %u201Cel n%uFFFDmero de palomas vuelve a ser el mismo tres d%uFFFDas despu%uFFFDs de las captura", los m%uFFFDtodos cruentos del Ayuntamiento son, como m%uFFFDnimo, una mala forma de acabar con el problema y una excelente medida para malgastar el dinero de nuestros impuestos.
Me consta que han sido informados de la existencia de los palomares anticonceptivos parisienses, la mejor medida conocida para el control poblacional de palomas existente en la actualidad. En ellos se esteriliza a los animales mediante anticonceptivos administrados en el grano, sin necesidad de asfixiarlos hasta la muerte. De esta forma se crean comunidades estables en zonas concretas, descongestionando la ciudad. Adem%uFFFDs, los palomares ecol%uFFFDgicos cumplen una funci%uFFFDn did%uFFFDctica, al convertirse en zonas donde los ciudadanos acuden a observar a las aves y a alimentarlas con el grano adecuado. Incluso el excremento de paloma se aprovecha como abono para la agricultura, con el consiguiente reciclaje y m%uFFFDximo aprovechamiento de recursos.
Por lo tanto, me pregunto: si a pesar de tener al alcance de la mano un m%uFFFDtodo m%uFFFDs eficaz que ataca el problema de ra%uFFFDz, m%uFFFDs barato, m%uFFFDs ecol%uFFFDgico y menos cruel, el Ajuntament lo ha desechado, %uFFFDpor qu%uFFFD dedican mi dinero de los impuestos, a matar in%uFFFDtil, cruel e innecesariamente a estos animales?
Les ruego recapaciten y sigan el ejemplo de pa%uFFFDses m%uFFFDs avanzados en cuanto a protecci%uFFFDn del medio y los animales. De esta forma la opini%uFFFDn p%uFFFDblica de su gesti%uFFFDn no se ver%uFFFD perjudicada por medidas inaceptables como la presente.
Atentamente:
NOMBRE
POBLACI%uFFFDN
DNI
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.