A victory for the animals
Party for the Animals gains 2 parliamentary seats in the Netherlands
Amsterdam, 11/23/2006 -- On Wednesday, November 22, the Dutch political
Party of the Animals gained 2 seats in the 150-member legislature in The
Netherlands. This makes the Netherlands the first country in the world in
which a party for animal welfare is elected into a representative body of
the people.
"We are thrilled with such a wonderful result of our campaign", says party
leader Marianne Thieme. "Finally we can start realizing our party's
highest priority, namely ending all animal suffering. We want a
constitutional amendment, guaranteeing animals the right to freedom from
pain, fear and stress caused by humans. Let's begin with easing the
suffering of the hundreds of millions of cows, pigs and chickens stuck in
factory farming", she said. Thieme feels success in the Netherlands could
help the movement elsewhere. One of the party's purposes is to be an
inspiration for other countries and animal rights activists.
A growing number of Dutch people are wondering why it is necessary to have
economic interests prevail over ethical considerations when it comes to
animal welfare and the interests of nature and the environment. "The Party
for the Animals expresses this concern that so many Dutch have", says
Esther Ouwehand, number two on the party list, explaining the party's
victory.
The party and viewpoints of party leader Marianne Thieme received a great
deal of media attention. After law school and a brief corporate career,
she decided to enter politics as an advocate for all animals and founded
the Party for the Animals. A large number of well known Dutch authors such
as Jan Wolkers, Kees van Kooten, Maarten 't Hart and Harry Mulisch have
joined the Party for the Animals. 20 of the party's 30 candidates are
opinion leaders in the Netherlands. Also a number of business people have
contributed large sums of money to the Party for the Animals, allowing for
a full-fledged political campaign.
For more information about the Party for the Animals see
http://www.partijvoordedieren.nl/content/view/129 , or you may contact Erna
Keers at the Party's HQ, tel +31(0)626945900
A world first:
Party for the Animals likely to win seats in Dutch parliament.
Amsterdam, 11/15/2006 -- On Wednesday, November 22 The Netherlands will conduct
its parliamentary elections. One of the participating political parties is the
Party for the Animals. Opinion polls have consistently indicated that the party
could win two or more seats in the 150-seat parliament. This will make the
Netherlands the first country in the world in which a party for animal welfare
is elected into a parliament.
Recent animal crises such as mad cow disease and foot-and-mouth disease have
exposed the flaws of factory farming. Dutch farmers were hit harder by these
crises than farmers in other European countries, as the Netherlands is a nation
that has a high concentration of animal farms. Millions of healthy animals were
exterminated during the crisis. The animal suffering made many Dutch people
reconsider the methods used in animal farming. There is a growing opinion that
economic interests should not prevail over ethical considerations when it comes
to animal welfare and the interests of nature and the environment.
In factory farming the castration of pigs without the use of any anesthetic, as
well as the clipping of their tails and teeth are commonplace. A growing number
of Dutch citizens are wondering why this is necessary. The Party for the
Animals is giving voice to this concern and their position forces other
political parties to take a more animal friendly stance.
Candidates representing other parties who support animal welfare have been
moved up on their own party list to a position where they have a bigger chance
of being elected, thanks to the influence of the Party for the Animals.
The rise of the party and viewpoints of party leader Marianne Thieme receive a
great deal of media attention in the Netherlands. After law school and a brief
corporate career, Thieme decided to enter politics as an advocate for all
animals and founded the Party for the Animals. 'Our party's highest priority is
to end all animal suffering. People who treat animals in a civilized manner,
will treat each other in a civilized manner', Thieme says.
A large number of well-known Dutch authors such as Jan Wolkers, Kees van
Kooten, Maarten 't Hart and Harry Mulisch have joined the Party for the
Animals. Poets, singers and other artists also occupy the party's list of
candidates. 20 of the party's 30 candidates are leading commentators in the
Netherlands. A number of business people have contributed large sums of money
to the campaign fund, allowing for a full-fledged political campaign. The
French-American professor Laurence Arcadias of the Maryland Institute College
of Art and her students created election videos for the party, including this
one: http://www.partijvoordedieren.nl/PvdDTV/?id=4
For more information about the Party for the Animals see
http://www.partijvoordedieren.nl/content/view/129 , or you may contact Erna
Keers at the Party's HQ, tel +31(0)626945900
