#animalprotection — Public Fediverse posts

Almost a million euros raised for the seals
From RTV Noord (in Dutch): https://www.rtvnoord.nl/video/1445004/wec-inzameling-richting-miljoen-euro

We have raised over 900000* euros so far! We are getting closer to the goal.

The 2.8 million euros that is the final goal, will go to paying back WEC's debts. Even if the amount is raised and the debts are settled, the future might be uncertain.

As much as financial support from the audience is so far the most direct and effective way to help, it's obvious that this cannot be the norm, and that it is highly urgent for the governments to fund places like WEC - it's their duty after all.

Marco Boshoven, a manager at WEC, says that if the centre closes down, seals will die a slow death.

'Dat betekent wel dat je schrijnende gevallen gaat krijgen van dierenleed, want onze collega's bij Ecomare (op Texel, red.) en A Seal (in Stellendam, red.) hebben niet voldoende capaciteit om alles op te vangen. En als de gestrande zeehonden niet opgevangen kunnen worden, zullen ze een heel langzame dood sterven.'

Other facilities, such as Ecomare (Texel) and A Seal (Stellendam), while they are more than willing to help, simply do not have the capacity to take the seals.

⚠️ By refusing to help WEC, Het Hogeland, province of Groningen and the national government are sentencing seals to a painful death on the shores of Wadden Sea, all in the name of cutting costs and "bezuiniging", which violates the Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea (WSSA) signed by (besides Germany and Denmark) Netherlands in 1990/91 ⚠️

Keep donating | Keep sharing | Keep pressuring politicians

for the seals <3

https://www.zeehondencentrum.nl/en/red-ons/

The Dutch government can spare money for everything, but the seals?

From DVHN (in Dutch): https://www.dvhn.nl/regio/groningen/het-hogeland/kabinet-sluit-steun-voor-zieltogende-zeehondenopvang-nog-niet-uit/163110348.html

The results of the debate in Tweede Kamer are grim - no party is willing to support WEC in their struggle, claiming that "other facilities in the Netherlands can take care of the seals as well".

The truth is that said "other facilities", while they are more than willing to assist their peers, cannot just take on the WEC's patients as it is way over their capabilities.

Progressief Nederland (PRO)'s Laura Bromet especially has made an egregious and simply inhumane statement that "she doesn't know if it is wise to put money into [WEC]" and that "we can live if they can go to other facilities".

This is a complete embarassment and shame on the entire Parliament, especially parties like PRO and PvdD, in whose interest it should be to solidarize with WEC and advocate for them.

There is no "plan B", there is no "other facilities" that can easily just inherit WEC's legacy and operate on their behalf without it taking a toll on their performance and finances.

This only makes our support even more crucial - because if the government is not willing to properly support the cause (and wishy-washy solutions are not an option), it is our duty to protect the animals that still end up getting hurt due to human intervention in their habitat.

Even if it's just 1 euro, it is always 1 euro closer to avoiding a tragedy.

https://stichtingzeehondencentrum.community-fundraising.com/teams/fediverse-for-seals
https://www.zeehondencentrum.nl/en/how-to-help-2/

Tweede Kamer will debate over the future of WEC

@ineskostic.bsky.social , an MP from Partij voor de Dieren (PvdD), announced on their Bluesky that on Thursday (October 15, AKA today) there will be a debate regarding the future of Zeehondencentrum, which can mean a possible intervention by the national government.

I want to urge Dutch citizens who see this to please continue pressuring your politicians into supporting the WEC! The Netherlands is one of the countries obligated to conserve the Wadden Sea and the seals, and a lack of intervention will be seen as nothing more as the ignorance of this country to its own surroundings and zero respect to treaties or laws they signed.

FOR THE SEALS, DO NOT GIVE UP, THERE IS HOPE. WE CAN DO IT!!!