#animalprotection — Public Fediverse posts

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!!!

Over 700 thousand euros raised for WEC!

From RTV Noord (in Dutch): https://www.rtvnoord.nl/economie/1444410/is-er-toch-hoop-voor-het-wec-meer-dan-700000-euro-aan-donaties-in-twee-dagen

In just 2 days we raised over 700000 euros for WEC (GFM+donations to WEC+various fundraisers on the page, including ours)!!
This amounts to 1/4th of the goal (2.8M euros), which is IMPRESSIVE!!!

The biggest surprise is that the cryptocurrency "community" has managed to prove to be a net positive for the world for perhaps the first time in forever, as they donated over 40000 euros to the cause via GFM and the fundraiser page. Regardless of what you usually think about that part of the internet, it is quite a honorable act.

I ask you to step up and show we are no worse! FOR THE SEALS!

Even if it's 1 euro, it's 1 more euro towards the goal. You can also spread the word, which costs nothing, and helps! (own posts might get more traction than a mere boost due to many people muting boosts from their timelines)

If we keep up the pace there might be hope. there is always hope.

https://stichtingzeehondencentrum.community-fundraising.com/teams/fediverse-for-seals
https://gofund.me/2c6f68292
https://www.zeehondencentrum.nl/en/how-to-help-2/

This profile is dedicated to sharing updates regarding the future of Zeehondencentrum in Lauwersoog, as well as sharing donation links to help the hospital.

This account is not associated with or endorsed by WEC itself, I am just one of the people who cares about this place, and I hope more people will care.

Here is (now in English) the full statement from the centrum regarding their future: https://www.zeehondencentrum.nl/en/news-2/zeehondencentrum-pieterburen-gaat-failliet/

What can you do:

• Post about it and share the news, even outside of Fediverse and outside of your immediate friend circle - and even if you are on the other side of the globe
• Donate to the centrum; while the amount needed to keep the lights on is enormous (in the range of government funding, remember!), you miss all the shots you don't take, and even if we do not get the full amount, it might buy them some more time to find solutions
• If you are a citizen of the Netherlands: put pressure on politicians, especially ones in province of Groningen to step up and take action - the place's existence is more than just a seal hospital or a visitor spot, it's more than that, it's the future of Wadden Sea's residents, and along with Germany and Denmark they hold the responsibility to keep the seals safe (Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea, 1991)

If you're a fedizen who cares and has the means to, join in for the fundraiser I made to show the power of independent networks - and if for nothing else, do it For The Seals

https://stichtingzeehondencentrum.community-fundraising.com/teams/fediverse-for-seals