Stop Romanian Horse Slaughter
- av: Care2.com
- mottagare: Victor-Viorel Ponta, Prime Minister of Romania's Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MMDD)
After the rush of horse meat-mislabeling scandals in the EU, many people believed the back-door horse meat processing industry had suffered a mortal blow. But Romanians are still producing over 14,000 tons of horse meat annually for export to the European Union and elsewhere.
Over the past four years, the Romanian government has banned horse owners from riding on public roads, and created incentive for selling horses instead of taking care of them. The average income in Romania has fallen to near-record levels, and without viable use for the horses, thousands are starved and sent up to slaughter each year.
Horse meat has found its way into frozen dinners and “beef” products in huge portions over the past year, and the public record only scrapes the surface. Stop the problem where it starts: protect Romanian horses from endless slaughter by asking the government to lift the horse cart ban.
Dear Victor-Viorel Ponta,
Horse meat has found its way into frozen dinners and “beef” products in huge portions over the past year, and there have been direct ties to your jurisdiction's abattoirs. I know your country believes it is being used as a scapegoat for the issue, but as a primary manufacturer of horse meat, your antics are certainly not lessening the problem.
[Your Comments Here]
I believe you need to lift the cart ban on horses regardless of pressure from the European Union. Horses have been integral in your nation for a millennium, and many constituents cannot afford other modes of transportation. The safety issue is easily outweighed by the amount of horses left starved and wandering the streets, and killing them is no real solution.
Your country exports an average of 14,000 tons of horse meat a year, and whether or not the labeling issues are relevant to your antics, the surplus certainly is. I implore you to do what you can to stop the hapless slaughter of horses in your country.
Thank you,
[Your Name Here]
