A Greek Tragedy
January 2004
The international animal welfare community is considering the announcement and promotion of an OLYMPIC BOYCOTT if animal reform is not initiated immediately.
Very little time remains to save the tens of thousands of abandoned dogs and cats who roam the greater Athens area from disappearing prior to the 2004 Athens Olympics.
As time for the opening of the Games draws near, the pristine image that Greece wishes to convey to international visitors becomes a priority and does not include the abandoned animals. Concern is growing within the international animal advocacy movement that the forgotten strays of Greece will not be given a "sporting " chance for survival ; one that they most certainly deserve.
Over the past few months, news coverage of mass poisonings and other atrocities in Athens and elsewhere in Greece, has attracted the attention of representatives of international protection organizations who will meet with Greek Diplomats in New York City on March 14, 2003. At the forefront of the movement to pressure the Greek Government to initiate active reforms are native New Yorker and WAG founder, Marijo Anne Gillis, and Londoner, Vesna Jones, Founder of Greek Animal Rescue (GAR) UK. Ms. Gillis lived in Greece for 14 years.
"Every day, I witnessed the tragic, willful neglect and violent abuse of both domestic and farmed animals." Ms. Jones, for sixteen years has fought to alleviate the suffering of Greece's animals with funding for spay/neuter and medical treatment.
This unholy nightmare will continue unabated unless we do everything humanely possible to change the cultural attitudes of Greece, enforce legislation, prosecute animal related criminals and promote humane education in the schools. Gillis and Jones are also urging Prime Minister Costas Simitis to issue a nationwide proclamation denouncing all forms of animal cruelty.
They are encouraging Prime Minister Simitis to invite representatives of International Animal Protection Organizations to an emergency meeting in Athens for the purpose of initiating a low cost, nationwide spay/neuter program, which will include vaccinations, micro chipping and release of the animals in "safe haven neighborhoods, where they will be cared for by grassroots animal rescue groups.
They are also urging the Greek government to allow European and foreign veterinarians to volunteer their services for spay/neuter, medical and or surgical intervention for the starving and injured animals.
Gillis & Jones state that "the animals have suffered way too long." Poisoning with strychnine, herbicides, pesticides and ground glass placed in raw meat, hanging and shooting are just some of the agonizingly painful disposal methods used on these innocent animals, who are considered nothing more than vermin.
Advocates have battled for years for reform; to no avail! In spite of recent revisions in existing laws and Government press releases promising reform, animal advocates have yet to see action.
Decades of efforts on the part of humane organizations and commendable efforts by concerned animal protection conscious people, to raise awareness on the plight of companion and farmed animals, is proving fruitless.
It is the goal of animal protection organizations worldwide to finally bring about lasting and compassionate reform even if it means a Boycott of the Olympic Games. Sadly Greece is raping her own histor and global image and the innocent animals are the victims. Gillis and Jones believe it is time to "Rock the Cradle of Civilization".
After the "extravaganza" and the celebrations are over, and the "coins" are counted, I guarantee that Greece will need a reality check.
We thank the "World Press" for what appears to be the beginning of comprehensive worldwide coverage of a terribly disturbing issue which is shocking people around the world.
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Please Turn On Your Speakers
"Greece In All Her Glory"
A daring film expose and a compilation of film and actual news clips from throughout Greece, produced by WAG NY in the months prior to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. The "Trojan Horse" that sparked the outrage, concern and compassion of the world community! Clips from this film and an interview with WAG were distributed by Reuters Television News to it's subscribers worldwide just days before the commencement of the "Games".
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<a href="/i/u/6047607/m/greece_hs.wmv">Play the media using the stand alone Player</a>
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Personal Memo
To Our Supporters
March 2004
The fourteen days we spent in Athens, the greater Attika area, Salonika, Loutraki and on the island of Kerkyra were an exercise in frustration and utter disgust. We witnessed suffering at every turn. The situation in Greece is unspeakable. Satan himself would shed a tear.
The encouraging aspect was the positive contact with so many foreign journalists at the Mayor's reception. Counter productive to my discussions with the press was the country's powerful, public relations machine which is doing a helluva job whitewashing the truth and attempting to discredit WAG's efforts to expose Greece's inhumane efforts to present a polished image to the world.
As well, the highly touted advertising firm Saatchi and Saatchi, has been commissioned to produce positive pre-Olympic advertisements depicting Greece as a "paradise".
Never the less, we keep on pushing for reform, still employing diplomatic methods! Hopefully the film expose that WAG is producing will have effect, if all else fails. Justice for so many animals lost over so many years and in memory of so many innocent victims sacrificed and those that will continue to be victimized keep us fighting. We fear the battle is only beginning.
Sadly, courageous and caring animal advocates on the ground in Greece are marginalized and ridiculed and we predict that they will be in for a tough fight now and in the future.
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