Horses Without Carriages in Rome How You Can Participate

Cities worldwide "celebrated" Horses Without Carriages International Day this weekend.  And it is not to late for everyone to get involved with the campaign in Rome.  Recently LAV updated its campaign against the botticelle in Rome.  They had a very creative group of people ride around the tourist sites in Rome on a vintage double decker bus and started a new petition.

LAV is firmly for abolition of the carriages in Rome and promotes peaceful protests.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Why?  Well here are some good reasons:

Abolition: The Only Solution for the Horses of Rome

Letter from LAV on the carriages in Rome:

The Only Solution For the Horses of Rome

The roads that the Roman horses run through each day are paved with history, controversy and risk.

The name of the 'botticelle' can be etymologically traced back to their original function as a means of moving goods, but are now used as means to transport tourists in the city The history is rich. Historical archives and period reproductions depict the life of these coaches which were prominent in the Roman streets and piazza until the early decades of last century. This, therefore, demonstrates how at the time, they were the only effective means of transport in a Rome that was still spacious and quiet. That city has now disappeared. Those times were quite different from the urban context in which they are forced to move today. The descendants of those horses- in the name of a tradition- are forcibly maintained beyond the objective needs and the changing public awareness in a city known worldwide for its rich cultural heritage.

The controversy about the many critical aspects of this 'service' has recently managed to gain some space in the media and institutions thanks to the voice of those who, for some time, oppose it for reasons of conscience for the welfare of the animal and public spirit.

The risks they encounter every day are real. The horses are hitched to the “barrels, forced to move in a wild and congested traffic.” Even for human inhabitants and guests of the capital, the blend of pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, public transport drivers and cars is so intense and violent it can be difficult to submit to the rules of the road. This is not a in a livable situation for the horses. Within such a scenario, the carriages- which are slow moving and not mechanically- only complicates the already prohibitive traffic conditions in the heart of the city.

There is another point of view that can no longer wait to be seen. A point of view which is not difficult to imagine and so obvious to those who witness it: that of horses. These horses live on the margins of a totally anthropocentric society. They are exploited beyond measure for an anachronistic human activity. Voiceless, they remain silent in their suffering and endure it.

The “working” horses that live in the everyday reality of Roman roads as we know it and we have described, are forced to live their lives immeasurably far from what might be suitable to their well-being. They are subjected to a high level of emotion and physical stress as they move among the crowded roads that are full of strong noises, pedestrians and motor vehicles. They silently perform a task in which they have no compelling way to interact positively with their surroundings. As slaves, they are prevented by human pressure to find adequate rest periods which are inadequate.

For these fundamental 'reasons of horses', for nothing more can be done. The many attempts to regulate an activity have failed. These measures have failed even in the face of administrative measures to regulate their health and wellbeing. Measures such as building modern shelters, renting a fully equipped equine ambulance, the design of lighter vehicles, the identification of urban routes protected and reserved, the additional restriction of the works, resizing the length of a career have all failed. The efforts of the municipal government can actually protect the life and ensure a genuine respect for these animals. All measures now studied add nothing culturally to the city of Rome. The city is so vast and rich in its immense artistic and historical heritage, so ancient and layered that it certainly cannot be appreciated in a passing carriage ride

And it may seem overly rhetorical to remember the Gandhian metaphor that judges the moral progress of a nation by how it treats animals. Yet it is appropriate. The welfare of the animals in the city is less frequently considered the city in its degree of civilization. Many of our metropolitan areas are human environments that have been designed to be homogenous. The horses should be considered in the context of these places. The horses are living beings that have been introduced, and yet, it is easier to consider street embellishment or furniture, tradition and tourist attractions than the horses

In 2012 it longer makes sense to consider a sentient animal as an inanimate object. Horses are scientifically known to have real cognitive and ethological needs. However, like an inanimate object they are easy to drive, like a taxi or a bus. Unlike a taxi or bus, there are no similar modes of registration, review times, rest areas and service agreements and scrapping.

The incidents that have occurred in recent years- even after 2005 despite the intensification of the city's animal welfare legislation-took place in broad daylight, under the gaze of affected citizens and tourists, children and sensitive people have confirmed that no agreement, even if respected, is able to protect the lives of these horses within the city. There is no working agreement that meets their physical and mental status while allowing them to continue to work.

And about the consequences of such accidents, from a note from ANMVI (Italian National Association of Veterinarians) which was published in 2009:'Following the death of Birillo- the Roman horse involved in an a carriage accident near the Coliseum - the Italian National Association of Veterinarians use the words of the Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, who said it was "unacceptable in form and substance."

The carriages are unacceptable. They have no purpose in the capital for recreational or tourism purposes. Veterinarians make a pledge to be professional and care for the well-being of animals; a profession to save lives

Euthanizing an animal can be a merciful intervention, reserved for extreme cases, reserved to extreme cases. In the case of Birillo Intervention was necessary due to unseemly circumstances for the animal. The ANMVI does not accept that the press has described the episode as, “Birillo is dead, and he was killed by a veterinarian by lethal injection.” Birillo was euthanized by a veterinarian due to the circumstances of being worked to death and collapsing. The fault lies not with the vet but with the carriage industry. We invite Mayor Almanno and the press to correct this. They know that euthanasia is a particularly sensitive subject of debate within veterinary bio ethics with the interests of the animal patient and the right to health and welfare. In Rome, it has become clear how this sensitivity does not belong to every citizen.

Therefore, the only action possible today is the abolition of animal-drawn vehicles. We call for the restructuring of the employment of their human drivers, the 'botticellari', a small group of people who, having been handed down from father to son a now anachronistic job can find ample space to talk about it in books and museums, without harming other living. In this way we will keep in check public opinion and all parties will benefit.

The disposal of the barrels would also provide the opportunity for the city of Rome to demonstrate a deep sense of civility and modernity as well as provide an example for other Italian communities, where similar examples of animal exploitation are also still in force. Clearing the streets of Rome of mournful carriages also means freeing the cultural image of the city from the burden of iniquity. Therefore, Rome will become very attractive in its ability to evolve over time in favor of all animals, both human and nonhuman.

New Shocking Video by LAV

Last Monday, the 25th of October, LAV and 13 other animal rights organizations had a press conference at city hall in Rome and they presented this video showing not only this mistreatment of the horses in Rome, but the total disregard for the laws that have already been implemented. The WONDERFUL Minister of Tourism, Michelle Brambilla is for a total ban on this useless, cruel, and outdated industry. We at Horses Without Carriages International ROME say BRAVA to Ms. Brambilla. We also say BOOOOOOOOOO!! to the Pdl leader, Luca Gramazio, who has said publicly that Rome needs even MORE regulations, not abolition. Um, what we want to know is how can you say regulation and welfare work after seeing this totally blatant disregard for the weak welfare laws that already exist? Please email Luca Gramazio at: luca.gramazio@libero.it, segreteria@realtanuova.com

Demonstration Saturday November 6th Against Carriages in Rome

Time	Saturday, November 6 · 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Location	Piazza San Marco
Created By	Horses Without Carriages International ROME
More Info	Sabato 6 novembre, 100%animalisti organizza a Roma, dalle 12.00 alle 15.00, un presidio contro le botticelle. Appuntamento ore 12.00 in piazza San Marco (in fianco a piazza Venezia) Partecipate! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126850454035889&ref=mf Saturday, November 6, 100% Animalisti a Roma, from 12.00 to 15.00, a defense against the horse drawn carriage. Meet at 12.00 in Piazza San Marco (in next to Piazza Venezia) Get involved!

Photos of Horse Drawn Carriages in Rome

Birillo is one of many casualties of this cruel industry. Here he is dying after a traffic accident.

Horse that has Collapsed in Piazza Navonna

His name was Legoli, he was a champion. When they decided it was time for him to retired, they sold him to work as a carriage horse. He died afterone long hour of agony and pain after being hit late at night by a car. Please note that the law states that a horse cannot work for more than 6 hours a day. Why was he out so late at night?

Horse Carriage in Traffic

Horse dying in the streets of Rome: Birillo



How many more horses need to die or collapse before the mayor of Rome bans this outdated and cruel industry. When in Rome, please do not cause suffering to animals!

World Wide Petitions Against Horse Drawn Carriages

Please spend a few minutes of your time to sign these global petitions. Say no to a carriage ride!

Rome

Dublin

New York City

Chicago

Philadelphia

If you know of any others, please feel free to comment so I can link them here.

New Laws: Nothing has changed

Recently the city of Rome announced new laws that were created to supposedly "protect the welfare of horses" in Rome. These new welfarist lies are a joke, and prove that only a ban will do. Even with these new laws, horses are not protected at all. I have seen each of the new restrictions broken on numerous occasions, because drivers in Italy know that the police can be bought, and will do nothing. Why bother citing a carriage driver when there are better things to do, for example, citing me as an illegal in Rome when I have permesso. They are simply filling the coffers, people.

Today was a "great" day for carriage drivers in Rome. While the Carabinieri were busy giving ME an illegal ticket for working, I saw horses running(against the law), more than 4 passengers(against the law), and passengers in the front with the driver(against the law).

Italy=Hell on earth for Horses.

If anyone has been to Rome lately, you would see that the majority of these horses are skin and bones at this point. Drivers, hay AIN'T expensive!! Some of the horses of tumors on their faces and are drving BLIND, with their faces totally covered up so clients don't see their suffering. Many have rotten feet. It is a disgrace. After all horses have done for human beings, they get treated like this?

An Open Letter to the Mayor of Rome from OIPA

In English

OIPA-Open Letter to the Mayor of Rome

Dear Mayor Alimanno,

Here we are again on the serious problem of the horse drawn carriages in Rome. To this day this problem remains unresolved despite the mortal incident that occurred last year, the creation of a proper scientific commission, the promises from the municipality not maintained to eliminate once and for all the anachronistic horse drawn carriages from the center of Rome and relegating them to the parks. Here we are once again despite all of the promises made, yet that remain unenforced. Not even the restrictions, though minimal, from the deliberations which was not a decisive for the well being of the horses have been to this day applied. We are asking you for information and updates, for example, a list of the so-called off-limits streets that you announced last September and expressively including in the above mentioned deliberations. Two points, for example, “ The horse drawn carriages are forbidden to pass through streets believed unfit or with
excessive incline as mentioned in theProvvedimento dirigenziale” You can also read, “The itineraries and the more suitable resting areas. They are located within the provvedimento dirigenziale within 90 days from the approval of the present deed. With the same theProvvedimento dirigenziale it has been decided the means of monitoring the service even with satellite GPS.”
Please note that these 90 days have expired as of the 28Th of October 2009. Until now nothing has been decided nor communicated from the municipality on this matter and does not even look as if the matter is under discussion. Obviously nothing has been done and the horses keep being forced to run up the most difficult streets where the fatigue of pulling 700 kg. adds up to the same as running up excessive inclines, or double the fatigue. This includes streets such as Via Veneto, Via Del Tritone, Via Sistina, and Via del Circo Massimo. What are the reasons for such tardiness on the approval f a listo f streets? Do we have to wait to see yet another horse collapse in the street to obtain from you the list of the forbidden itineraries(streets) or make you decide which streets are forbidden? Do you at least have the intention if not to avoid an accident, which will happen since the botticelle still exist, to at least postpone it in time by
deciding immediately which streets are the most dangerous to be excluded from the acceptable itineraries? Romans show a growing sensitivity towards the way these animals are treated in our city and are ever more against the, “tradition of le botticelle,” which is, at this point, a tradition of the past.
The consciencness of the respect these animals deserve goes along, by the way, with the recent proposal of law that is intended to recognize the status of an animal of affection, just like the dogs and the cats. This law would forbid the butchering and exploitation of horses in general. OIPA is bringing the petition, signed by some 12 association (which has now reached 5000+ signatures) with which it has been asked that the horses will be liberated permanently from the carriages and to be substituted with electric “vintage” carriages. These are undoubtedly a more civilized and more secure means of transportation for the safety of the passengers and the safety of the drivers.
Last October 547.000 Euro was set aside for the realization of experimental electric carriages that could be the first step, if there is a real intention to commence this project from the municipality, towards the definite banning of the “botticelle.” Considering a year has now gone by since the approval of this project from the municipality, we ask that you decide as soon as possible about the assignment of the realization of a new fleet of electric carriages and we want you to decide that the veturini will be automatically converted as drivers of this new means and abandoning the old.
Tel Aviv has recently banned the donkey and horse drawn carriages and becoming the first city in Israel to refuse this cruelty. Could Rome do as much by finally saying, “No!” to this obsolete means of transportation?
Finally, we remind you that the law of commune di roma article 46,2 on animal rights says, “ It is forbidden to transport a number of people superior than the seats for which the carriage is registered, not including the drivers seat, and the only allowed pace is the walking pace. It is also forbidden to run up uphill streets outside the ZTL.”
This article is regularly ignored by the veturini who drive the horses full throttle. The walking pace, which is the only allowed pace, is basically never applied. Even concerning the number of passengers it is easy to note that often a tourist sits next to the driver, which is not allowed. When there is a large family, the veturini accept the ride so as not to turn down business. The horse will be the one who pays for this. For the same reason, the summer break is not respected: comma 3. “From the June 1st to September 15Th it is forbidden to make horses work from the hours of 1pm-4pm. “ This past summer, our volunteers spotted carriage on multiple occasions carrying tourists during the forbidden hours. The restrictions included in the law are therefore ignored, also thanks to the total absence of controls or enforcement by the police. The office of the animal rights has not applied it’s role, not even guaranteeing the controls
on the very few existing rules!
Seeing the state of affairs when the next horse will die, will we have the courage to call it an accident?

Sign the Petition
www.thepetitionsite/3/ban-horses-drawn-carriages-in-rome

Italiano

Egregio Signor Sindaco Gianni Alemanno,

ritorniamo sul grave problema delle botticelle romane, ad oggi non risolto nonostante gli incidenti mortali risalenti all’anno scorso, l’istituzione di un’apposita commissione scientifica, le successive promesse da parte dell’Amministrazione, poi non mantenute, di eliminare una volta per tutte le anacronistiche carrozze dal centro di Roma relegandole nei parchi, infine la delibera del 20 luglio scorso. Nemmeno le restrizioni, minime, previste da tale delibera, di per sé comunque assolutamente non risolutiva per il benessere dei cavalli, sono state ad oggi recepite né dunque applicate.
Chiediamo notizie per esempio dell’elenco delle cosiddette strade off-limits, preannunciato a settembre ed espressamente previsto dalla delibera suddetta: “è inibito il passaggio delle vetture pubbliche a trazione animale in strade non ritenute idonee e/o con pendenze eccessive indicate con apposito provvedimento dirigenziale”. Si legge anche: “i percorsi e le aree di sosta più adeguate sono individuati con provvedimento dirigenziale entro 90 giorni dall’approvazione del presente atto. Con medesimo provvedimento sono individuate le modalità di monitoraggio del servizio eventualmente tramite controllo satellitare”.
Facciamo notare che i 90 giorni sono scaduti il 20 ottobre scorso e fin’ora nulla è stato deciso nè comunicato dall’Amministrazione su questo punto, né pare si stia dibattendo sulla questione.
Molto semplicemente non è stato fatto nulla, e i cavalli continuano a essere forzati a percorrere anche le strade più difficoltose dove la fatica dovuta al traino di un carico di 700 kg si somma a quella dovuta alle pendenze eccessive di strade come via Veneto, via del Tritone, via Sistina e via del Circo Massimo.
Qual è la motivazione di un simile ritardo per l’approvazione di un elenco di strade?

Dobbiamo aspettare di veder stramazzare a terra un altro cavallo per ottenere che vengano stabiliti dei percorsi vietati?

O per lo meno c’è l’intenzione, se non di evitare un incidente - che prima o poi avverrà visto che le botticelle sono ancora in essere - almeno di posticiparlo nel tempo deliberando quanto prima l’esclusione delle strade più pericolose dai percorsi consentiti alle carrozze?

I romani dimostrano una crescente sensibilità nei confronti del modo in cui vengono trattati gli animali nella nostra città e sono sempre più contrari all'istituzione della ‘botticella’, ormai icona del passato. La consapevolezza del rispetto che meritano questi animali è in linea tra l’altro con la recente proposta di legge che intende riconoscere al cavallo lo status di animale da affezione, al pari del cane e del gatto, vietandone la macellazione e il generale sfruttamento.

L’OIPA sta portando avanti la petizione - sottoscritta anche dalla LAV e da altre 12 associazioni e arrivata ad oggi a 5000 firme - con la quale si chiede che i cavalli vengano liberati per sempre dalle carrozze, e che queste vengano sostituite con altre a trazione elettrica, mezzi più civili e senz’altro più sicuri per l’incolumità stessa delle persone che le utilizzano, vetturini compresi.
Lo scorso ottobre è stata individuata la somma di 547.500 euro per la realizzazione di carrozze elettriche sperimentali che potrebbero essere il primo passo – sempre che sussista la reale intenzione di portare avanti il progetto da parte del comune - verso la definitiva messa al bando delle botticelle.
Considerando che è già trascorso più di un anno dalla valutazione positiva, da parte del comune, del progetto del prototipo di carrozza elettrica chiediamo che si deliberi quanto prima in merito all’affidamento per la realizzazione della nuova flotta di carrozze elettriche e che i vetturini vengano automaticamente convertiti a conducenti dei nuovi mezzi abbandonando la vecchia ‘botticella’.

Tel Aviv ha recentemente messo al bando i carri trainati da cavalli ed asini, diventando la prima città in Israele a rifiutare questa crudeltà. Riesce Roma a non essere da meno dicendo finalmente e definitivamente ‘NO’ a questo mezzo di trasporto ormai obsoleto?

Ricordiamo infine il regolamento del comune di Roma per i diritti degli animali che all’art 46, comma 2, recita: “ E’ fatto divieto di trasportare un numero di persone superiore a quello dei posti per i quali la carrozza è omologata, non a cassetta, e la sola andatura consentita è il passo. E’ altresì proibito percorrere strade in salita fuori dalla Zona a Traffico Limitato”
Questo comma viene regolarmente ignorato dai vetturini i quali conducono i cavalli al trotto. L’andatura al passo, la sola consentita, non viene praticamente mai rispettata. Anche per quanto riguarda il numero dei passeggeri nulla di più facile notare che spesso accanto al vetturino siede un turista, cosa non consentita. Quando la famiglia è numerosa in altre parole i vetturini accettano di fare la corsa pur di non rinunciare all’introito, sarà il cavallo poi a farne le spese. Per lo stesso motivo non viene rispettata la pausa estiva (comma 3. Dal 1° giugno al 15 settembre è vietato far lavorare i cavalli dalle ore 13,00 alle ore 16,00): quest’estate in varie occasioni i nostri volontari hanno avvistato carrozze che si spostavano con i turisti a bordo durante l’orario vietato. Le limitazioni previste dal regolamento vengono quindi ignorate, complice la totale assenza dei controlli da parte delle forze dell’ordine.
L’ufficio diritti animali non ha finora svolto il proprio ruolo nemmeno quindi nel garantire i controlli sulle pochissime regole vigenti!

Visto lo stato attuale delle cose ci chiediamo: al prossimo cavallo morto si avrà ancora il coraggio di parlare di “incidente”?

Distinti saluti.




--------------------------

------------------------------
Giovanna Di Stefano
Responsabile Campagne OIPA Itala
campagne@oipaitalia.com
www.oipaitalia.com

Silvia Premoli
Capo Ufficio Stampa OIPA Italia Onlus
ufficiostampa@oipaitalia.com
Cell. 320 4056710

Write a Letter to the President of Italy against Horse Drawn Carriages

Dear Readers,
I know it has been ages sincce I updated my blog, but I am hoping that this message gets out. I have tried to promote online petitions regarding the cruel horse drawn carraige industry in Rome, but they were addressed to the politicians of the city of Rome. They seem to ignore our demands. This following letter was written by the the president of OIPA, an animal rights organizations. I am hoping that you will also participate and send this email, even though it is in Italian, to the President of Italy. At the end of the email, feel free to write your own comments in your own language and I might suggest saying that you plan to boycott Italy as a tourist destination until the "Botticelle" are finally banned in the city of Rome.
In the subject, please type, "No Alle Botticelle!!"
For even great effect, feel free to attach the following photos of this poor horse, who was killed in the cruel streets of Rome that I have already posted on this blog.

to: presidenza.repubblica@quirinale.it
Egregio Presidente,
Le scriviamo per rivolgerLe un appello, affinché non ratifichi le misure razziste e incostituzionali contenute nel cosiddetto "pacchetto sicurezza" approvato in via definitiva dal Senato il 2 luglio scorso, dopo ben tre voti di fiducia imposti dal Governo. Le chiediamo di rimandare questo vergognoso decreto alle Camere, chiedendone la modifica nelle parti palesemente incompatibili con la nostra Costituzione e con le norme del Diritto Internazionale. Siamo convinti che non è respingendo nell’illegalità chi arriva nel nostro Paese in cerca di asilo e lavoro per sfuggire all’oppressione ed alla miseria che risolveremo la questione dell’immigrazione. Non denunciando i malati che si rivolgono agli ospedali in cerca di cure, non rifiutando alloggio e istruzione agli esuli, non impedendo i matrimoni o separando i figli dalle madri; non è cancellando i diritti di altri esseri umani che affermeremo i nostri: c’è una sola Umanità. Il profondo squilibrio nella distribuzione delle risorse del Pianeta, lo sfruttamento di interi Paesi in epoca coloniale, i conflitti seguiti all’arbitrario tracciato di confini politici sono alla radice dei flussi migratori. Apparteniamo a un Paese nato dalla fusione di popoli e culture diversi, che tanti cittadini ha visto partire in cerca di un futuro migliore, a un Paese che ha vissuto l’orrore delle leggi razziali; signor Presidente, dica per noi quel “No” che impellente ci affiora alle labbra, con la Sua autorevolezza ci aiuti ad avvalerci, come diceva Primo Levi, della “facoltà di negare il nostro consenso”.
Write your personal message here
Con profondo rispetto,
YOUR NAME HERE
CITY, COUNTRY

False Hope

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7913458.stm

In February of 2009, the BBC falsely reported that,

The 44 horse-drawn carriages will be confined to parks during the week, under plans drawn up by the city, and allowed in the centre only at weekends. They will be replaced on weekdays by electrically-powered vintage cars.


This is absolutely FALSE. There have been no plans to move the carriages to the parks and off the chaotic streets of Rome, nor have they been replaced by vintage electric cars. There are plans underway to introduce the electric cars next Spring, but this is problematic. The city plans to put them in the same places as the horse drawn carriages, and this will ultimately lead to a failure of the program. Unfortunately tourists have been falsely led to believe that horse drawn carriages are a more traditional and romantic means of transportation. They have been led to believe that the horse drawn carriages have existed for centuries as a means to transport people in the city, when, in fact, they were only ever used for the transportation of goods in Rome long before the invention of cars. They were used before Rome ever had the chaos of congested streets or severe pollution that comes with cars and scooters. Don’t be fooled! Say NO to a carriage ride