Mise à jour du 11/11/2014 Nous sommes maintenant près de 60.000 citoyens à avoir signé la pétition pour une réforme de la Cotisation Foncière des Entreprises (CFE) afin qu'elle ne soit plus une taxe injuste au mode de calcul arbitraire mais qu'elle devienne un impôt proportionnel au chiffre d'affaires/bénéfices des entrepreneurs.  Notre campagne citoyenne commence à porter ses fruits! Le député Laurent Grandguillaume a déposé un amendement au Projet de loi de finances 2015 pour faire de la CFE une taxe proportionnelle au chiffre d'affaires et qui respecterait ainsi le principe fondamental de l'auto-entrepreneuriat qui est "pas de chiffres d'affaires = pas de charges/impôts" et étendrait même ce principe à l'ensemble des micro-entrepreneurs.  Si cet amendement est voté cela changerait tout et l'une de nos revendications principales serait entendue! En effet le député Grandguillaume propose un taux réduit de 0,03% sur le chiffre d'affaires, un montant suffisamment bas pour ne pas être une charge insoutenable pour nos activités. Cela permettrait ainsi à des centaines de milliers d'auto-entrepreneurs et de petits entrepreneurs d'éviter de devoir fermer leurs portes et à des centaines de milliers d'autres d'éviter une précarisation économique en devant payer une taxe hors de leurs moyens. C'est la dernière ligne droite! Aujourd'hui et demain les députés doivent voter le texte du Projet de loi de finance et décideront s'ils y incluent ou non nos revendications. Agissons pour que les députés s'engagent sur une CFE plus juste! Envoyez des tweets pour convaincre les présidents des groupes politiques de l'Assemblée nationale de soutenir une CFE proportionnelle!  -----   Imaginez les effets causés sur votre pouvoir d'achat si votre taxe d'habitation augmentait arbitrairement de 300 % .. c’est ce que vivent des milliers de petits entrepreneurs, à cause de la méthode de calcul de la Cotisation Foncière des Entreprises (CFE). La CFE remplace depuis 2008 l'ancienne taxe professionnelle que doivent payer l'ensemble des travailleurs indépendants et entrepreneurs en France. Alors que ce changement aurait du être l'occasion de rétablir une véritable équité fiscale entre les petites entreprises et les grands groupes, c'est en réalité exactement l'inverse qui s'est produit : les gagnants de l'opération ont été les grandes sociétés alors que de nombreux petits entrepreneurs ont perdu au change. Pour la première fois cette année près d'1 million d'auto-entrepreneurs seront redevables de la CFE et devront la payer dés le mois de décembre, ceci quelque soit le montant de leur chiffre d'affaires et même s'ils n'en n'ont réalisé aucun ! Combien de centaines de milliers d'auto-entrepreneurs, de petits entrepreneurs et de TPE la CFE va-t-elle appauvrir ? Combien d'artisans, de commerçants et de prestataires de services devront arrêter leur activité ou se précariser pour réussir à payer cette taxe injuste ?   Ensemble nous pouvons réussir à faire changer les choses mais pour cela il est essentiel de nous mobiliser dés maintenant ! Le temps presse, il ne nous reste plus que quelques semaines avant l'ouverture des débats du projet de loi de finances prévu en septembre, une occasion unique qu'il nous faut saisir pour instaurer une CFE juste et progressive. Le mode de calcul de la CFE,  basé sur le chiffre d'affaire brut de l'entreprise, en fait un impôt privilégiant les intérêts des grandes entreprises rompues à l’optimisation fiscale, au détriment des start-up, artisan, commerçant, prestataire de services, profession libérale qui chaque jour créent la richesse de notre pays et plus de 90% de l'emploi en France. De puissants lobbies patronaux représentant les grandes entreprises s'opposent à une réforme de la CFE par simple idéologie ou par refus de leur part de contribuer à l'effort national . Pourtant, un rapport de la cour des comptes indique que les grandes entreprises payent en moyenne un taux d'impôt d'à peine 8% contre 33% pour les petits entrepreneurs. En plus du mode de calcul inéquitable, le montant de la CFE n'est pas défini selon la capacité contributive de l'entrepreneur mais bien selon le bon désir des élus locaux, par simple vote arbitraire de ces derniers. Le montant de la CFE peut varier de 500 euros à 2 000 euros selon la commune où l'entrepreneur est installé ! Chaque année des centaines de milliers de petits entrepreneurs peuvent avoir à subir des augmentations faramineuses du montant de leur CFE : 100%, 200% voire même 300% pour certains cas ! Les dégâts pour la trésorerie des travailleurs indépendants et TPE sont terribles. La situation des petits entrepreneurs est déjà suffisamment difficile avec la crise économique et les multiples impôts et diverses taxes qu'elles doivent payer tout au long de l'année pour ne pas avoir à leur ajouter l'injustice fiscale que représente le format actuel de la Cotisation Foncière des Entreprises. Combien de dizaines de milliers d'activités de petits entrepreneurs seront détruites par la CFE avant que les pouvoirs publics décident enfin à agir pour la réformer ? Le Mouvement des Poussins a déjà permis de sauver les projets de milliers de Français en s’opposant avec succès à la réforme du régime auto-entrepreneur. Aujourd’hui, nous revendiquons une fois de plus le droit d'entreprendre pour tous quelque soit son origine sociale ou ses moyens financiers : nous refusons que l'entrepreneuriat ne soit réservé qu'à une petite poignée de privilégiés. En ce sens, nous demandons la mise en place d'une CFE progressive et indexée sur le chiffre d'affaire et/ou bénéfice de l'entreprise.   Nous appelons le Gouvernement et le Parlement à : - Instaurer une CFE progressive dont le montant sera directement calculé sur le chiffre d'affaire ou les bénéfices avec un taux unique sur l'ensemble du territoire dont le montant sera décidé au niveau national. - Exonérer de CFE les petits entrepreneurs les plus précaires économiquement ayant un chiffre d'affaire et/ou bénéfices modeste - Exonérer de CFE les petits entrepreneurs exerçant depuis leur domicile particulier pour éviter l'effet de double imposition vu qu'ils payent déjà la taxe d'habitation et/ou la taxe foncière - Pérenniser l'exonération de CFE l'année de création ainsi que les deux suivantes Entrepreneur ou simple citoyens, mobilisons nous pour établir une véritable équité fiscale et promouvoir le droit d'entreprendre pour tous en France ! Soutenir les petites entreprises c'est soutenir activement le redémarrage de l'économie Française, de la croissance et de la lutte contre le chômage. Signez la pétition et partagez la massivement autour de vous pour convaincre les pouvoirs publics de réformer la CFE ! Un pour tous, tous Poussins ! Adrien Sergent et Frédéric Lossignol Co-fondateurs du Mouvement des Poussins   Rejoignez le Mouvement des Poussins Entrepreneurs : Abonnez-vous au Blog : www.defensepoussins.fr Sur Facebook => www.facebook.com/LesPoussinsAutoEntrepreneurs  Sur Twitter =>  www.twitter.com/defensepoussins Sur Youtube => www.youtube.com/poussinsTV Partagez le lien de la Pétition sur le Blog => www.defensepoussins.fr/petition

Mise à jour du 1er février: Victoire ! Malala est nommée parmi les candidats au Prix Nobel de la Paix ! En France, 150 élus ont nommé Malala pour le prix Nobel de la Paix. La ministre des Droits des femmes, le Premier ministre et le Président ont également salué son combat. Répondant directement à notre pétition, lePrésident de l'Université Paris Diderot a envoyé une lettre officielle au comité Nobel pour proposer la candidature de Malala. Cela s'ajoute aux dizaines d'autres nominations soumises en Allemagne, en Italie, en Espagne ou en Inde : politiques, lauréats du prix Nobel et universitaires se sont unis pour proposer au Comité Nobel le nom de Malala. Tout cela n'aurait pas été possible sans votre engagement. Maintenant que Malala fait partie des candidats officiels, il ne reste plus qu'à montrer au Comité Nobel que nous sommes tous derrière elle, pour qu'il lui attribue ce prix.  Cliquez ici pour partager ce visuel sur Facebook et exprimer votre soutien à la candidature de Malala.   ---- Le 9 octobre 2012, Malala Yusufzai, une jeune militante des droits humains âgée de 15 ans, a été grièvement blessée par un Taliban, en réaction à sa mobilisation contre la destruction des écoles de filles au Pakistan. Face au terrorisme, Malala a mis sa vie en danger pour défendre haut et fort les droits des jeunes filles du monde entier. Le courage de Malala a déclenché un mouvement mondial de soutien. C'est pourquoi nous pensons que la Fondation Nobel devrait lui donner le Prix Nobel de la Paix. (pour voir la pétition dans différentes langues et pays, consultez les liens ci-dessous) Depuis plusieurs années, Malala mène des campagnes pour que les jeunes filles puissent accéder à l'éducation, actions saluées par les médias et le gouvernement pakistanais. Malala n'est pas qu'une victime du terrorisme. Elle a osé parler haut et fort pour toutes celles qui sont discriminées en raison de leur sexe et privées du droit à l'instruction. Je connais la réalité de ces discriminations. Je suis née en Iran et malgré les efforts des militant(e)s féministes dont je fais partie, les femmes y sont de plus en plus privées de leurs droits. Récemment, les autorités iraniennes ont limité leur accès aux universités. C'est pourquoi l'action de Malala est une source d'inspiration pour nous tous et doit être saluée. Lui attribuer le Prix Nobel de la Paix, ce serait envoyer un message clair indiquant que le monde soutient celles et ceux qui se battent pour l'égalité femme-homme et les droits humains, dont le droit à l'éducation pour les filles. La première étape dans ce processus consiste à obtenir la nomination de Malala au prix Nobel. Seules certaines personnalités, comme des responsables politiques, peuvent le faire. Pour obtenir un large soutien et montrer que les Français saluent l'oeuvre de Malala, demandons au ministre des Affaires étrangères Laurent Fabius, aux présidents des groupes parlementaires et des leaders des principaux partis politiques français de nommer unanimement Malala pour le Prix Nobel de la Paix. Mobilisons également nos élus et universitaires. Merci de signer et de diffuser la pétition. Soutien mondial: La première pétition demandant un "Prix Nobel de la paix pour Malala" a été lancée par Tarek Fatah, qui vit au Canada. Mais les personnes qui ont signé la pétition sont originaires de pays du monde entier. A présent, des gens comme moi lancent la même pétition dans différents pays pour que le mouvement s'élargisse. Le compteur de cette pétition additionne les efforts et signatures de toutes ces pétitions lancées simultanément dans le monde. Si vous n'avez pas encore de pétition "Prix Nobel de la paix pour Malala" dans votre pays et souhaitez en lancer une, merci d'écrié à Tarek à l'adresse Nobel4Malala@gmail.com en indiquant votre pays dans l'objet. Merci pour votre soutien, Soudeh Rad, militante féministe et chercheuse en droits humains Hashtag Twitter: #Nobel4Malala   Pétition soutenue par Osez le Féminisme  Autres versions de la pétition: Pétition canadienne Pétition anglaise Pétition allemande

Après de nombreuses relances, créations de dossiers et rencontres, l’association OISO se retrouve encore une fois confrontée à la fuite d’accord de subventions comme depuis quelques années de la part de la région Hauts-de-France ainsi que des départements du Pas-de–Calais, de la Somme et du Nord. Avec plus de 1000 animaux sauvages recueillis et soignés par an (en 2016, déjà plus de 900 en 2017), 3 départements couverts (Pas-de-Calais, Somme et Nord), le centre de soin dénote une augmentation constante de sa charge de travail. Malgré cela et le fait que nos confrères soient dans la même situation (fermeture de la section faune sauvage du centre de soin Picardie Nature en 2016 par exemple), les refus et esquives de subventions pour les acteurs de la protection environnementale locale continuent. Est-ce une façon pour ces institutions de ne pas faire face à leurs responsabilités ? La fin du centre de soin est engagée. Nous ne pouvons plus prendre d’animaux en charge désormais. La Somme, le Conseil Régional, le Nord et le Pas-de-Calais ne nous accordent plus de subventions, nous ne pouvons plus payer nos frais et avons besoin de 20 000 euros pour survivre jusqu’à la fin du mois d’août (retards de loyers et charges sociales fautes d’aides financières). A compter du 31 juillet 2017 le centre fermera et 5 personnes se retrouveront au chômage (plus des stagiaires). Nos actions ont une réelle utilité car elles contribuent au maintien de la biodiversité de la région : sans nous de nombreuses espèces animales et végétales seraient en disparition. Aidez-nous à obtenir des subventions d’urgence nécessaires au fonctionnement mais également des subventions régulières et annuelles afin que le centre perdure. Nous ne pouvons plus continuer à fonctionner malgré les collectes organisées, les campagnes de sensibilisation et les partenariats. Merci de partager la pétition au maximum sur les réseaux sociaux, blogs, de penser à vos contacts qui travaillent dans la presse, toute personne ou organisme qui peut nous aider (n’hésitez pas à nous transmettre leurs coordonnées). Les animaux comptent sur vous, ils n’ont rien demandé. Pour aller plus loin : Donnez pour que le centre puisse survivre en attendant les réactions de ces institutions ! (Cliquez Ici) Envoyez une lettre à ces institutions ! (Cliquez ici) Soutenez-nous sur Facebook (Cliquez ici) Journalistes, mécènes potentiels, n'hésitez pas à nous contacter sur Facebook pour obtenir notre adresse mail. Association OISO    

  Ask the governments to protect millions of wild birds and stop the illegal killing, illegal trapping, and illegal trading. Leave a comment (COMMENT=MORE IMPACT) These wild birds are either: Illegally sold to restaurants or private dealers, at a high price, as an expensive illegal “delicacy” to be eaten Illegally traded and illegally sold as caged pets Illegally killed for fun or sport The illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of millions of birds extends throughout the Mediterranean, in over 25 countries. Cruel, illegal methods include bow traps, snare traps, mist nets, limesticks - where birds get trapped in glue, and many other methods, that don't just kill the birds, but often leave them mutilated and in agony. Often with torn wings and separated legs. Birds include many threatened and endangered species from the IUCN Red List The birds affected are wide ranging. There are too many to list, but here are a few: European Robin, House Sparrow, Ortolan Bunting, Eurasian Chaffinch, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Calandra Lark, Eurasian Blackbird, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, European Turtle-Dove, Common Coot, Warblers, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Ringed Plovers, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Wrens, White Wagtail, Bee-eaters, Brambling, Redpoll, Common Buzzard, European Honey-Buzzard, Eagle, Hawk, Common Snipe, Siskin, European Serin, Starling, Thrush Nightingale, Dunnock, and many, many more. Be it for fun, for sport, for a traditional “delicacy” or to be sold as caged pets, it’s all illegal and the cruel methods of hunting these birds across the Mediterranean needs to be stopped. I’m petitioning for existing laws to be enforced. The legislation is already in place; unfortunately the enforcement of the law is weak. I am calling on the governing bodies of each of the countries where these practises are common to come together and save our wildlife. This is a matter for both conservation and animal welfare. This issue sweeps across many countries and continents, and we have a duty to ensure that these flyways are safe areas where our wild birds can live and thrive. There needs to be justice for these illegal acts.   Highlighted below are some of the problems from a few countries.     Italy: The illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of approximately 5.6 million migrant and resident birds extends across Italy, from the Brescia Alps down to the Sulcis district in Sardinia.   Northern Italy: See: http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/italy/bow-traps The Brescia Alps, between Lakes Garda, Como, and Iseo, (Lombardy), lie one of the most important European migrant bird flyways. In principle, the authorities have an obligation under national and international law to place this part of the Alps under special protection. Instead however, they just stand by and watch as one of the most important European migration routes deteriorate into a paradise for poachers. As early as the end of September, countless illegal "archetti" traps – a metal bow with a snare attached – have been set up on the mountain passes. The bright red berries of the mountain ash attract the birds, mostly Robins, Thrushes and Wrens, into the illegal traps, which are propped open under tension with small sticks. Once the bird lands on the trap the tension is released and the trap snaps shut, and the bird - still alive - is trapped in the snare, with both it's legs broken. They often flutter about for hours until they die of thirst or exhaustion; or until they are collected by the poacher. They are then illegally served as "delicacies" to restaurants and private dealers. See: http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/italy/bow-traps Even though these bow traps have been banned in Italy since the 1950s, thousands of these illegal traps are still found today. The Italian Government is not doing enough to stop these illegal acts. They need to ACT NOW.     Sardinia: Hundreds of thousands of wintering migrant birds are the victims of an egoistic obsession every year in the south of Sardinia. After dying by strangulation in fine snares they are illegally sold by the poachers at high prices to restaurants and private ‘gourmets’ for consumption. Those birds that are illegally trapped alive are kept in squalid conditions, trapped in a cage in the dark. To fatten them up, they often have their eyes plucked out while they are still alive, as the pain and stress causes them to eat more than normal. Robins, Wrens, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Fieldfare and many other species of bird are illegally killed in Italy. The use of snares is illegal. The trade in the birds is illegal. But in the more isolated regions of the island everybody knows his neighbour and effective controls are rare. The ITALIAN GOVERNMENT needs to ACT NOW and enforce the laws to protect these birds. Only the local forest police attempt to combat the poachers. It is almost impossible to lie in ambush for the poachers on the trapping routes in the impenetrable and extensive woodland, so much so that the officers can only locate and confiscate the snares. In view of the hundreds of thousands of traps this is a never-ending task.   Southern Italy: The islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea along the south Italian coast, in particular, Capri, Ischia and Ponza, are valuable stepping stones for the migrants returning from Africa. After arriving here in spring, following a demanding flight across the Sahara and the Mediterranean, they are often too exhausted to fly. The poachers are well aware of this. From the end of March on wards, illegal snap traps baited with mealworms are set out in vineyards, olive groves and gardens. These prove to be the undoing of the starving birds. Species whose populations north of the Alps are threatened with extinction, such as the Nightingale, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear and Common Redstart, die in masses in these small illegal traps. Quails, Turtle Doves and Raptors are also the much sought-after prey of the hunters, who clear their fields of fire by burning off the macchia. Calls from illegal electronic bird lures can be heard at night far out to sea, and these lead the birds into the traps and to the hunters' guns.     From the Brescia Alps down to the Sulcis district in Sardinia, millions of wild birds are being illegally killed, illegally trapped and illegally traded. Illegal “archetti” (bow traps), illegal snare traps, illegal nets, illegal limesticks and illegal electronic bird lures, are being used. The Italian government is NOT doing enough to stop the illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of millions of wild birds. 3.4-7.8 million individual birds are illegally killed each year in Italy. Italy is breaching the laws of the European Union, and could be taken to the European Court of Justice. See links for more: http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/italy/sardinia http://www.lipu.it/     Cyprus and British Overseas Territories: Cyprus is an important migration flyway for birds between Africa and Europe and millions of birds are illegally killed yearly as they migrate over the island. The Famagusta and Limassol districts are some of the worst.  Again many birds are illegally killed and/or caught. More illegal “delicacies” such as Blackcap, Song Thrush, Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, and Common Chiffchaff, are all illegally trapped and illegally sold to restaurants to be eaten. The birds are caught for profit and fuelling the illegal restaurant trade with the traditional delicacy known as ambelopoulia. Birds are often kept in appalling conditions, illegally trapped in tiny cages. To fatten them up, they have their eyes plucked out while they're still alive. This causes them to eat more than usual due to the pain and stress.  To protect resident and migratory birds, BirdLife Cyprus and the RSPB survey areas of illegal trapping. More than 150 species of birds, over half of conservation concern, have been trapped in illegal nets, or on illegal limesticks, and it is estimated that organised crime gangs earn over 15 million Euros yearly. The dead birds are sold to provide the main ingredient for ambelopoulia in Cyprus; an illegal delicacy served to restaurant diners. The 2015 survey estimated 19 km (12 miles) of illegal mist nets across both the Republic and the British Territories, and more than 5,300 illegal limesticks, mainly in the Republic. It is estimated that over 2 million birds were illegally killed in 2015, including over 800,000 on British Territories. (For example Akrotiri and Dhekelia).  The British Overseas Territories in Cyprus are now among the most severe strongholds for the illegal trapping of wild birds anywhere in Europe. Under the watch of the British military, more than a million songbirds are being caught and killed illegally each year, including many endangered species. With its massive poaching issue, Cyprus remains a key problem child for wildlife conservation and international protection of migratory birds. By far the worst areas are the UK military bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the south of the Mediterranean island. Combined, these areas - considered property of the Crown and Defence Department official British Overseas Territories - equate to just 230 square kilometres of land. Yet each year poachers enter unperturbed, constructing huge illegal trapping installations to illegally catch hundreds of thousands of small birds with huge nets. The birds are caught for profit and fuelling the illegal restaurant trade with the traditional delicacy known as ambelopoulia. The territories are in a state of complete anarchy, perhaps through fear of gaining a bad reputation as “occupiers”, neither the British Government, British police, nor the military take any action against the highly visible lobbies. By turning a blind eye, they quell any discussion on the return of the territories to Cyprus and from London the situation is seemingly out of sight and out of mind. Excerpt from CABS website http://www.komitee.de/en/protest/protest-campaign-sba-cyprus   The Cyprus government and the British government are NOT doing enough to stop the illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of millions of wild birds. 1.3-3.2 million individual birds are illegally killed each year in Cyprus. Cyprus is breaching the laws of the European Union, and could be taken to the European Court of Justice. See links for more: http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/cyprus http://www.birdlifecyprus.org/       France: Illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of hundreds of thousands of small birds such as Eurasian Chaffinch, European Robin, Ortolan Bunting and many, many more. The Ortolan Bunting is often served as a “delicacy”, through tradition and a rite of passage. They are illegally trapped and caged. To fatten them up, sometimes they have their eyes plucked out while they're still alive, as the pain and stress that this causes makes them eat profusely. They are left like this for weeks, in perpetual darkness, and over time once they have fattened up, they are drowned, (often in Armagnac), and cooked. Although this is illegal, it carries on because it is a tradition and the poachers are very rarely prosecuted. Cited as “tolerance”, these illegal and horrific acts continue. Those who do get prosecuted are simply let off with a warning; there is rarely any justice. Considered a gastronomic delicacy a number of well-known politicians have admitted to eating them, even former President of France Francois Mitterand could not resist. In France, hunting of Ortolan Buntings has been forbidden by law since 1979 and the species was put on the protected list in 1999.  Each year, however about 30,000 Ortolans are trapped illegally during migration, August-September, in the SW France principally in the département of Les Landes using what are called “traditional hunting methods” (matoles or cage traps).   Many other birds are illegally caught in the process. Often European Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Robins, Thrushes, and many other small birds are illegally trapped and illegally killed.  The French government is NOT doing enough to stop the illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of millions of wild birds. 149,000-895,000 individual birds are illegally killed each year in France. France is breaching the laws of the European Union, and could be taken to the European Court of Justice.     LPO (Birdlife France) have set up a letter you can send to the Interior Minister of France. PLEASE SEND HIM A MESSAGE HERE: https://www.lpo.fr/actualites/stoppez-le-braconnage-du-bruant-ortolan See links for more: http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/france https://www.lpo.fr/ In 2013, LPO (BirdLife in France) sent a complaint to the European Commission. In March 2015, the Commission informed LPO that the French government had given a satisfactory reply to their questions, including that it was working with LPO on the issue; and if the NGO had no more evidence, the Commission would close the complaint. LPO immediately sent a dossier with information from the previous poaching season to Brussels.  LPO has continued sending proof to the Commission that the French government is doing nothing to stop the illegal trapping and that it has convicted very few of the hunters involved. On 16 June 2016, there was some cause for hope. The Commission announced that it had sent a “reasoned opinion” to the French government, which had two months to satisfy the Commission that it was taking action to stop this illegal killing, or else the Commission could bring France before the European Court of Justice. Nothing has come of this.       Spain Located on the southwest edge of Europe, Spain is an important flyway for western migrating birds which cross the Straits of Gibraltar en route to their winter quarters in Africa. The majority of migrants from the British Isles, the Benelux countries and France transit the bathing beaches of the Costa Blanca and Costa Brava twice a year, and almost all water birds that use the Wadden Sea as a rest area, on their way to Africa, cross the Iberian Peninsula. In the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, in the autonomous regions of Catalonia and Valencia, illegal bird trapping takes place. Every autumn countless thrushes are illegally caught on treacherous lime sticks in more than 2,000 illegal trapping sites - the so-called Barraccas in Catalonia or Paranys in Valencia. Spanish experts say that the Spanish trappers illegally catch more than 2 million song birds annually in these installations, including numerous endangered species. The ‘Paranys’ are specially cultivated and trimmed illegal trapping-gardens that dominate the landscape between Valencia and Tarragona. Every tree is spiked with hundreds of small illegal limesticks that stick to the birds’ plumage with just the slightest touch, and cause them to fall helplessly to the ground. Unable to move their wings, they then land in a tunnel where the trapper ‘harvests’ them – usually after a long and painful struggle – by strangulation. Taped bird calls lure whole flocks of night migrants to their deadly fate. This is illegal. This method of trapping has been banned in the EU since 1979. Although the Spanish courts long ago declared the practice illegal, and a judgement of the European Court of Justice ruled, unambiguously, in December 2004 that the installations must be closed down, they are still in use today. The Spanish Government, politicians, the local administration and the police TURN A BLIND EYE to the continued violation of national and international nature protection legislation. For the first time ever CABS (Committee Against Bird Slaughter) volunteers have managed to film the massacre with low-light cameras. “The material demonstrates that thousands of wild birds are illegally and cruelly killed and that numerous protected and endangered species are among the victims” states CABS President Heinz Schwarze. The video shows Thrushes and Blackcaps squealing and panicking, fighting for their lives among the corpses of their partners. Click to watch the video: http://www.komitee.de/en/youtube/youtube-spain In addition the film shows that, despite a clear ban on such practices, the Spanish authorities take no action against these installations, although these are highly visible and are operated openly by their owners. Schwarze continues “We have informed the police time and again but no one accepts responsibility”. CABS accuses the local government of active complicity in that they tolerate the operation of the installations, hinder the responsible game wardens in their monitoring work and protect the trappers from prosecution. The game wardens are forbidden to work at night – when the installations are active – which rules out any effective form of control. Even when the wardens manage to take a case to court the offenders are let off with no sanctions. In 2013 a trapper was found not guilty by a court in Vignaros because the commonly used bird lime trap he used Il Tordo - was allegedly not capable of trapping protected species! CABS has announced that it intends to file an official complaint against Spain with the European Commission because of the toleration of mass, non-selective trapping and killing of protected bird species. In order to put pressure on the Spanish authorities, and to urge the authorities to finally take effective action against this breach of European legislation, CABS has started an international protest action. A prepared email mail text in Spanish (with English translation) and addressed to Valencia’s Environment Minister Isabel Bonig Trigueros is available. PLEASE SEND HER A MESSAGE HERE: http://www.komitee.de/en/actions-and-projects/spain/lime-sticks-spain/protest-mail-spain     Across the country, from the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, the autonomous regions of Catalonia and Valencia, to Majorca, and the South, many laws are being broken, legislation is being ignored, and Spanish authorities are turning a blind eye to illegal acts. The Spanish government is NOT doing enough to stop the illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of millions of wild birds. Spain is breaching the laws of the European Union, and could be taken to the European Court of Justice. See links for more: http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/spain http://www.seo.org/       Malta Illegal bird trapping takes place on Malta and Gozo. The birds are illegally kept as caged birds in dark garages of supposed ‘bird lovers’. Bird trappers also make a successful business out of the illegal capture and illegal sale of wild caught birds, and often live birds from other countries are illegally smuggled into Malta for use as decoy birds for illegal trapping. Until Malta’s accession into the EU in 2004, bird trapping was permitted as a normal activity. Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Hawfinch, Serin and Linnet were legally trapped using ground horizontal ‘clap nets’. Despite accession of Malta to the European Union in 2004, Maltese politicians were able to negotiate a generous transition period. With Brussels’ consent, the trapping of 7 finch species was permitted until 2008. As of 1st January 2008, it is illegal to kill and illegal to trap songbirds and finches. However, finch trapping is being permitted by the ORNIS Committee, a Maltese consultation body, going against the European Commission, who immediately gave Malta a formal warning in Autumn 2014. Despite this the Maltese Government opened the finch trapping season. In 2014 the finch trapping season ran from October to December with a quota of 12,000 linnets, 800 goldfinch, 4,500 greenfinch, 500 hawfinch, 5,000 chaffinch and 2,350 siskins. 4,168 finch trapping licenses were issued and each trapper had a bag limit of 10 finches per season, each bird having to be reported by sms and ringed with a ‘single use’ ring. Despite the declaration that the season was to be ‘regulated and restricted’ it was reported that only 25% of finch trappers were subject to spot checks by police or officials. Also it was discovered that the official rings for tagging caught birds could easily be tampered with and removed. The Administrative Law Enforcement (ALE) unit of the Maltese Police is responsible for implementation of the bird protection laws. Although the great majority of Maltese reject and condemn illegal hunting, effective control by the police is still lacking. The ALE has not been reinforced for years and at best no more than ten officers per shift are available to control more than 15,000 hunters and trappers. A lack of officers on the island of Gozo means Maltese trappers can get away with illegal trapping and illegal killing.   Infringement procedures have been launched by the European Commission against Malta, since there is no scientific justification for finch trapping. As of 1st January 2008, it is illegal to kill and illegal to trap songbirds and finches, yet these activities still take place, due to a lack of enforcement from the Maltese government and authorities. The Maltese government is NOT doing enough to stop the illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of millions of wild birds. Malta is breaching the laws of the European Union, and could be taken to the European Court of Justice. See link for more:  http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/malta http://birdlifemalta.org/     Germany Germany lags behind as far as species protection is concerned. In Germany, many wild birds, from songbirds to raptors, often including protected species, are illegally trapped and illegally sold as caged pets. This is in violation of European nature protection legislation, and the Federal Nature Conservation Act. Birds are also smuggled in from the tropics or Eastern Europe. There are countless pet owners in Germany who are not satisfied with keeping dogs or budgies; there is a huge illegal wildlife trade problem, involving many wild birds, tortoises, parrots, ducks, tropical insects and many other animals. The sentencing of the trappers is weak, rarely do the prosecutors give a strong enough sentence. These offenders are often let off and the sanctions imposed are not serious enough to deter other trappers. There is rarely justice for these illegal acts on wild birds. Germany has been reproved on several occasions by the European Commission for inadequate implementation of international environmental regulations.   The German government is NOT doing enough to stop the illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of millions of wild birds. Germany is breaching the laws of the European Union, and could be taken to the European Court of Justice. See links for more: http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/germany https://www.nabu.de/     Greece: Among one of the worst countries for the illegal killing of European Turtle Doves, but also the illegal trapping of European Goldfinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch and Greater Short-Toed Lark, all to be illegally sold as cagebirds. Greece is also among the top three countries that illegally kill Dalmatian pelican. Many more species of bird are illegally killed and illegally trapped across Greece for fun or sport, including species listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List. 485,000-922,000 individual birds are illegally killed each year in Greece. The Greek government is NOT doing enough to stop the illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of millions of wild birds.  See links for more: http://www.ornithologiki.gr/       Egypt: Perhaps the MOST DANGEROUS PLACE FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN as an estimated 5.7 million birds are killed illegally each year. Read here for more info:  Birdlife Egypt Illegal Killings National Geographic Document Video Photographer Covers Songbird Slaughter There are way too many species of bird to list. Every bird from House Sparrows, Common Coots, Red-Backed Shrikes, Eurasian Golden Orioles, Ringed Plovers, Endangered, Vulnerable, and Critical listed species, are all illegally killed in large numbers.  The stunning beautiful Golden Oriole is being targeted because its flesh can be sold in Middle Eastern markets where it is regarded as a cure for impotency. The Egyptian government is NOT doing enough to stop the illegal killing, illegal trapping and illegal trading of millions of wild birds.   There are many more. Here is a list of the main countries: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, British Overseas Territories, Croatia, Cyprus (Including British Overseas Territories Akrotiri and Dhekelia), Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia FYRA, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestinian Authority Territories, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey. Here are some links to full in-depth reports. Birdlife Report on Illegal Killings in Mediterranean Images Showing Extent of Illegal Killings Birdlife Report Showing Countries and Extent of Illegal Acts Birdlife Map Showing Illegal Killings Birdlife Video on Extent of Illegal Killings Birdlife Official Campaign Website Donate to CABS to Support Rescue Work in the Field (Committee Against Bird Slaughter) Donate to Birdlife to Support the Work on Illegal Killings Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) Official Website Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) German Official Website CABS Actions and Projects CABS in Italy Italy Illegal Bow Traps CABS in Spain CABS in Germany CABS in Cyprus CABS in Malta CABS in France List of all Birdlife Partners Committee Against Bird Slaughter Facebook page Committee Against Bird Slaughter Twitter page Birdlife International Facebook page Birdlife International Twitter page CMS Official   I urge all the people who have the power to please enforce the existing laws. I ask those who are reading this to support this cause. If nothing is done, we will all be responsible for the continual suffering and decline of this wildlife.    

Cette pétition demande la suppression du projet d'appendice qui traverserait le domaine national de Saint Germain en Laye. Ce tracé, 2 voies ferrées de 3km6 entièrement nouvelles en surface dans la forêt, avec des porte-caténaires de 7m de haut et des grillages, entraînerait l'abattage d'arbres centenaires sur trois hectares et détruirait la perspective créée par Le Nôtre pour Louis XIV. Lien  Ce projet d'infrastructure lourde de transport ferroviaire représente un coût exorbitant pour peu de voyageurs. Le trafic annoncé n'est pas crédible. Plusieurs alternatives existent, moins coûteuses, plus pratiques, utilisant les voies existantes et plus innovantes (navette autonome) pour relier la gare de la grande ceinture et celle du RER A qui ne sont distantes que de 1km8.  En outre, cet appendice réduirait de moitié le nombre de trains sur la ligne principale, St Cyr-Poissy-Achères. Nous demandons l'accélération de la phase 2 St-Germain-Achères qui permettra l'accès au RER A et au RER E. Enfin, si un budget existe, l'amélioration du terminus du RER A doit être la priorité.   

Suivant une proposition soutenue par l'Avenir en commun lors de la campagne présidentielle de 2017, il est temps pour la démocratie française d'adopter le référendum révocatoire d'initiative populaire. Cette mesure simple permettra aux citoyens de pouvoir révoquer un élu, quel qu'il soit, au cours de son mandat. Face aux promesses non tenus de nos élus, le référendum révocatoire d'initiative populaire est désormais nécessaire pour obliger nos élus à respecter leurs engagements. Ce dispositif efficace nécessitera pour l'élection présidentielle un nombre de signatures supérieur au nombre de voix recueillies par le président au moment de son élection. Pour les élections autres que présidentielles, 50% des électeurs inscrits au moment de l'élection devront signer le référendum révocatoire. La révocation de l'élu donnera lieu à une nouvelle élection.