Update of March 20, 2018 - Please scroll down for the German translation Dear Supporters and Cosignatories of our petition to the United Nations to outlaw and ban crimes against humanity, you have not heard anything about our petition for some time, and maybe you have also written an email to Peter H. Arras and his German NGO “Action for Consequent Animal Welfare”, AKT, which unfortunately was left without response. The reason is: Peter H. Arras is dead. He died unexpectedly on March 4, 2018 at the age of 51 only. With him not only AKT and his Institute for All-Comprising Ethics have lost their founder and driving force, but the world has lost an untiring advocate for all animals who had great visions and kept fighting for a peaceful co-existance of human and non-human animals in the biosphere we all share. Peter leaves behind a daughter and Felix, his young fellow in arms and confident, who now has to shoulder the task to care in the same compassionate and professional way as they did together for many years for the more than 300 animals of many different species living in the AKT sanctuary. Peter's friends, supporters and small team of activists, me included, were deeply shocked by the loss of the wonderful man, philosopher and animal friend Peter. H. Arras. Better than I can, his friend, Harald Hoos of the German initiative “pro iure animalis“ (For the Rights of Animals) wrote the obituary of Peter H. Arras. You'll find the English translation further below, whereas the link leads to the German website and the condolence book: http://www.pro-iure-animalis.de/index.php/verschiedenes/articles/nachruf-peter-arras.html Our petition “The United Nations is to outlaw crimes against humanity“ will of course be carried on and, after reaching another milestone, sent to the policy-makers in New York again. The petition has lost nothing of its urgency, moreover, after the devastating loss of Peter H. Arras all of us are called upon to stand up for animals even more, to save them from the brutality of man, now, that Peter cannot do it anymore. Right now Russia in preparation of the football championship has started to kill homeless animals in order to simulate a “brave new world“, so we, Peter's supporters and cosignatories must take another stand against the torturing of animals, no matter where these atrocities take place! Please keep asking for signatures to our petition, and should you live in a country, where you are free to talk to your politicians, do talk or write to them, contact your government, the department of foreign affairs, your country's representative to the United Nations! Do contact all those animal welfare NGOs, too, who refrained from openly supporting our unique petition so far. Ask for animal welfare in every country and in all the world - but do not take Germany as a role model, because the German animal welfare law in many cases regulates animal exploitation for the sake of professional animal abusers and their profit only. Do fight against the torturing, murdering and merciless animal abuse. Protect the animals and the world, that is all of us, against the brutality of slaughterers who completely lack compassion and human decency and thus save us all from those horrors, which deeply troubled Peter H. Arras and which continue to rob us all our peace of mind. Thank you for all that you do for animals and thus for Peter H. Arras, honouring his memory and continuing his life's work. Rest in peace, dear Peter, and thank you for all that you did for animals all your life. And thank you for giving me the chance to support you. Barbara Schwarz (Translator, AKT volunteer) PS: You'll find the addresses and the name of the UN ambassadors of all the member states in the “Blue Book“ published by the United Nations: https://protocol.un.org/dgacm/pls/site.nsf/BlueBook99.xsp Obituary: Peter H. Arras Published by “pro iure animalis” on April 8, 2018 >>> Please redistribute generously <<< The animals have lost an intercessional powerful voice From the outside, the courtyard and the surrounding buildings in the small town of Biedesheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany looks inconspicuous. Only one or the other placard or information sheet points out to the topic of animal welfare. But the buildings have it all: Divided into different climatic zones, among others there is a tropical area and a desert area. Affectionately and expertly, every corner of the buildings is designed to create individual living zones for exotic animals, reptiles, parrots and many more. More than 300 animals live here, from flying fox (fruit bat) to alligator. And each animal could tell his/her own, mostly tragic story. Peter Arras did listen to these sad stories, and, even better, he did not look away. He helped every single animal, regardless of race or species. They needed protection, Peter granted them his protection and - if necessary - he built for them all their own individual habitat in his estate at Biedesheim. The AKT animal welfare centre is his life’s work. The active work for animals on a larger scale started more than 30 year ago. From childhood on Peter H. Arras had a special empathy for all forms of animal life. So, it was only logical, that Arras learned the profession of zoo animal keeper, then actively worked in the field of professional animal welfare, among others as animal welfare inspector and consultant. At the same time, he always dedicated more and more assistance and help to all living beings. I am convinced, that I can say with certainty: The word “consequent” played a central role in the life of Peter H. Arras, which he also expressed in the name of his animal welfare organization AKT - “AKT” stands for “Aktion Konsequenter Tierschutz”, in English “Action for Consequent Animal Welfare” (www.akt-mitweltethik.de). Straightforwardly and uncompromising, he campaigned for animals. Very directly he named deficiencies in animal welfare circles. He could do that convincingly, because he had the necessary expertise. His direct nature did not bring Peter only friends, he was reproached of being “odd” sometimes, reaped rejection. This did leave traces on him, but his focus unflinchingly remained on the wellbeing of animals. But the will to help and the necessary empathy alone are not enough to master such an impressive project like the AKT animal protection station. Organization and business sense are required at the same time. In the year 1994 Peter founded the AKT, and since 2004 it is located in the spacious property at Biedesheim. Arras economically put AKT on a sound footing by founding one of the first charitable/non-profit limited liability companies in Germany for this purpose. The animal sanctuary was soon joined by an institute for environmental ethics (Institut für Mitweltethik), which was “fed” by Arras with his well-differentiated views and statements on animal ethics and animal welfare. I like to remember my first visit to the AKT animal protection station. In a long and detailed tour Peter showed me his very impressive work in all the details and with all the necessary explanations. I was deeply impressed and fascinated! For a long time afterwards, we sat together in his living room - surrounded, of course, by numerous different animals - and we talked about many topics. Immediately I had the feeling, that this was the beginning of an interesting and important friendship. The conversations with Peter did not revolve around the infinite theme of animal suffering and animal welfare. He always had the whole topic in view, and in each conversation new aspects for both sides were developed. Enthusiasm and energy were tangible. But frustration also. Peter was frustrated, that today animal welfare finds so little significance in politics and society. He liked to refer to the “golden 1990s”, in which he felt an atmosphere of change and great media interest, which today has been spent and left only few positive visible traces. Bigotry, dogmatism and narrow-mindedness, often prevailing in the animal welfare scene these days, exasperated him. All that was not his thing, but he was always so self-critical, that his attitude never degenerated into megalomania or arrogance. This is reflected in his ideas and texts, which are worth reading, in which unconventional thoughts and one or the other revolutionary idea can be found. One of his major concerns was the fact, that everybody speaks of human rights, but animal rights have never been fully defined and that the rights of animals are being trampled on. Among others, the terrible torturing of animals in Asia led him to launch a petition to the United Nations on animal rights in 2017 with the typical and impressive Arras enthusiasm. In the last months of his life he brought that petition forward and meticulously dedicated to it the same attention as to his living charges. On March 4, 2018, Peter H. Arras at the age of only 51 was suddenly torn out of life by a cerebral hemorrhage. The animals have thus lost one of their most outstanding advocates. But Peter was also a single parent who leaves behind a 6-year-old daughter. It was impressive to see, how Peter introduced his daughter to the topic of animal welfare at an early age and that the little girl has developed a sincere respect for every living being - no matter what species. I remember the scene, when Peter told me how he had asked his daughter what she wanted. I do not remember, whether it was for Christmas or for her birthday. She replied, that she wanted a plush animal, namely a tick. Peter managed to fulfill her wish. Proudly, the little girl showed me her plush tick and thus signaled the respect for the whole range of wildlife, not necessarily popular with many people. In the house of Peter H. Arras during all my visits there was a pleasant atmosphere. It was a joy to see Peter in his dealings with his daughter, and especially Felix, his young comrade, who has been living with them since January 2012 and who has supported Peter with the same enthusiasm, that Peter showed every day. Felix now bears the responsibility in the current difficult phase to keep the life work of Peter going, to be there for Peter’s daughter and in the long term to put Peter’s life work on a track and on solid legs, which is worthy of it. Not for a moment did Felix hesitate to accept this responsibility - and for that I owe him my full respect! I lost a friend, with whom I shared a common view of the world. Often, these days, I think of the inspirational and profound conversations with Peter. We had talked about ideas and common projects - we wanted to realize one thing or another together. That will not happen now. Peter, I will miss you, our talks, and our encounters. I was looking forward to our joint projects. Others will miss you in your and their own ways. But most of all, you will be missed by the animals! Your friend Harald In cooperation with AKT we have set up a condolence book. You’ll find it here!: http://www.pro-iure-animalis.de/index.php/verschiedenes/articles/nachruf-peter-arras.html   Best regards for pro iure animalis   Dr. Gunter Bleibohm and Harald Hoos   If you want to support AKT in this emergency, please find all the necessary data here: http://www.akt-mitweltethik.de/helfen/spenden   - - - GERMAN Liebe Mitzeichner und Tierfreunde, Sie haben schon einige Zeit nichts von dieser Petition gehört, und vielleicht haben Sie auch die eine oder andere Anfrage an Peter H. Arras und seine Organisation AKT geschrieben, die leider unbeantwortet geblieben ist. Der Grund dafür: Peter H. Arras ist tot. Er verstarb plötzlich und völlig unerwartet am 4. März 2018 im Alter von nur 51 Jahren. Mit ihm hat nicht nur seine Organisation, die Aktion Konsequenter Tierschutz (AKT) und sein Institut für Mitweltethik ihren Gründer und Motor verloren, sondern die Welt einen unermüdlichen Kämpfer für die gesamte Tierwelt mit großen Visionen auch für ein friedliches Miteinander von Menschen und Nicht-Menschen in unserer gemeinsamen Biosphäre. Peter hinterlässt eine Tochter und seinen jahrelangen Mitstreiter und Vertrauten, Felix Denig, der die unglaubliche Aufgabe zu bewältigen hat, AKT-Auffangstation mit ihren über 300 Tieren unzähliger Arten so weiterzubetreuen, wie er es jahrelang mit Peter zusammen tat. Seine Freunde, Förderer und engsten Mitstreiter, zu denen ich mich in den letzten Jahren zählen durfte, sind zutiefst getroffen durch den Verlust des großartigen Menschen und Tierfreundes Peter H. Arras. Besser als ich es in Worte fassen kann, hat ein guter Freund von Peter, Harald Hoos von pro iure animalis, seinen Nachruf verfaßt. Hier finden Sie diesen in deutscher Sprache inklusive eines Links zum Kondolenzbuch: http://www.pro-iure-animalis.de/index.php/verschiedenes/articles/nachruf-peter-arras.html Unsere UN-Petition „Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit ächten“ wird weitergeführt und nach Erreichen eines weiteren Meilensteins wieder den Entscheidungsträgern in New York unterbreitet. Sie hat nichts von Ihrer Wichtigkeit eingebüßt, sondern vielmehr durch den furchtbaren Verlust von Peter H. Arras uns allen auferlegt, um so mehr für Tiere einzutreten, um sie vor unmenschlicher Brutalität zu retten, jetzt, wo er selbst es nicht mehr tun kann. Gerade wird in Russland in Vorbereitung des WM-Spektakels damit begonnen, brutal Hunde umzubringen, um der Sportwelt eine „schöne heile Welt“ vorzugaukeln, so daß wir, Peters Unterstützer und Petitions-Mitzeichner, nun noch vehementer gegen Tierfolter, wo immer sie stattfindet, vorgehen müssen. Bitte verbreiten Sie die Petition immer noch weiter, und sollten Sie in einem Land leben, in dem Sie sich frei auch Ihren Politikern gegenüber äußern dürfen, sprechen/schreiben Sie diese an, wenden Sie sich an Ihre Regierung, Außenministerium, UN-Botschafter direkt – und auch an jene Tierschutz-Organisationen, die bisher dieser einzigartigen Initiative ihre offene Unterstützung verweigert haben - und verlangen Sie Tierschutz in Ihrem Land und weltweit – aber nicht nach deutschem Vorbild, wo das so genannte „Tierschutz“-Gesetz in erster Linie die Ausnutzung von Lebewesen durch professionelle Tierquäler zu deren Profit regelt. Kämpfen Sie an gegen das Foltern, Ermorden und die gnadenlose Ausbeutung von Tieren, schützen Sie damit die Tiere und die Welt – uns alle! - vor der Brutalität empfindungs- und mitleidsloser Schlächter, vor jenem Grauen, welches Peter – wie wohl auch allen von uns – seit Jahren den Seelenfrieden raubte. Ich danke Ihnen für alles, was Sie für Tiere und damit auch für Peter H. Arras, um sein Andenken und sein Lebenswerk zu ehren, zu tun bereit sind. Ruhe in Frieden, lieber Peter, und Danke für alles, was Du Dein Leben lang für Tiere getan hast. Danke, daß ich Dich dabei unterstützen durfte. Barbara Schwarz (Übersetzerin, ehrenamtliche AKT-Mitarbeiterin) PS: Die Anschriften, Botschafter und E-Mail-Adressen Ihrer Ländervertretung bei den Vereinten Nationen können dem „Blauen Buch“ der UN entnommen werden, siehe: https://protocol.un.org/dgacm/pls/site.nsf/BlueBook99.xsp