From ANIMAL PEOPLE, March 2005:

STRASBURG, France–The European Court of
Human Rights on February 14, 2005 ruled that
British vegetarian activists David Morris, 50,
and Helen Steel, 39, were improperly denied
government legal aid and were convicted of libel
under an unjust law in the “McLibel” trial.
The seven-judge European Court panel
dismissed the 1997 “guilty” verdict, held that
the verdict violated Articles 6 and 10 of the
European Human Rights Convention, and awarded
Morris and Steel damages of $25,934 and $19,451,
respectively.
As members of a defunct organization
called London Greenpeace, Morris and Steel in
1986 distributed flyers, which they did not
author, alleging that McDonald’s Restaurants
sell unhealthy food, produced by means which
cause animal suffering and contribute to
starvation and deforestation in economically
disadvantaged parts of the world.

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From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 2004:

ATHENS–Turkey, Austria, and Italy
claimed the gold, silver, and bronze medals for
passing pro-animal legislation on the eve of the
2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Britain tried to
get into the race.
Activists pushing for animal welfare
reform in Greece meanwhile say they have had
little to show for their pre-Olympic efforts so
far except videos of dead dogs and cats, and
livestock being abused en route to slaughter.
Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan on
July 1 endorsed into law the most comprehensive
animal welfare statute in the Islamic world.
“I am now in contact with the government
to discuss implementing the law as it affects
stray animal control,” Fethiye Friends of
Animals founder Perihan Agnelli told ANIMAL
PEOPLE.
“I am very pleased,” Agnelli said,
“that as well as neuter/return being lawfully
accepted as the method of animal control [except
in the case of a declared rabies emergency],
compulsory neutering of privately owned dogs is
also to become law.

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From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2004:

VIENNA–The Austrian parliament on May 27 unanimously passed
a new national humane law widely acclaimed as perhaps the most
sweeping and advanced in the world.
The Austrian law “forces farmers to uncage chickens, bars
pet owners from clipping their dogs’ ears or tails, outlaws the use
of lions and other wild animals in circuses, and makes it illegal to
restrain dogs with chains, choke collars, or devices that
administer mild electric shocks,” wrote William J. Kole of
Associated Press.
Added Kate Connolly of The Daily Telegraph, “It also
stipulates that it is illegal to place animals in the care of minors,
or to display pets in shop windows.”
Pre-sedation is required as a condition of performing kosher
or hallal slaughter.
Pushed for 20 years by Herbert Haupt, who is now minister
for social affairs, the new law was endorsed by all four major
Austrian political parties. It provides for fines of up to $18,000
for violations. It is to take effect in January 2005.
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel called the new law “a
pioneering example,” and pledged to seek similar legislation at the
European Union level. Schuessel is a Christian Democrat, a party
with parallel organizations in many other EU nations and strong
influence in the European Parliament.

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