Animal welfare group launches bid for TA municipality
Let Live leaders tell 150 supporters they have no choice but to 'get their hands dirty' in politics in order to ease animals' suffering, promote environmental and educational initiatives. 'I did not create the animals, and therefore have no right to kill them,' poet Ortsion Bartana tells rally
Animal welfare movement Let Live (Latet Lihyot) last week launched its campaign for the upcoming municipal elections in Tel Aviv, running on a platform of increasing municipal funds for animals and the environment.
Let Live chairman Reuven Ladiansky took a swipe at the Green Party, accusing its leaders of being more interested in keeping their seats in the municipal council than making good on their promise to advance environmental projects.
"The Green Party members, led by Deputy Mayor Pe'er Visner, have proven over the past five years that all they are interested in is receiving salaries and holding on to their posts," Ladiansky told some 150 activists, many of whom came to the event with their pets.
In the running (Photo: Ofir Harel)
Ladansky said municipalities and government authorities across the country should do more to improve what he described as the "dire" situation of animals in Israel and praised animal rights groups for their “admirable work” despite little or no help from the government.
Ladiansky thanked comedian Orna Banai, best known for her appearance in the Eretz Nehderet (Wonderful Country) satirical TV show and who defected from the Green Party, for supporting Let Live.
Actress Daphna Rechter, number four on Let Live’s election list, said Let Live believes in the need to educate people about animal welfare and the environment as a way of improving their lives.
Change through education. The rally (Photo: Ofir Harel)
"We've transformed the animals into household pets, and now they need us. It all starts with education. A parent who abuses an animal will also abuse his wife and children," Rechter said, adding "Our goal is not to go far in politics, we just want to help."
Zoologist Rony Rado, number three on Let Live's list, reiterated Rechter's sentiment, saying "If we want to have influence we must get our hands dirty in politics as well."
Let Live needs to win a minimum of 3,500 votes in the November 11 elections to secure a seat in the Tel Aviv city council.
Let Live, which describes itself as the movement for animal welfare, education and the environment in Tel-Aviv-Jaffa, calls for increased investment in education to improve the rate of success in matriculation exams and to include green and animal welfare issues in the national curriculum.
Literature professor and published poet Ortsion Bartana, who is also running for city council on the movement's ticket, told the rally "my goal in life is to reduce the animals' suffering. I did not create the animals, and therefore have no right to kill them."
