If you agree that a more humane method should be adopted instead of senseless killing, please kindly lend your support and sign the petition. Would appreciate it greatly if you could pass the word around too.
Thank you for helping the helpless, and for helping to promote a harmonious environment of non-violence.
Petitions are effective, every single signature counts.
This isn't just about pigeons, it's also about making a difference in our own way, about building a better society, starting with ourselves.
To make a stand and put your name down, go to SAVE THE PIGEONS PETITION
Stop Pigeon Culling (Singapore)
To: Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Minister for National Development Mr Mah Bow Tan, Town Councils, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, National Environment Agency
We, the undersigned, appeal to you to review your method of controlling the pigeon population in Singapore.
Presently, pest controllers are engaged to poison the birds. This method should be abolished for the following reasons:
1. Studies have shown that not only does culling fail to reduce the pigeon population, it actually increases it. This is because pigeons control their population by the amount of food available. When food supply remains constant, surviving pigeons thrive and reproduce more.
2. Poisoned food for the pigeons may harm other animals and even children, who may unwittingly play with or even consume it.
3. It is a modern myth that pigeons are detrimental to human health. Chances of us being struck by lightning or getting diseases from eating farmed animals like chickens and pigs are much greater than getting ill through contact with pigeons. Pigeons, being revered as 'birds of peace', have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. If they truly are disease-carriers, our ancestors would not have engaged them as 'postmen'. Nor would pigeon racing have become a favourite sport.
4. We are outraged that our hard-earned money is spent on such a cruel and ineffective method. The money used to pay pest controllers should be channelled to wiser, kinder and more constructive purposes.
5. The sight of lives being killed can be extremely haunting to young children and may have very negative effects on their emotional health.
6. By killing living beings that are deemed a nuisance to us, we are inculcating our young with absolutely wrong values. We are encouraging intolerance and destroying seeds of compassion. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." The government wants Singapore to bloom into a gracious society, yet being the leader, it is doing exactly the opposite and advocating cruelty and barbarism.
It is obvious that the conceived pigeon problem stems from food available, not the pigeons themselves. Therefore, instead of killing the birds, we urge you to designate feeding areas and step up enforcement of the no-pigeon-feeding law in non-feeding areas:
a. Create zones where feeding is allowed.
b. Provide more prominent signages that advise against feeding of pigeons in non-feeding zones.
c. Assign personnel at reported hotspots to catch and fine feeders in the act.
d. Remind people that food should be disposed of properly so that it does not attract pigeons.
e. Post educational advertisements and reports in the papers on the issue.
Live and let live. Show the world that Singapore is not only a society advanced materially, it is also a land of greenery where its citizens live in harmony with nature and are caring towards weaker beings.
The government wants to promote active citizenry. Please do your part by listening to us when we do speak up. Please do the RIGHT thing and stop adopting the same old method that is easy but that has never worked.
(For more information on effective and humane pigeon control, please visit Pigeon Control Advisory Service @ http://www.picasuk.com/do_birds_spread_diseases.html)
Thank you for reading and we hope to see a positive change and a more compassionate leadership.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Update Sun 2 May
550 signatures so far - the target's 10,000. Spread the word, even to friends who aren't from Singapore.
Update Tue 4 May
There's now a Chinese translation of the petition, in order for it to reach a wider audience. Please also make sure that you've submitted the petition and that your name is added to the list. Details here.
别再杀害鸽子（新加坡）
致：李显龙总理、国家发展部长马宝山、各市镇理事会、新加坡农粮局、国家环境局
目前，控制鸽子数量的方法是请灭虫公司下毒把鸽子杀死。我们至诚恳请您改变方针，理由如下：
1. 研究显示，宰杀鸽子不但起不了减少鸽子数量的效果，反而有助于鸽子繁殖。这是因为鸽子繁殖快慢全靠食粮多寡，食粮数量依旧，活命的鸽子便有更多食物养育下一代。
2. 其他动物，甚至是小孩，可能会捡起毒食玩耍，甚至把它吞下，造成生命危险。
3. 鸽子对人类带来生命危险是错误观念。我们被雷劈，或通过食用其他牲畜如鸡肉、猪肉而得病的几率，远比通过接触鸽子高。鸽子向来被誉为“和平使者”，与人类共处数以千年。如果鸽子真的是疾病传播者，那么我们的祖先就不会请它们做信使，赛鸽更不会成了一项消遣活动。
4. 我们对于辛苦赚来的血汗钱被胡乱用于既残忍又无效的方法，感到愤慨不满。支付灭虫公司的巨款，应当用在更明智、仁慈、具建设性的事情。
5. 生命被屠杀的情景很可能在小孩子的脑海里留下恐怖的烙印，对他们的心灵成长可能带来极为负面的影响。
6. 以杀害的方式消灭我们讨厌的东西，不外乎是给下一代灌输完全底错误的价值观。我们这么做，是助长偏执狭隘的心理，摧毁仁慈善良的种子。甘地曾说：“一个国家民族有多伟大，道德上有多进步，可以其如何对待动物评判。”新加坡政府要我们变成优雅的社会，然而身为领导，政府官员做的却正好完全相反∶鼓励残暴，助长野蛮。
显然，所谓的鸽子问题来自粮食的多寡，而非鸽子本身。因此，与其杀害鸽子，我们恳请您划定喂鸽区，并且在非喂鸽区加强执行禁止喂鸽的法令。
a. 划定允许喂鸽的地点。
b. 在非喂鸽区放置更显眼的禁止喂鸽的告示牌。
c. 委派工作人员在喂鸽热点监视，处以喂鸽者罚金。
d. 提醒公众食物必须妥善处理，以免引来鸽子。
e. 在报章刊登教育性报道，通过媒体提高公众对问题的意识。
学习尊重生命，与万物同生共存。请让全世界知道，新加坡不仅是物质文明高度发展的国家，更是林木繁茂的绿色天地，居民与自然和谐共处，对弱势者关爱保护。
政府时常鼓励民众积极，当我们站出来表态的时候，请真心聆听。沿用老方法轻松简单，然而毫无成效又有何益？请作正确的选择！
（请访问http://www.picasuk.com/do_birds_spread_diseases.html网页参考更多有效且人道的控制鸽子数量的方法。）
谢谢您抽出宝贵的时间阅读我们的请愿书。我们真诚希望现状很快会朝积极的方向改变，也热切期待国家的领导风格变得更仁善慈悲！
签署者
敬上
