The head of the house hold normally sits at the head of a rectangle dining table, and King Arthur used round to signify equality. I am not sure what seating arrangement protocol is at an oval conference table is, but that is Urz Pilz sitting at what would be the head of the household position at a rectangle shaped table.
International participants met at a meeting of the ECA on 11 October 2008 in Warsaw in cooperation with the 10th Circus Festival organized by the CYRK Zalewski. The host of this meeting was Zwiazek Pracodawców of Cyrku i Rozrywka (ZPR), the Polish circus.
The magnificent Prymasowski Palac, a former Episcopal palace, we saw the circus managers of Poland, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Denmark, Hungary and Russia. Special guests were Jerzy Wenderlich, vice-chairman of the Culture and Media of the Polish parliament, and Zbigniew Krzywicki, a Polish veterinarian specializing in circuses.
Stanislaw Zalewski, president of ZPR, welcomed the participants. The circus animals were the central theme. The regulations for animals are very strict in Poland, so it is specifically stipulated for each species that animals can learn. It is not clear if the Polish authorities apply regulations for transporting animals in the EU also circuses. The ECA said that circuses are excluded from the directive. The passport of the EU animal has been introduced in Poland.
In addition, there was talk of the organization of the European Day of Cirque. In 2009, Polish circus will also participate.
Members of other countries have once again emphasized that the pressure by activists on animal circuses continues to increase. Thus, Urs Pilz told that PETA has recently begun a campaign complete with pamphlets, DVDs and letters to German personalities.
To defend against such activities, it is important that ACE become increasingly known among politicians and the media as representative of the European circus. ("SOMEBODY COUNT FOR ME HOW MANY TIMES AMERICAN CIRCUS IS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE, IN CASE I HAVE MISSED ANY.") Zalewski has invited all circuses to contribute by printing the logo of the ECA on their posters and their programs.
The European Circus Association represents circuses European vis-à-vis the authorities and in public. She wants to promote art and culture of circus and protect this important part of our cultural heritage. Urs Pilz, the president of the ECA, is vice president and artistic director of Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo.
Special ECA award given to Cyrk Zalewski at the Polish
Circus Festival by Urs Pilz
"Maybe I am not seeing the "big picture" and I don't think I am out of place in asking for some type of explanation for my understanding. OF WHAT BENEFIT IS ECA TO THE AMERICAN CIRCUS, AND AMERICAN CIRCUS ANIMALS IN GENERAL??? ECA is the organization fronted by Monaco and Princess Stephani that OABA(Outdoor Amusement Bursiness Association) and their branch organization CIRCUS ANIMAL FUND donated funds to and became a member of in Monaco last winter. According to officers of the OABA CIRCUS FUND that I have spoken with, they are having a real tough time getting donations and funds from the Circus industry. Do you suppose???? As a rule, you like to know where the funds are going and where they will be used, and of what benefit they will serve you as an individual in an organization. Yet when I approached the Monaco/ECA issue they did not know why OABA/Wayne McCary flew to Monaco and donated funds. So I will ask again, and hopefully there is a reasonable explanation, and we can get the newest fund raiser kicked into high gear. I have not mentioned names of the officers who were going to check it out for me and get back to me out of respect. and they know who they are. But I, and the rest of the circus industry are still still waiting for a reasonable answer/explanation.
OABA Circus fund mission statement:
HELP IN THE EFFORTS TO KEEP ANIMALS, primarily exotics, providing their unique entertainment and presence in circuses, fairs, zoos and many other traditional venues for this type of extraordinary entertainment.
The Outdoor Amusement Business Association has established the OABA Circus Fund which raises funds so they are able to hire professionals to assist with challenges such as legislation that threatens our members' businesses. These funds also help combat the misinformation, prejudices and enormous money, which the opposition can and does provide. The OABA's goal of $40,000, when compared to single donations of seven figures, sounds pretty paltry. Actually it is! The funds raised are spent with great care. As odd as it may seem, the effort does make a difference and is one of very few dedicated to keeping circus animals in business.
What we are addressing here is the statement "funds raised are spent with great care."
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5 comments:
Are you confusing the ECA (European Circus Association) with the Federation Mondiale du Cirque (which is under the patronage of Princess Stephanie)? I understand that the OABA is a member of both organizations. But doesn't this kind of make sense, since some of the OABA members are animal trainers and circuses that send acts to Europe and therefore have an interest that animal acts will not be banned in European circuses?
Marco,
They can't be confused. They are all one and the same and yes funds from OABA go to both. What OABA members are animal trainers, and what animal acts have gone to Europe in the last 25 years? Yes Ringling is a big supporter of OABA and does bring animal acts from Europe here, but when did an animal act from Ringling go to Europe? Sounds like a self serving agenda to me, that wants others to fund.
Wade
I believe there is indeed some confusion here which can be easily clarified.
The European Circus Association is a pan-European non-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion and preservation of circus arts and culture, including the presentation of animals. Its members are European circuses, festivals, animal trainers and artists. Its work focuses on further recognition of circus as culture in European countries, easing visa and work permit requirements, facilitating improved educational opportunities,harmonization of tecnical standards, and preservation of the right to present animals in circuses across Europe.
ECA offers Associated Memberships to similar circus organisations and individual circuses operating outside of Europe. OABA falls into this category, however, does not pay membership fees to ECA. Instead, the two organisations have a mutual relationship in which they share information with each other and help each other out where possible.
For example, OABA and those associated with the annual circus pin in the U.S. graciously allowed ECA to borrow its artwork in order to have an ECA pin to use in fundraising in Europe. All funds raised through the sale of the OABA pin go exclusively to the OABA; all funds raised through the sale of the ECA pin in Europe go exclusively to ECA.
Finally, earlier this year, ECA that took the initiative to explore with other organisations, including OABA and others, the possiblity of creating a world circus organisation. The resulting organisation, the Federation Mondiale du Cirque, was announced in January 2008 during the Festival in Monaco. It brings together circus associations from around the world. Its purpose is also to promote and preserve circus arts and culture but it will be working at the international level. In the coming weeks more information about the Federation and its projects will be available on its website at www.circusfederation.org
Laura van der Meer
ECA Brussels Representative
and
Executive Director, Federation Mondiale du Cirque
Ms. van de Meer,
Thank you for responding, it is greatly appreciated. Here's what I suggest, email me at wburck3@aol.com and let me know who finally called your attention to the post and I will publish your comment, as it is indeed insightful. There are a lot of people worried of repercussions in this world of "ours." I currently have over 3 dozen folks who have contacted my privately with concerns as they are afraid to respond in a public forum with out the cloak of anonymous. So far they have convinced me that they need to remain anonymous, and folk are going to want to comment as it is an important subject for the future of "World" animal acts.
Regards,
Wade Burck
Some how I did not expect a foreclosure of the "source". Such is the "open" world of the circus and it's function's. But in the interest of fairness and respect for Laura and her hard work, I have published her response in full. More folks then she realizes who wonder if "their" interests are represented as well as "private" interests.
I would like to say first off, I don't feel it is a "right to present animals in circuses across Europe" or any place. It is an honor and a privilege, no more, no less.
In regards to this statement "with other organisations, including OABA and others, the possiblity of creating a world circus organisation", I would like to ask Laura, ""what other organizations and what others?"" I was at Monte Carlo for two days this winter, and I didn't see many others, when the organization was formed. There was only one photo that was brought to my attention on all the world wide web of one, and only one individual having a photo op with the Princess and that was Wayne McCary from OABA. Was the membership consulted about the "benefits" of their organization joining with the Federation Mondiale du Cirque? I sure don't know? I asked over a dozen members of long standing with OABA, and they had no idea, and had never heard of the Federation Mondiale du Cirque until I mentioned it to them.
What other "circus organisations and individual circuses operating outside of Europe does not pay membership fees to ECA?" Do they represent their agenda as a business, or do they represent the artists they contract, for varying lengths of time? I haven't seen any photos of other individuals glad handing with the Princess yet? If you are a non paying member, yet have no input, then we have to assume you endorse any protocol by association. The membership list which a number of us have studied is murky. Some members are listed from 2 countries plus themselves. Does that mean they pay 3 memberships, or just represent 3 different areas for the price of one? If you pay nothing for a membership do you have input? Do you have triple input if you have 3 memberships? It might be a solution to rising Government cost's here in America. Let each representative in the House of Representatives represent 3 or 4 states.
This is for Marco. Did you find out how many OABA members are animal trainers and how many animal acts go to Europe each year? How many American act's animal or otherwise have been to the "Best 0 the Best" festival in the last 15 years?
Most sincerely,
Wade Burck
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