Briefs | Anima’s president charged for sharing video of dog abuse

Albano Martins, president of Anima – Society for the Protection of Animals (Macau), has been charged for sharing a video of a man abusing a dog on social media. The man in question was later identified as a Judiciary Police officer. Anima is an NGO that has been actively fighting for animal rights in the region. The video was shared in mid-January this year, and was circulated via social networks by multiple users, including the NGO.  Martins has been charged for breaching personal data protection laws. “I went in as a witness and came out as a defendant,” Martins told TDM. “I had the duty to expose the crime. All I did as president of Anima was to share something [which] Anima and I believe breaches the law. This denouncing of abuse against an animal has breached another law.”

Macau applies for UNESCO ‘City of Gastronomy’ status

Shoppers look at boxes of cookies at a food store in Macau, China, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. Macau’s casino revenue fell for the 18th straight month in November, as China’s moves to curb illicit money flows from the mainland deterred the high-stakes players who rely on junket promoters for betting loans. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

Macau has officially applied to be a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a “City of Gastronomy”, Chinese media reported. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam was quoted by Macao Daily as saying that joining the network would establish Macau as one of the most popular choices for food and restaurants, boosting the city’s reputation as a global tourist destination. MGTO listed the UNESCO “City of Gastronomy” application as one of four major goals in 2017, with the SAR government even organizing a special committee to address this issue.

More public restrooms suggested in tourist areas

Members of a consultative council for community services have suggested that local authorities increase the number of public restrooms and breastfeeding rooms in areas with high tourist traffic.  Cheong Sok Leng, one of the members, stated that the ratio of female to male restrooms should be adjusted, as queues for female restrooms are typically longer. Another member, Cheong Chi Hong, voiced his opinion that the local government could learn from other countries, such as Germany, in order to improve the design and demand of public restrooms.