I recently returned from Paris, where I attended the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)’s General Session of the World Assembly (24-29 May, 2015). World Animal Net is a member of the International Coalition for Animal Welfare (ICFAW). The only animal protection organisations present were World Animal Protection (as an OIE partner), ICFAW and the Brooke (both as observers). I was one of the two ICFAW delegates.
The first time I became aware of the many ways in which the development of industrial animal agriculture was harming humans, animals and the environment in ‘developing’ countries was back in 1999-2000, when I worked with fellow researchers Sari Varpama and WAN’s Wim de Kok on a major project for Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). This culminated in a set of research reports entitled “The Livestock Revolution: Development or Destruction”, which included in-depth research into the detrimental impacts of industrial livestock development in ‘developing’ countries and findings from in-country investigations in Brazil, Thailand, India, South Africa and China.
I find it unconscionable that animal welfare and human-animal relationships have not yet been mainstreamed in development policy and international development work. This despite the fact that there is a myriad of reasons why no country’s development should take place without giving full consideration to the situation and welfare needs of the sentient fellow animals sharing our territory, our homes, our work, our livelihoods, our leisure, and often our lives.
In the animal protection world, there are many acronyms for very influential agencies and organizations. In this blog, we will attempt to explain some nuts and bolts of one such organization—The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
World Animal Net is pleased to share the news that three EU Member States have issued a joint declaration to improve animal welfare through a number of means. In the declaration, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands have agreed to pool their activities to improve animal welfare, and “urge the EU Member States and European Commission to acknowledge the need for better regulation, better animal welfare, and to promote awareness, EU-standards and knowledge.”
As 2014 comes to a close, we at WAN recognize that there is much work to do to make the world a better place for animals in 2015 and beyond – see our Twelve Wishes for 2015. At the same time we are thrilled to celebrate tremendous victories for animals in all corners of the globe. Many of these victories came about after the tireless efforts of the animal protection community that we are dedicated to serving. Our top picks are below:
2014 has been a busy year for WAN as we continue to develop our resources for the animal protection community and ramp up our advocacy with the UN and OIE. As the holiday season is rapidly approaching and 2014 coming to a close, we know that animal advocates worldwide are well-aware that there is still much work to be done. Therefore, we are happy to present WAN’s Twelve Wishes for Animals in 2015!
I joined the animal protection movement a quarter of a century ago, moving from a government policy position to join the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) – now World Animal Protection – as its Regional Director for Europe. I arrived with my ‘rose-tinted glasses’ firmly in place; full of longing to work for a cause that really mattered to me.
World Animal Net congratulates the United Nations Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Agenda for acknowledging the importance of the protection of terrestrial ecosystems in its recently proposed list of sustainable development goals.