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If animals could vote... Print E-mail
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Where would she place her cross?

With the South African General Election almost upon us, the Regional Office of Compassion in World Farming has emailed each of the main political parties to ask them this question:
Are your party leaders prepared to support the Universal Declaration on Animals Welfare ?
So far, we have received just one reply – from the Democratic Alliance.
DA Spokesperson on Environmental Affairs, Gareth Morgan MP pledged his support by signing the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare online.
In addition, he pointed out that the DA has included a special section on animal welfare in its manifesto, committing to groundbreaking improvements in animal protection. These include:
  • Formal acknowledgement that each living creature has intrinsic value and is a sentient being.
  • The creation of an Ombudsman for Animal Protection.
  • The employ of at least one state attorney in each province to represent the interests of animals.
  • The establishment of working committees at provincial and national levels for all stakeholders including farmers, wildlife managers,veterinarians, scientists and animal protection organizations.
  • The inclusion of animal ethics in the educational curriculum.
Compassion in World Farming (SA) will update this news clip if any further responses to our question are received. Understanding the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW)
International animal organizations, led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals, aim to place 10 million signatures from around the world before the United Nations calling on all member governments to recognize and promote animal protection. Once adopted by the UN, animal protection would become binding on member governments.

So far 1 949 131 signatures have been collected for UDAW worldwide.

So far 107 993 of these signatures, collected by Compassion in World Farming (SA) and its supporters, are from South Africans and have been officially received on behalf of Minister of Agriculture, Ms Lulama Xingwana,by Dr Siegfried Meyer of the Department of Agriculture.

So far the following governments have formally pledged their support for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare:  All 27 member states of the European Union, Fiji, New Zealand, Palau, the Seychelles, Cambodia, Switzerland and Costa Rica.

To see the draft Declaration, go to: http://www.animalsmatter.org/downloads/UDAW_Text_2005.pdf
To add your name, go to: http://www.animalsmatter.org/
 
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Water Footprint

On World Water Day (22nd March) and on every other day, for that matter, we need to remember that meat-eating carries a giant water footprint.
Did you know? It takes 13 million litres of water to raise and convert one cow or ox into meat!
Did you know? To produce one portion of beef (250g) requires the same amount of drinking water that one person needs (at one litre a day) for 34 years of life!
For further info, go to: http://www.waterfootprint.org/