| Letter to President Jacob Zuma |
| Tuesday, 29 September 2009 | |
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THE HUMANE EDUCATION TRUST
incorporating Compassion in World Farming (South Africa) and Animal Voice P O Box 825, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa Tel/fax: (021) 852 8160 E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Websites: www.animal-voice.org www.humane-education.org.za Registered Non-Profit Organization, No. 039-611-NPO Charitable Trust, Registration No. IT450/2001 Public Benefit Organisation No. 18/11/13/4235 28th September 2009 For Kind Attention: President Jacob Zuma Tuynhuis, Parliament P O Box 15 Cape Town 8000 Tat‘ uMsholozi, An Appeal to you by a recipient of the National Order of Luthuli Please may I draw your attention to Page 9 of the enclosed issue of our magazine, Animal Voice. As you will see, Jacqui Daane-van Rensburg, recipient of the National Order of Luthuli in March this year, has made an appeal to you to help educate our nation so that they understand that the way we treat animals is a reflection of who we are as people and that as decent human beings, we need to treat animals humanely. Our organisation is dedicated to creating communities where cruelty and neglect of animals in whatever shape or form, is not acceptable. Thus, we join Daane-van Rensburg in her appeal. If, on occasion, you could include respect and care for animals in your message to the people, you would be taking a giant step forward for all of us. As Mahatma Gandhi said: The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. As an African myself, I would like to suggest that traditional African culture revered and respected animals. Western culture has demeaned them. The cost is a loss to the soul of Africa and its people. I attended the Africa Network for Animal Welfare Conference in Nairobi at the end of September. It was attended by 11 different countries in Africa each with their own sickening stories about the plight of animals. We urge you to be the living example our people need to guide them into the future. Please help spread the message that animals are sentient and although we do depend on them for food and so much else, they deserve to be treated with care and respect. Thank you for your consideration of this appeal. We hope you will respond to us positively. Ndibonge Ndizithobile, Tozie Zokufa Education Outreach Officer |