Animals Matter To Me' Global Petition Launch
Peggy Cattan signing the petition
"Animals Matters to Me"
On 8 June 2006 as a member society, the Grenada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was represented at the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) Biennial Symposium meeting in London by Peggy Cattan, President of the Grenada SPCA Animal Shelter. The event was attended by more than 300 animal welfare groups from over 110 countries around the globe. The 'Animals Matter to Me' petition calling for a United Nations Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare was officially launched at the meeting.
WSPA and its Member Societies - local and national animal welfare organizations based in some 142 countries - will be campaigning hard to reach the petition's goal of ten million signatures, and by so doing, raise awareness about animals and the importance of considering their welfare.
The 'Animals Matter To Me' campaign is the public face of a government-led initiative to persuade the United Nations to adopt a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, similar to earlier initiatives in the sphere of human rights and the environment.
Five UN member states - Costa Rica, Kenya, India, Czech Republic and the Philippines - have already formed a steering group committed to taking the initiative forward to the United Nations.
In principle the Universal Declaration will call on the United Nations to recognize animals as sentient beings, capable of experiencing pain and suffering, and to recognize that animal welfare is an issue of importance as part of the social development of nations worldwide.
Billions of animals around the world are affected by humans, and rely on people to treat them with compassion. But there is little national and no international protection for animals when that concern is absent.
Industrial animal farming is responsible for the biggest areas of suffering for animals in the world today, with approximately 4 billion mammals and 55 billion poultry used in farms globally to produce cheap meat, milk and eggs. The majority is housed in dismal conditions where their welfare needs are not being met.
It is estimated that there are almost one billion stray dogs and cats roaming on the planet, suffering from hunger, disease and neglect and persecuted as pests. A similar number of working equines - horses and donkeys - in developing countries, providing 80% of the physical power for the agriculture and transport needs of local people, are afforded little or no consideration of their health or welfare.
Nor are wild animals immune from cruelty with the illegal and often inhumane trade in wildlife and wildlife parts representing a soaring black market trade worth $10 billion a year, exceeded only by arms and drug smuggling. Millions of wild animals are killed, captured or traded inhumanely in this shady business.
"For a global problem we need a global solution," stressed the WSPA Director General.
"WSPA Member Societies have worked tirelessly to improve conditions for animals. We have seen major successes in some countries particularly where humane education has been adopted in schools and universities and where anti-cruelty legislation has been successfully enacted and enforced."
"Global recognition of animals and their welfare would not only provide the basis for their increased protection. It is also closely linked with improving human health, social development and environmental sustainability."
"In many countries people rely upon their animals for their livelihoods and often as their close companions. Animals clearly do matter to many of us; we must take this massive step forward to make sure they matter to everyone, especially governments."
"The adoption of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare would act as a catalyst for better animal welfare provisions within nations as, although non-binding, nations would be encouraged to respect its principles."
"We have seen the public's huge support worldwide for the UN's Millennium Development Goals, several of which can be linked to key animal welfare issues such as industrial farming and disaster preparedness and response. We aspire to raise people's awareness through the "Animals Matter To Me" campaign by showing that animals matter to everyone." You can sign the petition at: www.animalsmatter.org
