Be the change you want to see: Martin Luther King Junior believes that, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” We can’t stop all the evil in the world. But we can move from moral discomfort, to moral conviction, to taking responsibility for our own lives and change our world together. Every choice we make at the supermarket, restaurant, what we buy or how we spend our money can reduce animal suffering. We are all a ‘work in progress’, and can go as far as we want. You can pick one thing to do, and when that becomes part of your normal life, pick another. If companies discovered cruelty free products made the most money, they would sell these.
Choose empathy, compassion and justice: Albert Einstein said, “Many times we feel our hands are tied and there is nothing we can do, but there is always something we can do. Our task must be to free ourselves…by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” Years ago dolphin free tuna didn’t exist. Dolphins, seals, albatross and sea turtles were routinely caught up in tuna nets, strangled or ground up alive. Fishermen had no use for them.
After a public outcry with extensive media involvement, the industry finally invested in dolphin safe nets. However, there are still other atrocities committed against marine wild life. Another public outcry was the fur industry, which became socially unacceptable, and there was a change in the public perception of smoking, due to media campaigns, scientific evidence, explicit warnings, and no television tobacco adverts.
Animals desperately need prayer: Heavenly Father, I ask you to intervene in all the areas of animal cruelty and exploitation, that these wrongs and atrocities will stop, and animal welfare will be given priority. Please disable the powers of those who are abusing, neglecting or harming animals in any way, and transform their hearts. Guide and direct our hearts, minds and spirits and help us to take action to end this, by giving us the courage to speak out on their defence. I pray for the protection and safety of every animal. Please be with them Lord, and enfold each one with your love, comfort and compassion and spare them fear and pain. In Jesus precious name. Amen.
In this high technological age, each of us as a consumer can be powerful and effective: it is easy and inexpensive. Use the internet to post blogs, emails, tweets and use face-book.
Teach babies and children to be kind to animals: see PETA’S kids website. If you have a back yard with trees you could provide water, food and shelter for birds.
Sponsor or adopt an animal, or volunteer at a local shelter.
Support animal rights or animal welfare organisations: you can make a contribution to an organisation that benefits animals, and fight for their rights and the implementation of laws to protect them. The main aim in animal protection and welfare groups, is to avoid inflicting suffering. Some set standards, give advice, prosecute offenders, monitor what is going on, rescue injured animals, some are pressure groups, some provide sanctuaries for old or ill treated animals or provide veterinary treatment and others education. Activists educate publicly by distributing leaflets, writing letters to newspapers, lobbying their MP’s, holding demonstrations and protesting outside places where animals are being made to suffer.
Animal rights groups believe the most basic interests of animals should be afforded the same consideration as human beings. Most agree animals should not be used as food, clothing, research subjects or entertainment. Animal welfare groups allows these uses as long as ‘humane’ guidelines are followed. They are concerned with the health, safety and psychological well being of animals in the wild or in human care, which includes consideration of any suffering they endure in zoos or circuses, how they are used in research and how they are slaughtered for food. Animal rights campaign for no cages, whereas animal welfare campaign for bigger cages.
Vote for animal friendly politicians and parties.
Take part in a peaceful campaign: such as a petition, demonstration or boycott.
Report animal cruelty: if you witness any abuse contact the RSPCA, SSPCA or PETA.
Inform and educate other people: we all have a responsibility in how society behaves and treats animals. Be the catalyst for change among your family, friends and colleagues.
Support humane slaughter and clear labelling: meat without pre-stunning should be labelled, enabling consumers to make an informed choice. The absence of this deprives customers of key information, and consequently serves to fuel the demand for slaughter without stunning. Non-stun slaughter affects millions of animals. If you support a humane death for them, contact your MP to let him/her know you oppose it, and ask them to support any proposals to ensure that meat from slaughtered animals without pre-stunning is clearly labelled. Slaughterhouses are degrading places. The acts of cruelty, workers have to perform are horrific. Death is never pleasant, but it need not be painful. There should be a stress free path for animals going to slaughter, and constant vigorous oversight of employees to prevent cruel treatment from happening, by regular inspections of all farms and anti-cruelty laws.
Stop the very cruel export of millions of live animals in the global trade: Animals including sheep, pigs and cattle are crammed into ferries and lorries only to be slaughtered in other countries. They are transported from Europe to the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa, often taking up to 3 weeks. This is unnecessary. A short film by Animals International has revealed the horrific abuse and brutality which takes place, causing them to endure immense physical and psychological suffering. See http://www.ciwf.org.uk/export-secrets. Despite all the problems, including breaching UK regulations, it is a massive money-making industry, for both governments and businesses. If you eat meat, buy meat raised by British farmers. This will reduce the need for them to export animals to make a profit. Write to your MP or MEP asking them to support bans on this or e-mail the European Commission.
Christians Caring For Gods Creatures 