END OF YEAR 2019
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Dear Friends,
Amid all the multitude of horrors imposed on our animal kin, 2019 has nevertheless been a year of significant progress.
I list some of the highlights below. With your immensely valued support, we will keep up the momentum and go from strength to strength in 2020, making sure that you are updated regularly with our online Animal Voice magazines
On the Humane Education front:
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Our greatest achievement this year was being invited to present our curriculum-aligned humane education programme for South African learners to an international audience at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics’ Summer School in July. Our long-term study on the impact of our programme on learner behaviour continues and four more schools have requested to be included in 2020. See Article
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To our delight, The Humane Education Trust has been selected as a Supplier of Learner Teacher Support Material (LTSM), for the Gauteng Department of Education’s 2020 Procurement Cycle. Our appointment is for the specific supply of our Teacher’s Guide to Humane Education.
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Our inclusion of Early Childhood Development (ECD) in our humane education work received a boost when Animal Welfare Helderberg sponsored Child Welfare Helderberg to receive some of our resources for children in Child Welfare’s care. See newspaper Article. In 2020, we hope to extend this synergy as far and wide as possible. See our puzzle resources
On the Farmed Animal Welfare front:
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By a stroke of luck, Louise became privy to the fact that the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) had passed an in-house resolution to continue the battery cage system for laying hens right up until 2039! We submitted an official objection to the SA Bureau of Standards on obvious grounds including the fact that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) intends introducing new standards for laying hens at its General Assembly in May next year, which will make cages for laying hens non-compliant. South Africa is a member state of the OIE and we will continue to lobby for South Africa’s support of the new OIE chapter on improved animal welfare. (See full campaign). This pivotal aspect of animal welfare is on-going and we will keep you posted.
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As for South Africa’s pigs, the South African Pork Producers Organisation (SAPPO) committed itself nearly a decade ago to a phase-out of sow stalls by 1st January 2020. (See article "Better lives for pigs" ) Assessing national compliance in this regard tops our agenda for 2020.
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The horrific trade in animals across the high seas to slaughter will also continue to top our agenda for 2020 as we tally the number of livestock carriers that have capsized or been abandoned at sea over the last 30 years. (See Full Article)
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Lastly, Aquatic animals! Octopuses, known for their high intelligence and solitary natures, are now to be factory farmed. This and more will be in the March issue of Animal Voice.
Thank you for your valued support of our endeavours.
Please continue. We need YOUR SUPPORT
Our best wishes for the festive season.
Louise van der Merwe
On behalf of the Animal Voice team
