Farm animals can't wait for change - will you help them today?
- by: World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
- recipient: Co-chairs Dr. John W. Ashe and Mr. Sook Kim, Rio+20 Bureau
Billions of animals are suffering right now, confined in inhumane, industrial conditions. But today, YOU can do something to help them.
Right now, the United Nations is preparing for the 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development - the most significant event of our time, discussing the future of the planet. Please help WSPA ensure that farm animals are on the agenda at the 2012 event.
When animals are well-cared for, we all feel the benefits.
Did you know that animal-friendly farming has an important role to play in protecting our health, precious natural resources and farmers' livelihoods?
Women in rural India can attest to this: thousands have been empowered to put healthy food on the table and earn extra income thanks to humane farming methods of rearing chickens in their backyards.
Will Harris, farmer and owner of White Oak Pastures, is also a strong believer in animal-friendly farming: his switch to a grass-fed system for beef cattle has brought major benefits to the local economy, environment and consumers.
If we can convince co-chairs Dr. John W. Ashe, Latin America & Caribbean Group and Mr. Sook Kim, Asian Group, that animal-friendly farming is better for animals, people and the planet, we can influence the UN's 2012 Conference and save billions of animals from life-long suffering.
In the lead-up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) to take place in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has launched a global debate on issues of sustainability and the future we want.
As you are leading this work I trust you would welcome my interest in this debate. I would like to join this conversation by expressing my concern about the welfare of farm animals. Farms with poor animal welfare aren’t just bad for animals; they have negative effects on our environment, our health and on the livelihoods of the world’s poor.
I hope you will agree with me that there is worrying evidence that the continued growth of industrialized factory farm systems is neither good for us nor the planet.
The future I want is one in which people produce the food they need with respect for our health, the welfare of animals and the environment, and one where we as human beings live in harmony with animals and nature.
There has been, I believe, a strong call from civil society to address this too. I am writing today to inquire of you how we can ensure that the way we treat animals is addressed in the debate. The United Nations Rio+20 Conference presents you – as Co-chairs of the Rio+20 Bureau – with the chance to help nations create a new way of providing the food we need, based on caring and sustainable farming and which benefits all sectors of society both north and south.
I understand you have a major task but I would like to ask you how we can ensure that the summit works to put this goal at the heart of new global sustainability plans. Is it possible to ensure that humane and sustainable agriculture is included in positions and debates on Rio+20 and how can this fit into the document that emerges from Rio+20?
I would be very grateful for your thoughts and I thank you very much for your attention at what must be a very busy time.
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