BBC Asia 'wakes up' to animal welfare

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>BBC DAILY E-MAIL: UK EDITION

>Friday, 18 March, 2005, 9:00 GMT 01:00 -08:00:US/Pacific

>

>

> * Asia 'wakes up' to animal welfare *

>Caring for animals is not just a Western whim -

>millions of people in Asian countries think

>animal welfare matters, a Mori poll has revealed.

>Full story:

>http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/4357527.stm

>

Asia 'wakes up' to animal welfare

Caring for animals is not just a Western whim -

millions of people in Asian countries think

animal welfare is important, a Mori poll has

discovered.

 

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw)

asked people in China, South Korea and Vietnam

about their views on the treatment of animals.

 

It found 90% believed " we have a moral duty to minimise suffering. "

 

Further still, the vast majority of those

questioned would like to see legislation to

protect animals.

 

These findings have been presented in London

this week, at an international conference held by

the Compassion in World Farming Trust (CIWF

Trust).

 

Stark contrast

 

Although Asian nations are frequently criticised

for their cruelty, Ifaw found their people's

feelings about animal welfare are broadly similar

to the UK's - a country often touted as " animal

loving " .

 

Prior to its London conference, the CIWF Trust

commissioned Mori to ask the British public the

same questions about animals. It found that 91%

of British adults identified a " moral duty " to

minimise animal suffering, and 92% said the law

should reflect this.

 

However, the strong pro-animal stance of the

Chinese, Vietnamese and South Korean public is in

stark contrast to their government's actions on

the issue, Ifaw says.

 

There is only minimal welfare legislation in

South Korea and in Vietnam there is none at all.

Although China does have wildlife protection

laws, Beijing decided in 2004 to delay

introducing legislation protecting all animals.

 

Both Ifaw and the CIWF Trust hope their poll

findings will help persuade Asian governments

that new laws to protect animals would be

welcomed by the public.

 

" Ifaw's education work in China has increased

the public's concern for animals and the

anti-cruelty movement here is growing fast, " said

Dr Aster Zhang of Ifaw-Beijing.

 

Several Chinese delegates are attending the CIWF

Trust conference, which aims to improve the

relationship between humans and animals around

the world.

 

" Never before in China have questions regarding

the treatment of animals attracted so much

attention, " said Dr Peter Li of the University of

Houston-Downtown, US.

 

" Since the late 90s Chinese scholars have by

their own initiative been engaged in heated

discussion and recent high profile animal cruelty

cases have helped turn this into a subject of

public discussion. "

 

The conference, From Darwin To Dawkins: The

science And Implications Of Animal Sentience, is

being held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference

Centre in London on 17-18 March 2005.

 

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/4357527.stm

 

Published: 2005/03/17 22:43:20 GMT

 

© BBC MMV

 

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