EU Commissioner for Health, Vytenis Andriukaitis: "We need to re-recognize that animals are sentient beings."
FOUR PAWS hosts the first International Animal Welfare Summit in Vienna, Austria.
International animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS hosted the first International Animal Welfare Summit in Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna on 24th April. The theme of the event: 'Animal welfare – question of the future or luxury problem?' More than 300 guests heard speeches and discussions by experts from the fields of science, nutrition, economics and the arts.
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen took over the patronage of this event, the first of its kind. In his welcoming speech, he spoke of animal welfare as "a matter of the heart". Animal welfare was "thank goodness no longer a luxury topic". Rather, it is "an existential question that concerns us all". The summit is a step in the right direction: "Today we will ask ourselves questions and try to find solutions for them together".
The European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, also emphasised the importance of animal welfare. Andriukaitis spoke of the EU's recent achievements in animal welfare, but also about the huge challenges yet to come.
Host Heli Dungler, founder and president of FOUR PAWS, addressed a bitter truth in his welcoming speech: over the next 30 to 40 years, the number of farm animals on earth will double. The emergent countries in particular will greatly increase their meat consumption. Dungler warned against the effects of this development not only on animal welfare, but also on the environment.
In an eagerly awaited interview, Ai Weiwei, Chinese conceptual artist and human rights activist, talked about his personal connection with FOUR PAWS. When he did a research piece on refugees in Gaza a few years ago, he came across a tiger rescued by FOUR PAWS. The animal had been trapped in an abandoned Gaza zoo. Animals, according to Ai Weiwei, have always been part of human life – and have been victims of humans for far too long. It's time to reflect on human values and show more responsibility to all living creatures, he added.
Renowned author, activist and scientist Raj Patel took over with his keynote on the topic 'A Planet for All?' In his lively and entertaining talk, he focused on cheap mass production with all its devastating effects on humans, animals and the environment.
Jordanian Princess Alia, founder of the ‘Princess Alia Foundation’ and long-time companion of FOUR PAWS, was appointed as special ambassador of the Animal Welfare Summit.
More information about the IAWS 2018 can be found here: http://www.iaws2018.org
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. FOUR PAWS’ sustainable campaigns and projects focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, orangutans and elephants – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in twelve countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org