Animal Welfare in Contemporary Europe and ChinaPOLS 3620, contemporary Europe and Asia17th. Nov.200906050123 Ding Zhuying06011276 Yip Siu Fung

Content

• Definition of Animal Welfare• Legal tradition of Animal Welfare in Europe and China• Public Awareness of Animal Welfare in Europe and Chi

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What is Animal Welfare• Animals are sentient• ethical responsibility of ensuring animal well-being• allow animals experience good health, • cope with their environment, • express a diversity of species-typical behaviors • avoid of abuse and exploitation

• IMPORTANT: morally acceptable to use , as long as

unnecessary suffering is avoided Ding Zhuying

Legal Tradition of Animal Welfare--Western Europe

19th century• In 1822, the world's first the world's first

major piece of animal major piece of animal protection legislationprotection legislation was initiated by Richard Martin.

• most of northern Europe, Britain had assumed the responsibility

20th century• state has assumed the role of adm

inistrating animal protection • In 1967, Farm Animal Welfare

Advisory Committee in UK contributed the FIVE FREEDOM, which is regarded as the basis of Animal Welfare

Ding Zhuying

Five Freedom

• Freedom from thirst and hunger

• Freedom from discomfort • Freedom from pain, injury,

and disease • Freedom to express

normal behavior • Freedom from fear and

distress

Ding Zhuying

Legal Tradition of Animal Welfare--Western Europe

21th century• in Germany has been a "STATE

OBJECTIVE"• European level legislation: farme

d animals, wild animals, companion animals, animal in sports, entertainment and exhibition, animal experimentation

• Far from completion• Europe-wide ban on the use of a

nimals to test cosmetic products enacted only in 2009

Ding Zhuying

Legal Tradition of Animal Welfare--China and Hong Kong

• China• Protection for

endangered species, regulations on animal testing in laboratory

• First draft of the law on general protection of animals came in June 2009. Exact timing of the launch of this law remains unclear

Yip Siu Fung

Legal Tradition of Animal Welfare--China and Hong Kong

• Hong Kong• Prevention of cruelty

to animals ordinance since 1935

• Governmental organization: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department

• Under which the Advisory Group on animal welfare

Yip Siu Fung

Public Awareness of Animal Welfare--Western Europe• non-governmental organizations in Europe responsible for the promotio

n of animal welfare • education of the public, offering expertise, to bringing attention to issue

s ignored by the states • 1824, world’s first animal welfare organization Royal Society for

the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in UK

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Public Awareness of Animal Welfare--Western Europe

• Campaign against Puppy trafficking

• Puppies are bred in large numbers for profit

• Little regard for animal welfare.

• Many fall sick, and some die.

• Improve welfare of pigs• clear and consistent labeling on

pork products • a better law to protect pig welfare

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Animal Welfare Organizations in China and Hong Kong

Yip Siu FungDing Zhuying

Public Awareness of Animal Welfare-- China and Hong Kong

• Many abuse cases in China

• Hurt the animals for different reasons, like for profit, for own enjoyment

• Human Rights vs Animal Rights

• Hot discussions and debates over the internet

• Better legislations and education in Hong Kong

• Standard far behind Europe

• Many non-governmental organizations help on the promotion of the concept of animal welfare

• Still there are a few of abuse cases

Yip Siu Fung

References:

• Wilkins, David B. , Animal welfare in Europe : European legislation and concerns, London ; Boston : Kluwer Law International, 1997

• Stone, Lora, The Ideology of Progress, World Culture, and Animal Protection, Lanham, University Press of America, 2007

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