Question:
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has launched a global campaign to raise public awareness of what it has identified as better animal welfare, environmental sustainability and the economy.
WSPA is urging people to sign a letter to place the topic of animal welfare on the agenda at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development next June, stating that "high-welfare farming is a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to intensive production methods." Perhaps you can help spread the word through your column, and also urge that all countries run animal shelters and spay/neuter programs?
Feb 21, 2012
Answer:
I appreciate your concerns, and agree with you that every community should have an animal shelter, along with humane and environmental education in schools.
But from my perspective, having worked in animal protection and wildlife conservation for decades, this kind of campaign by the WSPA is a feel-good initiative that is too little, too late. Sorry to sound so pessimistic, but so long as meat is considered a dietary staple for our world's 7 billion-person population and countries fail to protect wildlife habitat and endangered species, I see little hope. Additionally, while human encroachment by our expanding numbers, lack of policing by corrupt governments and the relentless poaching of elephants, tigers and other wildlife continues, along with whaling, trophy hunting and the bush-meat trade, this campaign will be futile.
We need to put into practice enlightened initiatives like a United Nations paramilitary force to occupy and police critical endangered species habitats around the world, which I describe in my new book, "Animals and Nature First
" (CreateSpace). Animal shelters and spay/neuter programs help improve public health as well as the welfare and health of domestic animals, as my wife Deanna Krantz proved while working in India.
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