Protection for animals in China: raise awareness from an early age
Alongside our partner ACTAsia, we are supporting programmes to raise awareness among the Chinese population about respecting animals.
We know that China is far from being a model country when it comes to animal protection. But digging into it, it is clear that the corrupt relationship of humans with the most fragile of beings is due to a lack of awareness, particularly in the poorest areas. This is why we are working closely with our partner, ACTAsia, to find a solution to the situation by supporting education programmes in kindness. And once the seeds have been sown, miracles happen…
Awakening compassion and stimulating kindness and all that is good in humans is the goal that we have set ourselves by supporting the Caring for Life educational programme by our partner ACTAsia. This NGO, run in China, is an astounding effort in raising awareness with respect for life in all its forms. They have done a lot of work to raise awareness of the state of the country’s zoos and the dog meat trade. Every year they take action against the Yulin festival and also act closely with veterinarians in Asia to make them aware that animals feel fear and pain.
Fur is still all the rage
In China, it is rare for people to be aware of this obvious fact. Even the dangers represented by zoonotic diseases are not always taken into consideration. Even though the Covid-19 pandemic drove many countries – including France – to forbid breeding animals for fur in their countries, the Chinese industry did not draw any conclusions on it. Quite the opposite! With the disappearance of their rivals, they saw an opportunity to gain a greater share of the market in worldwide trade and to promote the exploitation of mink, Arctic foxes, silver foxes, and raccoon dogs, who all suffered the most. All while making fun of the public health concerns of an extremely toxic and harmful industry.
Empathy can be learnt
With ACTAsia, we are convinced that developing empathy relies on education, ideally from a very young age. Those who have benefited from the Caring For Life project are the best witnesses of this. This unique programme, lasting through six years of primary school, addresses social well-being, citizenship, animal welfare, environmental issues, and recognises interdependence between all living beings. Ms Fang, a teacher, discovered it in 2013 and saw the benefits for both her son and herself: “CFL taught me to practice compassion in all aspects of my life and I firmly believe that we should all live our lives on this basis”. She has been very invested since and teaches it by including the CFL lessons in school learning. And the positive impact of the lessons, delivered at school and during summer camps, is remarkable. Ms Fang continues to see changes in the day-to-day behaviour of her pupils. She sees their kindness and their civilised and responsible behaviours grow. In order to measure the success of the programme, she carried out a two-year study comparing two classes — one which follows CFL teaching and the other that does not. Prosocial and compassionate attitudes were very evident among the students who had received the CFL learning. Much calmer and not showing signs of aggression, they showed a much greater respect for others. Following this study, more classes now adopt CFL teaching. A new generation of compassionate and empathetic children is emerging, ready to implement these “un-technical skills” in all aspects of their existence and in society in a wider sense in the future. And we are here to encourage them!
Translated from the French by Joely Justice