Day: March 1, 2024

Uncategorized

Hollywood’s A-List Animal Advocates Revealed. What ? – No Joaquin ?

 

WAV Comment – all very well deserved, but what about Joaquin  ? 

Joaquin Phoenix Pleads for Animal Rights in Academy Awards Speech – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

By Simran Jeet

Feb 29, 2024

In the world of Hollywood, where fame and fortune often take center stage, there exists a group of celebrities whose compassion extends beyond the red carpet to the animal kingdom.  These stars utilize their platform and resources to advocate for animal rights, promote adoption, and support various conservation efforts.  Here are five Hollywood animal lovers making a big difference.

Animal activism

Alicia Silverstone

Actor Alicia Silverstone, a committed vegan, earned recognition as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals PETA’s Sexiest Female Vegetarian in 2004.Beyond championing various animal charities like the African Wildlife Foundation, Animal Asia, and PETA, she authored The Kind Diet advocating for plant-based nutrition.Known for her activism against animal testing, she also rescues abandoned pets and animals, providing them with loving homes.

Animal conservation

Betty White

Betty White, an original Hollywood animal activist, passionately supported numerous charities including Farm Sanctuary and the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Adopting rescue animals and advocating for their rights, she served on the Los Angeles Zoo board for 50 years. White’s dedication extended to funding zoos for monkeys and gorillas, leaving a lasting legacy in animal welfare and conservation efforts.

Anti-fur campaign

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish, a prominent figure among Gen Z, adopted a vegan lifestyle from childhood. She vocally opposes the use of animal products in both fashion and food industries. Notably, she persuaded fashion brand Oscar de la Renta to permanently cease using fur, earning recognition as PETA’s “Person of the Year.” Billie has also adopted rescued dogs and cats.

PETA

Bryan Adams

Pioneering a vegan lifestyle in the early 1990s, Bryan Adams has remained dedicated to his cause.His passion for animal welfare has led him to actively support campaigns such as PETA’s anti-fur movement and advocate for the Southern Antarctic Whale Sanctuary.Additionally, Bryan lends his voice to organizations like Greenpeace, Mercy For Animals, and The Gorilla Organization, vehemently opposing animal exploitation.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio, one of Hollywood’s wealthiest stars, channels his resources toward noble causes. Advocating for both animal rights and environmental conservation, he is notably associated with the documentary “Cowspiracy” and has endorsed other vegan films like Eating Our Way To Extinction (2022).DiCaprio’s philanthropy extends to various organizations, including the African Wildlife Foundation, WWF, and his own initiative, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Hollywood’s A-list animal advocates revealed (newsbytesapp.com)

Regards Mark

No Joaquin ? – you must be joking ! – or the Joker.

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU / Chile: EU-Chile Trade Agreement Falls Short On Animal Welfare.

29 February 2024

Press Release

The modernised EU-Chile Free Trade Agreement, approved by the European Parliament today, includes commitments to animal welfare such as the recognition of animal sentience, the phase-out of antibiotics used as growth promoters, and language on animal welfare cooperation.

While these provisions are welcomed, the negative impacts of unconditional trade liberalisation should not be ignored: The EU and Chile should maximise the language on animal welfare cooperation within the agreement to ensure significant progress for the well-being of animals.

In 2002, when the EU and Chile concluded their first trade agreement, they added, for the first time ever, provisions on animal welfare cooperation. Yet, it was followed by increased intensification in the Chilean livestock and aquaculture sectors due to increased trade opportunities. There is a high risk that this modernised deal will fuel this trend as it grants further market access for Chilean animal products by increasing quotas for poultry, pork, sheep and beef without any animal welfare condition. Such a condition could have contributed to enhancing animal welfare standards in Chile, especially considering that Chilean producers believe that the trade deal would generate greater certainty for investments aimed at exports to the EU.

The FTA does include a chapter on sustainable food systems with provisions on animal welfare cooperation, despite being non-commital. Future EU-Chile cooperation on animal welfare, as like-minded partners, must focus on concrete initiatives such as the phase-out of cages for pigs and poultry, along with lower stocking densities for poultry. Other areas include animal transport, the use of anaesthesia for mutilations and joint action plans to phase out antibiotic use in animal production.

It is disappointing that the new EU approach to Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapters will not yet apply to this trade agreement. The review process of the TSD Chapter should contain detailed language on the link between animal welfare and sustainable development, wildlife conservation and trafficking, and the importance of ensuring aquaculture welfare. In terms of enforcement, the EU and Chile should create clear roadmaps, identify priority issues, and include last-resort sanctions.

In November 2021, Chilean President Gabriel Boric signed an Animalist Commitment with Veg Foundation during his campaign. The document includes 10 points to improve the lives of animals raised for consumption.

Unfortunately after two years of government, very little progress has been made in fulfilling this commitment, since only one of the 10 points has been worked on. We call on President Boric to keep his word and improve the lives of millions of animals in Chile, by implementing these points in both trade agreements and national law. This FTA could have bolstered national efforts similar to the impact of the first EU-Chile trade agreement, which led to the adoption of Chilean animal welfare law in 2009

Ignacia Uribe, Founder and CEO, Veg Foundation.

Until the EU has animal welfare-based import requirements, the EU should negotiate ambitious animal welfare conditions with all trading partners, and replicate the approach it followed in the EU-New Zealand trade agreement. The EU should not let its trade agenda freeze the path toward higher welfare food systems. Embracing animal welfare conditions in some FTAs while omitting them in others would certainly be incoherent,

Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals.

Eurogroup for Animals and the Chilean-based organisation Veg Foundation regret that the modernisation of this trade agreement fails to guarantee that EU-Chile trade does not have a detrimental impact on animals, and encourage the effective transition towards sustainable food systems in which animals’ well-being is promoted and respected.

Regards Mark