Asia for Animals 2010 – “Achieving long-term positive change”, will focus on developing and implementing concrete long-term solutions for ongoing animal protection and cruelty problems.
"A vision without a task is but a dream
A task without a vision is drudgery,
But a vision and a task is the hope of the world."
The conference theme will be in line with this quote; that is the urgent need for a common vision for the animal protection movement and the development of long-term, concrete steps to take to achieve this vision.
Oral Presentations
Presenters will share their experiences, in line with the theme, on the following topics:
1. Running Effective Education Programmes
Education is key to instilling compassion towards animals, especially in children, who will be the future guardians of animals. Organisations will share their experiences with developing effective, engaging and sustainable educational programmes and resources. Methods of monitoring and evaluating the success of education programmes will be explored. The breakthrough step of embedding animal welfare in the school or even National Curriculum and how to achieve this will also be covered. This session will include an introduction to the many useful online animal welfare –related resources/databases.
2. Improving the Welfare of Animals in Captivity
This session focuses upon the plight of captive animals in Asia and strategies to improve their welfare and, on a more long-term basis, how to achieve the phasing out of the keeping of certain species in captivity. ZooCheck investigations and campaigns will be introduced. The best ways of approaching and working with the zoo community to improve welfare standards and keeping lines of communication open will be discussed.
3. Effective Stray Animals Management
Topics to be debated in this session include: The relative effectiveness of the trap/neuter release programme for stray animals; the viability of no-kill animal facilities in Asia; advantages and disadvantages of various animal facility models; and methods of education and outreach pertaining to stray animal management and welfare.
4. Running a Sustainable Rescue Centre
Rescue centres must strive to have the highest welfare standards and set a good example for optimal animal care. To maximize their effectiveness, they should function not only as rescue facilities, but also have an educational role. In this session, speakers with a wealth of rescue centre experience will share their knowledge of providing optimal care for animals, as well as provide guidance on how to sustain a rescue centre in the long-term.
5. Achieving Long-term Changes for Farm Animals
The number of animals being farmed for food is greater than ever before, and intensive farming methods are spreading across Asia. In this session, achieving both short-term and long-term improvements for farm animals will be discussed. The economic, social and cultural viability of vegetarian or vegan lifestyle campaigns in different Asian contexts will also be examined.
6. Engaging and Collaborating with Government Agencies on Animal Protection
Anti-cruelty laws can greatly help our work in ending animal suffering. Working together with the government on law enforcement, and even the introduction of new laws, can help the animal protection movement move forward in leaps and bounds. This session welcomes the input of officials from various government bodies with a stake in animal protection, anti-cruelty and conservation in Asia . Case studies highlighting productive alliances between governmental and non-governmental agencies will be featured.
7. Wiping Out the Wildlife Trade
The wildlife trade is decimating Asia’s wildlife, but in recent years there have been great steps taken to crack down on the trade, and many NGOS are now playing a vital role in tackling the trade, working together with the authorities to bring traders to justice and rescue animals. The best long-term methods of tackling the trade will be discussed, using a combination of strategies including enforcement, information dissemination (education, outreach), and undercover work.
8. Campaigning for Change
Campaigning is a vital, yet often overlooked, part of achieving change for animals, especially long-term change, and progressing the animal protection movement. This session will explore effective campaign strategies by hearing from groups with campaigning experience and seeks to inspire all groups helping animals to focus more on campaign work.
