Over the years, we have seen many selfless supporters, celebrities, government officials, corporations, campaign partners and students helping to improve the plight of wild and domesticated animals throughout Asia.
Animals Asia launched its inaugural awards at the region's foremost animal-welfare forum, the "Asia for Animals Conference 2011", which we hosted in Chengdu, China in early June 2011. The following is the list of award-winners in the various categories, nominated by conference delegates:
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| Media: |
Outstanding contribution by a journalist or media outlet
Joint first prize to Zhang Dan and Programme Natural Code who tied for this award
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Zhang Dan
Zhang Dan has worked on animal protection/welfare for many years. In order to enhance the media’s role for raising awareness, she and some friends founded Beijing Animal Protection Media Salon, which provides a platform for media people to share experiences and explore creative ways forward for animal protection. As an experienced journalist, Zhang Dan works hard to bring powerful people from different areas to promote animal protection and to find other invaluable resources to help animal protection groups such as Lucky Cat or The Capital Animal Welfare Association. Zhang Dan's book , "Love Makes the World Beautiful - The cry of Animals and the Reflection of Man", will be published soon. It is clear to all who know her that Zhang Dan dedicates her time, her passion and her life to promote animal welfare in China, which helps so many animal groups and inspires so many people to join her lifelong mission.
Programme Natural Code
The TV programme of Yunnan TV, Natural Code, aims to protect wildlife and their habitat. It opposites hunting, inhumane slaughter and cruelty to animals for exploitation purposes. The feature, "No Trade No Killing" concerning the trade in animals, attracted a great deal of attention from the public and much debate across the country. Another feature called "Ecological Citizen" received high praise from the publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Last, but definitely not least, their feature "Good Night Moon Bears" led to another wave in China calling for bear farming to end. |
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| Corporate: |
Outstanding contribution by a corporation
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Project Embark (Odel Corporate Social Responsibility)
The Corporate Social Responsibility Programme by Odel persuaded Sri Lanka’s leading department store to reduce animal cruelty and improve animal welfare in Sri Lanka. Other Embark programmes include support for spay-neuter, adoption, flood disaster relief, and education. Project Embark has been a good partner and supporter to key Sri Lankan animal welfare NGOs and with its high profile, backed by the respected Odel name, has raised awareness about animal welfare issues in Sri Lanka, especially in the media. |
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| Government: |
Outstanding initiative supported or instigated by a government department or body
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Mr Yang Hengbao - Nanjing Public Security Bureau
Nanjing Public Security Bureau (PSB) dog management team are developing humane dog management regulations to benefit people and dogs alike. The PSB have provided a significant number of dog registration and vaccination centres in the community to ensure these services are readily accessible to residents, they provide reduced registration fees for the elderly and people on low incomes, and the regulations benefit the welfare of dogs, stipulating that no-one can harass, abuse or harm dogs, dog owners should provide the necessary conditions to meet their needs, and they must not abandon their dogs. The PSB are also encouraging residents to have their dogs desexed to reduce abandonment and over population. Through public consultation and co-operation, the PSB are developing responsible dog ownership initiatives which meet the needs of the residents of Nanjing and are leading the way in dog management within China. |
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| Individual: |
Outstanding contribution by an individual
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Henry and Kitty Wong
Henry and Kitty Wong were nominated for their extensive support to animal welfare in China, contributing towards the construction of a bear house for special care bears, the production of two films on the bear rescue to increase awareness, and an education campaign to decrease the demand of bile in China. Henry and Kitty have travelled to Beijing for the past two years to support the very popular Media Salon work which benefits countless wild and companion animals in the country through fundraising and public awareness. |
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| NGO: |
Outstanding achievement by an NGO
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Ms Soyeon Park from CARE (Co-existence of Animal Rights on Earth)
Ms Park has brought remarkable changes to Korea's animals as she operates in one of the most problematic countries in the world for animal welfare. The group Ms Park founded has grown to be one of the biggest and most active organsiations in Korea with over 60,000 members. Ms Park and her team rescued a number of animals abandoned and wounded when the North Korean bombing of Yeonpyung Island took place in November 2010, which saw 99% of the islanders fleeing to the mainland. Thanks to Ms Park, the Korean Animal Protection law is now strengthened significantly with increased fines and jail terms and the welfare of animals in Korea significantly improved as a result of her work. |
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| Public: |
Outstanding initiative to raise public awareness
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Zang Lu – Secretary-General of Civil Society Development in Hainan/ Counselor of Chinese Bread Museum/ Chief, Corporate Social Responsibility of Asian Power
Zang Lu has had a deep connection with animals and nature since he was a child. At the age of 20, working as a volunteer, he helped to protect the Tibetan Antelope. During this time, he also collected millions of signatures for the Tibetan Antelope to be the mascot of the 2008 Olympic Games. He also made proposals to the relevant departments that governmental banquets should prohibit the use of shark's fin, that campaigns should be enhanced to protect wild animals, that efforts should be raised to crack down on illegal hunting activities and suppress cross-border illegal wildlife trade. Some of these recommendations were adopted by local governments across China. He has served the Chinese Tibetan Antelope Protection Project as a coordinator, is one of the Top Ten Outstanding Youths of Hainan Province, one of the Sichuan Earthquake Relief Models, a winner of the Hoh Xil Honorary Medal and a winner for Asian Innovative Social Services. |
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| Student: |
Outstanding contribution by a young activist
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Hardi Baktiantoro - Founder and Director of COP (Centre for Orangutan Protection)
Hardi has coordinated more work on behalf of orangutans, deforestation and palm oil issues than any other we know of - often at considerable personal risk.
In less than four years Hardi has developed COP into Indonesia’s leading NGO, exposing and campaigning against illegal logging and consistently raising public awareness of the expansion of the oil palm industry into protected forests, and inhumane conditions in Indonesian zoos. COP have physically rescued some 50 orangutans in this period - more than any other NGO group. COP have also helped about 50 orangutans in zoos. COP are without question the NGO most feared by the government, illegal loggers and wildlife traders in Indonesia
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| Community: |
Outstanding contribution to a community-based programme or campaign
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Cat Welfare Society (Singapore)
The Cat Welfare Society has spearheaded advocacy and mediation efforts between various stakeholders, educating the public on the welfare of cats. They have coordinated the promotion of the sterilisation of community cats throughout Singapore, including active involvement in the government's Stray Cat Rehabilitation Programme from 1999-2003. |
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| Volunteer: |
Outstanding contribution by a volunteer
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Sathya Radhakrishnan – Blue Cross of India
Sathya is currently the Honorary Joint Secretary of Blue Cross of India and is also a member of the governing body. He contributes innumerable hours of volunteer service to the organization each week. His responsibilities, among others, include conducting outreach, education and fundraising programmes, inducting and training new volunteers, interviewing prospective vets and staff, counselling and assisting the vets and staff and doing hands-on animal care work in the shelter. |
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