Plett lobby group to march for animal rights
The SA Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) in Plettenberg Bay will be taking a stand for animal rights by participating in a large-scale march in Cape Town against all forms of animal abuse and lobby for animals to be recognised as sentient beings.
Several organisations have come together to organise the march, which is set to take place in the Mother City on 10 March, after which they will call on government to recognise animal sentience.
“We are confident that this is a positive step in the road ahead to ensure more ethical treatment of animals living in captivity as well as potentially giving more protection to animals in the wild. The benefit to domestic animals should also be noted as a wonderful adage,” said SAASA spokesperson Vijver Jonck, who added that the SAASA team would be travelling to Cape Town with all available staff to show their support for the march, which has been dubbed Cape Town Unites for Animals.
“We have also been constantly sharing this event with all friends and acquaintances in and around Cape Town and have gathered quite a bit of support. We are also having banners made by Green Girls in Africa who will be there with us.
‘Voice for the voiceless’
“People are always asking us what they as an individual can do for animals. This is the perfect answer. Support events or marches like this one and be a voice for the voiceless.”
The Cape Town CBD is expected to be filled with hundreds of people, including representatives from groups supporting marine life, birdlife and other land animals. They will be marching against anything from canned lions, poached rhino and elephants, porcupines being killed for their quills, to farm animals brutalised by “industry norms”, domestic animals and more.
“We will be marching against fireworks, which terrorise all animals as well as frail humans. We will march against circuses and dolphinariums which force animals to perform for human entertainment, denying them normal lives. We will be standing in solidarity for all animals who suffer behind closed doors, in laboratories for research and cosmetic testing. We will be standing up for animals who are trafficked to be pets and for medicine, we march against animal breeders, animal merchants and those using animals to fight and race each other for amusement,” organisers said.
‘One struggle, one fight’
“We also celebrate those individuals and organisations working tirelessly, against the odds, to ease the suffering of animals caught in the wants and desires of human greed, and work against the daily cruelty and apathy. It is said humans are not the only species on earth, we just act like it. And so we also march to create awareness that we have much in common with other species. In our ability to suffer, we are the same.”
The hosts of the march are Beauty Without Cruelty, Talking Tree and Voices for African Wildlife.
“We all want an end to the barbarism and apathy suffered by our fellow earthlings. Human rights and animal rights are one struggle, one fight and are linked by the suffering of the innocent, voiceless or powerless.”
A memorandum will be handed over to officials with regard to the recognition of animal sentience.