Animal rights organization GAIA celebrated its thirtieth anniversary this afternoon in Brussels Expo, in the presence of, among others, Prince Laurent and three ministers of animal welfare, Ben Weyts (Flanders), Bernard Clerfayt (Brussels) and Céline Tellier (Wallonia). For the occasion, Prince Laurent wore a dog hair sweater he had previously received in Berloz from the Handi-Bob association, which brings together children with disabilities and bobtails.
“Thirty years of fighting for animal transition from ‘something to someone’ has already brought a lot of change, but there is still a long way to go,” says GAIA chairman Michel Vandenbosch. A survey that GAIA had conducted by Ipsos among 1,650 Belgians shows that seven in ten Belgians are very concerned about animal welfare. More than half of those surveyed think that killing animals for clothing is not okay and almost half are against killing animals for hunting.
Four in ten Belgians consider killing animals for medical purposes and scientific research problematic. Almost as many are of that opinion for meat production and 46 percent consider killing animals for agricultural economic reasons a problem. “So the Belgians are really concerned about animal rights,” said GAIA.
From something to someone
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary, founders Ann De Greef and Michel Vandenbosch compiled a list of thirty of their most important victories. “From the closure of six private zoos and the abolition of six of the nine livestock markets, about an EU trade ban on seal products and cosmetics tested on animals, or the ban on circuses with wild animals, the ban on slaughter without stunning in Flanders and Wallonia and on fur farms throughout Belgium, and the sale of 575,000 jars of Faux Gras de GAIA in 2021.”
“During the 30 years that GAIA has now had, the animals evolved slowly – too slowly – in the minds and hearts of people. From something they evolved more into someone. No more things, but vulnerable individuals with feelings, interests and rights, which deserve special protection. That is the animal transition that GAIA is striving for. That transition is well underway, but far from being realized.”
The battle continues
The GAIA chairman emphasizes that the struggle continues. “On the agenda for the foreseeable future: a ban on slaughter without stunning in Brussels. No more laying hens in cages and no surgical piglet castration. Only plant-based food and cultured meat on the shelves. The transition to animal-free research. An EU ban on fur farming for fur. An EU Commissioner for Animal Welfare. No more captive dolphins. And include the animals in the constitution.”
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