The Five Freedoms for Animals is a set of basic principles of animal welfare that are endorsed by the World Organisation for Animal Health and form part of the United Nation’s One Health programme. Social scientists around the world suggest that loss of empathy is at the root of our troubled and violent world. Cambridge University’s Professor of Developmental … [Read more...]
Water donations crisscrossing the country – all hands on deck
“Harrowing stories from children competing with cows for drinking water to farmers committing suicide, echoes over our barren land.” This from the national drought relief effort Water Shortage South Africa (WSSA). Whilst water is not falling where it’s needed or in sufficient quantities in 5 of our 9 provinces South Africans are rallying around and donating water across the … [Read more...]
Illegal wildlife trade killing biodiversity
There is growing concern about the impact that illegal trade in is having on wildlife populations world-wide, while the potential risk posed to indigenous species should these imported alien animals escape, is also cause for concern. Every year thousands of animals are removed from their natural habitats and smuggled between countries all over the world for the pet trade or … [Read more...]
Investing in biodiversity
Biodiversity is not about a few endangered species, but rather about the building blocks of life sustaining all earth's ecosystems. Over 600 scientists attending the 2nd major International Biodiversity Conference held in Cape Town recently said in their concluding statement that 'the fabric out of which the earth system is woven is unravelling at an accelerating rate.' 'We … [Read more...]