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First Vegan Tabling Event at Aroha

Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 February 2012 17:08 Written by Administrator Wednesday, 01 February 2012 13:11

We had our first Vegan tabling event at Aroha, the youth festival at Hinduja college on the 21st and 23rd of January!

The story behind the event is interesting by itself. 2 Hinduja college students, who host events highlighting various social issues, released a 100 pigeons to mark the anniversary of 26/11. This did not escape the FIAPO eye and a livid Kushboo managed to make them feel terribly sorry about it. They came out with the decision to host a 2 college fest raising social issues, based on Animal Rights this year.

Aroha, is the Hinduja college fest, which is organized by the 2 students. This year the event was focused on issues highlighting animal abuse in various industries.

So we had students doing street plays on slavery of confined animals, debates on animals used for experiments, JAM session on animals in captivity, fashion shows on animal prints and a range of fun activities. The photography contest included participants going around the area, taking photo’s of animals in the immediate vicinity and submitting them with a tagline. These were really interesting as several students seem to have a good grip on the concept of animal rights.

Along with a table for awareness by WSD, this also turned was a great opportunity to keep our first vegan tabling event.

Everything, right from the leaflet, banner s, methods of leafleting employed, were all being tested at this event. On day one we kept a large screen with speakers, and had a very well made video clip ’Why vegan’ video by Evolve Campaigns playing through the day. On day 2 we asked Rithika a passionate vegan who manages Green Stove, the only completely vegan bakery shop, to join us and sell vegan cup cakes. We also tried various different methods of leafleting, and noted down the responses of each.

The target group there was mostly vegetarians that made discussing going vegan far more relevant. The term vegan was something that not a single student was familiar with prior to the event. However they were fairly open to the concept. We also noted that abolitionist approach becomes intimidating. We pitched vegan as the single best thing to do, else reducing usage of dairy products would really hjelp if they cared for animals.

Students had several FAQs about the issues involved and it was a pleasure to see so many young people interested in discussions. All in all, it was a great event with students learning so much about related issues. Considering that students are the most open minded and are the lead influencers of consumer decisions, we should be scouring college for platforms to discuss animal rights.

Thanking Prateik & Akshay who promised this event and worked very hard to deliver. It was a super event!

We had our first Vegan tabling event at Aroha, the youth festival at Hinduja college on the 21st and 23rd of January!

FIAPO Action: Animal Alternatives and so much more in the hub of Biotechnology

Following the December 27^th seminar at Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in Lucknow, FIAPO proceeded to Hyderabad, the hub of Biotechnology to spread awareness about 21 century science of toxicology testing in India. The second seminar took place at one of the premier research institutions in the country, National Institute of Nutrition with Indian Pharmacological Society as collaborators.

In addition to Dr Thomas Hartung who was modifying his presentation each time with respect to the kind of audience, NIN’s scientists Dr Dinesh Kumar Bharadwaj, Dr P Suresh and Dr S.Y. Quadri also spoke of issues regarding animal experimentation.

We had more than 150 participants including from various research institutions like NIN, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMMB), Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) and many more.

FIAPO Asks People to Shun Milk

Research shows, even unadulterated milk is bad for health

At a time when there is a lot of discussion surrounding milk contamination in the country, FIAPO has asked people to avoid milk and milk products for a host of other health reasons as well. The group says that many research studies have revealed negative impact of milk on the human body. Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. who helped Bill Clinton to reduce weight and prevent heart disease, advocates a plant based- non dairy diet.

Author of the landmark scientific study, The China-Oxford-Cornell Study, Dr. T.Colin Campbell has linked heart disease and cancer to diet. The major finding from Campbell's study was that people who eat a typically animal-based, protein-rich diet have seventeen times the death rate from heart disease as do people who satisfy their protein needs from fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains. Data from his study indicated that women who eat meat and dairy products were five times as likely to die of breast cancer as those who ate a plant-based diet. Dr.Campbell’s work is well respected and accepted throughout the world.

Act with FIAPO to stop dolphinarium

Dear xyz,

You would have heard the grim news in October, 2011, that the Government has approved a Rs 510 crore project to build a dolphin park, with a giant aquarium and a facility to train and keep dolphins along the Arabian Sea coastline in Sindhudurg. Such cruel dolphinariums have been criticised and banned in many countries and yet plans are in place to bring them to India. At FIAPO, we are investigating and collecting facts on this case, and will keep you posted of developments (scroll down to see the latest update)

Meanwhile, I am writing a special request to all FIAPO member organisations - Dolphins need our help NOW.

On behalf of FIAPO I respectfully request you to plan a special event to help raise people's understanding of the devastation caused to dolphins in all phases of human capture, exploitation and killing them.

We will help you organise such an event, which would include a film showing of the award-winning documentary "The Cove" followed by a discussion session. The film covers the process of capturing dolphins from Japanese waters and is available in English only. We can also provide you will letters and petitions for people in your local community to sign along with discussion notes for the film. Or perhaps if you already have an event planned over the next couple of months, you could consider including information about this vital campaign?

We count on your participation - as a federation, our voice will be stronger if we all act together. Our aim is for all groups to hold such a gathering within the next 2 months. For information on organising such an event, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

Best,

Varda

Tel: 07568768223

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Latest Investigation Update: Dolphinarium

10.01.2012

Do you know difference between a dolphinarium, oceanarium and sea world? Atleast I got confused when I complied various news reports talking about the new project prposed by Maharashtra Tourism Cooperation Limited along the Sindhudurg coastline. I remember it came at the time when I was preparing to go for field visits to the dairies in South India but this was something that needed immediate attention for an obvious reason that such constructions have been criticized by animal rights advocates and environmentalists all over the globe. As an immediate response to the situation, a letter was sent from FIAPO registering our protest but at the same time I desperately started looking for a volunteer who could assist me with the detail of the case. At this time, Ms.Naina Athale of IDA, Ms.Shakuntala Mazumdar of Thane SPCA and Ms.Supriya Bose came to my rescue. While Ms.Naina got me some key information and contacts to get the direct details; Ms.Shakuntala and Ms.Supriya helped to file application under Right to Information Act to inspect the project file and get written details officially. Knowing that an RTI response will take around a month’s time to come, I also started making efforts to get the information from MTDC through phone. I got in touch with an official there who informed me that –

- They propose to fence a large area in sea

- Whatever marine life is within this fenced area is the one that will be on display

- Dolphins found in Indian waters will be within this enclosed space as well

- No animals are proposed will be brought from other countries

In my experience of dealing with CERC cases, many times the facts are different from what is published in media. It then becomes very important to study official documents before initiating a campaign.

Recently, I have received response from MTDC where they have refused to give any information in the case, stating it as confidential! While bureaucracy was acting at its best, I decided to not fall for it and pursue this case. In consultation with an RTI expert – Mr.Shekhar Singh, an appeal application has been filed at MTDC to get permission for inspection of file.

I will keep you posted on the verified facts of this case.

Dolphins need our help NOW.

Please write to the Minister for Tourism asking him to reverse his decision. Read more for a sample letter and address details. Here's an online petition. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/9/stop-the-building-of-a-dolphinarium/ We also have a paper petition if you can take it to your local community and collect signatures. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rehabilitate Indian monkey in wild: FIAPO writes to Pakistan

The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations in a letter to Pakistan Ambassador has asked him to look into welfare of animals who trespass boundaries marked by humans beyond cross border issues. Recently, an Indian Monkey entered Pakistan and was caught in Bahawalpur district. The monkey is now lodged in a zoo there. The letter is written to Mr.Shahid Malik, Pakistan ambassador to India stating that captivity is cruel for animals and zoo restricts expression of natural behaviour. “We hope that the authorities will do the needful. Let the monkey be a messenger of peace & freedom and not of captivity & confinement” says Arpan Sharma, Convenor, FIAPO.

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