Student Alliance for Animal Rights
SAFAR members from Hefei Normal University organized a paper-folding workshop in Yulan Kindergarten in February, which aimed to educate children about wildlife conservation in China through interactive and creative activities.
Our member is teaching children to fold animal shapes.
Children are eager to learn how to draw dogs on paper.
A small “collection” of lovely drawings.
Our member and volunteers are teaching the fact of bear farming and how we can do to end this cruel industry.
Sticking paper-folded bears onto the board.
“I wish bear babies can go back home soon”, after exposed to the cruelty of bear farming industry, children expressed their willingness to free moon bears from endless suffer.
This workshop is one of the “mobile classroom” series launched by SAFAR China team.
Please help us organize more creative activities to reach to students at all ages in China by donating today.
$30 will help us organize one workshop in one kindergarten/primary school
$50 will help us organize one lecture/seminar in one university
$80 will help us organize musical festival in one university
Please donate and name one “mobile classroom” event as you wish!
Donation link available in this blog and our website: http://www.safarintl.org
“Nurturing the young’s passion to voice for the voiceless”
—-SAFAR team
Fatty liver in comparison to a normal liver
Greek Project, an international-funded investment corporation, once an investor on gold mine, is planning to invest 100 million dollar to establish the biggest ever goose breeding and foie gras production base in Poyang Lake area, Jiangxi, China.
This project plans to slaughter two million goose, 8 million ducks, and produce 1000ton Foie gras annually.
The process of obtaining foie gras is excessively cruel. Force-feeding of gooses and ducks results in an accumulation of fat in animals’ livers, making its size 6 to 10 times of a normal one. During the breeding process, gooses are exposed to physical hurts and various syndromes. On the other hand, the latest scientific investigation indicates that eating foie gras may induce many diseases for human.
The production of foie gras has been known as the “industry of sin” by the rest of the world. The force-feeding of animals for non-medical purposes, essential to current foie gras production practices, is explicitly prohibited by Europe and some other nations. French government remains untouched to the laws outside France, however, opposition by French animal rights and welfare associations never ceased. A poll in 2009 demonstrated that over 44% French were against force-feeding widely adopted by foie gras production industry.
A duck died from force-feeding
By 2006, China became the second largest country for foie gras consumption. It is stated in a report of Foie gras Industry Alliance, that ‘…with the severe castigation and pressure cast by European Animal Protection origination, production (of foie gras) in Hungary and Israel will gradually stop. It can be alleged that China will become the uppermost producer of foie gras in the future. ’
Green Beagle’s campaign to stop the establishment of this biggest foie gras production industry in China:
(Poster designed by SAFAR for online campaign in corporation with Green Beagle)
“We’re fully dependent on donation to have this event happen. Please donate today to help us utter our voice!”
—SAFAR all members
Guizhentang Pharmaceutical Co, a company runs a bear farm and produces bear bile drugs in China, is now hoping to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises through a public listing, according to an Initial Public Offerings (IPO) declaration issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on Feb 1, 2012. The final result of public listing will be announced by CSRC on Feb 17. Once getting publicly listed, Guizhentang plans to raise the number of its farmed bears from 400 to 1,200, and increase the yearly production of bear bile powder to 4,000 kg (882 pounds). The bear bile extracting method widely adopted by bear farming industry is extremely cruel and painful. According to HSUS, bears are stabbed by implanted tubes, through which their biles get extracted twice a day throughout their entire lives. Suffering from tremendous pains, bears are spotted to moan and chew their paws while being milked and some even committed suicide to end this endless suffering. Nowadays, the number of moon bears kept in bear farms across the country mounts up to over 10,000, and the number is believed to be growing in the next few years.
We firmly believe that no killings will be exerted to animals if no trade is associated. The enormous economic interests are the primary factors that draw people to engage in this industry. Should morals and fairness of mankind give way to wealth, desire and greed? “WEBx Moon Bear Rescue”, as part of an online conference series that is initiated to harbor intelligent discussions on topics concerning to animal rights/welfare, invites Mr. Zhang Xiaohai, the Director of External Affairs in Animals Asia Foundation (China), to speak for the justice and conscience appreciated by today’s society.
Topics will be covered during the speech: the animal exploitative facts in bear bile industry, the medical effects of bear gall and its alternatives, Animal Asia’s long fight to rescue moon bears in Asia and the responsibilities of young generation to lead the country to adopt civilization. There will be a Q&A session when the floor will be open to participants.
Time: April 7th, 2012
How to participate:
An online survey has to be submitted http://www.diaochapai.com/survey590483 for individuals or organizations interested. After approval, participates will receive an invitation by email (including instruction on online-conference, how to publicize this event at school and online.
Please choose the following means when applying:
A, delegates from school: you can contact local animal right and environmental organizations or Chinese student unions to cooperate with us to make this event happen at your school. A classroom/seminar room equipped with computer, screen, and Internet is required for screening the lecture.
B: individual: you can apply individually, you can access to our conference with computer via internet. There’s no restriction on participating place.
C: others, please specify.
Note: Due to a relative high demand for Internet speed, we can provide video record of the conference for individuals and schools who would unable to meet this requirement.
(Full image size: WEBxSay No Bear Farming)
Poster Copy right: 方如昕 [Yan Fong] from Yan Fong Studio (www.yanfong.net/yanfonghk.wordpress.com)
归真堂上市，引起社会各界对活熊取胆产业的热议，你是否关注这起事件？是否想要了解更多活熊取胆的背后故事？亚洲动物基金的中国区外务总监张小海先生将会为我们带来一场网络演讲会，深入剖析熊胆产业背后的真实故事与利益纠葛。
据资料统计显示，我国有超 过10000头月熊正遭受活熊取胆的痛苦。保守估计，全国共有11个省份存在约97个养熊场。活熊取胆的方法是将一个金属管永久的插入熊的胆囊，每天引流 胆汁数次。他们每天经受着最无情的戕害，最致命的蹂躏。他们的命运岌岌可危。其实熊胆并不是灵丹妙药，它的药用价值有被所谓专家夸大的成分，熊胆替代品的 制取也并不是那么困难。
我们坚信：没有买卖就没有杀戮。活熊取胆这一产业背后隐藏的巨大商业利润，使人们变得贪婪、冷漠。道德法律是否就应该为造富诱惑让路，而商业利润是否就应该扼杀社会的良知？ 张小海先生将会与大家通过web “见面”，让我们共同聆听这个时代应有的正义之声。
我们诚挚地邀请你参加这场网络演讲会，与我们共同探讨拯救月熊的未来之路，为万只月熊争取一片自由的天空！
[活动简介]
WEBx拯救月熊 网络演讲会
亚洲动物基金中国区外部事务总监张小海先生会围绕“活熊取胆“的以下几个方面进行宣讲：活熊取胆的过程、熊胆是一种什么药、亚洲动物基金的救助月熊道路、活熊取胆未来之路，以及当代青年人应怎样参与到拯救月熊的活动中来。同时会议设有问答环节，张小海先生会选择对会者的问题选择进行回答。
（WEBxAnimals由SAFAR学生动物保护联盟发起，借助网络会议等媒体媒介，针对国内外关注的动保话题举行网络宣讲会或小型研讨会系列。WEBx拯救月熊 为WEBxAnimals系列活动之一。）
[活动参与时间]：
四月（具体时间会通过电子邮件方式另行通知），北京时间周六早九点，美国东部时间周五晚八点
[参与方式]：
参与者需到http://www.diaochapai.com/survey590483 填写申请信息，我们会在审核后通过邮件向申请者发送会议邀请（包括怎样使用网络会议在线软件，怎样在学校内、网络上对该活动进行宣传等指导，以及发放海报、展板等宣传资料）。请仔细阅读以下参与方式：
A. 学校社团代表：您可以联系学校的动保／环保社团、华人学生会来举办这次活动，在活动当天选择可以连接网络且网络较快的教室，在大屏幕上显示网络会议界面， 即可与主讲人的视频及幻灯片同步连线。为保证活动效果，我们建议您在活动前期进行一定的线上及线下活动宣传，活动主海报及展板材料由SAFAR学生动物保护联盟及亚洲动物基金提供。
注：由于网络会议对网速有一定的要求，如果硬件不能达到要求的学校，我们会向该校学生代表提供会议录像。
B. 个人：您可以以个人的名义申请参与会议，在活动当日通过网速较快的电脑与主办方连线，活动参与地点无要求。
C. 其他请说明。
[活动主办方]：
学生动物保护联盟（SAFAR):
“连结海内外学生，为受难动物谋权益”
学生动物保护联盟是2010年由中国留学生在麻省成立的动保团体，旨 在通过青年学生的力量，在校园及社区内维护动物权益与传播动物保护理念。在校园内，学生动物保护联盟通过研讨会等活动让学生们意识到世界各国面临的动物保 护危机，并鼓励大学生走进临近社区以及中小学学校，进行动物保护教育普及活动。学生动物保护联盟接纳来自世界各国的高校学生，联盟各大生态动物保护协会， 通过共享的资源以及互动的网络平台，学生成员可以与国际动物保护活跃认识沟通对话，将动物保护主题教育带向整个社会，为动物们创造一个更友好和人性化的生 存空间和美好的未来。
WordPress博客：safarus.wordpress.com （仅支持国外访问）
邮箱：contact_us@safarintl.org（美国）contact_cn@safarintl.org（中国区）
亚洲动物基金（AAF):
由谢罗便臣女士（Jill Robinson）创办于1998年的亚洲动物基金（Animals Asia Foundation）是一个正式注册的动物福利慈善机构，总部设在香港，同时在英国、 美国、澳大利亚、德国和意大利设有办事处，并在这些国家享受税收减免待遇。亚 洲动物基金还在中国和越南建立了黑熊救护中心，全球雇员超过230名。
使命：亚洲动物基金的使命是改善亚洲地区所有动物的生存状况，在亚洲结束动物虐待并恢复对所有动物的尊重。
网站：http://www.animalsasia.org/cn
注：
特别感谢香港设计师方如昕[YAN FONG]女士对本活动主海报的设计。
YAN FONG DESIGN STUDIO
www.yanfong.net http://yanfonghk.wordpress.com
設計理念：“当我开始画画，这是在我脑海中的现实： 它們被囚禁在狹小的鐵籠裏，生活條件極其惡劣。養殖這些熊以獲得傳統亞洲醫藥中使用的熊膽汁，其實是完全不必要的。這些熊面臨的是終生痛苦。” “我画的熊的形状看起来像胆汁显示熊的恐慌，痛苦和无助，这些无辜的熊，用中国水墨画媒体来唤醒亚洲停止养熊业, 停止这些每一秒发生的痛苦。 “
Qiaoyun Wang
Translation: Munan Du
I joined SAFAR because I always wanted to do something real and meaningful for the animals. After talking to our SAFAR members, I came up with the idea to raise and donate clothes to the dogs in Yellow River Helping Center for Homeless Animals. From writing on the blackboard to spread the word, picking up the phone call from the first enthusiastic volunteer, or sending the donations to Jinan, we all gained the experiences and felt the love.
During one of SAFAR China’s online meetings, SAFAR members Yuankun, Yuhan and Menglian made a speech on the issues of homeless animals in China, which made me realize of the serious situation. Then I came up with an idea–to organize an event to raise and donate clothes. We hoped to come up with better ways to improve the situation through practice. After talking to SAFAR leaders Shiming and Yuankun and considering the fact that there was no animals shelters in Hefei (where our school was located), we decided to raise and donate clothes to the dogs in Yellow River Helping Center for Homeless Animals in Jinan. On the next day, we wrote helping letters on the blackboard on the two of the dormitory buildings to spread the word. On the same day, I received the first phone call from a volunteer, then my phone kept ringing. Lots of friends were willing to help. They asked me where the helping center was and they wanted to go and do something for the animals. Some of them didn’t understand why the center was in Jinan, which is far away from the school. But after they heard about the condition of Yellow River Helping Center for Homeless Animals and the story of the head of the center, Shuxia Liu, they were moved and hoped that I could continue raising clothes for the dogs. They themselves as well wanted to continue helping the dogs. We raised 4 big bags of clothes in 4 days. Many thanks to Shimin, who sent the donations all the way to Jinan.
I think there are lots of animal lovers in China, especially among the college students. They all have the passion to do some charity work. But sometimes, they are lacking of a platform to realize what they can do to help. Also, college students are very important implementers in the process of animal protection. We need to find a better way to encourage more people to join and take actions. And since we come from different places, we can take actions in different cities around the world. Even though what each of us is doing might be small and trivial, it’s definitely going to make a big difference when it comes to the collective result.
A letter from dogs in Yellow River Helping Center, asking for our help
(Translation:
Dear Friends,
My name is Little Grey. I’m a little dog from an animal shelter. We are having a poor but happy life here. We have so many kind and helpful people taking care of me and my other friends. But winter is coming. Many friends of us don’t have warm shelters. If you can give us one piece of old clothes, we can get a lovely and cozy bed to spend the winter:) If you want to help me, please contact my friend Big Grey.
Thank you!
Salut!
Little Grey)
Pictures of Shuxia, the founder of Yellow River Helping Center and the rescued puppies.
Yuankun Zhao
Translated by Hailun Li
In recent years, China has become the largest country involved in fur trading and production around the world. According to the latest statistics from China Leather Industry Association, solely in 2010, China consumed two third of the fur produced all around the world; it means every year, out of 2500 thousand fur production, about 1500 thousand of them comes to China, and the need is still rising. However, what consumers have not seen behind the scene is the painful death of animals like foxes, sables and racoons. In order to keep the fur as complete and fresh as possible, people usually bloodily take the fur off the animals when they’re still alive. SAFAR (Students Alliance of Animal Rights) Shanghai team launched an anti-fur campaign named “Say ‘No’ to bloody Fur”, along with ACTAsia and fifty other animal rights alliances, both in local society and universities. This campaign was well supported based on its purpose to raise public awareness on the dark side of fur industry and the importance of protecting animal rights. Posters and brochures were made and distributed, in order to ring the bell upon Chinese people and let them say no to fur consumption.
Our volunteers holding their posters on Nanjing road, in front of a fur company; as winter comes, fur is favored by a lot of people because of the sign of fashion by which it is labeled, while what is happening behind the scene is intentionally blurred by a lot of people because of the profits involved.
On the day of campaign.
Our volunteers talking to their peers about the messages we want to convey through this campaign.
Students interested watching videos on fur production made by SAFAR.
Local people and students willing to sign their names after being revealed the facts of fur production to show their support.
People interested by posters made by SAFAR Shanghai team.
In this campaign, 1000 copies of brochures were given out and 3000 signatures were collected. The weather was harsh on the day, but a lot of local people and college students slowed down their pace to take a look at the posters. No trading, no killing. Most people showed their attitude of refusing to buy any fur production; they had never been exposed to these facts of fur industry before. As long as the need of fur production exists, the killing itself will not end; and the only way to give it an end is to cut the need of consumption from the very beginning.
Xiaoye Xu
In may, 2011, SAFAR China branch launched two outreach programs in Tsinghua and Shandong University respectively, which aimed to educate Chinese students about the urgency to ban certain practices of animal abuse and exploitation, and encourage them to bring the values of animal rights to the society through individual and collective educational strength.
Three topics that revealed issues concerning animal exploitation in the global community were presented in photo exhibitions: ‘moon bear farming’, ‘the truth of fur industry’, and ‘seal hunting.’ Student guides explained the history of these conservation issues, the inhumane treatments to animals involved, and efforts made by individuals and animal rights groups worldwide, to students stopped by the posters. Many students were shocked to see pictures of bears captivated in suffocating cages with metal syringe extracting their biles, and a humongous pile of corpses of skinned animals in a Chinese fur farm. Due to the under coverage of these conservation issues in the media, most students in China have little, if not at all, knowledge of the horrible living situations of many animals in China and worldwide.
Photo exhibition at Shandong University. Credits to Xiaoye Xu
Jing Zhang, the founder of SAFAR, held two lectures at both Shandong University and Tsinghua University. During the speech, Jing first briefly introduced the origin and development of animal rights movement across the globe. Then, she talked about the focus of animal rights movement in history, such as inhumane treatment to farm animals, lab animals, and pets. Jing stressed more on the severe conservation issues in China nowadays including moon bear farms, fur farms, shark’s fin consumption and ivory demands. Even though the animal cruelty and exploitation issues are severe in today’s China, animal protection movement joint by conscientious individuals is still at its initial stage. Animal Rights organizations such as Animals Asia, and various small animals rescue centers run by individuals only started to gain public attention in the past few decades. The draft of the first animal welfare law “LAW OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE” was submitted to the government in 2009 and is still under approval. Many Environmental NGOs were springing up in the past 10 years but neither of their scopes are large.
Jing finally led to the point that how students could act as the voice of the voiceless to end animal cruelties.
1. Join or start student-run organizations aimed to protect environment and animals in universities and local communities. E.g. make a commitment to volunteer in a nearby animal shelter throughout the school years.
2. Dedicate one month or more for an internship in various international animal rights organizations such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF), IFAW and PETA.
3. Raise social awareness through microblog and other social networking websites.
As highlight of the lecture, Jing and her friend Yuan Yuan shared their volunteer experience in an animal rescue center in Costa Rica during the past winter break. Even though the animal care work was demanding and sometimes exhausting, they learnt how animals, nature, and human beings could live in harmony. Jing also conceived the idea of setting up a student-run organization to promote animal rights through student engagement during her journey to Costa Rica.
Yuan Yuan shared her volunteer experience in Costa Rica. Courtesy to Xiaoye Xu
The most important part about SAFAR itself came at last. Jing talked about SAFAR’s mission as to bring college students’ attention on major conservation issues in the global community, and raise social awareness on the urgency to ban animal abuse and exploitation practices such as animal cosmetic testing, bear & tiger farms, fur industry, rhino horn and ivory trades, shark fin consumption, and other cruelties to wildlife and domestic animals. SAFAR’s members come from top universities worldwide including University of Macao, The School of Art Institute of Chicago, Smith College, Xian International Studies University, Tshinghua University, and Shandong University etc. Though it was founded quite recently, SAFAR made many achievements in the past year. SAFAR’s members organized a dance show The World Beside at Smith College to evoke people’s appreciation and respect to animals living in different continents; It opened up its discussion groups on Facebook, Renren, and other social networking websites.
Most people who signed up during the photo exhibition came to the speech. Other audiences were attracted by SAFAR’ s posters hung up on campus. A music teacher who came to Beijing for a competition saw the poster when visiting Tsinghua University also came to Jing’s presentation. People all listened carefully and showed their interests and enthusiasm to Jing’s own experience and her pragmatic suggestions for students to act for animals. Xiaoyi Chen, a student journalist from Shandong University, interviewed SAFAR’s members and wrote a letter to them afterwards, “I was shocked to see the posters presented by SAFAR at Shandong University. ‘Fur farms’, ‘shark fin consumption’, ‘pangolin poaching’…the terms that I wasn’t familiar with stand for the unbearable agony experienced by animal victims. One of the pictures in the poster showed a gigantic moon bear kept in a cage that was too small for it to move around. Couple of days later, I saw a similar picture of a moon bear on a surgery table, a palm pressing the hand of a vet. My tears couldn’t stop falling down as I watched this because I have no clue of how many more animals are suffering, and dying everyday with no one caring about their well-beings. Jing’s speech made a deep impression on me: ‘I know as volunteers, sometimes we will question ourselves how much difference are we able to make as countless animals are being tortured, abandoned, exploited, and killed and we just can’t save every one of them. But if we give up, who will continue to speak for the voiceless? We can’t help them all, but for those we save, it will surely make a difference for them.'”
More pictures of the event:
Thanks to Small Animal Protection Association and Student Government Association at Shandong University who cooperated in this event. It couldn’t be carried out successfully without their help.
@Tsinghua University, Beijing
Posters in exhibition
On Rhythm Nation, a performance aimed to celebrate the diversity and unity of student bodies at Smith College, SAFAR performed The World Beside to evoke people’s appreciation and respect to animals, through beautiful, romantic peacock dance, and wild, delightful Madagascar dance.
“Here we pass through the gate into the mysterious animal world where peacock dances to pleasing, and soothing music gracefully, where wild Madagascar animals play in boundless grasslands joyfully. There is no slaughter, no exploitation, and no greed of human beings. Just peace, serenity and love.”
Guoyi Pu, a girl from China, performed a heart-trenching peacock dance.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a video of Guoyi’s awesome dance 😦
Here’s a video of peacock dance performed by a well-known Chinese dancer Liping Yang.
The so-called “african dance” from 4 amateurs…funny dance
Student Alliance for Animal Rights is dedicated to promoting animal rights on various campuses and the local communities through student engagement. On college campuses, student Alliance for Animal Rigths intends to let students realize the major conservation and animal cruelty issues in United States, China, Costa Rica and other countries, and encourage them to educate the rest of the people in the community, through petitions, presentation, seminars, and other activities held on and off college campuses.
Student Alliance for Animal Rights broadens its membership to students from universities worldwide and allies with conservation organizations around the globe. Through shared resources and interactive network among students and conservation activists, Student Alliance for Animal Rights creates opportunities for members to connect with other students and activists who share a desire to make a better world for animals, and bring education to people in the local communities, making a positive impact across the globe.
SAFAR 