Animal Aid – Protecting Animal-People for Over Four Decades, Part 1 of 2

Animal Aid is one of the United Kingdom and the world’s oldest organizations fighting for rights of people from the animal kingdom. Founded in 1977, by Jean Pink, a vegan, Animal Aid groups campaign peacefully against the consumption of animal-people as food and against other forms of cruelty to them, such as their use for medical research - and promotes a cruelty-free lifestyle.

“Hi, my name’s Fleur, and I do the communications for the wonderful Animal Aid. I stopped eating animals when I was two. And actually, Animal Aid have been in my life ever since they supported me on my journey to going vegan and living an entirely cruelty-free life.”

“Animal Aid currently has about eight different campaigns going, including slaughter, farming, veganism, animal experimentation, living without cruelty, shooting, horse racing, and wildlife. So, we do try and address all areas that impact animals and their rights.” “One of our biggest successes is that our campaigning for CCTV in slaughterhouses has finally reached the point where it's now a legal requirement to have CCTV in English slaughterhouses, and more recently in Scottish slaughterhouses.” The world-famous English musician, Sir Paul McCartney, once famously said: “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian." Having cameras in slaughterhouses is a step closer to them having “glass walls” and the end of slaughter altogether, but Fleur explains that the next important step is to make sure that the footage is actively monitored.

“When it comes to farming, obviously Animal Aid believes that we should not be using animals at all. But, more than ever, this pandemic has shown us that it is not healthy for humans either, it's not good for the environment, and, in fact, it's a very dangerous practice that we are insisting on keeping up. The world has turned to veganism in a big way recently, which has been fantastic.”

Supreme Master Ching Hai: “Gratefully present Animal Aid with the Shining World Compassion Award, plus US$10,000 as a humble token of love and support for your noble work, with high praises and best wishes, in Heaven’s blessings and mercy.”