As the Humane Chain evolves, so too does its staff. Meet Katinka Day, Campaign Officer who began in May this year. Katinka is responsible for the public engagement side of the Humane Chain. This involves working on our Social Media channels, the Humane Chain website, volunteers and helping execute our next campaign: Stand Up for Animals. She came to WSPA after working within the private and public sector as she wanted to work with an organisation she felt strongly about. … Continued
With over 113,000 Australians now having joined the Humane Chain, we thought we’d take the opportunity to give you a look at some of the hard working people behind the scenes. Meet Graham Nicholls, WSPA’s Campaign Coordinator. Graham is responsible for working with Government and stakeholders to showcase the alternatives to live exports, and joined our team in December 2011, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role. While working in Tonga in 2011 Graham was shocked by … Continued
The World Society for the Protection of Animals commends the Western Australian Labor Party on its move to improve animal welfare, following the launch of a discussion paper by leader Mark McGowan. In the paper, Strengthening Animal Welfare in Western Australia (link opens a PDF), a key recommendation is to work with overseas trade offices to promote chilled meat products and create a commercial alternative to live exports. This is a positive development in placing animal welfare on the political … Continued
WSPA is extremely concerned about the cruelty footage from last night’s Lateline, as supplied by Animals Australia. The Federal Government’s new supply chain process and sanctions are now being tested for the first time. There is a high level of public focus and interest. Assuming that the animals depicted last night were indeed sourced recently from Australia, WSPA hopes that firm sanctions against a proven offender reinforce the Government’s stated determination to stamp out animal cruelty not just in Indonesia, … Continued
This weekend, a by-election is being held in Port Adelaide for the seat of South Australian Treasurer. Colin Thomas (pictured below) is running for this seat as an Independent candidate on a “Ban Live Export” platform. WSPA’s Campaign Officer Sharon Baldwin recently discussed with Mr Thomas about his campaign and why live animal export is such an important issue to voters. WSPA: Can you tell us a little more about your background? COLIN THOMAS: As a former Greens member, I … Continued
As reported in today’s article from Sydney Morning Herald, Minister for Agriculture, Joe Ludwig, is traveling this week to the Middle East to discuss animal welfare standards with regards to live exports. The trip comes following the Minister’s imposed deadline of 1 March to enact new animal welfare guidelines and “supply chain assurances.” Live export companies have been crying out against these new guidelines, predicting that the new framework will result in decreased shipments for 2012. A recent article in … Continued
This weekend, some of our Sydney-based volunteer Captains got together in the WSPA office to lend their time to helping wrap up our Move Forward initiative by assisting with the glamourous task of data entry. It was a huge help to the office, and we’d like to extend a big THANK YOU to Nami, Matthew, Rosalba, Sy, Alen, Michelle, Stefan, and Jim! We’ll have lots of opportunities in the coming year for supporters to get involved, making a difference. Currently … Continued
In Part One of our Year End Wrap-Up we looked at some of the live export milestones in the first half of 2011. The year’s turning point was easily defined by the atrocities uncovered by Animals Australia and televisions program Four Corners in Indonesia, which made live export an issue no one could ignore. WSPA supporters sent thousands of letters to their MPs and to Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig in the days following the Four Corners report, and then followed … Continued
As 2011 is drawing to an end, at WSPA we’re taking a moment to reflect back on what was quite a momentous year for animal welfare – particularly on the issue of live animal export. This is part one of some of the highlights, achievements, and milestones from our campaign over the past year. Building on our campaigning work in 2010 and early 2011, WSPA worked with Federal Labor MP Janelle Saffin to introduce a Private Members Motion to end … Continued
Labor has rejected a move to phase out live exports at this weekend’s National Party Conference, but WSPA is encouraged by moves to support alternatives to the cruel trade. WSPA Captains demonstrating at the Labor Party conference At yesterday’s National Labor Party Conference in Sydney, MP Melissa Parke put forward an amendment asking delegates to support a four-year transition away from live export to a strengthened Australian chilled meat export trade – a move that would both protect Australian animals … Continued
