VENUE: FRIENDS HOUSE BOOKSHOP, EUSTON, LONDON
Quaker Concern for Animals normally organises 3 events during the year: QCA’s Annual General Meeting, a stall and/or a talk and discussion during the Yearly Meeting Gathering, and a stall for World Animal Day (WAD).
For WAD on 4th October, QCA had a stall in a space kindly allowed us by the Friends House bookshop. Our table had plenty of books on animals from the bookshop, leaflets and other information on animal issues as well as QCA newsletters and goody bags, and was draped by the beautiful World Animal Day banner. Friends House restaurant supported the day by serving solely vegan food.
WORLD ANIMAL DAY IS ORGANISED BY NATUREWATCH
“to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. Building the celebration of World Animal Day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilising it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals. It’s celebrated in different ways in every country, irrespective of nationality, religion, faith or political ideology. Through increased awareness and education we can create a world where animals are always recognised as sentient beings and full regard is always paid to their welfare”
A few examples of the worldwide events:
India – Animal Awareness Camp; Floor art with chalk in style of traditional Indian Rangoli.
Egypt – video and speeches at Zamelek Hilton
Ghana – children’s march with singing
Camaroon – creation of a primary school animal welfare club
Bosnia – children’s day ‘We Love Animals’
China – Painting competition for children
Lithuania – children’s lessons – what animals mean to us and what we mean to animals
Canada – workshop about exotic pets
S.Africa – Moonlight Dog Walk
Indonesia – Feeding monkeys in abandoned stadium, radio interview and silent campaign; also Flowers for Primates campaign.
Phillipines – Free CATstration day for 1,000 male cats
Costa Rica – low cost spaying and neutering in poor area
Nepal – free neutering
It makes encouraging reading, to look through more information on these and other events:
https://www.worldanimalday.
WORLD ANIMAL DAY GRANT
Naturewatch awards a World Animal Day Grant every year for a non emergency project undertaken by a WAD ambassador (https://www.worldanimalday.
This is given to those who aim to raise the status of animals and undertake work which has potential for a positive and lasting impact on animal welfare.
The 2018 WAD Grant went to ‘People for Animals’ Siliguri, an organisation in India which rescues and rehabilitates street animals, livestock and wildlife. Small grants also went to ‘Swaziland Animal Welfare Society’ and ‘ADDA Bolivia’ for production of educational materials on animal welfare.
QCA supports WAD because wherever we are in the world, we are bound by our spirit of compassion for all living beings. Many thanks to Friends House Bookshop and Friends House Restaurant for their support, to visitors to our stall, to others who took part in so many different countries, and to Naturewatch for the work they do for animals worldwide.
“Show a loving consideration for all creatures, and seek to maintain the beauty and variety of the world” (Quaker Faith and Practice 1.02:42)