March, 2008

While the war in Iraq and the economy dominate US politics, animal welfare tops the political agenda in Costa Rica.

On March 5, a public celebration of animals took place in Plaza de la Cultura, the main square of San José that almost one million people pass through daily. Animal welfare groups, celebrities, college students, government officials, and school children joined in the event which included concerts, speeches, plays and information booths.

The President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias Sánchez, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, recently became the one millionth person to sign the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW), an initiative led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) to gain recognition and protection for animals worldwide. President Arias' support for the UDAW is part of the government's “Peace with Nature” initiative which focuses on protecting the environment and natural resources.  

President Arias views animal welfare as a matter of global importance: “A huge challenge stands in front of us: building without destroying. We must develop a society where the construction of housing would not destroy the habitat; where industry and commerce would not mean pollution; where human life would not lead to death of plants and animals.  Because we need both development and ecological balance with respect to animals and all forms of life.”  

During the celebration, the National Vice-President, Mrs. Laura Chinchilla, the Minister of Environment, Roberto Dobles, and the Minister of Education, Leonardo Garnier, signed the UDAW petition, and collected signatures from the audience.  

More than 227,000 Americans have signed the UDAW petition, joining people from nearly every country in the world. According to the World Society for the Protection of Animals, the goal is 5 million signatures by the end of 2009 and adoption of UDAW at the United Nations in 2010.  To add your signature, visit:  http://www.animalsmatterusa.org/