'No deal' on cruelty for coastal whales in Japan
As delegates at the 61st meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) prepare to be asked ‘deal or no deal?’ on Japanese coastal whaling, members of the Whalewatch network are presenting governments with a letter signed by almost 70,000 people from 63 countries calling for ‘no deal on cruelty.’ Read more >>Global Strength: WSPA celebrates over 1,000 Member Societies
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) today celebrated the growth of the world’s largest alliance of animal welfare organizations, with the addition of 19 new Member Societies bringing the organization to a total of 1,012 members. Read more >>
May 2009
WSPA: Swimming with dolpins causes unnecessary suffering
Every summer many families make trips to swim with dolphins at beachside resorts, but a recent report says many of these popular tourist attractions are filled with wild dolphins that suffered terrible trauma during capture and endure severe and persistent stress due to constant forced human interaction. The report, “Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity,” was co-published by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and The Humane Society of the United States. Read more >>
WSPA urges review of OIE mandate and urgent action against Egypt
Representatives from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) attending the 77th General Session of the International Committee being held in Paris from May 24 to 29, 2009 today called on members of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to review the organization’s mandate. Speaking at the Animal Welfare session this afternoon, WSPA suggests that the OIE be granted the power to act positively in response to incidents of severe cruelty towards animals, such as the recent cull of pigs in Egypt. Read more >>
Report Exposes Suffering at Whale and Dolphin Attractions
Every summer many families make trips to see dolphins and orcas perform spectacular feats in marine-themed amusement parks. Humane Society International/The Humane Society of the United States (HSI/HSUS) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) have issued the fourth edition of their in-depth report, “The Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity,” to educate tourists about the suffering that goes on behind the scenes. Read More>>
WSPA: Make The World Better for Animals While on Vacation
CompassionateTravel.org offers guidelines for the animal-friendly traveler and provides a list of volunteer vacation opportunities to help animals in need. The website also links to WSPA’s new blog, which includes inspiring travel stories and tips. Read more>>
March 2009
European Union support boosts campaign for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare
The campaign to achieve global recognition for animal welfare achieved a major breakthrough today as the European Union formally announced its support for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare. (Footnote 1) The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) applauds the Council for being the first regional forum to formally pledge its support for the Declaration. Read more >>
Animal welfare gains ground in U.N. sustainable development debate
United Nations Mission representatives and leaders from animal welfare organizations attended a special briefing at U.N. Headquarters to discuss how a global commitment to animal welfare can promote the United Nation’s sustainable development agenda and help achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. The event was co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Seychelles to the United Nations and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). Read more >>
World Society for the Protection of Animals appoints new Director General
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), the world’s largest alliance of animal welfare organizations, has announced Michael Baker as its new director general. Baker will join WSPA at its international headquarters in London this summer when Director General Major General Peter Davies retires. WSPA has 14 regional offices worldwide including one in Boston, Massachusetts. Read more >>
February 2009
Amid state's plea to buy local, groups take action against Hawaii's imposter pork
Misleading labels on pork products are causing Hawaii residents and tourists to unwittingly participate in inhumane practices against animals. In response, a coalition of animal protection groups has submitted a petition to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to investigate if “island produced” pork labels, when used on meat from imported animals, are in violation of the Hawaii Meat Inspection Act. Read more >>
November 2008
Eating our future
As Americans prepare to celebrate the annual harvest festival that is Thanksgiving, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) today released “Eating our Future: The environmental impact of industrial animal agriculture.” The report details how current agricultural practices in the U.S. and elsewhere contribute to the environmental, economic and social crises faced by developed and developing countries alike, and makes a call for shifting to humane and sustainable models of production. Read more >>
WSPA undertakes historic work in Cuba
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is the first animal welfare organization in history to conduct an animal welfare disaster relief operation in Cuba. The organization's extensive relief program, organized in response to Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Fay which all hit Cuba within weeks of each other in August and September, began as yet another powerful hurricane (Paloma) hit the storm-weary island last weekend. Cuban economists estimate the effect of the hurricanes has put the country's development back eighteen years. Read more >>
October 2008
The Body Shop helps animals by encouraging customers to make themselves beautiful
The Body Shop in the US and Canada has partnered with The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) to improve the lives of animals worldwide. They're asking the public to make themselves beautiful through a beautiful act - signing a petition in support of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare. Read more >>
September 2008
Boston joins worldwide protest of Japan's dolphin slaughter
Supporters of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), Massachusetts Animal Rights Coalition (MARC), and Cetacean Society International (CSI) join the 5th annual international protest to denounce Japan's dolphin slaughter during “Japan Dolphin Day”. The Boston demonstration will be held at noon in front of the Japanese Consulate at Federal Reserve Plaza, 600 Atlantic Avenue. Read more >>
July 2008
Survey helps consumers find and make animal-friendly food choices
To help consumers find and make more humane food choices at the supermarket, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) today released a survey ranking 23 US grocery store chains by the availability of humanely labeled food on their shelves. WSPA also launched a website that provides detailed survey results and explains and rates humane food labels according to their verifiable impact on animal welfare at www.EatHumane.org. Read more >>
March 2008
Jackie Chan kicks up awareness of animal suffering
A passionate advocate for animals, Jackie Chan has once again teamed up with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) to create awareness of a little-known example of appalling cruelty to animals - bear farming in Asia. Chan and WSPA have filmed a powerful 30-second PSA calling for an end to the cruel practice and showing the intense suffering and deplorable conditions bears on farms are forced to endure. Read more >>
Costa Rica makes animal welfare a presidential matter
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. Read more >>