10/01/12 Animal Friends Days 2012
Again this year Animal Friends hosts events on important days related to the protection and rights of animals
- Activities for World Vegetarian Day, World Farm Animal Day and World Animal Day
Monday, October 1 – World Vegetarian Day
On October 1, 2012 – World Vegetarian Day – members of Animal Friends will be at Trg bana Jelacica in Zagreb providing information to citizens about the advantages of a vegetarian diet. They will hand out recipes of delicious veggie dishes and will organize a signing of a petition for introduction of vegetarian meals in public institutions. At 12 noon there will be a special attraction – a ten meter long hot dog will be made and available for citizens to taste.
Tuesday, October 2 – World Farm Animal Day
Every year, the nonprofit organization Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) celebrates World Farm Animal Day on the birthday of vegetarian Mahatma Gandhi to draw attention to the suffering of billions of cows, pigs, chickens and other sentient beings that are killed annually on farms and in slaughterhouses all over the world. On this day Animal Friends aims to make the suffering and oppression of these animals visible. At 7 in the evening at a stall on Trg kralja Tomislava, Animal Friends will be showing a short video called "10 Billion Lives." It can also be viewed online at www.youtube.com/afcroatia.
Thursday, October 4 – World Animal Day
World Animal Day has been celebrated since 1931. October 4th was chosen for this celebration as it is the Day of Saint Francis of Assisi, who was a vegetarian.This year World Animal Day is celebrated in over 70 countries worldwide.
On October 4 from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M., on Trg bana Jelacica in Zagreb, associations from various parts of Croatia will present their animal protection work to citizens for World Animal Day. At information stalls, citizens will be able to pick up the "White List", a list of companies that do not test on animals and other leaflets and materials as well as sign petitions and get informed about how they can help animals.
Animal Friends, Voice of Animals, and the Shelter for Abandoned Animals in Dumovec will all be available to provide information to citizens. At their info stalls, everyone will be able to get their own "White List" and other informative flyers and materials as well as free magazines. Attendees can also sign petitions, adopt dogs, and get informed on all aspects of animal protection.
Animal Friends will also present the online edition of Animal Brothers: Reflections on an Ethical Way of Life by Edgar Kupfer-Koberwitz, who after the distress he suffered at the Dachau concentration camp testified about the inhumane relationship of man to our brothers animals in his essayistic writings. The book can also be read on www.braca-zivotinje.com.
On the same day on Zagreb's main square, Animal Friends will hold a performance to show the public what changes they want to be make to the exhisting Animal Protection Act.
The World Animal Day Ambassador of Croatia, Marta Susak, urges people to mark this day with their own commitment to the abolishment of animal exploitation and suffering: "I send everyone the appeal to actively stand for the animals by adopting abandoned animals, reporting animal abuse and neglect, signing petitions, volunteering for animal rights and protection groups, using products that are not tested on animals, wearing clothes made of non-animal materials, not visiting zoos and circuses with animal acts, to go vegetarian, or even better vegan… and in this way directly contribute to creating a better world for all animal species."
On Saurday, October 6, from10 A.M. to 7 P.M. Animal Friends will also mark World Animal Day along with other associations on the lake Bundek in Zagreb; this event is organized by the City Office for Agriculture and Forestry.