International animal day is celebrated around the world on October 4. Various reasons related to animal rights and their welfare etc. are reviewed on this day. October 4 has been selected in honor of St. Francis of Assisi - who was an animal lover and patron saint for animals. International Animal Day creates an opportunity to include the public in a discussion on this occasion and creates awareness on various issues such as cruelty towards animals, animal rights violations, etc. Animal rights organizations, individuals and community groups have organized various programs on this day on this day. We share Earth Planets with animals and it is necessary that they also get fundamental rights like us.
International Animal Day will be celebrated on Thursday, October 4, 2018.
History of International Animal Day
It is believed that World Animal Day was celebrated for the first time by a German author Henrik Jimman. Despite the initial idea to celebrate it on October 4, which is the feast day of St. Francis, it was celebrated in Berlin due to the challenges of the venue on 24 March 1925. About 5,000 people took part in this event. After 4th October it is celebrated as International Animal Day for years. Initially, this movement was celebrated in Germany and gradually it gained popularity in neighboring countries such as Switzerland, Austria and Czechoslovakia (present-day Czech Republic and Slovakia).
The International Animal Conservation Conference, organized in Florence, Italy in 1931, adopted and approved a proposal to celebrate the International Animal Day on October 4. International animal day has received global acceptance in many years and many events related to it are now being organized as a result of coordinated efforts and in the form of voluntary interests of the people for the purpose of increasing sensitization towards animal conservation on this earth. Since 2003, the UK-based veterinary charity organization Natwarwache Foundation is a pioneer and sponsored organization for international animal day organization around the world.
Why International Animal Day (World Animal Day) is celebrated
International animal day is celebrated to create awareness about animals:
- To improve the condition of animals and to improve their welfare standards.
- Identify the animals as a sensitive animal and respect their feelings.
The objective of all programs, celebrations, awareness campaigns and dissemination is to achieve these two goals.
In social movements, people are united to achieve a goal, especially to spread awareness and to make changes in people's attitude. Human and animal influence on each other before human civilization. The only ecosystem of change in human life, which we are part of, has a direct effect on the life of animals. As time passed by human civilization, the result of which has resulted in harmful effects on the lives of many animal species. The development of human thoughts has also contributed to the understanding that animals are also sensitive animals and their welfare is of paramount importance.
The International Animal Day recognizes that each animal is a unique sensory creature and therefore it is also eligible for social justice. This fact forms the basis for animal conservation. This concept is important because the protection activities based on it is not limited to endangered species but it is for all animals on the planet which can be in abundance but each one of them gets the right to a better life. Various human actions have lasting effect on animal life so it is important that we have the responsibility of working actively to improve the life of animals in the form of humans. International animal day focuses on spreading awareness in order to create a sense of compassion towards animals and thus to work for making a law so that all living things in the world can be a better place.
The objective of International Animal Day and it has been able to create a global identity due to animal rights to a large extent which has helped in providing support and recognition for various causes and groups, which are engaged in grassroots level for this purpose. This global brand for International Animal Day not only helps in acquiring knowledge through brand marketing and coverage in the media, but also receives support for activities through depositing money. Attempts to attract the attention of local and mainstream media have been successful, which brought the matter to the mainstream. It helps in spreading effort and promotional message more widely for larger audiences.
Its aim is to connect with all animal rights advocates around the world and they have to be involved in this major initiative. It helps in the ability of these various workers and groups to take advantage of one stage which works to improve the status of animals globally.
How International Animal Day (World Animal Day) is celebrated
Various programs are organized on International Animal Day to broadcast messages of animal interest. Organized by individual animal workers, animal welfare organizations, animal lover etc., organized under the big banner of International Animal Day. The types of programs that are held in different places are different. The aim of the celebration is to create an environment that is beyond any nationality, lineage or culture and focuses on caring for animal rights.
The programs to be organized on International Animal Day:
- Events of Education and Awareness Campaign
- To discuss and understand the related issues of workshops, different animals.
- Different fundraising events including concert, shows etc.
- Awareness is being spread among young children by organizing programs in schools.
- Inauguration of animal shelters.
- The program focused on the adoption of cattle
- Various workshops and programs and various people including adults, pet owners, working animal owners etc.
- Immunization for rabies prevention drives
- Special program in veterinary system including health checkup
- Interviews and special shows on radio, television, podcast etc to reach a larger audience with the message.
- Discussions are being focused on community welfare in community gatherings.
- As well as creating awareness, protests, rallies etc. to fight for the necessary legislation of animal rights.
Many programs organized in different parts of the world have increased over time. People from different countries are organizing these programs under the International Animal Day Unit. The new countries from which these programs are being reported are also seeing a steady increase. The website of International Animal Day provides an update of events happening around the world. The success stories of each developments and the impact on their community are reported to everyone on the website. It has also helped in encouraging people towards animal rights from different parts of the world to integrate with this mission.
The reach of International Animal Day Celebration has seen a phenomenal increase in the last decade. In 2003, there were 44 programs organized in 13 countries, which have now reached more than 1000 programs to be held in 100 countries. It helped to unite efforts in various platforms, which would expand the reach of the message. The International Animal Day campaign has offered to encourage the workers of other countries to continue their efforts in order to achieve success in different countries.
India: India is traditionally a culture that has inspired the ethical treatment of animals. Increased awareness through several forums has helped organize events organized by different animal welfare organizations across the country.
- Animal welfare organizations like Blue Cross are celebrating International Animal Day since 2009. There are several programs that they organize which help in spreading awareness about the prevention of animal cruelty.
- National media and regional media took note of this incident through print and television channels through their communication channels and ran articles and special shows. The re-combination of radio as a means of entertainment has also helped spread awareness about World Animal Day.
- Schools are the main centers where international animal day programs are being organized. These programs have helped to deliver the message effectively to young children.
Colombia: International Animal Day is being organized in Colombia since 2008. Thousands of enthusiastic volunteers of the world have come to the streets in various cities of Colombia to express their solidarity for the purpose of international animal day. These rallies and programs, which are organized every year, have been able to attract the attention of the Colombian government and they have been raised by listening to animal workers as well.
The resolution of the municipal corporation in Colombia was completed due to the efforts of an organization named Anima Natichilus Columbia, for which every year the International Pet Day commemorates the requirement of Environment and Civil Culture Secretariat. It has helped create awareness among citizens about ethical treatment of animal rights and animals. The intentions of understanding the concerns have been expressed.
Lebanon: The International Animal Day Festival has brought a cultural change every year in the Middle Eastern country of Lebanon. It has been able to create an atmosphere of love towards animals. Animal lovers in Lebanon have conducted various things which not only claim their love for animals, but also help in creating public awareness about various animal based issues.
While thanking the efforts of the Animal Rights and Welfare Organization in Lebanon, the Government of Lebanon has passed a resolution, according to which every year International Animal Day Celebrations will be organized by the State Administration.
Sudan: Sudan is celebrating International Animal Day every year with other African countries. The internal platform that has been created has begun many animal welfare related projects and they have success with constant help. The masses are exposed to the concerns related to animal rights on a large scale and their sense of care and anxiety is expressed. The effect that international animal day has left is an important achievement.
The efforts of Sudan's animal welfare organizations have helped in enacting legislation enacted in Parliament in relation to animal conservation. The possibility of this happening is primarily responsible for the awareness created through events and campaigns of World Animal Day.
Egypt: Organization SPARE (Society for Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt) has been at the forefront of international animal day celebrations in Egypt. The primary concern of the use of animals for education and research is that animal workers are campaigning on the basis of animals' ethical treatment around the world. Awareness created by the events of International Animal Day has helped create the organization SPARE, where the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of Cairo University has discussed options to be used for medical research rather than animals. It is a great achievement in this context that animals are always used for testing and an attempt to find alternatives can help a lot of animals save the cruelty of medical research.
Another success of SPARE organization in Egypt is to add to the section of animal rights in the new changes of the Egyptian constitution. Events and publications of International Animal Day were successfully used to support these changes.
Nepal: The Department of Livestock Services in the Himalayan country Nepal participates in the International Animal Day Festival. Direct participation of the government has also helped Nepal to spread awareness of endangered species and issues related to animals' ethical behavior. Apart from this, the public has enabled people and communities to work in a sensational way about those needs which are related to animals and how they can take steps to make their life comfortable. International animal day acts as a milestone in order to achieve progress and analyzes the changes being made and celebrated with great enthusiasm in the country.
Some Suggestions to Celebrate International Animal Day (World Animal Day) in India
There is a great possibility to spread awareness about International Animal Day celebrations in India. There are many organizations that organize their individual campaigns and celebrations on various occasions like International Environment Day or Wildlife Day etc. But international animal day needs to get more traction in the country. Some things can be applied to spread awareness of International Animal Day in India:
- All animal welfare organizations such as Blue Cross, PWS, Help Animal India etc need to practice it every year to celebrate International Animal Day.
- Awareness campaigns and workshops can also be organized in schools to help develop compassion for children and can help in understanding the rights of animals, their ethical treatment etc. These workshops may include different activities like quizzes and dramas.
- The program of pet adoption can be organized on International Animal Day. This will help in reducing commercial pet trade which is a major concern regarding the ethical treatment of animals.
- Media needs to take active measures to publish articles and to conduct programs related to animal welfare. Print media will help effectively send an interview message with animal experts and on television or radio on the day of the celebration or onwards.
- Social media needs to be effectively used to run various campaigns which create awareness about International Animal Day and emphasize its purpose.
Conclusion
International animal day has been largely successful in generating awareness on the issues of cruelty on animals, ethical rights of animals, recognition of animals as sensitive creatures. It has now been transformed into a globally recognized brand, which has created a platform for many animals. The purpose of welfare workers and organizations is not only to promote various issues related to animals for a large group of people but also to spread it more effectively. About International Animal Day, coverage in various media has helped raise the issue of animals, which rarely has been noticed, but it is a part of the main news. Another important achievement of International Day of Animal Day is the cognizance taken by various governments and law-making bodies of different countries regarding animal rights and various other issues related to their ethical treatment. Law enactments that have been implemented and various organizations which have been able to align with the government have been affected by the awareness created by International Animal Day.
This platform, which provide animal rights, should be leveraged to stay in the law and actively encourages governments to organize festivals.
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