Animal rights activists gather to protest Yulin Dog Meat Festival
SANDHURST – The protesters hope to raise awareness about the festival which begins on 21 June.
A group of animal rights activists gathered in Sandhurst to protest the Yulin Dog Meat Festival and the slaughter of animals.
The protestors showed their signs protesting the festival outside of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, where the festival is hosted each year. The festival has drawn widespread criticism from around the world for its alleged animal rights violations.
Paula Plit, the organiser of the Save Movement Johannesburg, said their organisation seeks to bear witness to animals that are going to be slaughtered and raise awareness about the treatment of animals.
Plit added that they also document instances of animal rights abuses to create awareness. “Animals are sentient, they feel and they suffer and because they don’t have a voice we want to be their voice.”
The Yulin Dog Meat Festival has taken place over the past 10 years and takes place over 10 days starting from 21 June to celebrate the summer solstice. Plit said she hopes that their demonstration will raise awareness as well as highlight no animals should be killed for food.
“Most people will be up in arms about the suffering of these dogs but they are disconnected from the suffering of pigs and cows for example.”
Thanks to social media, Plit said that many more people are aware of animal rights abuses and she hopes that more people will be encouraged to adopt a vegan diet.
Leslie Giles, one of the other demonstrators, runs a non-profit organisation called Pigs ‘n Paws which takes in abused and abandoned pigs, as well as those that have been rescued from abattoirs. Giles said that she believes that many people underestimate how intelligent animals like pigs and cows are.
“Pigs have so much compassion and empathy its unbelievable. Dogs are beautiful and I’d never take anything away from those kinds of charities but other animals need to be noticed as well,” said Giles.
Details: The Save Movement Johannesburg savemovementjhb@gmail.com
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