Faiths Working Together for Animals
On 27th and 30th August 2014, AIA Patron Dr Richard D. Ryder debated on Radio 4’s Agree to Differ programme with vivisectionist Dr Tipu Aziz about the ethics of vivisection. What was surprising was the extent to which they agreed to agree!
The full debate can be heard on the BBC iPlayer at:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04fc70m
Each year, the Young Indian Vegetarians present the Mahaveer Award to a person or group who has done something outstanding for animals. On 23 March 2014, they presented the Mahaveer Award to SPEAK for ten long years of campaigning for animals abused at Oxford University and to stop the cruel practice of vivisection. Nitin Mehta said to them, ‘Generations to come will remember your compassion to end cruelty inflicted on thousands of animals’.
He also said, ‘A day will soon come when this evil practice will end and, at that time, it is the compassion and commitment of SPEAK supporters that will be remembered with pride.’
‘Unless we live with non-violence and reverence for all living beings in our heart, all our humaneness and acts of goodness, all our vows, virtues and knowledge, all our practices to give up greed and acquisitiveness are meaningless and useless’
Mahavira
CATHOLIC CONCERN FOR ANIMALS ECUMENCIAL RETREAT, NODDFA – 12-15 MAY 2014
BY FIONA ROSEN
(First published in The Ark edition 228 and reprinted here with kind permission.)
HAVING NOT ATTENDED the annual CCA retreat for a couple of years, I was looking forward to my trip to the Noddfa retreat house in Penmaenmaur, North Wales. I was told I would have to tell the guard that I wanted the train to stop at Penmaenmaur station as it was a ‘request stop’. I realised then that this would be a trip full of new and interesting experiences!
A Place of Welcome and Peace
Very relieved that the train had actually stopped (I was not, in fact, the only passenger alighting), I was met at the station by Sister Patrice and driven up the hill to Noddfa. The retreat centre is in a beautiful spot surrounded by mountains and with views of the sea. The word ‘Noddfa’ means haven or refuge, a place of welcome and peace, and as soon as you enter the driveway the peace enfolds you. The grounds are beautiful and extensive with wooded glades and paths, and you can experience one of the two Labyrinths and the Cosmic Walk. Apart from the beauty of the village down the hill and the surrounding countryside, you could happily spend all your time just sitting in the peace and stillness of the grounds.
One Big, Happy Family
But we were not just there for peace and stillness. There was noise and excitement as people began to arrive and greet one another on Monday afternoon. After a delicious supper served by the Sisters (and the rest of the meals were to be just as good) we had a good introductory session where we all said something about ourselves and one principal concern for animal welfare which we wished to bring forward.
Although I had not seen some people for a while, and there were others I had not met before, we were soon all one big, happy family again, united in our passion for animals and looking forward to an inspiring time ahead. We finished with Night Prayers in the chapel, a lovely place where we would be spending plenty of time over the next few days.
Prayers and Talks
Tuesday began with Morning Prayers and a spot of gentle exercise to get us ready for the day, saying the Lord’s Prayer with arm actions! Our first talk was given by a good friend of CCA, Rev. Dr Martin Henig, on The Naturalist at prayer: a reflection on Christian love and our relations with the Natural World. Rev. Dr Julie Hopkins then took us on a journey with Holy hermits and their creature companions, which continued on in the afternoon session. I am sure I am not the only one who now feels inspired to visit the islands and hermitages where these gentle saints and mystics lived. After supper, Martin Henig spoke on Fleas, flies, mosquitoes and locusts – God’s creatures too! and the discussion afterwards even sang the praises of head lice… a thought provoking talk indeed!
Strategic Planning
After a Eucharistic Service led by Martin in the Chapel on Wednesday morning, our new General Secretary, Chris Fegan, led us in discussions on our future with ‘Animal welfare and a religious perspective’ and ‘CCA in the modern world’. We all went forth feeling inspired and challenged and confident that, under Chris’s direction and leadership, we will continue to make a difference in both the human and animal worlds…. which is all one world, anyway.
We were joined in the afternoon by Rev. Helen Hall, the Chair of ASWA (Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals), who spoke on Animals and Christian law. Another inspiring talk, but I was left feeling even more worried and, I suppose, infuriated by the way in which perpetrators of animal cruelty can slip through the net in civil law and offend again and again.
An Evening of Music
To lighten the mood, we all enjoyed evening prayers and a musical interlude provided by Deborah, Wanda and Judy, then it was a chance to let our hair down with poetry, music, song and dance, and suitable refreshment was provided to help us on our way.
The final morning – gosh, was it that time already? – and Morning Prayer with Martin, then we gathered to watch a DVD on Honouring God’s Creation before our plenary session, feeding back our thoughts and comments on the past few days and our hopes and challenges for the future.
The Fight for Justice and Freedom from Suffering
A really inspiring and joyful few days but, as always, not without pain, as we considered the pain and suffering of God’s creatures which surround us in so many ways, sharing events and experiences. The peace and beauty of Noddfa contrasting sharply to the anger and agony which was roused in us, but that is how it must be. We cannot just sit in the peace and beauty but, equally, we must not let ourselves be defeated by the pain. We must appreciate and enjoy and rejoice in God’s creation and continue to fight for justice and freedom from suffering for all its members, whether they be fluffy, cuddly and easy to love or not!
Thank You to All!
On a personal note, I would like to express my thanks to all who worked so hard to organise such a wonderful retreat, where we could all come together, irrespective of our denominational backgrounds, and gain strength and inspiration from one another. And a special thank you to the Sisters who run Noddfa and maintain such a holy and peaceful haven, truly a special place. Thank you, also, to the event organiser, CCA trustee, Irene Casey.
The details and venue of next year’s CCA ecumenical retreat will be announced in due course, but I do urge everyone, especially if you have not attended before or do not see yourself as a ‘retreat’ sort of person… do go… I can promise that you will be inspired, refreshed, challenged, roused, and perhaps angered and upset at times … but don’t just wait to read the report of how good it was … be there!
The Animal Interfaith Alliance (AIA) held its inaugural meeting on 7th January 2014 at Golders Green Unitarian Church, where Rev. Feargus O’Connor has been holding Interfaith Celebrations for Animals on World Animal day over ten years. After the 2013 event a group of people from different faiths, who shared a common interest in the better treatment of animals, decided to form the AIA. We are delighted to be able to report that Satish Kumar warmly accepted the board’s invitation to be its President. Dr Deborah Jones, CCA trustee and former editor of The Ark, is a vice president and patrons include Ajit and Charanjit Singh (Sikhs), Muhammad Safa (Muslim), Anant Shah (Jain), and Dr Richard Ryder (Ethicist).
The AIA is registered with Companies House as a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee. Rev. Feargus O’Connor is the Chair and Barbara Gardner is the Managing Director. The other board members include Sarah Dunning from ASWA; Chris Fegan, General Secretary of CCA; Andre Menache, a patron of QCA and Rev. Prof. Martin Henig, Anglican Minister. We believe that, as the united voice of the people from all faiths who care about animals, we will be stronger together and better able to make a difference.
The Inaugural Meeting of the Animal Interfaith Alliance, held on 7th January 2014 at the Unitarian Church in Golders Green
From left to right – Nitin Mehta (Jain, founder of the Young Indian Vegetarians & Patron of Quaker Concern for Animals (QCA)), Feargus O’Connor (Minister at Golders Green Unitarian Church & Secretary of the World Congress of Faiths), Sarah Dunning (Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals (ASWA)), Andre Menache (Patron of QCA), Judith Wilkins (QCA), Marian Hussenbux (QCA), Lara Smallman (Director of the Jewish Vegetarin Society), Cordelia Grimwood (Buddhist, Amida Trust), Anant Shah (Jain), Chris Fegan (CCA), Dr Richard Ryder (Ethicist and RSPCA trustee), Bharti Taylor (President of the Hindu Forum for Europe & member of the European Council of Religions Leaders). Photo by Barbara Gardner.
Vision, Mission & Objectives
Vision
A peaceful world where people of all faiths, and all those who believe in a compassionate world, work together to treat all animals with respect and compassion.
Mission
To create a united voice for animals from all of the world’s faiths and spiritual beliefs, based on their founders’ teachings, to lead the world in the humane treatment of animals.
Objectives
Animal Interfaith Alliance