AIA is delighted with Pope Francis’ New Encyclical, Laudato Si’

Encyclical Letter

Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ new Encyclical on the Environment, is warmly welcomed by the Animal Interfaith Alliance.  It represents a major paradigm shift in the Catholic Church’s attitude towards the Creation, nature and particularly to the other animals we share this planet with.  Pope Francis attacks man’s ‘despotic anthropocentrism’ and highlights the interrelatedness and interconnectedness of all life.  He has moved the Catholic Church away from the anthropocentric theology of St Thomas Aquinas, which views nature and other animals as being made solely for man’s use, and he reinstates the teachings of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals from whom he has taken his name, on the mystical unity man shares with nature.

The Compassionate Animal – Teachings on the compassionate treatment of animals from the world’s main faiths

The Compassionate Animal

Everyone is welcome to this talk by AIA director, Barbara Gardner, author of The Compassionate Animal, being hosted by the Cheltenham Interfaith Group on Thursday 25th June at 7.30pm at Friends Meeting House, Cheltenham.

http://www.cheltenhaminterfaith.org.uk

When we are searching for ways in which different faiths can work together in harmony with one another, it helps to start with a common ground that all faiths share.  Surprisingly, compassion for all living things is such a common ground.  Many people think that including animals in our moral circle is not a foundation of all religions, only being relevant for the eastern traditions of Jainism, Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism.  However, an analysis of the original teachings of all religions shows that there is much that teaches that animals should be included in our moral circle.  They all have The Golden Rule in common, ‘Treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself’, and those ‘others’ include all sentient, living beings.

Invitation to AIA’s Interfaith Celebration for Animals and AGM

You are invited to:

ANIMAL INTERFAITH ALLIANCE

NOTICE OF AGM

GOLDERS GREEEN UNITARIAN CHURCH

Sunday 12th July 2015

AIA Logo Green

3.00pm            Interfaith Celebration for Animals – All Welcome

Keynote speech – Animal Welfare in the Pope’s New Encyclical on the Environment by Dr Deborah Jones (Vice President of AIA and Vice Chair of Catholic Concern for Animals)

–

4.15pm            Tea and Snacks – All Welcome

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5.00pm            1st AGM opens – AIA Members Only

5.00pm            Introduction from the Chair, Rev. Feargus O’Connor

5.15pm            Secretary and Treasurer’s Report, Barbara Gardner

5.25pm            Approval of the Annual Report & Accounts

5.30pm            Close of AGM

Please advise whether you will be attending the AGM by contacting Barbara Gardner at Barbgard.aia@gmail.com.

Address: Golders Green Unitarian Church, 31 Hoop Lane, Golders Green, London, NW11 8BS. Accessible via the Northern Line – the nearest tube station is Golders Green.

Shambhu’s Exotic BBQ Delights

Exotic bbq delights

Award-winning vegan caterers, Shambhu’s, are running an exciting cookery class on Saturday 30th May in London. So hurry and grab your place now before it’s too late!
(Click on the links below to access detailed information about the classes, and to book your place online)

Sunday 30th May, 2pm to 4.30pm
Vegan cookery class for adults:
Exotic barbecue delights (London).

As we head into a glorious summer, Shambhu’s chef, Nishma Shah, will teach some exotic plant-based dishes particularly suitable for a barbecue, yet simple to prepare.

Advance booking required; class size limited to 12.  Further details: www.shambhus.co.uk/cookery

Talk on Animal Welfare, Human Health, Environment & Compassion – Sunday 31st May

Andre Menache

Young Jains have arranged  for Andre Menache, an exciting guest speaker from the Animal Interfaith Alliance (AIA) to talk about ‘The link between animal welfare, human health and saving the environment’ in Colindale, North London.

AIA’s vision is, ‘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.’

Born in Belgium, qualified vet Andre has been an active campaigner for the past 30 years, mainly in South Africa, Israel and the UK.  He has held various posts, including that of President of Doctors and Lawyers for Responsible Medicine (UK) and General Manager of the Federation of Animal Protection Societies in Israel. Today he provides scientific support to several grass roots organisations, in addition to his official position as Director of Antidote Europe, based in France.

Venue: Jain Centre, 6-8 Colindale Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4DR

Date & time: Sunday 31st May, 10.30 – 12.30pm

To register for this free event, please contact amit@youngjains.org.uk

AIA to stand up against Repeal of ‘The Hunting Act’ and Badger Culls

Fox Hunters

With the Conservatives returned as a majority government, Britain now faces the prospect of a vote in parliament to repeal The Hunting Act, which was included in the Conservative manifesto.

Although 80% of the public and 70% of Conservative supporters support The Hunting Act, there could now be a majority of MPs in Parliament who would vote for repeal.

AIA will be supporting Blue Fox in fighting against a repeal of the Act and also in fighting against further badger culls, which are cruel and unscientific.

Lorraine Platt, founder of Blue Fox and Blue Badger said: ‘We have the same amount of anti hunting Tory MPs as last time but we are deprived of many anti-hunt Labour and Libdem MPs who massively lost their seats.  It is paramount that everyone tells their MPs, especially Conservative MPs, to support the ban and say no to repeal.  This is vital as we must secure new Tory MPs to support the ban.  It would be very helpful if people could write to the new Tory and 8 elected Libdem MPs.  There is little time to waste as we suspect a free vote may be offered soon before we can engage support from the new MPs on this issue.  We also want MPs to oppose the roll out of the badger cull as it is unscientific and inhumane’.

In March of this year Green MP Caroline Lucas called for the law to be strengthened and extended to other cruel sports.

Please write to MPs to support the ban and oppose the badger cull roll out.  Many MPs judge the importance an issue by the size of their mailbox.

Maltese Spring Hunting Season Closed Early

LACS1News just in from Chris Fegan, AIA Political Education & Campaigns Director, about the Maltese Spring Hunt.

“I am delighted to tell you that the Maltese PM has today closed the Spring Hunting Season after a shot bird fell into a school playground.  The hunting season was nearly over but it shows clear political intent.

The Spring season is now closed a few days early, so many birds will live that would otherwise have died. Recent action by the Maltese Govt has shown strong political leadership by the Maltese PM following the Referendum result and, allied with the heavy sentences handed out by the courts in the last couple of weeks, has at least shown the hunters that they will be hit hard for illegal breaches of the Hunting season.

The big fight is now on to try and target the planned autumn hunting season and Catholic Concern for Animals and the Animal Interfaith Alliance will work with LACS to try andstop that from taking place.”

Emergency Animal Rescue – Nepal

Nepal Emergency Rescue

The earthquake’s devastation was instant and both humans and animals are suffering and need our help.  AIA is recommending that anyone wishing to help the animals of Nepal support IFAW’s or HSI’s Disaster Emergency Funds.  Teams from IFAW-WTI and HSI will work with local partners to feed and provide medical care for animals.  To help to support IFAW please click here …  To help support HSI please click here …