Animals are living creatures, not gadgets, toys or accessories and no products or means to entertain people. Animals deserve proper protection. This starts with the recognition of their rights and respect for their own nature and needs. It defines the limits of the purposes for which animals may be used.
We want to move away from the automatic assumption that animals can be used for just any purpose. Entertainment, sports, advertising purposes and fashion are not good reasons to use, harm or kill animals.
The welfare of animals is in peril due to the manner in which they are bred, traded, held and slaughtered. Any abuse or neglect of animals by humans calls for immediate and strong action.
Last month’s local and regional elections in Germany resulted in a historic win for the German Partei Mensch Umwelt Tierschutz. Meanwhile it’s Portuguese sister party PAN – Pessoas-Animais-Natureza also achieved unprecedented growth. A clear sign that voters no longer accept the inaction and failing policies of the larger, established parties on the protection of animals, biodiversity and the envi...