LAUNCH OF ANIMAL RIGHTS AFRICA (ARA)

At 10:30AM we will be officially launching ARA. In an unprecedented and historic move, three of the most effective animal protection organisations in South Africa: Justice for Animals, Xwe African Wild Life and South Africans for the Abolition of Vivisection have joined forces to form Animal Rights Africa. ARA is the only organisation of its kind on the African continent, ushering in a brand new era of strengthened activism for animals.

ARA is committed to the promotion of inclusive justice, showing compassion across species and building a better future through campaigns, research and analysis. ARA is self-consciously located in a post-TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) South Africa of renewal and reconciliation, where our experience of prejudice, discrimination and violence enables us to empathise with the suffering of other species.

Introduction by ARA co-founder and trustee Steve Smit

What an awesome feeling to be standing here announcing the formal launch of Animal Rights Africa. What started as a tentative suggestion during a discussion that Michele and I had nearly three years ago whilst she was interviewing me for her book, “Animal Rights in South Africa”, grew in feasibility until we finally amalgamated what, at the time were South Africa’s three most prominent and active animal rights organizations, namely, South Africans for the Abolition of Vivisection (SAAV), Xwe African Wildlife Research and Investigation (Xwe), and Justice for Animals (JA).

But why did we do this?

Every organization is established for a reason, or reasons, that make sense to it’s founders. When JA’s predecessor, FALCON, was established in 1985, there was no formal animal rights movement in South Africa. FALCON was formed to give voice and presence to animal rights in this country. When Michele, Beatrice, Alan and others formed SAAV in the late 1980’s, it was felt that SA needed a dedicated, abolitionist anti-vivisection organization. It certainly did and SAAV fulfilled this role admirably. And when Xwe African Wildlife Research and Investigation was formed for the very reasons its name implies, it was because such an organization was desperately needed.

What had become very obvious to Michele and I was that our common interests and purpose far outweighed any differences we had. In fact we had already been campaigning side by side on a number of issues and when we asked each other why we should not join forces and become one voice, one force for animal rights, we could think of no good reason for not doing so. Enthusiastically we took the proposal back to our respective constituencies and, not surprisingly, there was unanimous support for the idea. The idea of campaigning as a single, powerful, uncompromising force against vivisection, resumption of elephant culling and the ivory trade, the trophy hunting industry, the food animal industry and the exploitation and abuse of animals for profit and entertainment by zoos, circuses, etc, was very exciting. There is strength in unity! Wheels were put in motion and now the idea has become reality. ARA is being publicly launched today as a legally constituted, registered Trust, with an active, committed board of trustees, and an already substantial membership that is growing daily. Each of the three organizations that melted together to form ARA, has brought unique strengths to the organization - and the animal rights movement in South Africa has taken on an imposing presence.

We have only to look at the pivotal role that ARA has to date played in the process of establishing a new elephant management plan for SA, our unrelenting commitment to having culling banished as an optional tool for managing elephants in South Africa, to see what the benefits of a united animal rights movement can be. In saying this we do not imply that there is place for only on animal rights organisation in SA. What we are saying is that our movement has grown in both scope and potential since the first animal rights campaigns and projects were initiated in the mid 1980’s, and the formation of ARA was simply the next phase in the growth of an insuppressible movement for social change that will see animals accepted into the moral and legal community which in its current elitist form sees animals as mere property and denies their inherent value.

Also, as its name implies, ARA has an African identity and already we have been challenged in having to address animal rights issues as distant as Sudan, Egypt, and Cameroon, and on our doorstep in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique. This truly is a movement for all Africans for whom inclusive justice is a moral pursuit.

Friends, ARA has arrived and this country, this continent, will never again be a comfort zone for the abusers and exploiters of animals.

Thank you.