The Asia for Animals podcast

Guests Ella Wong and Björn Olafsson discuss leveraging research for animal advocacy in Asia. Topics include empowering NGOs with insights, navigating research websites, fostering collaboration, strategic decision-making for NGOs, and advancing advocacy through research partnerships.

Announcement! We are happy to introduce the newest project of AfA Coalition, One Life. One Life aims to be a database of education resources which NGOs can use to promote concepts of animal sentience at the deepest level, to help new generations understand the ways in which animals share many cognitive and emotional abilities as well as needs with humans, and therefore, why they deserve our respect and protection. One Life resources, developed by AfA Coalition President Dave Neale, Global Animal Welfare Director for Animals Asia, have been delivered via Animals Asia's education programs in China and Vietnam with great success for some years now. Dave, a major instigator of the AfA Coalition, sees the clear opportunity to disseminate these resources via AfA, so they can be used by animal organizations in many more countries around Asia. Over the coming months, we will be working hard to make this a reality, so watch this space! In this exciting episode, we dig deep into the impetus and success of One Life and how Dave sees the project evolving, still under his stewardship as AfA President, and spreading throughout the Asia for Animals Network.

Puppy mills are large-scale commercial breeding facilities where dogs are bred in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Unfortunately, this serious issue is usually overlooked, and the public is often deceived with cute puppies presented in pet stores. For a year, PETA Asia has carried out various investigations in different countries across Asia to expose the cruelty behind this trending industry. In this new episode of "Cat & Dog Conversations", we caught up with their Campaign Coordinator, Abigail Forsyth, to learn more about this important work.

In the first installment of "All About Macaques", our AfA Macaque Coalition Lead Coordinator talks to Uddalak Tathagato Bindhani, who is currently working towards his PhD at the Wildlife Institute of India. Uddalak studies the ecology and behavior of rhesus macaques in human-dominated landscapes and gives us a great insight into what he’s observed and learned. Both where he works and across many of the regions where certain species of macaques live, the way people interact with them can sometimes be problematic, causing an array of issues for both humans and monkeys. Uddalak’s studies can shed light on some of the causes of and potential solutions to such interactions.

Meet Christine Dorchak, the founder and visionary behind GREY2K USA Worldwide. In this first episode in the series "Cat & Dog Conversations", we discuss how Greyhound racing, once a thriving industry, is now a dying sport. Christine and her organization are committed to ending the cruel greyhound industry with a strategic approach focusing on legislation, public awareness, and promoting adoption. She highlights that this issue is sadly present in many countries, including Vietnam, the UK, USA, and Australia. Christine also shares personal stories to inspire advocates to speak up for greyhounds.  

Focus on Farm Animals: Have you ever considered running an institutional outreach program to influence the youth in your country to try veganism? Well, that is exactly what the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) is doing. Back in October, we caught up with FIAPO’s Sarita Joshi at our conference in Kuching, Malaysia, to hear about her first-hand experience of delivering the institutional outreach program, which had already engaged over 2,000 university students within its first 18 months! Sarita talked to us about successes, pitfalls, and aspirations for how our movement can inspire young people towards more compassionate lifestyles. This was a great chat, and this episode will be especially for you if you are involved in running education programs for animals in your country or are thinking of doing so.

Jeff Zhou, CIWF's Chief China Representative, talks about farmed animal advocacy in China, including the outlook for the movement and why it is gaining momentum. He also discusses how listeners in China can get involved in advocacy and highlights the benefits of transitioning to alternative proteins and reducing meat consumption for the environment and animal welfare.

Although the Covid-19 pandemic may now feel like a distant memory for many of us, AfA core member Four Paws International has been tirelessly leading an effort to advocate for a historic global treaty on pandemic preparedness and prevention. Since most pandemics have been caused by zoonotic disease spillover between animals and humans, improving animal welfare will undoubtedly reduce future risks to both human and animal health. Join us in our enlightening new podcast episode to hear about the fascinating developments in the journey of advocating for the Pandemic Treaty. 

🎙️ Don't miss out on the latest Asia for Animals Coalition podcast featuring Ngoc Anh Nguyen, Asia for Animals' Policy Lead Coordinator, and Rainer Kravets, co-executive director of Animal Policy International. 🌍 Uncover Animal Policy International's strategies for responsible imports, fair support for local farmers, and the advancement of animal welfare in regions that need it most. 🐾 Get an inside look at their journey, the challenges they face, and the crucial support they need from networks like Asia for Animals. 🌱 Learn how they maintain fairness for farmers while upholding high animal welfare standards, and explore the global impact of organizations like WOAH and WTO. 🌟 Tune in now and stay connected with their mission at https://www.animalpolicyinternational.org/ 📲 Join the conversation! #AnimalWelfare #Trade #AnimalAdvocacy

Tune in to our latest podcast episode as we delve into the world of WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health)! Join us as we explore WOAH's history and dive into key highlights of its work in animal trade and welfare standards. Learn about WOAH's four core pillars driving its mission and gain insights into the significance of their animal welfare standards. Plus, in this episode, our speaker Dr. Kate Littin will discuss how these standards can support good animal welfare in the Asia Pacific region and their connection to the ambitious goal of "Rabies - Zero deaths by 2030." Don't miss this insightful conversation with Dr. Kate Littin, chair of WOAH's Regional Animal Welfare Strategy Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific as we learn more about WOAH's crucial role in animal welfare. 🌏🐾 #AnimalWelfare #TradeStandards #AsiaPacific