Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy
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Motivated science: What humans gain from denying animal sentience
No full textResistance to the idea that non-human animals are sentient resembles erstwhile resistance to the theory that the earth is not the centre of the universe, or that humans evolved from “apes”. All these notions are psychologically threatening. They can remind people of their own creatureliness and mortality and might make them feel guilty or uncertain about their way of life. An honest debate over animal sentience, welfare and rights should consider the human motivation to deprive animals of these things in the first place. I briefly review empirical evidence on the psychological function of denying animal minds
Do you Suffer From Pet-Related Separation Anxiety
No full texthttps://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/sc_herzog_compiss/ Separation anxiety has been extensively studied in pets, but few studies have examined separation anxiety in their owners. Nearly half of pet owners report that they can become anxious when they are away from their companion animals. Two studies shed light on this important but neglected aspect of the human-animal bond
Operationalising One Health-One Welfare
No full textThe World Health Organisation (WHO) describes One Health as an approach to designing and implementing programmes, policies, legislation and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes. WHO considers the ‘One Health’ approach to be “critical to addressing health threats in the animal, human and environment interface”
The WellBeing Nexus
No full textProgress following the Passage of the 2022 Animal Welfare, Environment and Sustainable Development Resolution at the UN Environment Assembly
In March of this year (2022), the UN Environment Assembly passed a Resolution (EA.5/Res.1) that requested the Executive Director of the UN Environment Program (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya, to produce a report on the Nexus (or links) between animal welfare, the environment, and sustainable development. The passage of the Resolution is a landmark event because, in WellBeing International’s opinion, it emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to global health that addresses the well-being of people, animals, and the environment. The opening text of the Resolution (quoted in full below) emphasizes such interdependence
Pros and cons of a framework for evaluating potential pain in decapods
No full textThe rigorous framework for research into potential pain in decapods was successful in allowing legislators in the United Kingdom to evaluate a complex scientific issue. However, it might produce problems for research. I discuss doubts about the usefulness of the eight criteria. Some have yet to receive any investigation and others do not allow much inference about pain. In addition, some existing studies are not covered in the framework. Most worrying, however, is the potential for stifling future research of novel areas that are excluded from the framework
IPBES 2019. Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services - Full Document
No full texthttps://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/boocov/1025/thumbnail.jp
Why the recognition of sentience is so important for animal welfare
No full textRowan et al. (2022) provide a useful summary of the history and development of the philosophical, public, and legal recognition of animal sentience and its importance in improving the welfare of animals. Here I argue for the incorporation of the precautionary principle in sentience recognition, and the wider significance of sentience recognition to the current climate, biodiversity and human health crises
Recent Surge in Monkeypox in Non-Endemic Countries: Concern for Public Health?
No full textAs the world learns to live with the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, another zoonosis caused by a monkeypox virus (a cousin of smallpox) is appearing in America, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Australia, having spread from its traditional “habitat” in Central and West Africa. Since May of this year, more than 4,000 monkeypox cases have been recorded in more than 40 countries (includingAustralia, Western Europe, and North America) where the disease is not usually found. Nonetheless, theWorld Health Organization (WHO) has decided that this latest monkeypox outbreak does not warrant the status of a PHEIC event (a Public Health Emergency of International Concern[i])
United Nations - Convention on Biological Diversity and COP15
No full textWith wildlife and biodiversity in an unprecedented crisis, pressure weighs heavily on the UN‘s Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a multilateral environmental treaty that went into effect in 1993.
In December 2022, the CBD’s fifteenth Conference of Parties (COP15) will convene in Montreal to adopt an updated post-2020 Global BiodiversityFramework (GBF). This Framework replaces the 2011-2020 strategic plan including the Aichi five goals and twenty targets. These targets have not been met and now need to be updated.
Planning for this update on a new Global Biodiversity Framework at COP15 began in 2016. COP15 was initially scheduled to be held in Kunming, China, in October 2020. However, it has been repeatedly delayed because of the pandemic. A virtual first phase of COP15 was held from October 11-15, 2021. The in-person COP15 that should adopt the new GBF is scheduled for Montreal (where the CBD secretariat is located) from December 7-19, 202
Doughnut Economics - Incorporating Animal Welfare
No full textDoughnut Economics is a ground-breaking system developed to change an outdated development paradigm based on endless economic growth, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), replacing this by a new paradigm that is fit for the 21st century context and challenges, and which meets the needs of all people within the means of the living planet.
Doughnut Economics provides an excellent model for charting our post-COVID-19 economics future. We have only one cause for concern. Among its 21 planetary boundaries and societal objectives there is currently no room for animal well-being. COVID-19 has taught us that ignoring how we treat animals is dangerous (as well as unethical). Accordingly, we make the case for the addition of animal welfare/animal issues to Doughnut Economics, as set out in our paper