Kahama Animal Welfare Education Workshop Training

Humane Society International of United States of America and Tanzania Animals Protection Organization, will conduct 3 days workshop training which aims to train 40 kahama district primary school teachers and 5 journalists the Educational strategies to promote Donkey welfare Education in schools, Communities and media at Kahama District, Shinyanga Region, Western Tanzania from 21-23 August 2010

Topics
• Feeding your donkey - Kumlisha punda wako
• Preventing diseases in your donkey-Kuzuia magonjwa kwa punda wako
• Hoof care of your donkey-Kutunza kwato za punda wako
• Shelter your donkey-Makazi ya punda wako
• Training your donkey-Kumfunza punda wako
• Harnessing your donkey-Kumvisha lijamu punda wako
• Field Demonstration on Harnessing your Donkey
• Teaching humane education in schools


Although donkey are used in many countries, very few people ever receive training relating to donkey management and husbandry, donkey are seldom included in the syllabuses in schools, colleges or universities, few veterinarians, animal health assistant or agricultural extension workers have ever had training about donkey utilization. One reason for the lack of training and education relating to donkeys is the poor image of the donkey. In most of the world, donkeys are used by poor people with simple lifestyles, particularly in rural areas. They are not usually associated with education, advancement and urban development. The problem seems to be worsening and self –perpetuating, since national policies and educational curricula are determined by urban-based decision makers with little or no knowledge of donkeys.
In many countries there is no legislation to protect donkeys from being over-exploited. Even if there is the necessary legislation, this is seldom used by government official who have limited time, resources and motivation. Charitable animal-welfare organization tends to be based in urban areas, and concentrate their limited resources on treating the symptoms of exploitation. Prevention of mistreatment through education should be the aim of both government and charitable agencies. This will remain a huge task as long as donkeys are neglecting in national educational systems and suitable training materials are lacking.
Participants will have an opportunity to learn all issue facing Donkeys and discuss in details in way they will be able to delivered in schools, public and their communities, depending on environment and culture of Kahama District and Tanzania in general.

Empowering school teachers the knowledge of donkey welfare will result in increasing understanding the donkey welfare among schools children and applies direct to their animals. finally the mistreatment of Donkeys will diminished for some percentage
Humane education is the building block of a humane and ethically responsible society. When educators carry out this process using successfully tried and tested methods, what they do for learners is to: -

Help them to develop a personal understanding of ‘who they are’ – recognizing their own special skills, talents, abilities and fostering in them a sense of self-worth.

Help them to develop a deep feeling for animals, the environment and other people, based on empathy, understanding and respect.

Help them to develop their own personal beliefs and values, based on wisdom, justice, and compassion.

Foster a sense of responsibility that makes them want to affirm and to act upon their personal beliefs.

In essence, it sets learners upon a valuable life path, based on firm moral values.
With both parents away at work, the responsibility to raise learners into worthy citizens is falling more and more onto the already-burdened shoulders of our educators. The development of ethics and values in society is something we dare not ignore.
There is increasing crime and violence in society. We cannot solve violence with high fences and razor wire – and armed guards in our schools. These are just ‘sticking plaster’ remedies that provide no lasting solution. Humane education provides a proactive solution to curb this trend towards increased violence where it begins – in schools. It does this through a multi-pronged approach which is designed to develop learners into caring and responsible adults who understand the difference between right and wrong and shun violence and criminality. This is the only way to break this spiralling cycle of violence.

PETITION ON PLANS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TO CONSTRUCT A HIGHWAY THROUGH THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

23rd July 2010

Amb. Juma Mwapachu

Secretary General

The East African Community (EAC)

P.O. Box 1096

Arusha, Tanzania



Dear Sir,

PETITION ON PLANS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TO CONSTRUCT A HIGHWAY THROUGH THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

We, the undersigned are international conservation and animal welfare organizations, civil society institutions and community conservation groups that have the common goal of promoting conservation of wildlife using the principles of intergenerational and intra generational equity. Wildlife offers a range of benefits for local, national and regional economic development, improved livelihoods and provision of environmental goods and services such as watershed protection and carbon sequestration.

We are writing to bring your attention to the subject of a Highway Construction project through the Serengeti National Park. We are informed and deeply concerned that the Government of the Republic of Tanzania has approved plans to construct this two lane highway linking two key towns of Arusha near Mount Kilimanjaro and Musoma on Lake Victoria. We have keenly followed this issue from the onset especially that the proposed two lane highway is planned to cut through the Serengeti National Park.



Economically, the highway construction may be important to Tanzania and it will enhance human mobility. Currently traders and travelers loop more than 260 miles to the south to skirt the 5,700 sq mile Serengeti National Park. However, the opportunity cost to wildlife and to the regional tourism sector will be disastrous.



As you are well aware, the Serengeti National Park and the Masai Mara National Reserve are part of one ecosystem straddling both Kenya and Tanzania. For years, wild animals have moved freely in this natural habitat with the natural spectacular annual wildebeest migration being a notable feature of the larger Serengeti- Masai Mara ecosystem. This 7th wonder of the world has immensely benefited both countries through tourism revenues.



While Tanzanian Government officials have been quoted stating that the project will not interfere with the wildebeest migration based on a feasibility study that has been undertaken, other reputable international conservation experts such as the Frankfurt Zoological Society have warned that the development would have huge negative implications not only to the migration but to the entire Serengeti – Masai Mara ecosystem.



Meanwhile, we humbly request you to put aside this divergent ‘expert opinion’ and refer you to basic facts which as conservationists, we are convinced we should be cautious of. The high speed traffic will be a death trap to all wild animals and poachers will also gain easy access to the Park posing grave danger to the already threatened species in this ecosystem. Heavy construction traffic, pollution, work gangs and noise will greatly affect wildlife in their natural habitat during and after construction. In addition, the road will also allow invasive plants to spread easily into the Serengeti ecosystem, as several invasive plant species including Chromolaena, Mexican Marigold, Opuntia and others invade new areas along road verges.



Having mentioned the basic facts, we refer you to Article 111(1) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC which recognizes that development activities may have negative impacts on the environment, often leading to degradation and depletion of natural resources and that a clean and healthy environment is a prerequisite for sustainable development. The EAC Treaty provides for joint management and utilization of natural resources within the Community for the mutual benefit of the Partner States. It also provides for joint development and adoption of harmonized common policies and strategies for sustainable management of transboundary natural resources within the Community. The Treaty therefore provides the setting and premise for instituting regional guidelines for the management of trans-boundary ecosystems in East Africa, and the Partner States have initiated a number of processes and activities to implement these provisions. It is in this view that, the EAC Secretariat has developed Regional Guidelines on Environmental Impact Assessment of Shared Ecosystems in East Africa and declared EIA an important management tool for improving the long term viability of project.

In line with the EAC Protocol on Environment and Natural Resources Management and in view of the divergent expert opinion on the implications of this project, we request your office to pursue a Joint Environmental Impact Assessment (undertaken by Kenya and Tanzania) to evaluate and ascertain the impact of the project to this trans-boundary ecosystem that is of great economic benefit to both countries. The EIA will identify, predict and evaluate the foreseeable impacts, both beneficial and adverse, of the proposed highway, alternatives and mitigating measures, and as well help to eliminate or minimize negative impacts and optimize positive impacts. This EIA process is the sure way to improve decision-making and ensure that development options under consideration are environmentally, socially and economically sound and sustainable.



It will be unfathomable to see thousands of Wildebeest lined up on the side of this Highway, all disoriented, scared and unable to cross the large tarmac into the Masai Mara National Reserve! Tourism within the Eastern Africa Region will be seriously affected as tourists will be diverted towards other destinations. Local and regional investment and thousands of jobs in the hospitality, tourism and corresponding industries will be lost.



Finally, we hereby appeal to you to pursue this matter with a view to guarding against environmentally destructive development projects in the East African Region.



Yours faithfully,



Organization Name Country



Africa Network for Animal Welfare Kenya

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AAWA CONFERENCE 2010 NAIROBI KENYA

AFRICAN ANIMAL WELFARE ACTION CONFERENCE {AAWA}
Monday 6th-Wednesday 9th September 2010, Nairobi, Kenya

Expert and peer-to-peer discussions and training on critical issues in animal welfare, including emergency response to animals in disasters, humane education, protection and care of animals, threatened habitats, veterinary topics and animal laws.

Participants representing animal welfare groups locally and internationally, Individuals with interest in animal welfare and civil societies with activities addressing animal welfare, wildlife and environmental conservation, professionals in veterinary and animal health and intergovernmental bodies’ representatives. tion.eu/conference/aw-programstools-exhibitors.html

Belgium EU Conference on Animal Welfare Education

Why is animal welfare education important?

It is important for the animals in our care that they are treated with respect - and for their sake, educating citizens about animal welfare is crucial.

Education has taught farmers new skills in taking better care of their animals, it has made clear to animal transporters the merits of avoiding stress to animals en route, and it has promoted new practices involving pre-slaughter stunning in abattoirs, so that animals suffer less pain and stress at the point of slaughter.

When animal keepers and handlers are more involved and informed about the standards of animal protection and welfare, their animals are treated with more consideration.

Raising awareness among the general public about animal welfare issues leads to greater consumer pressure for products derived from animals reared in a welfare-friendly way. This results in more incisive action at commercial and political level.
little lamb

Animal-welfare education is just as important for people. A society that places a value on all forms of life and on minimising suffering is, generally, more humane. Such societies usually experience reduced incidence of violent crime. At the same time citizens are better able to identify and prevent abuse targeted at both animals and humans.
many chickens

Education also reinforces the growing awareness of the close links between humans and our environment. Animal production systems that respect the environment and the welfare of animals result in sustainable incomes for farmers and reduced use of natural resources.

Animal husbandry systems in farming are coming under increasing scrutiny, as European consumers view farming as more than just a means of food production. Nowadays the close links of animal welfare with food safety and quality, environmental protection, and sustainability are widely accepted.

The EU is determined to widen the impact of education about animal welfare.

This is partly a response to the Treaty of Lisbon that entered into force in December 2009. It contains a new provision for animal welfare and defines animals as “sentient beings” (that is, animals that can experience pleasure, pain and suffering). This has firmly anchored animal welfare in the legal basis of the European Union.

The EU's interest also stems from the fact that concerns over animal welfare reflect the EU's own values of solidarity, respect, compassion, empathy and a sense of justice and consideration for others.