93 Summer 2016 Price £2 (free to members) animalwa ch PUTTING ANIMALS ON THE AGENDA OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

YOUNG MEMBERS’ PAGE

WINNER OF THE FIRST ANIMAL FRIENDLY CHURCH AWARD

ANIMALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

ASWA.ORG.UK | 1 IN THIS ISSUE

A WARM WELCOME 3

ASWA AGM 4 4

ANIMAL FRIENDLY CHURCH 7

WINNER OF THE FIRST ANIMAL FRIENDLY CHURCH AWARD 8 YOUNG MEMBERS’ PAGE 9 8 CAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS GET ANIMALS ON THE 10 AGENDA? BOOK REVIEWS 11 9

Sunday 2 October Sunday 18 October DORIS’ DIARY Animal Welfare Sunday Animal Service, St Mary’s, Childwick, AL3 6JJ, 11.30am. ASWA Annual Service, St Cross This short act of worship (30 Hello! My name is Doris, and I Church, Winchester, 9.30am. minutes) has been especially am a Border Leicester ewe with The preacher will be the shaped to thank God for creation very large ears! I was rescued by Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS, and to pray for animal welfare. ASWA secretary Sam Chandler, as ASWA President and former Pets welcome to come for a bishop of Monmouth. blessing. For more information, I had outlived my usefulness as a please visit www.stmichaels- breeding ewe. Annual pet service, Great Malvern parishchurch.org.uk/home.asp. Priory, 3pm. For more details Below are some great events ewe contact greatmalvernpriory@ Sunday 13 November me.com. ASWA Remembrance Service may enjoy! at the Animals’ War Memorial, Park Lane, London, 3pm. Sunday 24 to Wednesday 27 July Saturday 15 October Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics’ Animal blessing and thanksgiving annual summer school at St Stephen’s service for pets, St Martin’s for further details of events, House, Oxford. This year’s subject is Church, Mortimer Road, Kensal please visit the website: the ethics of eating animals. Green, London, NW10 5SN, 2pm. www.aswa.org.uk Led by the Revd Graham Noyce. Monday 22 to Thursday 25 August All well-behaved pets welcome. Annual Ecumenical Animal Welfare For further details of the service, Retreat, Charney Manor Retreat please email: animalblessing@ House, Charney Bassett, Nr Wantage, hotmail.co.uk or telephone Oxfordshire. For more information, please contact Mrs Irene Casey, 07958-950137. [email protected].

Friday 26 to Monday 29 August Greenbelt Festival, Boughton House nr Kettering.

Sunday 28 August Animal Welfare - a Christian Concern? A talk by Tony Campolo as part of the Eucharist at St James’ Church, Piccadilly, 11am.

An audience with Tony Campolo: A Q&A on social justice issues, Oasis Church, Waterloo, London, 6.30pm. To book visit http://eveningwithtonycampolo. eventbrite.co.uk.

2 | ASWA.ORG.UK HELLO AND WELCOME TO ANIMALWATCH

Welcome to Animalwatch. Our focus in this issue is animals and the Church. The first Animal Friendly Church Award was won earlier this year by St Peter’s Harrogate, and in this issue we have an interview with church member Helen Ball about winning the award. Also in this issue you will find our Young Members’ Page. We hope that you enjoy keeping up-to-date with news and information on our website. Do check regularly for resources and information about upcoming events. Please do make a note of the dates in Doris’ Diary – especially the annual service in October. We hope to see you there. Please send any items for consideration for Animalwatch to Revd Jennifer Brown, Editor, PO Box 7193, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 8GT. Email is even better – [email protected]. Please note that, owing to space restrictions, it may not be possible to print all contributions, and that letters and other contributions may be edited for length. Jennifer Brown, Editor The deadline for the Autumn magazine is Monday 29th August 2016.

PAW A COFFEE AT ASWA SPEAKERS BURRSWOOD AVAILABLE Burrswood Hospital in Kent provided If you have a group or service that tranquil and beautiful surroundings would welcome an ASWA speaker, for a Paw-a-Coffee afternoon to raise we would love to hear from you! We money for ASWA. Twenty people often travel a fair distance so please attended the event, held in the tea call to discuss it. We usually bring a room. As well as coffee and cake, stall and literature and always liaise ASWA literature was on offer, and this with our hosts to ensure the talk was well-received by those who came. is appropriate for their particular audience. Keep the invitations If you’d like to host a fundraising Paw- rolling in! a-Coffee for ASWA, a pack including invitations and ASWA napkins is available. Please contact the Secretary for details. Janet Murphy

Janet Yapp, Randlay, Telford, A Warm Welcome Carol Williams, Worcester Park, Shropshire Surrey to our new members. We look forward to hearing Maria Mcgannan, Waterlooville, Justin Luxmoore, Sheldon, Honiton, from you. Hampshire Devon Paul Ashwell, Middlesborough, To all our new members we Valerie Aucouturier, Monti, North Yorkshire Menton, France extend a warm welcome Susan Merril. Beaufort, SC, and, along with our existing Elizabeth Hurry, South Hiendley, USA members, we would ask that Barnsley Sean Callard, Westminster, London you encourage others who Basil Youdell, Bognor Regis, share your concern for animal West Sussex welfare to join. Introductory Cheryl Clark, West Des Moines, IA, leaflets are available from the Cass Higgins Gastaldon, USA Llanbedr, Crickhowell, Powys Secretary.

ASWA.ORG.UK | 3 GOOD NEWS

Compassion a popular lifestyle choice

According to the Vegan Society (www.vegansociety.com/whats-new/news/find-out-how-many-vegans-are-great-britain) there are now more than half-a-million vegans in Britain alone. That’s more than three times as many as there were ten years ago, making veganism the fastest growing lifestyle trend in the UK. And the vegans aren’t alone – there are now more than one-and-a-half-million vegetarians in Britain. This isn’t a purely British phenomenon either. It is estimated that as many as 16 million Americans are now either vegetarian or vegan. NEWS & NOTICES ASWA NEWS ASWA AGM Don’t forget, you ASWA Annual Service The ASWA AGM was held at can follow ASWA on This year’s annual service will be held Twitter – aswanews St Michael’s Church, Chester Square, at St Cross Church, Winchester on London on 21st May (Details of the Sunday 2nd October, 9.30am. The You can also keep up business meeting will be printed preacher will be ASWA President, the in the Autumn issue). We were with what’s new via our website – Rt Revd Dominic Walker. www.aswa.org.uk. very pleased to welcome Dr Brett ASWA Local groups Cochrane, Group Head of Science Animal-friendly Church awards at the Dr Hadwen Trust (DHT) as our Don’t forget that there are ASWA local guest speaker. Dr Cochrane gave a Is your church animal friendly? Last groups in different areas. very interesting and informative talk year, ASWA launched the Animal- about the work of the DHT, including friendly Church awards. Churches • The Watford group meets the many different disease areas can apply at any time and those monthly. Members come from in which they are working and the meeting the necessary criteria will as far as Tring, Milton Keynes various techniques that are being be awarded animal-friendly church and Chesham to this group. The pioneered and refined to replace the status. Information is available on the contact for this group is Sarah use of animals in medical research. website or from the Secretary. Dunning (01923-467502). The benefits of DHT’s work are two- Paw A Coffee • There is an Ecumenical group, fold: improving animal welfare by the Three Counties Animal reducing the demand for animals to Paw a Coffee for ASWA will run from Welfare Prayer Group, who be used in research and providing 4th June to 21st August. How about meet for a service at Gloucester more accurate data by using methods holding a gathering for your Church Cathedral at 12.15 on the first that provide human-relevant data. friends with coffee (or tea) and cake? Saturday of each month. The We were all very encouraged to hear We provide invitations, napkins with contact for the ecumenical of the work being done by the DHT, an ASWA logo, literature to give out group is the Revd Helen Hall and the commitment of Dr Cochrane and a disposable money box for any ([email protected]). and his colleagues. donations. This is a great way to raise funds for ASWA, to tell people about • The Revd David Austin has the work that we do, and to remind recently started an ASWA prayer others that God cares about all of his group in the Norwich area. If creatures. For further information, anyone is interested in joining, please contact the ASWA Secretary David’s contact details are 01603 or ASWA Committee Member Janet 469112 or dsj.austin@hotmail. Murphy (07793-748634). com. Tony Campolo coming to ASWA is always keen to support the formation of new groups. If you are London interested in starting a group in your ASWA is pleased to welcome Tony area, please contact the Secretary. Campolo on Sunday 28th August at St James’ Church, Piccadilly as part of their Eucharist service. See Doris’ Diary for more details.

4 | ASWA.ORG.UK

St James’s Church, Piccadilly 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL 020 7734 4511 ● www.sjp.org.uk

The Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals warmly invite you to the following service on Sunday 28th August.

Animal Welfare – a Christian concern? Eucharist Service with talk by Tony Campolo St James’s Church, Piccadilly at 11am. Enquiries [email protected] or 01252-843093

ASWA, PO Box 7193, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 8GT T: 01252 843093 • E: [email protected] www.aswa.org.uk ASWA.ORG.UK | 5 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

AUSTRALIA for 17 years while I was lecturing at a affirmed a new policy not to kill healthy university, the idea of this project was close animals, (Antwerp and Planckendael, in Dog Olympics but to my heart. I had fierce feelings about the Belgium). Four solutions are proposed: 1) shocking conditions for pigs importance of teaching all children about the animals are moved to another park or Here are a couple of recent events in compassion, something that is rarely zoo; 2) they are moved to another place in Newcastle, NSW, where I live. touched on in formal education anywhere. the zoo; 3) they are rehabilitated so they can be set free into the wild; 4) they are The first directly involves the charity I Our SPCA teacher would not only teach, sent to an animal care centre where they helped to set up in 1998. We run a but tell stories and listen to stories and are taken care of for the rest of their lives. charity shop, the proceeds of which are share a range of activities. There would The Swedish Animal Rights Movement used to provide subsidies to pensioners be no set and rigid programme, because applaud the new policy and hope that to cover the cost of pet desexing. This every class is different, and the standard Swedish zoos and parks will do the same. has been a very successful venture and of English cannot be forecast. Instead, over the last 18 years we have helped there would be a clear vision of where we Ostriches are on the decline in the wild 30,000 pensioners in our area with the were going and an understanding of the like so many of our animals and birds. cost of desexing their pets. Many vet essential guiding principles which would Nowadays they are mainly found in part practices work in our programme, and reflect a way of being in the world. of Africa´s horn, east Africa and southern we are hugely grateful to all of them. Africa. Lo and behold, they may also be Teaching of this kind requires a personality Recently. one practice in particular went seen wandering about on farmlands in with a range of abilities, top of the list beyond the call of duty and organised Sweden. The ostrich farm in Tierp, situated being a deep love for animals and a a fundraising event for us. This was the about one and a half hours’ drive from passionate belief in the value of teaching 2016 Dog Olympics! The dogs competed the capital Stockholm, has existed for compassion. Almost as important would in various events – races, jumps, chasing roughly twenty years. In the beginning the be a certain kind of toughness, an ability etc. Everyone had a wonderful time, and ostriches were bred for slaughter, as their to face up to occasional actual instances never a growl or a nip, and at the end the meat is highly sought after. Thanks to new of cruelty and to pitiful stories. Important winners of the various events were invited slaughter regulations which would require would be the ability to hold the interest of onto the podium for medals. They really the farmholder to rebuild slaughter the children if one found the level in any liked that. And to cap it all off it began to facilities at a high cost, the ostriches were class to be higher or lower than expected. rain, and that is always a wonderful thing saved and allowed to live. They are now in a dry spell in Australia. The miracle was that I knew such a person. only used for breeding and new offspring This was Laura Pretorius, who has been are used by other ostrich farms, sadly for And now for something completely our Education Officer from the first day of meat. The current price is about £60 for different. our project and continues to run it today. a kilo so the business is lucrative but on The other evening a local cinema (one of Every day is different. Many days bring small scale. The ostriches in Tierp run free those small cinemas that put on interesting her highs, but some bring frustration and and also have a stable to be in. About one films that may never hit the big screen) even sadness. Some stories leave painful ostrich a year does get slaughtered, but made itself available, free of charge, memories. often due to medical reasons like a broken for the showing of a film called Lucent. leg or similar. In some ways maybe this The modus operandi chosen for this (You can google Lucent if you wish). little farm helps to keep good ostrich stock unusual project has proven its value. It This concerns conditions in Australian alive and also helps maintain breeding. is not that we are following a path. It is piggeries, with footage obtained by rather that we are trying to create a path, Sandra Kinley activists. I was shocked to the core. It is one that we hope will be followed by unbelievable that we treat animals this many of the children who are introduced way and call ourselves civilised. Surely to it. It opens up the way to seeing that USA there are better ways to run piggeries. all life is interconnected and that the way Ongoing work of the Olga Parkes we behave towards other living creatures Humane Society becomes who and what we are. Here in central Maine we’ve been very busy Shirley Bell SOUTH AFRICA over the last few months! In mid-March we dealt with two hoarding situations. The first Educating children about SWEDEN involved a family with an assortment of animal welfare animals: cats, rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, The fate of exotic species In 2005, the General Manager of the parakeets, ducks and a goat. They had no in Sweden Durban & Coast SPCA asked me to proper place for the animals, and as the devise an SPCA education programme Very dismal news from wildlife centres cold weather set in, they realized that they to teach children at schools in mainly and animal parks. Healthy wild animals, could not stay outdoors. They brought all disadvantaged areas how to look after tigers as well as bears and other animals, the animals into their house, and tried to animals properly, treat them with respect, are being shot or euthanized in order to take care of them indoors. As the situation and understand that they have feelings make way for new ones. This is one of the was rapidly getting out of control, they much like our own. The programme more depressing scandals that has been contacted their town office, who in turn would include knowing about the role of uncovered by the media in a documentary. contacted the animal control officer and the SPCA in society and how to contact us The shooting of the little bear cubs, Tassa, us. We had only a few hours to prepare to report cruelty or neglect or to ask for Tundra, Trubbel and Tiburtus is just one of for them, but shelter staff and volunteers help. the outrageous acts of stupidity and lack went to work, and had rooms with proper of empathy that has upset many people. food, water and bedding set up before Having run a voluntary education Internationally two zoos have already this motley crew arrived. As each came in, programme for teachers at 1300 schools

6 | ASWA.ORG.UK they were examined by our veterinarian and sent to their designated areas. The ANIMAL FRIENDLY CHURCH ducks were housed in an empty cat room, where they had a swimming pool and lots they were very worthy winners (See of room to stretch their wings. We were the interview with Helen in this issue). gifted the next morning with two eggs! The St Peter’s Church is particularly goat had her own corral in the dog area. sensitive to insect life, with flower She was very docile, and enjoyed walking beds full of insect-friendly plants. on a leash like a puppy. A loving home Dog water bowls are made available was found for each and every animal. to visiting dogs and cleaning and A week later we were asked to help with washroom products bearing the another rescue, this time involving a ‘leaping bunny’ symbol are used. family keeping 41 cats in a mobile home. Even more impressively however, Many of the cats were “dropped off” over animals are welcome to attend the years by people in the area who knew worship, and prayers for animals are that this family would take care of them. In January of 2015 ASWA launched its new Animal-Friendly Church included. High-welfare meat products With the help of the Maine department and free-range eggs are used for of human services and the local animal initiative in an effort to try to control officer we were able to talk to encourage more churches to consider church catering. the family and assure them that the cats the welfare of animals, both domestic All of us at ASWA hope that this would be well cared for at the shelter. and wild, as part of their agenda. scheme will encourage other churches The cats ranged in age from newborn We designed an application form to adopt similar policies. We can all to senior cats, and all were quite ill with which is available on our website or start with our own churches. All of upper respiratory infections and parasites. as hard copy pack, and ran several Another shelter in the southern part of the applications received thus far the state helped us out by taking many of adverts in the Christian press to let have been through the initial efforts these kitties to their facility. churches know about the scheme. It of one member of the congregation was very encouraging when the first with the will and determination to We received quite a bit of press coverage applications started arriving. We even on both of these rescues, and it proved to try to change attitudes within their had two from abroad, St James the be a great opportunity to inform the public church. We appreciate that this can that if they know of a similar situation Great in Melbourne, Australia and sometimes feel like an impossible there is help available. We stressed that the Anglican Church at San Martin de task, but if we truly believe that the local governments, the animal control Porres in La Palma, Tenerife. All those compassion to all creatures is part officers and the shelters were not out to who applied were granted Animal- of the Christian message then we punish them, but to care for the animals, Friendly Church status and received can all try to do our part. Changing have them spayed and neutered, and find a framed certificate. We also ran a hearts and minds can take time, so be forever homes for them. competition for the best application, gentle in your approach, get involved The People-Animals-Together Project of and in January of this year announced with your church, get on the list for Waterville held another free wellness clinic the winner as St Peter’s Church in intercessions, get elected onto your on 14 May for residents of the city’s lower Harrogate. ASWA member Helen Ball PCC. All it needs is one person with income areas. We treated more than 80 had encouraged her vicar, Revd Tim a mission. dogs and cats at this event, and were able Hurren, to put the church forward and to spay and neuter 15 cats the following day Samantha Chandler at the Humane Society in the Community Spay/Neuter Clinic’s mobile surgical unit. Our plan is to hold several more of these clinics at our local pet supply stores before TALKING POINT mid-September. Hopefully we will reach our goal of treating 600 pets. Praying for all creation? Joann Brizendine What does your church pray for on a Sunday morning? In many, probably most, churches, there will be prayers for the worldwide Church, for persecuted Christians, for people affected by wars or natural disasters, for our local communities, for the sick and the bereaved. It is right and good that we pray for all of these things. But is there something missing? Some churches will pray for the environment. How many pray for non-human animals, including the ones we use for food or in laboratories, and those whose habitat is lost to human greed and exploitation on a daily basis? If we aren’t praying for God’s non-human creatures, why not? Are we afraid of giving offence? Are we afraid such prayers are inappropriate? Or are the issues just so big that we don’t know what to say?

ASWA.ORG.UK | 7 INTERVIEW WITH HELEN BALL OF ST PETER’S CHURCH, HARROGATE, WINNERS OF THE FIRST ANIMAL-FRIENDLY CHURCH AWARD

Congratulations on winning are deeply appreciative of the warm I’d also say that being animal friendly the first Animal-friendly Church welcome and the food that their dogs helps people to like church more. award. What does it mean to you receive at St Peter’s. Some of those who come for lunch at that your church has received this St Peter’s tell us that our sandwiches Our ASWA award has featured award? are tastier, since we have started using prominently in our church news letter better quality, higher welfare meat. I feel immensely encouraged. I and in our magazine, both of which And I have lost track of the number of joined St Peter’s when I moved to have wide readerships, far beyond people who have stopped to tell me, Harrogate three years ago. Until then, the confines of our congregation. when they have met me coming in or I did not know any church where the We even mentioned Animal-friendly out of church with my dog, that they congregation was at all concerned Church in our parish profile, when we think it’s lovely that dogs are allowed about animal welfare. I used to feel were advertising for a new vicar. in the church. We want churches to discouraged, more often than not. Can you tell us about some of the be lovely in people’s eyes, it seems to Belonging to a church where animal animal-friendly things that your me. For the loveliness they see is God, welfare is taken seriously – recognised church does? of course. by ASWA as an Animal Friendly Church and now having won this We use cruelty-free ‘leaping bunny’ Does the church have any plans to award – has been hugely exciting. products (‘leaping bunny’ products expand what they do for animals? are those which are approved as Is being an animal-friendly church Our church is planning to mark animal-friendly by Cruelty Free something that is important to a Environment Sunday on 5th June with International, and carry their logo – a majority of the congregation? a special service and with an exhibition leaping bunny. ­-Editor) for cleaning about the Church of England’s Being an animal-friendly church is in church. We keep our town-centre Eco-Church project displayed in our something that is very important church garden rubbish-free, and full new glass foyer. indeed to a small group of animal of insect-friendly flowers and plants. welfare enthusiasts at St Peter’s. It has Later in that month, the PCC is Animals are welcome to attend also been warmly welcomed by the looking forward to its Away Day with worship at St Peter’s, and a number majority of the congregation. our new vicar, for vision discernment of dogs come regularly. We include and planning for the future. Animal Has winning this award helped to prayers for animals and for animal welfare will not be forgotten on that raise the profile of animal welfare charities in our daily intercessions, day, I feel confident. in your church? Has it had any which are shared in the newsletter impact on how your church is and on Twitter. Is there anything else you’d like to viewed in the community? tell us about your church? We have designed some Sunday Winning this award – and being school sessions to help our younger We have also recently won a RICS awarded animal-friendly status in church members to start to think award for our church building the first instance – has helped us to theologically about animals in extension. The award is the regional raise the profile of animal welfare scripture and these have been very Project of the Year award in the at St Peter’s. Our ASWA certificate is successful. Community Benefit category. Our displayed in church, on the wall near animal-friendly dog water bowl sits We have also produced a series of five the door to the kitchen. Its presence proudly on the step of this new wrap- Bible studies for adults on the theme has encouraged more people to take around glass entrance development. of animals in the Bible. We should be an interest in food-related animal delighted to share these with others, Helen Ball welfare, and our church wardens if any congregations or groups would have helped us to understand better like to have them. the different ethical logos on meat products. It is much clearer now, to all What advice would you give to the different community groups that other churches that want to be use our church facilities, that animal more animal friendly? welfare is part of our church’s mission. I should encourage them to try one When our prize hamper arrived, or two new things in the first instance. we invited members of St Peter’s Buying ‘leaping bunny’ cleaning breakfast club and the toddler group products, for example, is so much to come and help us unpack it and easier to do nowadays than it used to share the lovely things inside it. I be, and it won’t be more expensive. know that members of the breakfast club, some of whom are homeless,

8 | ASWA.ORG.UK YOUNG MEMBERS' PAGE Welcome to our young members’ page. This page features in the summer issue of Animalwatch each year. We’d like to make this your space, and to do that we need contributions from our under-18s membership. We want to hear from you! And if you have a suggestion for a feature to add to this page, do let us know.

SHACKLETON SEARCHES THE SCRIPTURES Hi! My name is the reflections on the passage. The In this vision of heaven, we are told Shackleton. I’m important thing is to think about the that every creature, not just humans named after a story and what it means for your life and angels, worship God together. famous explorer, and our life as a Church today. • If all creatures worship and give and I’ve been asked Revelation 5.13–14 glory to God in their own way, do Shackleton to help you explore we have a responsibility to protect the Bible to learn Then I heard every creature in heaven and care for other animals so that more of what it says about animals. As and on earth and under the earth and they can do that? we look at the Bible passage, younger in the sea, and all that is in them, readers may want to read the story singing, • If animals are part of the heavenly and think about these three questions: worship, should they also be ‘To the one seated on the throne and to allowed to be a part of our 1. Who are the characters in this story? the Lamb be blessing and honour and worship? 2. What are they doing? 3. What is glory and might for ever and ever!’ special about them or their actions? And the four living creatures said, Older children and teenagers may ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and want to dig deeper (I love digging!) worshipped. and tackle the questions that follow

FINDING ANIMALS WORDSEARCH IN CHURCH This issue of our magazine talks about E P S Q O I K C B L the ways in which our churches can welcome animals, but animals are A Z K E G L F A U M already in many of our churches. At least, images of animals are there. Plants and animals have been used J S N A K E A I E B for centuries to decorate our churches. Because Christians believe that God W O L G P K N V S R created the world and that nothing in the world is outside of God’s love and care, it is right that these images are B M A L H U T D U H there in our churches to remind us of this fact. X D U E M O Z Y O E Take a look around your church. What kind of animals can you find S P Q U A N H C M V there? They might be in stained-glass windows, carved on pews or screens, N A C I L E P T I O part of stone carvings or even in paintings and plaques on the walls. A V T M O V L Y L D

K F D Z D O G U O S

There are some animals that are very easy to spot in churches. Can you find them in the word search?

EAGLE PELICAN SNAKE LAMB FISH DOVE DOG MOUSE

ASWA.ORG.UK | 9 CAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS GET ANIMALS ON THE AGENDA?

ASWA’s mission is summed up in However, there is perhaps a more animal products, just as others may the phrase, ‘putting animals on the significant contemporary issue which change their diet out of a concern for agenda of the Christian Church’. may help in the quest to make the their own health. This will undoubtedly It’s a massive task. Animals so often invisible visible. I speak of our concern produce benefits for animals who disappear down that black hole for the future of the environment. Pope will no longer be brought into the located between the well-recognised Francis’ recent Encyclical, Laudato world for the sole purpose of being injunction to ‘love your (human) Si, has brought this issue into sharp killed. Whilst this would be a step in neighbour’ and the broadly accepted public focus recently but the concerns a better direction, I remain troubled. responsibility of ‘stewardship’. Often it raises have been well known for Environmental and health concerns animals are anonymised in that all- some time. As Time reported in 2013, may well get animals onto the embracing word, ‘creation’. They “There may be no other single human agenda, and not just in the Christian don’t have a face and their voices activity that has a bigger impact on the Church, but if the only reason they are remain unheard. planet than the raising of livestock.” on the agenda is because of human We chop down rainforest to create self-interest then we are still no nearer I write as a vegan, whilst recognising grazing land and we raise cattle whose to recognising the intrinsic rather than that ASWA embraces people whose emissions contribute significantly to instrumental value of animals. As long diets are not the same as my own. global warming. With some research as we continue to think of animals as We all share, I assume, the common indicating that it takes up to 1,800 being here for us rather than with us, perspective that God’s purposes gallons of water to produce 1lb of then we will also be able to continue (however mysterious they may, at beef the impact of the animals-as- to find ways of justifying our abuse of times, seem) are for the whole of food industry on the world’s fresh them in arenas other than the food creation and not just the human bits of water supply is easy to see. And industry. it. As St Paul says, “We know that the when we use up the world’s resources whole creation has been groaning as I will give at least two cheers if our and damage the environment on in the pains of childbirth…as we await concern for the environment or for which we all depend it is the already redemption…” (Romans 8:22–24). our own health leads to a rethink disadvantaged who suffer most and of the way in which we see animals Making the invisible animals visible suffer first. As the earth’s human as food. I will reserve the third feels like an uphill struggle, and I population increases, maintaining a cheer for the day when we rethink suspect I am not alone in experiencing supply of food and water becomes our relationship with animals in its a more than occasional sinking more of a challenge, and we know entirety. “And God saw all that he had feeling when I gather with Christian that we could not possibly feed the made, and indeed it was very good.” companions to share food, and whole world on a typical western diet. (Genesis 1.31a). All of it was ‘very encounter indifference to the suffering As a Viva! Report (http://www.viva. good’, not just the human bits. If we of the animals on people’s plates. org.uk/feed-world) recently stated, can absorb the divine vision of the How are we to make people take this “People go hungry because much interconnectedness of the goodness matter more seriously? The recent of arable land is used to grow feed of creation, then we will see that there World Health Organisation report grain for animals rather than people. is no distinction between self-interest confirming a link between the eating In the US, 157 million tons of cereals, and other-interest. What is good for of processed meats and the increased legumes and vegetable protein – all us will be good for other animals, and likelihood of developing certain types suitable for human consumption – is what causes them to suffer cannot be of cancer has unleashed a media fed to livestock to produce just 28 good for us. storm and, despite predictable denial million tons of animal protein in the from those with vested financial form of meat.” Rev Dr Jan Goodair interests in the industry, may lead to It may well be that our concern to some people reviewing their eating protect the planet on which we all habits. Some animal lives may be depend will lead to a gradual change saved and some future suffering in the eating habits of those whose avoided. diet is presently largely based on

10 | ASWA.ORG.UK BOOK REVIEW THINKING THROUGH ANIMALS This is followed by a discussion of beyond the arguments of identity By Matthew Calarco the practical applications of the philosophy and encourages us to philosophical principles, as well as stop thinking in terms of ‘humans’ Stanford University Press their limitations. and ‘animals’ as distinct categories. ISBN 978-0-8047-9404-6 Such a radical change in thinking Difference concentrates on 69pp + notes Paperback would, necessarily, have an impact philosophies that seek to give value Price £9.99 on political and economic systems. to animals by emphasising, not their similarities to human beings, but This little book is a great introduction This short, easy-to-read book their differences – the things that to some important philosophical provides a brief introduction to the make them unique. The difference ideas and thinkers in the realm of philosophy underlying what the approach is based largely on animal ethics, and a helpful guide author refers to as animal studies, the work of Emmanuel Levinas. to understanding the ideas that and which are frequently used in Unfortunately, as Calarco himself support the arguments for animal support of animal rights. Calarco points out, Levinas explicitly excluded rights. divides these into three sections: animals from his philosophy and Jennifer Brown identity, difference and indistinction. many others in this particular Identity concentrates on the traits that branch of philosophy have done the all humans share with other animals. same. There have, however, been Calarco gives a clear explanation some notable exceptions, among of the way that evolutionary theory them Jacques Derrida, and Calarco has influenced thinking, as we have explores how this philosophy can come to realise that human beings take animal ethics beyond the exist on a continuum with other limits imposed by identity-based species, not distinct and wholly philosophies. separate. Within this section, he Indistinction looks at a recently then looks at the work of several developed area of philosophy for philosophers, some of whom will thinking about human–animal be familiar to our readers, namely relationships. Indistinction goes Peter Singer and Tom Regan.

ANGLICAN SOCIETY FOR THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS

PO Box 7193, Hook, Hampshire Patrons: The Rt Revd John Pritchard RG27 8GT, UK. www.aswa.org.uk (Former Bishop of Oxford) Dr Tony Campolo Correspondance Secretary: The Revd Dr Steven Shakespeare Mrs Samantha Chandler Mr David Coffey MRCVS President: Tel/Fax: 01252 843093 The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell The Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS Email: [email protected] (Bishop of Chelmsford) (Former Bishop of Monmouth) Treasurer: Mrs Jenny White The Rt Revd James Jones Vice President: (Former Bishop of Liverpool) Editor: Revd Jennifer Brown The Revd Dr Martin Henig Email: [email protected] Rt Revd Richard Llewellin Chairman: (Former Bishop at Lambeth) Membership Secretary: The Revd Dr Helen Hall Mr Keith Plumridge Email: [email protected] ASWA.ORG.UK | 11 A Service for Animal Welfare

St Cross Church, Winchester Sunday 2nd October 2016, 9.30am Preacher: the Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS ASWA President and former Bishop of Monmouth All Welcome

For further information contact Samantha Chandler, Secretary Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals Tel: 01252 843093 Email: [email protected] Website: www.aswa.org.uk