Chinese Animal Protection Network
Encyclopedia
Chinese Animal Protection Network (CAPN) is a non-profit animal protection organization, and the first Chinese network for animal protection. As an organization founded by native Chinese people, at its core, there are some of the most dedicated Chinese activists. CAPN is well known for its pioneering role in the rapid development of the modern animal rights movement in China
in recent years. It has led some important trends of the movement: group unity, the growing movement against eating cats and dogs, and converting from emotion-based to science-based animal protection among the animal protection communities.
Since the launching of its first project 'Chinese Companion Animal Protection Network', the network keeps expending and has reached almost every part of China. By April 2008 there were 48 member groups, 2 branches and over ten thousand individual supporters who recognize CAPN's values: using technology, research, education, artistry, and creativity to make the world a better place for all sentient
beings.
CAPN is an animal rights
group with a science-based philosophy of animal rights. They oppose violence in the animal rights movement and see animal rights as a dynamic concept; they believe the rights of different animals are different because their needs are different.
Six keys of their philosophy include:
and networking of animal rights activists are important functions of this project. It is developing a Chinese online encyclopedia
of animal protection (APpedia
).
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in recent years. It has led some important trends of the movement: group unity, the growing movement against eating cats and dogs, and converting from emotion-based to science-based animal protection among the animal protection communities.
Since the launching of its first project 'Chinese Companion Animal Protection Network', the network keeps expending and has reached almost every part of China. By April 2008 there were 48 member groups, 2 branches and over ten thousand individual supporters who recognize CAPN's values: using technology, research, education, artistry, and creativity to make the world a better place for all sentient
Sentience
Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive or be conscious, or to have subjective experiences. Eighteenth century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think from the ability to feel . In modern western philosophy, sentience is the ability to have sensations or experiences...
beings.
CAPN is an animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
group with a science-based philosophy of animal rights. They oppose violence in the animal rights movement and see animal rights as a dynamic concept; they believe the rights of different animals are different because their needs are different.
Six keys of their philosophy include:
- unity: animal rights philosophy is a part of universal law
- complexity: everyone has his/her own animal rights view
- evolution: human understanding of animal rights is evolving
- continuity: continuity exists between everything, from humans to animals, from high animal to low animals, difference is not discreet but gradual
- non-violence: people cannot fight unethical behavior with unethical behavior; love and justice can make the difference
- originality: the three pillars of Chinese tradition—BuddhismBuddhismBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, TaoismTaoismTaoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
and ConfucianismConfucianismConfucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
—all have teachings regarding respect towards animals.
Chinese Companion Animal Protection Network
Chinese Companion Animal Protection Network (CCAPN) was launched in 2004. It is a cooperative network of groups and individuals working for companion animal protection in Chinese communities. CCAPN supervises and supports the animal protection work of the member groups. It also facilitates the exchange of resources and information between groups and individuals. The campaign against eating cats and dogs is a major function of CCAPN. According to their 2007 campaign report, by 2004 there were already some isolated companion animals groups emerging in China. The founding members were shocked by the cruelty associated with the practice of eating cats and dogs, so they decided to launch CCAPN to end the practice.Animal Rights in China
The Animal Rights in China website was launched on 22 July 2006, and is the major portal for animal rights issues in China. Academic research on animal ethicsAnimal ethics
Animal ethics can refer to:*Abolitionism *Animal law*Animal rights*Animal welfare*Intrinsic value *Wildlife managementSee also*Animal rights movement*Animal testing*Animal testing regulations*Cruelty to animals...
and networking of animal rights activists are important functions of this project. It is developing a Chinese online encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia is a type of reference work, a compendium holding a summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge....
of animal protection (APpedia
APpedia
APpedia is a animal protection project of Chinese Animal Protection Network. The main objective of the project was to establish an online Chinese encyclopedia of animal protection. The project currently has more than 90 academic researchers and affiliated organizations around world.APpedia is...
).
Changchun Animal Protection Network
CAPA is well known for using high profile performance arts shows in its publicity. .POVchina
POVchina is an information portal for vegetarianisms. It is known for using interactive computer games in public education.Notable contributions
- CAPN works closely with domestic, international, and overseas organizations working in China, providing advice and support for their work.
- CAPN runs a campaign against cat-and-dog-eating (the practice of eating cat meatCat meatCat meat or cat flesh, meat prepared from domestic cats for human consumption , is varied in its acceptability as a food source in different parts of the world...
or dog meatDog meatDog meat refers to edible parts and the flesh derived from dogs. Human consumption of dog meat has been recorded in many parts of the world, including ancient China, ancient Mexico, and ancient Rome. According to contemporary reports, dog meat is consumed in a variety of countries such as...
). They are the first group to use the slogan 'Stop eating cats and dogs' in their campaign. They also coordinated many groups in more than ten cities in China to join this campaign. This slogan has been adopted by animal rights groups around the country. They launched the online-signing event against consumption of cat and dog meat in 2007, which received over 40,000 signatures. Their campaign has led to a large amount of publicity and discussion of this issue among the public. - CAPN runs a campaign against animal hoardingAnimal hoardingAnimal hoarding involves keeping higher than usual numbers of animals as domestic pets without having the ability to properly house or care for them, while at the same time denying this inability. Compulsive hoarding can be characterized as a symptom of mental disorder rather than deliberate...
. They led a large-scale online debate on the topic in 2006, and later published two research documents regarding animal hoarding, the first of their kind to be published in Chinese. They are the major contributors to a change in the pro-hoarding climate of China. - CAPN provides a network for animal protection groups. They are the first organization devoted to the unity of Chinese animal protection communities.
- In April 2008, CAPN introduced World Lab Animal Day to China for the first time.
Awards
CAPN projects have won several awards:- Jan 2008: CCAPN won 'great contribution to animal protection in 2007' award in 'Animals in China' Shanghai conference.
- Mar 2008: ARC won funding for its online encyclopedia from Cultural and Animal Foundation, which is established and chaired by animal rights philosopher Tom ReganTom ReganTom Regan is an American philosopher who specializes in animal rights theory. He is professor emeritus of philosophy at North Carolina State University, where he taught from 1967 until his retirement in 2001....
.