Blog

Welcome to our Blog!

Nonhuman animals – whether they are furred, feathered, finned or otherwise – face a variety of harms, threats and challenges across the world. In this blog,* we ask our expert “Legal Eagles” and other relevant experts to write about some of these issues, in order to highlight them and educate the broader public.

We hope to illustrate the inadequacies of the current regulatory regime, as well as identify opportunities for animal law reform, in order that we can better protect animals, humans and the planet!

10 December 2023:

International Human and Animal Rights Day Blog

Happy International Human and Animal Rights Day, South Africa!

In celebration of this special day, we are pleased to release a new blog post entitled: ““Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All” – Why are Animals the ‘Eggception’?”, written by ALRSA’s very own Cheslyn Ceaser, as part of our “Relephant Reads” Blog.

 Cheslyn writes: “The 10th of December 2023 marks International Human Rights Day, and the 75th anniversary of one of the most important human rights related global pledges, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (“UDHR”). This day is celebrated annually, with this year’s theme being “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”. While dedicated to the celebrating the rights of human beings, the 10th of December also marks International Animal Rights Day, emphasizing the broader recognition of rights for all sentient beings who are deserving of the same protection as humans.”

While the impact of the UDHR is felt throughout various countries’ law and policy, including in South Africa, the impacts of International Animal Rights Day remain limited legislatively. However, the efforts are felt on the ground through activism and awareness campaigns. International Animal Rights Day started as an event in 1998 and is intentionally celebrated on the same day as International Human Rights Day to highlight the connection between animal and human rights. This day is observed globally and is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of non-human animal rights and advocating for the ethical and humane treatment of non-human animals. It is often recognised with demonstrations exposing animal exploitation, the mourning of animal victims lost at the hands of humans and calls for enhanced animal protection.

In recognition of the significance of this day for both human and non-human animals and to honour the memory of animal victims subjected to exploitation by human hands, this blog delves into the crucial relationship between humans and animals. Specifically, focuses on the impact on one of the most consumed and impacted type of non-human animal – chickens. Additionally, Cheslyn’s blog will spotlight the efforts of Animal Law Reform South Africa (ALRSA) and our partners in championing better legal protection for chickens and promoting accountability among stakeholders in the egg supply chain in South Africa.

Cheslyn C. Ceaser

LLB, LLM, LLD (Candidate)

Legal Researcher, Animal Law Reform South Africa

Read his blog HERE.

Cheslyn is the Legal Researcher at Animal Law Reform South Africa and is a proud graduate of The University of the Western Cape (UWC), completing a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2018. He completed a Master’s degree in Environmental law with a focus on Climate Change in 2020 from his alma mater. Cheslyn has been a Graduate Lecturing Assistant and Coordinator at the Law Faculty of UWC, thereafter becoming an educator at Boston College and City Campus.

In 2021 he was a part time lecturer at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) while working on various research projects and commentary for The Coalition of African Animal Welfare Organizations (CAAWO) and Animal Law Reform South Africa (ALRSA) respectively.

Cheslyn is a recipient of the Growth Bursary from the Global Environmental Law Centre (GELC) and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree with a focus on Animal Welfare in Animal Agriculture at UWC.

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14 October 2022:

World Egg Day Blog

Cheslyn writes: “This year, the 14th of October marks World Egg Day. This day is heralded as a day in which we celebrate what is considered one of the most popular sources of animal-based protein on the planet. In 2022, the theme for World Egg Day as prescribed by the International Egg Commission (IEC) is “Eggs for a better life” and is said to “shine a spotlight on the impact egg consumption has on improved nutritional and environmental outcomes, leading to better lives for all.”[1] Conventional eggs however, and those who are involved in the process to bring these to people- chickens – are subjected to various cruel practices. This has removed their ability to live natural and normal lives and flourish as sentient beings. It seems the theme of a “a better life for all” would exclude the hens confined and forced to lay these eggs to be ultimately killed, as well as the baby chicks who are discarded as “waste” by the egg industry.

This blog will discuss the origins of World Egg Day and highlight a few of the many animal welfare and wellbeing related issues inherent in the current egg production systems. It will highlight that positively there is growing advocacy and work being done and a global movement towards cage free chickens and eggs, which has been receiving tremendous attention. This is shifting the way in which chickens are housed, treated, and ultimately protected. Lastly, this blog will speak to Animal Law Reform South Africa’s (ALRSA’s) specific work in this area including exciting research towards better legal protection for chickens and more accountability for those producing eggs in South Africa.”

Cheslyn C. Ceaser

LLB, LLM, LLD (Candidate)

Legal Research Consultant, Animal Law Reform South Africa

Read his blog HERE.

Cheslyn is the Legal Research Consultant at Animal Law Reform South Africa and is a proud graduate of The University of the Western Cape (UWC), completing a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2018. He completed a Master’s degree in Environmental law with a focus on Climate Change in 2020 from his alma mater. Cheslyn has been a Graduate Lecturing Assistant and Coordinator at the Law Faculty of UWC, thereafter becoming an educator at Boston College and City Campus.

In 2021 he was a part time lecturer at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) while working on various research projects and commentary for The Coalition of African Animal Welfare Organizations (CAAWO) and Animal Law Reform South Africa (ALRSA) respectively.

Cheslyn is a recipient of the Growth Bursary from the Global Environmental Law Centre (GELC) and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree with a focus on Animal Welfare in Animal Agriculture at UWC.

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24 September 2022:

Heritage Day Blog

Cheslyn writes: “To South Africans, the 24th of September represents a national day to celebrate the diversity in culture, beliefs, and traditions of our “Rainbow Nation”. Heritage Day in South Africa marks as a celebration of everything that makes our country truly unique. Living heritage in the form of indigenous knowledge, vibrant communities and expression of various traditions and beliefs have been highlighted annually. We also celebrate our valuable environment: our beautiful landscapes, the natural wonder that is Table Mountain, our unique and indigenous Fynbos biodiversity, and the world famous ‘Big Five’. It is a time for South Africans to come together and truly embody the principle of the Constitutional value of “Ubuntu”. Ubuntu is an African philosophy which has several rough translations such as “humanity to others”, “I am what I am because of who we all are”, and “I am because you are”. It is based on the idea that community is one of the building blocks of society.

Heritage Day has, over time, become known as “National Braai Day” which sees South Africans lighting fires, starting braais, and consuming a massive amount of meat and animal products. This means that while we simultaneously aim to bring together our people and recognise and celebrate our diversity, our shared heritage in the form of living animals, are slaughtered in the thousands for our consumption.

This blog will discuss Heritage Day in South Africa, considering our shared living heritage, our understanding of Ubuntu and questions how animals should be included in our celebrations of National Braai Day.”

Cheslyn C. Ceaser

LLB, LLM, LLD (Candidate)

Legal Research Consultant, Animal Law Reform South Africa

Read his blog HERE.

Cheslyn is the Legal Research Consultant at Animal Law Reform South Africa and is a proud graduate of The University of the Western Cape (UWC), completing a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2018. He completed a Master’s degree in Environmental law with a focus on Climate Change in 2020 from his alma mater. Cheslyn has been a Graduate Lecturing Assistant and Coordinator at the Law Faculty of UWC, thereafter becoming an educator at Boston College and City Campus.

In 2021 he was a part time lecturer at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) while working on various research projects and commentary for The Coalition of African Animal Welfare Organizations (CAAWO) and Animal Law Reform South Africa (ALRSA) respectively.

Cheslyn is a recipient of the Growth Bursary from the Global Environmental Law Centre (GELC) and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree with a focus on Animal Welfare in Animal Agriculture at UWC.

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5 June 2022:

World Environment Day Blog

Today, 5 June, is World Environment Day. “In the universe are billions of galaxies, In our galaxy are billions of planets,

But there is #OnlyOneEarth. Let’s take care of it.” – the United Nations
 
In recognition of this important day, we asked Venita Januarie, to write a blog about how we are doing in relation to protecting our #OnlyOneEarth.
According to Venita: “The theme “#Only one earth” is almost painful in its redundancy. “Only One Earth” was the slogan for the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972. Fifty years later, we still have only one earth, however, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), warned that, optimistically, there is a 50% chance of limiting global warming to a 1.5°C temperature rise this century, as aspired to in the Paris Agreement…
On the 50th anniversary commemorating the urgency of protecting our planet, this blog reflects on the absence of actionable policies to meaningfully combat climate change and proposes individual action that can mitigate its harmful effects, especially when taken in collective.”

Venita Januarie

PGCE, Hons (BEd), MEd Policy Studies

Independent Research Consultant

Read her blog HERE.

Venita is passionate about social justice and initially completed a BSc and PGCE (cum laude) to train as a teacher, before pursuing an Honours Degree in Education Management (cum laude) at Stellenbosch University. Venita graduated with her master’s degree in Educational Policy Studies in 2019, and has been working in Research Management and Administration since. Venita will soon graduate with her professional certificate in RMA. As a thought leader in education and training, Venita writes about sustainable development, veganism and how to combat food insecurity in the face of rising inflation and unemployment.

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24 April 2022:

World Day for Animals in Laboratories Blog

Instituted in 1979 World Day for Laboratory Animals, and the associated Lab Animal Week (20-26 April 2020), has been a catalyst for the movement to end the suffering of animals in laboratories around the world and their replacement with advanced scientific non-animal techniques. The suffering of millions of animals all over the world is commemorated on every continent.

According to Dr. Coetser: “Often, when South Africans think of animal experimentation, we imagine some far off place where bunnies are being prodded and poked by faceless humans in white lab coats. Of all the issues that face animals in the South African context, the issue of animal use in scientific research is not the first topic that jumps to mind. However, the use of animals for scientific research is a reality on South African soil. While it might not be millions of animals who are used for scientific research, it is nevertheless the case that there are a significant number of animals used in this space in South Africa.”

Dr. Yolandi M. Coetser 

(BA Journalism (UJ), BA Hons Philosophy (UJ), MA Philosophy (UJ), Dlitt et Phil Philosophy (UJ), MEd Information Communication Technology (UJ – completed, not yet conferred))

Philosopher, the School of Philosophy, North West University

Read her blog HERE.

Dr Yolandi M. Coetser is a philosopher at the School of Philosophy, North West University. She completed her doctorate in 2018 at the University of Johannesburg. Her field of specialisation is broadly construed, environmental philosophy. In her work, she examines the relationship that human animals have with the environment and its inhabitants, as well as specific instances of where this relationship is problematic (e.g. the use of animals in art or scientific research). More recently, she has been interested in how colonisation shaped, and continues to shape, the South African environment, animal interactions, and the communities that surround these spaces.

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18 April 2022:

Animal Cruelty and Human Violence Awareness Week Blog

This week, beginning 18 April 2022, marks “Animal Cruelty and Human Violence Awareness” week globally. And, although it is imperative to acknowledge the prevalence of violence against animals (both in the public and private sphere), it is equally important to acknowledge, as this week highlights, the intersection of human-animal violence that occurs daily worldwide. This is because both animals and vulnerable humans become the victims of shared perpetrators or shared systemic perpetrations of violence, and both animals and vulnerable humans should be able to live flourishing lives that are free from all forms of violence.

 Sheena Swemmer

(BA (LLB), BA (Hons), LLB, LLM, LLD (candidate))

Head of Gender Justice, Centre for Applied Legal Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

Read her blog HERE.

Sheena is the head of the Gender Justice programme at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of Witwatersrand. She is also a PhD candidate, at the University of Johannesburg. Her thesis uses an Ubuntu-Feminist lens to explore the intersection of violence against women, children and companion animals in the home and suggest legal developments of South African domestic violence laws.

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3 April 2022:

World Aquatic Animal Day Blog

World Aquatic Animal Day is an annual day dedicated to aquatic animals. This year, the theme for the day is:

“Disentangling the Sustainability Myth in Fishing and Aquaculture”.

But what does this mean? In South Africa we have a number of growing industries that utilise aquatic animals. These industries have the potential to do a lot of harm. They are supported by the government through initiatives such as Operation Phakisa. Yet, the law does not adequately regulate these industries, nor their potential harms. It also does not adequately provide for the protection of these important animals.

In this blog, Yevai breaks down some of these issues further, particularly in the South African context, and why it is so important that we protect aquatic animals.

Yevai E.M. Gerber

(LL.B., LL.M. Candidate)

Consultant Research Officer at Animal Law Reform South Africa

Read her blog HERE.

Yevai is a legal professional with a Bachelor of Laws degree (cum laude) and Postgraduate Diploma from the University of Witwatersrand. With the hopes of playing a bigger role in matters surrounding sustainable development, she is currently pursuing an LLM degree with a focus on International Business Law: Climate Change and Corporations at Vrije University Amsterdam.

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WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE BLOGS IN THE FUTURE!

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*The views and opinions expressed in these blogs, are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Animal Law Reform South Africa. They have not been verified for accuracy, up to datedness or otherwise. These blogs do are provided for general and educational purposes only and do not constitute legal or other advice. *