World Day for the End of Speciesism: How Our Relationship with Animals Will Shape the Future

On August 31, a global movement will come together to observe the World Day for the End of Speciesism. This significant event, observed by animal rights organizations and individuals, challenges the belief that humans have the right to exploit and oppress non-human animals, advocating instead for a world where all sentient beings are treated with respect and compassion. The international animal protection NGO Sinergia Animal presents a series of reflections on how our relationship with animals will shape the future. 

The Case of Animal Consciousness: Are We So Different?

For centuries, non-human animals have been considered mere commodities. Assumptions about their inferior capacities, lack of reasoning and language, and even lack of sentience justify the use and exploitation of animals for food, cosmetics, entertainment, transportation, medicine, and many other human projects. However, the latest scientific findings show that various animals share many similar human qualities and attributes, closing the gap that sustains discrimination. For example, brain structures associated with emotions in humans and the experience of pain have been widely demonstrated in all vertebrates.

“Science is recognizing an increasing number of animal species as beings with intelligence, memory, and the capacity to experience sensations and emotions. At the same time, we are progressing in identifying their languages, the social bonds they establish, and their inherent desire to experience a life free of pain and suffering,” explains Carolina Galvani, Executive Director of Sinergia Animal. 

2012 marked a turning point when a prominent group of scientists published “The Cambridge Declaration of Consciousness,” recognizing that various animal species (including all mammals and birds, but also some other species) share the same neurobiological substrates of consciousness. Between 2021 and 2022, all vertebrate species and many invertebrates (such as lobsters, octopuses, and crabs) were legally included in the UK government’s Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, promoting policymaking that considers their ability to feel pain. This year, “The New York Declaration of Animal Consciousness” also highlighted insects and mollusks, such as snails and oysters, and stated that “when there is a realistic possibility of conscious experience in an animal, it is irresponsible to ignore that possibility in decisions affecting that animal.”

“These statements make it clear that the arguments justifying animal exploitation are biased or simply incorrect. Psychological studies show that humans feel more empathy towards species to which we are more closely related (mammals rather than birds and fish, for example). But research is showing that all species deserve moral consideration, no matter how closely related they are to us. We must therefore make the necessary changes in our society to respect their lives,” states Galvani.

How the Animal Movement is Shaping the Future

With the growing recognition of animal sentience, organizations and individuals working to protect animals are seeking to transform exploitative industries, eliminating the cruelest practices and promoting alternatives in which animal species do not have to be harmed for human interests. At the forefront of this movement, the international NGO Sinergia Animal highlights factory farming as one of the most pressing and urgent issues. 

“Our fight against speciesism links to fundamental goals such as protecting the most neglected species: more than 80 billion terrestrial animals are slaughtered for meat yearly. Estimates for fish and marine species are more uncertain, but they double these figures when included. Most of these animals are raised in intensive confinement systems known as ‘factory farming,’ where the drive for profit very often overrides considerations of animal well-being: they are crammed into cages or overcrowded sheds, denied the ability to express many of their natural behaviors, and subjected to painful procedures and diseases.” said Galvani.

Even though the continued growth of industrial livestock farming is concerning, for Sinergia Animal, the animal welfare movement is leading a revolution like never before. “The transformation of the food industry is evident. We are securing commitments from thousands of companies globally to eliminate cruel practices such as confinement in cages and crates; we push the financial sector to divest factory farming; and we have supported institutions to start serving millions of animal-free meals. Nearly 60 million animals are being impacted positively every year by our campaigns. These results show that we’re shaping a better future for all species, which is at the heart of our anti-speciesist mission,” concludes Galvani.

On the World Day for the End of Speciesism, Sinergia Animal is launching a global call for volunteers interested in protecting animals. If you want to join this movement, sign up here.