~A.L.Lit~

This year Ric and I have become very involved with Beauty Without Cruelty South Africa, an organisation which you may know predominantly for its work pertaining to the cosmetics industry and its vetting of animal friendly products in South Africa. Although animal testing was the organisation's original focus it has, in recent years, extended its reach into many more aspects of the Animal Rights Movement which encompasses vivisection, factory farming, animal trading and performing animals, amongst others. 

During the course of this year the organisation started organising massively successful protests against pet shops selling animals (to date, there have been protests against City Pets, Paradise Pets, West Rand Bird and Pet Farm - the most despicable, inhumane and sick establishment of the lot- and PetMaster) as well as a silent protest against the infamous Brian Boswell Circus (not to be confused with the Boswell Wilkie circus which no longer uses animals in its shows)which was recently featured on Carte Blanche for the abuse of its elephants. 

Apart from the protests, which serve to raise public awareness, the organisation is partnering with animal rights' organisations, legal practitioners and other interested parties to effect concrete changes to the way that animals are (mis)treated in this country. 

The lady who heads up the Johannesburg branch of BWC is in the midst of compiling an amazing library of literature on the treatment of animals. 

What came as the biggest surprise to me was the (comparatively large) amount of kids' literature available on the treatment of animals. They are some of the most beautifully illustrated kids' books that I have ever seen (I've actually ordered myself copies of certain books). They educate the reader about abuse of and kindness towards animals in an unflinching but appropriate way. 

There is also a mass of adult literature out there (which is not quite as cushioned a read as the kids' stuff) which provides great insight into the history of as well as the current state of animal treatment across the world. 

In particular there is a book entitled Animal Rights in South Africa, written by Michele Pickover, which provides a meticulously researched analysis on the status of animal rights in our country(focusing on vivisection, trophy hunting, trade in wild animals and animals as food). This book is a great means to debate animal rights issues with those people who are of the steadfast opinion that literature written and/or statistics which originate in the US or UK cannot be transposed here.

David Bilchitz is also a major beacon of the animal rights movement in South Africa. He heads up the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights & International Law (SAIFAC)and has written numerous publications which analyse, among others, the relationship between our Constitution and Animals as well as Transformative Constitutionalism and Animal Rights.