British Columbia

Animal rights hub

We are here to fight for animals in the blind spot in our community that are being abused and being treated badly. We are here to spread news about the animals that are being sacrificed even now.

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Universal Declaration of

Animal Rights

The “Universal Declaration of Animal Rights” was first proclaimed in 1978 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. It lays out fundamental principles to protect animals, affirming their right to live within their natural environment and be free from suffering. The declaration includes key articles stating that animals deserve respect, humane treatment, and protection from unnecessary pain or cruelty. In 1989, the text was revised to further emphasize these rights and was submitted again to UNESCO in 1990. While it is not legally binding, this declaration aims to influence laws and raise global awareness about animal rights.

The Declaration of Animal Rights

SINCE THE DAWN OF HUMANITY, there remains a group so persistently abused and marginalized, that their suffering is ingrained in our everyday lives. If animals could freely talk, their chorus of cries would drown out every other sound in the world. We are all animals. We are all living, breathing beings who share the same Earth. We all feel pain and suffer when we are hurt or deprived of our lives, our families, our freedom. We all have the right to experience kindness, compassion and dignity. We believe in the kinship of all beings, and the possibility for us to coexist in peace and harmony on planet Earth.

CONSIDERING that all living beings on planet Earth came originally from the same source, and follow the same evolutional principles;

CONSIDERING that all living beings on planet Earth inhabit the same lands, seas and air, and therefore share them and their resources to live within, and to live off of, comprising one ecological system;

CONSIDERING that all living beings possess the same basic needs: to survive, to seek happiness and pleasure and avoid pain, to live comfortably, to procreate, create families and other social structures;

CONSIDERING that all living beings, as known to humankind, are sentient beings, and therefore can feel pain, pleasure, sensations, feelings and emotions;

CONSIDERING that the human species is only one of millions of animal species, and comprises a minute minority in number, compared to the billions of animals living on this planet;

WE HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all beings are created equal, and have a right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of their Happiness.
Therefore, all animals have the same natural right to exist, as any other living being.
All animals have the right to be free, to live their lives on their own terms, as intended by nature.
All animals have the right to eat, sleep, be physically and psychologically comfortable, be mobile, healthy, safe, and fulfill all their natural and essential needs. As such, all animals are to be free from hunger, thirst, and malnutrition; physical discomfort and exhaustion; confinement against their will, bad treatment, abusive or cruel actions; pain, injury and disease; fear and distress; and free to express their normal patterns of behavior.
All animals have the right to reproduce, live with their offspring, families, tribes or communities, and maintain a natural social life. They have the right to live in their natural environment, grow to a rhythm natural to their species, and maintain a life that corresponds to their natural longevity.
Animals are not the property or commodity of humans, and are not theirs to use for their benefit or sustenance. Therefore, they are to be free from slavery, exploitation, oppression, victimization, brutality, abuse, and any other treatment that disregards their safety, own free will and dignity. They should not be slaughtered for food, killed for their skins, experimented on, killed for religious purposes, used for forced labor, abused and killed for sport and entertainment, abused for commercial profit, hunted, persecuted or exterminated for human pleasure, need, or other ends.
Humans shall do whatever is within their means to protect all animals. Any animal who is dependent on a human, has the right to proper sustenance and care, and shall not be neglected, abandoned, or killed.
Animals who have died must be treated with respect and dignity, as humans are.
We call for the protection of these rights. They must be recognized and defended by law, as human rights are. Any act which compromises the wellbeing or survival of an animal or species, or jeopardizes, contradicts, or deprives an animal or species of the rights listed above, should be deemed a crime, and should be punished accordingly.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, this Declaration is hereby signed today, Sunday, June 5th 2011, The First National Animal Rights Day, in the City of New York, The United States of America.

(Original text written by Aylam Orian and anonymous, and edited by Aylam Orian and Zelda Penzel)

Animal Ethics Foundation

Eco Jurisprudence Monitor

Black Bears in British Columbia

In British Columbia, black bears are common and live in a wide variety of ecosystems, with estimates suggesting that the province is home to around 120,000 to 150,000 black bears. While most of BC is considered bear country, increasing human expansion into prime bear habitats, such as urban areas, farms, and ranches, has led to growing human-bear interactions. Unfortunately, this has resulted in more conflicts and a significant rise in the number of bears euthanized by conservation officers—460 in just the first nine months of 2024.

These conflicts often stem from bears being attracted to human food sources like garbage, compost, and pet food. Once a bear becomes habituated or food-conditioned, it is more likely to enter populated areas, leading to property damage and safety concerns. As a result, many of these bears are euthanized to protect public safety. Communities, such as Prince George, have seen especially high rates of bear deaths.

Efforts to manage and reduce these conflicts include programs like WildSafeBC, which emphasizes public education on securing attractants and safely coexisting with wildlife. Additionally, measures such as carrying bear spray, avoiding areas with poor visibility, and taking courses on bear safety are recommended to minimize dangerous encounters.

The province is also working to improve protections for bear habitats, including efforts to safeguard denning sites and maintain ecosystems that support healthy bear populations. This is crucial for preventing future conflicts and ensuring the long-term conservation of black bears in British Columbia.

(The above data refers to the Wildsafe BC website.)

Interested in Black bears?

Here are a few helpful websites for learning about black bear conservation:

BearWise – This site offers a wealth of practical advice on how to coexist with black bears. It focuses on preventing conflicts by teaching people how to secure food, garbage, and other attractants to avoid drawing bears into populated areas.
North American Bear Center – This educational facility provides detailed information about black bear behavior, ecology, and conservation. It is committed to replacing myths about bears with scientific facts, and you can even observe bears via live cams.
National Wildlife Federation – The NWF provides comprehensive resources on black bear biology, habitat, and conservation efforts, focusing on promoting coexistence between humans and bears, particularly in areas where their populations are recovering.

Each of these sites offers different perspectives and resources on how to help conserve and protect black bears.