Germany: Animal welfare is important for voting decisions
In Germany, animal welfare is an important factor in the voting decisions of many citizens. A survey reveals growing awareness of animal rights.
Animal welfare increasingly decisive at the ballot box: For 59 percent of Germans, the issue of animal welfare is important or very important when making voting decisions at federal or state level. This is the result of an INSA opinion poll, published by PETA. The animal rights organisation sees the survey results in connection with the surge in support for the party Bündnis 90/Die Grünen in state elections and polls over recent months. PETA calls on the party executives of the Grand Coalition to initiate a U-turn in animal welfare policy and to limit the influence of agricultural lobbyists in the Bundestag.
Anti-animal welfare policies are being punished
«In PETA’s assessment, the Grand Coalition’s hostile stance on animal welfare has played a significant role in the Greens’ surge,» said Peter Höffken, policy adviser at PETA. «2018 saw shocking video releases from slaughterhouses and agricultural operations once again making it clear that animal welfare remains nothing more than lip service for the federal government. In addition, piglet castration without anaesthesia was permitted for a further two years, and according to the coalition agreement, action is to be taken against animal welfare activists who film footage inside agricultural facilities.» A growing awareness of animal rights.
is also emerging in Switzerland
Public outreach at record levels
As early as 2013, the study «The Networking of the Agri-Industry and Agricultural Policy in Germany», commissioned by the Bundestag parliamentary group Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, concluded that «in particular the large and largest companies in the agricultural and food industry have a strong presence in parliaments and other bodies involved in political decision-making». Regarding the German Farmers' Association, it states: «Its central position in shaping German agricultural policy and representing interests is undisputed.» Why hobby hunting is an animal welfare problem is shown in the dossier by IG Wild beim Wild.
PETA's motto is: Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or exploit in any other way.
