written/translated by: Erica Kalika Bloechlinger
Stiftung für Ethik im
Unterricht
Elfenauweg 45
- CH-3006 Bern - Tel / Fax 031 351 19 06
E-Mail:ethik@tierundwir.ch -
http://www.tierundwir.ch/
School talks about Animal Rights and Ethics in Switzerland
(A Short summary and alternative proposals)
Our Foundation specializes in giving talks on animal rights, ethics and prevention of violence in schools
and
other learning institutions. For this purpose we regularly recruit and train motivated and talented vegetarians in the
German part of Switzerland. Once trained, all these mobile speakers contact and visit schools autonomously in their
own
region and regularly report about their schedules and activities to the foundation. These professional school speakers
work quite individually but on the basis of the same educational materials which the foundation has especially
produced
for this purpose. We use a great variety of presentation methods which are all adapted to the age of the young people.
Besides, we also organize and coach groups such as “kids for animals” or similar. Most of our approaches
are very similar to those suggested by Shabari Monica Saha.
Other than in Great Britain, our professional
school visitors are paid for their teaching activities. Furthermore, they are obliged to regularly meet for up-to-date
training, psychological approaches to the issues and exchanging experiences in order to optimize their teaching
ability. In Switzerland it is very difficult to find capable vegetarians who are financially independent enough to be
able to work on a voluntary basis.
A worthwhile alternative to Shabari Monica Saha’s excellent and
very detailed proposals would be the following:
One or two large organizations in Great Britain (or in any other
country) could specialize in training school speakers on a high professional level. If no such organization is ready
to
do so, a group of motivated vegetarians could set off such a training institution. Once trained, these professionals
would then have the following four alternatives:
- They could visit schools and other learning institutions on a salary basis (or honorary) organized by the
institution that has trained them
- They could visit schools in the name of their own organization
- If they are financially independent, they could organize and visit school talksindividually on a purely
honorary basis
- And last but not least, they could be “hired” by smaller organisations that
have neither the time nor the means nor the people to set up a school talks’ service of their own. This easy and
inexpensive solution would surely be much appreciated by most of the smaller average organisations. At least they
could
contribute to this very important project instead of doing nothing because of lack of know-how or means.
We fully agree with Shabari Monica Saha, that no other ways or means in the animal protection scene can
change the future so rapidly and radically as taking the message to the young people. The young are sick and tired of
terror, wars and violence and they are unconsciously yearning for a better world. The earlier we let them know that
the
world of tomorrow will belong to them and that they will have the power to influence and change matters on this earth,
the better. The young people of today must fully understand that they are the ones who will have the choice between
continuing abusing and exploiting the earth and its creatures or banning violence from the face of the earth and live
in harmony and respect with all other beings.
If any other country or organization is interested in our
model, we will be pleased to share our experience with them and help setting up a similar institution. Please contact
us at the above address or directly by E-mail: ethik@tierundwir.ch
Erica Kalika Bloechlinger
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