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Genome-editing technologies can cause animals to suffer. The technologies, however, have already been applied to animals. Ahead of other countries, in Japan, genome-edited red sea bream and Fugu, or blowfish, have been fully developed and are already on the market. Genome-editing technology and genetic modification technology are essentially the same in their meaning. Although regulations applied to such technologies are different depending on countries, some of them use the terms “genome-editing” and others use the term “genetic modification”. What these technologies do are adding, deleting, or changing gene materials on the specific spots of genome (the complete set of genetic material and information organisms have). These technologies are essentially the…
From last July until January, Animal Rights Center Japan ran a #ShrimpsMatter campaign to raise awareness about shrimp eyestalk ablation. Partly to measure the effects of this campaign, we commissioned a survey at the end of July, and again with identical questions in January this year. After briefly describing the actual practice of breeder shrimps getting one of their eyes removed in aquaculture, including videos and photos on this campaign site, we asked 12 questions: 1. Before seeing this survey, did you know that shrimps can feel suffering? 2. Had you thought that you want to know about the breeding methods and breeding environments of shrimps that you eat? 3. Did…
An artist Ujiie-san, who is also a foster parent of chickens we rescued, donated a Buddhist art piece to the Animal Rights Center. Ideas of animal rights or animal welfare are often promoted by buddhist religious groups in some countries, like Taiwan or China. Although that’s not necessarily always the case here in Japan, a few temples share the passion of animal activism. Irrespective of religion, Japanese culture has originally appreciated ideas of mercy, compassion, dislike of killing, and respect for all beings. Many believe animal rights movements came from the Western society. However, the philosopher Peter Singer, who has theorized modern animal rights in academia, states that animal rights…
The Japan Ethical Initiative (JEI), a general incorporated association in which Animal Rights Center participates, has released the “JEI Ethical Standards”, which encompass ethical issues. The Ethical Standards are comprised of the following 8 major categories: Natural environment is protected Human rights are respected Consumers are respected Animal welfare and rights are protected Product and service information is disclosed Consideration is given to, and contributions are made to, the local community in which the organization operates Appropriate management is being carried out Collaborating proactively with suppliers and stakeholders Of these categories, [4. Animal welfare and rights are protected] includes the following criteria: 4.1 Using livestock and aquatic products that have…
At the end of July, we commissioned a public survey in advance of the #ShrimpsMatter campaign. After briefly describing the actual practice of breeder shrimps getting one of their eyes removed in aquaculture, including videos and photos on this campaign site, we asked 12 questions with the following 4 choices: Yes Rather yes Rather no No Before seeing this survey, did you know that shrimps can feel suffering? Had you thought that you want to know about the breeding methods and breeding environments of shrimps that you eat? Did you know that in shrimp farming, eyes are getting cut off? Do you feel you want to avoid shrimps from farms…
When you trace back where your food came from, you’ll find many footprints. By the time they get on your plate, some ingredients use a lot of water, emit greenhouse gases, afflict animals, and slaughter animals. For the energy to support you for 24 hours, how much resources are you using and causing suffering? To choose food with thought, let’s first follow your footprint. https://www.hopeforanimals.org/animal-footprint-en/ On 2021/6/25, Animal Rights Center Japan released “Food Footprint Calculator” for knowing the impacts of what we eat. By entering your food consumption into this calculator, you can find out: How many animals you eat each year How many hours of animal suffering you cause…
The committee members discussed a bill to revise the current act on climate change at the Environment Committee on April 27th 2021. In the committee, Mr. Kushida from Kanagawa commented that not only do we need stipulations about greenhouse gas emission, but we also need a measure for absorption. He also pointed out Japan’s impact on gas emission and destruction, not just domestically but also on a global scale. This is quite an important viewpoint when we discuss our goal to become carbon neutral. And yet, our legislation fails to present this angle. The government presented the goal based on the elimination of CO2 emission from our production activity, which…
There was a sign like this at MaxValu supermarket: This probably makes many consumers feel like they should eat more chicken and eggs. However, when speaking of taking in protein efficiently, it would make more sense to compare the amount of protein per unit calorie, rather than “per 100g”. This is because while it doesn’t really matter how many grams of food we eat per day, how many calories we should take in per day is roughly determined. For example, how about per 200kcal. According to Japan food standard composition table 2015 (1) as referred to in the above sign, the composition (protein, fat, cholesterol) per 200kcal is: Per 200kcal…
To reduce the sacrifice of animals as well as impacts to the environment, let’s request better products every time we go to a supermarket, via “customer comments” form or through the store staff. Phone call or the comments form on the website is another way. Every time you visit a supermarket, request a few products at a time. When you specify the product name, stores will often stock it within days or a few weeks. Especially when the store already has products by the same manufacturer, they’re more likely to stock it. Products already handled by stores within the same parent companies like the AEON group or Seven&i are more…
We’ve launched a petition to reduce the suffering of (broiler) chickens who are made into “Japanese chicken”. https://www.change.org/savechickens As a result of severe selective breeding for weight gain, 1/4 of the broilers are said to live under chronic pain 1/3 of their lives. Because they grow so fast, even if they aren’t slaughtered for meat, they are said to not live long. The chickens, who get killed only 40-50 days after birth, spend their entire lives inside. With their growing weights, the poultry shack becomes increasingly crowded, and their bodies get dirtier without being able to sandbathe. Like human children, young chickens love new interesting things. If they were to…
On 2019/11/12 at the House of Representatives Consumer Committee, Representative Keinin Horikoshi (Constitutional Democratic Party, Gunma) raised a question about promotion of animal welfare and ethical consumption. Mr. Horikoshi explained animal welfare as part of ethical consumption, its economic impact, investment impact, and the risk of intensive livestock farming, and appealed strongly about the need for help of the Consumer Affairs Agency, which bears the role of educating the consumers. In response, Shinichi Eto, Minister for Extraordinary Affairs of the Cabinet Office (consumers and food safety) stated as follows: After hearing from Representative, we were not always aware of this, so it was very helpful, or rather a very good…
The investor initiative FAIRR, which sheds light on the risks of animal-based protein (total invested asset balance of more than 2000 trillion yen), recommends the transition to plant-based protein, but the first important step in responding to this is that consumers can easily obtain new plant-based protein = veggie meats and soy milk products. Since Japan is a country with many tofu products, it’s possible that people have traditionally high plant-based protein intake. However, to reduce animal-based protein, penetration of products such as veggie meats and soy milk yogurt is indispensable. If these continue to be available only through mail order, penetration will be difficult. Thus, we surveyed how much…
The fraction of supermarkets carrying cage-free eggs increased to 51%. Animal welfare, spreading in Japan as well. Animal Rights Center Japan, with support from 77 volunteers in 24 prefectures nationwide from August 1 to September 31, 2019, surveyed 270 stores for animal welfare and plant-based protein availability. In the “Green Consumer Nationwide Store Survey 2015” sponsored by the nonprofit Citizens Environmental Foundation and participated by multiple organizations including the Animal Rights Center in 2015, 22% of the supermarkets sold eggs that were labeled cage-free or free-range, and 16% of supermarkets sold milk labeled “free range” or “grazing”. In 2019, the concept of animal welfare seems to have spread a lot,…
World’s 2nd largest meat producer Tyson Foods announced that it will debut their own plant-based protein alternatives this summer. Tyson Foods had previously invested in the plant-based meat company Beyond Meat, but in April this year Tyson sold its stake, intending to produce its own alternative products. According to research, the US meat-substitute retail market could reach $2.5 billion by 2023. (*1) Many other companies are engaged in this space, especially in Europe and North America. Canada’s largest meat product manufacturer Maple Leaf Foods bought the well-known plant-based brands Lightlife and Field Roast in 2017, and in October 2018 established a new plant-based food branch Greanleaf Foods (*2). In April this…
On November 30, 2022, Kayoko Natsume, a ward assembly member, asked a general question about animal welfare at a regular meeting of the ward assembly of Katsushika Ward, Tokyo. The question covered three items: the first was about TNR of community cats and the subsidy system, the second was about evacuation with pets. And third, she spoke about the introduction of cage-free egg feeding. Citing the trend of eliminating cage keeping in the EU and the Cabinet Office cafeteria’s cage-free program as examples, she said that Katsushika Ward should also work on this as part of the SDGs and set a good example for society. She stated “Cage-free chicken rearing…
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