The 5 Freedoms: Basic rights for animals

Basic rights for animals.

The five freedoms as currently expressed are:

1. Freedom from hunger or thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour
2. Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area
3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment
4. Freedom to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper faciltiies and company of the animal's own kind
5. Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering

The five freedoms, sometimes known as Brambell's five freedoms, are a compact of rights for animals under human control, including those intended for food or which act as working animals. The five freedoms were originally developed from a UK Government report on livestock husbandry in 1965. The five freedoms are used as the basis for the actions of professional groups, including vets and have been adopted by representative groups internationally including the World Organisation for Animal Health and Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In Alberta: (Calls to this organization have not been returned, as of yet. Will update if they do.)

From Alberta Farm Animal Care:

AFAC Board Members

• Alberta Auction Markets Association
• Alberta Beef Producers
• Alberta Cattle Feeders' Association
• Alberta Chicken Producers
• Alberta Egg Producers
• Alberta Elk Commission
• Alberta Equestrian Federation
• Alberta Hatching Egg Producers
• Alberta Lamb Producers
• Alberta Milk
• Alberta Pork
• Alberta Turkey Producers
• Alberta Veterinary Medical Association
• University of Alberta
• University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine
• Western Stock Growers Association
• Wild Rose Agricultural Producers
• Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

AFAC Active Members

• Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies
• Alberta Cattle Feeders' Association (Directors at Large on AFAC Board)
• Alberta Poultry Hatchery Association
• Bison Producers of Alberta
• Canada/Alberta Livestock Research Trust Inc.
• Calgary Stampede
• Canadian Professional Rodeo Association
• Edmonton Northlands
• Feeder Association of Alberta Ltd.
• Horse Racing Alberta
• Lakeland College, Agricultural Science
• North American Equine Ranching Information Council
• Olds College, School of Animal Science
• University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine (Directors at Large on AFAC Board)

AFAC Associate Members

Alberta veterinarians, colleges, food companies, meat processors, agribusinesses and individuals also support AFAC.

Alberta Livestock Protection System (ALPS)

The Alberta Livestock Protection Network (ALPN) was created in direct response to growing public and producer concern for an effective, accountable and coordinated province-wide program targeting animal care. ALPN is a partnership of AFAC, Alberta SPCA and Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development.

The Laws & Regulations - Animal Protection Legislation

Provincial

• Animal Protection Act
• Livestock and Livestock Products Act
• Livestock Identification & Commerce Act
• Livestock Industry Diversification Act
• Meat Inspection Act - Meat Inspection Regulations
• Stray Animals Act
• Veterinary Profession Act
• Animal Keepers Act

Federal

• Criminal Code of Canada, Cruelty to Animals Bill - UNDER REVIEW
• Health of Animals Act
• Meat Inspections Act

Report on Animal Welfare Law in Canada

The Report on Animal Welfare Law in Canada (Jun 04) focuses on legislation that effects livestock welfare. The report illustrates how livestock welfare enforcement is conducted throughout Canada. Content includes:

Federal Legislation Use of Criminal Code Provinces without Provincial Welfare Acts How Animal Protection is Enforced

Funding of Enforcement Enforcement Stats Provincial Animal Protection Legislation

The series was featured in Livestock Welfare INSIGHTS.

Other Resources

It is meet and right so to do. Considerations in the humane treatment of low value livestock Terry Whiting Jan 05

The Unfashionably Late Arrival of the Machiavellian Elitist Food Clique

Reference for Food Targets in imagineCalgary:

iC: imagineCalgary: Every single mention of the word "FOOD" 
http://paulin8.blogspot.com/20...

The origins of the Calgary Food Committee, a thinly veiled, machiavellian elitist food clique, come from the Calgary Food Policy Council, a group focused on a collective dialogue with all Calgarians that did not cost taxpayers a cent: Backgrounder on Food Policy in Calgary http://calgaryfoodpolicy.blogs...

Numerous requests over the past year to the Mayor's office for access to budget numbers for imagineCalgary, presently "incubated" (see smothered) by the Office of Sustainability, have been ignored. 

The process to select the consultant for the food assessment was kept quiet from almost everyone in the Calgary food community. Even aldermen were unaware that the RFP had gone out.
 
Melbourne Principles and Triple Bottomline, two approaches to decision making that the City of Calgary has adopted, have largely been ignored.

Additionally, the debate on the benefits of a Local Food System has been taking place for over 40 years.

There are also numerous city/urban farm initiatives around the world, including GrowingPower.com in Milwaukee. At the Calgary Food Policy Council Mayor's Forum on Food & Sustainability, hosted the day before the Municipal election in 2010, Nenshi said he supported a progressive food policy for Calgary. Yet Mayor Nenshi has the Calgary Community Farm initiative sitting on his desk. It's been there for almost a year. I guess Food Trucks mean Food Security to our Mayor, which is so Bronco. 

Calgary, with a massive unused land inventory, arguably the world's largest unused municipal land base, has an amazing opportunity to grow food, appropriate to our climate. Advances in growing techniques can extend our season. Feeding Calgarians through local cultivation is the single largest economic development opportunity in Calgary at the moment and would create 1000's of jobs. It ties in well with commitments to end homelessness, poverty and underemployment, providing opportunities to cultivate, hartvest, manage & distribute local foods. It complements existing Food Banking, by assisting vulnerable individuals and families. It provides access to nutritious foods.

The health benefits are considerable, any dietician/heath expert knows that. The social benefits are enormous, any community builder knows that. The economic multipliers are substantial, any economist knows that... or at least should...

Calgary Art News: Marnie Burkhart Exhibition 09Feb2012

St Pat's Housing for the Homeless is successful!

Identified as one of the only successful Occupy camps of the 1500 across the planet, the St Pat's organization continues to place individuals into programs for housing, education & employment. Additionally, counselling for a variety of issues is also being accessed from local agencies. A byproduct of the experience is an identification of best practices within the homeless network, as well as gleaning deeply relevant information on systemic ommissions and inefficiencies. There are significant chasms in service delivery, areas which St Pat's will target on the Compassion Continuum.

The St Pat's Co-op is formalizing and discussions continue with numerous local organizations, focused primarily on the One STOP Shop (employee owned BottleDepot, FarmersMarket, EmploymentAgency, HealthServices, Bike Repairs, Communications, Services, Supports, Training, et al) & the MHOPP (Micro Home Ownership Pilot Program) which includes the CCFI (Calgary Community Farm Initiative) on the TUC (Transportation and Utility Corridor).


St Pat's Co-op on Facebook

St Pat's Co-op Blog

Article 25 Food & Shelter UNHRD

HOME: Home Ownership Matters 2 Every1 & MHOPP

HOMES 4 the Holidays

CPR: Calgary Poverty Reduction

ReSTART

ARE3A: Ag + Recreation + Environment + Education + Entertainment + Art

Nenshi Jam

A Broncoesque response from Mayor Nenshi:

Mayor Nenshi irked to find himself listed as Occupy Calgary creator (actually admin)

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Mayor+Nenshi+irked+find+himself+listed+Occupy+Calgary+creator/5508507/story.html#ixzz1a2wKMvR9

Sisters & Brothers: This is an independent proposal 2 all #OccupyCalgary participants. Attn: No commitments have been made.

05Oct11

Sisters & Brothers: 

This is an independent proposal 2 all #OccupyCalgary participants.

Attn: No commitments have been made.

This is a proposal that has been researched and discussed, NO commitments have been made.

Via a conversation with a representative of Calgary City Police and a representative of the City of Calgary, we have a SUGGESTION on how the Occupy Calgary event can unfold in a respectful, responsible & safe manner. 

#OccupyCalgary would have a base at Centenary Park on @St. Patrick's Island. Movement into the downtown core would be along the RiverWalk system, with final entrance to the core from Eau Claire Market along Barklay Mall (3rd ST). This would provide for minimal disruption and allow us to access Stephen Ave, including Banker's Hall & Olympic Plaza, if in fact we choose to do so.

Tenatively, the base camp would be established for aprox 2 weeks at Centenary Park, with portable toilets, water and clearly designated camping spots. There would be an area for daily assemblies and group gatherings. After 2 weeks, we would review with The City of Calgary & Calgary Police Service.

The CPS has indicated that they would like to work together. We have been invited to a meeting tomorrow @ 9am at CPS HQ to discuss the details of #OccupyCalgary and how we can HOST our event so that Public Safety is achieved.

Again, NO commitments have been made.

My humble suggestion to the General Assembly is we meet with the CPS/City of Calgary and finalize the above option.

Again, NO commitments have been made.

 Respectfully,

Paul Hughes

50 Best Neighbourhoods in Calgary... Only 1 east of Deerfoot Trail

Only 1 East of the Deerfoot...

Courtesy of Avenue Magazine digital edition

YYCCC Research & Decision-Making Flow Chart Improvement Recommendation 1.0

Click on image to enlarge...

Local Food Trinity/Trifecta: Agrarian Urbanism, Food Policy Council & LIFA: Land Inventory Food Assessment

Local Food Trinity/Trifecta:

1. Agrarian Urbanism
2. Food Policy Council
3. LIFA: Land Inventory Food Assessment

Every North American community should have these three concepts/principles represented in their pursuit of community sustainability.

Sprawl Repair Manual

Sprawl Repair Manual on Facebook

Sprawl remains the prevailing growth pattern across Canada & the United States, even though experts in planning, economics and environmental issues have long denounced it as wasteful, inefficient, and unsustainable. Sprawl is a principal cause of lost open space and natural habitat as well as increases in air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, infrastructure costs, and even obesity. It also plays a primary role in the housing meltdown plaguing the nation. But is it possible to repair sprawling suburbs and create more livable, robust, and eco-sensitive communities where they do not now exist? This new book answers with a resounding "yes" and provides a toolbox of creative approaches for doing just that.

The Sprawl Repair Manual offers comprehensive guidance for transforming fragmented, isolated and car-dependent development into "complete communities." Polemical as well as practical, the manual is designed to equip readers - from professional planners, designers, and developers to regulators and concerned citizens - with strategies drawn from two decades of successful repair projects.

In contrast to sprawl - characterized by an abundance of congested highways, strip development, and gated cul-de-sac subdivisions - complete communities are diverse in terms of uses, transportation options, and population. They are walkable, with most daily needs close by.

There is a wealth of research and literature explaining the origins and problems of suburban sprawl, as well as the urgent need to repair it. However, the Sprawl Repair Manual is the first book to provide a step-by-step design, regulatory, and implementation process. From the scale of the region to the building - turning subdivisions into walkable neighborhoods, shopping centers and malls into town centers, and more - today's sprawl can be saved. Readers who have despaired of ever being able to "take back the suburbs" will find heartening news between the covers of this first-of-its-kind book.

FFWD Weekly Best of Calgary: Most Dedicated Activist: Paulin8

Yay!

As activists we rarely receive recognition for our work... So it was a very pleasant surprise to see I had been voted Most Dedicated Activist in Calgary.

The FFWD "Award", of course, reflects the work of 100's of people in Art, Ag & Local Politics. Congrats to Sharon & Grant & Thank you, Calgary!