Chinese Animal Protection Network

Chinese Animal Protection Network (CAPN) is a non-profit animal protection organization, and the first Chinese network for animal protection. As an organization founded by native Chinese people, at its core, there are some of the most dedicated Chinese activists. CAPN is well known for its pioneering role in the rapid development of the modern animal rights movement in China in recent years. It has led some important trends of the movement: group unity, the growing movement against eating cats and dogs, and converting from emotion-based to science-based animal protection among the animal protection communities.

Since the launching of its first project 'Chinese Companion Animal Protection Network', the network keeps expending and has reached almost every part of China. By April 2008 there were 48 member groups, 2 branches and over ten thousand individual supporters who recognize CAPN's values: using technology, research, education, artistry, and creativity to make the world a better place for all sentient beings.^[1]

CAPN is an animal rights group with a science-based philosophy of animal rights.^[2] They oppose violence in the animal rights movement and see animal rights as a dynamic concept; they believe the rights of different animals are different because their needs are different. Six keys of their philosophy include:^[2]

unity: animal rights philosophy is a part of universal law
complexity: everyone has his/her own animal rights view
evolution: human understanding of animal rights is evolving
continuity: continuity exists between everything, from humans to animals, from high animal to low animals, difference is not discreet but gradual
non-violence: people cannot fight unethical behavior with unethical behavior; love and justice can make the difference
originality: the three pillars of Chinese tradition—Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism—all have teachings regarding respect towards animals.

1 Projects
2 Notable contributions
3 Awards
4 See also
5 References

Projects

Chinese Companion Animal Protection Network

Chinese Companion Animal Protection Network (CCAPN) was launched in 2004. It is a cooperative network of groups and individuals working for companion animal protection in Chinese communities. CCAPN supervises and supports the animal protection work of the member groups. It also facilitates the exchange of resources and information between groups and individuals. The campaign against eating cats and dogs is a major function of CCAPN.^[3] According to their 2007 campaign report^[4], by 2004 there were already some isolated companion animals groups emerging in China. The founding members were shocked by the cruelty associated with the practice of eating cats and dogs, so they decided to launch CCAPN to end the practice.

Animal Rights in China

The Animal Rights in China website was launched on 22 July 2006, and is the major portal for animal rights issues in China. Academic research on animal ethics and networking of animal rights activists are important functions of this project. It is developing a Chinese online encyclopedia of animal protection (APpedia).^[5]

Changchun Animal Protection Network

CAPA is well known for using high profile performance arts shows in its publicity. ^[6].

POVchina

POVchina is an information portal for vegetarianisms. It is known for using interactive computer games in public education. ^[7]

Notable contributions

CAPN works closely with domestic, international, and overseas organizations working in China, providing advice and support for their work.
CAPN runs a campaign against cat-and-dog-eating (the practice of eating cat meat or dog meat). They are the first group to use the slogan 'Stop eating cats and dogs' in their campaign. They also coordinated many groups in more than ten cities in China to join this campaign. This slogan has been adopted by animal rights groups around the country. They launched the online-signing event against consumption of cat and dog meat in 2007, which received over 40,000 signatures. Their campaign has led to a large amount of publicity and discussion of this issue among the public.
CAPN runs a campaign against animal hoarding. They led a large-scale online debate on the topic in 2006, and later published two research documents regarding animal hoarding, the first of their kind to be published in Chinese. They are the major contributors to a change in the pro-hoarding climate of China.
CAPN provides a network for animal protection groups. They are the first organization devoted to the unity of Chinese animal protection communities.^[8]
In April 2008, CAPN introduced World Lab Animal Day to China for the first time.

Awards

CAPN projects have won several awards:^[9]

Jan 2008: CCAPN won 'great contribution to animal protection in 2007' award in 'Animals in China' Shanghai conference.
Mar 2008: ARC won funding for its online encyclopedia from Cultural and Animal Foundation, which is established and chaired by animal rights philosopher Tom Regan.