International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats a Success Events around the world focus global opposition to cruel cat and dog meat trade
On July 20th, 2006, IDA held our 2nd annual International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats to protest South Korea's continued trade in dog and cat meat. On this global day of action, activists held demonstrations outside of Korean consulates and embassies throughout the U.S. (in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Fresno, Calif.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Syracuse, N.Y.) and the world (in Barcelona, Spain; Mexico City; Vancouver, Canada, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Seoul, South Korea. Thank you to all of the groups and grassroots activists who took part in protests and made this day such a success. Special recognition is due to the Korean animal protection groups that co-sponsored International Day with IDA: Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE), Korean Association for Animal Protection (KAAP) and Animal Freedom Korea (AFK).
Reports from the field indicate that International Day events garnered the attention of Korean officials working in the U.S. and the media. At the Republic of Korea Consulate General in San Francisco, activists rang the doorbell and were buzzed inside the building -- even the woman dressed in a dog costume! Staff called security when they realized someone had let the protestors in, but IDA's Melissa Gonzalez still handed over signed petitions and politely asked officials to abandon their policy on sanitation management of dog meat. Activists also conducted public outreach outside the Consulate, distributing even more leaflets than expected. At one point, Korean officials arrived in an official car, and pulled up right in front of protesters holding a banner chanting in unison "Shame on Korea!" over and over until they disappeared inside.
IDA's Bill Dyer hosted a demonstration at the Republic of Korea Consulate General in Los Angeles which was attended by both animal advocates and reporters from Korean newspapers and TV and radio stations. Bill cordially told a Consulate spokesperson, Mr. Heesang Yoon, that if he could show that the Consulate was taking action to help Korean dogs and cats, IDA would make a point of publicizing their efforts. Meanwhile, activists in Barcelona, Spain lined the sidewalk with people holding signs and laid out packages of supposed dog and cat meat with nametags on the plastic wrap to remind people that animals are individuals. Activists in Seoul, South Korea packed themselves into cages loaded onto a truck bed to illustrate that people should not eat dogs any more than they should eat meat made from humans. Groups in other states and countries hosted still more demonstrations to make people aware of what Korea is doing to dogs and cats and pressure the country's Government to stop the slaughter.
What You Can Do: Stay tuned for pictures from International Day events held around the world later this week.
Sign IDA's petition urging the Korean Prime Minister to strengthen his country's Animal Protection Law and prevent cruelty to dogs and cats killed for meat.
On July 20th, 2006, IDA held our 2nd annual International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats to protest South Korea's continued trade in dog and cat meat. On this global day of action, activists held demonstrations outside of Korean consulates and embassies throughout the U.S. (in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Fresno, Calif.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Syracuse, N.Y.) and the world (in Barcelona, Spain; Mexico City; Vancouver, Canada, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Seoul, South Korea. Thank you to all of the groups and grassroots activists who took part in protests and made this day such a success. Special recognition is due to the Korean animal protection groups that co-sponsored International Day with IDA: Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE), Korean Association for Animal Protection (KAAP) and Animal Freedom Korea (AFK).
IDA's Bill Dyer hosted a demonstration at the Republic of Korea Consulate General in Los Angeles which was attended by both animal advocates and reporters from Korean newspapers and TV and radio stations. Bill cordially told a Consulate spokesperson, Mr. Heesang Yoon, that if he could show that the Consulate was taking action to help Korean dogs and cats, IDA would make a point of publicizing their efforts. Meanwhile, activists in Barcelona, Spain lined the sidewalk with people holding signs and laid out packages of supposed dog and cat meat with nametags on the plastic wrap to remind people that animals are individuals. Activists in Seoul, South Korea packed themselves into cages loaded onto a truck bed to illustrate that people should not eat dogs any more than they should eat meat made from humans. Groups in other states and countries hosted still more demonstrations to make people aware of what Korea is doing to dogs and cats and pressure the country's Government to stop the slaughter.