South African Emmy-nominee supports animal welfare campaign

Actors Brian Cox CBE and South African Emmy-nominee Thuso Mbedu are throwing their weight behind a FOUR PAWS campaign which is calling upon governments to prioritise animal welfare policies to prevent the next pandemic

Cape Town, 13 July 2022 – Global animal welfare organisation, FOUR PAWS have teamed up with leading actors Brian Cox CBE and South African Thuso Mbedu to underline the essential need to put animal welfare front and centre when it comes to trying to prevent the next pandemic.

Cox and Mbedu have both contributed to a new FOUR PAWS video which calls for a paradigm shift in how humankind treats animals in the future to prevent the next pandemic.

This can only be done by prioritizing health for all humans, animals and the environment as a priority and establishing key prevention measures on a national and global level through intragovernmental organisations.

Last December, at a special session of the World Health Assembly there was an agreement to develop and put in place an international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

This agreement is now being negotiated between World Health Organisation Member States with FOUR PAWS advocating that a “One Health” approach and strategy that highlights the interconnectedness between the welfare of humans, animals and nature needs to be implemented within the instrument.

The successful adoption of a “One Health” approach will require fundamental shifts in our production and consumption patterns, and our economic systems. This is needed as scientific studies show that 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonoses, meaning they are of animal origin.

Such spill overs happen because of the way humans treat animals and interfere with nature.

In October of last year, FOUR PAWS published a Future Study on Pandemic Prevention which produced stark and worrying results. International experts from disciplines such as virology, human and veterinary medicine and climate research who participated in the study, predict a worrying picture for the future: zoonoses are a clear symptom of the crisis between humans, animals, and the environment. The study also pointed out the extent to which animal suffering contributes to disease outbreaks.

Martin Bauer, head of Ambassador Relations at FOUR PAWS, says: “It is a huge honour to have the support and backing of revered actors and experts on such an important and vital campaign. At FOUR PAWS we cannot thank them enough for lending their time and talent in helping raise awareness on key animal welfare issues.”

Thuso Mbedu, says: “This is a crucial campaign. The way we treat animals and nature needs to change. Because if they suffer, we have seen clearly that we suffer too. Governments need to listen to experts and tackle the root causes of most pandemics by improving animal welfare standards. Only together we can prevent the next pandemic.”