This is exciting. I wish you so much luck with this important work, I’ve heard a lot that legislative work in Latin America is important. In the OWA we focus on corporate campaigning to secure cage-free commitments, so I really hope you have success in tackling the legislative side of animal suffering.
Carley Betts
Karma: 52
Caroline highlighted the work of the Open Wing Alliance well (we both work for The Humane League). In Asia for example, a maximum of 2-3% of eggs are likely to be cage-free, so we are using (and contextualising) the tactics that have worked in the US and Europe in Asia and other places—around 60% of the world’s caged hens are in Asia so getting new commitments and building momentum there is a key focus for us. We made some good progress last year with Kewpie, a flagship Asian brand.
Your question on why companies don’t highlight their slight moral superiority is interesting. Public reports comparing fulfilled commitments Vs laggards work well, so I do think the avoiding negative publicity pull is strong. I used to work with supermarkets in the UK and the high-end, prestigious one once told me that highlighting that they e.g. don’t allow beak trimming in their laying hens would potentially raise questions and anger in consumers—“you USED to trim the ends of hens’ beaks off!?”. It was why it was hard to get them to move on issues like not culling male chicks, as it wasn’t something they particularly wanted to highlight ever doing.
Thanks for the interesting post on this topic!
In 2024, the Open Wing Alliance made critical progress for chickens around the world. Read our Year in Review.
I really enjoyed reading this. I appreciate you advocating for other organizations, and think this team spirit and support ultimately makes us stronger as a movement.
I really admire the work of the Animal Welfare League, Daniel, and all you are contributing to the movement in Africa.
No, not at all! Please don’t worry, I understood perfectly! Keep us updated with social media and other ways that we can follow and support—we are all in this together :-)