August 31, 2024 will be

the 10th World Day for the End of Speciesism!

Many animal rights groups around the world are organizing demonstrations to denounce speciesist discrimination and demand that the interests of animals be fully taken into account.

Please help us spread the word and rally more groups around the planet!

Announce an action

WoDES 2023 in pictures

In 2023, 145 actions were organised by 100 organisations located in 28 countries. This is a record number of actions!

Talk about speciesism, by Fight against speciesism (Israel)

Poem about speciesism victims, by Naçao Vegana Brasil

National Animal Rights March in London, by PETA UK

"Our plate changes the world”, by AVF (France)

Introduction to wild animals by Animal Ethics (global)

Direct action in São Paulo, by Vozes em luto (Brazil)

Save square in Rottenburg am Neckar (Germany)

Video about speciesism, by Coalition Animaliste (Switzerland)

“New legal status" by MFT (Germany)

“Animals are not ressources" by MFT (Germany)

Events organized in 2023

Australia

Hobart, Tasmania | 22.08 article and FB posts by Animal Tasmania
Internet | 26.08 Social Networks by Vegan Australia
Melbourne | 20.08 article by Live Kindly

Austria

Bregenz, Vorarlberg | 26.08 Protest by VGT - Verein gegen Tierfabriken
Innsbrück | 26.08 Protest by Tirol Aktiv & VGT Austria

Belgium

Brussels | 20.08 article by Nos amis les animaux (NALA)

Canada

Brandon, Manitoba | 26.08 Protest by Brandon Animal Save
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan | 25.08 Protest by Regina Pig Save

Colombia

Bogotá | 22.08 Talk by Evoluzoon-Centro Cultural Animal | 23.08 Talk by Evoluzoon | 25.08 Talk by Evoluzoon | 25.08 Gig by Evoluzoon | 26.08 Talk by Evoluzoon-Centro Cultural Animal | 27.08 March by Evoluzoon

Denmark

Copenhagen | 25.08 Talk by Dyrenes Alliance | 26.08 March by Dyrenes Alliance

France

Avignon | 25.08 Protest by Peta France
Besançon | 26.08 Happening by Le CABle & Humanimo & L214
Internet | 26.08 by Projet Méduses
Marseille | 26.08 Protest by Peta France
Montpellier | 26.08 March by One Voice Gard HéraultVegan Montpellier | 26.08 Protest by Peta France
Saint-Nazaire | 26.08 happening, leafleting, etc. by 269 Life France

India

Ahmedabad | 26.08 Big billboards by Peta India
Chandigarh | 26.08 Leafletting by Vegans of Chandigarh
Goa | 26.08 Leafletting by Goa Animal Liberation Movement
Guwahati | 26.08 Great bilboards by Peta India
Hyderabad | 26.08 by Hyderabad Animal Save
Internet | 26.08 article by Peta India | 01.09 by Animal Law Center
Lucknow | 26.08 Great bilboards by Peta India
Pune | 26.08 Great bilboards by Peta India

Indonesia

Yogyakarta | 30.08 Committed mural painting by Animal Friends Jogja

Mexico

Mexico | 20.08 poster pasting by CDMX Climate Save Movement | 24.08 radio programme by Amor Animal | 26.08 poster pasting by Cdmx health save | 26.08 Conversation among activists by Brigada Animal México

Netherlands

Maastricht | 27.08 Protest by Animal Save Nederland

Peru

Portugal

Aveiro | 26.08 Protest by Aveiro Animal Save
Coimbra | 26.08 Save Square by Coimbra Animal Save
Lisbon | 26.08 Protest by Acção Directa
Porto - Internet | 24.08 article by A Viagem dos Argonautas

Puerto Rico

San Juan - Internet | 26.08 article by Casa Vegana de la Comunidad

South Africa

Switzerland

Internet | 26.08 Video by Coalition animaliste (COA)

United Kingdom

Internet | 24.08 article by Peta UK
Marble Arch, London | 26.08 Protest by Peta UK

United States of America

Boston, Massachusetts | 26.08 Protest by Supreme Master Ching Hai's International AssociationNew England Animal ActivistsMIT Allied Scholars for Animal ProtectionBoston Anonymous for the Voiceless
Chinatown, Washington District of Columbia | 26.08 Leafletting by FARM (Farm Animal Rights Movement)
Hadley, Massachussetts | 26.08 Protest by Western Massachussetts Animal Rights Advocates
Internet | 26.08 Talk by Red Veganas Antiespecistas

Reports of the previous editions

Find the reports of the previous editions in photos and videos on the dedicated page.

The media are talking about us, discover our press review.

Sexism, racism, speciesism: unjust ideologies

In our societies our relationship with animals is based on speciesism. By analogy with racism and sexism, speciesism refers to an ideology that considers the lives and interests of animals as insignificant just because they are of a different species. Speciesism is untenable because humans are not the only ones to feel emotions and therefore we have to respect the lives and interests of the other sentient beings who share this planet with us.

All sentient beings are equal

Regardless of the differences between species, it is clear that all sentient beings are equal in their capacity to feel pain. No matter what our 'race', sex, species may be, the important thing is what we feel, our interest in not suffering, in not being a victim of violence and in continuing to lead the happiest life possible. Discrimination based on species is just as arbitrary as any other discrimination based on an illogical criterion. Equality tainted by exclusions and arbitrary discrimination is by definition inequality, injustice.

Therefore all sentient beings, regardless of species, must be included within the circle of moral consideration. This does not mean treating them all in an identical way but really taking their interests into account as if they were our own.

Denying intelligence in order to neglect interests?

Our society does not disdain babies nor people with mental disabilities, although they appear to lack complex intellectual abilities, but grants them greater protection, and rightly so. Indeed, they also suffer, are unable to defend themselves and should therefore be protected. In the same way, regardless of their mental faculties, animals are sentient beings that have an interest in living the longest and happiest lives possible and should also be protected. In addition, more and more studies show that we have immensely underrated the mental capacity of most animals1.

Ethology: animals are individuals in their own right

Far from espousing the theory of animals-as-machines, modern ethologists invite us to see animals as individuals in their own right, feeling emotions, having preferences, desires and their own personality. We now know that self-awareness, culture, altruism and the ability to use tools exist in many animals.

Society must change

Injustices of the past have been abolished or reduced, such as feudality and the low status assigned to women. They too were so embedded in the collective consciousness that they were thought to be eternal. But history has shown the opposite and we can easily imagine that one day slaughterhouses will be deemed to be a symbol of barbarity. More and more of us are beginning to take a stand against injustice to animals, which has become one of the most important social debates of our time.

The goal of the World Day for the End of Speciesism is to denounce the unjust ideology that makes this barbarity possible.

We are working for a world that takes the lives and interests of all into consideration. This world is already on its way. Let's work together so that it arrives as soon as possible!


1 Recently the chimpanzee Ayumu shattered the idea that humans always have better mental abilities than other animals by beating humans in a test of memory: watch the video.