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About organization
The organization “Centre for The Ethical treatment of Animals “Life” named after Leo Tolstoy” was founded at 1997. The president of the Centre is Igor Parfenov, a film director, the editor of “Time for the animal protection” newspaper and magazine “Cry”.
The centre actively collaborates with organizations and private individuals, who are the representatives of more than 30 world countries.
Over period of the existence the Centre has been taking an active part in the social, educational and legislative activity. The activity of the Centre was many times illuminated in mass media of CIS, European and American countries. The representatives of our Centre repeatedly took part in different TV programs on rights themes.
The Centre was officially admitted to WSPA (World Society for the protection of Animals) – this powerful organization is an advisory member of UNO and European Parliament and it unites over 300 organizations from more then 70 countries of the world. We are also accepted to the Anti-fur Alliance (includes more than 30 organizations of the world) as the regional representative of its interests in Ukraine and we are the member of International Vegetarian Union (Great Britain) and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
The main achievements of the organization:
· Since 1998 at the territory of former USSR the Centre has been publishing magazine “Cry” - the first magazine devoted to the human rights, rights of animals and environmental protection (distributed free of charge).
· Since 2003 we have been publishing the first at the territory of former USSR newspaper “Time for the Animal Protection” (distributed free of charge).
· Since 1999 we have introduced a free course of lectures on bioethics (“Bioethics at High School”) in Kharkov Veterinary Academy.
· A lot of cruel experiments conducted on animals in Kharkov Veterinary Academy and other educational establishments were forbidden and new alternative teaching methods were introduced.
· We translated and published more than 10 books devoted to animals’ rights.
· The Center organized and conducted more than 35 conferences; the representatives of rights organizations were present at some of them.
· The shooting of two rights film “When gods fall asleep” and “Madness: challenge and fight” were finished. The films were broadcast at central Ukrainian and Russian channels. These films took part in different film festivals all over the world. Recently we have finished the shooting of historical feature film “The Crucified”, where the sources of rights problems and movements are illuminated from the philosophical point of view.
· We shot a documentary film “Bull’s soul”, devoted to the anti-corrida fight and bloody fiestas in Spain.
· The Centre organized more than 43 animal protection actions (from 300 to 7000 people were involved).
· We organized more than 22 exhibitions and contests on the theme - “Artists, painters, poets, culture workers and youth for animal protection”.
· Our organization saved from smugglers two chimpanzees and gave a shelter to them.
· Our centre gave home for more than 100 stray cats and dogs. We built a mini-shelter for stray animals.
· Great amount of wild animals, including those recordeds in Red data book, were saved. We took part in a wide range of campaigns, such as anti-corrida campaign in Moscow and Barcelona (finally, the corrida in Moscow was forbidden), we also took part in the campaign against hunting in Ukraine (hunting was also forbidden). Besides The Law for animal protection was passed.
· Our centre took part in International conferences, actions and demonstrations which were held in England, Spain, France, Turkey, Bulgaria, Holland Italia and Czech Republic.
· The members of the centre took part in more than100 TV programs on rights themes, which were broadcast at the territory of Ukraine and Russia.
· We are in the process of changing and improving of legislative system of Ukraine.
The aim of our organization is to stop rights violations by all legal and non-violence means. A range of our programs is directed to the environmental protection.
The year of 2007 promises to be full of interesting events and projects:
· Of course, the most significant project of the year is the organization and conducting of unique and out-and-outer at the territory of former USSR International Rights Film Festival “Steps” (the main themes of which – human rights, animal rights and environmental protection www.cetalife.com.ua).
· We plan to realize the screening of Jack London’s story “Madness of John Harned” – this is a feature film (the main character from Ukraine sacrifices his life to the fight against cruelty and madness, taking place at Spanish corrida).
· To translate and publish Peter Singer and Jim Joyce’s new book “Food. What we eat and its effects” (it will be essential book for those who care about their food).
· To organize and conduct posters contest “Progressive youth against fur 2007” in Ukraine. (The best works will be exhibited at European and international contests). In 2006 our activist Olga Selishchiva won the first prize.
· To publish and distribute of anniversary edition of magazine “Cry”, devoted to the animals’ rights.
· To edit a monthly newspaper “Time for the animal protection”.
· To organize seminars in Kharkov educational establishments.
· To organize a festival “Youth and artists for animal protection”.
· To organize a range of campaigns for animals’ rights protection.
· To conducting a range of vegetarian campaigns.
· To take part in joint international campaigns and demonstrations for animals protection in European and American countries (meeting of International Anti-fur Alliance in Prague in May).
· To take part in PETA’s action against bull heat and corrida in Spain in June.
· To present documentary and feature films produced by our organization for the film festivals, devoted rights themes.
Our Centre is looking forward to the future and we see great prospects for further development of our ideas.
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