Presentation of the Faunist Initiative
FAUNISM, our natural way of relating with animals and nature
- On September 29, the same day that the “Law for the Protection of Animal Rights and Welfare” came into force, the Psittacus Foundation presented the “Faunist Initiative ”, as a constructive response to the ideologies that have inspired this law.
- The “Faunist Initiative” wants to offer society an ideological framework that helps us all deal more sensibly with everything that refers to the relationships between people and animals.
- And he proposes calling “Faunism” the natural and spontaneous way that most of society has when it comes to relating and understanding its bond with animals and nature.
Sant Antoni de Vilamajor (Barcelona), October 24, 2023.
On September 29, the Psittacus Foundation presented the “Iniciativa Faunista”. An initiative that wants to offer society an ideological framework that helps us all deal more sensibly with everything that refers to the relationships between people and animals.
The Faunist Initiative maintains that our bond with domestic and companion animals must be lived from emotion, but also from reason and objectivity; from good sense. Animals provide us with company, food, work… We must treat them with respect and ensure their well-being.
In fact, most of society shares this vital perspective and is part, even without knowing it, of this Faunist community. A community that appreciates its natural and spontaneous way of relating to animals and the environment.
This Faunist Initiative, which develops and promotes the concept of Faunism , is driven by the “Fundación Psittacus”, which has in its scope of action environmental and conservation purposes, animal welfare, promotion of responsible and sustainable poultry farming, educational and awareness-raising, as well as social and scientific purposes.
A more than questionable law
September 29, coinciding with the day the “Law on the Protection of Animal Rights and Welfare” came into force, was the day chosen to present the Faunist Initiative.
As Xavier Viader, president of the Psittacus Foundation, explains, the Faunist Initiative was developed during the entire time in which we were involved in the repeated attempts to make sense of this ‘so disastrous’ law that was finally approved. “ Viader adds: “ During all this time in which we spoke with all types of politicians, trying to understand and counterargue the ideology that supports the law, we had the clear perception that a piece was missing from the game board: which corresponded to the community of people who did not share the ideology reflected in the law and who could only define themselves, precisely, in contrast to the ideologies that disavowed us. In other words: we did not have any name that identified us.
And from there arose the idea of creating a new concept, Faunism, which was born with the intention of giving a name to a community that until now had no identity, to give a name to our natural and spontaneous way of relating to animals and the environment. A community that until now had never had the need to call itself in any way, because it represented a completely hegemonic way of understanding life, represented what, in Viader’s words, could be called “the natural order of things”.
The decision to promote the “Faunist Initiative” was made at the Psittacus Foundation board meeting held on June 21, 2023. In this way, the missing piece was placed on the game board, offering society a concept that identifies this majority community of people, thus facilitating them to promote themselves and defend, if necessary, their way of living.
What does it mean to be a Faunist ?
From the Faunist point of view, the close relationship we maintain with animals is something absolutely natural in human beings, something inherent to our way of being. A relationship that has existed since before the Neolithic, whether as a companion or production animal.
The human species, as a result of an evolutionary process of millions of years, is physiologically omnivorous and it is absurd to deny reality. Foods of animal origin are an integral part of the varied and balanced diet that constitutes the basis of our nutrition.
The Faunist Initiative defines a community that is in favor of the well-being of animals in our human environment and against their mistreatment; a community that considers it important to act for the protection of biodiversity, threatened species and their natural habitats; a community that confirms that companion animals, whatever the species, play a fundamental role in the emotional well-being of citizens; a community that rejects the abandonment of animals and warns of the dire consequences that this cruel and irresponsible act entails; a community that values our ancestral relationship with farmed animals and the gastronomic culture that derives from it, in which foods of animal origin have special relevance.
The Faunist Initiative has begun and is accumulating support from very diverse areas and sectors.
Now is the time for each and every one of the people who appreciate this ancestral bond with animals and who have seen how their way of living was questioned, make the Faunism concept their own as a lever to promote or defend, if necessary, their activities and hobbies.
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