News
We issue statements on news in society and politics with a bearing on animal ethics. We also provide information on current developments in the area of agriculture and consumption.
In 2025, we are letting the pigs out! 🐷
We are launching a new federal popular initiative demanding outdoor access for all animals in agriculture. This new initiative has the potential to shape the discourse in Switzerland for years to come.
In December, every donation counts twice
From now until the end of December, every donation will be doubled by generous donors — up to a total of 50,000 CHF. This means 10 CHF becomes 20 CHF, and 50 CHF becomes 100 CHF.
Sonoma County’s Measure J: Echoes of Switzerland’s Factory Farming Vote
Recent animal welfare initiatives in Sonoma County, CA, and Switzerland highlight the resilience of grassroots efforts in challenging entrenched interests and promoting more ethical standards.
END preprogrammed suffering: together for Swiss broiler chickens
Coop, Migros, it is high time that we talk. Between the two of you, you are responsible for nearly 80% of meat sales in Switzerland. You therefore bear a critical responsibility for the alarming growth of the poultry industry. The number of...
Logbook : the life of an intensively farmed chicken
A broiler chicken’s weight increases 33 times over its short life. In Switzerland, nearly 80 million broiler chickens are slaughtered each year, 92% of which are raised in intensive aviculture. Their suffering is pre-programmed, encoded in their...
Actions, not words: Help us end preprogrammed suffering NOW!
8 percent of chickens ever see the light of day during their lives. Worse, 92 percent of all chickens belong to so-called “high-performance breeds”, where suffering is genetically preprogrammed. Coop and Migros have the power to stop this trend.
Let’s help the invisible residents of our cities
The standard approach to rat control involves the use of rodenticides, causing rats to suffer agonising muscular and joint pain before death. Join us in making a difference.
Keep the bees buzzing
Switzerland is home to more than 600 species of wild bees, and counts several billion honey bees. All these insects’ lives are threatened because of the use of pesticides. We must act now to preserve all bee species.
Out of sight, out of mind – why we need stricter rules for aquaculture
Aquaculture poses a massive threat to the welfare of fish. They are confined in basins under conditions that would be deemed unacceptable even in factory farming. Yet, their cognitive abilities often match or exceed those of other vertebrates.
Rethinking Pigeon Welfare in Urban Environments
200’000 to 300’000 pigeons live amongst us in Swiss cities. In the absence of an animal-friendly pigeon management concept, the number of birds has exploded in many cities. Their overpopulation is causing apprehension regarding public health.
The “invisible” animals need your help
Acknowledging the capacity for suffering as a crucial moral criterion is the core concern of Sentience. Therefore, we aim to give a voice to those animals whose well-being receives no attention in our society - the “invisible” animals.
Animal Welfare and Swiss Agricultural Policy: What Does the Population Think?
When the Swiss people are polled regarding the objectives of agricultural policy, a key concern consistently arises: animal welfare. What actions can we take in response to these findings?
We need a strong counterweight
The significant gains made by the agricultural lobby in the parliamentary elections of autumn 2023 pushed sustainable Swiss agriculture with location-adapted food production even further into the distant future.
Overcoming political polarisation
The majority of the population wants animals to be well cared for. However, the post-vote survey results revealed significant ideological divides that I had not expected.
Annual Report 2023
The landmark votes on the Primate Initiative and the Initiative to Abolish Factory Farming in 2022 sparked significant attention and much-needed discussions. Last year, we were able to build on this momentum and advance our vision with broad support.