Following publication of a consultation on measures on animal cloning for food production in the EU, Eurogroup for Animals – of which OneKind is a member – has called on the European Commission to ban the cloning animals for food production.

The consultation, which runs until 03 September 2012, is intended to collect views on the acceptance of the technique and the introduction of EU measures on animal cloning for food production, as well as economic, social and environmental impacts in EU and non-EU countries.

The Commission is examining possible measures on animal cloning for food production so that it can propose legislation for adoption in 2013.  Currently, food from cloned animals requires authorisation before being placed on the EU market although this does not apply to foods from the offspring of cloned animals. The impact assessment will also examine measures on pre-market approval, traceability and labelling of food from offspring and their descendants

Eurogroup states that a ban on cloning animals for food production and on the sale of imported food products from cloned animals and their offspring is the only option and clearly represents the views of Europe’s citizens. A Eurobarometer survey on citizens’ views on cloning for food production in July 2008 found that a majority (58%) of EU citizens were not willing to accept animal cloning for food production, while three quarters agreed that there were ethical grounds for rejecting animal cloning and almost as many (69%) agreed that animal cloning would risk treating animals as commodities.  A majority said it was unlikely that they would buy meat or milk from cloned animals even if a trusted source stated that such products were safe to eat, and 83% wanted food products from cloned animals to be labelled as such, if they ever made their way onto the market.

On 3 September 2008, MEPs adopted a resolution calling for a ban on the cloning of animals and a ban on the trade of food products from cloned animals. And in 2010, the Commission itself proposed to suspend the use of the cloning technique in the EU for the reproduction of all food-producing animals; the use of clones of these animals; and the import of clones and marketing of food from clones.

Eurogroup is concerned that the routine use of cloning would greatly reduce genetic diversity within livestock populations, increasing the chances of whole herds being wiped out by disease.  Promoting cloning of farm animals would also go against the rural development objective of conserving genetic diversity in farm animals.

A European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion in 2008 acknowledged the many animal health and welfare concerns associated with the cloning of animals for food production, including an increase in failed pregnancies and increased frequency of problems during pregnancy, and higher mortality and morbidity of clones than in sexually produced animals.

Cloned animals die younger and suffer more defects than normal animals. Many clones suffer from defects such as contracted tendons, respiratory failure, limb and head deformities, heart disease and kidney problems. Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, had to be put down at the early age of six after developing arthritis and lung disease.

Eurogroup and OneKind are disappointed therefore to see a renewed focus on regulating, rather than banning, cloning for food production.  Eurogroup has also demanded that the European Commission comes forward with clear legislation to enforce a ban and ensure that no products from cloned animals or their offspring are put on the European market.

Sonja Van Tichelen, Director of Eurogroup for Animals, said:

“Farm animals are already seen by some as commodities rather than sentient beings and cloning compounds this view, resulting in less concern for animal welfare and less willingness to address welfare issues. The cloning of animals for use in food is completely unethical and unnecessary.  We are convinced that banning these products from our markets is possible and in line with international trade rules.”

The Commission consultation can be seen at: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/dgs_consultations/animal_cloning_consultation_en.htm

Public opinion on this matter was made clear in 2010, when 94.5% of those responding to a previous DEFRA consultation supported a full ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. The same consultation gave respondents the option to support either a ban or inspections – and only 29.5% supported inspections. 

More recently, backbench MPs at Westminster passed a motion directing the Government to introduce a ban.  And on 1 March, the Government announced its long-term commitment “to pursue a ban on the use of [wild] animals [in circuses]”

At the same time, however, the Government declared that a ban would take time to introduce and in the meantime it would focus on introducing a complicated licensing regime.

Taking the view that the Government’s draft proposals actually represent a step backwards for animal welfare, the animal protection groups have decided not to take part in the public consultation.  Participation could be seen as endorsement of an approach which not only creates unacceptable delay, but also risks creating an unjustified sense of public confidence in an inadequate regime. 

In creating a licensing regime that sets some standards at far too low a level (less than the poorest zoo), the Government is ignoring the views of the majority of animal welfare organisations, the public and elected politicians.   

Even more concerning is the fact that the consultation and Impact Assessment (IA) documents do not include clear provision supporting the commitment to introducing a ban, and no timetable is offered for moving towards a ban.  The IA contains no reference to a ban as the ultimate aim of Government policy, even though the Government’s statement on 1 March indicated that “work to set out the ethical basis for a ban will proceed alongside the development of a licensing scheme.”

A joint statement condemning the Government’s approach has been issued by Animal Defenders International, Animal Aid, Born Free Foundation, Captive Animals’ Protection Society, Four Paws, OneKind and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.  We understand that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has also decided not to participate in the consultation.

All of the groups believe that there is ample legal justification for introducing legislation to ban circuses with wild animals; and all urge the Government to bring it in, sooner rather than later.

Last week (10 April) Maurice wrote to his MSP John Swinney, urging the Scottish Government to give farmers more advice about protecting new-born lambs from severe weather. We thought Maurice’s words were so cogent – and so moving – that we should share them with you.

“A week ago, on 3^rd April, snow and freezing temperatures hit much of Scotland. These conditions were forecast well in advance. Even roadside information boards gave warning. In spite of this, some sheep farmers were caught unprepared and lambs died as a result.

“For many years I have been campaigning to cut the death toll on Scottish sheep farms. I have discussed the problem with politicians, government officials, and research workers. Some progress has been made, but there is still a need for improvement.

“What is needed now is a high impact initiative such as a letter and leaflet sent to every sheep farmer in Scotland. The letter would emphasise the need for preparation and the leaflet would detail measures required to safeguard the new-born lambs and the ewes.

“The Scottish Government's own Animal Health Division did a good job in putting information and advice on its website last November. However, there are always some people who need extra help. One such person appeared on the STV News of 3^rd April: an Aberdeenshire sheep farmer of 30 years' experience. In some ways he was a hero for he battled through the night to save his sheep and lambs in what he called ‘hurricane winds’ and ‘eight inches of snow’.

“In another way, he might have been rather stupid. He was like someone valiantly bailing out the boat when he should have plugged the hole before setting off. In his own words he said: "I couldn't get moved with the bike. I had to make roads in the field with the Landrover." The fact is he didn't have the right equipment, he should have had the ewes closer to hand. The 5-day weather forecast was accurate and gave him plenty of time for preparation, and of course a man of 30 years' experience will have seen more than one icy blast and snow deeper than eight inches. Sadly, this farmer would not have been the only one to get caught out.

“How do you get people to stop making terrible blunders – blunders that consign infant lambs to horrific deaths? Ideally, these people would be identified and advice given directly. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to identify these farmers and it becomes necessary to make a general approach that risks offending good farmers. The risk is worth taking though, and so is the cost. Failure costs money – it costs the tax-payer by way of compensation and it costs the farmer the true value of his stock and his reputation. It is also diminishes the reputation of Scottish farming. High animal welfare standards do not include abandoning new-born lambs to their fate on icy hillsides lashed by winds that hurt to the very marrow.

“Ice and snow are not the only dangers; I well remember the response of an NFUS official on the Grampian TV News following heavy losses of lambs during very wet weather in late April, 1998. His response was: "They just couldn't take the rain." I hope never again to hear that kind of remark disgracing Scotland's farming. Surely access and shelter are obvious – basic requirements for any animal.

“Having said what I would like, I now would like to say what I don't want. I don't want another reply from Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead telling me that casualties are inevitable on farms in severe weather and everything is done to minimise them. I know about casualties on farms: I have studied agriculture at post-graduate level and I have worked on farms in Scotland and overseas. In any event, it doesn't take much experience to know that there is considerable room for improvement on some farms in Scotland. It is in everyone's interest to see these improvements made.

“Please don't be one of those Scots who turn a blind eye to the suffering of the lambs. Please find the relatively small amount of money needed to jolt the worst of Scotland's farmers into action. It's a small cost, but it could be very cost effective, and it could mean an end to the disgraceful suffering inflicted on infant lambs in Scotland every year.

“In 2010, Scotland's sheep sector received £200,000 in emergency aid to help dispose of the thousands of animals that perished during the winter weather. At that time, Richard Lochhead said: "The impact on individual sheep farmers has been variable across the country and this funding will be targeted at those with the highest losses." One farmer alone lost 132 animals.

“Please do all you can.”

Oh ye! who, sunk in beds of down,

Feel not a want but what yourselves create,

Think for a moment, on his wretched fate,

Whom friends and fortune quite disown!

List'ning the doors an' winnocks rattle,

I thought me on the ourie cattle,

Or silly sheep, wha bide this brattle

O' winter war,

And thro' the drift, deep-lairing, sprattle

Beneath a scar.

From A Winter Night by Robert Burns

What do you think? OneKind believes that farmers in Scotland care for their animals – but since severe winter weather comes every year, why do so many new born animals suffer and die?  How can the Scottish Government bring an end to this tragedy? 

Visit Tony's OneKind Birthday Page

Tony says:

“It is my birthday wish for the next generation to be the pioneers of a world without cruelty to animals. Instead of gifts, donations to OneKind will help children change the world for animals.

"I hope many people will consider pledging their own birthday as well, to help OneKind’s cause.”

Tony retired from the House of Commons in 2001, after 50 years in frontline politics; making him the longest serving Labour MP in the history of the party. He continues to be admired and respected across the political spectrum.

To donate in celebration of Tony's 87th birthday on 3 April please visit his OneKind Birthday Page.

One day, for OneKind

You too, like Tony, can pledge your birthday and ask friends and family to donate, to help OneKind inspire children to save animals' lives.

Simply click here to find out how you can make the birthday pledge, or email communities@onekind.org to register. Your OneKind Birthday Page can then be shared with friends and family.

By giving up one day of your life you can be part of the movement to create a better life for animals of all kinds across the UK.

It would probably be premature to rejoice over the UK government’s announcement today (Thursday 1 March) that it “will seek to introduce primary legislation at the earliest opportunity to achieve its much stated desire to ban travelling circuses from using performing wild animals.”

While obviously to be welcomed, the statement fails to answer the crucial question of when the long-awaited ban is to be brought in.  And if it is really on its way, why does the government intend to invest time and money on a complex licensing scheme, rather than moving straight into preparation for a ban?

All that has actually happened today is the publication of a consultation document on a proposed licensing scheme for circuses in England.  While the “eventual aim” is to pursue a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses on ethical grounds, the document stresses that views are not being sought on the possibility of a ban. 

The document continues:

“The precise detail of a ban must be carefully thought through to ensure it has the intended effect. This will take time. In the meantime, this consultation is about a proposed licensing regime that would include strict welfare standards and that could be introduced within months.

“Knowledge gained from operating the proposed licensing scheme may be used to supplement the evidence base on the welfare standards of travelling circuses in England for any future policy considerations.”

OneKind certainly welcomes the fact that the government now has a ban in contemplation.  But what if the interim introduction of a licensing scheme risked actually delaying the introduction of a full ban?  A ban is what the public wants, and to reassure them – and us - at this point, there is a need for greater clarity.  At the very least, we require clear information about the timescale for implementation of the ban, a clear explanation of how the interim regulations will be handled and phased out, and a clear commitment that the government will work with key stakeholders to ensure that the process goes smoothly.

National measures to prohibit or limit the use of animals in circuses have already been adopted in Bolivia, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary,  Poland, Peru, Portugal, Sweden, Singapore, Costa Rica, India and Israel and similar laws are being discussed in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Greece.

North of the border, OneKind has been lobbying the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to ban circuses with wild animals.  The Scottish Government is awaiting advice from its legal officers before deciding how to proceed.  Meanwhile, OneKind continues to encourage local authorities to reflect public opinion, and last month was successful in persuading East Ayrshire Council to ban all animal circuses from its land.

At present, there are three travelling circuses with wild animals operating in England, making use of an estimated 39 wild animals.  A DEFRA public consultation on animal circuses in England, carried out in 2009, resulted in a huge 94.5% public support for a ban. The newly -proposed regulations are expected to cover issues raised in the previous consultation, including accommodation, transport, training, performance, diet and veterinary care.

Action for animals or a route to delay?  See the consultation at

http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/03/01/circus-animals-1203/

and let us know what you think.

(Pic: Dr Andrew Gardiner examining Snoopy the rabbit)

We are delighted to welcome back Dr Andrew Gardiner from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, who is one of the vets providing this service, to talk about the difference your donation has made.

My visit to our clinic at Dunedin hostel just before Christmas was a happy one. The hostel was busy and I saw a number of new animals, including a very friendly and charming English Bull Terrier puppy. He was snugly done up in a padded coat for the cold weather. That cute and cuddly image, and the lit-up Christmas tree, and the background sound of carols, and the generally happy atmosphere pervading the hostel, made it a very nice end to my working year.

It made me think how lucky we are in Edinburgh to have two hostels who will accept pets with their owners. Let’s hope more hostels change their policy on this important area in 2012.

As part of the OneKind Appeal, we were very kindly given a selection of rope pull toys from Gemma Johnstone of  ‘Just Dogs’ shop in Stockbridge.  I have been giving these out to our dog clients, as has Amy Jennings at her clinic, and they are proving a great success. There are some more left so Xmas presents continue for some lucky hostel dogs! A new German Shepherd puppy called Munchy loves his and I’m sure directing his chewing energies towards the toy will save his owner some shredded shoes!

These toys are great for helping keep teeth and gums healthy in adult dogs too. Playing with them provides a very effective tooth brushing session, as well as encouraging bonding and socialization. And playing with your dog lowers your own blood pressure too – so everyone wins!

Mitsy, star of the Reporting Scotland news item which was run before Christmas, and which featured the work of the hostels and OneKind’s efforts to help us, pops in to see me every time I visit. I still have trouble telling her two owners apart: two sisters who are very like each other and have almost identical voices! Fortunately Mitsy is instantly recognizable and always asks for the same thing – a biscuit.

The money donated by OneKind’s Christmas Appeal will of course help support the core work of the vet clinics. It may not sound too exciting, but providing vaccinations to puppies and young dogs is so important. It protects them against some horrible killer diseases, parvovirus in particular, and provides us vets with the opportunity to do a thorough health check and general advice session.

But thanks to you, we can go a bit further, too, and provide some items that add to pets’ comfort and enjoyment of life. Both Amy and I have ordered some comfortable pet beds which we will leave at the hostels, as well as leads, food bowls, healthy treats, and other useful items, which can be used if new residents arrive without them. It will help both owners and their pets to settle in more quickly. And if there are things which individual dogs need, with our extra funds, we can get those ordered in too.

So a dog that tends to cough a lot when wearing a regular neck collar (a condition called tracheal collapse) can be provided with an exercise harness; someone else requiring a winter coat, perhaps an older, frailer dog, can get that; a cat that needs to be encouraged to drink more because of a kidney condition can be bought a water drinking fountain. We will buy in these items individually, as needed for particular pets, so that your money is not wasted for items not used. This will happen throughout the year.

The OneKind appeal has raised awareness locally and beyond. There is no doubt of the power of the mass media. So often we see this in a negative way, but it can have a very positive effect too. Just before Christmas, the emergency veterinary care provider Vets NOW agreed to treat any animals coming from the Edinburgh hostels free of charge, in the rare event of an adverse reaction to any treatment received at our clinics. That provides us all with some peace of mind should an unwelcome emergency ever happen.

On behalf of my vet colleague Amy, the hostel staff and all the people and animals helped this year so far, I’d like to say a big thank you to OneKind’s supporters. You don’t see all the animals that are being helped but I hope you gain some comfort from knowing that it is happening and that you are helping throughout 2012.

(Pic: Gee is delighted to recieve her new rope toy)

Find out more about how OneKind is helping homeless pets.

To make a donation please click on the Donate button, text PETS12 to 70070 or call our donations line on 0131 225 6039.

Don’t forget to write a message with your donation to show homeless pets someone’s thinking about them this winter. Thank you.

In Europe around six million farmed animals, including calves, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses are transported each year. They are forced to travel hundreds and even thousands of miles, often from country to country, by road, rail, sea or air.

This campaign, which has documented hundreds of cases of severe suffering endured by transported animals is one of the largest animal welfare campaigns ever conducted in Europe.

The long duration of the journeys of animals destined for slaughter in EU often causes them intense suffering. Current EU legislation makes it possible for animals to be transported for several days, even though it is scientifically proven and acknowledged by the Commission that the animals’ suffering increases with the duration of the journey.

Moving live animals long distances to markets and slaughterhouses can also spread infectious diseases between animals. As animals are transported from country to country, with few medical checks, diseases such as foot and mouth disease and bluetongue can spread over great distances at an alarming rate.

In 2002, the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare concluded that animal journeys, as a ground rule, should be as short as possible. This recommendation is, however, not reflected in the current EU legislation.

For a long time, animal welfare organisations, concerned citizens and politicians have argued that something has to be done. It is widely accepted that animals should be fattened and slaughtered as near as possible to home and that the transportation of live animals should be replaced by a trade in meat.

The collection of one million signatures from EU citizens is part of a larger campaign asking for a maximum overall 8-hour limit for the journeys of animals sent for slaughter.

The campaign is also supported by 109 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from 19 member states and all political groups. Furthermore, 119 MEPs have so far signed Written Declaration 49/2011 tabled in the European Parliament at the end of November calling for an 8-hour limit for live animal transports.

We want to say a huge thank you to the many OneKind supporters, their friends and families who have signed this petition and raised awareness of this important animal welfare issue.

(Pic: A BBC film crew capture the hostel vet clinic at work)

It’s now over a year since we started the periodic vet clinic at Dunedin Harbour hostel in Leith, Edinburgh. Our second clinic, in the city centre, and run by my colleague Amy Jennings, has been going for a few months and is currently a bit busier. There have been some refurbishments to the hostel accommodation at Dunedin, which has temporarily limited the numbers of clients they can take in while that is going on. Last week, I chatted with a young man and his dog who were stationed at the top of Leith Walk, hopeful for coins from passers by. His dog, a little Staffie, was a real sweetie and very friendly. She looked well cared for. He was aware of the hostels but had been unable to get in. When they are full they are full, and if you have a companion animal you will not be separated from there may be nowhere else to go.

(Pic: Badger the kitten waits for her vaccination)

The truth is we don’t know how many homeless animal owners there are out there. No one is counting. It is also probably a transient population with people moving around quite a lot, perhaps even between cities. The important thing, we feel, is to treat what we are presented with in a non-judgmental way and to try to increase awareness of what is available. Of course, we cannot do major surgery and things like that – but we can refer people and their animals on to other excellent agencies, such as the PDSA and the Dogs Trust Hope Scheme, who can help if needed. Most of the time we are doing routine health checks, making sure vaccinations and wormers are up to date, treating minor injuries and chatting to the owners about the relationships with their pets and answering any concerns they have.

Both Amy and myself often have a vet student with us. Our final year students at the vet school are queuing up to help us with this project. They are kept really busy on clinical rotations, with their dreaded Final exams always looming ahead of them, but they are so keen to do this on their downtime. It’s a shame not all who volunteered will get a chance to come along, as too many people in the room are a bit intimidating for humans and animals alike! It’s a valuable learning experience for students, and shows them another side of veterinary community work and the human-animal bond. They are always being told to dress smartly for work on the clinics at our referral hospital. I joke with them that when they come to the hostels, they need to ‘dress down’. No smart white coats! Most of our consultations take place on the floor as we all sit down and play with the dogs. Informality is the key.

(Pic: Flo catches sight of her Christmas present from OneKind supporters)

It’s well known that an animal’s presence seems to allow people to talk about things they might not otherwise mention, and some of the stories from homeless people are harrowing. The one thing that is clear is that there are no stereotypes. A combination of ordinary things such as loss of income, relationship failure, bereavement, or mental health issues can all conspire to leave someone – anyone – homeless. For those who have a companion animal, the significance of that one constant relationship can be immense.  It would be quite wrong to take well cared for dogs away from homeless people. In some ways, as long as basic needs and shelter are attended to, these animals are lucky: they are with their owners all the time, spend plenty time outdoors, and feel strongly bonded and belonging. To a dog, I believe these are important things. It’s mainly dogs, but not exclusively. So far I have treated cats, what we call ‘small furries’ (hamsters, gerbils) and even, to my slight alarm, two beautifully cared for snakes. The owners had and encyclopaedic knowledge of the specialised care of these animals. It is to their credit that some hostels recognize the significance of animals to people living on the edge and allow them to stay together at a difficult time.

You can donate here to support OneKind’s appeal for vulnerable animals - a donation will help provide a Christmas gift and a free vet check to a homeless pet, as well as support OneKind’s vital campaigns throughout 2012 to protect all kinds of animals, all over the country.

(Pic: Patients at the clinics recieve their own health report card)

The multi-million pound project has been facilitated with the support of Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, previous Prime Minister Gordon Brown, royal supporters including HRH the Duke of York and HRH the Princess Royal, as well as high-level diplomatic representatives.  How desperate Scotland must be for pandas.

It is not for OneKind to comment on global diplomacy, but we do know a little about modern animal welfare. And in this context, while the use of pandas as diplomatic gifts may be a Chinese tradition dating back over 1,300 years, it is impossible to see what the animals have ever gained from it.

The transportation of two sentient animals thousands of miles to be kept in captivity and seen by a million visitors a year is not going to benefit them as individuals.  No matter how high the quality of their new enclosure, no matter how excellent the viewing and monitoring facilities, the pandas inside will still be denied the ability to roam free, to forage and feed as they like, to avoid or associate with companions, and to follow their instincts in selecting a mate.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has acknowledged in the past that the pandas “are not animals as far as the Chinese are concerned, they are diplomatic gifts which reflect a good relationship between China and another country”, but argues that its own aim is one of conservation.  The zoo will facilitate veterinary dental and oncological research using the two animals, as well as aiming to get them to breed.

The latter will  be a challenge: panda breeding in zoos has a low success rate, can involve considerable human intervention, and the cubs do not always survive - in recent years Dan Dan, in Kobe Zoo in Japan, conceived one cub through natural means  and one by artificial insemination, but they both died.

Attempting to hold back the tide of extinction by maintaining a captive population may create a fragile conservation façade, but none of these animals, or their offspring, is ever likely to go back to the wild.  The only introduction of a captive bred panda so far ended in the death of the animal, apparently killed by wild pandas.

Surely, genuine conservation means regenerating a sustainable wild population, and that can only take place in the place and the environment where the animals actually live.  Surely, conservation means restoring the bamboo forests and supporting the reserves in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces in China where the wild pandas actually live, encouraging local efforts to drive out poaching, and giving the wild population the very best chance to take care of themselves.

OneKind believes that the tradition of using sensitive, sentient animals as diplomatic gifts should have died out with the 20th century - if not before. Nations around the world should stop seeing giant pandas as trophies, and stop competing for them. But then of course we wouldn’t all get the chance to look at them, up close, 600 of us per hour, would we?  And honestly, when it comes to keeping Chinese pandas alive, would that matter?

Today – St Andrew’s Day – is one of those times.  For many years, our sister charity the St Andrew Animal Fund provided support for animal welfare projects and research around the world, and has now merged into the wider OneKind community.

On this Scottish celebration day we’re also looking forward to another special date. OneKind would like to invite you to join us at the launch of our centenary with a Burns Night in January 2012, celebrating the Scot we consider as our patron poet.

2012 is OneKind’s centenary. We might have gone through many changes since the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Vivisection was founded by the Ivory Sisters and Nina, Duchess of Hamilton, but over the last hundred years we have campaigned tirelessly to save animals’ lives across the UK and Europe.

And Robert Burns, Scotland’s patron poet and Bard, has inspired our work from the very beginning. Many of our early annual reports feature the portrait above of Robert Burns, and the notable line from To a Mouse:  “I’m truly sorry man’s dominion, Has broken nature’s social union.” 

As a lover of nature and an observer of people, Robert Burns wrote beautiful poetry and songs that capture the OneKind vision of a world in which people live harmoniously with animals and treat them with compassion, because they value and respect them.

It seems fitting then, as we celebrate 100 years of history, to host a OneKind Centenary Burns Night and look forward to the next 100 years of challenges for animal protection inspired by a poet who told the startled mouse in his field that he was “... thy poor earth-born companion, An’ fellow mortal!”

So please come along, “tak’ a cup o kindness”, and celebrate Scotland’s national poet to launch our centenary at the Apex International Hotel on Edinburgh’s Grassmarket on Thursday 26 January 2012.  Tickets are £50 for a three course vegetarian/vegan meal with wine, music and entertainment.

We’ll keep you up to date with the programme as soon as it’s announced, but places are limited and going fast. You can purchase tickets by Paypal, email communities@onekind.org or phone 0131 225 6039 to book your place.