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Success Story – Dr. Mona Long
Dr. Yuan-Chih (Mona) Long is a woman who does everything!
Dr. Long is an independent scholar, writer, publisher, philosophy teacher, artist, director of the Taiwan Society of Animals and Humans, and a Culture & Animals Foundation grantee (2019). Dr. Long has been working with ACTAsia since 2008.
She is an experienced animal advocate and author who currently serves on the board of the Taiwan Human-Animal Studies Institute as an Asia Region ACTAsia representative. She launched the Animal PepTalk media platform in 2019 by leveraging her significant field research experience and academic research skills. The podcast is targeted at an audience of Chinese youth and acts as alternative to Western influences by offering information about animals and animal advocacy from local perspectives. Dr. Long’s influential work was recognised with the annual Culture and Animals Foundation grant in 2019 and she has been working with ACTAsia for over 15 years.
“As advocates of Caring for Life and animal justice, our work does not rely solely on the continuous efforts of some. Rather, it largely requires the consciousness of society as a whole as well as that of groups who can continue to develop this important work.”
Featuring animal rights in children’s books
Dr. Long was born and raised in Taiwan and has lived in Beijing, Tokyo, the United States, and Europe. She has a master’s in Film Studies from Peking University and a PhD in Philosophy of Science and Technology from Tsinghua University, both of which are in Beijing. She identifies as a scholar, writer, publisher, philosophy teacher, artist and activist. Her incredible work has gained global recognition. She has written and published multiple books about animal rights, including the children’s book ‘Little Fox,’ and books entitled ‘Searching for Zootopia: A Documentary on the Frontline of Animal Protection Across Borders’ and ‘Search for Action.’
Dr. Long’s approach to Caring for Life is multidisciplinary and addresses many different audiences. She is spreading messages of ethical living and compassion to children, university students, consumers, professionals, parents and more. “After information and experience,” explains Dr. Long, “Caring for Life or animal protection in one’s life is easy to carry out. It is for this reason that I focus on promoting Caring for Life in so many different ways.”
Dr. Long’s books have had incredible reception and impact. ‘Search for Action’ is currently under translation to become available in South Korea, and a Japanese edition of ‘Little Fox’ is set to hit bookstore shelves in Japan in April of 2025.
“When creating ‘Little Fox,’ I thought about the future readers of the book as myself when I was a child, for, I was very interested in animals, but did not know anything about what animal protection was or how I could engage with it,” says Dr. Long.
‘Little Fox’ is unique in its educational approach and scope. In addition to offering its youthful audience accessible and engaging lessons about animal justice, the picture book includes information booklets and mini journals that are catered to the adults who are buying and sharing the text with their children. “The intention of making picture books is not only to let children have their reading interests piqued, but to lead parents to understand the topic of animal rights in depth,” Dr. Long shares.
“The most important thing about our story and picture book is that it has a clear purpose, and that what we discuss is the animal issue. Then, what we hope to call for is action, that is a kind of guidance with values.”
“We really need to strengthen this innate goodwill towards animals, love, and this sense of ethical responsibility, plus correct guidance, so that we can become more complete and better people.”
Dr. Long’s work with ACTAsia
Dr. Long first encountered ACTAsia in 2008 upon moving from to Beijing from her hometown in Taiwan for university. Already committed to various social issues and animal rights, she had brought several flyers and posters from Taiwanese animal rights organisations to Beijing. This, recalls Dr. Long, got the attention of an ACTAsia employee and she was introduced to Pei. “I started as a volunteer for ACTAsia, then I began to work there part-time,” she says. “I have taken on different roles at ACTAsia throughout the years, such as the Beijing Representative, or Director of Media,” Dr. Long continues, “I was involved in fur free projects and initiatives and then turned to research.”
“In my twenties, I was in Beijing, England, Shanghai and Tokyo – Pei and I used to talk in the car on the way from point A to point B, always about other trips, other things we could do, how we could change things. There are a lot of unhappy people in society today, but she is the best example of how to turn passive to active and start a successful, happy, courageous and compassionate life”
Much of Dr. Long’s recent work and research on fur has been through ACTAsia’s Compassionate Choices Network (CCN), which brings together spokespeople from Asian non-governmental organisations to focus on issues affecting animals, people and the environment. “The Asian visions and working methods of the CCN is so special,” she says. “Seeing so many people in society who care about animals acting together and creatively, it really let me open up.”
Dr. Long is tireless in her support of ACTAsia and of its CEO and Founder, Pei – who she calls ‘Old Boss, now New Teacher”, or sometimes “My Tiger Teacher” She is extremely active on social media and even organised and hosted the FaceBook launch, in Mandarin, for Pei’s book in the Summer.
She says “After reading ‘Life of Pei’, I feel more and more deeply that the biggest feeling one can have in life is to enjoy every moment!”
We are so grateful to have somebody as brilliant and committed as Dr. Mona Long on our team. ACTAsia thanks you for your friendship, your creativity, and your enduring multifaceted support
If you have been inspired by Dr. Long’s incredible dedication to animal rights and would like to support her work at ACTAsia please consider donating to help more children receive Caring for Life education.
Join us in supporting ACTAsia’s Caring for Life Programme and be a part of the compassionate movement!
