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Creating Connections, Sparking Inspiration
“I advocate for ACTAsia’s vision and mission by giving presentations, meeting business leaders, connecting with change makers and thanking supporters and donors”
On June 8, I arrived in Shanghai after a 13 hour flight. At 12pm I spoke at a plant-based gathering, to help motivate individuals thinking of starting a plant based diet and lifestyle, where topics discussed were: Overcoming entrepreneurship challenges, animal welfare as a scientific priority and balancing professionalism with charity efforts.
On the same day at 3pm, I was a guest speaker at an 1881 Taiwan Professional Women’s Society event in Shanghai “Cracking the Career Advancement Code: Harnessing Empathy for Mutual Success in Business and Personal Growth” to business leaders on why empathy is important.
June 9 – A JPE Yuanheng Enterprise Workshop, in Kunshun City, with the theme “Empathy in the Workplace: Practical Applications for Career Growth.” The company has been supporting ACTAsia’s Caring for Life Education for Children for years. The presentation was for their managers to learn more about the importance of empathy in the work place and how their support for ACTAsia is paving the way for a compassionate world. The dogs were rescued by the company and are now “Company dogs”!
June 22 – I spoke at ZOOGARDEN, Chengdu, about Empathy: Our Emotions, Perception and Understanding. ZOOGARDEN is a Plant Forward campaign partner, keen to work more closely with ACTAsia on promoting animal welfare and promoting a plant based diet and lifestyle in Western China.
June 23 – I visited the Trade and Investment Consul, Raj, at the British Consulate-General Chongqing!
June 24 – I visited a natural community, two hours from Chengdu, built by the ZOO GROUP, at Linfeng Village, Pujiang, Chengdu. The local community is keen to develop their village with sustainability and environmental friendly practices through their farming methods and lifestyle. We explained how the Caring for Life Education Programmes for Children and Consumers could be integrated into the community.
June 25 – I visited two animal hospitals in Chengdu and met the Secretary General of Chengdu Small Animal Veterinary Association to discuss collaboration and training for the local vets and how to raise awareness of responsible pet ownership.
June 25 – A visit to Qi Ming Small Animal Protection Centre in Sichuan Province. The centre is the first and only legally registered rescue organisation for stray companion animals in Sichuan Province. ACTAsia trained the founder, Mr Qiao, back in 2008 and we met again this trip. Mr Qiao thanked ACTAsia for giving him the training to understand animal welfare, projects and campaign management. We discussed how to bring the vet community to support the centre’s work.
June 26 – At the World’s largest research institute for artificial breeding and conservation of Giant Pandas, in Chengdu, I spoke about the importance of compassionate choices and consumption throughout our daily life.
June 27 – I visited Xiamen Xianyue Primary School, one of the Pioneer Schools teaching ACTAsia’s Caring for Life Education for Children for several years. The principal and teachers thanked ACTAsia for the curriculum, which enables young students to learn critical thinking, compassion and empathy – to develop emotional intelligence. These skills are vital, as the lack of respect towards teachers and the school are one of the major challenges they face.
June 30 – IDOLE is a Taiwanese funded enterprise established in 2007, specialising in the import of high-end clothing fabrics from Japan, Europe, South Korea and other regions.
July 1 – I visited Lafuma, an outdoor sports brand, to discuss how they might join the Fur Free Retailer programme and public welfare cooperation.
July 2 – I met with two leading manufacturing companies – ChengShing and Bekaert, whose products are widely used in multiple industries such as tires, construction, and energy, with operations in over 120 countries. Both companies are staunch supporters of our Caring for Life Education for Children programme!
June 30 – I met with young lawyers who run a progressive law firm in Shanghai, to highlight the importance of staff well-being. We also discussed sustainability and how it affects every aspect of life.
July 2 – A visit to ECOFUR’s Chinese suppliers, meeting sustainable fashion material producers who promote sustainable fashion by developing innovative, environmentally friendly and sustainable materials to replace animal materials.
July 2 – Yiru is a bio-based new material research and development enterprise that focuses on the combination of synthetic biology and material design. With genetic engineering and metabolic regulation technology as its core, it has developed innovative products such as bio based medical beauty materials and 100% bio based leather.
OVONZO is a high-end brand driven by technology, focusing on innovative applications of bio-based materials and creating an environmentally friendly and sustainable lifestyle. Plant based leather bags are their specialty products, made from mushroom cells – Mycelium.
I’ll admit that I was deeply impressed when I saw how beautiful and soft the material is – and it’s 100% animal suffering free, as well as environmentally friendly!
September 28 – October 2 – I took part in ACTAsia’s Compassionate Choices Network’s Leadership Summit, in New Delhi, India. There were 15 delegates from 8 Asian countries attending this summit. One delegate from Vietnam told me, “I came as a person, but I left with a family who support our work in Vietnam!”
October 3 – Three members of ACTAsia spoke at the Animal & Vegan Advocacy Summit (AVA), in Delhi! Our Programme Director, Dawn Kotuwage and Joy Lee, our Compassionate Choices Network Coordinator both gave very well received presentations.
My presentation explored “How leadership can change Hearts and Minds”. The moderator of my session was Prashanth Vishwanath, Director of Veganuary India, who I first met in 2005! He thanked me for my compassionate approach way back then, when he was a new graduate and acknowledged how we’ve supported his work since.
If you’re inspired by our vision and wish to make a positive change, please consider donating to ACTAsia. Your contribution directly fuels our efforts to educate others about the importance of animal welfare across Asia. Every donation counts, no matter the size. Help us further our cause and ensure a kinder future for animals, people, and our planet.
Pei Su is a Chinese sociologist and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ACTAsia, an international NGO established in 2006. She is a strong advocate of education and training as the main vehicle for long term sustainability, aiming to inspire people to understand and appreciate the world we share, and to take responsibility for the protection and preservation of its inhabitants and resources.
