CSR is meant to be the bridge between companies and the community. It is impossible for the government to bring about change as the needs are so many. NGOs have the focus, know-how, strategic thinking, and commitment but they need the financial strength to enable widespread social transformation. Partnerships between corporations, NGOs and the government will speed everything up.
Appeals to companies to be included in the CSRs are always turned away with the stock response that humans need it more. But animal welfare is geared only towards human welfare.
Each one of these will have a profound effect on the economy. For those companies that are hesitant because they feel they will not get enough goodwill mileage out of their CSR, here is a survey:
A comprehensive survey was done by the Humane Research Council (HRC) in 2012, on which social cause is viewed most favourably in America. Animal protection came out on top, along with workers’ rights. Six other causes came far below in public opinion.
This shows that the animal welfare movement is having an impact on the way that society thinks about animals. Despite current economic and political concerns, the animal protection cause is retaining support, though support for all other social justice causes have decreased significantly since 2008. Not only is the movement viewed favourably, but the protection of animals is considered important by a majority of U.S. adults and this includes animals used for profit, such as animals used for food and animals used for research and testing.
HRC conducted a representative survey of thousands of U.S. adults over 2 months regarding attitudes toward various social justice causes. More respondents rated their opinion of animal welfare movements as “more favourable” than any other social movement listed on the survey, including tax reform, homeless advocacy, immigration reform, gay/lesbian rights, environmentalism, and the pro-life (anti-abortion) cause. Further, the animal protection movement is the only cause for which support has not decreased since 2008 when the first survey was done.
After decades of struggling for recognition, the animal protection cause is now considered one of the paramount social justice issues of modern times. Any company that takes the step towards supporting this movement is sure to increase its goodwill. Animal NGOs are very vociferous in India. Why not get them on your side?