Sri Lankan Veterinarian Strike (2010): Difference between revisions

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The '''Sri Lankan Veterinarian Strike''' was an effort by veterinarians ([[Healthcare|doctors]] who specialise in animals) to protect the welfare of the [[Sri Lanka|countries]] elephant population.
The '''Sri Lankan Veterinarian Strike''' was a [[List of Strikes|strike]] in [[Timeline of Anarchism in Southern Asia|2010]] by veterinarians ([[Healthcare|doctors]] who specialise in animals) to protect the welfare of the [[Sri Lanka|Sri Lankas]] elephant population.


In Sri Lanka, elephants are  
== Background ==
both a valued part of traditional culture and an increasing risk to the
Elephants are a valued part of traditional culture in Sri Lanka, but a spike in population has led to increased construction on lands traditionally used by elephants. This means encounters between humans and elephants are more common and elephants have less space for food, meaning that elephants are often going onto farms. Stressed elephants are also quick to anger and will often kill people and destroy property in fits of rage. The Great Recession also meant the cutting of funding to wildlife reserves.
populace. A spike in population on the Sri Lankan island has led the
government to open lands traditionally reserved for the elephants to
settlement by people. Narrowing habitats mean that encounters between  
elephants and people are more and more common, posing a threat to both
elephants and humans. Since 1990, the number of elephants residing in
Sri Lanka has fallen from about 12,000 to approximately 4,000, the
result of hunting and dwindling food sources. When farmers take over
land traditionally used by the elephants, they often improvise
electrified fences in an effort to protect their subsistence crops.  
However, contact with these fences enrages the elephants, causing them
to crush people and/or property.


Economic depression in Sri Lanka
== Events ==
<nowiki> </nowiki>has caused a reduction in funding for the wildlife veterinary program
The countries 11 veterinarians went on a week-long [[Good Work Strike|good work strike]] in protest of these policies, refuse to attend work and serving the government (while continuing the help them). Demanding a meeting with the wildlife department, more funding for wildlife reserves and compensation for the strike.
that provides services to enraged or injured elephants. Sri Lanka’s
Federal Wildlife Department generally employs nineteen wildlife
veterinarians for this purpose, but eight of the positions have been
vacant since 2009 and there is no effort to fill them. In 2010 the Sri
Lankan government introduced a new elephant conservation plan in an
attempt to address increasing conflict between Sri Lankan villagers and
elephants. However, the Wildlife Vet Association (WVA), a union that
represents the veterinarians felt that the plan was drastically
inadequate for the magnitude of conflict and casualty currently
experienced by both sides of the conflict. The veterinarians began
meeting with government officials in an attempt to facilitate more
drastic policy change. Specifically, they were concerned with the lack
of resource for elephants pushed off their habitat by cattle or
subsistence farming. They were told by the Wildlife Department Director
General, Ananda Wijesooriya, that there simply wasn’t enough land, and
therefore nothing could be done.


<nowiki> </nowiki>On August 15, 2010, the WVA
== Results ==
announced that the veterinarians for the entire country would hold a
The strike failed to protect the elephants.<ref>[[Global Nonviolent Action Database]] - [https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/sri-lankan-veterinarians-strike-better-treatment-elephants-2010 Sri Lankan veterinarians strike for better treatment of elephants, 2010]</ref>
weeklong strike to protest the inadequacy of the new elephant
conservation plan, as well as the disregard for professional development
<nowiki> </nowiki>of the veterinarians. Between August 16 and August 21, 2010, the eleven
<nowiki> </nowiki>national wildlife veterinarians held a strike, refusing to attend work
or serve the government in any capacity. During this time, they
continued to serve injured elephants. The strikers presented a series of
<nowiki> </nowiki>demands. Firstly, they wanted a respectful meeting with the minister in
<nowiki> </nowiki>charge of wildlife. They also demanded better working conditions for  
wildlife veterinarians, as well as the hiring of eight more, to fill the
<nowiki> </nowiki>department’s capacity. They requested that the government establish new
<nowiki> </nowiki>nature reserves, and resettle displaced elephants into them. Finally,
they demanded a hierarchy within the Wildlife department, so that WVA
members could ascend in seniority and compensation without leaving the
veterinary profession. During the week, representatives of the WVA met
with the Deputy Economic Development Minister, though his connection to
their department was limited at best. Beyond this, there isn’t
documentation to suggest that any of their demands were met.


<nowiki> </nowiki>Population
== References ==
<nowiki> </nowiki>continues to increase in Sri Lanka as the economy continues to suffer.
[[Category:AnarWiki]]
Elephants will continue to be evicted from their natural homes, and
[[Category:Events]]
respond to displacement with confusion and rage. This experience isn’t
[[Category:Sri Lanka]]
unique to Sri Lankan elephants, but mirrored in the experiences of
[[Category:Southern Asia]]
communities and states across the world. Conflict in the relationship
[[Category:Asia]]
between the natural world and human will increase as urbanization
[[Category:2010]]
continues.
[[Category:21st Century]]
[[Category:2010s]]
[[Category:Strikes]]
[[Category:Animal Rights]]
[[Category:Environmentalism]]

Latest revision as of 17:50, 3 April 2024

The Sri Lankan Veterinarian Strike was a strike in 2010 by veterinarians (doctors who specialise in animals) to protect the welfare of the Sri Lankas elephant population.

Background

Elephants are a valued part of traditional culture in Sri Lanka, but a spike in population has led to increased construction on lands traditionally used by elephants. This means encounters between humans and elephants are more common and elephants have less space for food, meaning that elephants are often going onto farms. Stressed elephants are also quick to anger and will often kill people and destroy property in fits of rage. The Great Recession also meant the cutting of funding to wildlife reserves.

Events

The countries 11 veterinarians went on a week-long good work strike in protest of these policies, refuse to attend work and serving the government (while continuing the help them). Demanding a meeting with the wildlife department, more funding for wildlife reserves and compensation for the strike.

Results

The strike failed to protect the elephants.[1]

References

  1. ↑ Global Nonviolent Action Database - Sri Lankan veterinarians strike for better treatment of elephants, 2010
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