Beauty Without Cruelty

Organizational

What are the main activities of Beauty Without Cruelty?

• Promoting the BWC motto which states: Beauty Without Cruelty is a way of life which causes no creature of land, sea or air, terror, torture or death.
• Based on this motto BWC guides people to make lifestyle changes that help themselves and in turn animals.
• Locating and investigating animal exploitation, particularly for commercial gain in the name of food, science, service, exhibition, fashion, religion, entertainment or for any other reason.
• Conducting awareness programmes and distributing promotional literature, etc in educational institutions and other places to spread the message of compassion and kindness for animals. BWC encourages a vegan lifestyle, i.e. not eating or using any animal derived products. The BWC Pledge Form helps in upholding convictions and beliefs. See http://www.bwcindia.org/Web/PlayYourPart/PledgeForm.pdf
• Conducting research on various products and processes in order to ascertain whether vegan/vegetarian/non-vegetarian.
• Documenting, printing, distributing and uploading on our website up-to-date information gathered so as to encourage people to use only non-animal origin items based on the premise that if there is no demand, the supply will diminish.
• Producing printed and website e-versions of our publications like Compassionate Friend, Karuna-Mitra, Hinsa vs. Ahinsa, BWC Investment Guide and BWC Calendar; and awareness creating posters, leaflets, stickers, films, videos, etc. In addition, to help people follow a healthy vegan diet, BWC provides with tasty recipes and factual nutritional information and health charts.
• Creating public awareness of different issues related to animals on particular days throughout the year especially via Hinsa vs. Ahinsa e-mailers.
• Approaching Government to amend and make new rules and laws that alleviate animal exploitation, suffering and death. BWC also takes legal action to save animals, should the need arise.

What is the work that BWC is currently focusing on and hopes to achieve?

Constraints in the form of people and resources holds BWC back from carrying out much more, but what ever has been undertaken as listed below, is with wholehearted perseverance and sincerity:
• BWC has been trying for years to convince the Government of India to make the Veg and Non-veg symbols (currently affixed on packaged food articles) also mandatory for cosmetics, toiletries, drugs and all other consumer items. Since the new Vegan symbol was introduced in 2022, BWC now wants it to be also included.
• BWC would like the testing of all consumer products on animals to be banned.
• BWC feels greyhound/dog racing should never be legalized and therefore continuously approaches politicians and officials to stop import, training (hunting) and racing events. Likewise, BWC is against other animals being made to race, fight, or used for other forms of so-called entertainment like playing polo matches or giving “joy-rides” at hill stations.
• BWC condemns recreational fishing and the catching & releasing of mahseer and other protected fish, and is striving for a ban on this cruelty. In fact BWC is against angling and fishing for food included.
• BWC has been systematically objecting to the setting up of aquatic parks and looks forward to them being halted. For example, the penguins kept at the Byculla zoo in Mumbai.
• BWC wants a ban on ornamental fish.
• BWC feels wildlife should remain unhindered in the wild, not jailed in zoos where conservation, education and research purposes as claimed, are far from achieved. Moreover, BWC feels all exotic species smuggled into India should be returned to their countries of origin, not displayed in zoos or allowed to be kept as “pets”.
• BWC wants the Government to impose a complete and effective all-India ban on the import, poaching, trade and caging of all birds, Indian and foreign.
• BWC has for years been approaching the Government to place a ban on the import, manufacture, sale, purchase and use of catapults.
• BWC feels that the ban on manja used to fly kites must be strictly implemented by all the authorities concerned throughout the country.
• BWC wants to see a total end to bursting fire crackers that result in sound and air pollution causing distress and harm to animals, birds, the environment – and humans.
• BWC strongly objects to the use of live bait, such as calves, poultry, dogs and goats, for entertainment or for trapping wildlife.
• BWC is against deforestation – whatever the reason.
• BWC wants Government to take appropriate and timely steps to stop elephants (and other wild animals) being hit on railway tracks all over India.
• BWC hopes to be able to convince the Government to ban the collection, trade and use of peacock feathers for religious purposes and as decorations.
• BWC wants a ban on films and advertisements for which live animals have been used i.e. obviously subjected to cruelty – whether in India or abroad.
• BWC looks forward to the day when circuses have absolutely no birds, fish and animals in their performances or display them.
• BWC wants captive elephants and other animals made to perform or work in the name of religion, set free and no more added to their numbers. No different to circus animals, they are cruelly trained using torture, hunger and fear.
• BWC sees no joy in “joy-rides” and wants camels, ponies, elephants, etc. to be spared.

• BWC continues to strongly oppose the setting up of crocodile farms where they would be specially bred and raised to be killed for their skins.

• BWC has pointed out that imported reptile-skin items are no different to those of Indian origin and should therefore be banned as well.
• BWC wants the Government to firmly clamp down on the import of knick-knacks made from fur, particularly cat and dog fur. In fact, BWC condemns the import of all animal furs.
• BWC wants a ban on all animal sacrifices.
• BWC does not believe in genetic modification of animals or vegetables, particularly if animal genes are inserted in to vegetables.
• BWC wants a total ban on tail-docking, ear-cropping, de-barking, filing teeth and removing dewclaw of dogs.
• BWC wants the Government to stop all birds such as emus, ostriches, turkeys, quails and ducks being bred for their meat and feathers.
• BWC also wants a ban on breeding of rabbits for their fur and meat.
• BWC doesn’t want to see any expansion of, or new abattoirs. In fact, BWC would like all slaughter houses to be shut down.
• BWC wants the Government to come down heavily on smuggling of animals for meat, leather and religious sacrifices across the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Nepal borders halted.
• BWC wants to create bigger awareness against livestock rearing, animal husbandry and intensive farming (animals specially bred and raised to be exploited and/or killed) of poultry, sheep, goats, pigs; and also exploitation of milch cattle and particularly male calves by the dairy industry. There is no doubt that the dairy industry heavily subsidises meat production.
• BWC wants it widely known that materials such as silk and wool, jewellery made of pearls, coral and shells, are products arising from intense cruelty and death of living beings and therefore negative fashion statements. Just like the use of animal leather for footwear and accessories: meat and leather are two sides of the same coin and a result of slaughter.
• BWC will continue to alert the Police and Government officials about violation of laws pertaining to animal exploitation or death so that appropriate action is taken.
• Last but not least, BWC would like the Government to recognise and acknowledge that animals (all living creatures other than humans) are sentient beings having rights and legal status.

Can I have a list of BWC certified branded vegetarian food and cosmetic products?

BWC has withdrawn the Veg Shopper’s Guide.

Animals are tortured, and slaughtered brutally, for various products including meat, clothing and accessories. The so-called "by-products" of their slaughter, often worth more than the meat, are used for innumerable cosmetic and household articles.
Animals are also tortured ruthlessly, and finally killed, for experiments and research. Animals do not volunteer for such agony, torture or death.

Few people are aware of such cruelties. But, not all products are made by torturing and killing animals. From Day One, BWC put in continuous efforts to contact such companies whose products are not made by killing or torturing animals.
BWC’s Veg Shopper’s Guide consisted of products — cosmetics, toilet preparations and even packaged foods — which were believed, in good faith, to be free of animal ingredients and animal testing. We had hoped the guide would make it easy for our members and consumers to adopt a vegetarian life style.
However, BWC is sorry to say we had no option but to withdraw the Veg Shopper's Guide. We do not wish to endorse products that we are no longer sure of being vegetarian, leave alone vegan.

BWC now leaves it to consumers to decide whether to eat/use products marked with the green vegetarian or vegan symbols. Although marked with one of these mandatory symbols, BWC can not 100% vouch for the products being free of animal ingredients and not having been tested on animals because they are self-certified. Even if they happen to endorsed by organisations working for animals in India or abroad there is no certainty. BWC therefore urges consumers to decide for themselves whether they want to believe the declaration affixed on the package by the manufacturer, whether to trust the endorser, and if to purchase/use the product or not.

Can I have a copy of the book entitled A Vegetarian Lifestyle?

Many years back BWC ran out of copies of this book. Moreover a considerable amount of information contained in the book is irrelevant today.

Are you supported by the BWC organization in UK?

Unfortunately, the BWC charity’s international headquarters in UK no longer exists. Whatever support we received was only in the initial stages. BWC India has since its inception in 1974 been totally independent by managing its own finances, generating its own resources, and deciding upon its projects.

Are BWC cosmetics marketed abroad, BWC owned?

BWC India has no connection whatsoever with the BWC cosmetic company. When the BWC charity in UK closed, the company owned by them was sold. Despite a continuous correspondence spanning a couple of years, BWC India was not at all satisfied that all the ingredients used by BWC Cosmetics were free of animal substances.

Does BWC India (Pune) have branches in other cities in India?

No, BWC does not have branches or centres in the other cities of India. However, BWC has a few dedicated members who have been spreading our message in different parts of India.

Are Compassionate Friend’s Hindi version Karuna-Mitra and Gujarati version Satvanukampa available?

At present Compassionate Friend in English is the only magazine published. But, BWC re-started Karuna-Mitra as a four-page quarterly newsletter. Monsoon 2011 issue onwards all members began receiving both publications. However, Satvanukampa started in 1981, has not be published since 1990.

How can we join BWC?

Membership is open to all: vegan, vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Life membership of BWC is Rs.300. Educational institutions pay Rs.100 annually (a lump-sum of Rs.500 for 5 years preferred) and corporate bodies Rs.1000 annually. Please see http://www.bwcindia.org/Web/PlayYourPart/SupportTheCause.html

Can I gift BWC membership?

You certainly can. There is a section in the membership form where you can mark it as gift membership. We also have a special gift life membership form. Please see http://www.bwcindia.org/Web/PlayYourPart/BWCLMGift.pdf

How can I help BWC (voluntary work)?

Being a charity and NGO, volunteers are always most welcome and required for our various activities. Kindly fill up the voluntary activities section in the membership form and we shall get back to you when we require your help.

Can I translate BWC material and print it?

All BWC material is registered as copyright but can be translated into local languages or printed in other magazines with written permission from the Managing Trustee/Chairperson of BWC. You are therefore requested to send a letter seeking permission and specifying what you need to re-print. If permission is granted, it will be necessary to state BWC as the source in the printed material.

Can we provide BWC website as a link?

Yes, but only if we agree, and please inform us after doing so.

I am a member of your organization, but lately have not been receiving your magazine or calendar. What is the reason?

The possibility could be that you have recently shifted from your residence and have not informed us your new postal address. However, if this is not the case, we request you to write us quoting your membership number (if you have it) and we shall look into the matter at the earliest. Also, we would not put it past our publications being pilfered.

Do donors benefit tax-wise?

All donations made to BWC are exempted from tax under Section 80-G of Income Tax Act, 1961. Please see http://www.bwcindia.org/Web/PlayYourPart/80-G.pdf
To download donation form (not essential to give filled form with donation) please go to
http://www.bwcindia.org/Web/PlayYourPart/BWCDonationForm.pdf