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LIGHTING BULLS ON FIRE FOR FUN

1/30/2015

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" We cannot have peace among men whose hearts delight in killing
 any living creature. By every act that glorifies or even tolerates 
 in killing we set back the progress of humanity."
-- Rachel Carson
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by Betsy Seeton


Picture this. You’re in Costa Blanca Spain. It’s early September. You’re seated in a spectator stand amidst a large, drinking crowd. A man-made beach separates you and the other spectators from the open sea. A 9-day festival called Javea Bous a la Mar aka “Bulls to the Sea” honoring Our Lady of Loreto is just about to start. 

You gaze out to sea while waiting for the bulls to arrive. You may or may not ask who is this “Lady of Loreto”? Loreto refers to the house in which Virgin Mary was born. 
The story goes that a band of angels scooped up the little house from the Holy Land, and transported it first to Tersato, Dalmatia in 1291, then to Reananti in 1294, and finally to Loreto, Italy where it has been for centuries. Popes have always held the Shrine of Loreto in special esteem, and it is under their direct authority and protection. 

But if you know this little bit of history, you’re probably only a handful or less who do. No one is there for a history lesson. Yes, the festival is steeped in tradition, but that’s not the point. It’s party time. The bulls – up to six – arrive by truck and get deposited into a secured area under the stand. The fun (or if you’re the bull – the horror) is about to begin. 

The bull’s horns are lit on fire followed by a single firework going off. Ah, yes, the fun of it all. The burning bull reacts the way you might imagine. He’s panic stricken, terrified, and runs from the pain of his burning horns. He’s berserk and runs out into the open sandy area, where if things aren’t bad enough, a band of local lads run around further agitating the poor beast. Their aim is to bait him to attack them near the waterfront so that he will fall into the sea. He’s not supposed to die. He’s just supposed to entertain. 

Horrifically, the torture of animals as entertainment dates back thousands of years. (Look for my upcoming article about the history of circuses.)
 Very sadly at this year’s “Bulls to the Sea” one bull gave his last performance. A spectator reported that after one of the bull’s horns was lit it took no more than five minutes for the animal to dive into the sea, and due to his extremely fatigued state, he was unable to stay afloat and all efforts to revive it were in vain. He died in the sea. 

What else is there to say? There are no words to describe this outrage. I leave you with your thoughts and possibly a little heavier heart. 

One last thing. Er... make that two last things. If you want to stop this atrocity of lighting bulls on fire at festivals and bullfights, log onto Change.org and sign a petition. It’s free. It’s quick. And it has the power to carry your voice along with thousands of others to be heard by the people who can stop this. My last thought is a question. From what I read, this festival didn't always include burning the bull's horns. But how does this festival (bull burning or not) of chasing a bull to dive into the sea honor the Virgin Mary??  

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PORTER THE DRIVING DOG?

1/29/2015

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What do you think of this?
This video came out in 2012, but I just saw it today. 

Here's who is behind this, "Dogs this smart deserve a home. Every year, the SPCA need to find homes for thousands of dogs just like Porter -- dogs who have been abused, abandoned, or just forgotten. Our dogs may be a motley bunch, but they're all smart and they're all lovable. So please don't forget about them. Adopt them. 

To find out more about our #drivingdogs head to www.drivingdogs.co.nz or visit www.spca.org.nz today to adopt a dog.



Please feel free to contact drivingdogs@draftfcb.co.nz if you have any questions.

CAUTION: In the interest of everyone’s safety, please don’t try to teach your dog to drive. Porter, Ginny and Monty were trained in a safe, controlled environment under the guidance of professionals. All training was conducted with animal safety as top priority in a specially modified vehicle.
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MEET DAPHNE, THE WOMAN BEHIND THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST -- A WORLD CLASS NON-PROFIT SAVING ELEPHANTS & OTHER ANIMALS

1/27/2015

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Ejoying the warmth of one of the donated blankets from the children of classes 2D and 2N at Nairobi Academy Preparatory School

"Humans need nature for the health
and the soul and for peace of mind. 
We are part of nature. Within nature
can be found many clues to happiness." 

~Daphne Sheldrick
Q
The interviewer, Linda Ruck, asked Daphne Sheldrick, "The Scientific world believes it is unethical to humanize animals. What are your thoughts on this?"

A
"This shows huge ignorance. Elephants, dolphins and whales have almost identical emotions to humans. Others are equally sophisticated but on a different branch of life. For instance, the rhino that stepped out of the dinosaur age whose life is governed by chemistry and scent which we don't fully understand. Antelopes too, who communicate with telepathy and an unspoken language. Some people believe animals are put on earth for our benefit and enrichment. This is a selfish and ignorant point of view."  Read more

"Within nature can be found many clues to happiness. One 
simply has to listen look and learn, and by appreciating the
 miracle of life on earth, and the beauty of all things natural, 
one will discover a panacea to encounter many human
 problems -- loneliness, self-pity, boredom and resentment, 
to name just a few."   _Daphne Sheldrick
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At The Heart of Things

1/22/2015

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“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; 
to  put  the  nation in order, we must first put the  family  in order; 
to   put   the   family   in   order,  we   must   first  cultivate  our 
personal  life; to  do that we must first  set  our  hearts  right.”  
-- Confucius
by Betsy Seeton 

It is this very concept about which Confucius wrote that is at the core – at the heart - of my brand of activism. I believe, as Confucius implied, it is the individual hearts of humankind that must change to bring change. The human heart must embrace a broader and deeper compassion for all life. Old ways of thinking and “of being” need to change and evolve.  

The inhumane treatment and living conditions of hundreds of thousands of animals on farms, in zoos, with circus performing animals, roadside attractions, animal breeders, exotic animal ownership, along with the brutal deaths of animals to fill the demand for animal organs, fur, body parts, ivory, horns and even blood (medicinal and ritual uses) must first be recognized as abuse, and as inhumane, before it can change, and before it will ever end. A paradigm shift in the animal and human relationship is essential.

A new breed of human must emerge out of the greater understanding that indisputably exists about how animals  truly "feel" and how they experience a wide range of emotions and pain. Their experiences are as  important to them as ours are to us. Their wants in life are much the same as ours. They want food, shelter, good health and  happiness. They don't want to be hit, hurt, injured, used and abused. But without an immediate paradigm shift in the way humans regard them, animals needlessly and shamefully suffer unimaginably egregious pain at the hands of their human handlers and guardians. Human ignorance and greed must begin to spur outrage and ultimately be wholly unacceptable by the masses. 

I support well designed  (and competently enforced) legislation that ensures humane treatment of animals, as well as laws that guarantee rights to animals, but what also must coexist with these laws and regulations are human souls with hearts that will demand humanity and justice for animals. The hearts of people must be strong enough and loud enough to speak for the voiceless; to not silently stand by when animals are being abused, neglected and denied basic rights. No more turning a blind eye.
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PAINT, ANIMALS & THE ART OF DECEPTION

1/9/2015

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A circus in Italy, passed off painted Chow Chows (dogs) as pandas and charged patrons to pose with the black and white replicas. Click here for the story. 

Police in Brescia, Italy, seized the chow chows on animal cruelty grounds. The owners also face charges over the dogs’ false passports.Police believe the chow chows came from Hungary and may have been six months younger than their documents had suggested.

The 'Orfei' circus involved has today denied the allegations insisting that they never claimed the dogs were pandas. Full article here.

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People occasionally look at paint splattered on a canvas in a gallery and say, "My child could have painted that." (Or, among eccentric pet-owners, "My monkey could have painted that.") How much better is abstract art than work by kids and monkeys? New research reveals the answer. Full article here.
Pictureclick to read article



Donkeys aka "zonkeys" in Mexico are painted to look like zebras and they draw money-spending crowds to see them. Some hail this deception as a wonderful tradition, while others question the practice.

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click to read article
Below is a book where a donkey turns into a zebra to help children. 
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A donkey/zebra’s story allows children to learn about Gaza. Hurry tells the story of a donkey who witnesses the sadness and suffering and fear of children in occupied Gaza, and who helps them the only way he can: by turning into a zebra with the help of a zookeeper, his best friend, and some paint, so that these children can taste the freedom of traveling in their imaginations to far-off places. The book includes an appendix with text and photos that describes the true events on which the story is based. But it is the story itself as told by Emma Williams, together with the wry and playful illustrations of Ibrahim Quraishi, that gives us the clairvoyance of children to see the world in which we live, with all its wonder and pathos, more clearly than countless fact-finding missions, political tracts or political analyses. Full article here.

PictureIn 2009, zebras died of starvation during the Israel-Hamas war.
Gaza zookeepers draw crowds with painted donkeys after zebras die. Israel restricts the importing of animals into Gaza, so the Marah Land Zoo's keepers covered the pair of donkeys in black and white stripes instead. Mohammed Bargouthi, the owner of the zoo, said it would have cost $40,000 to smuggle in a real zebra into Gaza. So, instead, he used French-manufactured hair dye.

Look closely at what appears to be a parrot . It's actually a woman painted by former world-champion body painter Johannes Stoetter! It took four hours for the artist to transform the model using “breathable” paint. Full article.
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