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ABOUT THE BULL IN BULLFIGHTING - Part I

2/22/2015

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“In a bullfight, the bull is the hero of a tragedy.”
- Ludwig Wittgensein.
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by Betsy Seeton

"Bullfighting is an art not a sport,” so say its most ardent defenders. Bullfighter advocates consider themselves 'aficionados' versus mere fans.  They condemn any law seeking to ban bullfighting as “an assault on Spanish history and culture,” and have even gone so far as to claim it’s a threat to Spanish identity.  Salvador Dali said of bullfighting, “The bull is a Spanish god who sacrifices himself.”

What's interesting is that the roots of bull fighting are shallower than commonly perceived. While bullfighting has influences tracing back thousands of years, the three act performances of current times debuted in 1796, and the style/aesthetics  in play today  with modern day performances, have only been enshrined in Spanish culture barely one hundred years.  For animal activists, and the anti-bullfighters in the general public who would like to see this barbarism end, this may be a favorable point because theoretically it would mean they aren't fighting to change something steeped in ancient-rooted pageantry and tradition. On the other hand, a century gives plenty of time to make prying loose the tentacles of tradition a very hefty challenge.
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Researching the origins of the breed of fighting bulls,  reveals only controversy and no consistent consensus. Some say the fighting bulls are descendant from Iberian bovines bred for aggressiveness. According to expert and author, Alexander Fiske-Harrison, since genetic diversity within a population increases over time, the current bloodlines of fighting bulls make them some of the oldest in Europe. Others say bulls are bred to weaken their ability to fight well. The truth is volleyed back and forth between those for and those against bullfighting. I do not know for sure where the truth lands.

From Pro-Bullfighters

If a bull is in the running to be picked as a fighter, he lives a nice life until he gets in the ring; one might even say a pampered life. He is free to roam  in open, grassy, natural areas on ranches dedicated to raising fighting bulls, and he's fed a special, if not, gourmet-like diet. He receives the best medical care if needed. He gets to be with his mother for the entire first year of his life. 

The mother is thought to be the one who passes along the determinant genes -- the genes most likely to produce a good fighter -- so it's the females who are rigorously tested, more so than the offspring. Once a good breeder is past her prime, she serves no further purpose to her owners and she is unceremoniously put down. 
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A bull must be at least four years old and no older than six when he fights. (He outlives beef cattle who normally don’t see past their eighteenth month of life.) No bull will ever fight twice; most don't survive the ring, but even those few who do defy the odds, are never allowed back in the ring for a second shot at the matador. Several sources say it's because the bull learns too much, making it too dangerous for the matador.  The rare bull who makes it out alive is pardoned with great honor, and is allowed to live out his natural life. 

It is hoped that the bulls that make the cut, the ones chosen to fight, possess a bevy of prized traits. It will be the  bull's  strength, structure, beauty, intelligence, demeanor, and personality that all come together for a single task: to put on a tremendous show. Man against beast - well matched co-stars - in what is hoped to be a brilliant performance where usually only one will defy death.

 From Anti-Bullfighters 

What most people don’t know is that the real show begins behind the scenes days before you ever see the matador. If you had a seat here, you would wince at watching the bull’s genitals being stabbed with long needles. You’d see just how his oxygen supply would be severely restricted from cotton stuffed nostrils. He’s not fed for several days. His vision is blurred by a petroleum jelly smeared directly onto his eyeballs. His balance is hampered by a toxic solution soaked into his legs and body. It causes him to struggle with balance. Sometimes wet newspapers or cotton are stuffed into his ears. He consumes water laced with ingredients that wreak havoc on his bowels. It’s against the rules, but sometimes his horns might be shaved to further disorient him in the arena; the shaving is done without anesthesia and hurts like hell. The horns, of course, are less lethal afterwards.  He hungers and suffers like this in the dark where he’s crammed into a box and confined for days. 

Drugs might course through his veins; amphetamines to pep him up or tranquilizers to slow him down.  On the day of the ludicrous ‘fight’, when this traumatized, frightened bull is first released into the arena he gleans a blurry sight of the first light he’s seen in days. As he runs toward the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” in doubtless desperation hoping this is the end of his suffering, he immediately discovers his nightmare merely shifts into high gear. To the bull, surround sounds of muffled mob-chants and cheers from thousands of fans fill the air. 

The bull ‘charges’ at the motion of the colorful, waving flag. It is not the brilliant red or any other color that attracts the bull's attention, for they are basically color blind; it's movement. The sequin wearing matador makes the show seem like a great contest of wits, strength and speed against a powerful opponent. But is it?  Or is it a beast that has been weakened and seriously tampered with?

It often takes more than a single spear pierced through his flesh to topple the bull for good. His wounds cause exsanguination; he bleeds to death. It is not always swift, and it is not painless.
After the kill, an ear is sometimes sliced off before the bull draws his final breath. Sometimes it’s the tail that is cut off; either one is taken while the bull’s heart still beats. They are given as token trophies to the matador to honor him for being so masterful at bringing down the “mighty” beast. One last show of honor for successfully killing the bull, should the dead specimen be impressive enough, is for a team of mules or horses to drag his bloody body around the arena.
                                                                            
Part II about bullfighting will explore the debate between supporters and anti-bullfighters, and examine whether a modern society should endorse animal suffering as entertainment. Personally, I do not support bullfighting. It's barbaric to me. I don't understand how any culture allows killing to be celebrated and used to entertain onlookers. It's a terribly weak argument to claim that bullfighting should continue because of tradition. We would never have grown and advanced as a civilization if we did not embrace change at certain times. 
  1. http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2010/08/the-romance-and-reality-of-bullfighting-2/
  2. http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/bullfighting/ritual
  3. http://www.aficionados-international.com/node/278
  4. https://fiskeharrison.wordpress.com/about-the-bull/
  5. http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2010/08/the-romance-and-reality-of-bullfighting-2/


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 Did You Know The Use of Palm Oil is Endangering Orangutans?

2/21/2015

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PictureSarah with Bearded Dragon


My name is Sarah. I am 10 years old 
and in 5th grade. I love animals  and 
want   to   be  a  wildlife veterinarian 
someday. I  have  taken care of three 
cats,  a dog,  a  bearded   dragon  and 
thirteen    fish.    I    have  also  helped 
numerous   wild   animals   including 
baby rabbits and a robin. 

by Sarah
Orangutans are awesome animals! They belong to the primate group, so they are "cousins" of gorillas, gibbons, and chimpanzees. Many people think an orangutan is a monkey, but unlike a monkey orangutans have no tail. That means that they grab things with their hands and feet like humans. 

Humans and orangutans have a ton in common. Orangutans carry 94% of human genes. Cool right? In fact, the name "orangutan"  means man of the forest. It is from the Malay language. Orangutans are endangered. This means that there is not nearly as many orangutans as there were 40 years ago. The main cause of extinction is palm oil leading to habitat loss.  But there are other reasons, like babies getting caught and sold as well.
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Palm oil is a vegetable oil produced by the palm fruit. You are probably wondering what has Palm oil in it? Well the answer is many things! Things like chips, ice cream, cookies, lotions, laundry detergent and even toothpaste! It is creating problems including animal cruelty, climate change, and habitat destruction. According to the website www.saynotopalmoil.com, workers from palm oil factories have cleared 300 football fields of  rain forests per hour! Workers are chopping down trees forcing orangutans to die because orangutans live in trees so when they get cut down orangutans are homeless and die. Lastly there is babies getting caught and sold as pets. This act is illegal but people are enthralled with their adorable faces and funny personalities. People pay a lot of money for a baby orangutan, all illegal animal trade adds up to $10,000,000,000 a year! People do not know the proper care for a baby orangutan because it is not like you can go to a pet store and buy a care guide for an orangutan, so they die. Those reasons are exactly why orangutans are endangered. 

Thank you for reading this and don't use Palm oil for orangutan's sake!

Credits:
www.orangutanrepublik.org
saynotopalmoil.com
www.workaholics.org
enchantedlearning.com
animals.national geographic.com
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PRESS RELEASE From Center for Whale Research 

2/13/2015

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A new baby orca whale is born ! 

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Feb 12, 2015
Another New Baby in J pod!

"After spending the past two weeks near the west entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, J pod finally came back into the interior Salish Sea waters and showed off another brand new baby whale to the few observers that braved the mist and light rain and watched the whales swim by from land and from vessels at respectful distance.

Dave Ellifrit from the Center for Whale Research, and Jeanne Hyde who first heard the whales on Lime Kiln hydrophone this morning, embarked on theCenter ‘s research vessel “Chimo” to Haro Strait while CWR Senior Scientist, KenBalcomb, watched from shore and managed communications." FULL ARTICLE

How can I become a whale biologist?

THE CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH answers this often asked question:

"This is probably our most frequently asked question! Many, many people e-mail us asking what they can do to study killer whales (orcas) in the wild. The truth is, that in the worldwide there are really only a dozen or so people who study wild killer whales. Studying these animals in the wild is logistically difficult and often cost prohibitive. With the exception of the Southern Residents, most killer whale populations are found in remote areas and are not seen regularly. Before you decide that you want to study killer whales, you should ask yourself two important questions: 1. Why killer whales? 2. What about killer whales do I want to study? The reason for these questions is that anyone can claim they want to study killer whales, and many do. But if there are only a dozen or so scientists studying wild killer whales, then competition for jobs must be pretty high. It is far more useful and practical to have a specialty with a specific background in a science such as genetics, ecology, or toxicology, and apply that to killer whales, than just to say you want to study them. Find a way to set yourself apart from others wanting to study the same animals as their profession. Talk with people who are already doing what you want to do. You will find that there are many different paths to take. Then you should try to volunteer or intern, and get as much experience as you can, and you're on your way!" For more FAQ's

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A Cat House for House Cats That Will Blow You Away! 

2/2/2015

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This is the most amazing house full of cat walks you may ever see! Check out
the video below and see all the gorgeous curves, spirals, stairs, and walkways.
All told, Cohen says he spent about $30,000 to $40,000 since 1995 to build the catwalks. “Way more expensive than a sane person would build, but I didn’t care,” he says. “I love my cats, my house and art, so I designed it to be beautiful to me.”
Houzz TV: Watch These Rescued Cats Make a House Their Playland
IN 1988, when home builder Peter Cohen moved into his house in Goleta, California, two roaming outdoor cats came with the property. Shortly after he moved in, one was killed by a car and the other was hit by a car. This prompted Cohen to keep the surviving cat indoors. Soon after, he began rescuing cats that nobody wanted. Before he knew it, he had 18 on his hands. More
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France Takes a Welcome Stand For Animals in 2015

2/1/2015

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France declares animals as "living beings gifted sentience."

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Recent amendments to French Civil Law have modified the classification of animals from the 200 year old law of being ‘movable property’ to ‘living beings gifted sentience’. - See more here.

From the The Speaker story:

                Animals are now considered to be “living beings gifted sentience.” 
                In this way, an animal is no longer defined by its market value, but its intrinsic value.                     The Civil Code has been harmonized with Rural Code and Criminal Code on this                               matter.

It should come as no surprise there would be criticism. FNSEA (the main French farmer’s union) fears the new legislation's effects regarding livestock. "But after seeing that animals did not receive a new category, the representatives thought things could be worse. This amendment does not change the situation for farmers significantly because it does not create a special status for animals between the men and goods. Animals thus remain property under the Civil Code."

So while the new legislation takes a very tiny step in the moral direction animal activists want to see taken to begin properly viewing animals as feeling, thinking, caring, and emotional beings, it falls far short of providing any new, real protection. On the other hand, it is a step forward, and in a world where so many animals suffer egregiously at the hands of humans, we have to be glad sentience in animals has been recognized in France. Prior to this change, animals were literally considered by law no differently than a piece of furniture.  

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