Wednesday, February 18, 2009

My Letter To The Editor of The Village Voice

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-02-18/news/is-foie-gras-torture/2


After reading Sarah Digregorio's piece on foie Gras, I had to sit back and collect my thoughts for a few hours, as I basically had to calm myself down from the sickness that people call "humanity". I am a person who believes that every being on this planet has a right to live and not be tortured, and despite her "findings", I still believe that this barbaric process is cruel. Just because she says that she never found any of the gruesome things that she has seen in the video footage, does NOT mean that this is not a cruel practice and should not clear one's consciousness to continue eating this "delicacy". Sticking a tube down an animal's throat and force-feeding IS cruel. Receiving the information that "ducks naturally do a certain amount of gorging" doesn't justify sticking a tube down their throat. People do a lot of natural (or unnatural, depends on how you want to look at it) gorging, too. Should we stick a tube down their throats?? We are supposed to be better than this, as most people would say that we are the "superior" beings on this planet. Well, if this is true, isn't it time that we start acting responsibly? Shame on Ms. Digregorio for what I feel is spreading the word that it is okay to eat foie gras because one farm has shown her that it isn't what you see in the video footage that's been spread around.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Great Cruelty-Free Footwear


New Balance makes some great shoes and the best part is that a lot of the models that they make are actually cruelty-free AND made in the U.S.A., which is rare these days. There is absolutely no leather on them...The best part is that they were pretty cheap. I think I got them for around 45 bucks, which most people know that any kind of athletic shoes these days are usually 100 bucks or more!

Cruelty-free = no animals (or humans) were harmed in the making..

Made in the U.S.A. = happy Americans with jobs!

www.thevegetariansite.com

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Humans Multiplying While Animals Are Crucified

I am just in awe of the story about the women who had eight babies. Now she's got 14, as she already had six! I have to say that I am happy that people are questioning her intentions because this world is so overpopulated as it is. We can't afford to feed the people that are already living in it...

Now, I have a point to make here. My stand on hunting is that I am 100 percent against it. When people argue about how if we didn't hunt deer, they would be overpopulated, it makes me so irate. Where do we, as the human race, get off playing god by controlling animal populations (and while we are doing this, we have actually wiped out species!)but can't even control the population of our own race?? This woman has 14 kids and says that she's not on welfare?? Did someone forget to educate her about the fact that food stamps ARE in fact welfare?

I hope they do a serious investigation into her fertility doctor, too....

Thursday, February 5, 2009

How long, Ringling Bros.??

So, Ringling Bros. might finally get in trouble for all of their years of elephant abuse? I guess you can only deny it for so many, many years...

Unfortunately, the "performing" elephants are poked with metal rods to get them to be obedient because that's the only way they will listen. One day, I pray, a circus will be a place where kids and their parents can go to see PEOPLE who are willing of their own free will to perform for them and not some poor, innocent animals who were stolen from the wild for man to profit. How is this humane?

Ringling Bros. thinks that animal rights activists are on a "crusade" to do away with having circus animals...DUH..anyone with feelings should want that. Don't they see the success of Cirque du soleil, without using animals in their shows?

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ringling4-2009feb04,0,3570172.story

Pet Shops and Puppy Mills


There is a pet shop by my house that sells lots of dogs and cats. They seems to have an endless supply. There are always new, cute, little puppies in the window, trying to lure people in to buy one. Unfortunately, the reality is this....
These dogs are from puppy mills, places that are dog-breeding factories for big profit. Now, the sad reality here is that millions of dogs are euthanized EVERYDAY in shelters because there are not enough homes for them and these places are selling animals, taking homes from ones that are already here and desperately need homes. Now, is this "compassionate"?
So you say, "well, I want a purebred and they don't have them at the pound". Well, my friend, there are rescue groups for just about every dog breed out there and on top of that, it most likely won't even cost you as much as buying a dog at a pet store. To add to that, these puppy mills get busted all of the time because they don't take care of these animals and they get really sick, so you could be buying that, too!
Dogs are man's best friend and don't deserve this. My dogs have all been rescues and I wouldn't change that for a million bucks! Rescue dogs are more prone to be better pets/friends because they tend to appreciate what they have.



What about cats you might ask...well, they are not immune to this cruelty either (and I am sure that everyone has seen stray cats at one time or another...).

Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary


the sweetest little sheep
Originally uploaded by altermood

For someone who is truly interested in learning about compassion, I highly recommend a trip to visit a local farm animal sanctuary. There are a fair amount around the country. For a list of one nearest you, check out the green people website.

Here's the address:
http://www.greenpeople.org/sanctuary.htm


The one that we have gone to a couple of times so far is the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, just outside of Woodstock, New York, in a small town called Willow. The owners, Jenny and Doug, are wonderful people who are true "compassionate" people. They have rescued many farm animals from horrendous conditions and have given them beautiful lives. Most people in modern society, especially those of us living in the city, have never met their "food". They only know what they have been shown on television.

Having met pigs, cows, chickens, goats, sheep and turkeys up close, I can say that it's truly an eye-opening experience. When you see that they are living beings that just want to live, just like you and me, it will make you think twice about eating that ham sandwich.

The farm sanctuaries' main purposes are to teach people about the horrors of factory farming and a lot of people don't realize that that also pertains to the dairy and egg industries, which are actually more inhumane (if that is possible).

When you read some of the stories about how they got some of these animals, it can make you really sad to think that we can do these kinds of horrible things to another being on this planet. Take a look at their website and go visit a sanctuary today. It is a life-changing experience!

http://www.woodstockfas.org/

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Welcome to Compassionate World

As the world gets scarier and harsher, it has never been a more crucial of a time to start looking at the terrible things that we are doing to each other, the other species that share this world with us and to the planet, in which we live and our children and grandchildren have to live. I have decided to start this blog to share information and hopefully get conversations and thoughts started about important things in this life. As I take on this new endeavour, I hope to share some compassion with others...I will be planning trips to animal sanctuaries, discussing cruelty-free products, interviewing people about various issues, sharing my vegan lifestyle, discussing world problems and personal things that we could do ourselves to help. I have written a theme song for this blog, as it will coincide with a video podcast and possibly a short film that my partner and I are planning....

Stay tuned....