A n i m a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue # 05/16/01
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~
MichelleRivera1@aol.com
~ sbest1@elp.rr.com
THE NINE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ On Misanthropy by Andrew Linzey
2 ~ My Precious Father Lived Dangerously
3 ~ From the Beakly News by MamaDuck1@aol.com
4 ~ A Quilt For The Mill Dogs
5 ~ Alert From PeTA
6 ~ When I Got My New Dog
7 ~ Your Pet May Be Dying
8 ~ A Place for the Animals by Ann
Ketzlick
9 ~ Memorable Quote
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`
On Misanthropy
by Andrew Linzey
from The Animals' Agenda - January/February 2001
Here's
a confession: I find most people untrustworthy, and not a few downright
treacherous. As I get older, I find myself able to trust fewer and fewer
people. I don't even seek new friends, and whatever solace I find is
invariably not in the company of fellow human beings.
Now I know that is a shocking confession, and people will be right to
complain. Here is a theologian -- and a priest to boot -- saying these
dreadful things about his fellow humans. He should be ashamed of himself.
Well, I'm not proud of these words. But my conclusion arises not from
some abstract principle but rather from my own experience. I have found
humans (including myself) to be deeply flawed, irreducibly mean, and, in truth,
the only unlovable species.
I venture to be so bold with my feelings because I know that they are shared my
many animal advocates. If one looks unflinchingly and regularly at the
enormity of the evil we inflict upon other sentient, it is very difficult not,
to put it mildly, to have a sense of the moral ambiguity of the human race.
Indeed, I regularly hear talk from animal advocates that seems pretty close to
despair -- despair about our seeming inability to see a moral problem about
animals, despair about the cruelty we inflict, and especially despair about the
human capacity for moral self-improvement. Such despair often leads to an
indifferent, even hateful, attitude toward other humans.
However understandable such feeling may be, it is absolutely vital that we do
not give way to them. Most especially, it is essential that we do not
fall into the trap set for us by animal exploiters who are only too ready to
write us off as "human haters." Sadly, I have heard some animal
advocates saying that we should experiment on prisoners rather than
animals. And I have heard some advocates calling exploiters "scum"
and other hateful words.
I do not believe that these sentiments represent the best of our movement, and
neither do I believe that 99 percent of animal advocates are genuine
misanthropes. But we must be careful (and here I preach especially to
myself) not to let our genuine sense of disillusion with the moral record of
our own species spill over into negative, even hostile, attitudes.
It is not for nothing that George Bernard Shaw once wrote, "I know many
[blood] sportsmen and none of them are ferocious. I know several
humanitarians; and they are all ferocious."
Most especially, we must not base any animal rights strategy on anything
remotely resembling misanthropy. I mention no names, but there are some
people in our movement who at least speak as if animal rights can be secured at
the expense of human rights. Rather than chiding or rebuking sensitivity
to humans, we need to build upon it -- and help individuals to enlarge it still
further in the direction of other creatures.
Whenever I find myself recoiling in disbelief and moral repugnance at my fellow
humans, I picture in my mind other exploited human subjects such as children
cruelly abused, families facing grinding poverty, and minorities denied basic
rights. I say to myself, "These too are victims along with the
animals." Humans like animals, also need liberation.
In one sense, animal advocates have to believe in humanity. We
have to believe that we can do better. Our whole moral case depends upon
humans recovering some lost humanity. Of course it mustn't be a
starry-eyed optimism, without a deep practical grasp of the human potential for
depravity, but perhaps it can at lease be a qualified optimism. Speaking
for myself, I find despair not only understandable, but also far too easy.
The Rev. Professor Andrew Linzey is a member of the Faculty of Theology,
university of Oxford, England. The U.S. edition of his book "Animal
Gospel" is published by Westminster/John Knox Press.
“Reprinted with permission from The Animals’ Agenda, P.O. Box
25881,
Baltimore, MD 21224; (410) 675-4566; www.animalsagenda.org.”
Email: office@animalsagenda.org
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
My Precious Father Lived
Dangerously
from The Times of India - May 10, 2001
contributed by KarenDawn1@aol.com
INGRID NEWKIRK
My father has died. On my desk are his medals from World War II and a
photograph of him as a boy, playing with one of the many dogs he rescued and
loved. There is also the wedding announcement of his marriage to my mother in
1942, his memoirs from the years he spent exploring the Indian Ocean, trekking
in the Kulu Valley, looking for oil in the Persian Gulf, and watching the
antics of giant crabs in the weeks leading up to the Atomic bomb test on Easter
Island. These artifacts of a life sit here as I work, but I really don't know
what to do with them.
The last time I spent time with my father, he knew he was dying. I didn't
realize that we would never sit together again and talk, face to face. All I
knew was that I had a plane to catch and there was work piling up on my desk in
a distant city. Despite worsening pain, he must have treasured each moment that
last evening, asking me to stay and talk to him at the dining room table as the
dinner dishes were cleared away. He was too weak to sustain the conversation
well and, not unusually, I found the going tough.
I was a disappointing "son," a girl who can only turn on a
television, not build one, as he did, from bits. I remember my mother giving us
one of "those looks" when she found us sitting on the running board
of the car, and kerchiefs tied over our heads to keep out the Delhi sun, my
father teaching me the "right way" to spit cherry pits. We got that
same look from my mother when Daddy took me clambering over the rocks in the
south of England, teaching me to pick mussels, then showing me how to remove
their poisonous beards and steam them in vinegar over a camping stove. And I can still see her smiling when my
father taught me to drive by digging out his books on how to repair a crank
shaft or some such mystery car part.
On that last evening together, we adjourned to the sitting room. I watched him
sink into a comfortable armchair, wanting him to do the thing he was struggling
to avoid. Close his eyes and rest. I was doing a crossword puzzle when I heard
my father struggle to speak. His face had turned purple and he gasped for air.
As if in a cruel game of charades, my father was demonstrating for my mother
and me exactly what "crushing" chest pain means. This tough man
with the "stiff upper lip" actually cried out loud to be allowed to
die in peace. This man, who had been so strong he had rolled boulders out of
Kashmir roads, waded through flood waters in Bangladesh, fought in France in
the Black Watch: my father, who played the mandolin and recited Kipling to his
wife, had been made helpless by heart disease.
I have not touched meat and dairy products in thirty years, around the time the
plaques in my father's arterial walls were just forming. I didn't push the
health advantages of the vegan diet. My father liked his food too much -- from
steak and kidney pie to that cholesterol bomb, the boiled egg -- to be swayed
by my stories of mother animals mourning the loss of their infants and tales of
the fear you see in all animals' eyes at the slaughterhouse. It wasn't that my
father was unkind. He was not. But, somehow, I never found the right words to
lure him away from the addicting taste of chicken curry and ice cream.
When my father developed prostate trouble, then heart disease, I sent him
articles on the link between heart disease, cancers and stroke and a meat and
milk-based diet. My admonitions fell on deaf ears. My father believed in
God. He also believed that when he died, he would be reunited with his
parents and grandparents and all the wonderful dogs he had loved over the
years. If he is right, he will be looking down on me as I write this. If so, I
want to say, "Daddy, why didn't you listen to your daughter. If you had, you,
mummy, the dogs and I would still be traveling together, still watching the
sunsets over Marine Drive, Crater Lake or Kensington Park."
Ingrid Newkirk is president, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA).
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
From the Beakly News
by MamaDuck1@aol.com
Each spring and summer orphaned altricial birds
are brought to me by their so-called rescuers ("kidnappers" is a more
appropriate term, in many cases). Frequently, young birds and mammals
leave the nest before they are able to fly or fend for themselves and spend
many dangerous hours --
sometimes days -- on the ground. During this time, the parents are watching out
for their fledglings, feeding them and teaching them by example. This is necessary time, when they learn the
call, song and behavior of their species, and to find appropriate food.
One method to determine whether or not a fully-feathered youngster has left the
nest on his own is to note the length of its tail feathers. This is a good
indicator of the bird's age and maturity. If the tail feathers are 1/2"
long or more, the bird should be treated as an adult -- leave it alone.
If a fledgling with this stub of tail is hopping on the ground and unable to
fly, the best thing to do is to place it up on a tree branch or high in a shrub
in the immediate area. The parents are watching and are ready to go to it as
soon as you leave. Don't worry about getting human scent on the fledgling --
songbirds have an under-developed sense of smell.
A tiny unfeathered bird should be placed back in its nest if at all
possible. If you don't know where the nest is, keep the bird warm and
safe until you make arrangements with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for its
continued care. Do not attempt to feed a tiny nestling. It is surprising
to note the number of people who mash worms and attempt to feed baby birds. An
unfeathered nestling's immediate need is warmth -- minimum of 90 to 100 degrees
ambient temperature. The normal body temperature of a small bird is 106 to 109
degrees, and hypothermia is the biggest threat to survival, not
starvation. Dehydration is the second life threatening problem. Drops of
Pedialite can be placed at the side of the beak with a toothpick only if the
tiny bird is thoroughly warmed. These tiny drops offered every 5 to 10 minutes
will help prevent dehydration.
It is illegal to keep a federally protected bird without the proper
permit. Introduced species such as the house sparrow, European starling
and pigeon (rock dove) do not fall into this protected category. The feathers,
nest and eggs are treated as the bird itself and are illegal to have in one's
possession. If you find a baby bird that has truly been orphaned and is too
young to fend for itself, placement with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator is
the best course of action. A rehabber in your area may be found through this
website.
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
A Quilt For The Mill Dogs
from Dogshelter@aol.com
The
dogs in puppymills live their lives on wire. The law used to require that
they had a solid resting surface so they could get off the wire but both the
United States Department of Agriculture and the PA Department of Agriculture
recently removed that requirement at the request of the mills.
So now the dogs have no solid surface to rest. They constantly balance on wires
with their feet often falling through. Many dogs are maimed when their
feet and legs fall through the wires and get ripped off as they struggle to
pull them back through. The dogs also never have a blanket or soft bed to
snuggle in. Most of them live in rabbit hutch cages outside in the
coldest of weather with no heat.
In memory of the dogs who have suffered and who are suffering, we are creating
a quilt. The quilt will be displayed at the Second Paws March Against
Puppymills next May 5, 2002.
Everyone is invited to send in a block for the quilt in memory of a dog from
the mills that they have loved or who has touched them, or in honor of the dogs
who are suffering. We have volunteers who will sew all the blocks
together into a quilt. The blocks can be of various sizes. They
should not be smaller than 6 x 6 or larger than 24 x 24.
Please feel free to email me with questions or send your block to Hearts United
for Animals Box 565 Westtown, PA 19395.
Thank you for caring about the dogs,
Lee Wheeler
Hearts United for Animals
http://www.hua.org
The Sirius Shoppe
http://www.ihelppets.com
The only store where all the profits go to shut down puppymills.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
Alert From PeTA
from SDurbin@tulsa.cc.ok.us
Recently
we learned that some people concerned about animals have received
questionnaires or surveys from a company identifying itself as Strategic One in
which they are asked, among other things, to state whether they support PETA or
other animal protection organizations by name and numerous other questions
designed to identify the issues that are important to them. It is possible that
such surveys are sponsored by organizations, such as the pet shop trade and the
animal circus business, that are opposed to our efforts to help animals and
that these polls are designed to extract information valuable to their
continued use of animals.
If you receive such a questionnaire or survey, we suggest that you not respond
and that you alert PETA. Thank you.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
When I Got My New Dog
Author Unknown
*
I asked for strength that I might rear him perfectly;
I was given weakness that I might feed him more treats.
* I asked for good health that I might rest easy;
I was given a "special needs" dog that I might know
nurturing.
* I asked for an obedient dog that I might feel proud;
I was given stubbornness that I might feel humble.
* I asked for compliance that I might feel masterful;
I was given a clown that I might laugh.
* I asked for a companion that I might not feel lonely;
I was given a best friend that I would feel loved.
* I got nothing I asked for,
But everything that I needed.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
YOUR PET MIGHT BE DYING!
We
understand you meant to be kind in taking your pet with you today, but you
could be risking his or her life. On hot -- or even warm -- sunny days, the
inside of a car heats up very quickly. Dark colored cars can become very hot
inside, even on days that don't seem too hot to take your dog along. On an 85-degree day, for example, even with
the windows slightly open, the temperature inside a car can climb to 102
degrees in 10 minutes, to 120 in 30 minutes. On warmer days it will go even
higher. A dog's normal body temperature is 101.0 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. A
dog can withstand a body temperature of 107 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit for only
a very short time before suffering irreparable brain damage -- or even death.
The inside temperature of the car is too hot for anyone, especially your
dog. If your dog is overcome by heat exhaustion, immediately soak him or
her down with water and take to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
[Editor's Note: Enlarge the
above, print, and keep with you in your car in case you see a dog being left in
a hot car. In an emergency, seek immediate help from police or other
official, if a dog (or cat) is in distress in a hot car.]
submitted by LaZahn@aol.com
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
A Place for the Animals
by Ann Ketzlick
Oh, Loving God
Who created them all,
From small creeping bugs
To giraffes to tall.
Who in our care
Has placed your creatures
I ask, "Why is cruelty
One of man's features?"
Forced to give us food
And pull our carts,
Have we no pity
For their broken hearts?
Science and Medicine
Are yet another tool,
For causing them pain
And being so cruel.
And when the circus
Comes to town,
Do we see their tears
When the curtain goes down?
Some people wear fur
As they stroll through the city,
I think it's so heartless
And not very pretty.
Deep in the woods,
A place some call their home,
They run in great fear
From the hunters that roam.
Their sad eyes show us
There's no understanding,
Why man is indifferent
And so very demanding!
They give up their lives,
They give us their best,
All they are asking
Is a place just to rest.
And so, My Dear Lord
I Pray unto You,
Save a place in Your Kingdom
For the animals too.
Copyright © 2000 by Ann Ketzlick. All Rights Reserved
May be used in unchanged form by avowed Animal Rightists if
accompanied by this copyright message.
Animal Rights Counterculture
http://www.animalsong.org
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
Memorable Quote
"I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but
still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can
do."
~
Helen Keller
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online
P O Box 7053
Tampa, Fl 33673-7053
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1395/
-=Animal Rights Online=-
&
Advisory Board Member, Animal Rights Network Inc.,
not-for-profit publisher of The Animals' Agenda Magazine
http://www.animalsagenda.org/
The Animals' Agenda Magazine: WebEdition
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
(Permission Granted To Quote/Forward/Reprint/Repost This
Newsletter In
Whole Or In Part with credit given to EnglandGal@aol.com)
* Please forward this to a friend who
you think
might be interested in subscribing to our newsletter.
* ARO gratefully accepts and
considers articles for publication
from subscribers on veg*anism and animal issues.
Send submissions to JJswans@aol.com