A n i m
a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue # 10/03/01
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~
MichelleRivera1@aol.com
~ sbest1@elp.rr.com
THE TEN ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Time For A New Paradigm by
Penzelda@aol.com
2 ~ "Archie" A Bedtime Story by TigreEye@aol.com
3 ~ Farm Sanctuary Flash Files
4 ~ City of Sherwood Arkansas Recognizes Concept of Animal
Guardianship
5 ~ New From The Fund For Animals
6 ~ Protect Your Companion Animals - Be Prepared
7 ~ SPCA to Cut Back as Giving Fades
8 ~ Please Help Bill Maher
9 ~ At This Moment by WantNoMeat@aol.com
10 ~ Memorable Quote
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`
~1~
Time For A New Paradigm
by Penzelda@aol.com
Many
of you have written, have called to express your concern, your solidarity with
us, New Yorkers and all Americans, during this sad time of loss, of grief and
mourning. The devastating and tragic blow suffered by thousands of
innocent people....Americans, as well as others from countries all around the
world, has forever scarred our souls. We can never be the same. But
if we believe, as many do, that there is a reason for everything that happens,
then we must not squander this moment in history, or surely it will become
nothing more than another page in a history book.
Towers of steel have crumbled, thousands of innocent lives have been
lost; the tribute to them must not simply be further destruction and the
venting of anger with retaliation and revenge for surely, that will only
continue the horrific cycle of violence. Albert Einstein said that we
cannot solve a problem at the same level of thinking that was used to create
the problem. We have a unique opportunity to bring about change, to help
our society evolve to a higher consciousness. How can we stay focused and
committed to the task at hand? How can we bring about a shift in
thinking, a change of perception and being in the critical mass? How can
we create a new paradigm for the way we relate to one another and the rest of
the world? For those of us who fight for human and animal rights, we know
this is the sine qua non.
There are no easy answers to the question "how do we do it?"
But if we ask "how do the firemen do it? how do doctors, soldiers, foreign
correspondents in a war zone do it?" we realize that they do
it, that you and I do it, with a courage and conviction that comes from
deep within, because the message, the action, the instinctive wish to
save from harm, be it in helping an individual or in changing the world,
is greater, is more important than our own pain and fear. And sometimes
it requires sacrifice. But there can be no time or place for moral
exhaustion or self-pity... that would sap us of all the energy we need to go on.
We must of course, take time to grieve, to mourn, to protect ourselves and seek
justice, but then we must keep our eye on the bouncing ball, remember our goal
and keep focused on how to achieve it. Unfortunately, that's how the
terrorists do it! And we can do it too...but with love and compassion
that will overcome evil...because that is the true calling and inner desire of
the human spirit. Vengeance and retaliation are primitive and barbaric
impulses that only lead to more destruction and despair... so many innocents
are made to suffer and for what? Think of Ireland, of Israel, of Bosnia,
of Rwanda....! There can be no place in an evolved society for ethnic
cleansing, for religious crusades, for holy wars, for business and politics as
usual.
I believe we must make a concerted effort to concentrate and focus all our
spiritual energy on that which is primary in our lives and in the world... the
expression of love and peace, for without it there is nothing; that it is only
by being love itself, by extending compassion in the face of anger and fear
that we can hope to end the downward spiral of violence. Each one of us
must take time to pray, to meditate, to look inward, to reflect and ask:
what can "I" do to bring about change? what can "I" do to help
society heal and evolve to a higher consciousness? what can "I" do to
end violence and hatred in order to bring peace into my own heart? We
have already seen this happening in the wake of the tragic events, just 2 weeks
ago today. We must seize the moment and keep it growing.
Each day, I try to do something meaningful and powerful to help others; I
engage in action; but perhaps even more important, I also meditate and pray for
peace and healing in the world, for humankind to evolve to a higher consciousness.
You can do this in your own home. Just think of the powerful force such
healing energy could have in the universe if we were ALL to do the same!
Zelda Penzel, President,
PEACE/People for the End of Animal Cruelty and Exploitation
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~2~
Compassion knows no bounds.
"Archie"
A Bedtime Story
by TigreEye@aol.com
(with permission)
Submitted by DRAGONGYRL@aol.com
Once
upon a time there lived a big, brown slug in the small backyard of a small
house nestled in the small foothills of a small town. His name was
Archie. Archie was the granddaddy of all slugs and very proud of his
physique. And his prowess. In length, he reached almost 6 inches and was
nearly three quarters of an inch in diameter. When moving at full steam, Archie
could travel long distances .. like from the kitchen sliding glass door to the
studio door which was way around on the side of the house. And all in
less than one hour.
Tonight as Archie made his nightly trek, nearing the studio, he noticed the
screen door'd been propped open. "Ah haaa," he thought,
"an adventure!" He glided up onto the shiny metal threshold and
took a look around. The lights were out and the radio on the counter was
still. Not a soul was in sight. He knew two cats lived in the house
but that didn't scare him because they let him alone. They didn't like
the clammy moisture he left on their paws. So, Archie decided to go inside.
The threshold wasn't very wide and rather abruptly Archie found himself on a
doormat. It was scratchy and prickly and made gliding very
difficult. But Archie, a firm believer in always forging ahead, struggled
on despite a strong feeling he really should turn back. Finally, after much
exertion, Archie reached the middle of the mat. He was stranded.
And exhausted. He decided to rest a bit before continuing on.
Suddenly he was dazed and blinded when the overhead lights were turned
on. Lifting his head, he tried to focus bleary eyes but all he could see
was white. With a sickening surge, he felt himself being lifted into the
air. His terror was so great he wanted to scream .. but remembered he didn't
have any vocal cords. Then, just as suddenly, he felt the coolness of the
brick pavers outside the studio door on his underbelly. He was
outside! But...Archie still could see only white. "What is
wrong with my eyes?!?" he frantically wondered.
It was also about this time Archie noticed something was sticking to his skin.
Try as he might he found he couldn't move at all because whatever was sticking
to him held him tight. And, to make matters worse, something was tugging
at his skin. "Ooh dear, " Archie thought sadly to himself,
"I guess this is, truly, the end of me."
But in the next instant, just as Archie felt all was lost, cool water came
splashing down on him. As it gushed from the drinking glass, the tissue
that had made him a prisoner floated off. Sensing he was free, Archie
regally glided away .. moving at full steam for the kitchen side of the
house. Archie never looked back so he didn't see the hand that reached
down ... and picked up the soaked tissue.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~3~
Farm Sanctuary Flash Files
Farm Sanctuary has created an easy way to email
comments to the FDA concerning downed animals. Please forward to as many
groups and email lists as possible. See the flash file at the following
website:
http://www.nodowners.org/flash.htm
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~4~
City of Sherwood, Arkansas
Recognizes Concept of Animal Guardianship
from Erin Williams - erin@idausa.org
MILL
VALLEY, Calif. – On September 24, the city of Sherwood, Arkansas passed an
ordinance to amend the city’s municipal code to refer to people as the
“owner/guardian” of their companion animals instead of as their “owner.”
The unanimous vote by the Sherwood City Council made the city the fourth in the
nation to acknowledge the right of individuals to consider themselves the
guardians of their companion animals.
Sherwood Mayor Bill Harmon and Michael Shrewsbury, Director of The City of
Sherwood Humane Animal Services who initiated and drafted the ordinance, issued
a joint statement that declared, “On behalf of the City of Sherwood, we are
proud to have reflected the change in our municipal ordinances with regard to
the ‘They Are Not Our Property, We Are Not Their Owners’ campaign.
Sherwood prides itself on being a leader and realizes that the time has come
for changes such as this one in the animal welfare movement. We hope that
cities across the nation will jump on board.” The statement continues,
“The vote was unanimous, and the name change law goes into effect October 24.”
Sherwood joins Boulder, CO, West Hollywood and Berkeley, CA, and the State of
Rhode Island in passing this important legislation. Last July, Boulder became
the first city to pass a measure to replace the word “owner” with the term
“guardian” in their municipal ordinances. In February 2001, West Hollywood, CA,
followed suit, overwhelmingly approving a proposal to change all references of
“animal owners” to “animal guardians” in their municipal ordinances. Also in
February 2001, Berkeley, CA, passed a measure recognizing guardianship in their
ordinances. Berkeley City Councilmember Dona Spring called the passage “an
important milestone in raising human consciousness.”
This spring, students from Feinstein High School in Rhode Island initiated
their state's guardian legislation, working with their state representative,
Betsy Dennigan. The bill passed the House easily, and in June, the Senate
approved the legislation. This landmark decision made Rhode Island the first
state in the nation to include the term “guardian” in all companion
animal-related state legislation.
IDA President, Elliot M. Katz, DVM, praised Mayor Harmon and
Michael Shrewsbury, stating, “I am delighted that the City of Sherwood has
joined the State of Rhode Island and four other cities in acknowledging the
importance of animal guardianship over ownership. This is another
important step forward in changing the consciousness of the American public
regarding the animals with whom we share our lives.”
Erin Williams
In Defense of Animals
131 Camino Alto
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415.388.9641 x26
www.idausa.org
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~5~
New From The Fund For Animals
The
Fund for Animals has launched a new resource site dedicated to efforts to ban
the trophy shooting of captive animals at "canned hunts." For
more information please visit:
http://cannedhunts.com
The
Fund for Animals has just produced a new comic book for elementary school
students on the issue of fur. "Fur Crying Out Loud" tells the story
of three kids who discover how animals are killed in traps and on fur farms in
order to make coats, and then help to shut down the fur store in their town. If
you would like copies of the comic book to distribute to schools or young
people in your area, please contact Lesa Miller at The Fund for Animals:
mailto:fundinfo@fund.org or call 301-585-2591.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~6~
Protect Your Companion Animals
- Be Prepared
Source: www.allforanimals.com
If an emergency were to strike, your best source
of defense is to BE PREPARED.
-- Make arrangements with a family member, a friend, or a neighbor who will
take in your pet if you are unable to return home. Give them a key to your home
or let them know where you have a spare key hidden.
-- Type or print up an "Emergency Caree of Companion Animals" card and
place it in a prominent place in your wallet. The card should state the
number and type of pets in your home and who should be contacted in the event
you are injured or hospitalized and cannot return home.
-- If you are at home when a disaster happeens and you must evacuate, never
leave your animals behind! Make arrangements to take them to a family member, a
veterinary office, an animal shelter or, ideally, to stay with you.
-- Make sure your pets are wearing a collarr and tag with your name and phone
number.
-- Have a supply of their food (and water) on hand as well as any medication
they may be taking.
-- Keep handy a cat carrier (one for each ccat or other small animal you have)
as well as a leash (one for each dog you have).
By taking these simple, preventative measures, you will have peace of mind that
your pets will be taken care of in case of disaster.
And don't forget, companion animals have an enormous power to comfort us during
difficult times, whether it's an earthquake, a fire, a death of a loved one, or
even a terrorist attack. Stroking your cat or other small pet or taking
your dog for a walk can help lower your blood pressure and bring a sense of
normalcy back to the otherwise chaotic situation occurring in your life.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~7~
SPCA to Cut Back as Giving
Fades
by Kenneth Reich, Times Staff Writer
Citing
financial ripple effects of the Sept. 11 East Coast attacks, the Los Angeles
chapter of the SPCA is closing two pet adoption centers and firing eight
workers. Madeline Bernstein, president of the Society for Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, said the nonprofit organization has been hit
hard by a sudden decline in contributions as many donors gave instead to relief
efforts in New York City. Other Southland groups that depend on charitable
giving expressed similar worries. "After the disaster, a lot of our
donations immediately dried up," Bernstein said. "We're not getting
mail." And only 183 volunteers have signed up for the group's annual
"dog walk" fund-raiser, set for Oct. 6, she said. "We usually
see close to 1,000 by this time."
Compounding the problem, a drop in the stock market has cut the value of the organization's
endowment in half, to $4.9 million, reducing its ability to cope with the
decline in donations. The SPCA is closing its Los Angeles pet adoption
center at 5026 W. Jefferson Blvd. on Monday and its Santa Monica Place center
Nov. 1. Its four other centers in Los Angeles, Hawthorne, Manhattan Beach and
Long Beach will stay open."
[Editor's Note: Be aware that animal organizations all
over the country will likely be affected the same way as the LA SPCA.
Let's not forget that the animals never stop needing our help.]
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~8~
Please Help Our Animal & Environmental
Friend
Bill Maher
from peacetoall999@yahoo.com
A
great friend of the animal movement, environmental movement and host of ABC's
"Politically Incorrect," Bill Maher, is under fire for calling recent
U.S. military actions in the Middle East "cowardly".
While Maher says his criticisms were directed at politicians - not our
servicemen and women - many people misunderstood and ignorantly called for his
show to be canceled. Even the Sears Roebuck and FedEx pulled their
Ads from the show.
(http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010921/en/television-maher_5.html )
http://abc.go.com/primetime/politicallyincorrect/press_release.html
Bill Maher often has had a number of animal movement leaders on his show.
He had done great contributions to save and help animals. Please, it is
important to help Bill Maher now.
We enclose a SAMPLE LETTER and all of the CONTACT information for you to
help. You may write your own letter and comments if you could.
Thanks so much for your kindness and help.
<><><><><>
SAMPLE LETTER : (please write your own comments, if you wish).
Dear ABC,
We love your "Politically Incorrect" Show. Bill Maher is one of
the most humorous persons with great sensitivity, loving and caring. He
does care very much about our country, our leaders, our soldiers, and the New
York Tragedy as he indicated throughout his show.
We want to see Bill Maher continue to host "Politically Incorrect"
show. We also would like to see him to host more Primetime shows on ABC.
Because he is the "BEST." Thanks.
Your Viewer
Your Name,
Your Address
Your Email address.
<><><><><>
CONTACT INFORMATION :
Please let's help our great friend Bill Maher in the following ways:
1: Please send a "snail mail" to PI ("Politically
Incorrect") or Fax /Call the show to ask them to Continue the great show
Bill Maher made:
Incorrect, Inc., CBS Television City
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tel: 323-575-5000
Fax: 323-575-2685
<><><><><>
2: Please also send your important comments to ABC at :
netaudr@abc.com (@abc.com )
<><><><><>
3: Please also send your Comments thru ABC Form email to make sure all of them
get your message by clicking :
http://abc.go.com/abc/help/contact.html
(Please fill out your Name, Email address
in the form.
then fill in Subject: "Politically Incorrect"
When finishing typing your comments, then hit "Submit"
).
<><><><><>
4: Please Fax /Write /Call to :
Mr. Robert Callahan,
The President of ABC Broadcast Group,
Tel: 212-456-6118
Fax: 212-456-3666
Address: 77 W. 66th Street,
New York, New
York 10023
<><><><><>
5: Please Fax/Write /Call to :
Mr. Alex Wallau,
The President of ABC Television network,
Tel: 212-456-6580
Address:
77 W. 66th St.
New York, New York 10023
<><><><><>
6: Call/Write to Sears, Roebuck & Co. Ask CEO Mr. Alan Lacy to
continue the Advertisement in ABC "Politically Incorrect" show due to
the misunderstanding. BE POLITE !
Alan Lacy, Chairman, CEO
Tel : (847) 286-2500
Fax: (847) 286-7829
Email: invrel@sears.com (@sears.com )
(Please address to : Mr. Alan Lacy, Chairman, CEO )
You may also enclose the following two sites in your
letter for him
.
http://abc.go.com/primetime/politicallyincorrect/press_release.html
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010921/en/television-maher_5.html
<><><><><>
7: CALL/WRITE to Federal Express ask CEO Frederick Smith to continue the
advertisement with ABC "Politically Incorrect" show:
Frederick Smith, Chairman, and CEO
Phone: (901) 369-3600
Fax: (901) 346-1013
Email: webmaster@fedex.com (@fedex.com )
(Please address to : Mr. Frederick Smith , Chairman, CEO )
You may also enclose the following two sites in your letter for
him .
http://abc.go.com/primetime/politicallyincorrect/press_release.html
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010921/en/television-maher_5.html
<><><><><>
8: Log on to http://www.vote.com to vote on whether or not "Politically
Incorrect" should be taken off the air. While there, you can click
on the Environment and Health categories to express your views on other
animal-related issues.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~9~
At This Moment
by WantNoMeat@aol.com
At this moment, somewhere near
so much pain and so much fear
In the air, sea and on land
the victim's die by the human hand
From the labs, the screams unheard
our taxes spent, tests absurd
Every 3 seconds another dies
only death silences the cries
Fur for only vanity's sake
there's no excuse, there is fake
Born with fur they are dying today
with their life they must pay
Billions slaughtered annually
hidden where we cannot see
Today's meal sentenced to death
for their body, the final breath
Trapped they linger in a zoo
if only it were freedom they knew
Year after year they still remain
imprisoned they have gone insane
The hunted fall to the ground
gun shots, the season's sound
No excuse, the bloodsport unfair
another drops right now somewhere
Death in the massive scales
no remorse for the torture and wails
if only mercy were employed
another's life wouldn't be destroyed
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~10~
Memorable Quote
"When
I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have
always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can
seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it... always."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
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
Return to the ARO Newsletter
Archives