Smudgy's Blog

2025-12-11T09:32:00.000-08:00

We are Sea Shepherd

We are the good pirates

We battle the bad pirates such as whalers sealers and drift netters

We will always fight for what's right and for justice for animals

For whales the lords of the sea

For dolphins the legends of the sea

For sharks the kings of the sea

For seals the innocents of the sea

For the oceans

Animals Have No Rights??? - Well I’m Afraid They Do

2020-12-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

Out of all the quotes I’ve read and heard regarding animals / animal cruelty / and us human beings relationship with them, (and there are many great ones). The following quote is my favourite, most profound, and what I believe to be the most relevant regarding the plight of the animal rights / welfare movement.

And that quote is the following, which was said by German Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer :)

"The assumption that animals are without rights, and the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance, is a positively outrageous example of Western crudity and barbarity. Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality."

Listen and hear the last part of that quote very carefully ‘universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality’

The word ‘compassion’ means to be sympathetic and have awareness and concern for someone or something in suffering, and your desire to alleviate this suffering, reduce and stop it. (this is the art and act of being compassionate).

The word ‘morality’ means to behave properly within the principles of right and wrong and to distinguish the difference between the two sets of ideals, and behave in ways or manners that we believe to be an ideal code of conduct i.e. to be good, to be honest, to do the right thing; to behave ethically and properly.

In a short sentence, people will tell you and believe animals have no rights, and are without or not deserving of any rights because they are not the creative equal of human beings; and while I do agree that animals are not the creative equal of human beings or human animals, that certainly doesn’t mean they’re not without rights.

Animals live off fear, instinct, and intelligence and are not capable of making moral judgments or comprehending moral duty.

To give you an example of what I mean with the above paragraph. Let’s say we have a very hungry lioness on the plains of the African Savannah and it sees a zebra on the horizon, that lioness will not stop and think to itself.

“is it right that I kill this zebra?” “maybe I should become a herbivore, I’m not sure?”

It won’t do that, because it is its instinct to go ahead and hunt, chase that animal down, and kill it so it can eat. It will not exercise the acts of morality, because it’s incapable of doing so.

Humans beings on the other hand are capable of making moral judgments (distinguishing the difference between right and wrong) and making a decision based on what they believe to be the moral (right decision), and there lies the difference.

Having said that though, animals have displayed amazing levels of intelligence and human comprehension whilst still behaving out of instinct fear and intelligence (they know more than we all think).

The true animal rights ideology or the idea of total animal liberation is ridiculous, irresponsible, and not plausible; as the definitions of these ideals are for animals not to be used for the benefit or gain of human beings in any capacity at all. Which means animals would be free to do what they want when they want, free to roam and do whatever they want whenever they want to do it.

You can imagine what would happen if we gave our amazing animal friends free reign tomorrow? we set them loose, free to do what they want??? it would be anarchy chaos and madness, so that can’t happen?

Collectively the term(s) used to describe people or the movement to help benefit animals, advocate and implement the ethical treatment of them should be the animal rights / welfare movement because that’s what it is, with examples of animal cruelty and abuse fitting into both categories.

I will give you an example of two things I personally believe :) that fit into the context of the above paragraph.

Now I believe the great whales that inhabit the world’s oceans should not be hunted with grenade tipped harpoons under the guise of ‘scientific research’.

Because (a) it’s not necessary (b) humpback and fin species of whales are endangered, and (c) it upsets the delicate balance of the world’s oceans.

So this is an animal rights ideal I have, which is, I believe the great whales have the ‘right’ not to be killed, and shouldn't be killed for the benefit or gain of selfish human beings.

An animal rights welfare ideal I have; would be for the ethical and humane treatment of our companion animals.

Because humans having companion animals i.e. cats and dogs, fits into the animal welfare ideal, which is humans using animals and benefiting from them, but that interaction with them is humane and ethical. For example if you own a pet dog, you should be providing adequate care for that animal looking after it’s dietary needs and making sure it’s living and being treated humanely and morally.

Whether us human beings relationship with animals fits into the animal rights ideal or the animal welfare ideal, all animals certainly have the right not to be treated cruelly or abused in any way.

Because like us; their certainly capable of suffering and feeling pain and anguish, so animals certainly have the right not to be unnecessarily exploited for the selfish gains of human beings or unjustly abused and hurt for no good reason.

Such as violently capturing marine mammals from the ocean and putting them in a concrete tank for show to generate profit from paying audiences, or horrifically killing animals for unessential vanity and luxury items such as fur coats, and they all have the right to be treated humanely and ethically under whatever circumstances.

The term ‘animal rights’ universally for many people instantly upon hearing it, refers to the humane and ethical treatment of animals, and unless you have the knowledge base of what the idea of ‘animal rights’ is as opposed to the idea of ‘animal welfare’ that’s what many people think, “oh animal rights you say” “yeah treating animals with respect” it’s the popular general term used to describe and refer to the respectful treatment of animals, although there is a clear difference between the two terms and sets of ideals.

Our relationship with animals should be based on a responsible and humane stewardship of nature, and our ability to show respect and kindness, and to live in peace and harmony with a non human species that does not have the same intellectual capacity as us i.e. (the ability to make moral judgments), but exactly like us, is certainly capable of feeling and experiencing the same emotions we do i.e. pain, suffering, joy, pleasure, love, loneliness and sadness.

When I say a responsible and humane stewardship of nature, if there is a justifiable cause for animals to be killed and it’s necessary, then it has my support. Such as population control of an animal species that may be a direct threat to other wildlife and plant species providing it’s done as humanely and with the highest code of ethics as possible. Because (a) it’s necessary and (b) it’s ecologically irresponsible of us not to do so.

More often then not though, such actions having to be carried out are the result of irresponsible actions by human beings in the first place. Such as introducing a foreign species into an eco system that can’t handle them, or failing to spay and neuter our companion animals to keep stray cat and dog populations under control.

Whether people like it or not, animals share our world and one important point people tend to forget is the important environmental and ecological role they have to play. Such as sharks which are the garbage cleaners of the oceans and remove dead diseased injured and dying animals which leaves a healthier and cleaner ocean environment.

In the addition to what’s been written above, animals just kick ass and are so great, their shapes, the sights and sounds of them, and the incredible things they can do and are capable of is amazing, joyful, wonderful, and are things we should be helping to conserve protect and prevent from being hurt or abused in any way.

With the horrific things human beings have done to animals over time and continue to do, it forms one of the darkest chapters in human history and even more astounding is how humans attempt to justify and defend so vigorously such disgusting and unnecessary acts towards them, exercising their anthropocentric attitude and being so superiorly wound up in it.

Almost everyone loves or appreciates animals in some capacity, maybe they don’t like or appreciate as many animals as a huge animal lover. But perhaps they have a pet dog that they love hanging out with, is their best mate and love very much, we’re all affected by them somehow and they’re all embedded in our sub conscious closer then we know.

They have helped advance the human race, and have been, and are, a vital service to mankind :)

With examples including horses helping soldiers in war and horses pulling carriages and carts, dogs being trained by police forces and rescue organizations to help locate people in times of disasters or accidents, and also to disable people who are behaving improperly and are a danger to themselves and others.

Dogs are also used as a very important aid to fight in the global war against the illegal drug trade, being trained to sniff for and detect illegal and inappropriate contraband from people. Dogs are also used as very important companion and life aids to blind people helping them to live their lives fully, with respect, and without fear. Elephants have even been used as aids when natural disasters have struck, using their powerful strength and long trunk to help remove and clear debris, and much more.

Animals have been celebrated and depicted in so many ways from film and television, to books, clothing, tattoos, drawings, paintings, they are symbols of strength, peace, hope and courage to many people around the world, and they are equally important symbolic symbols amongst native people whose cultures they have helped to define; and they are loved, utilized and celebrated by millions of people the world over.

Animals have touched all of us in some way; and have benefited the human race and helped it to advance forward, everybody knows about them and appreciates and likes them in some capacity, no matter how small that might be.

So animals do have rights and it’s quite selfish and ignorant of anyone to think otherwise.

Because if we want to make things better in the world, we can’t just focus on ourselves and we can’t just focus on the animals. We have to focus on both, because we’re both here and we both deserve to be treated ethically and with respect.

Abuses and injustices towards animals, just as humans, will unfortunately never stop as long as the earth keeps turning.

But if we can reduce and stop these horrible acts towards them one step at a time, and one victory at a time, then we will be well on our way to exercising Arthur Schopenhauer’s such truthful and most prominent quote.

“universal compassion, is the only guarantee of morality” and it truly is, isn’t it?

Thank You

A Very Empty & Sad World Without Animals

2009-08-11T04:20:00.000-07:00

Animals are the only other ‘known’ living creatures we share the planet with and while we could survive on a planet without animals I can tell you with great conviction what an empty and sad world that would be.

Animals are a part of this world and as the famous slogans or catchphrases go in an effort to bring awareness to the plight of animals and help their cause ‘it’s their world too’

Animals are woven into our sub consciousness closer then our own breathing and even the most ignorant and apathetic of people perhaps unbeknowns to them are impacted by the existence of animals.

Animals are embedded into the collective consciousness of every single human being on this planet and while there has been debate amongst philosophers and academics as to what the true definition of this word is, in it’s simplest form, it simply means a ‘state of being aware’ and every single human being on the planet is aware of animals through their five human senses, that being touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell.

When you walk outside your front door and your on your way to work, you may see someone walking their pet dog, you can ‘see’ animals. If you decide one day to go out and play golf, you may hear the birds chirping in the background, you can ‘hear’ animals. To elevate the class of this article down somewhat, if your dog needs a wash and smells really bad, you can ‘smell’ animals. If you take a trip with your family to the royal show and see all the domestic animals on display, you may be able to pet them, you can ‘touch’ animals, and if you decide to go on a fishing trip, and you catch a fish, you may cook it over the campfire and eat it for dinner, hence you can ‘taste’ animals.

Whether people love animals greatly such as myself, or whether people dislike them or have no immense appreciation for them. I believe everybody likes or appreciates animals even in the smallest form.

People have just become so accustomed to animals just being there, regardless of what the animals are doing, regardless or whether you love them or hate them, they still remain there, just like a great statue (which is the ultimate form of stability).

To give you an example of what I mean when I say everybody likes or appreciates animals even in the smallest form :)

There may be a person who loves their dogs and as they're the worlds most highly revered animal, it’s not hard to see why?

But while that person may love their dogs and treat them with the respect and care that you should extend to all animals, perhaps this person is unwilling or simply not wanting to extend the same courtesy to other animals in the animal kingdom. Why? maybe it’s because they can't connect on the same emotional level as they can a dog, or maybe they just don’t care, have their favourite animals and can't appreciate any others just as much, through misconceptions, ignorance and just a plain human like / dislike, but none the less everybody appreciates animals on every level no matter how small.

Animals have, do and will continue to impact the world until the world is no more, when you stop and think about it, it’s actually quite astonishing the sheer impact they have had. The inspiration drawn from animals can be found anywhere and everywhere from government departments to sporting teams, movies, television, advertisements, cars, toys and so much more.

If you pause a moment from reading this article and look around the room your sitting in, in your home, office, or an internet cafe, the chances are quite high that you may see something that has been inspired by an animal, an attractive girl may have a butterfly tattoo, there may be a collection of mugs and plates with animals on them, there might even be a poster on the wall of the muscle car the Shelby Cobra (drawing it’s name from the snake of the same name).

We need animals, just as much for our emotional health as we do a physical one, animals are very inspiring and many organizations, teams, companies etc name themselves after an animal in an effort to reflect themselves and project themselves to the world vicariously through that animal and based on that animals individual characteristics.

A tiger for example is one of the worlds greatest animals and is the ultimate symbol of no fear, courage and heart. If a sporting team decides to name themselves the something tigers? They’ve done so to project themselves as a force to be reckoned with, why? because the tiger is a force to be reckoned with, strong, powerful, courageous, unafraid, but as the same time strikingly beautiful.

This team has named themselves the tigers because they want to embody in their sporting team all the characteristics a tiger does so effortlessly. No fear, power and courage; and they want all the opposing teams to know about it. Were the tigers! you compete against us and your in for a handful!

Another example could be said of government agencies or departments such as the C.I.A (Central Intelligence Agency) there symbol is that of the American bald eagle.

The eagle just like the tiger is a worldwide symbol of courage, heart, pride and honour, and just as a sporting team names themselves after an animal because they want to embody that animals individual characteristics in spirit and physicality, so does the C.I.A, they are sending a message to everyone based on the eagles individual characteristics. Saying we are strong, we are courageous, we have pride, heart honour and determination.

Although their reasoning for having the symbol could also take on a hidden meaning, that being the left wing government and the right wing government controlled by one government body, this is just speculation on my part, but there’s a reason why they have this animal as their symbol, and the reasons written above are the most likely.

A big reason why so may people like animals, appreciate them and find solace in them, is because animals embody all the qualities humans beings strive to achieve but ultimately cannot fulfill. Such as living in perfect harmony with their natural environment, not taking more then what they need and living for the moment.

Also in addition to that, animals are physically superior to human beings, there’s no way we can out-swim a dolphin, outrun a cheetah, out-power an elephant, or out-grace an eagle, we wish we could, but because we can't we have to live vicariously through animals, vicariously meaning to live indirectly through something or someone. And we do this by calling a sporting team, the tigers, calling a car, a cobra, viper or a mustang.

We are trying to tell the world something about ourselves or something and how we want to be, based on that animals individual characteristics and that’s why animals are the inspiration for a seemingly never-ending amount of things.

If I was to write all the things animals have been an inspiration for I would be here forever, but as a short rundown I will name all that I can.

Animals are on lunchboxes, stamps, children's pictures books, guitars, album covers, music accessories, they are cartoon and comic book characters, cars are named after them, they are mascots for paints and car spare parts are named after them. Airplanes, government agencies, companies are also named after them, they are in movies, television, they are in art, paintings, drawings and so much more, jigsaw puzzles and children's soft toys for example.

Animals are embedded into the human psyche and consciousness so much, we say and do things sub consciously that have been drawn from animals, the sayings or common speech :)

“I live with a bunch of animals” - a somewhat derogatory term unfairly referring to animals as living creatures that cant live without any sense of moral decency.

It's said by people to reiterate or force the point that certain individuals are behaving without any moral decency themselves, behaving like animals, because animals do what they want when they want, a justified rational statement as animals are not on the same intellectual level as human beings, but a morally unfair one.

“Unleash the beast within” - is a positive affirmation referring to, as what's been extensively mentioned in this article, (to draw strength based on an animals individual characteristics) to unleash the beast inside you, to draw power, inspiration, hope, determination, strength and drive from inside your soul; to be like a beast, (an animal) a strong, courageous, un-fearful one, a tiger or bear for example.

Another inspiration from animals is movies, quite possibly every animal in existence has been depicted in the movies, whales, orcas, dolphins, dogs cats, ants, tigers, lions and many more.

One of my favourite movies is 1994’s The Crow starring the late Brandon Lee, son of the famed martial artist Bruce Lee.

In the movie, Brandon Lee’s character’s wife is murdered and so in the name of revenge he adopts a new persona and sets about avenging his wife’s death, in the process he reinvents himself and the crow is born.

Because the bird the crow is black, dark, mysterious in nature and has a haunting cry, it was a perfect reflection of Brandon Lee’s character, who, because of losing his wife, felt dark, black, empty and tortured; and adopted a new persona in the name of revenge based on that animals individual characteristics. Yet another example of how we revere animals so much and can relate to them on an emotional level.

Animals are so great, awesome and inspiring, because it’s ultimately because they can do everything so effortlessly humans being wish they could but can’t. It’s also because of their different shapes, sizes, sounds, colours and ability to do things we just find awe inspiring.

We find inspiration from them because we sub consciously want to be like them in a lot of ways. We want to achieve success in life, (we want to fly like an eagle) we want to be strong and courageous and take life head on ( like a tiger) we want to behave gracefully and live with honour and pride (we want to be like an eagle) who embodies these qualities.

Animals are embedded into us, they are woven into our souls, we draw inspiration from them, and if we are deep thinkers we see them more than just in black and white, we can understand them, their world, we relate to it, find solace in it and want to embrace it.

Animals are here, they share our world and it would be a very empty and sad word without them, just as everything in life you truly don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone. I’ve experienced this and no doubt many other people have as well.

If all the animals were gone tomorrow man would die from great loneliness of spirit, because sometimes and understandably and justifiably so if you cant put your faith in human beings anymore you can always put it in animals, because as previously mentioned they embody all the qualities we wish we could, but can’t, and one of the biggest things humans beings are indefinitely capable of doing, is living for the moment, a trait the humble cat, dog and so many other animals know how to do so easily, which is why we find tremendous solace in them.

Animals are a part of us all, and they have to be, because they are part of our home, I'm not talking about your residential block that contains all your material possessions you like to call home.

I'm talking about your ultimate home, the earth, because when you think about it, the animals are just like your next door neighbour, you may not know them, you may not ever want to know them, but there there and you know they’re there. You sub consciously find it comforting they’re there, but just like everything else in life, you may not realize how much it meant to have them there until they’re gone.

Thank You

The Hunt Is On

2008-02-27T13:44:00.000-08:00

Look up the word ‘hunting’ in the dictionary and it’ll read :)

“the act of seeking, following, and killing wild animals for consumption or display”

But do we fully understand the reasons behind these actions, as many people do not and believe hunting is only the relic of the barbarous human spirit that formerly thirsted for human blood but is now content with the blood of birds and animals and in some cases it certainly is.

Human beings have hunted since the beginning of time, it’s how we evolved, in the Paleolithic prehistoric era commonly known as the’ stone age’ about 750’000 years ago, human beings first made stone tools by chipping or flaking stone to create devices or weapons to hunt with and it’s the period in which archaeologists believe human beings lived survived and existed entirely by hunting and gathering until the beginning of the Mesolithic and Neolithic time periods which saw the beginning and development of human technology and human agriculture.

Hunting has a very long history but is essentially divided into two distinct trends subsistence hunting and social hunting. Subsistence hunting is the means to support life and livelihoods of people around the world, particularly native people who have relied and existed on hunting for many thousands of years and are the original inhabitants of a particular place.

The native Inuit people of the north inhabit the arctic regions of Alaska Greenland and Canada and have traditionally been and still are hunters and gatherers; having hunted seals, whales, walruses, caribou, as well as polar bears. Hunting these animals, the Inuit people utilize as much or every part of the animal they can using the skins of sea mammals for clothing, footwear, gloves, and to make water proof kayaks in addition to killing the animals for their dietary needs by consuming the raw meat of these hunted animals.

Before European settlement the Inuit’s existence was one purely of subsistence, but now being caught up in the pressures to move forward or advance civilization they are not as fully dependent on these traditional practices of commerce and existence as they once were, and as with all native peoples throughout the world, they still hold these traditional customs and beliefs close to them and as a very symbolic importance to their culture.

As the development of agriculture has made the act of hunting less necessary as a sole means of survival for human beings we’ve seen the evolution of socialized hunting such as sport hunting, game hunting, trophy hunting, and canned hunts which all have legitimate animal cruelty animal welfare and morality concerns.

Hunting for sport has traditionally been for people of a high order or importance particularly royal people throughout history with royal societies considering it a test of bravery and skill with weapons and a proven domination over nature which would extend itself into battle, it often involved having large groups of spectators who admired the skill and bravery of the hunters attempting to kill animals that were prized because of their ability to create an exciting and challenging chase to the hunters. Fox hunting as part of traditional British rule was an example of royal societies exercising their dominance over animals and justifying it under honours of tradition and rural culture, in 2004 fox hunting was banned in the United Kingdom and Wales although it does continue in other parts of the world.

Game hunting is the hunting of non domestic animals particularly large or ‘big’ animals such as bears tigers elephants boars moose cheetahs for food and trophies, it is also considered and important task to do in order to protect crops flocks and animal herds from predators, with hunters killing the animals and then using them for food consumption.

Probably the most moral issue of hunting amongst people worldwide is the concern of ‘trophy’ hunting which is hunting animals for no legitimate or justified purpose then other as prizes for a hunters own personal gratification and glory, the issue of this type of hunting is the most controversial and one that stirs up a lot of emotion in people trying to comprehend the indiscriminate removal of wildlife for no logical purpose.

People who hunt animals purely for trophies will often have the animals head, antlers and other body parts mounted on the wall of their home as a personal reminder of the satisfaction of hunting and killing their intended prey. Whilst trophy hunting of animals is not deemed illegal, it is certainly condemned and thought of in a negative light by many people around the world thus making justification for the people who wish to engage in the activity difficult.

Canned hunting is essentially the modern movement of hunting animals for sport and trophies and is met with strong criticism from animal rights and welfare groups who claim it is barbaric and highly unethical, claims that I agree with.

The practice involves an individual or parties who host captive animals and release them into an enclosed area which gives a paying customer a very high chance and virtual guarantee of killing an animal for their own personal glory, the animal has no chance of escape with even some hunting groups denouncing it as unethical and immoral because it is not a ‘fair chase’.

Poaching of animals is the illegal hunting of animals which have been granted protection by the law and are in danger of extinction. Poaching is responsible for decimating and reducing the populations of many species of wildlife throughout the world; including the tiger, the elephant, and the rhinoceros, which has been targeted for it’s magnificent horns. Poaching is a significant contributing factor to the rampant illegal global trade in wildlife products, a trade which is so big that only the illegal worldwide trade in drugs supersedes it.

Your in violation of poaching laws if you fail to adhere to the laws which has been governed for the protection and preservation of animals, such as killing animals and then selling their animal parts for profit, hunting in closed seasons, restricted lands, or outside of legal hours and if you do not possess a license or permission to hunt animals.

Poaching or the ‘illegal’ hunting animals is a sad and devastating practice which has significantly contributed to the extinction of many animals and put many at risk of becoming extinct as well.

Another method of hunting or reason for it, it’s what’s known as the practice of wildlife management.

Many hunting groups and individual hunters claim their actions are vital in the conservation efforts of wild species and wildlife management, keeping the population balance of wild animals at a sustainable and non threatening level which are at risk of becoming too large in numbers for their natural habitats to handle and put other wildlife species and even fellow humans at risk.

Hunting seasons are governed by state and federal government authorities which control when a season will open for the hunting of a wildlife species and when it will close to allow for their breeding season or vulnerability from irresponsible hunters.

Bag limits or the restriction to the amount of animals hunters can kill also applies, this really isn’t done to protect animal species, is done so the hunters are each given a fair share of the total allowable catch or harvest of the particular animal species, in other words, no one goes home empty handed.

Hunting laws are put in place to ensure wildlife populations are sustainable and to promote safe responsible and ethical hunting of animals by hunters.

Hunting organizations also claim the profit generated from hunting licenses has been a vital factor in the purchase of native land and wildlife habitat which helps to persevere animal’s natural environments and save them from habitat destruction and environmental degradation.

While many people see hunters as evil or immoral people with those feelings being justified toward trophy hunters and poachers, people who hunt as part of a responsible and justified necessary reduction of an animal species are not. They are just contributing to a necessary plan for the conservation and protection of wild animal species which have exceeded the carrying capacity of their natural environment and threaten other wildlife and plant species.

One issue that raises questions for the welfare of legally hunted animals as part of wildlife management is the ethics of hunters, with acts being captured that capture hunters engaging in unethical actions which both animal welfarists and fellow hunters have deemed as inappropriate and unethical; actions such as hunters who seem to take a very disturbing and very upsetting sadistic pleasure in the killing of animals which encourages disrespect of nature and animals and also encourages irresponsible and bad hunting practices from people. Another practice is the removal of animals too young such as bear cubs which again raises the questions of ethics and morality.

These actions portray responsible and ethical hunters in a negative light and have a negative impact on the wider hunting communities around the world with outsiders assuming and believing these actions to be standard common practice.

Being an animal rights activist / welfarist and a person who loves animals greatly, appreciates and fights to implement the ethical and proper treatment of them I can fully understand how some animal lovers explode with emotion at hunters calling them barbarians and to just leave the “innocent animals alone” but we must understand that in certain circumstances it’s necessary for the benefit of animals that we participate in these actions, and whilst they go on that they are done as humanely and with the highest code of ethics as possible.

Hunting has been a vital part of human evolution and human history having helped the earliest humans to survive before the advancement of technology and as a necessary means of keeping wild animal populations in balance where wild predatory species have been reduced or are non-existent. It is met with great controversy and misunderstanding by many people who may not fully understand the reasons behind such actions.

Hunting is enjoyed by many people around the world including native people who still partake in the activities and customs which have helped to define their cultures. In any hunt there will always be a chance of mistakes or botched kills of animals which result in prolonged suffering for them, which is why the education of ethical hunting must be strongly implemented and exercised so animals are removed with no or very little suffering to them.

Hunting has become a lucrative industry with sizeable profits generated from the sale of firearms, hunting licenses clothing and books.

While it hurts me to see an animal killed, I understand in some instances such as mentioned above it has to be done and although I couldn’t partake in the action myself. I accept the people who do and can understand the pleasure of being in the outdoors amongst nature and wildlife.

But to go and unjustifiably, indiscriminately and for no intelligent and logical reason hunt and kill innocent an animal, who was looking forward to the day and was just as happy as I was when I woke up this morning, is something I’ll never understand, and I’m sure many other people cannot understand it either.

Thank You

Another Battle To Save Whales Draws Closer

2007-11-21T23:19:00.000-08:00

What the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society does best is save whales, and as another campaign to save whales currently named ‘Operation Migaloo’ (in honour of a white albino humpback whale named Migaloo) draws closer, a dedicated and courageous volunteer crew will make final preparations in Melbourne before heading off to the frigid and hostile waters of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to defend and save whales from a ruthless and powerful enemy known as the Japanese whaling fleet.

Japan has been illegally killing whales for three decades, and this year Japan is setting its sights on endangered humpback and fin whales, as well as intending to kill ‘piked’ or ‘minke’ whales in their self appointed quota of 1000 whales.

The Southern Ocean Antarctic Whale Sanctuary is meant to be a ‘safe haven’ for whales, and Japan’s indiscriminate killing of these gentle leviathans and lords of oceans is in direct violation of the International Whaling Commission’s global moratorium on commercial whaling and international world public opinion.

Japan attempts to justify their blatantly illegal activities by saying “were killing whales for scientific research” and if that statement isn’t arrogant enough from the whale killers. Japan has unbelievably called on the Australian government to help defend them from radical groups who are opposing their illegal killing of the great whales inside of a whale sanctuary.

They’re the ones committing these crimes against nature and the environment and they have the audacity to call us the criminals! Japan certainly isn’t fooling anyone by attempting to justify their illegal killing of whales under the guise of ‘scientific research’

This years confrontation promises to not be boring and as always is dangerous and unpredictable.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship the Robert Hunter has been given a fresh coat of paint and its repairs and maintenance have been completed. It’s a fast ship that can stay with the Nishan Maru the processing or factory ship of the illegal Japanese whaling fleet.

With an army of courageous international volunteer crew, Sea Shepherd will once again return to the Antarctic whale sanctuary to defend whales from the harpoons of the Japanese whale killers.

Last year we chased the ruthless Japanese whaling fleet to the ends of the earth and they came up 500 whales short of their self imposed quota. This year we will strive to do better, we will chase, harass, block and obstruct these criminals of the high seas and stop them from killing whales.

Wish us well, for the whales!

‘OVER Fishing’ - A Practice That’s Costing The World’s Oceans

2007-08-31T07:02:00.000-07:00

The term ‘over fishing’ means exactly what it implies, the OVER fishing of the fish in our worlds oceans.

As I’ve mentioned in a previous written article; a fish is an animal or non human being that many people just have no sympathy towards or just see as a food source, and because of their non-likeness in behaviour and looks to much higher held in regard animals such as the majestic whales or dolphins or the magnificent tigers or lions, they are often thought to be without intelligence feeling or thought.

But one of the most prominent things many people fail to understand and just cannot see, is just how absolutely essential they are to sustain the complex array of marine life, in the world’s vast oceans.

The practice of fishing; is one human beings have been doing since the beginning of time. Man has naively thought for the longest time that due to the vastness of the worlds oceans that ocean resources would forever be limitless and in high abundance and because of this ignorance we’ve now seen parts of the worlds oceans swept as clean as a rug with nothing left and sadly and unfortunately the trend continues.

Fish play an important role to many native peoples around the world as sources of protein, and also provide an equally important source of income for many fisherman around the world who rely on it as a job and a livelihood to feed themselves and their families.

One marine scientist once described the devastating practice of over-fishing as the “equivalent of unleashing an army of tanks and bombers on the oceans fish populations” “an onslaught no population can withstand.”

Indeed this is true, and if current over-fishing trends continue, not only will it spell the doom for the fish species directly being targeted. But it will set off a chain reaction which could spell the end of many other marine species that rely on fish for their survival and from protection from other predators.

The problems of modern day industrialized commercial over-fishing have been mainly caused by the rapid advances in fishing technology over the past 50 years. Hundreds of traditional trawling and fishing boats have now been replaced by huge factory ships which are able to stay out at sea for weeks at a time and have all the equipment necessary to freeze or seize all the fish caught by their hunting ships, thus only having to return when their holds are full, operations that small time traditional fishing boats just cannot compete with.

Industrialized commercial fishing encompasses two very devastating methods of catching fish species; one is ‘drift netting’ and the other is ‘bottom trawling.’

Fish that live near the oceans surface are known as ‘pelagic fish’. Species of these fish include sardines, anchovies, tunas, mackerels, mullets and herrings. Species of these fish in commercial fishing operations are typically caught by drift nets. A drift net is a very large fishing net that is allowed to ‘drift’ with the tide hence why it’s called a drift net. They are suspended by floats and are stretched between two boats so that fish swim into it. They can stretch anywhere from 20 meters to 3 miles. Drift nets are known as ‘floating death traps’ or ‘walls of death’ because as well as catching the intended fish species targeted, they also catch countless non targeted species of marine mammals and other fish who get caught up in them. Such as innocent sea turtles, dolphins, sea birds, small whales, and even seals.

Fish cannot swim backwards, so unless they're small enough to fit through a drift nets mesh they cannot escape. Fish are caught by tonnes in drift nets, seiners can haul aboard a 200 tonne set of mackerel out of the worlds oceans no problem!

Bottom trawling is the other very devastating fish practice; bottom trawling derives its name as the fish species targeted are ‘bottom feeders’ and live lower down in the ocean, mid water and bottom feeders, the opposite of the palegic species of fish. Bottom feeding species of fish can include the catfish and the haddock, which is a member of the cod family of fish.

A bottom trawler literally sweeps the ocean floor clean as as rug until there is nothing left. Deep sea bottom trawling fishing vessels drag huge nets armed with steel plates and heavy rollers across the sea bed which pulverize and destroy absolutely everything in their path. The mouth of a trawling net is held open by two steel plate doors which help to keep it on the sea floor.

As well as catching the commercial species of fish targeted, the devastating impact and consequences left behind as a result of bottom trawling pose a most significant threat to life in the world’s oceans. Thousands of tonnes of coral and unwanted by-catch are hauled in only to be thrown back dead or dying every year.

Deep water ecological systems, particularly coral systems are completely destroyed and stand no chance against such an onslaught. Once the process is finished; what was once a vital, complex, marine ecological system that took hundreds of years to develop is completely gone! and once they are gone!, will not come back! or are unlikely to recover for decades or centuries, a devastating but unfortunately very sad truth.

Examples of over-fishing disasters include the over-fishing of fish species in the North Atlantic and the North West Atlantic cod in the Grand Banks lying off southeastern Newfoundland in Canada. After decades of over-fishing and poor mismanagement of the fisheries off eastern Canada by the Canadian Government, the cod fishery collapsed, and probably ranks as the worlds greatest fisheries management disaster. The fishery was amongst the worlds most productive at one time.

The devastating practice of over-fishing upsets the delicate and sensitive balance in the food chain. By removing or depleting fish species, you’re ensuring effective change in the roles that the fish now play. As a result of the depletion of the North West Atlantic cod, we’ve now seen a population increase in the fish that the North West Atlantic cod preyed upon such as herring, shrimp, and snow crab, now with the top predatory fish in the region depleted, these fish species have now become the top predators which upsets the delicate balance of nature in the worlds oceans and amongst fish populations which has a carry on effect to many other marine species.

The large marine mammal species that we all know so well and love; such as the whales, sharks, dolphins and seals, rely on fish for survival. Over-fishing is a threat to their survival too.

Krill is the main source of food for the great whales; krill are small shrimps and are located in oceans all over the world, they are also eaten by whale sharks, seabirds, seals, and other fish.

In the cold frigid waters of the Antarctic, the heavy fishing for krill could be a potential threat to the populations of whales down in the region who have already been exploited as victims of illegal whaling operations and as a result has already upset the natural balance in the Antarctic. If krill is removed or heavily depleted it will most likely have devastating consequences for the whales and other animals whose diet it supplements.

While stopping over-fishing may seem an absolutely impossible task to the average individual. Our best bet to sustain fish populations as this is an important and often vital natural resource for future generations of people, marine mammals, and other fish species, is by implanting a responsible and sustainable management of fisheries worldwide.

Quotes should be set on sound and reputable scientific data analysis, mesh size in nets should be correct as to make sure that fish species that are too young are not caught thus ensuring sufficient regeneration of the species is possible, and most importantly devastating fishing practices such as bottom trawling need to be immediately stopped and a global moratorium put in place to stop and severely reduce it. It should be replaced with sound environmentally friendly advances in fishing technology and not irreversible devastating ones as the situation now is.

International limits quotas and the T.A.C (Total Allowable Catch) limiting catches need to be strictly enforced by local governments. We need to remove as many fish as can be replaced by reproduction the following year and not over-fish the species to a level where there is not enough adequate numbers left to reproduce and ensure the continuation of the species.

By implanting a responsible stewardship of nature we can greatly reduce the very real and devastating impact that industrialized commercial fishing operations have taken and will continue to take on the worlds oceans.

It’s our world and we’re destroying it without even thinking for a minute about the devastating consequences these actions are taking on the environment. Entire coral reef systems have been removed and literally cannot come back, and if they can! will take hundreds or thousands of years to reproduce, just as they took hundreds and thousands of years to initially produce.

We can’t destroy our home like this longer, and must start looking after it, and protecting and conserving fish species for future populations is as good a start as any.

So perhaps if you have the time write a friendly letter to you local government expressing your concern at over-fishing and ask what they are currently doing to improve and reverse the current trends; and also try to avoid buying species of fish that have been over-fished or nearly depleted so they can have time to recover such as sharks (which are sadly captured by longlines or gill nets for shark fin soup) and swordfish.

By acting responsibly we can help ensure that this vital natural resource and fishing can continue without damaging fish stocks. Were not talking about casting out a line on a lazy Sunday afternoon here and catching one or two wee fish, we're talking about depleting entire eco systems and depleting or making extinct entire populations of fish species out of greed incompetence and ignorance.

Try to help in what way you can, because collectively we can make a difference to the fate of fish populations worldwide and make sure this important natural resource can be around and responsibly utilized for many decades and centuries more.

Thank You

If You Don’t Believe Me! If You Don’t Believe Captain Paul Watson! If You Don’t Believe Rebecca Aldworth! Then Will You BELIEVE A Sealer HIMSELF!!!

2007-05-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

Straight from the thugs mouth themselves :)

“we all go out for the love of it” “rather then the money”

Well that kinda takes away the claims that Canadian fishermen are hardworking noble decent men, who need a seal slaughter to feed themselves and their family in the fishing off season doesn’t it???

When I mentioned in a previous article that the seal slaughter continues for no other logical reason then to simply spite all seal defenders worldwide. Particularly IFAW (International Fund For Animal Welfare) HSUS (Humane Society Of The United States) and I think more then anyone, a humble expert Maratimer named Captain Paul Watson; who is founder and president of an organization called the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. I think I was right on the money.

“I mean the proof is in the pudding” and the proof's right there.

It really does give you an insight as to what kind of perverted sadistic and really just plain twisted people these men are. Men who ENJOY!!! bashing in the egg shill thin skulls of baby seals for ‘fun’. Men who act all big bad and tough, like some fired up boxer before the big fight, and men who will do almost anything to keep a ritual slaughter of baby seals they believe belongs to them and no-one else.

It’s mind boggling truly!!! they have no respect for their world, the creatures who inhabit it and most importantly none for themselves or anyone else. If you ‘love’ or ‘enjoy’ clubbing completely defenseless baby animals to death, when you know it’s not necessary or beneficial to anybody! Then that speaks volumes about what type of a ‘supposed’ man you are.

These men are simply thugs cowards and criminals, simple as that, and until they stop this absolute mad, senseless, wasteful, cruel, horrific, unjustified, selfish act of persecution against the harp seals they will be nothing else (well at least to me).

So there it is! proof straight from the horses mouth! take that all you baby seal slaughter supporters!

They simply at the end of the day go out there to say “stuff you” to seal defenders and to make sure these people and organizations mentioned above DO NOT!!! win.

Because we can’t have that, we can’t have the world a better place can we? we can’t have horrific animal cruelty stopped can we? and most importantly we can’t have the most beautiful kind caring men in the world; Canadian sealers, stop bashing in the skulls of baby seals for ‘fun’ can we???

Because it’s just like I said before, if you don’t believe the thugs themselves then WHO will you believe???

The link to the written article is here :)

http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_070423_1.html

Thank You

Canada is STILL Slaughtering Baby Seals In 2007

2007-04-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

Ya know just like everyone else on this fragile earth, there are so many things I don’t understand and it seems the more I try to, the worse it gets.

The Canadian seal slaughter as I’ve stated so many times is unnecessary cruel and a mad senseless injustice. So why is Canada still slaughtering such beautiful innocent animals for bloody welfare cheques?

I personally think the answer is for no other logical reason then simply as an act of noble defiance towards people who wish to protect innocent baby seals. The attitude of the DFO (Destruction of Fisheries and Oceans) is a

“we wont give in to seal defenders” “we’ll keep doing it for a stuff you to the organizations groups and caring individuals” “who want to mess and interfere with us”

Every year the DFO goes in to slaughter baby seals, they solidify their sheer contempt for the harp seal as nothing but ‘industry trade’ ‘product’ ‘harvestable biomass’ a ‘fur coat’ But I think this year they solidified their position as reckless dangerous human beings of the planet no matter what they would be in charge of, even if it was a kid’s candy shop, somehow they would find a way to destroy that too.

What happened on the east coat of Canada this year was an ecological disaster and PROOF that global warming is NO joke, NO propaganda scare campaign to raise money, and a real dangerous threat to the earth that is comprising animals and the natural environments they need to survive.

Yet they still went in and slaughtered the helpless, completely defenseless seals who were clinging to broken up rotting ice pans which had been melted due to global warming and broken up further due to strong winds smashing the normally solid ice pack to even smaller pieces. In the Southern Gulf of St Lawrence it’s estimated nearly all the seal pups drowned due to a lack of solid ice melting out beneath them before they we’re old enough to swim properly, a melting of ice caused by global warming.

On April 2nd of this year the seal slaughter (and you’ll never get me to call it a seal ‘hunt’) a term I passionately hate hearing and reading even amongst my fellow Animal Warriors, began in the Southern Gulf of St Lawrence. For the first two days of the slaughter observation permits by the DFO were denied to seal defenders / observers, mmmmmm did they forget? uhhh if you believe that, then you believe Michael Jordan can’t play basketball. The DFO simply doesn’t want the slaughter to be observed and filmed and images and video brought back that will outrage the kind caring masses and getting them to protest their oh so precious slaughter of innocent new life.

Over the years we’ve seen a steady erosion of the freedoms of seal observers and the fact that they would stoop to this level, proves that they are getting nervous sacred and on the defensive by making actions that if anything just make them seem worse and will make people protest the slaughter even more. They could of done anything to the seals out there, who knows?

To date over 700 documented cases of CLEAR violations of the marine mammals regulation protection act have been submitted to the Canadian government and not ONE single charged laid against the most ‘beautiful men’ on the planet Canadian Sealers.

A great friend of mind on YouTube named Crackle said to me “people are getting smarter Smudge” “people are protesting this needless cruelty” “and I believe it’ll end soon I can feel it” and she’s right, I admire and respect her greatly and she’s right.

The compassionate people of this world aren’t stupid, we aren’t naive pawns and we know this is completely unacceptable, we know we can stop it and we know we will.

Keep up the pressure, boycott Canadian seafood which has and is having a negative impact on the provinces of Newfoundland and spread the word to help end it forever.

So much of the seal slaughter is so political now; some people forget it’s about the seals but rather tend to focus on the sealers and their families and the human rights side of things.

An innocent baby seal isn’t concerned with that, it just doesn’t want it’s gentle innocent head caved in by a uncompassionate brute who wont out of defiance, tradition, ignorance, selfishness ,and the lack of a soul wont stop.

Well maybe anyone who supports the seal slaughter, if they we’re a baby seal, wouldn’t want it too.

Thank You

I Believe It’s Wrong To Kill Animals For Food

2007-02-16T01:11:00.000-08:00

Now this is my blog, my thoughts and feelings on things, and things that I believe and advocate in, and I quite frankly don’t give a fig what you or anybody else reading this thinks of my beliefs; if you disagree then get your own blog for the world to see.

But to me I think the killing of billions of animals each and every year for food is nothing but the mass murder of billions of innocent lives and all for something we don’t need.

Why? because human beings are omnivores and CAN CLEARLY survive without meat in their diet and be super healthy NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!!

We can’t justify such cruel atrocities in the name of economic purposes as so many people like to use in their arguments.

“farmers need to feed their families Smudge are YOU gonna give them a job”

I don’t have all the answers and don’t claim to either, but I just believe its wrong simple as that.

If humans were pure carnivores like the big cats and ate meat and ONLY meat and would DIE without meat, then yes our actions would be justified and right; because they are absolutely necessary and essential to our survival.

But we don’t need meat to survive and to be super healthy and be happy with. I just strongly think it’s the murder of billions of innocent lives each and every year.

Can you imagine if this was dogs getting treated and killed like this; the human race wouldn’t take it. Why? because (a) we hold those animals in a lot higher regard and (b) they a mean a lot more to us then a walking living breathing piece of steak / ham or milk machine.

Some people may be thinking while reading this :)

“oh shut the fuck up!” “you gay ass, vegan, rice eating, string-bean hippie” “we eat meat” “cows and pigs get butchered” “get the fuck over it!” “and go cry with all the other sensitive ladies”

I ain’t anything but those things; all I’m telling you is my thoughts on feelings on those things.

Thank You

OK People Hate Us Protecting The Cute Or Beautiful Animals Because We 'Apparently' Don’t Care Or Love About The ‘Apparently’ Ugly Or Stupid Ones

2007-02-12T16:43:00.000-08:00

I read many video comments in response to the videos I post on YouTube and if I spent all my time responding to each one and debating back and forth I’ll never get anything done and achieve zilch with my life.

But people’s comments can certainly be baffling and in essence just absolute sheer stupidity.

I posted a video on whaling about the cruelty of it; it was a one minute commercial produced by IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) brutally showing just what the practice of whaling is and how it’s completely unacceptable and unjustifiable in this day and age. Someone commented on it and their comment while not word for word was something along these lines.

“why do you guys only protect or fight for the cute or beautiful animals such as whales and seals, and don’t fight or care about animals in slaughterhouses?” “they’re animals too ya know”.

Ok first of all I’m a vegan, I don’t consume ANY animal products whatsoever and I don’t and am not a part, and do not contribute to the unacceptable and at times very disturbing acts that go on in slaughterhouses.

And while they’re may be a slaughterhouse where the killing of farm animals is tightly regulated and humane etc. The videos I post about factory farming aren’t designed to represent ONE singular factory farm (sugarcoated term for slaughterhouse) they’re designed to show and represent the isolated acts of unacceptable abuse and suffering as a whole around the world.

One person who was a former slaughterhouse worker commented and said :)

“stop playing the sympathetic card with people” “it’s done humanely” “you really have no idea what you’re talking about”

Well considering I’ve read articles and testimony from former workers in the industry and seen video CLEARLY showing unacceptable acts of cruelty, suffering and abuse. I think I’m right and in a good position to post video and write my thoughts and feelings on it for all to see.

Just because he may have worked at the most heavenly slaughterhouse in the world doesn’t mean EVERY one is like that, and there are many even here in Australia where they’re beyond unacceptable and just outright fucking cruel.

And of course he’s going to say its right and justified because he’s protecting the industry he formerly worked in and strongly supports.

Now if you eat meat (I don’t care if you’re the nicest person in the world) you’re contributing to the isolated acts of suffering and abuse that have and continue to exist within the dark walls of a slaughterhouse or factory farm. (even though through no fault of your own you’re most likely unaware). Because all the fast food chains restaurants etc, never want you see where the food products they sell contain meat REALLY come from and are REALLY produced. Because it’s a threat to their industry and businesses if people become vegetarians / vegans.

The slaughterhouse industry is sugarcoated and hidden from the public as best as it can be.

The people who make comments like that are unbelievable because 1) they’re complaining that we don’t care about ‘apparently’ stupid, dumb, worthless animals like cows, pigs, sheep and chickens when 2) they’re eating them and contributing to the unacceptable acts of cruelty and suffering that were trying to stop by strongly promoting vegetarianism / veganism and cruelty free living.

It’s just sheer ignorance and stupidly to make such a comment; if your not part of the solution you’re part of the problem and if you consume meat and make a comment like that, how can anyone take you seriously when you’re providing the core reason for them and millions of other people to convince people to become vegetarians / vegans.

At the end of the day they’re all living breathing creatures, they’re all animals and we love and protect them all.

But you can’t come out and make such a comment, if you do something to contribute to a point you’re trying to prove in an attempt to bring us down or make us appear uncaring or unsympathetic.

Think about it.

Europe Does It Again For The Harp Seals

2007-02-01T03:29:00.000-08:00

The Belgian parliament has unanimo-usly voted to implement a ban on the importation on all seal products.

This ban makes Belgium the first European nation to do so. This important exciting and significant ban eliminates Belgium from the commercial trade in seal derived products which is predominately their fur coats.

The Canadian government can deny it all they want but we're winning the war and the seal hunt (slaughter) is on its way out.

This victory which IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) was instrumental in achieving sends yet another powerful message to the government of Canada that the kind compassionate individuals of this world will not tolerate this unnecessary slaughter of innocent new life in the name tradition and greed any further.

The harp seals have friends all over the world and their friends are delivering, and it’s only matter of time before we all deliver on our promise and the greatest seal defender of them all; the incredible Rebecca Aldworth gets her ultimate wish, that being.

“we’re going to shut this thing down and make sure this is the last commercial seal hunt any of us will ever have to witness”

As always Rebecca you’re right and we will.

Always for the seals.

The ‘Slaughterhouse’ Or ‘Factory Farm’ The Place Where The Meat You Eat Comes From

2007-02-01T03:25:00.000-08:00

Ya know there’s an old saying that goes :)

“you can never know what something is like for someone unless you walk in their shoes”

And while people can’t transform themselves into a chicken or a cow and live the cruel unnatural lives they do before they are slaughtered for us to enjoy. The one thing people could do is visit an intensive factory farm and I can tell you many, if not of all the people who visit would be greatly upset by what they would see.

People watching video on YouTube of disturbing footage in slaughterhouses whether it’s cows chickens pigs etc isn’t seeing in person, reading all the horror stories on websites isn’t seeing it in person, and looking at horrible pictures of sows (female pigs) in gestation crates or veal calves chained around the neck isn’t seeing it in person either. And while people can see those things and get very moved and upset and may even become vegetarian / vegan as a result, many other people do not as you can’t sympathize anywhere near the amount you would if you saw these horrible things happening before you LIVE and in person.

I have my own personal saying which is :)

“If factory farms (the sugar coated term for slaughterhouses) did daily tours many people would be vegetarians / vegans instantly” and I think that’s quite true.

And while technically 'factory farms' are not slaughterhouses (there the place where the animals are essentially fattened up and 'finalized' for lack of a better term before going to slaughter). I collectively as a whole think the term counts because they're going to die anyway, so in essence it is the slaughterhouse basically.

To give you an example why I think that’s true, my parents eat meat and they enjoy it, and I’ve tried many times educating them or telling them about the horrible conditions that the innocent animals go through for meat consumption; and many times they’ve purposefully ignored me or say they have to do something or whatever because they don’t want to know. Because they know it’s not pretty and they know if they see or hear about these things they’ll get greatly upset by it.

I once went to a local fair / fete with my father and they had cute little baby piglets on display and they were having a contest to see who could come up with the best name for them and the winner would receive a gift basket of fun things. I entered the contest and wrote down my name for those cute pigs and the name I wrote down was ‘love’ as I cared about them. I was looking at them and I ate meat at the time, bacon and ham and I felt guilty about eating them and said to my father “it’s so cruel what happens to them in slaughterhouses” and my father turned and said to me “uhh it’s best not to think about it” while he was patting some show dogs.

His attitude was a perfect example that people don’t want to know about what goes in factory farms and would be very upset if they could witness these things in person. After all ‘ignorance is bliss’ and indeed it is.

I showed my mother a picture of a sow (female pig) on an Australian factory farm in a gestation crate chewing on the bar in frustration and boredom, a heart wrenching picture, and she looked at it and with apathy just said :

“ David I know you left this mini booklet out on the table so I would read it, but it’s not gonna make me become vegetarian” “human beings have been eating meat since the beginning of time”

Now my mother’s not evil and she loves animals a lot, but if she was to visit a slaughterhouse and see where the meat she consumes comes from THEN and of course there’s no guarantee, but THEN things might hit home a little harder and with more impact.

She was actually cooking chicken when I presented her with this, and I can’t stand the smell or sight of meat it’s just makes me want to gag and throw up because I know killing these animals is not necessary for our survival and it’s not, a fact that NO-ONE can argue with.

If human beings were purely carnivorous like big cats, tigers and lions then the killing of these animals would be justified and ultimately necessary, because we’d all die without them and our dependence on them for our survival. But since human beings are not carnivores and as I’ve stated many times and are omnivores; we can survive without meat and the killing of these animals and the processing of them in industrialized commercial factory farming operations is not at all necessary.

But hold on a minute one may argue :)

“Smudge you preach that humans are omnivores which is true” “but if that’s the case we can’t just have one of the two, we have to eat both” “that being both meat and vegetable matter as we were designed this way” “after all you said it yourself we are omnivores”

But we don’t have to eat meat, don’t need it to survive, and we have a conscious choice to save billions of animals from unnecessary pains suffering and abuse annually and right now as you read this.

In the booklet I attempted to present to my mother, here was an extract from the material inside :)

“One of the best things modern animal agriculture has going for it is that most people…haven’t a clue how animals are raised and processed…If most urban meat-eaters were to visit and industrial broiler house, to see how the birds are raised, and could see the birds being ‘harvested’ and then being ‘processed’ (slaughtered) in a poultry processing plant, some, perhaps many of them, would swear off eating chicken and perhaps all meat. For modern animal agriculture, the less the consumer knows about what’s happening before the meat hits the plate, the better”.

Peter Cheeke, PhD – Oregon State University Professor of Animal Agriculture

(Contemporary Issues in Animal Agriculture 2004 textbook)

If I was to take 1000 people off the street tomorrow of all ages religions ethnicities etc, and give them a detailed guided tour of a modern intensive factory farm I can strongly guarantee that some not all, but definitely some straight afterwards would never eat meat or dairy again.

Which brings me back to my saying or belief written in this article, and that was :)

“If factory farms (the sugar coated term for slaughterhouses) did daily tours many people would be vegetarians / vegans instantly”

Yes I believe myself and I think if we exercise that belief, it would definitely ring true for lots of people.

If Everyone Was Vegan We’d All Pass Out In A Heat Wave And Blow Over In A Thunderstorm

2007-01-30T20:59:00.000-08:00

The title of this article is just some of the many misinformed ignorant and uneducated comments people make about veganism everyday.

But the truth is; is that, the human race does not need meat to survive and be healthy, COLD HARD FACT; meat production destroys or for a less gloomy description places heavy burdens on the world’s resources, and thirdly farm animals all over the world are, have been, and continue to be subjected to unacceptable disturbing acts of cruelty to satisfy the worldwide demand for meat products.

I believe human beings continue to eat meat for two main reasons and while there are many, the two main ones in my opinion are :)

1) Humans have become SO accustomed to eating meat that it’s incredibly difficult and HARD for lots of people to stop eating it. and :

2) Humans just enjoy eating meat; it smells nice, tastes nice, is mouthwatering, and nothing like tearing into a hot spicy chicken roll at the football game or wherever.

Would everyone be more comfortable and more accepting of animals raised and killed for food if it was done humanely and without any unnecessary suffering pain or abuse? certainly some people would be but not all.

So many comments from people regarding the ethics of eating meat and who defend it strongly.

For example someone might say :)

“look Smudge raising and killing animals for food is not a pretty sight but it just HAS to be done!” we need meat to survive and that’s that”

But we don’t need meat to survive live and be healthy and this is something many people just can’t comprehend and get a grasp of, because they are so grounded in their belief that they just can’t see it any other way; and have also been conditioned and pushed by very influential big business and media corporations into thinking this way.

I want to be a vegan and hopefully I will be soon; I don’t eat meat, seafood or dairy (except for cheese) which I’m trying to give up.

Many people who are vegan had previously been vegetarian for a longtime for 10, 15 or even 20 years before cutting out all animals derived products from their diet. But not me and I may be the exception, I become vegetarian about 10 months ago in April of 2006 I’m now a 95% vegan, pretty fast transformation and change considering in March of 2006 I would walk into McDonalds and order my bacon double cheeseburger deluxe and eat and enjoy it without any hesitation.

Ever since becoming a vegan I know I’m not officially yet, but I’ll just say I am as I will be soon; I’ve felt a lot fitter, physically stronger and mentally clearer; now I don’t just say that to lean people toward or to get them to become vegetarians / vegans, I sincerely do mean that, and if you look at the photos of me on this blog I don’t think people can argue that I look unhealthy or look like death. I had eaten meat for 25 years and gave it up quite quickly and if I can ANYONE can because I NEVER thought I would be a vegan NEVER. I thought all vegans were sad pathetic wimps but now that I’m nearly one I can tell you we're not.

As a side-note to this article I just want to say that if I was involved in a street fight or a fight tomorrow fists flying etc; there's no guarantee I would win, of course not, and if the guy was 7ft and 300 pounds I'd be out of my league but I'd still put up a good showing of myself. Now that 's not loving myself or being cocky, it's being confident and realistic ya know, I may not win but I'd put up a good fight as I'm a caring and compassionate person but not a wimp or 'bones' as many people think vegans are. But of course I'd do everything in my power to avoid the confrontation in the first place.

Many people have the belief of vegetarians / vegans being sad, pathetic, wimpy sacks of bones because they do not eat meat and cannot be at their productive best without it, but this belief is completely wrong and while people can debate back and forth for weeks months or years that we need to eat meat to be big strong and healthy 'the proof is in the pudding' as they say. Carl Lewis a world famous track athlete was a vegetarian, there's Martin Wittred a vegan, who’s not as famous or well known as Carl, but is a world class grip master and can do push ups using only one finger and thumb; now that’s insane, and there wouldn’t be many meat eaters who could do that. One of my heroes Mike Mahler a vegan strength coach is very big and strong and looks very healthy and radiant, and many people would automatically assume he eats meat with no hesitation because of the way he looks but he doesn’t.

You see getting faster, bigger, better, stronger, etc won’t come from just eating meat or watching Rocky movies and dreaming and fantasizing that it’s you in the movie; the way to achieve those things is to WORK, train, push, and pull weights.

Many guys who eat meat are skinny and average size because they don’t have the determination and the commitment to do these things and reach the maximum weight they can reach depending on their body type. Now every person can only become as big as they can depending on their body type. There are three body types ‘ectomorphs’, ‘mesmomorphs’ and ‘endomorphs’

Ectomorphs are people who they call ‘hard gainers’ and in order for them to gain muscle it takes a LOT of hard work and dedication. Mesmomorphs are people who have a natural athletic build and can gain muscle mass quite easily, without as much difficulty, and more quickly than other body types; the majority of basketball players have the mesmomorph body type, and thirdly the endomorph which is a person who is big boned with big shoulders and is prone to weight gain but with correct gym training and eating very well these people can become very big and ripped and their physique would command them a lot of attention. Bodybuilding great Arnold Schwarzenegger was an endomorph although he possessed a lot of the mesmomorph characteristics too, as he was big but also very athletic and defined.

So what I’m saying is; is that we are forever pushed this undying belief that we have to eat meat to survive and be big healthy etc; when it’s just not true. Granted there are some vegetarians / vegans out there who look ill unhealthy and not well at all, now that’s not because of their food choices it’s because they’re not looking after their nutritional needs PERIOD! and it’s affecting their appearance, energy, and overall health.

When I used to eat meat; I was eating terribly, some days I wouldn’t even eat at all, my skin would become dry I had loss of energy, tiredness, etc because I wasn’t looking after myself. But now as a 95% vegan I eat very well; lots of veggie subs, rice, pasta dishes, fruit salads, soy milk protein shakes and lots more and because I eat well, I look healthy and it gives me the energy to play sport and workout thus giving me the maximum results I can achieve based on my body type which is between an ecto and mesmomorph. I can’t become mega huge but I can become big like a basketball player, Australian football athlete, or tri-athlete. As a vegetarian / vegan you have to eat well to be fit and healthy; for sure, I mean if you don’t you’re gonna struggle. But so many people who eat meat don’t eat properly either; whether you eat meat or don’t, you still have to look after yourself if you want to be fit and healthy.

The photo in this article is of the awesome Kenneth G Williams a vegan professional bodybuilder, to read more about him please click on this link.

http://www.idausa.org/vegandays/famous_bodies_kgw.html

So the point of this article was to tell people that not eating meat is very difficult for lots of people as they’ve simply become so accustomed to it; and they can read all the horror stories on factory farms, see the disturbing video, but they’ll still eat it because they just simply believe they can’t give it up and be healthy without it in their diet, when you can.

Vegetarianism in my personal opinion will be they way of the world; maybe not in my lifetime but I think so eventually. Vegetarians are exactly the same as meat eaters in every single way, except we just don’t consume the meat and / or dairy products. Many people have the image of vegetarians / vegans being all prancy lets make the world beautiful types who live in dreamland and are afraid to get their hands dirty NO WAY!!! We drink, swear, get aggressive, listen to heavy metal, fight, and are tough just like all the meat eaters it’s just that so many people don’t believe it or don’t want to believe it.

As I’ve stated many times before I don’t force vegetarianism / veganism on people but I strongly do promote it. But as I’ve mentioned in this article

“the proof is in the pudding”

And if you’re a meat eater reading this who still thinks were all luvvy duvvy wimps; how about giving Martin Wittred an arm-wrestle and see how you go? You might be able to beat him but he wouldn’t go down easily that’s for sure.

The Whales Don’t Know It But A Showdown Between Good And Evil Looms Ever Closer Over All Of Them

2007-01-20T23:00:00.000-08:00

As I write this, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is at sea closing in on the Japanese whale killers in the cold unforgiving hostile waters of the Southern ocean whale sanctuary near Antarctica at the bottom of the world.

Sea Shepherd crew members some as young as the tender age of 18, are putting their lives at risk and spending time away from their loved ones in order to participate in probably what is the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s most important and most ambitious campaign yet; and that is to simply STOP! the harpoons, STOP! the blood from entering the water, and to STOP! the unnecessary killing of the beautiful gentle leviathans by a cold hearted, greedy, and selfish government who supports the blatantly illegal activities of the Japanese whale killers.

Ships from the environmental organization Greenpeace are expected to arrive and also do battle with the illegal Japanese whaling fleet in early February.

Sea Shepherd has two ships at sea; their flagship the ‘Farley Mowat’ and a second more faster ship called the ‘Robert Hunter’ previously codenamed the ‘Leviathan’.

Japan has threatened violence against Sea Shepherd and its crew and has already made attempts to thwart the efforts of the conservation group by putting political pressure on nations which the Farley Mowat’s flag has been registered under and forcing them to cancel the ship’s registration. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship left Australia bound for the Southern ocean whale sanctuary just hours before the government of Belize cancelled the ships registration under political pressure from Japan. So the Farley Mowat is now officially a pirate vessel; a vessel at sea without a flag.

International conservation law states any non flagged vessel can be boarded for inspection. So technically if Japan wanted to, they could hop on board the Sea Shepherd flagship the Farley Mowat armed with swords just like an old fashioned pirate and battle them face to face.

Captain Paul Watson has said "we are quite prepared to risk our lives and this ship for the whales."

Australia has blocked off all port access to the illegal Japanese whaling fleet, in what promises to be a violent and unfriendly whale defense campaign this time around.

We could ask Japan politely and diplomatically to stop slaughtering whales; but by the time we would convince, IF we ever could convince them to stop, there’ll be no whales left to protect.

So it’s on; the battle is soon set to begin; the good pirates vs bad pirates, greed vs compassion, right vs wrong and whale defenders vs whale killers.

God bless the brave strong and incredible crew, their families, and the whales for whom they are down their fighting for; because we fight for you and you have us and millions of other concerned individuals all around the world in your corner.

What Japan is doing is illegal, wrong, and just plain outrageous; and as so correctly, profoundly and eloquently as Captain Paul Watson has said :)

“find me on whale who disagrees with what where doing and I might reconsider not trying to save them”

And with that statement Paul, millions of people around the world would agree.

To stay up to date with all the latest news from the campaign please visit the official Sea Shepherd Conservation Society website @ www.seashepherd.org or visit www.whalesafebeer.com to view podcasts and blogs from Captain Paul Watson and members of the Sea Shepherd crew.

For the whales, for justice, and for what’s right on the oceans.

Let the tumultuous battle on the high seas begin.

Rats Yikes!!! Everybody Run

2007-01-17T07:57:00.000-08:00

That would be the sentiments of most people if they saw or were faced with this rodent species of animal in their daily life.

But did you know rats are very clean, sensitive, intelligent, gentle, social, and friendly animals and make great pets?

Misconceptions about rats, like all things in life come about through a lack of knowledge and understanding; and as I’ve mentioned before it’s not until you delve deeper into things that you realize just how wonderful and incredible they can be.

Rats are what I like to put into an animal category I like to dub (M&M) no, not the famous white rapper; but rather it stands for ‘misunderstood’ and ‘more to it than meets the eye’. The rat just like the humble chicken falls into this category and can be quite a cute, great, healthy, nothing to be feared about animal.

Oh rats!!! let’s find out more.

It’s an amazing thing it really is, even I didn’t know this until the other day but did you know rats are scrupulously clean? I know its unreal hey, who would of thought?

They spend hours every day grooming themselves and each other; and their reputation and stereotype of being filthy disease ridden pests comes from their proximity to man, as they recycle the rubbish he discards everyday. If humans were neater and tidier there would be fewer rats.

Rats live an average lifespan of 2 - 3 years and are nocturnal creatures which mean they are most active at night-time, male rats are called ‘bucks’ and female ones are called ‘does’. Rats love bonding with humans as much as a dog does, and are friendly and very playful. If you had a rat on your computer desk shelf, have no fear, nothing to be feared about; he or she will probably just fall asleep as you surf away on the internet.

Rats are very loyal and take care of the sick and injured in their groups and the rat is the first symbol of the Chinese Zodiac a symbol meaning cunning and prosperity. A group of rats is called a mischief and in the United Kingdom it’s estimated that there are 60 million rats, wow spun out; that‘s the equivalent of 1 rat to 1 person and out of these 60 million rats only approximately 200 carry weils disease which can be fatal to humans, so that’s one rat in every 300’000; so maybe rats are not as bad and disgusting as we all think?

Here are some other short, basic, and interesting facts about these misunderstood rodents :)

*Rats can eat chocolate and other candies.

*Rats have poor vision and can’t see colours which is why they have long whiskers to feel and sense what’s around them.

*Rats just like humans are omnivores and as well as eating plant material, can also eat birds, fish and other small animals.

*They have little pouches in their mouths that they can store food in, and an unpleasant fact but interesting one none the less about rats; but rats eat their feces so they don’t waste any nutrients in their food. (kinda makes ya glad to be a human hey).

*Rats also have a natural curiosity about things which make them very trainable too.

Rats are part of the rodent family which includes mice, the capybara which the world’s largest snake the anaconda feeds on, hamsters and gerbils. Rodents are characterized for having teeth adapted for gnawing and cheeks designed for chewing. Rats are everywhere in the world and can adapt to almost all living conditions; from the shores of the Arctic ocean to the hottest deserts; they can climb, run, swim, jump, burrow and glide. The great majority of them are only a few inches in length with the capybara being the world’s largest rodent which is about 4 - 5 feet in length, and all rats have a long slender tail.

But as humans leave unhealthy and unsanitary conditions as a result of our actions; wild rats not domesticated ones, can and do become riddled with diseases and parasites which are harmful to humans such as typhus and tularemia. Rats are very well known for invading food supplies and for causing widespread destruction. Rats also chew through electrical wires and cables causing blackouts and damage to electrical equipment, which is why many pest control measures such as poisoning and trapping are put in place as these rats can be harmful to humans.

Now many people will tell you that the rat was responsible for the great plague that hit Europe in the mid 1300’s.

Or was it?

The plague also known as ‘black death’ was caused by a bacterial infection called ‘pasteurella pestis” this bacteria lived on fleas and some of those fleas were carried by rats.

So is it responsible for the plague like so many people think? maybe a little, but not on the huge scale that people think, and without the rat the plague would of highly likely happened anyway.

When the ships sailed into European waters the bacteria was just as much as stowaway as the rat. The men that crewed those ships were infected with the plague before they left the east and without any rats being on board would have just as easily spread it in Europe. This bacteria could live weeks without a host, and so most likely even their food stocks and cargo would of carried the bacteria.

At the time living conditions in England were less then sanitary, with open sewers along the streets the norm and many humans sharing their living quarters with their livestock; thus providing perfect conditions for the spread of disease and pestilence. So even without the rats it still would of happened.

The one thing that’s incredible about the rat is it’s will to survive and to not go down without a fight. Rats are probably the ‘Rocky’ of the animal world because no mater what you do, the rat will find a way.

Rats have a 36 – 48 inch horizontal jump and can drop down from a 50 feet high structure without injury, they can scale along rough vertical surfaces, and can walk along thin ropes and wires, and can also fit through pipes and small openings as small as half an inch, so it’s very difficult to rat-proof a commercial structure or building.

While rats can be a pest and a huge annoyance to farmers and their crops; the domesticated ones are fine and are not a threat to human health and make great and fantastic pets. It‘s important if you want as rat as a pet to keep a close relationship with them as leaving them alone or ignoring them would most likely make them aggressive because of a lack of human interaction. They are friendly, like to play and just like a dog will become aggressive if you’re aggressive to them.

I think it’s a real shame they’re tested on in medical research and many people, infact almost all people, aren’t at all sympathetic or just plain don’t care about them because they simply don’t know all the facts about them. Rats are very sensitive and smart and can sense fear and become distressed, agitated, and scared. So medical testing contrary to what people think does hurt them and is not nice for them.

I know that some people maybe thinking.

“Ah it’s a stupid ass rat!” “if sticking a big needle in the bloody disease ridden thing helps find a cure for cancer” “I’m all for it”

I’ve addressed this issue in the animals in research archive; but it still doesn’t take away the fact, that rats are smart, gentle, sensitive, animals that make great pets. So while it is a necessary evil that they’re currently being tested on for the benefit of humans, I think we can try to come up with other ways than testing on rats for the benefits of humans. Humans are smart, capable, and determined, and maybe one day with great determination and passion we can see the end of rat experimentation forever.

Rats are mis-understood plain and simple, and if people just gave them half a second, found out the facts, and calmly realized that there’s more to them than meets the eye; then maybe people would like and appreciate them more. Because I do, I think they’re cool and unfortunately labeled as disease ridden pests because of their wild brothers and sisters causing destruction in the different places of the world.

So try to be cool if you come across a rat, I know it’s a lot easier said then done. But they’re mis-understood, and while the wild ones can be and are detrimental to human health, have and do carry disease; the domesticated ones are fine and make great pets.

So try to appreciate the rat a little bit more and hopefully as a result, maybe we can see them stop being experimented on and made great household pets and companions for lot’s of people who perhaps before thought the humble rat needed a huge whack with a great big ol shoe.

And while some rats definitely need to be removed; not all of them do, and after reading this article I hope lot’s more people realize that.

Thank You.

Random Thought On PeTA (People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals)

2007-01-16T02:04:00.000-08:00

It really is amazing just how random thoughts regarding animals and the environment will pop into my head and how I have to and must quickly write them down for lots of people to see

One thought that’s come into my head is this one regarding the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization better known by the acronym of PeTA.

I’ve been browsing the internet and many people or organizations attempting to spread hate about this organization and berate or bring them down, has brought me to a realization; and that is; is that, many anti opponents of the PeTA organization are using a famous a quote that founder and president of the group Ingrid Newkirk has said and that famous quote was :)

“our goal is total animal liberation”

Now upon first hearing that statement, many people believed and still do believe, that this individual statement or quote means exactly that; ‘total animal liberation’, all animals set free and can / could do what they want, when they want, and how they want to do it.

That statement and those words make people strongly believe that she and her group is against absolutely EVERYTHING involving animals; now I don’t think that’s true and let me explain.

Total animal liberation means exactly that, and one of the ramifications or consequences of that statement would mean being against pet ownership. Now I seriously don’t think that anyone can be this stupid, I really really don’t, I don’t, and I don’t believe she or her group is against pet ownership or seeing eye dogs as this statement or quote is the only so called hardcore proof I’ve found of this, and it’s what many people present to other people in order to get them to really hate and spread negative thought about this animal rights orginization.

While Ingrid did say that, I don’t think she meant it; because sometimes people can say one thing but mean an entirely different thing, like what she has said, and she did say that.

But I think what she was trying to say as the plight of animal rights can sometimes and often does cloud your judgment and ability to think clearly, rationally, and intelligently, because of cruel disgusting acts that happen to animals that many of us are shocked and disgusted by. And these things that happen to animals make people very understandably upset and angry, and can make you say things that are not entirely thought through as a result of the feelings of anger and being upset because of what happens to animals.

It would be like me coming out and saying :)

“All people who eat meat are animal murdering bastards and can burn in hell”

Which is just not true and is a very foolish and stupid statement to make; because I used to be a meat eater, and I used to be the guy at the counter saying “$2.00 worth of a ham thanks mate”, and I used to be the guy who went through the drive through at McDonald's and happily ate a hamburger in the parking lot without at all thinking what cows go through in order to bring it to me.

And it wasn’t until I educated myself and slowly found out about being vegetarian and what cruel and horrific things happen to animals in slaughterhouses, and how a vegetarian lifestyle provides all the, if not more of the nutritional benefits than a diet consisting of meat and dairy products; that I saw the light and was forever changed.

So I’m what trying to say is; is that, the anger and emotion that is brought out in people because of the plight of animal abuse can make people say things when they really mean another, and I think this is what happened to Ingrid Newkirk with that statement.

“our goal is total animal liberation” that was the statement made.

I think what she meant by this; was, we want the total animal liberation of all the UNNECESSARY abuses and injustices of animals and the total freedom and liberation of all abused animals or animals in complete distress and I agree, I totally agree with her.

The comment was taken out of context and is used to spread an intense hate of the group.

I mean why on earth would you want to liberate animals that are happy and healthy and living great lives with love and care??? They don't want to do that, and their not that stupid enough to either; they want the 'total animal liberation' of all animals suffering and being abused worldwide and with that I agree with them. It's just that sometimes their methods and approach in wanting to achieve this fantastic, noble, and important aim are inappropriate and can turn many people off wanting to support their group or organization.

The comment has been and continues to be taken out of context by people. No person with half a brain would argue or disagree that owning pets hurts them, is detrimental to them, or not beneficial to them on the large scale; as there are, and will no doubt unfortunately continue to be acts of cruelty and abuse towards companion animals. But the great majority of people treat them right and aren’t cruel or abusive to them in any manner.

So I’m gonna give her a little credit even if no-one else will; because I don’t believe she’s that stupid, and I believe the comment has been taken out of context and I really believe this is what she was trying to say and meant.

There’s a video available on YouTube where she is making a speech, and talks about how her group does things that definitely stand out in order to get attention; and she mentioned that if you seriously talk to a cat, that it will not listen, won’t listen at all, as cat’s are not quite as loyal dogs. But she went on to say if you waggle your finger under or near the door, the cat because of it’s inquisitiveness will come over to have a look. So by saying that, she’s implying that a cat and a person would have to be in a household in order for that interaction to happen, and that interaction would be called pet ownership.

Here is the link to the video where she makes the statement regarding the cat :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rhZQQWAjtc&feature=PlayList&p=F4FDFFB48B2479DE&index=7

Now this is their official statement off their website :)

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), with more than 1.6 million members and supporters, is the largest animal rights organization in the world.

PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry.

We also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of beavers, birds and other "pests," and the abuse of backyard dogs. PETA works through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.

No not once in that statement did they mention that they’re against pet ownership, seeing eye dogs, honey from bees being extracted for human consumption or 'total animal liberation'.

So I believe the comment has been strongly taken out of context, and people are using it to spread hate about this group and turn people against it. In my previous PeTA article in this archive I’ve berated them a little bit for being against those things, but I don’t believe they are; and I don’t believe that they’re that stupid to be either.

Their mission statement clearly shows that they are focusing a lot of their attention on four areas where animals are getting abused and badly mistreated; and through their methods or approach whatever you like to call it, are trying to reduce and / or end these abuses.

So people who say PeTA are against pet ownership, seeing eyes dogs and honey from bees being used for food I think are wrong.

I don’t know about all of PeTA’s beliefs and as I’ve mentioned before some of their actions can be quite inappropriate. But certainly those three things I don’t believe that they’re against; and I believe people’s websites are using that statement as an attempt to spread hate and dislike of this group by all people.

In my opinion she didn’t mean that, and was referring to the total animal liberation of animals suffering and being completely and unnecessarily abused worldwide, and with that statement I strongly agree with her.

I’m sure if I spoke to her tomorrow and brought a lonely elderly person who wants a dog or a cat for companionship, or a blind person who needs a tremendous seeing eye dog to help him or her carry out their daily tasks. I’m sure if she has a brain or any ounce of intelligence she and the members of her group wouldn’t be against it, but if they are; then that's just insanity!

Just think about what I’ve written here; you don’t have to agree, but just think about it? because I think it’s right and I think it makes sense.

Thank You

Dogs And Cats Vegetarians Neveeer!!!

2007-01-15T22:20:00.001-08:00

Well here’s the thing; dogs and cats might be able to.

But before we go nuts here, let’s just calmly discuss why they possibly can and if it’s right for them to be.

If you’re a vegetarian / vegan and obviously you love animals and want to help them by living this lifestyle and reducing the amount of animals killed for food consumption and putting less demand on the world resources, ya know which is awesome and great, and the way to go.

But let’s say you have some pets, maybe two dogs and two cats, now as an obvious animal lover you obviously want to do what’s best for your pets don’t you? i.e provide them with their adequate nutritional benefits so they can be fit and healthy and all the rest of it. But at the same time you feel guilty because you are feeding them meat products which are derived from the animals you love and want to help save by believing in and living the vegetarian lifestyle.

It’s a bit of a catch 22; but can cats and dogs be vegetarians and still be super healthy and not fall to ill health or disease? we’ll lets find out.

It’s all about looking at things rationally and objectively and if cats and dogs need meat to be healthy, survive, and for optimum health then we have to provide it for them and it would be very cruel, selfish, and mean not to, but let’s just find out more about it first.

Well first of all dogs are omnivores and cats are carnivores, and what that means is; is that, dogs can eat both meat and plants and cats can only eat meat and very little plant.

Both animals have teeth that are readily apparent by nature for eating a diet that is largely comprised of animal tissue (meat) Cat’s are true carnivores and more so then a dog, a cat is more specific in it’s nutritional needs and while both species of animals can utilize plant material (dogs more than cats) cats were not intended to eat only plants such as cattle or sheep.

Dogs and cats have very different nutritional requirements from humans, and while a vegetarian / vegan diet is suitable in meeting all the nutritional health benefits and needs for a human; for cats and dogs it’s different.

The protein and calcium needs of a cat and dog are much higher than those of humans.

The nutrients dogs and cats need to live healthily are most easily provided through animal derived products (meat), some plants such as soy are high in protein but the amino acids within the protein are not as balanced as they are for most animal source ingredients. Dogs and cats also need a dietary source of vitamin B12 a substance not found in most plants, all animals need the vitamin B12 but plant eating animals such as cattle and sheep can make their own through the action of bacteria in their gastrointestinal tracts provided there are adequate amounts of the mineral cobalt in the diet which is found in plants. Cats also require an amino acid called taurine which is found in the muscles of animals, and taurine deficiency in cats can result in blindness and even death for them.

You see the argument of cats and dogs being vegetarians is full of many both for and against pros and cons etc; and another point or example in cats and dogs, is that they do not suffer from health problems such as high cholesterol or coronary artery disease as anywhere near the incidences humans do. So by reducing the intake of saturated fats and cholesterol by cutting meat out of their diet would not be at all beneficial or of any health benefit to them.

The big wild cats such as lions tigers etc; clearly have huge teeth, and both upper and lower jaws have been perfectly designed for killing and seizing prey. They are carnivorous and they eat meat and tear apart flesh for their survival. So to deny them meat in their diet is wrong and very cruel, as they were clearly meant to eat meat; and by definition a true carnivore is a living species that eats meat and only meat.

Humans are omnivores because we can and do eat both meat and plants. But we can survive without eating meat without consequence, I mean if humans couldn’t; vegetarians would be dying left right and centre, so we clearly can live and be healthy without eating meat.

Domestic cats and dogs as well as eating their staple diets of meat i.e fish beef chicken etc and also dried biscuits, can also eat many other plant based foods such as fruit and vegetables, pasta and noodles, grass etc. So while theatrically dogs and cats can survive on vegetarian / vegan diets. My biggest fear is that owners may not be self disciplined enough at all times everyday to provide them with the adequate nutritional requirements they need for optimum health.

Also if cats and dogs are given diets consisting of no meat or animal derived products and if they do not or refuse to eat them, then it is not at all beneficial to them; and even with the most self disciplined meal prepared and time and effort put fourth in making it, it still may not be enough to meet their nutritional requirements.

So in conclusion I think while they can be vegetarians / vegans; I think because it hasn’t been tested or carried out for a better term, on an absolute huge scale that is 100% accurate and factual, that it is not entirely appropriate at this time. Also you would have to be very self disciplined whilst putting them on this diet; by checking if the animals have lost or gained weight, if their coats are still healthy and shiny and if their stool is consistent in volume.

The decision to feed a cat or dog a diet consisting of non meat products is a very serious one, and one not to be taken lightly.

I think in my opinion you can certainly feed them vegetarian meals in-between their staple diet of meat and animal derived products, to see if they like it and can eat it without consequence. But make sure they’re still eating what they have been used to as well, to make sure all adequate nutritional value is provided without any doubt in your mind.

This article was just written as a basic introduction on the topic as I’m not a veterinary expert on cats and dogs.

But please if reading this, just read it, listen to the basic facts and my thoughts, but strongly make sure if you’re interested in this topic and want to delve into it further; to seek advice from qualified veterinary and nutritional experts on cat and dog health, as it’s very important to find out from professionals who absolutely know what they are talking about on the subject before heading down the vegetarian / vegan cat and dog path.

If you’re a vegetarian / vegan because of ethical concerns i.e animals and the environment; you have to, and can’t be selfish, and impose your beliefs on other living creatures that have been clearly designed to eat meat or more meat than plant material, and to make sure that you don’t comprise their health and ability to live without fear of illness by participating in actions that could be detrimental to them.

Can cats and dogs be vegetarians / vegans and live perfectly healthy lives without ill health or consequence? maybe. But we have to listen to the experts, find out all the facts, and absolutely make sure we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can be before making them participate in and live this lifestyle.

Thank You.

Cows So Peaceful And Gentle Yet Subjected To And The Victims Of Disturbing Abuses

2007-01-14T22:50:00.000-08:00

Cows certainly aren’t the Hale Berry of the animal world, and many times people who ridicule animal lovers / defenders will bring up a cow in their argument in an attempt to stifle what we’re saying, by making comments such as.

“why do you animal loving idiots only protect the beautiful animals such as whales dolphins and cute furry baby seals etc, and not the animals in slaughterhouses?”

Well here’s some news for you people; there are thousands of animal rights / welfare groups who love cows, fight to protect them, and advocate for better welfare whilst billions of them are being slaughtered annually to satisfy the worldwide demand for meat products.

We love ALL animals and to say we only protect cute animals is bogus, it’s like saying a human rights advocate only protects a sick cute young girl with pink bows in her hair and not a young girl who is the victim of oppression and tyranny in a nation torn apart by civil unrest.

Cows aren’t the most attractive animals, no! but they are beautiful, just in a different way and some of them can look very cute and rocking such as dairy cows for example.

Cows for many people are just seen as meat and dairy production machines; but like everything in life 'there is always more to it than meets they eye'; and the humble cow certainly embodies that statement.

Cows are referred to as the foster mothers of the human race because they produce most of the milk that people drink.

Around 9.5 million cows are milked in the United States alone on dairy farms. Cows are milked for an average of 3 - 4 years and in order to produce milk, a cow must half a calf or a heifer (a baby cow); so she is lactating and able to produce milk, exactly in the same way a woman will breast feed her child after giving birth. Cows are fed milk until they are 8-9 weeks old. A young female cow is called a heifer while a young male cow is called calf.

Cows are what’s known as ruminants, which means cud chewing animals. Ruminants meaning that they have a digestive system that allows them to utilize otherwise undigestible foods by repeatedly regurgitating and rechewing them as cud. Other animals which are also ruminates include camels and sheep. Cows eat primarly grass, but have also been known to eat pork, fish and soybeans in their diet as well.

Contrary to popular belief cows do not have four stomachs but rather one with four digestive compartments. These compartments are called and known as; the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomusum.

The rumen - holds up to 50 gallons of partially digested food, this is where cud comes from. Good bacteria in the rumen helps digest the cows food and provides protein for the cow.

The reticulum - is called the hardware stomach because if cows accidentally eat hardware (like a piece of fencing scrap), it will often lodge here causing no further damage.

The omasum - is sort of like a filter.

The abomusum - which is like our stomach.

Cows have 32 teeth, an average body temperature of 101 degrees fahrenheit and will drink about a bathtub full of water and eat 40 pounds of food a day. A cow on average weighs about 1400 pounds, has 207 bones in it’s body, and a female dairy cow known as hoilesten will produce around 200’000 glasses of milk in her lifetime; a male dairy cow is known as a bull and does not produce milk.

There are many breeds of cow, spread across groups of cow which are all utilized for human benefit.

The groups or classifications of cows include dairy cows, and beef cows or (beef cattle). Dairy cows are specifically raised and rendered to produce dairy products i.e milk, cheese and yogurt, while beef cows are specifically raised and rendered to provide meat products. Some of the breeds in the beef cattle category include: bovine cattle and hereford breeds, and in the dairy cattle category, breeds include: the holstein-friesian and brown swiss breeds.

Cows are probably the most docile, gentle, non-threatening, peaceful animals on the planet, and wouldn’t hurt a fly. A cow’s certainly not an adrenaline seeker like an incredible American bald eagle; but for them, they’re idea of great time, is just hanging out on a green sunny pasture, chewing the grass and sitting or standing peacefully while watching the world go by (sigh) what a great life.

Well at least it is for cows that are on the sunny green pasture and are not on industrialized commercial factory farms.

Billions of cows all around the world are slaughtered for their meat, and made to produce dairy products annually for the worldwide demand of human beings.

Cows both beef and dairy, to quickly satisfy the demand and maximized profit for meat products; are completely denied their natural behaviours, and are subjected to disturbing immoral and shameful acts of cruelty that even many people who consume meat find appalling and unacceptable.

Beef cattle are raised on what’s known as a feedlot, this feedlot is not their place of slaughter, but rather a place where they are fed and to use a simple but effective term ‘fattened’ up before being transported to their final destination at the slaughterhouse, where they will be killed and face their ultimate end. Before they were taken to the feedlot they were grazing on opening fields or pasture and once they have a attained a certain weight most notably around 650 or 700 pounds they are transferred to a high density feedlot and fed incredible amounts of grain such as soybean, corn, and sugar-beet (grain which could feed millions of starving people) and after they have reached their weight of slaughter they are then transferred to the slaughterhouse to be killed and turned into hamburgers.

These feedlots which are part of the collective term ‘factory farms’, produce high amounts of waste and methane emissions which pollute waterways and damage the environment.

Factory farms produce the highest output at the lowest cost, and as a result; animals are packed tightly, denied their basic rights and natural behaviours and are forced to endue suffering and abuse because of worldwide demand for meat products and maximized profit.

While I can’t go into the absolute greatest detail on what happens when cows reach the slaughterhouse; but when they do, they are routinely subjected to cruel confined and abusive conditions inside them.

Examples include stunning, which is the method used to kill a beef cow and is a mechanical blow to the head which is supposed to render them unconscious and unable to feel pain. But because of high output demand, it is estimated in factory farms that roughly 250 beef cattle get slaughtered by the hour and because of this high demand stunning is often inaccurate and as a result many cattle are still alive, kicking and struggling, when they have their throats slit to ensure their ultimate death.

Beef cattle at feedlots are pumped with growth hormones which simply make them grow faster and more quickly than what nature intended. They are fed unnatural diets of grains instead of their natural food of grass, and these feedlot rations can contribute to metabolic disorders.

They are also transported long distances from feedlots to the slaughterhouse; and are tightly packed into trucks and experience stress, fear, and other diseases. As a result of these actions, many fall ill and contribute to disease; and when a cow in the meat / slaughterhouse or beef industry is unwell or sick, but still alive and able to move and be utilized for meat products, it’s collectively known as a ‘downed’ animal which in essence means it’s sick and unwell, but still in good enough condition to be slaughtered into meat for human consumption.

Some of the abuses and practices in the slaughterhouse industry are very unsettling and disturbing and would upset many amounts of people who eat meat. In addition to the inhumane and cruel practices mentioned above; there are also many more which can be read in further detail on the www.factoryfarming.com website which I encourage people to visit.

Dairy cows specifically raised for dairy products that humans eat; such as milk, butter, cheese and yogurt; are so subjected to cruel and horrific abuses as well.

In order for mature or adult female dairy cows to produce milk; she has to be lactating and in order to lactate, she has to have young and a cows young is known as calves.

A Female dairy cow will have its calf (a baby cow) taken away from her just hours after birth so she can then produce milk for human consumption. She will never get to see her young, interact or love them, because they are ripped away virtually instantly from her; and that’s disgusting absolutely disgusting. A baby dairy cow usually suckles on its mothers milk for 6-12 months, and as it is ripped away from its mother at birth, it is fed a purposefully made formula as it cannot naturally get essential healthy nourishment from its mother’s milk; and this purposefully fed formula may even contain other animal parts and ground up feed.

If you’re a person reading this, who is a woman, and who has had kids; can you imagine that happening to you? never getting to see, interact, or love your child, it’s incomprehensible and unforgivable.

The calves after being separated from their mothers and put into narrow stalls which restrict physical movement and cause fear and stress to a newborn baby animal; are often chained around the neck to absolutely make sure they cannot move around that much. They are then put and confined in these cruel narrow crates so their muscle cannot fully develop and their meat becomes tender, which they’re killed for; which is known as the specialized meat called ‘veal’. They experience stress, fear, as a result of these actions and it’s heartbreaking and very cruel.

Which is why I strongly encourage everyone not to purchase; and to complain about veal being served at restaurants and other business who serve this specialty meat, derived from a baby cow.

Killing baby animals under any circumstances is unethical, immoral, and shouldn’t be tolerated by kind caring human beings. To deny dairy calves their absolute right to live freely and have movement is unacceptable; and to turn them into a specialized meat just because we can’t be bothered putting them on a sunny green pasture to graze, while their mother is being humanely harvested for milk; and afterward then able to interact and spent time with him or her. Is unforgivable, which is why I strongly encourage everyone not to support the veal industry.

Dairy cows are often incredibly overworked and are made to produce far more milk then nature intended them to; as demand for profit, forces the slaughterhouse or meat industry to force animals into un-natural and unjust environments and behaviours to appease this demand. To keep pace, the cow's natural food of grass and herbs is supplemented with high-protein concentrated feeds based on grains, soya and fishmeal, which can result in increased gut and foot problems.

There are many more abuses of these gentle, non-threatening, peaceful animals; which are quite disturbing and disgusting, and if people could see them in person would be appalled by.

But here are some very cool facts about cows, that many people just aren’t aware of and are interesting fascinating and unique :)

*The Watusi breed of cattle like to sleep in tight-knit groups called a glum.

*The lighter under-color seen on some cows is said to act as a natural camouflage by highlighting the shadow underneath the cow, which thereby renders the cow more two-dimensional and harder for a predator to see.

*You can guess the age of a cow that has horns by counting the number of rings on the horns.

*A 1000 pound cow produces an average 10 tonnes of manure every year!

*A cow can live 25 years.

*A maverick is a cow that escaped getting branded.

*Cows have almost total 360-degree panoramic vision.

*Old cows in India have their own nursing homes.

*A cow can detect odors up to five miles away.

*An average cow with two milkings produces about ten gallons of milk.

*A cow stands up and sits down about 14 times a day.

*Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States started off as a cow pasture.

*Boston was actually laid out by cow paths.

*A cow can live 25 years.

*It takes about 1.5 gallons of milk to make one gallon of ice cream.

*Per day, a cow spends six hours eating and eight hours chewing cud.

*Mooing at a mother and her calf is very upsetting to the animals.

*Cows can see color.

*Cows in Wisconsin outnumber people two to one.

*Cows are music lovers! they have been known to give up to 35% more milk when listening to music by Elvis Presley, great one.

*The Sanskrit word for "war" means "desire for more cows".

The human race can survive without meat without a shadow of a doubt; it’s just that it becomes habit for so many people, and when something becomes habit, it’s just normal and we don’t even think what practices and the consequences of those practices were contributing to; as we just do it. Do it, do it, do it, and don’t even think about it for one second, whether it's right or wrong moral or immoral, we just do it because we get into habit and it's what we know and all we know.

Educating people about what happens on factory farms is very important; as people should and need to know where the meat they consume is coming from, and how factory farms virtually just see animals and the natural world as ‘commodities’ to be exploited for profit, rather than important structures of nature and the environment.

As I’ve mentioned before I can’t make or force anybody to become vegetarian or vegan. All I can do; is to educate you, and show you where the meat you consume daily comes from and how it's produced; and If you decide to take further action by becoming a vegetarian / vegan, or fight for better welfare of farm animals because of this insight I have provided, that’s fantastic and I commend you greatly.

But as the old saying goes “the truth hurts” and the truth is; is that, the consumption of meat and the demand for maximized profit of meat products causes irreversible damage to the environment and unnecessary and cruel, horrific, suffering to animals who are so misunderstood and not thought of or sympathized towards; because some of them don’t look as cute as a baby seal, or another heartwarming animal.

Cows or cattle have feelings, and many unique and fascinating traits; and while they may not be as smart or complex as dolphins or dogs. The one thing they are is an animal, and an animal that deserves to be treated with dignity compassion and respect.

Cows just like you and me have a desire for pleasure, and to love their families and be with them; and I hope after reading this article that you’re at least a little more sympathetic towards them and their plight, and hopefully understand why we animal lovers fight to defend, and protect them.

Thank You.

Lightning Incredible But Dangerous

2007-01-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

Planet earth, animals and the environment; simply put, is just incredible, absolutely incredible.

All the sights, sounds, feelings and sensations of mother earth affect all of us, and make us feel an array of emotions; happy, sad, excited and many more. For nature is mother earth’s Hollywood; and it’s real not make believe, and it’s far more entertaining and fulfilling than any story about a fictional character on the giant screen.

One of the things in mother nature that excites us, scares us, makes us look at with sheer amazement and feel alive, is lightning.

You all know what lightning is, and you’ve all seen it; lightning is those big thunder bolts that come charging down from the clouds and strike mother earth with a fearless vengeance. It’s simply a form of an electrical discharge between clouds or between a cloud and the ground.

Lightning appears as a jagged streak or a flash in the sky; thunder which is the sound associated with lightning strikes and almost always accompanies them, is the sound waves produced by the explosive heating of the air in the lighting channel during the return.

Lighting is beautiful to watch in safety but has caused much damage to property and has been responsible for the death of human beings. People who have been struck by lighting and survived, often suffer long term serious health implications as a result.

It's personally one of my favourite things in life, and along with seeing baby harp seals on the ice makes me incredibly happy and peaceful inside.

Lets have a look at some short basic facts about lightning :)

Lightning is the most dangerous and frequently encountered weather hazard people experience each year.

Lightning affects all regions of the world; and in the United States of America the areas or regions of Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Colorado have the most lightning deaths and injuries.

Lightning is the number-one cause of storm-related deaths.

Damage costs from lightning are estimated at $4-5 billion each year in the United States alone.

Around the earth there are 100 lightning strikes per second, or 8,640,00 times a day.

What is commonly referred to as heat lightning, is actually lightning too far away to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction.

There are approximately 100,000 thunderstorms in the United States each year.

The temperature of a typical lightning bolt is hotter than the surface of the Sun; and their are many more facts about this incredible and beautiful, but dangerous spectacle of nature.

Another interesting fact and remarkable and often miraculous occurrence, is lighting striking people and those people living to tell the tale.

One would think that a huge charge of electricity with a bolt that strikes the earth being hotter the sun would kill a person instantly; and you would be right for thinking this. But many people have been struck by lightning and have tragically died, but many people have also been struck by lightning and have miraculously survived.

Lighting strikes men four times as much then it does women; the shock from a lightning strike results in deep burns at point of contact and are most commonly on the head neck and shoulders. Victims of lightning strikes may be injured from falling down or being thrown backwards as a result of the strike. The leading cause of immediate death from lightning strikes is either cardiac or cardiopulmonary arrest.

Experts say that 70% of lightning strike survivors or people struck by lightning, experience residual effects which most commonly affect the brain (neuropsychiatric, vision and hearing) these effects can develop slowly and only becoming apparent much later; weeks or months after the victim has been struck.

Some non fatal symptoms of lightning striking people include neurologic / psychiatric injuries such as :)

*Loss of consciousness / Coma

*Amnesia / Anxiety / Confusion /Aphasia / Seizures

*Electroencephalographic abnormalities

*Brain / Cerebellum damages

*Numbness / Weakness in limbs / Partial or complete (but temporary) paralysis

*Neuropathy / Pain syndromes

*Spinal cord injury / Parkinsonism

*Sleep and memory disorders / Concentration disturbances / Irritability / Depression / Various other disturbances such as headaches,

*Tiring easily, lightning storm phobia, etc.

*Post traumatic stress disorder

Many victims of lightning strikes had been walking in open fields such as a golf course or swimming before they were struck. Lighting striking people on golf courses is a common occurrence as many people when they are struck would have been in the middle of the fairway approaching or taking a shot and could not have reached a house or any other fully enclosed substantially constructed building in time to avoid being hit.

Remember NO place outside is safe near a thunderstorm.

The state of Florida in the United States of America is the number one area in the country where lightning cause the most casualties injuries or deaths, and kills more people than all other weather sources combined.

To avoid being struck by lightning, you should seek shelter when you hear even the faintest thunder. Some of the best places to take refuge are enclosed buildings, or cars and buses (but don't touch the metal!). In case there are no safe spaces nearby, bend into a crouching position until there is a break in the storm.

Standing in an open filed such as a golf course by a tall and large tree or a telephone booth with no sound structure around or nearby, or places like gazebos or porches make very unsafe and poor points of refuge to avoid being the victim of a lightning strike; as these places make you vulnerable to secondary discharges coming off those objects.

The 30 / 30 rule offers the best the lightning safety guidance for the general public. When you see lightning calmly count the amount of time elapsed until you next hear thunder, if that is 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is close enough to be dangerous. So find adequate protection and shelter from the storm and wait at least 30 minutes before venturing back outside. Lighting like all things in mother nature is eternally unpredictable, so for your safety and the safety of others, please advocate in these actions.

Some common misconception and myths about lightning include :)

Now this misconception is told and is thrown around quite a bit by people, and unless you know the truth, don’t push forward this fact as it can endanger human lives.

*The rubber tires on my car protect and insulate me from lightning strikes.

It is the conductive metal framing of your car that protects you from lightning NOT the rubber tires. If lightning were to strike your car, the electric current would most likely travel along the outside of your vehicle and arc to the ground. There is no way of 100% telling what places or points of your car, dangerous electrical currents generated by lightning strikes can pass through.

They could go through electrical wires, the steering wheel or the car’s antenna amongst other things. If you have a sound system, televisions or dvd players moulded and fitted to your car, it’s even more dangerous. During a lightning storm it is your safest bet to stay indoors in your home, a house any other commercial sound construction away from the windows.

But if given no better alternative your car is the next safest place.

Here are some pictures of a van that was damaged by lightning striking it.

http://www.prazen.com/cori/van.html

Another myth is that people think many victims of lightning strike are electrified and full of electrical current and if you touch them you are susceptible to electrical shock.

You cannot be electrocuted by somebody who has been struck because the human body does not store electric current like a rechargeable battery or capacitor.

A person who is struck by lightning needs your absolute immediate help; so check if the victim has a pulse and is still breathing, and administer CPR until professional medical help arrives which you should and must immediately call for.

*Lighting never strikes the same place twice.

Lightning does and will strike the same exact place more than once.

Lighting loves very tall objects and these tall objects do not have to be conductive in order to get struck by a huge electrical charge in the form of a lightning bolt. Very tall objects, such as skyscrapers and radio towers are more likely to be struck because those objects provide a bigger bridge between the charge separation (the ground and the oppositely charge cloud above). In other words, the higher in the air an object is to lightning the more chance it has of being continually struck.

The Empire State Building in New York City gets struck about 20-25 times a year and the shuttle launch pad to blast rockets into outer space, gets hits time and time again and more than once in the same storm; So no lightning does not strike in the same place only once.

Lighting truly is a fascinating sky-show of mother nature, it’s her fireworks and they’re free for all to enjoy.

Beautiful, exciting, striking, colours, patterns, sounds and sights make up lightning and we gaze and marvel at it in childlike enthusiasm and excitement. But we have to respect this occurrence of nature and not interfere with, try to dominate, or defeat it, because we won’t.

Lighting has claimed many human lives and no doubt will claim lot’s more, as more commercial structure gets built i.e. houses buildings etc; and the chances of implications of lighting strikes such as debree injuring victims or trees damaging property and causing great financial damage become a lot more high risk and more likely.

It’s important individuals head the warnings, listen to the experts, and if in an area with lighting strikes; follow the advice of people who know what they’re talking about in order to protect yourself and the ones you love and care about from falling victim to this beautiful but powerful and deadly miracle of nature.

All things in mother nature have to be respected, but lightning is one thing that if not treated with this often neglected and unthought-of attitude may hurt or take away someone you care deeply about.

Enjoy, marvel, get excited but most importantly respect nature; because mother nature has no mercy and doesn’t stop or change her ways for anybody; and by treating her with a respectful attitude she’ll do the same thing back, as no-one wants their precious life and the lives of the ones they love and care about taken away by her.

Thank You

‘Lolita’ A Slave To Entertainment

2007-01-10T19:41:00.001-08:00


This is a video documentary about dolphins in captivity and how the beautiful orca Lolita is one of them.

Whales The Lords Of The Sea

2007-01-10T00:09:00.000-08:00

Although I love virtually every single animal on the planet, and as a matter of fact, I do actually; well maybe not every single one, rats or slugs perhaps and a couple of other ugly nasty ones; and although the humble and peaceful whale is not my favourite animal, that honour belongs to the magnificent and greatest animal of ALL TIME, the harp seal.

The whale is probably my second favourite animal of all time, although not officially.

Ok what I’m trying to say is; is that I just absolutely love this ocean dwelling animal. I love it, I love it, I love it, woooo, it’s just so great man, man it’s so awesome. I can’t begin to tell you just how cool, awesome, intelligent, beautiful, noble, important, and graceful and any other uplifting positive word in all the dictionaries of the world; that this incredible gentle giant and keeper of the ocean and ultimate lord of the sea is. For without this amazing animal, we would have a very sad ocean and the ocean would lose one of its greatest and most important residents.

Don't you think it’s pretty obvious I love this animal? CRIKEY!!! WOO! HOO! HOO! HOO! whales forever.

Let’s delve into the whale shall we, yes it’s about time I shut up and write a whale article (laughs).

Ok whales are ocean dwelling animals (well duh) don’t worry I know you’re all thinking it.

There are many species of whale including the blue whale which is the largest animal anywhere in the world, their is the sperm whale which has the largest brain in the entire animal kingdom, there is the humpback whale which is probably the most popular and most well known whale, which is known as the ‘singing whale’ due to it’s haunting and beautiful cries under the ocean floor, there is also the killer whale, but the killer whale is NOT a whale, contrary to popular belief by many people, it is a dolphin and the world’s largest one, unfortunately many people think it’s a whale and think it belongs to the whale family because of it’s large size and appearance, but a killer whale is indeed a dolphin, but we’ll just include them in here as a lot of people know them as killer whales and do not think and realize that they are indeed dolphins, another whale species is the right whale which does not sink when it’s killed and will float, another species is also the fin whale species, other species also include minke whales (currently slaughtered by the Japanese Norway and Iceland) and also gray whale populations.

Both the humpback and fin whales are endangered, although not critically and need to be protected from unnecessary hunting which could, if it continues, and is not intervened and stopped by direct action groups such as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society could lead to their possible extinction and if that happened, I’ll be very mad and extremely upset.

The blue whale is critically endangered and is around in the oceans but is rarely seen, and needs to be absolutely protected from any threat toward it, which could include pollution, ship noise or hunting and could render it extinct and sadly no longer here. It is estimated that there is only 5-10'000 of these large beautiful gentle whales left in the oceans of the world.

All whales including killer whales range anywhere in length in length from 18 – 50 feet and their weight can be anywhere from 5 tonnes to an absolute whopping 200 tonnes, which is of course a huge gigantic weight that only the blue whale could reach. To give you an idea of just how big the blue whale is; its heart is the size of a small car.

All whales are part of the 'cetacean' order of marine mammals which also include dolphins and porpoises. They all share the very important characteristic of having a blowhole at the top of their heads to breathe oxygen through as they are not fish and do not have gills, hence the reason you see them above the surface of the oceans all over the world.

Another amazing fact that many people aren’t aware of, is that humpback whales are targeted by predators which are the dolphin species the ‘killer whale’. Humpback whales have been seen with scars on their bodies from orca attacks, and orcas have also been known to attack badly injured whales or small very young whale calves.

All whales can live a great amount of years in the wild, with killer whales being known to live up to 80 or 90 years in the wild and sperm whales 60 – 70 years. In captivity killer whales in-particular have their lives dramatically shortened and many die, as no natural feel and flow of the environment of the ocean is stimulating them, and many of their dorsal fins flop over in captivity due to the lack of this much needed and vital stimulation not being there, as a result of being stuck in a very small tank when they need miles of ocean to swim and the ultimate vastness of it to play hunt and eat and to provide this stimulation for their healthy existence.

Now it’s no secret why killer whales have been dubbed their nickname ‘killer whales’; for they are amazing and are very deserving of this nickname.

Killer whales collectively known as orcas are a cetacean species of marine mammal which includes dolphins and whales. Orcas are most noted for their incredible ability to hunt a baby seal close to shore, which are reluctant to head into the ocean as they know the killer whales are there lying in wait, but have to learn to swim. When a killer whale rides a wave in to catch and kill a baby seal, many times the seal is still alive and the killer whales will play and toy with it before eventually killing it. I absolutely adore seals and when I see this, although I realize it’s nature and the way of things, it’s still very difficult for me to watch as nature can be beautiful but brutal at the same time; but that’s nature folks, you cant interfere with the natural order of things in the animal kingdom.

Killer whales in addition to eating salmon, seals, other whales, sea birds, and even dolphins; have also been witnessed hunting and killing swimming deer and moose. Man starting to get the picture why it’s been dubbed a killer whale even thought it’s not.

Killer whales are highly social, highly intelligent animals and are made to look very stupid and dumb inside aquariums where they are unfortunately flying through hoops instead of being out in the wild and wilderness of the sea where they belong, and should be doing the things that come natural to them and the things they were put here and born to do, like the things mentioned above. In many cases and due to an ultimate lack of stimulation of being housed in an un-natural environment such as a marine park, orcas or 'killer whales' dorsal fins will flop over or droop as a result. This ever strengthens and solidifies the position that aquariums are unhealthy and not at all in thier best interests, and that re-release of them back into the wild should definitely be attempted.

Many whales are ‘baleen’ whales; a baleen for anyone who may be unfamiliar with this term, simply put, is just a filtering device very similar in looks to a household comb you brush through your hair. It’s located in their upper jaw and as baleen whales when they are feeding on large schools of krill they will take in a lot of water and this baleen has been specially designed to push the great amount of water out coming into it’s mouth and to trap and hold the krill, and plankton so they can eat it and are what they need to survive.

A sperm whale is a toothed whale and has rows and sets of teeth to chomp on and rip apart squid and octopus that it eats to live. Sperm whales are fantastic and hold many characteristics and traits that separate them apart from other whales. Some of those characteristics include, having the largest brain of any animal on the planet ocean or land dwelling, being able to dive to depths of 2000 meters or 7000 feet, and are the largest predator to ever have lived on earth.

The most common, well known and most popular of all the great whales is the humpback whale. It is a baleen whale ranging in length from 50 -60 feet and weighs on average 36 -40 tonnes. Abundant in seas all over the world, humpbacks are popular attractions for whale watchers who watch and observe them on migrating routes to breeding grounds, and for their ability to (breech) which is a whale jumping out the water. Humpback whales aren’t as social as the killer whale for example, and many of them only join other groups for feeding and breeding purposes. They give birth every 2-3 years to their young calves which when born range in length from 10 -15 feet and feed on their mother’s milk for a year before being weaned. Humpback whales are also noted for their beautiful and haunting cries known collectively as ‘whale song’; which echo the ocean floor during mating seasons and can last for up to 20 minutes and be heard over 20 miles away. Unfortunately and sadly they are currently targeted by illegal commercial whaling operations.

Minke whales are the main target of commercial whaling operations worldwide with as many as 1500 – 2000 being illegally killed and caught annually. Minke whales are found in all oceans of the world and are the smallest of all the baleen whales, they’re highly inquisitive, gentle marine mammals and can swim very fast at speeds of up to 20 km an hour. Minke whales will feed on whatever food source is most abundant in the area, which could include fish, krill and plankton populations.

Whales have been the victims of whaling operations over centuries and while the reasons behind and for the whaling industry are complex and quite involved; and are something I don’t feel like delving into, all you really need to know is that commercial whaling operations have no place in the 21st century and the modern world are unnecessary and whaling nations such as Japan and Norway are killing them for their meat which will end up in sushi bars, and their fat and blubber which may be turned into cosmetics. Whale killing nations attempt to justify their cruel, wasteful and unnecessary actions through the guise of scientific research, but anyone with half a brain knows that’s just not true, and that they are killing them for their meat, blubber and fat which is turned into consumable products.

A part of the ocean for centuries; whales are the keepers of the ocean, the great leviathans, the gentle giants, the complex social marine mammals, and without them the ocean would be so sad and devastating. For they enthrall millions of people worldwide only through bestowing the magical gifts god has graced upon them for us to gaze and get incredibly enthusiastic and excited at.

It’s up to us to love and protect them for all the future generations to enjoy. Predominately under thereat from unnecessary and illegal hunting, whales also face threats from other accelerated human disturbances, including ship noise which interferes with their complicated and complex brain patterns and can cause them to exhibit strange behaviour and beach themselves, they are also in danger from pollution and poisoning of the oceans, which poison and threaten the fish and other species they need for survival, and an ignorant altitude by some people (particularly the whale hunters) that they will always be bountiful plentiful and forever abundant in the oceans of this incredible and amazing planet we all share with them.

Whales have and will continue to hold a special place in my heart, for they have spread the grace of god below and above the ocean floor for centuries.

They're intelligence, beauty, power, grace and beautiful haunting cries that echo the ocean floor daily are a routine part of the incredible myriad of life in the magical ocean of this magical planet of ours.

Social, complex, gentle giants of the sea; whales are the keepers of the ocean, the lords of the sea and will be here to spread their magic across the earth for many centuries more.

For a more detailed history of whales and commercial whaling operations, and to find out how you can help stop the tragedy of them from happening.

Please visit www.seashepherd.org and read many articles in the news releases and commentary archives.

Thank You

Chickens There’s More To This Animal Than Just Chicken Wings And Sauce

2007-01-09T23:30:00.000-08:00

As recently as 10 months ago, at the time of this article being written. If somebody mentioned the word ‘chicken’ to me, the only thing that came into my head were the following words or terms and those were.

Chicken drumsticks, chicken wings, roast chicken, bbq chicken, glazed chicken, chicken roll, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwich and all the other seemingly endless products this peaceful chicken was slaughtered for and was turned into for the benefit of humans.

In life we so often unappreciate and not think of things, because we’re ignorant or uneducated about them; whether this is done by choice or not, it’s not until we educate ourselves about things and further delve into the facts and figures of those things, that we realize just how amazing beautiful and incredible some of these things in life really are.

Now I’m gonna be honest here; the chicken is not an attractive animal, it’s not let face it. It’s not as beautiful majestic or spell-bounding as whale or dolphin in the vastness of the oceans, or as exciting as the big wild cats roaming and running across the plains of the African continent. But the one thing the chicken is; is VERY misunderstood, unappreciated and just not thought of by huge amounts of people, who when presented with the word ‘chicken’ can only think of the food products mentioned above.

Chickens have so many incredible and amazing traits and are thought of stupid unintelligent as just’ product’ by many human beings. But as mentioned in the post title there’s more to the chicken then just chicken wings and sauce.

Let’s delve into the humble peaceful non threatening animal that is the chicken and find out about it some more shall we.

Did you know a chicken is a bird? (pretty obvious Smudge next jeeez) did you also know that there are over 150 varieties of domestic chickens and that they were domesticated about 8000 years ago.

Did you know some people have a fear of chickens and the name for having this mental condition is called alektorophobia?

Male chickens are known as roosters and female chickens are known as hens. While chickens can get airborne and fly, they are not capable of sustained flight. Generally they do not stray too far especially domestic chickens who more often than not will only fly to flee a perceived danger. Chickens live together as a flock and establish a ‘pecking order’ or rank for another word. Individual chickens will dominate others for priority access to food and nesting locations.

A male chicken called a rooster will take 18 – 20 breathes a minute, with a hen a female chicken taking 30 – 35. Chickens can lay all different colours of eggs from white to brown green to pink and even blue.

An egg starts growing into a chick (a baby chicken) when it reaches a temperature of 86 degrees fare height. And it takes around 20 – 21 days to hatch.

Chickens as previously mentioned are often thought of as unkindly or just plain dumb and stupid animals, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Billions of chickens worldwide are confined to ‘factory farms’ the collective term for the tightly packed roundup for lack of a better word, and housing of animals, before they are slaughtered and animal products are derived from them such as milk eggs and cheese. But if chickens are allowed to enjoy fresh air sunshine and companionship, they are absolutely exceptional animals; and believe it or not have even been compared to the loyal, intelligent and man’s best friend the dog, because of the adoration of their parents and enjoyment of affection.

Chickens have many similarities to humans; they watch television and enjoy it, they can see the same range of colours, and just as the majority of humans are right handed the majority of chickens are right footed. Many chickens take pleasure in listening to music and in particularly classical music, and especially the faster symphonies. (WOW! Beethoven’s biggest fan a chicken! bet you never thought that was possible hehe). Chickens are now starting to look like much more than just a hot chicken roll now aren’t they? infact they’re mega cool animals.

Chickens are highly social and due to their highly social nature they can bond with other animals such as dogs or pigs. If you went to a farm (a nice one) and not a factory farm, and interacted with a chicken and it decides it likes you; you can expect it to jump up in your lap for a rub. They enjoy being patted and will close their eyes in pleasure as a result, infact if a chicken could purr like a magnificent cat does, they would.

Chickens as well as being social animals are very protective of their families such as the cetacean species of marine mammal the dolphin is. When a hen is laying and incubating her eggs, they will often turn off or stop the incubation and cluck to their babies with the chicks responding with chirps back to their mother. When baby chickens known as ‘chicks’ are born, the mother hen will just like a dolphin spent a great deal of time teaching them important lessons on how to be a chicken; such as eating drinking and protecting themselves against predators. Chickens are very loving of their families and will fight to protect them from harm and like humans will mourn the loss of a loved one.

Roosters also have a great trait that is beneficial to many human beings including myself (laughs) and that’s that they are a very reliable alarm clock. Ya know how you buy that cheap and nasty Panasonic alarm clock from K-Mart and it doesn’t work and you end up throwing it away in frustration. Well a rooster will never let you down, if you have one in your backgarden it will welcome each day with loud crows assuring you and also the humble farmers on kind farms around the world are up, ready, and roaring to go for the busy and full of hard work day ahead.

Chickens are currently slaughtered by the billions to meet or satisfy the demand for the worldwide consumption of meat products. and are also massed factory farmed for their eggs.

Often subjected to cruel and horrific treatments insides slaughterhouses; many chickens are fed growth hormones instead of healthy grains and proteins, this forces the chicken to grow twice as fast as it normally would and as a result of this action, they’re small legs buckle under the pressure and they become crippled.

They also have their sensitive beaks cut off known as ‘de-beaking’ to prevent further pecking, cannibalism and disease inside a stressed bird population such as a factory farm; where chickens are tightly packed, so tightly packed, that they cannot even turn around in cages and are denied all their natural behaviours.

The misunderstood and awesome chicken has been subjected to horrific acts of cruelty inside slaughterhouses. Such as being run over with forklifts, having their legs deliberately broken off and more; and while the things I’ve mentioned above are extreme and don’t happen every day. It still doesn’t change the fact that they did happen, and point out just how sick disgusting and cruel these uncompassionate actions were toward these great misunderstood creatures.

Please visit the factory farm website link provided on this website for more information of the cruelty these gentle misunderstood animal often suffer from.

So next time you grab that chicken drumstick, head to the fast food joint for a chicken burger or have a desire to eat those chicken wings; try to think of this article and realize that there’s more to this intelligent complex and very very much misunderstood creature than just those things, and that chickens are cool awesome, and if just given a chance people just might see them for what they truly are and might even like them.

More to the chicken than just chicken wings and sauce, after you reading this article I think so.

Sharks The Kings Of The Sea

2007-01-09T18:38:00.000-08:00

The word shark strikes fear into the heart of almost any man and conjures up images of razor sharp teeth ripping human flesh apart and tearing limbs off, they're teeth are razor sharp and the power in their strike is incredible.

But the reality is; is that more people will die from lightning striking them on the golf course then from a shark attack.

Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster film Jaws certainly didn't help in portraying the shark as a non rouge non man eating animal, sharks are NOT rouge animals and often mistake humans for seals or sea lions close to the shore.

Misunderstood and unfortunately feared by many amounts of people, the shark is one very intelligent fish an evolutionary hunter and sparks avid fascination amongst children and adults alike.

The shark sure is one amazing and incredible creature, sharks have been around on planet earth even before the terrible lizards the great dinosaurs roamed and stamped their tremendous feet in the earth for paleontologists to uncover millions of years later. Sharks have been around for 400 million years if not more.

There are so many fascinating facts and things to know about these absolutely incredible ocean dwelling fish, let’s have a look at some :)

Great white sharks grow at about 10 inches per year and at maturity can reach 12 – 14 feet in length.

A sharks razor sharp teeth are constantly being replaced and formed in its jaw, with teeth being replaced every 7-8 days.

Some species of sharks can shed as many 30’000 teeth in their lifetime.

The average lifespan of a shark is 25 years but some can and have been documented to live for an incredible 100 years.

More people are killed each year by dogs, pigs, and deer and by lightning striking them on the golf course than by shark attacks.

Sharks can generate about six and half tonnes per square inch of biting force.

Sharks also have no bones and their skeleton is made up of cartilage and some species of sharks can swim fast, very fast up to 60kmph.

And that’s just scratching the surface of this absolutely incredible marine mammal and the incredible traits and characteristics it posesses.

There are more then 340 known species of sharks in the world’s oceans.

These include the world’s largest shark and the world’s largest fish the whale shark, the hammerhead shark which derives it’s common name as it’s head is similar in looks to the common handyman tool the ‘hammer’ with two ends protruding atop the end of a wooden or felt handle, there is also the tiger shark which is more aggressive than the great white shark, there is also the thresher shark species, and the most famous, most celebrated, most well known, and sadly most feared and misunderstood; and that’s the ultimate king of the ocean and one of the ocean’s greatest creatures, that sparks a unique childlike fascination with adults and the upmost enthusiasm, marvel and wonder with almost everyone, and that‘s the tremendous, the wonderful and the great (pardon the pun) great white shark (laughs).

A shark is a fish and has gills to extract life giving oxygen from water; sharks can range anywhere in length from 19 – 20cm and 15 meters in length or 50 feet, with the longest length shark of course being the largest one, which is the whale shark species. Sharks are some of the deepest divers in the ocean, with the portuguese shark capable of diving to lengths of over 2750 meters or 9000 feet; this is over one and a half miles underwater which is absolutely amazing for any ocean creature.

Contrary to popular belief, the great white shark is not the most dangerous shark and it’s; usually the smaller species of sharks that are the most aggressive and most dangerous. The oceanic white tipped sharks are the most fearless predators; environmentalist and famous animal lover Jacques-Yves Cousteau says that it is: "the only species of shark that is never frightened by the approach of a diver, and they are the most dangerous of all sharks."

The biggest meat eating or carnivorous shark, is the great white shark, which can grow up to lengths of 6.5 meters long or 21 feet and have been documented but not officially verified to even reach lengths of 11.3 meters or 37 feet, quite large and long in anyone’s language.

Sharks are also responsible for some of the longest migration patterns of any marine mammal species, with blue sharks being known to migrate from 2000 – 3000km or 1200- 1700 miles.

While we can’t analyze all the sharks species as with many species of animal there are just simply to many to go all out and in great depth; But I’ll’ explain some basic and interesting facts about the very well known ones, and the ones that spark the most fascination and excitement amongst human beings.

The great white shark is without a doubt the world’s most well known most loved (or perhaps not) most famous and celebrated shark species. Forever immortalized by the 1975 cult film, Jaws; inspired by Peter Benchley’s original novel of the same name. The great white shark has unfortunately and forever been marred as man eating killing machine, which is just not true at all.

The great white shark is a solitary predator ranging in length from 21 – 26 feet or 6- 8 meters; they have serrated triangular teeth which are virtually symmetrical. The great white shark preys upon, and eats a variety of fish species and marine mammals, including salmon, mackerel, tuna and seals (oh no) my favourite animal, no but I’ll forgive this amazing animal. They have also been known to eat other sharks, sea turtles and sea birds; and they have also been known to feed on blubber from dead whale carcasses too.

The great white shark inhabits coastal and offshore waters of the continental shelf, and sometimes will wander into bays and harbours; they also inhabit waters around oceanic islands.

Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish in the ocean and are THE top predators of the sea; sharks are extremely skilled evolutionary hunters and predators. When they are hunting seals, they will methodically stalk them, when a great white shark sees a seal at the surface of the water they will often position themselves underneath the seal, they then swim upward at a very fast speed and will come bursting out the water, and when marine mammals jump out the water it’s known collectively as ‘breaching’ which means jumping out of the water. When they reach the surface they will grab the seal on their way up, have it held in their giant mouths at the apex or highest point of their jump, and will fall back into the ocean with the seal still in its mouth and dead, as their razor sharp serrated teeth have instantly killed and ripped it apart.

Great whites and sharks in general do not chew their food like many other land dwelling g animals do; they rip off chunks of meat and swallow them whole, after eating a seal or sea lion for dinner or lunch, a great white shark can last up two one or two months without needing another big meal.

Great white sharks are forced to fend for themselves from the very beginning; unlike many mothers who love and protect their young and stay with them for weeks months or years, a great white shark when it’s born, immediately swims away from its mother; a great white shark when it’s born is about 5 feet or about 1.5 metes in length.

Probably the second most well known shark is the tiger shark species, tiger sharks; now if your gonna be afraid of any shark, the tiger shark is the one to be afraid of. If your a diver or plan to go diving where shark populations are abundant in the area; if you do see a tiger shark try not to panic, keep it in your immediate range or view, and calmly exit the water as they are extremely dangerous, can and have attacked humans. Generally tiger sharks are sluggish but they can move quite quickly when feeding, their incredible jaw strength and biting pressure allow them to cut the bodies of large sea turtles as well as seals, sea lions and cetacean species of marine mammal.

On of the true scavenges and garbage cleaners of the ocean, tiger sharks have been known to eat cattle, pigs, donkey, sheep and even humans that have fallen overboard or been lost at sea. Tiger sharks can live for an average of 12 years maybe little more, and are found in tropical waters all over the world. They’re extremely dangerous, very rarely seen and are a skilled and very fierce predator of shark.

Another species of shark includes the whale shark; the whale shark is the world’s largest living fish, it’s massive and can reach lengths in excess of over 14 meters; the whale shark feeds on many fish populations but mainly crustacean and plankton species. The whale shark is completely and totally harmless, and you can dive with this incredible gentle non threatening marine mammal with absolutely no fear at all.

Some common myths and misconceptions about sharks include that they’re rouge animals and will purposefully hunt humans who enter the water and kill and eat them. This simply isn’t true; of more than the 350 shark species that call the ocean their home, about 80% are unable to hurt people or rarely encounter them.

Another common misconception is that all sharks have to constantly swim to stay alive; and while this is true for most species of shark, some sharks however can respire by pumping water over their gills by opening and closing their mouths while at rest on the ocean floor.

One more myth is that great white sharks are a common and abundant species found in or off most beaches visited, inhabited and recreationally enjoyed by humans. Great whites are relatively uncommon large predators that prefer cooler waters, it’s very rare that they come close to shore and will attack humans. More people will get killed and die in car accidents and other unfortunate mishaps in the workplace etc, then by having a dip in the ocean on a hot afternoon.

Sharks are under threat now more than ever from the absolute devastation and cruelty of shark fining to illegal fishing by unwanted pirates. Shark fining is the removal of a sharks fin while it’s alive; it’s done by very cruelty catching them with long-lines and other devastating fishing devices or practices, taking them aboard pirates ships, slicing the beautiful sharks fin off while it’s still alive, thrashing about and moving and able to feel pain; and then as there is absolutely no other use for it, to these shark killers and murders of nature. They then throw the still alive magnificent creature back into the water like rubbish, where it will eventually die an agonizing cruel and completely unnecessary death; all so their fins can be used in traditional shark fin soup which is considered a traditional delicacy in the Asian continent.

Sharks like all animals, share our would and them like all animal shouldn’t be loved or protected any less, because of misconceptions in society or because of rare shark attacks which have killed innocent human lives.

They’re a beautiful animal, the largest fishes in the ocean and we have to protect them from unnecessary exploitation and harm; and make sure there here for future generations to marvel at in wonder and get child like enthusiastic about.

They are an integral part of the oceans fragile eco system and are the result of millions of years of evolution.

They've earned their place, their right of passage and we human beings should not take that away from them.

To learn more about the horror of shark fining and other injustices facing these amazing animals and what you can do to help, please visit any of the sites below.

www.thailandlife.com/sharkfinsoup.html

www.sharkfriends.com

www.seashepherd.org

Thank You

Dolphins The Legends Of The Sea

2007-01-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

Another incredible species in the incredible galaxy of ocean life.

The dolphin has enthralled mankind for centuries; their effortless grace in swimming beneath and above the waves makes even a championship swimmer green with envy.

Dolphins communicate with each other by sonar, they are highly social and do not like to be separated from their pod. Streamlined and built for speed they can swim up to fourty miles a day in the vastness of the ocean and truly are the one and only legends of the sea.

Dolphins make so many people smile and become filled with this inner joy and peace.

They just bring out something in people, I really don’t know why? I don’t know? I mean for starters they’re mega cool looking animals, they jump out the water like the great basketball great Michael Jordan did on his way to a championship winning slam dunk with a consummate ease and effortless grace, they smile and that automatically makes you feel better as you know they’re not judging you, and are just happy your there and with them and being part of their wonderful and magical lives; and that dolphins cry just makes you feel alive inside and is just unreal, they do tricks in the wild, and can balance on their fluke tail fin.

They’ve been immortalized in countless films and television shows, picture books, documentaries, anywhere you name it. For the dolphin is one animal that human beings truly do connect with, truly love and are truly saddened to see hurt or abused in any kind of way.

They rule, they’re the one and only legends of the sea, and let’s dive down and find out more about them; just in the same way they dive down with the greatest of ease beneath the ocean floor.

Dolphins belong to the cetacean order of marine mammals which includes whales and porpoises, they are not fish, as they do not have gills and have a blowhole to expel water and breathe oxygen or air through to live. They are highly social and highly intelligent marine mammals who remain close to their families and don’t like to be separated from them.

Dolphins are found in seas all over the world and jut like all species of animals there are so many unique and interesting, fascinating facts about them.

Did you know that dolphin babies or calves when they are born are the only mammals to be born tail first? and that a mother dolphin will stay with it’s calf for two to three years? did you know dolphins can dive as deep as 1000 feet underwater? And did you also know that dolphins can hold their breath underwater for as long as 30 minutes while some can hold it for much shorter periods of time and have to come up for air every 20 seconds?

There are many species of dolphin but the most recognized, well known, most common and the one people identify and connect with the most is the bottlenose dolphin.

The bottlenose dolphin has 18 – 26 pairs of sharp teeth in each side of its jaw, a bottlenose dolphins’ colour is a grey to a slate grey colour and a pinkish shade of grey on their bellies. Adult bottlenoses can range in length from 8 – 12 feet which is 2.5 to 4.0 meters long and in terms of weight, male bottlenoses are significantly much larger than females but generally all bottlenoses may weigh as much as 1’340 pounds or 650 kilograms. Bottlenose dolphins eat primarily many abundant species of fish in the ocean, but they are also quite diverse in their food choices and will also eat squid and crustaceans. Mothers from birth stay with their calves anywhere from 3 – 6 years and in that time, teaching them to catch fish and other important tasks essential to their survival.

The bottlenose species of dolphin is virtually in waters and oceans of the world except the Arctic and Antarctic continental shelves. In their traveling pods groups sizes don’t normally exceed over 20 animals but could be more or less.

Bottlenoses like all dolphins communicate by sonar and by complex clicks squeaks and whistles.

They send messages to each other in many different ways including using body language by jumping as high as 20 feet in the air, slapping their tales on the surface of the water and even butting heads (ouch). While we don’t know for sure what they’re saying to each other; but most logically they would be warning each other about the dangers of predators close or nearby, if food is available in the area, or if one of the members of the pod has wandered off or strayed too far and needs to be brought back and re-joined with the group.

Bottlenose dolphins do not have the greatest sense of smell but their sense of hearing is very sharp and enables them to detect and hear threats, disturbances and other sounds in the ocean.

Bottlenoses have been, and are continued to incredibly sadly be captured for show in marine parks and aquariums; where they are put in an un-natural environment and are trained to perform tricks of an often purposefully misled public who as a result of this deception, think they’re behaviours are normal and right, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Unfortunately for the beautiful bottlenose dolphin its smile is its biggest weakness and negative; because although they appear happy at first glance performing tricks in an aquarium, nothing could be further from the truth. Dolphins need miles of ocean to swim in, jump play and have fun in, and be with their other family members who they love very much.

In an aquarium they have to literally circle their tank many times around around around as there is no vastness and limitless to it, like the ocean holds and has and they belong in the ocean. It’s where they were born to be, designed to be, an ultimately and forever meant to be; and personally for me, I think it’s one of the most unforgivable crimes against any animal, if not THE most unforgivable crime.

Violently snatching them from their family and taking them out of, and away from their natural environment and making them perform tricks for tourists is unforgivable and truly truly huge crime against animals and the environment. It makes me very upset and angry; and I encourage everyone to find out ALL the fact about marine parks or aquariums before patronizing them.

For a fair and balanced review on marine mammals in captivity, please read the article within this archive.

As well as the bottlenose which we have dived and delved into there are also many others including spinner dolphins, risso dolphins and another dolphin species who is an orca nicknamed a ‘killer whale’ but is not a whale species but many people think it is because of it’s larges size and appearance.

The orca species of dolphin along with the bottlenose are the two most well known and most celebrated, and the ones people can instantly identify with. The orca species of dolphin is the world’s largest dolphin and it’s instantly recognizable due to its strikingly beautiful black and white colour combination found on all three types of them which are residents transients and offshore killer whales.

Orcas are large stocky and heavy, they all have a white chin and males are large than females, orcas on average are 7 – 8 meters in length and can weigh anything from 2.5 to 9 tonnes. Orcas like dolphins are highly social and travel in discreet units known as pods, and can live for an incredible 80 – 90 years in the wild.

They’re one of my favourite animals and seeing the magnificent beautiful sight of an orca’s wild dorsal fin gliding across above and beneath the ocean floor is amazing and something I hold close to my heart. I have written many facts about orcas spread across different articles, but I can tell you again that they’re very deserving of their nickname the ‘killer whale’ as they are extremely skilled hunters and are most noted for riding in on a wave to catch a baby seal that has not yet learnt to swim properly. They’re found in all waters of the world but mostly cooler ones, and feed on may species of marine life including seals, sealions, dolphins, sea turtles, seabirds and even attack other whales and eat them such as the humpback and blue whale populations.

Orcas breach (jump out the water) in spectacular fashion, just as humpback whales do, they slap their fins and spy hop; which is where they will raise their head above the waters surface and look to see if there are any seals or other marine mammals around for them to catch. This usually happens near ice floes and not in the vastness and wild of the ocean.

The Orca like all dolphins communicates by sonar, and their communication sounds are as loud as a jet plane engine and echo many miles over the ocean floor.

Just like bottlenose dolphins, orcas have also been violently captured from the wild in order to perform for a paying audience, and as I’ve explained in a previous article. In many cases their dorsal fins ‘flop or droop’ because of an ultimate lack of stimulation that only the vastness of the ocean can provide. When in the wild because of their natural and proper environment their dorsal fins are they way they should be proper and straight. It truly is a crime to see them housed in a small tank void and robbed of all their completely natural behaviuors; and once I again, I politely encourage everyone to find out ALL the facts behind their reasons in captivity, before patronizing the institutions where they live and perform.

While it’s always impossible to delve into every animal species unless you’re a fully fledged expert; the one thing you have to remember is that all dolphins share the same basic characteristics, which include a blowhole to breathe oxygen through, communication by sonar, and are highly social and intelligent and like to play and have fun.

One more species of dolphin that completely rocks is the spinner dolphins woo hoo.

Spinner dolphins do exactly that, spin baby. The long snouted spinner dolphin throws itself into the air and spins on its longitudinal axis as many as seven times in one leap! They are very slender and average 1.8 meters to 75 kilograms in weight. They are commonly found off the shores of Hawaii and the western coasts of the United States and Mexico.

All dolphins like to play and have fun, such as the magic of them bow riding in front of waves generated by a boat or ship charging through the water. It’s as if they’re racing that boat and ship, and know they are winning, and are just too good for you, but just keep doing it to gloat and show off hehe.

They also swim to shore to meet and greet humans who the majority of are lovely and happy to see; and never forget the incredible magical experience of running their hands across the streamlined beautiful body of this magical creature. A creature who has taken time out from it’s ocean home, to give a human being this opportunity to feel and be a part of something so wonderful, uplifting and eternally and forever magical.

The dolphin is heart, purity, love, understanding and beauty all rolled up in one fast, fish catching and breaching package.

The compassion they show towards mankind is incredible and beautiful but sometimes we don't always reciprocate in the way we should.

Dolphins are in peril all over the world; from being violently snatched from their pod in order to be trained in captivity for marine shows and swim with the dolphin programs, which is done as nothing more than a money making exercise.

They get caught up in the nets of the commercial fishing industries which are floating death traps; which as well as catching their intended catches of fish, also catch other innocent marine mammals such as turtles, small whales and other fish.

In addition to commercial fishing practices, they also face other threats from humans such as pollution which threatens their natural environments and can poison and kill them.

They are also victims of an annual drive hunt (slaughter) which annually takes place in Taiji in Japan and other small towns. Fisherman in the shallow bays of this beautiful and idyllic setting bang and create noise on the side of their small boats, this interferes with the dolphins sonar and then confuses it into the shallow bays. Once the fisherman have driven enough dolphins inside the bay, they cut off their escape with nets and then begin to stab, slaughter and inflect incredible pain and suffering on these incredible defenseless animals with spears and other similar objects.

The fisherman use the same tired bogus arguments that the dolphins are eating all their fish; when in reality it's all done in the name of profit and is about adding another flavour to the meat menu. Some are sold to marine parks for show but most will end up on supermarket shelves or inside sushi bars.

This breaks my heart and is totally unacceptable.

Sea Shepherd and many other animal rights group are protesting and fighting this and are actively involved in stopping it.

To find out more and to see the ways in which you can help to preserve and protect this incredible beautiful creature please visit the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s official website below.

www.seashepherd.org

What would a world and an ocean be without dolphins?

It would be like a world without trees or without sunshine, just empty and incredibly sad and hollow.

Dolphins are one of the oceans most special and magical creatures, but also one of the entire earths most special and magical creatures.

For they are the legends of the sea, they enthrall millions of people worldwide by not doing what a human does and that’s acting a certain way to appease another human who will hopefully accept them, instead of rejecting them as result.

Dolphins don’t need to do that, for they are dolphins, the legends, the streamlined, built for ultimate speed legends of the sea. They are a great friend to us, I think we all have a special connection to them, and to treat them cruelly or hurt them when they’ve never done anything to anyone but only make us happy, is just unforgivable by the anthropocentric human race.

For if you were a dolphin you would want respect and courtesy extended toward you. And as custodians of the planet and the ‘apparently’ mega mighty, know all, morally superior to everything human race, I think we can at least give them that one simple thing.

Don’t you?

Thank You.

You're A Vegetarian / Vegan Yet You Wear Leather And Have Animal Products In Your Home

2007-01-06T23:46:00.000-08:00

I’ve entitled this archive ‘animal thoughts’ and with good reason, as random thoughts just pop into my head and I feel the most urgent need to write them down and post them on this blog for all the world to see.

I was just watching a video regarding the PeTA organization (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) at YouTube; and a person made a comment regarding the vegetarian and vegan lifestyles and that comment was.

"I still haven't met a true vegetarian / vegan who does not wear leather or does not have any products derived from animals in their home"

Now I’m obviously a huge animal lover and lover of the environment, but right now I’m wearing leather shoes while I’m sitting down on the computer writing this article, and because I’m wearing leather, in the eyes of this person, I do not value cows, care about them, or want to help them, for my feet are being protected and comforted by it’s hide which is a ‘by product’ of the meat industry.

Listen carefully to that word again ‘byproduct’

Many vegetarians / vegans do not wear leather and do not have a leather couch, but many do, and the reason that they do; is because wearing leather won’t stop cattle from being killed for hamburgers, as they are killed for their meat which is what they ARE, and leather which is their ‘hide’ or ‘skin’ is then used and turned into leather for which we humans make clothing and other products out of.

Passionate animal lovers choose not to wear leather or have any animal derived products in their home; as a moral thing, a lifestyle, an ethical proper all the way, I love animals and won’t even wear them thing.

For they love animals deeply, very deeply, so deeply that they even feel guilty about wearing the hide of a once living breathing cow, which was then killed for its meat and afterwards had the hide ripped off its dead carcass and turned into a leather jacket for which you are now wearing. They want no part of this, because for them wearing a leather jacket, means wearing the hide of a dead cow which they do not eat, and are glad they don’t eat, and don't want to ever eat because they are a vegetarian / vegan.

And this is a noble somewhat extreme stance, but passionate and beautiful none the less, and I love it, and might do it myself someday.

But because I and many vegetarians / vegans DO wear leather and have animal derived products in our home; that does not mean that we love animals any less than a vegetarian / vegan who passionately chooses to boycott EVERYTHING! from an animal, EVERYTHING! including its hide which is a ‘byproduct’ of its death.

Boycotting leather and not wearing it, and if everyone tomorrow stopped purchasing leather ya know, and nobody wore leather anymore. That does not mean the slaughterhouse would stop and McDonalds would go out of business; and do you want to know why? and it’s because cows are not killed for their hides, they are killed for their meat which leather is the byproduct of.

I’ve heard comments like.“Pamela Anderson protests against the clubbing of baby seals” “yet she wears leather boots”

So if we vegetarians and vegans wear leather, were still not allowed to love animals; this, it’s just ridiculous c'mon.

The decision to boycott leather is not about stopping cows from abuse or cruelty inside the slaughterhouse, or to stop cows from being killed, as boycotting leather WILL NOT STOP THAT.

It’s a lifestyle, a moral, proper, ethical choice; you don’t eat cows ya know great, but you take it one step further and you make a fully fledged lifestyle choice, to go ALL OUT and not even wear their hides.

Vegetarians and vegans can still wear leather and feel no shame. I wear leather shoes, I wear a leather belt, and I don’t feel guilty about it. For I know that me wearing that leather belt or those leather shoes does not make me contribute to cattle getting slaughtered, or being subjected to cruel and horrific conditions in the slaughterhouse; and it certainly does not make me love cows or want to help them any less.

It’s me wearing the ‘hide’ or ‘skin’ of a dead animal that was utilized for a current need or demand for a better word on a huge scale.

I don’t feel bad because of it, and by me doing it, it’s not detrimental to cows and their lives; as they are already dead, and were killed for reasons that can be attempted to be made justifiable, and for reasons that can be attempted to made valid, whether or not a person agrees or disagrees.

Unnecessarily killing a baby seal for its pelt, and then selling its pelt to a fashion house, is wrong and the complete opposite.

It was an unnecessary kill in the first place, and it was killed deliberately and with the purposeful aim of its pelt being ripped off its body and sold to a European fashion house.

So wearing leather if you’re a vegetarian / vegan is ok, it does not mean you love animals any less, are any less passionate, or are a doing a dis-service to them just because you do.

It’s a lifestyle choice exercised by VERY dedicated and passionate animal lovers; and that choice is exercised and exists, because cows are slaughtered for their meat and leather which is a ‘byproduct’ of that action.

As far as other animal based or derived products in your home go; products such as downing in pillows which are feathers from birds such as ducks and geese and toothpastes and flour; ya know, even for dedicated animal lovers such as vegetarians or vegans it’s virtually impossible for us to escape.

A lot of products everywhere, including products in household materials, contain animal derived things; brushes, toothbrushes and flour; and unless your a scientist or specialized analyst, you cant pick up on these things, it’s impossible; and many of these products, if not all, come from dead animals anyway; and buy using them and having them in your home, does not stop them from being killed in the first place, thus providing the reason as to why they are there.

Read the following webpage just to see how, unless you’re specialized and very dedicated; just how difficult and time consuming an exercise this can be.

http://www.vnv.org.au/AnimalProducts.htm

Vegetarians / vegans are not supermen and superwomen, were only human like you.

So all you vegetarians / vegans, you can wear leather and not feel guilty. But if you do feel guilty, and don’t want to wear it, then by all means do not.

But anyone who eats meat and criticizes vegetarians / vegans for wearing leather; unlike yourself, were not contributing to the slaughterhouse industry thus providing the core reason for the leather fashion shop to even exist in the first place.

You must judge yourself before you judge others.

Thank You

Earth Focus Special - The Fate Of The Ocean

2007-01-06T18:02:00.001-08:00


Here Julia Whitty explains how the earth’s oceans are in a serious state of decline, making the health of our oceans a very serious cause for concern.

Trees ' Our Essential Life Force'

2007-01-06T07:09:00.000-08:00

So many things in life can go unappreciated regardless of whether they are closely around us or miles away from us, things that are important and unappreciated, or things that are great and are just simply un-noticed.

One of these things is trees, a tree, and an essential plant that really is in every true sense absolutely ‘essential’ to the life of living breathing human beings and all living breathing creatures.

Looking at trees, at least for me, is one of the most beautiful awe inspiring things of beauty and wonder I have ever witnessed. For they tower many meters above from the earth you are standing on, as you tilt our head upward, and gaze and feel it’s beauty and essential life force it provides for all of us.

This is the humble tree, something that is so important, so essential and so often by the great majority of people just so unappreciated; even by people who are ignorant and not knowing that without this essential life force element, humans beings wouldn’t exist, would fall ill and would ultimately die.

You’re reading on this article on a computer (of course you are) how silly of me.

But regardless of where you are in the world, you could be in the big apple; the city that never sleeps, which is hustling and forever bustling and the city which is the tremendous New York City. Or you could be where the famous beer Guinness draft calls it home, the beautiful Dublin city in beautiful and grassy Ireland. Or any other place in the incredible diversity and structure of land spread across an ocean that is colourless, but appears a deep and beautiful blue because of the sky’s reflection bearing down atop of it.

No matter where you are, chances are, and there is a good chance, that there is a tree not to far away from you; as they are strewed across the earth’s landscape and all across the world, giving out life sustaining oxygen to keep alive every and all living breathing creatures.

These are trees, and trees are essentially what the battery is to a car, trees are the battery to the earth. Without them we all perish and every living breathing creature will fall and die as no life force essential to our survival would be given and all the soil beneath them would wash away and be removed, soil which is essential to plant and grow organic foods for us to eat and which is currently being used to produce livestock which is killed for meat consumption.

Trees are everywhere, well not everywhere, deserts and oceans for example. But they are virtually everywhere else, producing and giving out oxygen so it can fill the lungs of every living human being.

Did you know trees are very good nose barriers which make cities and neighborhoods quieter? and did you also know tress are the longest living and largest organisms on earth?

Trees give out oxygen and need carbon dioxide to survive, on the other token human beings need oxygen to survive and breathe out carbon dioxide. One human being on average emits 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year; one tree on average removes or takes in around 1 tonne annually, so if you planted or had 30 trees, that’s 30 people’s carbon debt, they remove.

Many species of animal and in particular birds use trees as their nesting grounds and to play and live; trees also cool the air and the ground around them, thus in the process cooling the earth’s temperature too. Trees as well as being essential to human beings can also help human beings in recovery from illness and ailments, it’s been proven that when a hospital patient is sick and unwell and there is a tree or trees outside their hospital window for them to gaze and look at that, they will recover faster and will require less painkillers and shorter stays.

Trees help to reduce symptoms of the green-house effect be removing carbon dioxide; one acre of trees remove 2.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year; and a very interesting beneficial and fun fact that many people just don’t know about but maybe the real estate officer does; trees increase property values by 5 – 20% because of their landscaping values.

Trees are so important and so beneficial to the lives of humans and animals all around the word; but sadly many species of trees are being cleared way to make room for grazing cattle and to be cleared to make way for development such as housing and commercial business structure.

It’s so incredibly sad and it’s devastating and destroying the earth.

In the last 200 years the world has lost approximately half of all it's trees; and with every new tree being planted, on the side of the road or in regrowth forests which are specially designed to grow and produce trees and then cut them down for human needs such as paper and wood to which we make many materials out of, 30 trees are being cut down. So for every tree being planted 30 are being cut down.

We would want to plant at least 100 million trees in the following 10 years to counter this devastating effect, as trees provide shelter food and life giving oxygen to both humans and animals.

There’s an estimated 80’000 species of trees worldwide including the redwood and lingfield oak and just like water dwelling fish in the ocean, there are just simply too much too mention.

Deforestation which is a term that many people do not know what means is simply ‘wild’ or ‘indigenous’ forest which once housed an incredible and abundant species of plant and animal life’ and which was bulldozed and cleared to make way for grazing land for cattle, logging for a coffee table or other tree deriven product which is then turned into a wooden one, and for agricultural and commercial development.

An area of 20 football or rugby fields is lost every minute.

It’s incredibly sad and heartbreaking, it really is, and is so unavoidable and such an unnecessary tragedy.

Of great concern is the rate at which deforestation is occurring. Currently, 12 million hectares of forests are cleared annually - an area 1,3 times the size of KwaZulu/Natal! Almost all of this deforestation occurs in the moist forests and open woodlands of the tropics. At this rate all moist tropical forest could be lost by the year 2050, except for isolated areas in Amazonia, the Zaire basin, as well as a few protected areas within reserves and parks. Some countries such as Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Costa Rica, and Sri Lanka are likely to lose all their tropical forests by the year 2010 if no conservation steps are taken.

Re-growth forrests are specially designed areas of land, that are used to grow trees, log or cut them down and utilize the tree for human products such as paper and wood to make products beneficial to humans that trees form and make up. They are important as less native or indigenous forests gets bulldozed and cleared because of them. They had to be implemented, because without trees we ‘die’ simple as that; so they have to be there and it’s a very important and essential thing that they are.

We lose ourselves in trees, when you get upset mad or angry or someone’s put you in a bad mood; many times you will go for a walk or perhaps a bike ride to ‘lose yourself’ and escape the bad feeling and negative feelings other people have placed on you. Often you will go to park or lakeside river for a bike pedal and these places more often than not will contain tress, they’re beautiful to look at, very uplifting, and when you’re surrounded by a lot of them in a healthy environment you breathe in a deep breath don’t you? and all of a sudden you feel better, as clean life giving oxygen is entering your lungs and automatically making you feel a lot more clearer and refreshed.

Many people had there first kiss under or nearby a tree and afterwards as they are eternally and crazy in love, they etched and carved their names with as stone and wrote the immortal worlds ‘I love such and such for eva’.

It really is hard to imagine a world without trees it really really is, and If they were all gone tomorrow, not only would every living species perish, but the earth would be baron, lifeless and would look like a war zone after battle; just incredibly sad and pathetic. I’m looking at one outside my window while writing this and it’s giving me inspiration putting a smile on my face and making me feel happy. For I know I cannot live without that tree and millions like it all over the world. Neither you or I, or anyone else can, and that many of my wonderful animal friends who I love and will always be here for, cannot either.

Trees are essential and ‘extremely important’ and it really is whether you like it or not, care or don’t care; your strongest concern to make sure they are here forever. Because if you don’t, you, the ones you love and care about, and everyone else who shares those same feelings toward there fellow humans will not be here.

Unappreciated and absolutely essential to human life, fight to protect them, show respect for them and appreciate them. Because they ARE the reason you continue to exist and even the most apathetic nasty or saddest of a person could not exist without them.

We need them; so don’t ridicule tree huggers, protest if they are about to get bulldozed down by anthropocentric and egocentric developers for the unnecessary development; and forever fight to keep them here for everybody. For without the humble beautiful and peaceful tree, there wouldn’t even be any oxygen to fill the lungs of the people above to carry out their actions, regardless of whether they’re negative or positive.

Beautiful, inspirational, soothing, breathtaking and essential to human and animal life and often unappreciated and un-noticed.

The tree will definitely be something you hold in much more higher regard after reading this article if you perhaps didn’t before.

Thank You.

Think All Vegans Look Unhealthy And Not Sexy? Think Again?

2007-01-05T07:23:00.001-08:00


In this video sexy vegan chef Michelle Harris explains the health benefits of tofu and makes a great tasting key lime pie.

Did You Know That This Hamburger Is Destroying The Earth?

2007-01-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

It looks innocent enough doesn’t it?

I mean what the darn? and how can one solitary hamburger be destroying the earth?

Is their a destructive weapon hidden between that beef patty and lettuce? Or is it a magical burger that springs alive and wreaks havoc amongst animals and humans?

Well if you picked answer number two, you’re not at all that far off the reality and devastating consequences that the consumption of this innocent looking hamburger has.

Millions of people everyday walk into fast food chains and order hamburgers, chicken nuggets and other meat orientated products with innocence and wide eyed enthusiasm; they proceed to the counter and order the meal of their choosing, a burger perhaps? or one of the other choices on the menu that contains meat. In their mind (and I know because I used to be the same way) they don’t even think for one second about how that one solitary innocent looking hamburger arrived from the slaughterhouse (where the animal was killed that you are about to eat) to your hands, as your money is given to the McDonald’s employee who then gives you your order of food choices and then prepares to serve the next customer who is waiting in line behind you.

But the earth was, has, and is, being catastrophically destroyed in order to satisfy the demand for meat that the human race ultimately thinks we cannot live without, ultimately need, and will forever be eating.

In order to provide meat to billions of people worldwide who eat it; the earths land is being cleared, animal’s habitats are being destroyed and are rapidly disappearing, and ground water is being polluted and rendered uninhabitable for humans and the needs that water provides, both recreationally and commercially.

Here are just some of the facts and devastating consequences eating meat has on our planet :)

The world now contains 3 times as many farm animals as humans

These farm animals have huge appetites for grass and corn and wheat, so much so that nearly 80% of all agriculture land in one individual country such as Britain is used to support them.

38% of the grain in the world is fed to livestock.

On average, for every 10kg of grain fed to animals only 1kg of meat is produced - the rest becomes manure.

It takes more than twice as much land to feed a meat eater than it does a vegetarian, and half of that again is required to feed a vegan.

Tropical forests are home to up to 90% of all the Earth's species. Tropical forest is being destroyed at a rate of over 164,000 square kilometers per annum.

In Costa Rica 71% of all deforested land is pasture. Nepal has lost around half of its forest land in the last 20 years manly to sustain livestock.

18% of world methane emissions are from livestock. There are more than 1.3 billion cattle in the world. and 26% of the United Kingdoms methane emissions are from livestock. The United Kingdom’s livestock emissions contribute 1.15 million tonnes of methane to global warming every year

A single cow can produce 23 tonnes of manure a year. 10 pigs can produce 21 tonnes of manures a year. Spread over the land this contributes to acid rain, soil and water pollution

Ammonia from animal farming is recognized as a major cause of acid rain, causing over 70% of acidity in some areas. In Holland, where livestock outnumbers humans by over 7 to 1, farmers have been told to reduce herds by a quarter to help save dying forests.

Nine of the world's 17 major fisheries are in serious decline. All of the others have reached their limits. Worldwide 124 billion dollars are spent every year catching just 70 billion dollars worth of fish.

Recent surveys suggest that over 40% of fish caught in the North Sea are diseased - often with cancerous tumours.

Heart disease is the major cause of death in the UK and the developed world. Studies have shown vegetarians to suffer 30% less heart disease than meat eaters.

Research shows the incidence of colon, breast, prostate and other cancers is lower among vegetarians. It's estimated that about 2,000,000 people suffer from food poisoning every year (in the United Kingdom alone). Almost all food poisoning is from the consumption of meat and diary products.

All of a sudden that picture of that above burger doesn’t look so appetizing does it? But these are just some of the facts that the consumption of that burger by billions of people all around the world has on the earth. You’re earth and my earth, and an earth that is rapidly being destroyed because of it.

Cold hard fact; eating meat destroys the earth, and we are leaving our children and all the future generations a world which contains less natural environmental structure than when we inherited it.

Unless you live under a rock, you know that the word ‘beef’ means a type of meat and a meat which was once that of a living breathing animal raised and killed for food called a cow.

In order for many fast food chains (and we’ll use the very well known and very popular McDonald’s chains of worldwide restaurants as an example) to produce make and sell a hamburger for you, your family and all of your friends to enjoy. They have to kill cattle, (the collective term for many herds of cows).

Now even though McDonald’s, when you order your burger is not slaughtering these animals out the back as you wait at the counter, but what they are doing is providing the core reason for the slaughterhouse industry to exist because of who they are and what service they provide to billions of people.

The slaughterhouse does the work that of course that the mega huge and mega rich McDonald’s corporation never wants you to see, and that’s kill the beautiful animals which are seen as nothing more than ‘product’; before they are processed, transported to your local McDonald’s store and presented to you in a conveniently wrapped neat little package with your side order of fries and coke.

In order to create grazing land for cattle, and to build and run slaughterhouses, million of acres of land is cut down and cleared away. This land contains, and is, or was I should say, the home to many species of animal and insects that relied upon it for survival and regeneration.

Now that this land been cleared away to satisfy demand for the rumbling tummies of people worldwide and to provide the structure and production machine to process animals and sell their dead carcasses as burgers for lunch; Its land that is no longer productive and ‘useless’ to use a lackluster term. This land before it was cleared away could have been used responsibly and in small amounts as land to grow and produce vegetables that could feed millions of starving adults and children worldwide.

We are told many things to justify the eating of meat and to continue unabated in justifying these actions.

There is a famous quote from actor and comedian Dennis Leary in which he said :)

“it is a natural instinct to eat meat”

But what Dennis has failed to mention, is that the consequences of eating meat effect millions of other people’s natural instincts as well; people who are starving and are suffering, and people who have a natural instinct to eat, to be fed, and to be provided with life sustaining nourishment for their existence.

It is estimated that hunger plagues around 840 million people daily, staggering numbers for innocent people who don’t at all want the trivial possessions that all the rest of anthropocentric society ultimately craves and chucks a hissy fit when they can’t have them. Items such as a brand new Ferrari to impress all the chicks, or the latest dvd box set of their favourite television show of yesteryear. But all these innocent starving people crave is just a simple wish to be fed, and to feel the satisfying fulfillment as food enters their unhealthy bodies in order to provide them with the energy and happiness to live their life, which they, just as everybody else who lives on this planet is ultimately entitled and ultimately deserves to live (well maybe not some people).

As the word’s population rapidly continues to grow, so does the scarcity of food and the resources needed to produce it. It is feared that once the world’s population reaches eight billion people (currently six and half billion people, and growing) that it will no longer have the capacity to feed and house this staggering amount of people and most likely birth restrictions will be placed on human beings to ease this threat on the natural resources of thee earth; it’s a scary thing, it really is, I never used to believe it, and used to think environmentalists and earth warriors were idiots who over-react all the time. But now that I am one, I ‘m worried for myself, my children if I ever have any, and for all of you. The earth’s in trouble, BIG trouble and it needs all of us now more than ever.

The McDonald’s and many other fast food corporations like to present a wholesome family friendly image of their businesses for all to see, and as a result many a people will hopefully patronize their businessess and drive demand for them to continue successfully.

McDonald’s runs and owns the Ronald McDonald charity house, which is a charity that benefits sick and terminally ill children in hospitals all over the word.

Annually McDonald’s holds and hosts fundraising events to help this cause by providing money to help sick children. This money may help to pay for and provide specialized medical equipment, or to provide entertainment, such as funny clowns and performers to come and spread cheer for children and bring a smile to their innocent and wide eyed beautiful faces.

I mean how can human beings with a heart not approve of this, I mean McDonald’s is doing the right thing, they’re raising money to help sick and dying children get better, the kids are happy and appreciative of their efforts, and McDonald’s presents their image to the public as a wonderful kind caring corporation that loves and adores children as well as satisfying the hungry stomachs of their billions of consumers worldwide who patronize their restaurants, it’s all good and why shouldn’t it be.

Or is it?

Maybe McDonald’s realizes and is very well aware of it, or maybe they’re completely ignorant of it, I don’t know? But their business is taking away an opportunity for other poor and unfortunate kids to get better and to have a chance at being happy, and to innocently smile and fill the air with that joyous soul lifting laughter that only a child can give; and that’s the kids who are the victims of starvation and some of the worst living conditions on the planet.

Now some of you maybe thinking “ok Smudgy” “you say the earth is being destroyed for meat consumption” “But we NEED meat to survive!” “It’s been that way; it’s currently that way, and will NEVER CHANGE! and will FOREVER be that way”

“It’s bad but we have NO other choice” “ no meat = unhealthy humans, loss of millions of jobs worldwide of the people who rely on the consumption of meat for their livelihoods, jobs such as butchers, abattoir workers and transport workers” It’s too bad Smudge!” “It’s meat!” “cows chickens and pigs get butchered by the billions annually” get over it!” “end of story!”

Although a person may passionately say those comments; the primary and most important thing that they are failing to see, is the overall result of these actions. I mean certainly to say “let’s keep people in employment and paid jobs at the ultimate destruction of the earth” is quite ignorant selfish and unintelligent.

As more and more people are finding out about living a vegetarian / vegan lifestyle through becoming educated through all different mediums; including television, print media and the internet and choosing to live this lifestyle predominately because they are understandably concerned about animal welfare as compassionate human beings.

More evidence certified and backed up by very credible scientific evidence is suggesting that a vegetarian diet is healthier and better than a diet that includes the consumption of meat. There are yogurt free yogurts, tasty tofu which is very simulair in texture and taste to meat and is a adequate meat replacement that can be used as a hot dog or as another meat free dish.

More people are becoming vegetarian; it’s a lifestyle that continues to grow and is becoming rapidly more popular amongst teenagers and young adults and is changing the world. One vegetarian alone saves thousands of aces of land that would have been used for the grazing and raising of livestock that will eventually be killed for food consumption. According to John Robbins, a renowned author and spokesperson on sustainable environments, it takes sixteen times more resources to produce a pound of food from livestock than it does to produce a pound of food without raising animals as ‘livestock’.

Vegetarians are great and very cool; lots of celebrities are vegetarian, including the good looking guys of Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, and the attractive beauties Gillian and Pamela Anderson and many many more.

Vegetarianism contrary to popular belief now goes beyond the noble and compassionate stance of becoming one to reduce animal cruelty, which alone is extremely heartbreaking.

But vegetarianism and humans becoming them, is not only now essential to end the inherent cruelty involved in the dark slaughterhouses of the world, where the beautiful animals never get to see or feel the sights and sounds of their natural environments that they were meant to be and play in, and do what these gentle non threatening animals at least originally and in the beginning were born and meant to do.

Becoming a vegetarian and better yet vegan simply for less informed people, puts LESS demand on the resources of the world, saves nature, the animals who need that nature to survive and very importantly and nobly, feeds great populations of starving people who have a basic human right to eat, and shouldn’t be denied that right by a human race that CAN survive without meat and animal products; even though we are ultimately pushed and shoved this ever continuing belief that we cannot live without it, and cannot exist healthily without meat in our diet; as I’ve mentioned before vegetarians / vegans are sexy, healthy, and just as happy as anyone who consumes meat and perhaps even more so.

Ever since I've become a vegetarian / vegan, I’ve felt a lot happier clearer and healthier than what I was when I was eating meat. I created my YouTube channel and this blog as an external addition to it, which I’m both very proud of.

Vegetarianism is not a matter of saving farm animals raised and cruelly put through terrible conditions in order for you to say the words “ one hot dog please” vegetarianism is now a matter of saving the planet, your planet, my planet, and the planet we all need to survive and cannot without.

By considering doing the above actions you are helping to save the earth, the animals, yourself and the future generations from destruction, starvation and suffering, all of things which you can help to stop. If the world’s economic powerhouse, the United States of America reduced its meat consumption by just 5 percent (the equivalent of one less meat dish per person per week) that could save enough grain to feed 25 million people.

There is ever strong and creditable evidence that a vegetarian diet provides the nutritional requirements that meat eating ‘apparently’ provides and gives tremendous health benefits including less risk of heart disease, cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes, breast cancer, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and obesity.

So next time you head to McDonald’s to have a burger after watching the latest hit movie, think about the consequences eating that burger is having on the world? think about the animals being subjected to horrific cruelty in order to bring it to you? think about the poor unfortunate souls whose only desire is to feel the satisfaction of a vegetarian meal entering their bodies? and think about your health? and the nutritional benefits a vegetarian / vegan diet provides?

Because perhaps if you don’t, sooner or later you won’t be able to go to McDonalds to have a burger and a thick-shake, because maybe this earth will be rendered so uninhabitable by not only these actions but by many actions including ocean devastation, global warming caused by ozone layer depletion and by carbon emissions entering and choking the atmosphere of our planet.

It’s your choice and it’s entirely up to you, I can’t force you, and I wont force you. But the cold hard fact is; is that the meat you consume in your daily life is devastating this planet in incredible ways and maybe one day the banning of meat will have to be implemented and we will all forced to be vegetarians as result, I know it sounds ridiculous now, but it could very well be that way in the future. Just as I’ve stated in many articles.

‘extreme actions call for extreme measures’

It’s the worldwide consumption of meat, by people every day morning noon and night; and it’s ultimately how it began as an abundant and healthy land, a land which was bulldozed cleared and turned into grazing land for cattle, which are then fattened up and put in the slaughterhouse and subjected to the poor horrific conditions of many of them in this world, and it’s these animals which are then injected with hormones and other drugs just to keep the poor things moving and alive and as a result of these drugs being pumped into their unhealthy bodies it contaminates and poisons the meat especially in many unequipped and not as wealthy and well run dark slaughterhouses, which are many throughout the world.

It’s the meat which these animals ARE and are killed for, it’s the killing of them, the processing of their dead carcasses, the transportation of those carcasses to the family butcher who then in turns cuts up those carcasses into nice neat little slices and wraps and puts it in that brown paper as you talk to him about all the horrible and trivial problems and concerns in your life and in the lives of the ones you love and care about; it’s you getting in the car or walking home, putting this meat in the fridge washing your hands and then returning to the fridge, taking out and unraveling that once living breathing cow pig or chicken which has now been cut finely into $2.00 worth of ham for your ultimate convince.

It’s the placing of that meat in-between two slices of white or brown bread containing other healthy organic foods, such as lettuce tomatoes and beetroot as you then prepare and get excited and happy, about relaxing after a hard day and then watching your favourite television show or movie.

And while your sitting down, and putting that meat in your mouth savoring the flavours of farm animals seen as nothing but ‘product’ by the millions; that; that is, it is, the end result, the end package so to speak; of a choice and it’s many subsequent and earth destructing consequences.

I’m not trying to make you feel guilty for eating meat, I’m just explaining that these are the actions of eating meat that happen, to fulfill and satisfy that call from your stomach to fill it with meat; and these are the actions that are ultimately and will eventually if they continue will destroy the earth your and mine and all the animals ultimate home.

But If these actions stop, they can effectively end world poverty, save thousands of trees and species of animal and insects, make human beings healthier and happier; and the most profound, most popular and the core reason that people even consider about coming a vegetarian / vegan in the first place; and that reason is because of some of the most horrific cruel and heartbreaking abuses of animals anywhere in the world and that’s the animals who at this very moment are inside the dark slaughterhouses where they are lined up, killed and processed like a coke can in the Coca Cola factory is before it gets shipped out and put in vending machines all over the world.

For if we stop these actions there will be no more dark slaughterhouses of the world; for if they had glass walls would not exist, as many kind compassionate people, which is what most of the human race is; could not stand, and would not eat these beautiful and misunderstood creatures. As they could see with their very own two eyes what disturbing, unpleasent and at times downright shocking things they go through before they are killed and ultimately and eventually become the meat pie or hot dog you eat at the football or baseball game. For this is what is happening right now as you’re reading this article and what is happening when you turn the computer off and go to bed.

You’ve been given free will, the ability to choose and the ability to make up your own mind, I can’t tell you what to do and I won’t tell you what to do.

But if just one person become a vegetarian / vegan or even considers becoming one after reading this article, I’ll be happy; for the action of that individual person with thought, could save enough land from being bulldozed down for meat production into land which could produce grain to feed many amounts of starving people that you look at with empathy and great sadness in magazines or on the television screen and wish you could help, but don't know how? and people, who because of that one persons thoughtful and considerate actions, whose very life and existence could and would be changed forever.

One single vegetarian puts less demand on the world resources and can provide adequate food to many amounts of starving people; and as a result of their actions, no land would be bulldozed down to create grazing land for cattle, and this land could be allocated and used in small responsible amounts to produce and grow grain and other organic foods which can then be eaten and would provide life saving nutrients, essential proteins and an ultimate source of food, and would forever change the life and lives of many starving people worldwide.

Because as mentioned in a previous article; you DO have more power than you think?

Please visit the following webpage entitled 101 reasons to go vegetarian.

http://www.flex.com/~jai/articles/101.html and to read further details the implications of eating meat has on our planet, please visit this webpage :)

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1323852&lastnode_id=0

I can’t force you to become a vegetarian and I can’t yell or berate you to death until you do; all I can do is tell you the very real and devastating effects and consequences the eating of meat has on our planet and hope that you will become a vegetarian / vegan to ease these burdens and help improve the world and save your's and my world.

Because maybe if you don’t, then maybe we will all find out why there are other planets besides the beautiful (but rapidly being destroyed) earth in the solar system?

Are they there to just sit and look pretty or maybe something more?

Thank You

Planet Earth Your And My Home

2006-12-31T20:03:00.000-08:00

Beautiful isn’t it?

To me it reminds me of one GIGANTIC marble, you know those very small spherical shaped things that wide eyed energetic school kids play with and trade at recess and lunch.

Sometimes in life when a person is very depressed, they can still appear very happy on the outside, where everything appears fine and it seems to everyone else that nothing is wrong and this person isn’t feeling down or hurt. But nothing could be further from the truth, for they put on a brave face and force themselves to smile to appease everyone else who they fear will ridicule them for feeling this way.

The earth is the same, upon instantly looking at this photo it appears everything’s is all good, fine, perfect, no problem at all. I mean the oceans look blue, the continents look large and plentiful and the earth planet looks content floating in space, spinning around its axis and receiving life sustaining rays of shine from the sun.But this is wonderland, fantasy land; the world you enter when you go to bed to escape the judgment anthropocentric society has placed on you that very day.

The world is NOT fine and it is NOT in good shape.

Animals are not to blame for the rapid decline of the health of this strikingly beautiful blue planet. Animals haven’t done anything to contribute to its demise, animals are absolutely essential in keeping the sensitive and delicate eco-systems of it alive healthy and thriving. The demise of the earth is unfortunately caused by the creatures that inhabit it, call it their home, and rely upon it for their very existence and survival. The earth is in trouble and its in trouble because of a creature called a ‘human being’.

You hear all the comments from people :)

“go out and save the world then!” I’m watching the football game”

“Environmentalists are retards!” “the world’s fine!” “they’re over-reacting”

“It’s not my job to save the earth” “that’s what politicians and conservation groups are for”

"WOW!" "You people need to get a life! "fuck the world!" "who gives a shit" "it's a waste of time"

All these anthropocentric people’s complaints are unreal aren’t they? They’re more than happy to complain, infact everyone is; but if it wasn’t for people like us fighting to fix and make these very real problems better, these people wouldn’t even have an ocean to swim in or a couch to sit on and watch the football game while still marinating a sad and apathetic attitude.

Everyone’s more than happy to complain about things; you hear it everywhere you go, the pub, at the café, the library, the gym, anywhere! you name it. But how many people actually DO SOMETHING!!! about it, DO SOMETHING!!! to make it better; and when we do; do something! These people have the nerve to ridicule us by making nasty and hurtful comments such as the ones mentioned above.

To cut straight to chase; taking an apathetic attitude towards the planet right now is the absolute worst thing we can do if we want to walk outside our front door in 50 - 100 or 150 years and be able to breathe without suffocating and choking to death.

I used to be the same way I never used to care, I’d rather be playing air guitar to the rocking sounds of AC /DC and the myriad of heavy metal bands. I mean what can I do? I’m just one man, I’m no expert! I’m not David Attenborough or Jacque Costau. I’m just an average guy; I get up, have breakfast, brush my teeth, go to work and catch the 4.30 train home to watch the news and have dinner with my family. Leave it to the people who do that stuff, leave me alone! I’ve got more important things to do.

I can understand where they’re coming from, after all ignorance is indeed bliss; and it’s an attitude we all to often want to exercise as the horrors of the world whether they’re against humans, animals or the environment are sometimes just too much to bear; and we know that if we just close our eyes, turn on the television or rock out to our favourite tunes in the lounge room or garage that hopefully all these horrible problems will just go away.

But they won’t; they won’t go away, and sitting around complaining won’t make them go away either.

Although the home you are living in right now, is made of bricks and mortar and is surrounded by other constructions of the same material. It’s not your greater home, sure you live in it and claim this very small piece of the earth as your own; you work hard, pay the bank back the money for the mortgage, and this small piece of land is yours!, yours! yours! yours! and you’re right it is yours. But this very small piece of land belongs to an overall bigger piece of land; a land that is so huge that no-one could see it all in a 100 lifetimes and a land that is being mercilessly cleared away at alarming rates to make way for smaller pieces of land like the one your living on.

We’re destroying mother earth and the consequences of our actions are devastating.

Where to start? animals being tortured and abused, toxins entering the water-ways and poising fish, gas emissions filling the air and choking the atmosphere; it really is unbelievable.

In that photo you see a lot of blue don’t you? I don’t need to tell you unless you’re a neanderthal with a very primitive cerebrum, that that’s the ocean. Well “duh” you may be thinking.

The deep oceans make up approximately 76% of the earth’s surface; without the ocean the world would be lifeless bleak and unsustainable. Thousands of animal and plant species would perish and humans would suffer from a lack of clean air and coastal breezes essential to our life force.

Captain Paul Watson founder and president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was once quoted as saying.

“the family fisherman no longer exists!” “he’s gone!” “today it’s industrialized commercial fishing”

He’s right’ industrialized commercial fishing is the equivalent of an army of tanks and bombers carrying out an all out assault on the fish populations and the structures of the ocean that make up their home.

In the commercial fishing industry there is a practice known as ‘drag trawling’. Drag trawling as not to get too complicated, is the same as taking a huge sweeping broom and sweeping the kitchen floor in your home, the ocean floor is essentially and IS swept clean in the very same way as the floor in that kitchen; and the effects are absolutely devastating, it mercilessly destroys everything in its path. At while at the same time as catching their intended targets of fish, it also destroys the homes fish need for survival and homes that have taken years upon years to build and once are destroyed cannot come back.

Drag trawling also scoops up thousand of species of innocent marine life including beautiful sea turtles, other fish species and small marine mammals such as whales and seals. It HAS destroyed the ocean, IS destroying the ocean and at current catch levels is dangerously close to exterminating fish populations in many parts of the world. Infact it already has; as some sections of oceans are now referred to as ‘dead zones’ a dead zone for anyone who may not understand is simply an area of ocean where all the life has been destroyed and only slush remains and species of marine life that can live there, but shouldn’t be there, are there, as habitat destruction causes animals to move to other homes in parts of the ocean.

Drift nets or drift netting is also another devastating commercial fishing operation. Drift nets as the name suggests, ‘drift’ in the ocean and catch everything and anything including the targeted species of fish, but also dolphins and whales become entangled in them and once the net is winched back onto the ship animals that are unintentionally caught known as ‘by catch’ are simply thrown back into the ocean as rubbish. It’s devastating and cruel to ocean dwelling animals as well.

The oceans are under threat form other increasing and accelerated human disturbances such as pollution, over fishing as mentioned above, noise disturbances from ships which disrupt the sensitive and complex brain patterns of marine mammals and cause them to behave strangely and much more.As sad as it makes my heart to write; the oceans are dying and their dying in our lifetime.

The oceans are under threat but what about the reaming 25% of land that us land dwelling creatures as we don’t have gills to breathe underwater need for survival.

Every day thousands of hectares of land is being cleared for development, poisons and toxins are polluting the waterways making them unfit for human interaction including drinking and swimming, and thousands of animal and plant species are disappearing quickly.

Here are just some quick and short facts about these problems :)

*The world has lost nearly 200 million hectares of tree cover.

*Deserts are being expanded by some 120 million hectares.

*Thousands of plant and animal species are disappearing quickly.

*Some 1.6 billion people were added to the world's population.

*The world's farmers lost an estimated 480 billion tonnes of topsoil, roughly equivalent to the amount of India's crop land.

*In addition, billions of tonnes of wastes have been dumped into the environment each year.

And here are some quick and short facts that contribute to and cause these problems :)

*High dependency on non-renewable fossil fuels.

*Exploitation of renewable resources which are being used faster than nature can regenerate.

*Carelessness in discarding wastes which pollute soils, rivers, oceans and the atmosphere faster than nature can self-clean.

*It has led to unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, as well as increased the quantities and variety of wastes at unprecedented rates.

*The model of economic progress used by the highly developed countries of Europe and North America is unsustainable.

*Mass production/consumption results in mass generation of waste. People can't be forced to eat more ... but they can be made to pay more through processing and packaging.

I didn’t make up what you’ve just read to scare you, it’s just the cold hard truth.

There’s an old saying that goes “the truth hurts but sometimes you need the truth to grow” and sometimes telling the truth instead of sugarcoating it is more beneficial to things.

For example if a person is overweight and unhealthy you don’t want to tell that person that their overweight as you think to yourself “look this person is already sensitive about their weight” “and If I tell them that their fat” “not only it will upset them” “they may not like me” “and may not talk to me anymore”. I can understand this way of thinking, but if you don’t tell them that their eating habits and lack of exercise is detrimental to their health, they may not be around in two years in order for you to raise such a concern.

It’s the same with the planet earth; we need to be told and informed of the truth not sugarcoated by it; so we can help to stop it, and provide a clean healthy sustainable future for not only ourselves and our animal friends, but also for our children; the ones who will inherit this earth when we ultimately pass away.

Ya know; if you and I went out tomorrow and tied ourselves to a tree to stop an egocentric developer from ripping its deep roots from the ground to make way for a new shopping complex, flashy apartment building or some mega corporation who has an insatiable lust for profit. They will ridicule us, they will call us an eco terrorist, a stupid tree hugger and a gay Greenpeace hippy; when all were doing is saving the earth.

Human beings breathe in oxygen to survive and we breathe out carbon dioxide when we exhale. Trees give out life sustaining oxygen and need carbon dioxide to survive; without trees we would become very sick and many of us would die, and although we could survive, we would have to find another sustainable way to produce oxygen in the future. It could be very similar to the 1990 hit movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger called Total Recall; in which the earth had fallen victim to environmental destruction and new ways of surviving had to be implemented.

Well if trees continue to fall, to make way for the selfish whims of anthropocentric human beings it could very well be that way soon.

When you bulldoze the earth, you not only remove live sustaining nature of plants and trees; but you also destroy the environments in which countless animal species and insects rely upon for their survival. Habitat destruction over the last 50 decades has destroyed thousands of animals rendering them extinct or very close to being so.

Global warming is also another immediate and very real threat and concern; everyday fossil fuels and polluting toxins fill the air and choke the earth and the atmosphere.

The term 'ozone layer' confuses many people, ozone layer in the simplest of terms means a blanket over the earth that protects it from ultra violet rays that are essential for our survival.

But what’s happening is; is that emissions from cars, gas and fossil fuels are causing a hole in this blanket, a BIG hole, and as a result of that BIG hole, more ultra violet rays are penetrating and making their way through then their should be; and these ultra violet rays are warming the planet, they are melting the ice which globally rises sea levels and causes destructive environmental damage which causes the natural occurrences of the earth to shift and change.

We have seen increases in activity in hurricanes and other weather patterns which toss around man made objects such as houses and cars and destroy the lives of human beings, we have experienced temperature changes with sunny Australia experiencing some of the coolest summers in recorded history, and we have also seen the behavioural patterns of many species of animals change, as their natural environments are being compromised by these changes in nature caused by humans.

One example is the beautiful polar bear of the north atlantic; which due to the ice rapidly melting that it relies upon for survival, has seen it’s behavioural patterns change, and has caused it to move to areas away from it’s natural dwellings.

This problem it’s REAL and if we take an apathetic attitude will only serve to get worse for mankind and this planet we rely upon to live.

The earth can no longer sustain this damage; it’s our home and do you destroy your home? Well certainly not the immediate one that surrounds you as its very small and as you can see the immediate damage inflicted upon it. If someone throws a rock through your window, your appalled and disgusted aren’t you? and you straight away call the window repairer to come and fix it. But because the earth is much bigger, big, huge gigantic; so many atrocities happen that are simply a case of ‘out of sight out of mind’ The earth is not our immediate home it’s our ultimate home and were destroying it without the slightest hesitation remorse or feeling of guilt.

While an individual alone cannot stop these things own their own and alone, as it is just too much for one person. It is only through the collected efforts of ALL concerned individuals that we can stop it.

It’s the collation of the willing against the destructive actions of anthropocentric human beings and selfish corporations that are destroying nature and the animals that rely upon them for their very existence; and it’s this collation that WILL stop it.

While I did become a little passionate in this article, it’s only because I deeply care about the earth and want to help save it for you, for me, and all our friends.

The earth is such a beautiful place and their are so many beautiful places in it; too many to mention here, but there’s Antarctica with it clear pristine icebergs that are white; white as the eternal heaven that we all imagine in our minds; and then there’s the ice floes of Canada’s east coast, with the soft cries of the magnificent baby harp seals that echo through them that are stunning and incredible too; and there’s also the Amazon rainforest, which is rapidly being destroyed by bulldozing and land development; with all it’s amazing animals, snakes, spiders and insects who dwell there. The magic of that place is beyond belief and just incredible.

Do you want to see these things go? do you want see them disappear forever? because I don’t; I don’t want the animals living in zoos, aquariums and animal sanctuaries in unnatural environments surrounded by tourists with cannon cameras, who take photos thinking their behaviours are normal. I think it’s an absolute tragedy that zoos exist; but I understand it’s necessary for the preservation of many species which have been caused by the things mentioned and written in this article.

The earth is our home, it needs us and it’s in trouble. It’s your responsibility and it’s my responsibility to do whatever we can to help reduce the destructive environmental factors cased by us, and to stop them from compromising our existence and the existence of our wonderful animal friends who share this planet with us.

You CAN make a difference to the state of the earth; even if it’s small, it all helps.

So please recycle material that we can turn into reusable products that put less demand on the resources of the earth, consider becoming a vegetarian or even better a vegan as the effects of eating meat cause catastrophic damage to the earth; because of thousands of the thousands of acres of forest that is cleared away to create grazing land for cattle. Use non toxic products when washing your car and doing your dishes; which eventually find their way into our waterways and poison and kill species of fish which larger predatory animals need to survive and without those fish being there die themselves; and an important but very easy action, do not litter the natural environments with human rubbish such as can holders which if thrown into the ocean entagle fish, sea turtles and otehr small marine ocean dwelling species.

The earth needs you, I need you, and you need me fighting for the earth for you.

This isn’t done for fun, for publicity, or to raise funds for organizations, although some are in it for that very incredibly selfish reason. It is done because it has to be, because if it’s not, we will perish, your children will perish and we won’t have a world. We will have a baron world of what things used to be and what things once where, and if humans are lucky enough to survive and still be inhabiting it; they will be saying “you know we could of stopped this” and the person who can stop it is YOU, and the time to stop it is NOW!!!

Please visit the links on this blog for more information and also please visit another external site called www.stopglobalwarming.com

And together we can do it, and we will do it. Because when you look your child in the eyes when you tuck he or she in tonight; you have to, otherwise they won’t be able to do the same thing when they have children of their own someday.

As the tremendous and very inspiring rock band Rage against the Machine who I listen to a lot of; have said

“Now testify its right outside your door”

Who controls the past now controls the future. You have more power then you think?

Thank You.

Here Fishy Fishy Fishy

2006-12-31T09:57:00.000-08:00

A fish is another one of those non human living and breathing creatures that we tend to, unless were directly involved with them; not to hold in high regard, and although fish aren’t the cutest animals in the world. The one thing they are is often very much misunderstood by lots of people who only equate fish with an order of fries at their local fish and chip shop.

Fish are essential to the life of the ocean, and without fish many ocean species would die.

Fish are amazing I tell you, absolutely amazing it’s unreal. Did you know there are over 25’000 identified species of fish on planet earth? and that there are more species of fish than reptiles birds and all mammals combined?

40% of fish inhabit fresh water territories yet lees than 0.1% of the earth’s water is fresh water. Fish have been on planet earth for over 450 million years and were established long before even the great dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Although many people when they see a fish flopping up and down on the deck of a boat think it is not suffering; nothing could be more wrong. Fish experience stress, fear and pain in the same way as birds and mammals do; it’s just that many people aren’t as sympathetic towards them because a) they are not as attractive as many other non human species and b) it’s been argued that they have a smaller brain development than more highly regarded non human living creatures such as whales and dolphins.

And although this is true, it does not mean that they suffer any less. If I was tell you that fish can drown, you would look at me absolutely perplexed and say to me.

“your mad and crazy Smudge!” “fish can’t drown!” “they were given gills, so they can breathe underwater you idiot!”

You need life sustaining oxygen to survive don’t you? And if you’re taken out of your natural living environment and placed into one that is alien and foreign you would struggle to live wouldn’t you? Although humans can hold their breath and stay underwater for prolonged periods of time, we can’t forever, and eventually sooner or later we have to come up to the surface to fill our lungs with life sustaining oxygen given to us by trees, and we breathe a huge sigh of relief as this essential life force fills our lungs and enables us to live.

When a fish is removed from its natural environment of water and the structures such as coral reefs it needs for spawning and re-generation, it is struggling to live, and is essentially drowning.

A fish flopping violently up and down on a deck of a boat is fighting and wanting to get back into the water where it lives and where that water flows through it gills is to keep it alive. It’s been taken out of that water and placed into an unnatural environment thus struggling to breathe and stay alive, and thus in essence is ‘drowning’. Just as a human struggles to breathe and fight for life sustaining oxygen when forced underwater in an un-natural environment for a period of time that is too long and eventually life threatening.

Fish can drown and they do drown. So tell all your friends that one and it will spin them out.

Many people think of fish as dumb and stupid and without thought or intelligence; but fish are smart and have excellent senses of sight touch and taste and many posses a good sense of smell and hearing.

There’s too many species of fish to mention in this article as we’ll all be here until were old men and women (laughs). But I’ll mention some of the most well known famous and celebrated ones.

The obvious and the most popular and celebrated are the beautiful, the magnificent, the highly intelligent, and the lovely and absolutely incredible sharks.

There are many species of shark including the world’s most famous, most feared and most misunderstood and that’s the great white shark; which has been forever and unfortunately attached with the stigma of being a man eating, flesh ripping apart, rouge killing machine, when nothing could be further from the truth; also included in other species of shark are hammerheads who derive their name because their head is shaped very similar to that of the common handyman tool the ‘hammer’ with two ends protruding from the top of a wooden handle. Another species is the whale shark, which is the world largest fish, is non threatening to humans, and just like the beautiful whale feeds only on plankton.

Other much smaller and lesser known fish; include the magnificent swordfish, although that is pretty well known, angelfish and the barramundi species of fish and many many more which are just too numerous to mention.

All fish have two sets of fins; paired fins and several unpaired fins, they’re typically cold blooded, but can be warm blooded, and are covered with scales. Every single fish species is equipped with gills which act as s filter to extract life giving oxygen from water.

Fish are abundant in the sea all over the world (although that trend is rapidly declining) and are an essential and a very important source of food and livelihoods for fisherman both native, traditional and commercial.

They such as the beautiful and fascinating insects have been immortalized as religious symbols because of their important roles as a source of food in society and have also been a source of inspiration for books, movies and television.

As mentioned in previous articles; fish are under threat from devastating industrialized commercial over fishing practices and from other accelerated human disturbances. Such as toxic pollutants entering the oceans and waterways they need for survival, and not only threatening them, but also larger predatory species that rely upon them for survival including members of their very own family which are sharks. As fish have been polluted by human disturbances many are carrying life threatening poisons and toxins that are hazardous to human health, who harvest and catch them for food consumption. Other marine mammals are also under threat as fish species make up their staple diet and are polluted with these toxins.

While the term ‘stop cruelty to fish’ is not one you hear thrown around by many people including dedicated animal lovers. They are still the victims of unnecessary sport hunt and game fishing which is glorified and celebrated as fishing tournaments; and is unnecessary, and reduces fish populations worldwide which is something we absolutely don’t need right now, and causes undue stress, crulety, and suffering to fish species. So please don't support these events and help to drive demand for unnessacary overfishing and unnessacary stress to fish populations to continue.

Fish are absolutely essential and vital to the health of the oceans, and while the lesser known fish species are not held in as high regard as other animals such as tigers lions or elephants; they are very much appreciated and valued by the people who need them and rely upon them as a source of food for survival.

By considering becoming a vegan and not including them in your diet; it maybe beneficial to your health as high levels of toxins have been found in fish sold in supermarkets for human consumption and by making this choice, it wall also reduce the demand for devastating industrialized commercial fishing practices ensuring that there will be an abundance of them for the future generations to utilize and enjoy.

Often misunderstood and not held in as high regard as they should be; fish are amazing non threatening ocean dwelling creatures that are essential to the life-force of the ocean and are essential to many different types of human beings who rely upon them for survival.

Let’s help to protect this animal species for everyone to enjoy and for our children to enjoy as well.

Why Go Vegetarian? Why Not?

2006-12-30T11:06:00.001-08:00


This very well done, non intrusive video dispells all the common myths.

Who Is The ALF?

2006-12-30T08:51:00.000-08:00

The ALF is a rapidly growing group of animal activists who have and are changing the world; the acronym stands for the Animal Liberation Front.

For many people, seeing the image of a burly man dressed in a black balaclava holding a basset hound puppy can be very unsettling; but we first have to find out the reasons as to why is he wearing that black balaclava and why he is holding that beautiful basset hound puppy.

The reason is simple, and the reason is animal abuse, torture and suffering by heartless individuals, corporations, and the businesses who support them.

River Phoenix who I mentioned in a previous article and will mention again here was once quoted as saying :)

“We need an extreme movement because what is happening to animals is so extreme. Some misinformed people claim that animal rights activists are terrorists, but these people are simply ignorant of who the real terrorists are - the companies and industries that torture literally billions of animals each year”. (The Animals' Voice Magazine - 1989).

Rivers words in today’s world could not ring more true, for while I am writing this and you are reading it; millions of animals are being abused, tortured and hurt by many heartless corporations around the world; who see them as nothing more then ‘product’. Something that is below the human race, and something we human beings can do whatever the hell we wish with.

And things have become so extreme; that we compassionate individuals cannot afford to turn a blind eye to them any longer ‘extreme actions call for extreme measures’ and the extreme measure comes in the form of the Animal Liberation Front.

The Animal Liberation Front tears down the walls, cuts open the doors, destroys property causing thousands of dollars worth of damage, and frees these poor innocent animals from the pain, the fear and the hurt; thus driving these heartless corporations and the other corporations who support them out of business, so they cannot and are reluctant to continue.

Many people say “save the animals!” “end the cruelty!” which is the morally correct and noble thing to say and stand for. But some people would rather take a diplomatic avenue; diplomatic meaning ethical or proper and converse with the politicians, the law makers and the business owners to stop their abuse of animals in this traditional non threatening and non violent way.

While I do advocate this initial method of approach; if after many times of applying that action it doesn’t work, what then? At the very same time we’re writing letters, making phone calls and taking all these diplomatic avenues. Cats and dogs are being tested on in laboratories, primates are being injected with syringes, minks are circling around like mad in cages barely big enough to hold them as they await to be skinned alive for the fur industry; and so many more mad unnecessary and wrong treatments of animals are happening all over the word RIGHT NOW!!!

Sometimes diplomatic avenues can take weeks, even years and while were waiting animals are in cages, crates and being abused; calling crying and wanting anybody to help them in anyway that they can; they’re calling for help, calling for a voice to help them, calling to be freed from the hands of oppression; and that voice is the Animal Liberation Front.

Armed with bolt cutters, balaclavas and equipment designed to cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to the owners of the property where these insidious crimes against our animal friends are being carried out. They enter like a cartoon superhero, standing up for what’s right, what’s moral and what’s just the downright fucking decent thing to do!

Many people dismiss the ALF as terrorists, nutcases, looney bins; who do more harm to the cause of the animal rights movement than good. Every animal rights organization in the world wants the same goal, and that’s to see animals free from unnecessary exploitation and harm.

But sometimes bearing witness to the atrocities and cruelty they are going through isn’t enough. Bearing witness and watching an animal being abused won’t save it, video taping acts of cruelty to animals won’t directly stop them from happening, and writing an article about how immoral and wrong animal abuse and cruelty is, certainly won’t stop it.

The way to STOP IT! is by DIRECT ACTION!!! Getting out there, going to where it’s happening, and physically picking up a dog who has been kept in a cage and putting him in a van and taking him far far way from the uncompassionate hands that have victimized him. Ladies and gentlemen this is the ALF, the Animal Liberation Front; this is what they stand for and this is what they’re about.

Think for a second? would you stand by and watch a puppy or kitten being abused in the street? would you stand their and just ‘bear witness’ as they call it, to the injustice that is happening before you? or would you sum up your courage and place yourself between the innocent victim and the heartless thug who is carrying it out on that poor innocent and completely defenseless animal. Because I know what I would do in a racing heartbeat and without the slightest hesitation at all.

The past is for scholars, the future is for dreamers, the present is for activists; whose actions are the past and the future.

If their were no animal defenders exposing the real truth and STOPPING IT; how many crimes against our animal friends would continue in silence unabated and without protest.

The bottom line is; is that animals are in peril and while governments have done some noble and positive things for the benefit of them; is not enough and more is needed, a ‘direct action’ is needed. Like the way a police officer will apprehend a burglar running away from the scene of the crime, the ALF raids the properties where these crimes are being committed against animals and they free them from abuse and suffering, if a person is against them, then what ethics do they have? What morals and princibles do they stand for? If you don’t support the ALF you don’t support justice and what the morally right thing is to do for animals.

Still hate the ALF? Well if you were stuck in a cage barely big enough to contain you and being abused to some of the most unforgivable crimes against nature; you couldn’t wait for them to come more quickly.

For without the angels in black, how many animals would fall at the hands of uncompassionate hands? and the answer would be millions.

Because in the immortal words of Margret Mead :)

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world”. “Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”.

Please visit their website today; and to watch a video of this fantastic animal rights group in action. Please visit the videos section in the archive.

Thank You

www.animalliberationfront.com

The Animal Liberation Front

2006-12-30T08:50:00.001-08:00


The angels in black balaclavas who use 'direct action' to free animals from unnessacary torture and abuse.

Welcome To The Wonderful World Of Insects

2006-12-30T05:31:00.000-08:00

Ya know when we think of animals or other non human creatures we only tend to initially think of other mammals large and small, that are immediately noticeable and recognized by the greater majority of us.

Animals such as the tremendous cat and dog, a large noble whale or the very intelligent ocean living dolphin.

But one other non human and living creature that plays an absolutely essential role to the sensitive eco systems of the earth is the humble insect whose fascinating patterns, striking colours and complex intricacies often go unnoticed by even the most dedicated of animal lovers.

If I analyze insects in incredible depth, I think I’d be here for weeks and this article would be hundreds of pages long, as there is simply too much to be said about them and the absolutely fascinating myriad of them that make up their existence.

Let’s have a look at the best I can at them as insects truly are so incredibly fascinating.

Did you know that insects make up 95% of all the animal species on earth? I know, hard to believe but it’s true as there is just so so many of them.

All insects must have the following components or makeup to be considered an insect, and that’s that insects must have three body parts and that’s a head a thorax an abdomen, they must also have six jointed legs, two antennae to sense the world around them and an exoskeleton which is the outside skeleton. Spiders are not insects as they have eight legs not six, and do not have three body parts.

Insects are small and the greater majority of them have the ability to fly which is helpful in them avoiding predators and also catching them for themselves. They are beneficial to humans as producers of honey silk and wax; and as well as possessing this positive need for which mankind benefits, they can also be considered an annoyance to us as some destroy crops and carry diseases. But less than one percent of insect species are considered pests and only a few hundred a considered a major and constant problem such as flies and locusts.

Their anatomy is lightweight but has a strong exterior; they have sensitive organs all over their anatomy which enables them to sense light pressure, noise and other sensitive disturbances caused by nature.

Insects are so intricate and complex in design; that if human beings attempted to duplicate them as a huge robot or machine we couldn’t do it, as they’re moving parts and genetic makeup of their mechanisms is simply too complicated to reproduce manually.

Insects are divide into categories that are too numerous too mention but one category they are dived into is the Phasmatodea order of insects which are stick insects, who derive their common name as they look essentially like as stick or leaf and blend in flawlessly with their surrounding environments in which they look the very same as. Other groups of insects include beetles and flies.

Insects have been immortalized in horror films, books, television and comic books and are often misunderstood as being ‘nasty bloody things’ that are ridden with disease and parasites and if come into contact with, will cause undue and unnecessary harm to human beings.

While some insects as mosquitoes can carry life threatening diseases such as malaria which cause human beings to fall very ill and die if not treated in time. Many insects such as bees will only attack if provoked and feel that their life and the lives of their colonies or swarms are being compromised.

For a devoted expert on insects I think there’s a never-ending amount of synopsizes you can do on them, but as I’m no insect expert we’ll just leave it there.

I really do appreciate insects and their colours, shapes, noises and behaviours ever solidify my belief that there is a higher power responsible for all of us; and if you look closely at that picture of that beautiful butterfly atop this article, it’s hard for anyone to dismiss that belief.

Dogs And Cats WOO! HOO!

2006-12-29T23:55:00.000-08:00

I love them, you love them, and we all love them.

For they are our companion animals, the ones we have the most unique and special bond with, the ones we find solace in when the word gets too tough for us and the ones who will always love us unconditionally.

No matter what mistakes we make, how bad we smell or whatever other trivial concern the rest of anthropocentric society judges us by.

Dogs and cats, cats and dogs, whatever way you want to say it; truly do bring so much joy into the lives of millions of people worldwide, and if you’ve ever owned one or been around someone who has, it’s more than easy to see why.

Quite simply, they rule! totally totally rule!

First we will delve into the dog, how it’s served mankind in many different ways and how it is the worlds number one animal; in terms of popularity, its relationship with man and the tremendous benefit it has been to him over time.

Dogs have been domesticated for most of human history and the wild ancestors of dogs were all hunters and pack animals such as the wild wolf. Dogs still retain the urge to be with their pack which is why they do not like to be left alone too long.

Coming in a wide range of colours, sizes and temperaments there truly is a dog for everyone out there. Whether you’re a fitness instructor who needs a German Shepherd or a Labrador that need to be walked at least two times a day; or just a gentle retired elderly person who needs a quiet and less energetic dog such as a Shitzu or one of the smaller breeds, there is a dog out there for you no matter what type of person you are.

But as intelligent and loyal as dogs are; they still need attention and to be looked after properly. This includes grooming, cleaning, exercise and providing them with an adequate and healthy diet, that includes fresh water with every meal and dry dog biscuits which act as a toothbrush of sorts as they can clear away bits of food from meals that have become stuck in-between their teeth.

Dogs have served mankind in so many different ways over the years that it really is quite remarkable.

Highly intelligent and loyal, dogs have been trained as seeing guides for the blind hence the name ‘guide dog’ been given to them, they have also been trained by security and law enforcement agencies as security dogs and sniffer dogs to detect drugs and other illegal substances brought in through airports and other transport systems; but it doesn’t stop there, dogs can also herd sheep pull sleighs in the snow and act as a healer for lack of a better term, to lift and boost the spirits of people of all ages who are not well; whether it’s physically or mentally.

Hey! this animal the dog is staring to outshine me (laughs) no wonder they’re so incredibly popular; no but seriously, they truly are an animal we have the most special connection with, and an animal who has become so special to us that people buy Christmas presents for them, have proper burial and funerals services for them and even invite them to their wedding.

In the animal world the dog wins the popularity contest hands down.

BUT this amazingly popular animal may have some noble competition in the form of another animal that also four legs and a tail, and that animals name is the cat.

Cats are just as popular as dogs maybe even more so, and bring so much joy into the lives of people all over the world as well; and for a double dose of joy people have both as pets and sometimes one two or more of each in the same home. Cat’s are popular too all you dogs and don’t you forget it.

Just as the dog, cats have also been domesticated through most of human history as well and it’s also been estimated that they were around as early as 7500 years BC and that in anyone language make this animal a very experienced veteran.

While cats generally aren’t as loyal as dogs, they still have a very special relationship with their owners and have been known to help them in times of crises or emergency.

Cats are skilled predators and are valued for their ability to remove vermin such as mice and rats, they communicate by a common ‘meow’ sound and by purring when comfortable or content. They also hiss aggressively when threatened and as an act of aggression towards other animals and also humans.

Cats are a carnivorous mammal meaning they eat fish as the staple part of their main diet but they can also eat other types of meats as well. Highly intelligent and unlike dogs able to groom themselves a lot more efficiently and without as much human interaction, they make a great companion animals for so many people.

Cats have a stigma for having a so called ‘9 lives’ a saying given to them for their incredible ability to survive in extreme whether conditions and as a result of accidents or being stuck in drain pipes and similar man made objects when their curiosity has gotten the best of them.

Just as the dog they come in so many different breeds and colours and while they don’t come in as many different sizes as dogs; some breeds are bigger more robust and sturdier than others, but generally they all around the same size.

Cats are very talented and certainly have some unique skills compared to the dog.

One is their incredible ability to jump from a still position on the ground to heights of two meters and above, they also have another unique honour of when jumping down or descending from a height similar and above to which they jump, of landing on all fours. If cats are knocked off a height for whatever reason, they can be descending toward the ground with all four of their paws and body facing upward, but can remarkably maneuver and adjust their bodies to turn around so their paws are facing downward enabling them to land safely; they really are amazing.

Some common misconceptions about cats include that their whiskers help them to balance; that isn’t true, and I don’t really know why their whiskers are there, but for whatever reason they are, it makes them look very strikingly beautiful.

While cats don’t as need as much involvement on the grooming side of things from humans as dogs do; they still need lots of attention and love when caring for one. Such as a flea collar, de-worm medicine and a scratching post so they can stretch themselves; and also if possible, especially in a rural area, to be kept indoors at night time as they can cause a lot of damage to wildlife under the cover of darkness and become involved with fights with other cats and cause painful scarring and tissue wounds to their victims and also to themselves.

But having said all that, they are equal to dogs in terms of people loving them, providing companionship to people and being held in very high regard by humans who view them as a tremendous friend and companion animal.

Cats and dogs have been, are, and will continue to be a very important part of our lives for many years to come.

We love them, they make us happy and the world would be an extremely sad place without them. We have to treat them right and with respect, and if we see them in peril as victims of neglect abuse or suffering, we have to reach in our heart and help them, for they would help us without the slightest hesitation.

It’s important to have them spayed and neutered to control their populations and to protest vigorously and with determination to immediately stop them being used in experiments and research for the benefits of humans and for being the unfortunate victims of the babaric and horrific fur trade; as they are our wonderful companion animals, highly intelligent and cannot be treated in ways that fill them with fear harm and pain.

I love them so very much and I have one too; a Maltese Shitzu Terrior Cross named Smudgy, it’s where my nickname came from; and while I do walk and love her. I maaay have to get red of the pink leash, as she’s a girly dog and I’m all 100% pure beefcake strongman, well at least in my own mind (laughs).

So love them, have fun with them, defend and look out for them; and with this positive attitude we can ensure their world will always be bright, for not only them, but for ourselves as well.

If YOU Were THERE And If YOU were THAT Animal

2006-12-29T00:21:00.000-08:00

I just ten minutes ago at the time of writing this article, watched video footage of China’s barbaric fur trade and I cried, tears, streamed down my face, and I cried.

Tears are still there now when I close and open my eyes

I saw a beautiful wolf being skinned ALIVE!!! and workers were ripping it’s beautiful fur off it’s back. I could see its eyes looking at me pleading for ANYONE!!! ANYTHING!!! to stop what was happening to him, he was in peril. GOD! and there is no way on earth anyone with a soul could stand there and approve of what was happening to him.

You think one could become desensitized to seeing this, but you can't and you never never can.

Imagine YOU being skinned ALIVE!!! You know sometimes when we have a cuticle on or fingernail and it hurts to pull it off, imagine that magnified 100x all over your body GOD!!! That poor animal GOD!!! I, PLEASE!!! don’t wear real fur PLEASE!!!

Because If YOU were that incredible unfortunate creature, there is no way you would want anybody to push demand for something that hurts you in the most barbaric, horrific, unimaginable and incomprehensible way possible.

Please help to stop it! Please! and don’t wear real fur.

Fur is murder, it truly is and unlike meat it CANNOT be made justifiable by any average human being.

Because If we can treat a beautiful innocent animal like that, their will never be any hope for the human race.

Humans Are More Important Than Animals END OF STORY!!!

2006-12-28T23:30:00.000-08:00

It’s the cry you will you hear a lot of in the animal rights movement and similar ones, such as the following are often said too.

“Anyone who has more empathy for a whale can quite frankly leave the gene pool!”

“Animals were put here by god for us to utilize and do whatever we wish with!”

“Animals are NOT the creative equal of human beings”

“What’s more important huh???” “A terminally ill five year old girl!”, “or some stupid chicken or rat?”

"if you love animals more than human beings you can go to hell!"

And the single most pathetic, sad and downright offensive and upmost uneducated and ignorant comment I have heard in my life, and ever will, and that was.

" I believe we can do whatever we wish with animals as long as it's humane"

If you have half a brain, I don't need to tell you just how plain ridiculous and outrageous such a stupid foolish and incredibly dumb comment that was.

We all have someone we care about no matter whether its immediate family, friends, acquaintances or people such as celebrities and sports stars, who we admire and love but most of us will never get to see or meet.

Humans are beautiful, wonderful and every other emotion we can conjure and think of and because there’s a lot of us, and the earth is our home, and there’s six and a half billion (and rapidly growing) of us. We have no choice but to interact with each other, even if we don’t want to, and just want to hide under the bed for six months like a bear hibernates before waking and adjusting its eyes to a world it hasn’t seen or smelt for a while.

Why all the animosity? why all the hate? why all the ridicule? Ya know, I can’t delve into this too deeply as I’ve written many thoughts on the subject. But so many people care about and love other people BECAUSE of animals.

I met a girl on the internet in 2005 by the name of Joanne, we were united by our common interest against the fur trade, our relationship grew strong and I now care about her very deeply.

Funny isn’t it?

Many people will strongly say “humans are more important than animals” but these beautiful innocent and incredibly unfortunate victims of the barbaric fur trade is what brought us together in the first place. They’re what made me care about and love her, and without them being here, and unnecessarily and tragically getting exploited and killed, we probably never would have met and that would have been a shame, because I love her dearly and with all my heart and soul.

Animals BRING people together, and they make people care about other people thus ensuring a strong loving bond between two humans that was brought together by an animal who wasn’t doing anything but being itself.

So if somebody said to me “do you value the life of an animal over that of this girl Joanne you met over the internet?” I will say “no” and they will say “why do you say no?” and I will say “because if wasn’t for that animal, and thousands like him being here in the first place” “I wouldn’t have her to love and care about deeply in the way that I do”.

So maybe animals aren’t so beneath the human race after all?

Testing On Animals To Find Cures For Human Beings. Right Or Wrong?

2006-12-28T09:42:00.000-08:00

This is a very controversial topic.

Either your strongly for it, strongly against it, reluctantly for it, or supportive of it while other alternatives and replacements are being looked at and implemented.

The heart of the debate simply boils down to one thing and that’s the moral belief by the huge majority of the human race that humans are more important than animals and that animals are below us.

While we love animals, interact use and have fun with them. We still believe they are a lesser life form. For they are ‘apparently’ not as intelligent, involved, productive, or important as human beings.

Even I’m to blame for this, because although I do preach that I view both humans and animals as the equal creations of a higher power.

If I had a young daughter who was six years of age, very very sick and could die any day week or month from now, and the only hope for a cure were animal experiments being conducted on laboratory mice and guinea pigs to find a cure? Would I be against these tests? would I say "NO!" "don’t test on innocent animals to find a cure for my dying daughter", "find another way to save her". But I’m being honest, I would say yes, with as much as I love and adore animals I would?

Does that make me a hypocrite saying one thing and doing another? does it make me bad because I supported animal testing to help save my young daughter? Or am I just thankful a necessary evil is being carried out to help find potential cures that could save her life so I could hug and hold her healthy beautiful soul once more.

Maybe it’s all three of the above and I think it is.

Many people argue that research on animals and the scientific data that stems from it cannot be applied to humans because our genetic make up, heart lung liver and biological systems are not the same.

On the other side of the token many pro-opponents argue that animals and humans are very similar in genetic makeup and therefore the data can be applied. They also argue that animal experiments carried out on dogs and horses have resulted or aided in finding cures and vaccines for diphtheria and are essential in finding a cure for aids and can even benefit other animals as treatments to ease rabies and feline leukemia, and have all been the result of testing on animals.

The following is a quote from a former animal researcher himself :)

“Animals have rights. When scientists engage in animal research” "they violate the rights of an animal to be free from unnatural diseases, injuries, or mental and behavior problems,"

Says John McArdle, a biologist with the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS), once an animal researcher himself.

Now for a former animal researcher to say that, shows he better than anybody would know what stress fear and suffering these animals go through to find potential cures for human beings and how it may not be necessary to test on them for the benefits of you me and the people we care about.

I guess you could compare this to the killing of animals for food consumption. While we are eating and while we are currently testing on animals to find cures of diseases and illness of human beings, we HAVE to do it in the most humane way possible with as little fear pain and suffering to these animals. But while we are, we HAVE to make sure that we are also expanding as much effort time and money into finding alternatives to testing on animals such as tissue samples and computer models which already exist but aren’t used on such huge scale as animals.

It also comes down to what animals we view in higher regard to others.

The image or video of seeing a dog or cat being tested and experimented on is much more upsetting than the image or video of seeing a mouse or rat being tested on but morally it’s no different. They are both living breathing creatures. But because one is smarter better understood and much more loved, it deserves to live. In my opinion both deserve to live, but because I follow a lot of people and hold a companion animal in higher regard, I would choose the dog over the mouse.

In the year of 1997; the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that 1,345,739 warm-blooded animals such as dogs, cats, monkeys, and rabbits--were used in research, testing, or experiments. That number doesn't cover mice and rats, which account for 85 to 90 percent of lab animals, or more than 15 million. (The USDA doesn't regulate the use of rodents in labs.) Experts estimate that the total number of animals used for research in the U.S. exceeds 17 million each year. Most of the animals are painlessly put to death after experiments.

I think first and foremost we have to liberate our companion animals such as cats and dogs from these experiments to cure diseases of humans. Because ironically companion animals can help prevent disease by being a part of people’s lives; making them happy, live a healthy lifestyle and not be susceptible and prone to fall to ill health, thus reducing the demand for animal testing which they are unfortunately a part of.

But someone might say “whoa hold on a second” “what about primates?” “they are very intelligent and rabbits are companion animals as well”

This is true and I agree, and we have to do this as well. If ten chimps and rabbits are set free simultaneously as ten dogs and cats are somewhere else in the world, then it’s all an integral part of the overall effort to refine reduce and REPLACE animal testing with other alternatives.

It has so many points of debate. But I think our most important and urgent need, is to IMMEDIATELY STOP testing on companion animals such cats dogs and rabbits.

Because the human race has a more special emotional connection to these beings and to think you’re alive and well because of an experiment conducted on an animal that could of potentiality prevented the disease or illness your carrying; by making you happy and healthy by a being an important part of you life, is wrong and needs to be stopped. Because many people would have more difficulty in choosing a dog vs a human than a mouse or rat vs a human.

As far as testing cosmetics and perfumes on ANY animals to market a new shade of perfume or after shaves. For anyone with a heart a moral conscious, IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND WRONG and should not be tolerated by anyone. As these unnecessary experiments have NO benefit to the human race and are just an absolutely incomprehensible way to find out if an after shave smells good for your next date.

The pain, suffering, fear and torture of animals in cosmetics testing is ABSOLUTLEY UNACCEPTABLE!!! ABSOLUTE BOTTOM LINE!!! and while I don’t like to shove my beliefs down peoples throats I will on this one, as I’m sure no person with a heart or soul would disagree with me.

If people want to find out if the latest shade of perfume burns, they can spray it on their own damn face and not that of innocent animals.

So in conclusion I RELUCTANTLY support animal testing to find cures for debilitating diseases of human beings. But I do NOT support the testing of our wonderful companion animals such as dogs cats and rabbits etc. nor do I condone the testing of primates at they are highly intelligent animals and have to much of an emotional connection on human level to be part of this.

As far as the rodents go I would like to see NO testing on them at ALL. But while we are testing on them we HAVE to do it as humanely as possible and while we are, be more determined and passionate than ever to find replacements alternatives and other ways of finding cures for human diseases that will eventually see them not tested on anymore.

As the Humane Society of the United States has stated; it’s the three r’s refine reduce and replace, and if we can exercise these three r’s. Then maybe we’ll see the end of animal testing all together and forever.

So please, when you’re shopping for perfumes and cosmetics; be sure to read the labels carefully to make sure no animal experiments were conducted to produce and market them; and support the organizations working to end animal testing and politely put pressure on corporations, individuals and industries who currently engage in it. And make sure to shop with your heart and purchase cruelty free animal products.

Because it’s only through the concerned individuals of people like me and yourselves that we can see it stopped FOREVER!

For more information on animal testing and how you can help stop it, please google animal testing and read the results.

Thank You

The Way To Get People To Change Is Through Tolerance. But What Happens If That Doesn’t Work?

2006-12-28T06:16:00.000-08:00

River Phoenix was once quoted as saying :)

“We need an extreme movement because what is happening to animals is so extreme. Some misinformed people claim that animal rights activists are terrorists, but these people are simply ignorant of who the real terrorists are - the companies and industries that torture literally billions of animals each year”.

Passionate words from a man who was passionate about animals and the injustices that face them.

River’s word’s make part of me want to go out and find an animal testing lab and just bomb the hell out of it and free all the animals who are being abused inside.

But if I did, what would the owners of the establishment think of me? would they be clapping their hands in joy and approving of what I have done? or would they be very upset and angry because I have behaved irrationally and the consequences of my actions are most likely to alienate them from me and the stance for which I was fighting?

The old adage ‘extreme actions call for extreme measures’ is certainly true, but what happens when those extreme measures set back the cause you are fighting for instead of moving it forward.

The plight of animal rights and welfare is one that brings out a lot of emotion and justifiably so. Seeing horrific video, disturbing images and reading horrific stories make us understandably upset and make us just want to free animals whoa are being victimized; like a cartoon hero saves the damsel in distress and lives with her happily ever after.

I can understand where River’s coming from, I really can. But if extreme measures set back the animal rights movement then that’s not a good thing. BUT if exercising tolerance before resorting to extreme measures fails, is it justifiable?

If I talked with a company who tests cosmetics on animals, or a designer who uses real animals in his fashion designs. If I invited them to talk with me about the horrific cruelty that animals go through as a result of their actions; and we sat down calmly and discussed intelligently and thoughtfully about their actions, their impact on nature and the environment and how we can have compassionate alternatives and no longer use and abuse innocent animals for our selfish benefits. And if after all that rationally polite and considerate effort in getting them to stop, they still continue to abuse and mistreat animals, what then?

I’ve certainly initially done the right thing and that was exercising tolerance. I was tolerant of what they were doing and calmly tried to get them to change their mind on the damage they are causing and my efforts have failed as a result and they are still contributing to the suffering of animals. What then? What do I do?

Do I go back and try again? I would, but what if that failed? and what if every subsequent effort there afterwards failed? and they continued to abuse animals despite all my efforts.

Well going back to that old saying ‘extreme actions call for extreme measures’ I think I may be in a valid position to exercise this old saying.

Because I did the right thing, I explored every diplomatic avenue and it failed. So do I get the kerosene, the balaclava, the spray can and set on my way to burn down that animal resting facility. I want to but should I?

The Humane Society of the United States for years diplomatically tried to peruse the Canadian government to stop their merciless slaughter of baby seals. In 2005 they initiated a boycott of Canadian seafood products to put financial pressure on Canada’s east coast fishing industry until they end it. This is indeed an extreme measure, caused by an extreme action. But because their not blowing up Canadian parliamentary buildings in a huge fireball, it doesn’t seem as outrageous inappropriate and violent. But in essence is the very same thing.

It’s a funny thing isn’t it? It’s all too easy to denounce these organizations or movements who use violent tactics in order to liberate animals. But if you were one of the animals being tortured inside of these industries or companies establishments, you couldn’t hope for them to chop down a door with an axe and free you and your friends any more quickly.

While I don’t at all advocate violence, I have said if pushed, that I would use it; and maybe in situation such as the one above I would have to. Not because I want to, but because I have to. Aggression is a powerful tool if used wisely, but if used without thought or rationality it can be very detrimental. Not only to you, but more importantly to the cause you are fighting for.

While I’m not telling people to go out and make firebombs and blow up every animal testing facility. I’m just saying that maybe more aggressive tactics when all diplomatic avenues have been exercised and ultimately ignored, maybe necessary; and to very carefully think that by using aggression to liberate animals. Will it be detrimental or beneficial for them?

Because the animals are your reason for your thought about it; But will the animals love you if your actions result in more suffering and abuse for them.

But on the other hand, the animals will love you for freeing them form suffering abuse, neglect and torture.

Because as yet as just another old saying goes 'the end justifies the means' and If doing something extreme liberates innocent animals from pain and death then I’m supportive of it. But not before all diplomatic avenues have been exercised and discussed.

Because sometimes in order to achieve a morally right and important aim; it’s acceptable to do something bad.

David Jonathan 'Smudgy' Cale AKA Me

2006-12-28T05:49:00.000-08:00

I just thought I'd say a little bit more about my self and why I post on YouTube and created this blog in addition to it.

But first I just have to say, when this photo was taken by my father at my home in sunny Perth in Western Australia, I was in the middle of doing push ups off these weights and thought I'd pose for a photo. I do follow all the official gym exercises when I'm in the gym, but at home I cheat, sssssh don't tell anyone and create some of my own that maybe even the old Arnold or Sly would approve of.

Ya know posting on YouTube and creating this blog has been a great experience. I've spoken and interacted with people I wouldn't normally other wise meet and have taken tremendous pride in bringing attention to and highlighting my love of animals for the entire world to see. I'm no superstar or important person but the one thing I am is man who is a concerned member of the public and a man who wants to help reduce and end animal suffering and clean up the environments in which they live too.

I'm not a person and an extreme animal lover who cannot look at things rationally and intelligently and one who will force you the reader into believing what i believe, because it just doesn't work that way. But by hopefully providing fair and balanced considerations on a wide range of issues involving animal cruelty abuse and suffering that are close to my heart: I can at least make you think about what you're reading and question some of the points I have made whether you agree with them or not.

I really do feel like sometimes just shutting off my self to the injustices of the world facing both humans and animals and just saying and excuse my language "fuck it!" "who gives a shit about anything!" "all I care about is me and that's that!".

But if I did that and took that negative attitude, all the animals who cannot speak for themselves and need me to speak out for them would be forgotten, lost and continued to be unnecessarily abused and tortured by cruel individuals, uncompassionate corporations and selfish governments who all put there agendas in front of the innocent animal with whom they are exploiting. I can't do that, I won't do that, and I don't do that; I love them and I fight for them in whatever small way, big way, direct or indirect way I can.

My love for animals definitely stems from my father's side of the family. My father loves animals and so does his sister my aunt, who attended anti seal slaughter rallies in the 1970's to protest the barbaric killing of newborn whitecoat pups. It's a tradition in my family to love and care about animals, and if I ever have children in my lifetime it's a lesson I will undoubtedly pass onto to them; to love, show respect, kindness, compassion and understanding to god's creations, because if you were one you would be wanting and appreciative of the same courtesy toward you. I view both animals and humans as equal living breathing beings or creatures of god and don't believe one is more important than the other and strongly believe both need to be treated with kindness, love, compassion and understanding if we want to improve the world and make it better.

If you're reading this you may have come from anywhere on the internet, but there's a good chance you have come from YouTube which is why this blog was created to explain my points about my videos so I'm not forever arguing and debating back on forth on the comments section of the videos I post.

If you love animals and are simply here to read my point of view I commend and congratulate you for being kind and caring and showing respect to the animals who share this incredible planet of ours with us.

If you're a person who perhaps strongly disagrees with a point of view on one of my video descriptions and is here to read what I have to say. I don't hate you, and I welcome you to read my point of view but all I ask is that you not get angry mad or upset, because by debating intelligently and rationally, it's an avenue that opens up many points and different ways of looking at things and it's an avenue that can change attitudes and people's minds for the cause of a greater good and that cause is animals and the environment.

So analyze scrutinize and criticize but don't make it personal, as aggression and violence is not something I advocate or participate in unless I'm really provoked and made to, and it's something that helps nobody and only makes things worse for everyone involved. So just “be cool” as the Fonz would say.

We all don't have to go out tomorrow and become like David Attenborough to save animals and the earth. But by making small but significant actions in our everyday lives, actions like not littering not polluting and showing kindness; it's something that benefits the earth greatly and it will ultimately be the fully fledged collected efforts of ALL of us that will make the eternal difference to what kind of planet we leave for our future generations to enjoy.

I'm a happy person who likes to have fun, I do at times get depressed and sad because of my love for animals and having to read the facts about what they go through before I post articles and video descriptions. But music is another one of my great loves and it helps to get me through, I think I'd be lost without it and enjoy so many bands and different types of music, I'm listening to The Offspring while writing this article.

I also like weight / muscle training, bike riding, playing sport, basketball is my fav and the one i'm best at; but golf, uh oh. I also enjoy walking, going to the beach and dancing to high energy songs like Bon Jovi, No Doubt and rocking out to Judas Priest (of course). I'm pretty much up for anything but might think twice when it comes time to do it though lol.

I'm happy being a vegan, I don't eat meat, poultry, seafood, honey, and dairy. I do wear leather, so maybe 95% vegan but not totally 100%. I feel mentally clearer, happier and just all around better and content, knowing that my efforts are helping to save animals.

So if anyone who shares the same love for animals and the environment wants to e-mail me please feel free to do so and I'll try and get back to you. I have a Bebo page so perhaps you may want to add me if you have one as well.

The love of animals is a common ground on which we can all meet and understand not only the beautiful animals but all of each other as well and hopefully we can.

Thanks for reading and look after yourselves oh and the animals too.

David Johnathan 'Smudgy' Cale (The Seal Warrior)

smudgy@dodo.com.au

Thanking everyone for the fantastic support and for being a champion to the animals. I appreciate it greatly.

Peace.

Pamela Anderson A Silicone Angel

2006-12-28T04:11:00.000-08:00

Canadian born model and actress Pamela Anderson was picked out of a huge crowd at a football game in the late 80’s by a cameraman who noticed her amongst all the other excited faces in the crowd.

He put her image on the giant tv screen for all the crowd to see her striking good looks. It drove the crowd wild, she was then offered a modeling contract by a beer company who was sponsoring the game and from that point on as they say ‘the rest was history’.

THE mega sex symbol of her generation and the 1990’s, I don’t think there was a man perhaps of any age who she did not enter the mind of, including myself when I was the tender age of 14 /15.

Many people see this blonde bombshell as a dumb blonde with an ample chest who couldn’t make it to the next round of the quiz show Jeopardy to save her life. And while she may not be Albert Einstein, the one thing she is; is beautiful, not only on the outside but on the inside as well.

One of the reasons which make her even more beautiful is her love for animals.

Pamela has spoken out about the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant chain’s very cruel treatment of chickens from the suppliers with whom their fast food products are processed, has spoken up for the innocent baby harp seals on Canada’s east coast, stripped down and bared it all for PeTA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and their famous ‘I’d rather go naked then wear fur campaigns’; and she’s also active in charitable organizations working to end the suffering and terrible debilitating disease that is aids.

She’s beautiful and she knows animals are too.

She has been vegetarian since her early teens, proving that beyond a doubt that not eating meat in your diet will make you look ugly. Gracing countless magazine covers and the world’s most famous men’s magazine Playboy I’m sure no-one would disagree.

In April 2006 she hosted Canada’s annual Juno awards which is an awards ceremony that awards different musical artists over a host of categories.

During the presentation she decided it would be a great time to speak out for the baby harp seals that are annually mercilessly slaughtered by the thousands for their pelts.

She said "I don't mind a little blood on the ice when it's a hockey rink, but I hate seeing blood on the ice when it's from baby seals."

Some members of the audience booed; booed because this beautiful compassionate caring woman did the right thing and stoop up for an innocent baby animal who is the victim of an unnecessary horrific and cruel slaughter.

In the subsequent weeks many supporters of the baby seal slaughter denounced her for her comments, with female members who support the slaughter saying she was foolish to make such comments.

Oh how they wish they could be as beautiful as she is and have all the guys fawn over her pictures in all the glossy magazines.

Face it, she’s beautiful, a friend to the animals and a beautiful angel; and anyone who loves the harp seals as much as me, I will always admire and love.

Thank you Pamela for being you and helping to make the world a better place.

PeTA An Animal Rights Group Who Means Well But Can’t Always Show It

2006-12-26T20:48:00.000-08:00

PeTA’s heart is definitely in the right place and no-ones disputing that, but they do struggle to look at things rationally and objectively.

I mean certainly being against seeing eye dogs for the blind in anyone’s language is very unintelligent, inappropriate and downright insane! and they should know better than this if they truly care for animals; and by believing in, and advocating an action like this, it would understandably make anyone think that your animal rights orginization is a joke and a laughing stock.

They also struggle to realize that the way to get people to change is through tolerance and understanding and NOT by aggressively shoving your beliefs down people’s throats which are more than likely to alienate them from you and your movement, whatever that may be.

I do support them in a small way and have used some of their print ads and links to their websites and I do admire them for their undercover investigations and exposing such barbaric horrors as China’s very shameful trade in dog and cat fur. But they need to stop acting like some kind of animal freedom cult and just become more rational, less intrusive and more mature, and then people will hopefully respect them.

To be against seeing eye dogs is insane! to be against pet ownership is insane! and to be against honey from bees being utilized for food consumption is completely insane! and I can't believe they'd be against these things. Animal testing is a controversial topic but it may be a necessary evil. I will delve into this issue in a later article, but I can say testing on animals for cosmetics and perfumes is COMPLETELY WRONG and should not be tolerated by ANYONE. Because if a person wants to find out if the latest shade of Chanel #5 burns their face, they can spray it own their own and not on the face of an innocent dog or cat, it's DISGUSTING!!!

To be against pet ownership is ridiculous. Pets promote compassion in human beings and if you have, or do own one, your less likely to be cruel and abusive to a person who has not; as you have experienced the magic and joy of them and realise that they bring nothing but happiness into your life and the lives of so many people around the world. It's a matter of them getting too emotional and not realising that we CAN use and have fun with animals under the RIGHT circumstances.

One of those RIGHT circumstances would be domestic animals in an entertainment show such as talking parrots, dogs performing tricks and cute baby piglets on display. This is perfectly fine as they're domesticated animals not wild ones, are used to human interaction and won't tear down the establishment because of their unpredictable behaviour as opposed to wild animals. And provided they are treated humanely and with respect it's all good.

Looking at it from the other angle, PeTA is correct and I agree with them being against WILD animals in entertainment and circuses; such as bears, tigers, elephants etc as they are not domesticated animals, and are not meant to be used for the entertainment of human beings. It's wrong and I agree with them on this stance.

I'm a huge animal lover and I can tell you that they really do struggle to look at things rationally and think things through, before carrying out actions that alienate people and set the animal rights / welfare movement back, instead of forward where it should be.

Don't think of yourselves, think of the animals and realise that inappropriate actions may be worse for their welfare instead of better.

I can understand people’s distain for them and why they don’t like them. But please don’t show your ignorance and immaturity by advocating cruelty to animals and making ‘fun’ or ‘light’ of the important animal rights / welfare movement to ‘spite’ this one particular organization, by making such hurtful comments as “I feel like clubbing a baby seal to say up yours PeTA!” or "I'll happily eat a giant steak for a huge fuck you! to you and your organization!" , that is so childish and silly. Because there are many organizations and kind compassionate rationally thinking individuals like myself who are working to stop these things and we don’t deserve an insult such as that.

PeTA is ONE animal rights organization they are NOT every single one.

Because insults like this are not only an insult to the animals who are suffering but it’s an insult to the thousands of other animal rights / welfare groups out there, and to people like me who also love animals dearly and take great pride in looking at the situations facing them from ALL angles; objectively, intelligently and rationally before throwing red paint on a person who wears a fur coat (which I would never do by the way).

So maybe perhaps instead of berating this organization, making fun of them and automatically shutting them out because of their past and continuing mistakes. Maybe perhaps write a polite letter to them, saying “look your organizations heart’s in the right place”, “but sometimes you can get too emotional”, “and it clouds your judgment and your ability to think intelligently about the injustices facing animals” “which can sometimes be worse for their welfare, instead of better”; and then perhaps by exercising tolerance and understanding, which is something this organization struggles to show themselves, they may change. But by getting upset at them and calling them retards and all the other names including terrorists, they will only continue to make actions that may be more detrimental to the cause of animals and the animal rights / welfare movement.

Because if I was a dog stuck in a cage in China I would very much welcome their help as any anyone who can help to get me out of their I would want to come running as quickly as possible. But if their actions stop another ten or twenty people from running to save me and my friends than I won’t be too appreciative of them.

Let’s try to turn them into a better organization, a more respected and rationally thinking one instead of just hating on them because of their struggles to look at things objectively. And if they STILL continue to behave inappropriately then I’ll be FULLY understandable of people’s upmost distain for them, but not before I try and change them into a better and more respected organization.

Because the animals need ALL the help they can get. But not if it’s detrimental to their cause as PeTA’s action sometimes can be.

I don’t support everything they do and some of their actions are very inappropriate such as handing out flyer’s to children about what goes in slaughterhouses, as their too young to be exposed to such horrors and are not yet understanding of it. But graphic street demonstrations and they’re ‘I'd rather go naked than wear fur’ print ads with attractive models are good; because people can see that and perhaps go “ooh she’s a bit of alright” if she doesn’t support fur then maybe I won’t either. It grabs and holds your attention which is what you want if you want to educate someone about something.

Check out this racy picture to see what I mean.

www.falseicon.com/v/Random/Joanna+Krupa++PETA.jpg.html

They have good strategies in place but also some inappropriate ones, and if they can just eliminate the inappropriate ones, turn their negatives into positives their weakness into strengths, many more people would approve of them and like them so much more.

They’re an animal rights group that’s not as good as some others, such as the wonderful Humane Society of the United States who use intelligence thought and understanding into turning people around about the injustices facing animals and into supporting their organization, and with this intelligent approach they are very successful.

I have visited the www.petakillsanimals.com website and while I tend not to believe everything I read on the internet as anybody can edit photos and mix match and splice articles into what’s false and what’s not reality.

I can tell you that if it is indeed true what is written and it is hard to look at some photos and read some articles and not believe; then it’s absolutely shocking and disgusting. I mean why would an animal rights group kill perfectly adoptable animals? I mean it just doesn’t make any sense and I can’t for the life of me understand why someone would do that if they truly care for animals? I would need absolute hardcore proof of this accusation before passing final judgment, but if it is true, it’s just amazing that they could and would do that.

If a person can take one thing away from this article it’s the fact that PeTA is an animal rights group that has some problems at educating and moving people toward the plight of animal rights and that they need to drastically change in order to get people to respect them.

After reading many people’s comments such as, they spend millions of dollars on ad campaigns instead of pouring that money into ‘direct action’ campaigns such as animal rescue, rehabilitation etc. I’m tending to lean more towards an anti-PeTA stance. But I just truly can’t understand if you claim to love animals dearly and want what’s best for them, you would behave in ways that don’t benefit them? I don’t know? it just doesn’t make sense???

I want to be tolerant of this organization but if they absolutely do kill perfectly adoptable animals then it’s something I can’t and won’t forgive. But I can’t for the life of me understand why they would do such a thing?

Vegetarianism / Veganism

2006-12-26T00:37:00.000-08:00

For some people who eat meat, mention the term vegetarian or vegan and they’ll look at you perplexed like you have just spoken to them in some foreign language that they cannot understand. For these terms are very alien to a person who for their whole lives has known nothing else but to only have vegetables alongside a huge steak lamb chop or slices of ham or chicken breast.

Many people more than ever are becoming vegetarians as undercover investigations news reports and expozes from concerned individuals are bringing attention to the cruelty and very disturbing acts that have and continue to exist in slaughterhouses.

For so many people the thought of cows being killed does not even at all even enter their sub conscious. Humans eat meat, I have my whole life and it’s what I do, this is true, humans have eaten meat but we can survive without it.

The only problem is that for many people they don’t believe they can. They automatically dismiss the vegetarian / vegan lifestyle as ridiculous they’ll make comments such as “you guys don’t eat meat, seafood, milk, cheese, eggs or yogurt” “so what the bloody hell do you eat?” “just bean and pumpkin seeds!” “go and sing love songs and smoke pot in the sun with all the other hippies”.

Vegetarians / vegans are just as good looking, healthy, big, strong, intelligent and the list goes on as a person who eats meat, the only difference is that we don’t eat it and we have to be more creative and diligent with our food choices and preparation. For so many meat eaters all they have to do is grab their huge hunk of steak whack it on the barbie and then add some mash potatoes and peas and you’re done, for a vegetarian we have to get our pasta add the sauce, add some flaxseed oil, mix beans with different nuts, lettuces and creams and make sure if were vegan to read the labels carefully as to make sure they are not derived from any animal products then we are all set. We just have to be a bit more self disciplined and wise with the foods we choose to consume purchase and prepare.

Call me crazy but I get really excited about vegetarian food products; there are meat free meats, dairy free dairy products woooooooo, it’s just awesome. The vegetarian lifestyle is awesome, you feel great, and you know your actions are benefiting animals, the earth and other humans, it’s great! what’s not to love about it people.

Check out this webpage link I have provided for great vegetarian, cruelty free, food products :)

www.hsus.org/farm/resources/pubs/gve/shopping.html#meat

Being a vegetarian doesn’t make you weird or strange, it simply means that for whatever reason (and the most popular and moral one being that people no longer desire to contribute to the killing of animals in cruel and disturbing ways for thier survival) you choose not to consume meat products.

It is estimated in the in the United States that approximately 35 million beef cattle are slaughtered annually into the hands of four huge corporations.

Many beef cattle are born and live on the range, foraging and fending for themselves for months or even years. They are not adequately protected against inclement weather, and they may die of dehydration or freeze to death. Injured, ill, or otherwise ailing animals do not receive necessary veterinary attention. One common malady afflicting beef cattle is called "cancer eye." Left untreated, the cancer eats away at the animal's eye and face, eventually producing a crater in the side of the animal's head.

Accustomed to roaming unimpeded and unconstrained, range cattle are frightened and confused when humans come to round them up. Terrified animals are often injured, some so severely that they become "downed" (unable to walk or even stand). These downed animals commonly suffer for days without receiving food, water or veterinary care, and many die of neglect. Others are dragged, beaten, and pushed with tractors on their way to slaughter.

What you have just read was an excerpt from an article written on the www.factoryfarming.com website. It’s disturbing and very unsettling to read but that’s only one example of a whole bunch of tragic cruel and unfortunate examples that go on in this industry.

Whether you agree with the eating or meat or you don't, the fact is; is that the slaughterhouse industry and the practices involved are some of the cruelest acts of abuse and suffering towards animals, and they have to be improved much better regulated and stopped.

One example is veal calves (baby cows) they are chained by the neck and confined to crates so small they cannot turn around, it's a disgusting and unforgivable way to treat a baby animal, any animal for that matter and is something that shouldn't be tolerated by anyone with a moral conscious. On slaughterhouses there are no federal animal protection acts which is absolutely disgusting and further solidifies the position that governments just see see these animals as 'product' and nothing more, and aren' t at all concerned about their welfare. Because if that act against a veal calf happened to a dog, the animal police would prosecute and fine the perpetraters quickly and swiftly.

Many animals being transported to the slaughterhouse from location are involved in road traffic accidents, and many animals are tossed around, badly bruised and suffer in pain. Many of them become confused and disorientated and are cruelly rounded up as workers lose patience with them and are forced to wait for help to arrive; and there's more things written on websites that go on that I'm just too heartbroken to write here in this article.

When I go to the supermarket and I walk past the meat counter on my way to the fruit and vegetables or other non meat products. I can hear people saying “$2 worth of ham thanks mate” and part of me just wants to say “meat is murder”! “don’t eat meat you bastard!” but I can’t do that and I’m intelligent enough not to, as I realize the way to get people to change is through tolerance understanding and compromise.

But when a person has meat and it’s conveniently wrapped in that brown paper that they unravel before placing it on their sandwiches for work the next day; and it’s not their fault, not their fault at all, but I can bet all my life savings that they’re not thinking about the suffering abuse and cruelty that one ore more individual animals went thought leading up to the slaughter of them, their processing, the transportation and finally the exchange from the butchers hands to theirs as they paid for it over the counter and went happily on their way home.

Many people who eat meat are beautiful, lovely, kind, compassionate people who love animals greatly but the slaughterhouse industry is so far from their minds and the eating of meat is just normal, a normal instinct, feeling and does not even enter their myriad of daily thoughts therefore not worrying them.

I don’t hate people who eat meat and I’m not going to yell berate or demand that they stop eating it to appease my wishes, but I do want to educate people about the cruelty involved in meat production and how that by making compassionate food choices considering a vegetarian / vegan lifestyle and that if they continue to eat meat; ways they can help to reduce limit and end the suffering of these beautiful animals which are made to look like stupid and worthless commodities because all they are for is food and nothing else, “they re not cats and dogs!” is the attitude by some people regarding them.

So all I’m asking to anybody who is reading this article who eats meat, is just to try and learn more about the slaughterhouse industry; tell your family, friends, educate yourself and make compassionate food choices that help the lives of farm animals and help to reduce their suffering. You don’t have to start by becoming a fully fledged vegan but perhaps just start by buying free range eggs which allow chickens to roam free and produce naturally large and healthy eggs outdoors instead of in the cruel confinements of a factory farm and a cage where they can barely turn around to sleep, eat or exercise any of their natural behaviors.

And over time as you find out more about the slaughterhouse beef, poultry, and dairy industries you may want to become a vegetarian and not contribute to the killing of these animals if not, and you decide you have become very accustomed to eating meat and are struggling to sustain a vegetarian diet or simply believe that eating meat is a natural instinct / beahviour and humans were meant to eat fish and dairy and that’s that!

Then please consider helping to fight to make the lives of the animals who provide food for you better, by writing letters politely asking that the killing of veal calves and lambs and piglets be stopped as it’s totally unethical and wrong in my opinion to kill baby animals under any circumstances; and in small but significant ways help to make the short lives of farm animals better and to show respect for your main source of survival and existence.

Because these animals deserve our respect, compassion and understanding and as a concerned member of the public you should hopefully have a moral obligation and feeling to at least give them this need.

And this is just a random thought of mine.

But I believe if all animal food products were removed from the world tomorrow and weren't available and not for sale anymore, that the whole world would be outraged and say.

"what we do? "I can't live anymore!" I'll be unhealthy!" "I'll be as skinny as rail!" "kill the animals again!" "we need meat!" "we need animal products to survive!" "what about all my favourite foods McDonald's KFC Burger King!" and the never-ending comments that would ensue as a result of this action.

But what would happen is; is over time as people would have no choice but to eat vegetarian meals or non animal protein food products; eventually and I mean eventually, everyone would become so accustomed to eating it, and after a long time and after all the shock of the adjustment and accepting that adjustment has been made, people would probably forget meat and other animal products ever even existed and would probably after the longest time not eating meat, would probably not want to eat it ever again as they have become accustomed to non-animal products providing the life sustaining nourishment for their existence and maybe then the attitude would be.

"meat, that stuff, I'm not eating that stuff again", but like I said, it's just a random thought of mine.

But please consider becoming one that’s all I ask; and you gotta admit, Pamela Anderson does make a vegetarian / vegan lifestyle look quite inviting.

For more information about the slaughterhouse industry and the cruel practices involved please visit the links provided below.

www.factoryfarming.com

hsus.org/farm

www.goveg.com

Mike Mahler’s A Vegan And He’s Very Big And Strong

2006-12-25T20:09:00.000-08:00

“There is no way that you can get big and strong on a vegetarian diet!”

I used to hear this all the time from my meat-eating friends. I say, used to as I never hear it anymore from people that know me or from people that have seen my photos on my website.

Yes my friends, you can in fact get bigger and stronger on a vegetarian diet. You can even do it on a vegan diet (no animal products whatsoever). Just because the pot smoking, rice dream eating hippie vegetarian in Venice Beach, CA looks like he is from Ethiopia, does not mean that every vegan does.

I have the strength and size to back up the fact that you can get strong and have a muscular body on a vegan diet.

- Mike Mahler

I’ve heard the term “I ain’t no vegan pussy” been angrily lashed out by a person who was vigorously defending the eating of meat. Now In order for this person to angrily say such a remark implies that he firmly believes that it’s just not possible to get big and strong on vegetarian / vegan diet; “no way!” “it can’t be done!” “you need meat to get big and strong!”, well my friends it can be done and Mike Mahler is the living proof that it can.

So who is Mike Mahler you ask? Mike Mahler is a strength coach and a certified kettlebell instructor based in Santa Monica, California. Mike has been a strength athlete for over ten years and designs strength training programs for athletes, law enforcement agencies, and fire fighters.

Now you maybe thinking, what on earth is a kettlebell? Well I’m glad you asked. Kettlebell derives its name because it looks very similar to a kettle with a handle on the top and it essentially is, a kettlebell in the simplest of terms is just one big old heavy cast iron ball with a handle on top that makes it reminiscent of a kettle. The handle is for you to grab and hold on with so you can do strength and weight resistance exercises with it.

The term kettlebell also implies that is an adequate and a more controlled alternative to the traditional dumbbell used in weight training and bodybuilding routines.

It really is a fantastic new exercise that allows for you to do snatches, cleans, jerks, push ups, push offs, and many other weight resistance routines; and with lots of self discipline it will have you lean, strong, full of muscular endurance and mentally clear.

So what are ya waiting for? grab those kettlebells!

Mike Mahler dispels the myth that a person who does not consume meat cannot get big and strong, you can; but in order for you to do it, it still means you have to be very self disciplined and eat very very well. No eating any meat or animal products if you’re a vegetarian / vegan but you do have to eat well to receive your nutrients and protein from other sources which will give you the energy required for a high energy workout thus increasing your size and muscle mass. Flaxseed oil is a good source of an extra nutrient, it has a peanut nutty taste and acts like a salad dressing to dash over pasta rice and bean dishes. It’s an essential element if you want to get big and strong as a vegetarian / vegan.

While I’m no fitness expert, I do enjoy Mike Mahler and admire him and what he has achieved. He’s a great guy, very well respected and has helped people to see that they can be healthy big and strong on a diet with little or no animal products.

Before I joined the gym I thought that you had to be as well, I go to the gym 2 - 3 times a week and also work out at home. I’m a vegan which means I do not consume any meat, seafood, yogurt, eggs, milk, honey or cheese. I'm fit, I'm strong, I'm healthy and I aint a hippie (laughs). He’s an inspiration to me and helps me achieve my fitness goals so I can be fit healthy and mentally clear to help all the animals which I love so much.

Working out is a lot of fun, it's great for the soul, helps you to deal and cope with things better, makes you look and feel good and in addition to already feeling good for not contributing to the cruelty of slaughterhouses, you can now feel good with this powerful easy and very beneficial workout with kettlebells.

He has many hints and tips on his website and dvd’s to purchase so you can be introduced to the fun exciting and very beneficial world kettlebells.

Here is the link to his official website and other bodybuilding and vegan nutritional pages.

www.mikemahler.com

The Babaric And Horrific Fur Trade

2006-12-25T07:12:00.000-08:00

They're only crime is being born with a fur coat and their punishment for it is a cruel horrific and very painful end by an incredibly selfish human being.

The fur trade is a completely unnecessary, barbaric, shocking, cruel and heartbreaking one. Animals from land dwelling to marine are targeted by humans whose only interests lie in fattening their wallets and heightening their celebrity status at the expense of these incredible and very beautiful fur bearing creatures.

Some of the acts of cruelty and suffering are unimaginable to anyone with a heart and compassion and are a completely unacceptable way to treat living breathing sentient creatures all for a so called ‘fashion item’.

While ‘fur farms’ which is the term for the housing and processing of these animals and where they suffer unforgivable acts of cruelty are dispensed throughout different regions of the world. Europe is where the biggest percentage of them are located and also China who has very cruel, if not the cruelest fur farms in the world.

Animals are trapped cruelly in the wild, sometimes still suffering in terrible pain when they are captured and are then taken and housed in unbearably small cages where they live with fear disease and other psychological hardships where they are essentially the start of the latest hot designers fashion show. It’s just that when you sit in an audience at fashion show, take photos, look at attractive models in magazines and buy a fur coat, you don’t see it. Because the fashion industry doesn’t want you to see it, because they know such horrific images would drive many, perhaps not all, but many people with a moral conscious away from their fashion sales.

Many people will say in the defense of wearing and killing animals for fur “that it’s no different to killing domestic animals such as cows, pigs and chickens for food” therefore making it justifiable and ok.

As I’ve written many times all over this site, the fur vs meat argument is not a valid one and is flawed and the reason it is flawed, is because the eating of meat is filled with many points of debate; do we need it for optimum health? will we be very unhealthy without it? etc; there are many points of debate both for and against from people.

But the wearing of fur has absolutely NO points of debate and is not necessary to the lives of the average human being; as the average human being has no need for real animal fur, certainly not to survive and keep warm and certainly not for anything else. If you’re a person who is fully aware of the horrific and cruel trade in real animal furs and continue to purchase the fur coats derived from the skin of these innocent and beautiful animals, you are nothing but an incredibly selfish nasty anthropocentric human being who believes only you matter and everything else is beneath you.

Looking at this objectively which I always do, the people who I agree with killing animals for their fur are people who GENIUNLY need it to survive and live, and as well as killing the animal for it’s fur they may also utilize every part of the animal as well, such as it’s meat fur for their survival. One such example is the aboriginal natives of the North Atlantic / Arctic, they have been killing seals who habitat the provinces in and near in which they live for centuries and unlike the selfish fur industry they only take what they need to survive and ensure a healthy abundance for their future survival. This is ok as they don’t know anything else, it’s their way of life and only a handful of seals get taken as compared to the merciless slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seals by Newfoundland fisherman participating in a glorified commercial industry of slaughtering baby seals for their pelts (fur coats) on Canada's east coast.

As well as targeting the innocent animals mentioned above and as horrific and cruel as the suffering abuse and acts of cruelty inflicted upon them are. Even more disturbing is China’s absolute dark ages and horrific acts of killing abusing and torturing the most loved and the most popular companion animals in the world, that being the humble dog and cat.

As a method of controlling stray populations of cats and dogs; they are rounded up and packed onto containers on the back of cars and trucks alive, they are piled on top of each other in a twisted heap that resembles a living breathing heap of entangled fur and are then transported to location to be killed for their pelts. It is something absolutely no thinking compassionate person, anyone with a heart or anyone who claims to have on decent bone in their entire body could ever tolerate if they were to see in person. All animal cruelty upsets me and some is worse than others, but Chinas trade in dog and cat fur is a very horrific and completely unforgivable one. These are our companion animals, the animals we love cherish play and have fun with and to treat them like a worthless commodity is just unforgivable, totally unforgivable.

While it upsets me greatly to list in explicit detail the facts of what these innocent animals go through in China’s horrific dog and cat fur trade. I can tell you it’s not at all pleasant and seeing images and video of it will surely bring a tear to the eye of any person with a heart and soul.

Fur trade workers have been videotaped throwing cats and dogs off trucks 10-15 meters to the floor with many animals suffering bruises and broken bones and in immense pain. Cats have been witnessed being thrown into steaming hot boiling water to kill them as this makes it easier to remove their fur which has been softened by the hot water. Can you imagine something like that happening to you? there is no way you can, but in reality it happens to thousands of innocent cats and dogs yearly in China. it’s incomprehensible and unbelievable to even think that something as barbaric and backwards as that exists in 2006 but it does, and has to and must be stopped. My dog is sleeping beside me as I’m writing this and I can’t imagine just can’t imagine what it feels like for these incredibly unfortunate creatures in China, its incredible just incredible.

Another victim of the completely unnecessary commercial fur trade is the baby harp seal of Canada’s east coast. Annually in late March and mid April they are victims of the largest slaughter of marine mammals on the planet in which Canada’s government strongly states as hunt which is needed to bring in badly needed income to out of work Newfoundland fisherman who cruelly kill the innocent seals and skin them for their pelts which are then sold to European fashion markets. For more information on the merciless slaughter of baby seals please look under marine mammals in the archive.

So please if you have purchased a fur coat in the past and were ignorant of the cruelty involved in the process of making it, that’s ok as your mistake was genuine and you have not been properly informed of the horrific cruelty of this barbaric industry. But please don’t turn a blind eye to these innocent animals through being selfish in your clothing choices, read the articles watch the horrific video and don’t contribute to an industry that does not care about anybody but themselves.

Because when the demand and purchase of real animal fur coats decrease the lives of innocent animals kept in completely unacceptable conditions increase, because no demand equals no reason for these industries to trap, sneer, capture and house a beautiful fox in an unbearably small cage where as a result of being in a cage so small, drives them absolutely insane and can force them to even self mutilate out of sheer boredom panic and fear. Its Horrific just horrific and cant continue and must stop.

Please visit the following sites to find out more information, purchase hot new and edgy faux fur designs and ways in which you can help to bring attention to and stop this merciless slaughter of millions of animals yearly for their fur coat, the fur bearing animals are counting on you.

www.furisdead.com

www.infurmation.com

www.respectforanimals.co.uk

www.heathermillsmccartney.com

Animals Need A Voice Because If They Could Talk Their Cries Would Loudly Be Heard All Over The World

2006-12-24T22:35:00.000-08:00

We live in a society today that makes it convenient to flip the station, turn the page, and look the other way when we see something unpleasant that penetrates our often sheltered view of the injustices occurring around us.

Animal cruelty is unpleasant, regardless of whether it is an individual beating a dog, drowning a litter of kittens, or the industrialized cruelty of modern factory farms and slaughterhouses that reduces sentient beings to nothing more than production units and consumable products.

Billions of animals cannot afford for compassionate individuals to simply turn a blind eye, ignoring the injustices being committed against them. Our inaction to address an injustice is as much an injustice as the actions of those committing the atrocities.

-Nathan Runkle MFA Director

Very true and very profound important words from Mercy for Animals director Nathan Runkle.

Ya know I just don't understand why some people have this massive distain for animals and the environment.

People make very nasty and hurtful comments towards animals such as "fuck animals" "I hate animals" "you animal loving vegetarian pot smoking hippies are retarded" "humans are more important than animals" "go and fight for lives that really matter i.e. humans" "who gives a fuck about whales and captive orcas" "mmm cows taste good pass the bbq sauce" "animals are stupid" "who do you care about more a human or some stupid chicken?" and many many more hurtful and ignorant comments directed at people individuals and organizations who only want to do one thing and that's save them from unnecessary exploitation and harm and reduce their suffering.

Why are people so mad? Is it because their frustrated with their own lives and feel the need to lash out and scathing and angrily take it out on animals who share the planet with us? Is it because they genuinely really hate animals and are just mean nasty people, and know that an act of abuse towards an animal will not be dealt with as harshly or swiftly as an act of abuse towards a fellow human? Is it because people so strongly believe in a sense of pride or tradition that involves the suffering killing and abuse of animals and not a single soul has any right to take that away from them?

Is it because they are just sick people who get their rocks off at teasing and ridiculing animal defenders by making sick inappropriate jokes and comments at the expense of an unfortunate animal who is the victim of unnecessary exploitation and suffering? Is it because they just straight out don't give a damn and would rather be partying at the Playboy mansion with Hugh Hefner and all his very attractive women rather than holding up a protest sign outside their local Japanese Embassy demanding and end to the killing of whales? Or is it because they're just a dumb ignorant fool who is badly in need of an education? I don't know? But this is some of the ridicule and hurt us animal defenders are the victim of everyday, on the street, in a conversation with a group of people, at a protest rally or on the incredibly small world of the internet.

Granted there are some people out there who will make a comment without being properly and fully informed and the comment they have made is a result of this ignorance but some people seem to really get off making light or fun of animals in peril.

I once attempted to educate my sister Jennifer about Canada's baby harp seal slaughter, I said "Jen could you please visit www.protectseals.org to find about this heartbreaking slaughter, and sign the pledge to boycott Canadian seafood until it's ended" "Oh and could you also pass it on to all your friends in an e-mail as you know a lot more people than me" we were traveling in a car at the time, and quite annoyingly and with ignorance she said "uh that's Canada's problem" "it''s got nothing to do with me" It was the perfect example of an anthropocentric human attitude, believing were the only ones that matter on this planet and anything that doesn't have two arms two legs and can't talk on a cell phone is beneath us.

I'm not an extreme animal lover and I’m not a person who does more harm to the cause and plight of animals by carrying out misguided misinformed actions that are more than likely to alienate people away from the cause of animal rights / welfare and make them become more apathetic and ignorant of this important movement. I pride my self on being able to look at things rationally and I do and this blog is a very good indication of that, with what I have written and the manner in which I try to get my target audience to calmly and objectively think about the issue they are currently reading. I just wish people would stop lumping animal rights / welfare advocates as lazy pot smoking hippies who have nothing better to do than to fly protest banners and argue in internet forums because we 'apparently' value animal life more over human life and this is the wrong attitude to have in the eyes of anthropocentric society.

I understand fully that they way to get people to change is through tolerance and understanding.

Now if I was to walk into a backyard bbq with people eating meat and have a portable t.v showing cruel and often at times very disturbing footage of animals being abused in slaughterhouses; I wouldn't be too appreciated and would quite understandably be asked to leave.But if I was to calmly walk over to a guest and slowly introduce the plight of farm animals into the conservation without appearing too forward or intrusive while he or her is chomping down on their hot dog derived from a cow THEN I would more likely be respected not ridiculed and poked fun at because of my crazy inability not to look at things rationally. By empowering people with knowledge in a calm and intelligent manner, people who were ignorant of these injustices before become enlightened and are then able to make a non forced opinion based on what you have told them.

For example if I were to calmly say "many chickens and laying hens are confined into crates so small they cannot even turn around in order to bring you those eggs you are eating" they may say "oh I wasn't aware of that that's awful" "from now on I’m only going to purchase free range eggs, "which allow chickens their freedoms and allow them to produce healthy natural eggs" "and not eggs that are quickly and unhealthily produced in the confinements of a factory farm".

By having this attitude I would be successful and I would be able to recruit people onto my side, this I and many other animal lovers can do. It’s just that some people don’t believe we are all like that.

When a person first becomes involved in animal rights it’s so easy to look at the heartbreaking images, the horrific video and become very emotional, and when you become too emotional you cannot look at things rationally because your judgment becomes clouded based on the gut wrenching injustices you have witnessed. I suffered from this problem and at one stage was against everything being killed, but I have since become a lot mentally tougher and fully understand that in some circumstances you have to kill animals and that there is just no other choice. If a bear was about to kill me in a forest and I had to kill it to survive, I would. Because I understand and know this is a valid reason to kill it; but it’s the unnecessary killing exploitation and suffering of our animal friends I’m strongly against. Such as the horrific fur industry which the average human being has absolutely no need for, wild animals performing in circuses this is totally unacceptable and completely unnecessary and whaling and sealing which has no place in the modern world.

I’ve always loved and had an affection for animals ever since I was a little kid. I had a street cat who followed me home from school one day when I was about 10 or 11 years of age, so my mother gave it a bowl of milk as it was very hungry but it kept coming back day after day to our house. So eventually we decided to keep him and named him Sparky he was a beautiful black and white cat and I loved him dearly and he helped me develop my great love for animals and my passion to stop them from unnecessary exploitation suffering and harm.

As I’ve mentioned in my Animals vs Humans article they share our world and they deserve our compassion respect and understanding. I love and care about humans too and I view both as equal, I don’t believe animals are more important than humans and I don’t believe humans are more important than animals. I believe we are both the creations of god and therefore making us both equal, one shouldn’t take preference over the other and I don’t want it to.

Captain Paul Watson founder and president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society said once in an Australian 60 minutes television interview that “I don’t fight for humans I fight for whales”.

Many people upon hearing something like that would say “oh my god how could you?” “How can you not value human life?” It is not that he doesn’t value human life, he has great affection for members of his crew and other fellow animal rights advocates such as the incredible Rebecca Aldworth and he appreciates and loves humans too. It’s just that he has made saving whales and other marine life HIS preference not mine or your preference but HIS preference, and with what he has been able to achieve he has done an incredible job and I’m sure the baby harp seals and the gentle giants the whales appreciate him and his very dedicated and passionate efforts; and as he so eloquently once said “find me one whale who disagrees with what were doing and I might reconsider not trying to save them” and this is indeed very very true.

On the other side of the coin there may be a human rights advocate working to help look after poor unfortunate children who are tragically the victims of land mines in countries torn part from civil war and deals with such horrific and heartbreaking acts of suffering towards humans.

It’s sad whenever a human is suffering, whether it’s a woman in her twenties suffering from breast cancer or an elderly person whose hands are shaking violently and he or her is struggling to put a teaspoon of sugar into a coffee mug because they have parkinson’s disease. But it’s especially sad when it comes to children because they are so innocent and they do not understand what they’re the victims of and they look at you with those wide eyes that are just calling for help.

If I was to walk up to him in a make shelter hospital in a war torn nation and say “will you help save the whales from the harpoons” he would most likely say “NO!” “My priority is saving human lives not whales!” and I’d completely understand that, and that’s because his made that his priority, his mission, his passion and his love; and the skills he has acquired enable him to do this.

It’s not that he doesn’t care about the whales, it’s just that he is one individual who has made a preference; that preference is to save innocent children from tyranny and oppression and he does that and I love him and am very appreciative of it. One person can’t save everybody and everything it’s impossible, all you can do is pick the cause that is closet to you’re heart, the one you have the most special connection with and set about helping in whichever way you can no matter how big or small your contribution may be. Captain Paul Watson fights for marine mammals, the fictional character above fights for human lives and together both of them are making the world a better place.

So to those people who say “go and fight for lives that really matter” we won’t do something just because you tell us to do it. But what we will do is fight for things that are special to us such as animals and if we can and if we are informed without being made fun of or ridiculed, then we may help out on the rights of humans as both are very important but both are something one person cannot fight on his own and all by himself.

I created this blog because of my love for animals and in particularly the baby harp seals who are victims of a cruel horrific and unnecessary slaughter. This blog was designed as an external site so people on YouTube who watch my seal videos and may be ignorant of the facts can come here and fight out the real truth facts and motivation behind this obscenity and hopefully through reading my balanced rational and informative synopsizes they will help to stop it.

I don’t force people to believe what I believe, but I do encourage them to find out ALL the facts before jumping on their high horse, all guns blazing, half cocked and without all the facts as to why I disagree with them on an issue involving a particular animal or the environment and I hope I’m successful in achieving this.

So please try not to be ignorant of the unnecessary injustices facing our wonderful animal friends, they are in peril all over the world and need people to help fight for and save them; because believe me if they could talk we would be hearing their cries loudly all over the world.

The meaning of life is indeed to enjoy it and have fun but at the same time not to be ignorant of the injustices facing both animals and humans and to help out in whatever small or big way you can, whatever direct or indirect way you can.

I like to have fun and I have many interests and I take time out to watch a frivolous tv show such as the Simpsons to help take my mind off (but not forget) the sad things that happen to animals and then I can return to helping them with a renewed energy.

You don’t have to be superman or superwoman, but don’t completely shut yourself off to the injustices of the world and the injustices against animals.

Would you stand by and watch a kitten or a puppy dog getting beaten in the street? Would you stand by and watch a child or an elderly woman getting abused? No you wouldn’t, no thinking compassionate person would. Every living thing is important and we have to look after them all if we want to make the world a better place.

There are times where I’d like to be completely ignorant of everything and just relax in my bath tub with a huge plasma screen, a beer and listen to David Beckham latest saga involving his wife.

But I can’t do that and I won’t do that, I love animals the environment and I want to help to try and better your world, my word and the world of animals; and by calling me an idiot for having this love, by making fun of me for having this love and by assuming every single animal defender is a ‘retard’ for having this love, you’re not only making yourself look stupid and foolish but me and many others like me as well.

Thank You

The Year Is 1979 And There Are Whitecoat Newborns On The Ice Floes

2006-12-15T06:22:00.000-08:00

I’ve run into one hell of a bunch of cruel bastards in my day, slob hunters, elephant- killers, bullfighters, bunny-bashers, horse-whippers, all of them thugs and cowards, every one, but that bunch in the Magdalen Islands- they take the prize for the most savage, brutal, and unforgivable acts of cruelty on God’s green Earth!

-Cleveland Armory

Cleveland Armory’s words certainly rang true then and they certainly ring true today.

If Canadian minister of fisheries and oceans Loyola Hearn was to see my blog and see this photo he would be incensed and outraged and he would say so strongly.

"What the hell do you think you're doing posting a photo like that?" "It’s not 1979 anymore!" "We don't kill whitecoat newborns anymore" "We are not barbarians anymore" Stop using rhetoric images to fire up the protest movement!"

This photo does not represent what is happening on Canada’s east cost today as the Canadian government through the grace of god does not slaughter newborn whitecoats anymore.

But I posted this photo to represent in one awful bloody heartbreaking and horrific image what the Canadian baby seal slaughter has been over time and still is.

And over time it’s been this one seal you see in this photo. But not just this one, it's been over 300'000 of them just like this one.

It's been a baby seal who was born into the world happy, excited, safe, close and with nourishment from its mother.

It's a been a completely defenseless and helpless baby animal who has absolutely no chance of escape or fighting back.

It's a baby seal that after having the fur ripped off it's back is tossed back onto the ice floes like rubbish.

It's a baby seal that is treated like a worthless commodity rather than a living breathing sentient creature.

It's a baby seal who sees it's attacker coming and tries to outrun and escape them; only to get to the edge of an ice floe, realise it can't swim, has nowhere to go, and is then clubbed to death.

It's a baby seal who after having it's head caved in, is tossed into a trailer container; much the same way a person would toss wood into a wheelbarrow after chopping it.

It's a baby seal who will never see it's mother again because of an incredibly selfish group of people who want to kill it for it's pelt.

It's a baby seal which sometimes suffers for hours in pain before finally being finished off by Canadian sealers.

It's a baby seal which is sometimes still moving and ALIVE when a sealer skins it.

It's a baby seal who has had it's amazing short life ended after being given it's death sentence by a member of the Canadian government.

It's been a baby seal who has done absolutely nothing wrong than except to innocently be born into heaven which is weeks later turned to hell.

It's been a baby seal who is annually the unfortunate victim of human beings who have no respect for god's creatures and the incredible environment god put them to live in.

It's been a baby seal who is the victim of something completely unnecessary and so incredibly selfish.

It's been a baby seal who does not understand what he or she is the victim of.

It's been a baby seal who is so innocent and helpless.

It's been a baby seal who has been subjected to some of the most unforgivable acts of cruelty pain and suffering towards god's creatures.

It's a baby seal who deserves only one thing and that's to just be left alone and in peace.

And it’s been a baby seal who in one heart wrenching photo sums up why the human race will never get along, because while we continue to treat our animal friends in such a way as this we will always be primitive savages.

What kind of human beings can slaughter a completely defenseless new born baby animal such as this poor unfortunate innocent creature above, and even worse what kind of human beings can so vigorously defend and get so upset and angry at people who don't approve and want them to stop doing it.

Could You?

These birds and animals and fish cannot speak, but they can suffer, and our God who created them, knows their sufferings, and will hold him who causes them to suffer unnecessarily to answer for it. It is a sin against their Creator." - George Q. Cannon, Animal Activist

You will all be judged and hopefully never forgiven for your unforgivable acts against nature and the environment.

Al Gore Gives A Speech On Global Warming

2006-12-14T05:01:00.001-08:00


Former vice president and environmental advocate Al Gore shares his feelings on global warming.

Expert Guests Discuss Global Warming

2006-12-14T03:46:00.001-08:00


What is global warming? and what does it mean for our planet?

Animals vs Humans

2006-12-11T23:37:00.000-08:00

It’s an argument that seems to be pretty one sided; if someone had to choose the life of a bear a whale or a seal over a human, they would inevitably choose the human.

But why is this?

Is it because humans are better than animals? Is it because human beings are more important than animals? Is it because were the dominant species of this planet and anything that’s below us were entitled to do whatever we wish with.

Or is it simply because human beings have a very difficult time making another species that’s different from their own, a priority from their own.

What if there were no animals in the world? What if it was just us humans? After all we descended from animals didn’t we? Would the world be better without them? Are animals only commodities for human applications such as meat, fur, oils, entertainment and the list goes on and on?

Certainly on the scoreboard animals win hands down; they don’t complain about things, they don’t judge you i.e. they don’t care about how you look, the colour of your skin, and the level of you’re intelligence or any other trivial concern of anthropocentric society. They only kill for survival and not out of an unnecessary need, they trust humans; unlike we do towards each other and we constantly let them down, they love unconditionally; such as the dog.

We can’t ever question the existence of God who is an unknown entity of who or what; when we look at animals, but we can when we look at humans. God exists no question, but we lose faith in God because of our dealings or our run ins with other human beings. But we never fail to question God's ultimate existence when we see or hear an animal and experience the sights and sounds of the environment in which they live.

Animals are part of the environment, they are the product of millions of years of evolution, they keep the circle of life going, you take away animals and you take away nature and the life needed to sustain it, thus the life neede to sustain huamn beings.

People make scathing comments such as “animals are not the creative equal of human beings” they are NOT humans” and "if you love an animal more than a fellow human being you can go to hell"

I agree; this is true, they certainly aren’t humans, at least in terms of body, anatomy, diet and shape. But why aren’t they considered the creative equal of human beings? Do they have to be able to write on a piece of a paper or be able to drive a car to be considered this? No of course not; to be considered the equal of a human being, you simply have to feel what a human being feels.

The behaviour of human beings is defined through our needs, our need for love, pleasure, entertainment, understanding and acceptance. Animals in this regard are no different.

They love; dolphins are highly social animals and become very distressed when separated from their pod or family. Animals seek and appreciate pleasure, sit down in a green pasture on a sunny afternoon and watch a cow lift his head to feel the warmth and comfort of the sun on it. Animals entertain themselves; what about dolphins bow riding or polar bears play fighting and seals ice sliding, animals understand each other; they defend their young and back off or bow down to a more dominant animal in their herd. They also accept defeat if another bear has defeated another male for the rights to mate; they accept it, and animals exactly like a human; will mourn the loss of a fellow animal in thier family, whether it's fallen victim to a natural occurrence or by the uncompasionate hands of a human being.

Humans also have fears; fear itself and the fear of rejection, hurt and pain. Animals also have this; animals have fears, listen to a baby harp seal cry as a hakapik is about to cave in on it’s eggshell thin skull; they know and they are scared. Animals don’t like rejection; a baby harp seal will cry and impatiently wait for its mother to return when she goes looking for food to feed her young. Animals experience pain, what about a dog being hit by a car or the tragedy of a grenade tipped harpoon exploding into the giant leviathan that is the noble whale or the excruciating pain a bear feels when its gall bladder is being extracted for quack remedies in traditional Chinese medicine.

It seems to me that we are not all that different and the only thing that separates us is our anatomy, diet and our ability to drive a car, to play video games or to build a house; and just because we can do these things that does not makes us better, smarter or more intelligent. It simply means we as the human race are just capable of doing more because we've made it that way.

We find comfort in animals because they show us how to live for the moment, to live without burying our heads in the realm and passage of time that we cannot return to and are ever wishing we could.

Our attitude toward the animal is changing as developments in technology and communication make it easier to become aware of things that 50 / 60 years ago continued in silence completely unabated and without protest.

The environment of animals is being compromised by human greed i.e. over fishing, global warming caused by humans and an apathetic attitude by humans thinking that animals will always be bountiful and plentiful.

Animals are an incredible joy and wonder of this planet they play a very important ecological and environmental role and effortlessly enthrall millions of human beings through only being themselves and not through trying to be anything else. We can find comfort in an animal because we know inside that they will not judge us and that they will love us. If this human society had the same attitude it would be a wonderful word; but sadly and as many people wish; that will never happen.

We have a moral obligation to them to protect them, to show them compassion, to treat them with dignity and respect and to; if we have to kill or utilize them for any valid reason, to do it as humanely and as kindly as possible. For we would do (at least us decent humans) to other humans so why not animals.

So to those people who say “you animal loving idiots are retards” “go and fight for real issues such as injustices faced by dictatorship rule in the continent of Africa”, “or children suffering in unnecessary and unprovoked unjust wars” “or people suffering in hospitals” I say we will and we do sympathize and care. But we will also fight for animals as they are essentially victims of the very same thing.

BOTH need to be treated with dignity, compassion and respect.

And for the people who say "anyone who has more empathy for an animal then a fellow human can quite frankly leave the gene pool"

I say why should I? Why should I be hated just because my only crime is showing compassion toward another one of God's creatures? Why should I be hated because I love and care about a species that is different from my own?

I love humans, I have family and friends that I love and care deeply about and as a matter of fact, the friends I have, came about because we shared a valued interest in animals. I view both as equal and love and care about both. Why do I have to make one a superior preference over the other?

Please tell me why?

Infact the only thing you've made me realize is that. The more people I meet like you, the more and more I will love my dog and any other animal I care about, and I will be filled with an even greater determination and passion to save them from unnecessary exploitation and harm.

Europe Loves The Harp Seals

2006-12-11T22:00:00.000-08:00

I know this news is very late news and I assume some people who are reading this page already and most likely know.

But I have to tell people as this is one of the biggest possible victories needed and a HUGE step forward in the anti seal slaughter campaign to end this merciless unnecessary slaughter of innocent baby harp seals.

I was absolutely overjoyed when I heard the news a little over two months ago and this is for anyone who may not yet know.

Europe has stood up for what's right, what's just and has done what's needed to make the world a better place.

The European Parliament has adopted a written declaration on banning seal products in the European Union.

A record 425 members of the European Parliament signed the Written Declaration (0038/2006) calling for a ban on seal products in the European Union. It is believed that this is the highest number of signatures ever recorded on any Written Declaration, surpassing the mandatory 50% of signatures required for adoption.

The high level of support shown by members of the European parliament clearly echoes the widespread condemnation of the annual Canadian seal slaughter. The declaration will now be forwarded to the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, demanding that a ban is implemented.

In a statement the Parliament said that ‘The House requests the Commission to immediately draft a regulation to ban the import, export and sale of all harp and hooded seal products.’

This is so encouraging and uplifting and will if passed (and let's all hope it will) dent a huge blow in the heart of the Canadian Government and the Canadian Sealing association so big that they will virtually have no other choice than to shut it down sooner rather than later.

This action if successful, combined with the action of the Canadian seafood boycott will all but virtually shut this thing down. The markets for seal skins all over the world are closing; national bans currently exist in the USA, Mexico, Croatia and Italy, bans in Belgium and the Netherlands are soon to be adopted; as well as the recent news on November 15 that Germany is adopting a temporary ban until the full European ban is passed.

The movement of the seal defenders is being heard, it is working and will end the tragedy of a hakapik striking the innocent head of the seal above. If anyone reading this sent letters, called their members of parliament, went to protest rallies or did anything to encourage this; I thank you from the bottom of my heart. For you are the compassionate one, the one who wants to make things in the world better and ultimately did.

The seals WILL have their day and will be able to do what harp seals do without ever having to worry about the darkness spreading on the horizon of their home and destroying them and all their friends.

Bless you Europe; for you listened to the people and acted; acted the way any good politician should; you're trying to make the world a better place for humans and animals and if this written declaration passes you ultimately will have.

Always for the seals.

The Baby Seal Killer

2006-12-11T21:49:00.000-08:00

Shame on you the Canadain Government.

Shame on you the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Shame on you the Canadian Sealers Association.

Shame on you the small percentage of Newfoundland and Labrador who support this.

Shame on you every Fisheries Minister past and present.

Shame on you the Royal Canadian Mountain Police.

And most importantly Shame on you Mr Sealer and every sealer before you.

You don't have to do this, yes it's gone on for a long time but there are economically viable alternatives now and there have been for a very long time.

There is no need to do this anymore, you don't need it to survive and preserving seals instead of killing them would equal more fish for you to catch.

Do you actually enjoy clubbing baby seals? Or is it just another day at the office? Do you see them as living breathing beautiful creatures or just a fish; something that will bring you a few dollars?

I don't want you to do this anymore, I want you to stop, I want you to listen to alternatives and international public opinion, but you won't. Why must you have such an insurgence attitude to protect what you do; it's not necessary and shames not only you but the whole of Canada as well.

People such as David Attenborough, Captain Paul Watson, Rebecca Aldworth, Steve Irwin, Farley Mowat and Cleveland Armory have and are; putting a positive stamp on the world. They wanted to and did and do make it better, they were and are advocates for political and physical change, they inspired and do inspire people to show compassion and respect for the earth and all of its inhabitants including the harp seal. They were and are angels and heroes; and helped to and help, change and shape the world into a better place instead of needlessly and unnecessarily destroying it without any remorse pity or guilt.

Why can't you join them? Why do you have to give them a reason to keep going? A reason to keep fighting and battling you? You have families and children; well so does a mother seal, that mother seal loves cares and looks out for her child just as you do. Why do you have to take that away from her? Why do you have to make her bleet for her young when you don't have to? Why do you have to participate in and at times seem to really enjoy clubbing baby harp seals to death when you know there are alternatives available.

If you don't like the world calling you a barbarian then don't behave like one.

God will ultimately judge you for what you have done and continue to do to one of many beautiful creations the all mighty has bestowed upon us.

But until you put down your brutal hakapik; you will be a barbarian, something the world does not like and does not care for.

YOU are responsible for the horrific video, the heartbreaking images and the acts of cruelty and suffering towards harp seals. You don't have to do it, but do; and until you stop, we have no other choice then to see you as a savage a brute and a criminal.

Because every time your boats set sail for the ice floes of the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Labradour front; and you step out onto the ice and raise your hakapik in the air and sent it swiftly crashing down on a baby harp seal's innocent head and then subject it to some of the most unforgivable and horrendous acts of cruelty and suffering on the planet. It is ultimately what you become and what you are.

The Humble Cow, Pig, Chicken And Sheep

2006-12-11T21:20:00.000-08:00

Ya know, I never really realized it before when I used to be a meat eater and chewed down my Big Mac without even thinking a second about how it came to get from the living pasture to my hands as I was about to chomp down on it with my teeth; but cows are actually pretty cool looking animals and can be quite cute too.

Even though the huge majority of the human race is currently eating meat to survive, and as I’ve mentioned in my previous writings; the ethics of eating meat is one that is filled with many points of debate. It is still of the upmost importance while we are killing these gentle placid and non threatening animals for survival, that we do it with the upmost compassion and with as little suffering to the animal as possible.

Many people argue as the world’s population is becoming bigger that there is not an effective way to have anything but factory farming as the incredible demand for meat, egg, cheese and milk pushes production to a level so high that no alternative can produce what’s needed as quickly as a factory farm.

In that case we just make more of what is needed to make things more humane and compassionate. Chickens do not have to be kept in cages so small that the flat area is not much bigger than an A4 piece of paper; the chicken literally cannot turn around and is treated as a cheap commodity instead of an animal that can provide food for us whilst still being treated with respect and compassion.

Veal calves (baby cows) which I am against the killing of, are ripped from their mothers at birth and put into stalls so small they can not turn around. This is a disgusting way to treat a baby animal, which has just entered the world and is yet to discover the wonder of it; it isn’t fair to treat them like that. Like some one off thing we use once and then throw away.

Many people will tell you “ah there going to die anyway so what’s the point of treating them humanely”

The point is; is to show them respect for providing food for you if you consume meat, and for sacrificing their lives so yours can continue; and perhaps if a slaughterhouse worker actually looked into the eyes of one of the gentle creatures whose life he is ending. Then perhaps maybe he could see that’s there’s more to these creatures then just a side order of steaks and fries, but feelings intelligence and a desire to seek pleasure.

So if you do eat meat, try going on a vegetarian diet for a couple of days to see how you do? ; to see if you enjoy it? ; to see if you take to it? and if you do, to see if you can survive without meat and perhaps enjoy it?

I’m not saying go out there and become like the great Gandhi, but try to be open minded and think of the cruelty involved in the production of meat and dairy products and think about how your compassionate food choices CAN make a difference to the thousands of lives of farm animals slaughtered for food consumption.

The perception of vegetarians being hippie pot smoking lay abouts who just play guitar, write poems and eat nothing but beans all day and sing love songs is long gone.

Vegetarianism is widely accepted in western societies now and many dishes look very similar to ones that include meat and are very very tasty. I myself eat lots of rice and pasta dishes, meat free of course; splashed with some flaxseed oil for extra nutrients. I also eat many fruits and vegetables and chilli dishes with lots of beans but no meat. I work out at the gym and am quite big and tall; so the perception that we need meat to survive is often misconstrued because we are told we need it to survive, when we don’t even attempt to be open minded about it and try out vegetarian dishes to see if we like it; because we believe that we can’t live without meat.

Just try and see how you go? Try eating no meat for two or three days and go from there and if you want to become a vegetarian for ethical or moral reasons, wean yourself off meat slowly by having less and less of it over time and eventually you won’t miss it all. Give it a go?

We CAN improve the lives of farm animals and by also having an open mind about vegetarianism perhaps one day we can see the end of slaughterhouses and the inherent cruel practices involved in order to bring you your steak and chips and also perhaps be just as healthy and happy (maybe even happier) then we were on a diet that included meat and animal products.

For more information about factory farming and the inhumane and at times very disturbing practices involved please visit any of the following sites below.

www.factoryfarming.com

www.veganoutreach.org

www.hsus.org/farm

www.factoryfarming.org.uk/index.html

Sea Shepherd On The Ice In 2003

2006-12-11T21:16:00.001-08:00

Sea Shepherd crew members on the ice in 2003 loving and protecting the seals. And NEVER forgetting about them xxx.