OUR WISH
Action Against
Poisoning
Our Wish for 2008
We wish that 2008 will be a year where peace, kindness, compassion,
understanding and love be extended to all living beings on this
planet we call our home. In this, we include the animals who are
most often forgotten. They are our brothers and sisters, and share
this Earth with us, and should be afforded the same rights,
privileges, dignity and respect that we afford our own kind. Let
animals be recognised as sentient beings.
Animals are just as much nationals of any given country as
ourselves. They thus deserve protection by the governing bodies of
all towns, cities and countries. When laws are drawn up, sadly,
animals and their welfare are often neglected. It is our hope that
governments and international organisations such as the United
Nations, be made aware of the extent of animal suffering, and that
they proactively take steps to do something about it and to bring
about an end to all animal suffering. For too long, we humans have
had centre stage, and have left the animals out in the wings. Let
us now bring animals onto that stage and share it with them,
amicably and respectfully.
May at least 10% more people go vegetarian, if not vegan. If we
consider that in the UK alone, One Billion land animals are killed
per year for food, what about the rest of the world? How many more
billions of animals all over the world are factory farmed, and then
have their lives stolen from them prematurely? These animals also
have a desire to keep their lives. If at least 10% more people
become vegetarian or vegan in 2008, can you imagine the number of
animals’ lives we will have saved? Not to mention the reduction of
the greenhouse gasses that are responsible for the climate change
that we are experiencing. It is a known fact that a person who eats
meat, and does not drive a car is responsible for more greenhouse
gas production than a vegan who drives a car every day! Let’s also
try and save our planet.
Thus, we will also be helping to save species from extinction.
Think of the polar bears, penguins and other birds and other land
animals threatened and endangered by global warming. Do we want our
grandchildren to see pictures of animals only and not the animals
themselves? It is of paramount importance that we save our wildlife
and maintain a balance on this planet. Stop over-fishing our oceans
and leave some fish for the animals who need this source of food;
seals, whales, dolphins, sharks, aquatic birds and others. It is
their natural source of nourishment. We do not need fish; we can
eat plants!!! Humans must take responsibility for their own selfish
actions and should not blame the animals. Namibian seals have not
threatened the fish populations in the southern oceans; man has by
constantly taking from the ocean and never giving back. Those seals
must be left alone in peace. They have done us no harm! We hope
that the Namibian government will come to its senses and realise
this in 2008!
We have raped and pillaged this Earth. We have incarcerated her
inhabitants in zoos, for food, for entertainment (circuses and
bullfights), for clothing (furs and skins), to be our companions
(pets), and in the name of science (vivisection). We have done
untold damage to the wildlife of this planet, plunging some species
already into extinction. We have destroyed the rainforests;
poisoned the waters, air and the land; poisoned ourselves and left
our Earth, our Mother Planet, groaning in agony. We have come and
taken without giving back.
It is high time that we recognise that we are not gods, but mere
mortals. May 2008 be the year when we turn 180° from our selfish
ways and give back to this planet what she so unselfishly gives us.
Let us honour the Creator of our world. Let us save Earth and her
inhabitants; particularly those who cannot speak in human tongues;
the animals. Let us protect them, respect them and fight for them.
They cannot do it for themselves.
Colleen
McDuling behaviourist -
Written for “Action Against Poisoning”
* . * . *
WISH FOR 2007 BY
A.A.P.
We
are fed up by the fact that animal protection laws are not
enforced, degraded or revoked.
The emergence of
political parties for animals triggers violent reactions reflecting
ignorance or disregard for incidental and structural animal abuse
in hunting, animal research, live animal exports, intensive farming
and how we look after pets.
It is extremely
alarming that under the proposed bill Animal Enterprise Terrorism
Act (AETA), legal activities such as peaceful protests, consumer
boycotts, media campaigns, legislative proposals, or even telling
the public what happens in puppy mills, factory farms, or canned
hunting facilities, could be classified as acts of
terrorism.
We get unwell by well
informed people believing in “our unique humanity” or convinced of
“a world without the exploitation of animals being unfit for human
habitation”. This unfeeling humanity may be unique but we
definitely do not share that kind of humanity or
such a world.
In terms like: batty
bunny-lovers, human-baiting time, political zoophilia,
Disneyfication or terrorists we find neither a shred of animal
abuse awareness, nor a base for argument against parties for
animals.
Indeed we cannot
let animals, called "ignorant as ever",
vote. However, it is remarkable that we let plenty
- ignorant as ever - people vote who can hardly count, write, read,
reason, let alone care.
So what is so disturbing about observant people voting on
behalf of the animals?
We cannot fathom how
one can be so scared or offended by animal rights or "a voice for
the animals".
However, as members
of the Dutch "Party for the Animals" we are grateful for reactions
that perfectly explain the need for our party or the
"Animals Count" party. Their aim is durability of society,
which is profitable for animals, nature and people alike.
Such animal parties are less prone to political compromises
that move animal welfare issues to rock bottom
priority.
Their members have succeeded in making contact with animals,
understanding that chained and caged animals differ from
animals living in harmony with their surroundings.
These members derive no pleasure from inflicting pain or
killing but try to stop that. So far for these
“terrorists”.
A few days after the
election our new MP's got excellent news coverage for issues
that were ignored before, returning animal welfare to the
agenda. So the tide of animal welfare degradation is turning and I
would not call that "barking mad politics".
We
wish that more parties for animals emerge to counterbalance the
political degradation of animal welfare and animal rights.
info
OUR WISH FOR
2006
Although European Union's main concern for animal protection is
related to economic or public health issues, we are delighted by
the sudden and strong decision to stop subsidies for international
cattle transport as of 24 December 2005. However, in 2005 we were
flooded with world wide animal cruelty information, reflecting a
total disregard for animal welfare.
For our wish for 2006 we focus on a non violent and therefore
underexposed forms of animal cruelty from our direct
experience:
Making inquiries to the origin of regularly dumped litters at
garbage dumps it appeared that hunters keep bitches to breed their
yearly new hunting dog under the following scheme: The "best" 2
pups are kept having all the milk and the rest of the litter is
dumped directly after birth. After final selection about 3 weeks
later the last rejected pup is dumped at the same spot.
Finding numerous abandoned diseased dogs it is clear that many dog
owners do not vaccinate their dogs against common local dog
diseases as only rabies vaccination is compulsive (as it is a human
health threat). It is cynical to realise that dogs are protected
against a disease that does not exist, getting them exiled when
falling victim to the real threats.
If people would not deny their litter inoculation against diseases
through mother milk and subsequent vaccination against dog diseases
we would not face this sorry mess. Given the low costs of doing
things right as a responsible dog owner we are infuriated by the
staggering costs and labour of the rescue of abandoned pups or
dogs.
We wish that, starting 2006, responsible authorities and dog owners
stop turning - by wilful neglect - perfectly healthy pups and dogs
into animal waste.
OUR
WISH FOR 2005
As we know, Mega-events are often attended by massive animal abuse.
Especially the Olympic Games seem to be affected with an appalling
attitude towards stray animals. But political events like EU or
NATO summits are surrounded with the same "care". Building sites
and cities are cleared of "unhealthy or offending animals".
As usual, poisoning is the cheapest and most effective way.
Time and again we are baffled by the fact that authorities:
- believe that tourists and visitors hate to see stray animals in
the street scenery.
- do not realize that people are more offensive and a health threat
than stray animals.
- are so far away from reality that they do not know that stray
animals are the most docile and friendly animals on earth.
OUR WISH FOR 2005 IS A LAW ENFORCED RESPECTFUL NON KILLING APPROACH
OF STRAY ANIMALS ON BEHALF OF TRANSIENT GAMES OR MEETINGS, WITH AN
ALTERNATIVE ON THE BAN OF MONEY WASTING POMPOUS NONSENSICAL OR
SUPERFLUOUS EVENTS.
OUR
WISH FOR 2004
Our wish for 2004 still is a global scientific effort to perceive,
understand and translate the animal languages. Beside malice and
greed, ignorance probably is the most common cause for animal
abuse. Especially the ignorant notion that animals have no feelings
or awareness may lower the threshold for violence or neglect. If
only animals could speak out to prove otherwise!
We regard publications that shed light on the animal psyche as
milestones on the road to understand and respect animals. It is
clear that our understanding of their behavior and expressions are
not enough to desist from animal abuse.
To fight ignorance our wish for 2004 is a global scientific effort
to perceive, understand and translate the animal languages. And of
course spread and publish that knowledge. If animals could talk to
us, or better if we could confirm their intelligence, reasoning,
intentions, affection and fears, we would not be ignorant any more
and less inclined to harm them.
Read this in other languages: Portuguese, Turkish, Spanish, German,
Dutch, French, Danish, Croatian, Greek, Russian
OUR
WISH FOR 2003
A CLEAR DECLARATION FROM THE CHURCH IN THE MATTER OF ANIMAL
PROTECTION
In many more or less civilized countries animal rights and
protection laws are non existent or disregarded due to cultural and
economical reasons. Consequently animals are in peril of being
neglected, hurt or painfully killed without any repercussion for
the culprits. The issue has rock bottom priority on the political
agenda. So we can not depend on the political system for effective
laws and law enforcement.
We experienced that in Portugal people refer to their religion when
they refuse to sterilize their cats and dogs: "we should not
interfere in nature's course / God's creation". It is remarkable
that by the same people deliberate poisoning of animals is accepted
as a fact of life. Obviously this example shows a susceptibility
for religious authority and a failing moral concept of animal
rights.
It is sad to notice that the church - the herald on moral issues
regarding creatures - is not heard on the issue of animal
abuse.
If politicians fail to establish a better life for animals, the
clerical leaders should take the moral stand. The animals deserve a
honest and human judgement.
Please speak out! You might be
their only hope.
Action Against Poisoning