WHEN MATADORS BECOME ACTIVISTS

PHOTO NOTE:  The name of the Matador in this photo is unknown.

Some say, the Matador’s posture is not one of sadness, but one of defiance to the bull.

This post ponders the few Matadors who have choosen to walk away.

The matador

looks into the eyes

of a sentient, living being,

and sees it’s soul,

stops in the middle of an unfair fight,

walks to a ledge inside the stadium,

sits down,

hangs his head

and begins to cry.

~~~

A number of bullfighters throughout history, after recognizing the sentience of the living being they are torturing, have walked away from bullfighting forever.  One such ex-bullfighter, turned animal rights activist was Alvaro Munera, who was quoted:

“And suddenly, I looked at the bull.

He had this innocence

that all animals have in their eyes,

and he looked at me with this pleading.

It was like a cry for justice,

deep down inside of me.

I describe it as being like a prayer –

because if one confesses,

it is hoped, that one is forgiven.

I felt like the worst shit on earth.”

~~~

Chiquilín, another repentant bullfighter,

claims to have seen bulls weeping.

He says that he cannot kill even a fly nowadays.

~~~

Read excerpts from the Alvaro Munera interview here:

http://humansarefree.com/2012/07/bullfighter-becomes-fierce-animal.html

~~~

Blessings on those who from a place of empathy and compassion,

take action to protect, defend and lend voice,

to innocent, sentient, living beings,

who cannot speak for themselves.

We feel.  We suffer.

And in our suffering . . .

We suffer as equals.

Choose compassion.

~Gerean Pflug for The Animal Spirits

~~~

THE SORROW THAT HAS NO SPEECH

From lab, from cage and from forests,

From slaughterhouse stalls, comes the wail

Of my tortured kin.

They proclaim the sin

Of the mighty against the frail. …

For love is the true religion,

And love is the law sublime;

And all that is wrought,

where love is not

Will die at the touch of time.

Oh, shame on the mothers of mortals

Who have not stopped to teach

Of the sorrow that lies

in an animal’s eyes,

The sorrow that has no speech.

~~~

~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

~~~

PHOTO:  269LIFE.com

~~~

Blessings on those

who from a place of empathy and compassion

take action

to protect, defend and lend voice to

innocent, sentient, living beings

who cannot speak for themselves.

~~~

 TEACH CHILDREN COMPASSION AS A WAY OF LIFE

~~~

~Gerean Pflug for The Animal Spirits

~~~

WHY I DO IT ~ LYRICS BY IFEEL

WARNING!  This post is rated R for ADULT subject matter, images and graphic language.  I have obtained permission to post the following lyrics  from IFEEL directly.  None of the images included in this post are from the IFEEL campaign, but all images have a link encoded to their location.  Reblogs are permitted and encouraged.  Copies, reprints and alterations must be approved by IFEEL (links provided below).

Today we are witness to literally millions of sentient beings being taken from their environments against their will, they are:  exploited, mistreated, abused, tortured, maimed and killed.   According to Animal Welfare Institute (ADI), EVERY HOUR, some 1,000,000 chickens, 13,000 pigs and 4,000 cows are slaughtered for human consumption in the United States. It is a process that takes place far from public view, and one that few know very much about.  Although all sentient beings feel in equality, there is certainly no equality in the manner in which the human species treats the animal species.  I cannot stand it anymore.  I have decided to lend voice to innocent, living beings who cannot speak for themselves, thus this blog was created.

IFEEL, a hip-hop/rap artist  has appeared on the animal rights scene with fury.  He pulls no punches, minces no words and does not hold back one iota of passion nor intention in the delivery of his message.  He works from his heart and soul using the tools of his talent, his words and his influence.   I admire his music and his honesty.  The lyrics to “Why I Do It” are bold and without apology, as all of our words should be as we strive to right this gross injustice.

Blessings on those who lend voice to living beings who cannot speak for themselves!

~Gerean Pflug for The Animal Spirits

~~~~~

WHY I DO IT ~LYRICS BY IFEEL

“I DO IT WITH A PEN, NOT A KNIFE OR A GUN

I TALK THE TALK, I DON’T WALK I F*CKIN RUN

AND IF I COULD I WOULD BURN IT ALL LIKE A SUN

ASHES TO ASHES – THAT DAY WILL COME

I DO IT COS IT’S SAD TO SEE WHAT WE’VE BECOME

I DO IT COS THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE DONE

I DO IT FOR YALL WHO CARE – F*CK MASS APPEAL

IF YOU FEEL IT IN YOUR HEART THEN YOU KNOW THAT IT’S REAL

I DO IT COS THE MONEY RIPS THE HEART OUT WITH STEEL

SO THEY CANNOT HEAR THE PAIN AND THE FEAR THAT THEY FEEL

I DO IT COS IT’S SO DAMN EASY TO KILL

BREED IT FEED IT CUT IT SHIP IT –

SERVE A HAPPY MEAL

~~~

~~~

I DO IT COS THEY

STEAL EM BEAT EM BREED EM

AND BLEED EM TREAT EM

LIKE TRASH –

THROW EM AWAY WHEN THEY DON’T NEED EM

~~~

THAT’S SICK –

NO COMPROMISE (NOOOOO)

NOTHIN BUT THE FREEDOM

YES WE GETTIN EVEN –

NOTHIN BUT THE FREEDOM (NOOOOO)

~~~
THIS AIN’T ABOUT THE FAME, THIS AIN’T ABOUT THE BITCHES

IT’S REALLY SIMPLE, LET ME

SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES

THIS IS WHY I DO IT – THIS IS WHY I DO IT – THIS IS WHY I DO IT

~~~

~~~
I DO IT FOR THE CALF IN BOX 44

HE CAN ONLY STAND UP AND FALL ON THE FLOOR

I DO IT FOR THE DOG SKINNED ALIVE FOR FUR RABBIT IN A BAG

– SCARED –

WAITIN TO BE SERVED

LITTLE PIGS WHOSE CRIES WILL NEVER BE HEARD

I DO IT FOR THE MICE AND EVERY SINGLE BIRD

I DO IT FOR THE CHICKEN WITH A HEAD CUT OFF

EVERY SLICE F*CKIN BURNS TILL THE HEAD COMES OFF

I DO IT FOR THE HORSE CHOPPED UP FOR A SAUSAGE

IT’S SAD HOW SOME PEOPLE NEVER LEARNED NOT TO BE SAVAGE

I DO IT FOR MY DOGS AND CATS

IN EVERY JAIL

WITH NO CHANCE OF BAIL –

IN THIS MAN MADE HELL

I DO IT FOR THE CHICKS GETTING GROUND UP ALIVE

COWS IN THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE TERRIFIED BEFORE THEY DIE

I DO IT FOR THE DUCK GETTIN STUFFED TO DEATH

I’LL DO IT TILL I DIE – TILL MY LAST F*CKIN BREATH AHHHHH

~~~
THIS AIN’T ABOUT THE FAME, THIS AIN’T ABOUT THE BITCHES

IT’S REALLY SIMPLE, LET ME

SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES

THIS IS WHY I DO IT – THIS IS WHY I DO IT – THIS IS WHY I DO IT

~~~

~~~
I DO IT COS I’M PISSED AND SICK OF ALL THE LIES

I DO IT COS I CRY WHEN I LOOK INTO THOSE EYES

I DO IT FOR THE DOLPHIN SLICED UP ALIVE

I DO IT FOR THE PITBULLS FIGHTIN TILL THEY DIE

I DO IT FOR THE NAMELESS BODY ON THE PRODUCTION LINE

EVERYDAY A MASSACRE – PAIN IS HEINOUS ALL THE TIME

I DO IT COS I HEAR EM SCREAMIN WHEREVER THEY HIDE EM

AND EVEN IF THEY SHIP EM AND FLY EM – WE STILL GONNA FIND EM

~~~

I DO IT FOR THE BIRDS IN THE BATTERY CAGES

I DO IT FOR THE MODERN-DAY SLAVES IN THE CAGES

CHIMP IN A SEAT WITH A SKULL CRACKED OPEN

CAT WITH NO SLEEP WITH A MOUTH WIDE OPEN

I DO IT COS OF WEAK-ASS HUNTING LITTLE BITCHES

BIG GUNS

NO BALLS

SNAPPIN THEIR LITTLE PICTURES

KILL EM WHILE THEY CAN –

TILL WE GET SOME GLITCHES

F*CK THE BANDAID –

WE GONNA NEED SOME STITCHES

~~~

dead-wolf-flickr-commons.jpg

~~~
THIS AIN’T ABOUT THE FAME,

THIS AIN’T ABOUT THE BITCHES

IT’S REALLY SIMPLE, LET ME

SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES

THIS IS WHY I DO IT –

THIS IS WHY I DO IT –

THIS IS WHY I DO IT
WHY DO IT

WHY DO IT DO IT.”

~~~

In factories, thousands of baby chicks are ground up alive.

~~~~~

Credits:

ANIMAL IN ME ~ Released November 2012.

Written and performed by IFEEL

Produced by Freek van Workum 2012

All rights reserved. www.MusicIFEEL.com

Why I do it ~ sound track by IFEEL

http://ifeel.bandcamp.com/track/why-i-do-it

IFEEL on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ifeel/192685487497183

TO KILL A WHALE

~~~

TO KILL A WHALE

by Gerean Pflug

~~~

Diesel powered ships

fueled by money, greed

and humans paid to crew

hunger to kill for pay

mega sized pointy spears

of monolith resistant steel

built-in hooks with jagged edges

spools of ropes and cording

explosive penthrite-tipped

cannon powered violent action

heartless slaughter intended

body piercing harpoon style

into ideal depth of the flesh

nylon cords extend

tight and quick is what it takes

to pull the pin of delivery

grenade ladened weaponry

detonation of their payload

obliteration of the body

agonizing screams of pain

desperate thrashing

a futile fight to survive

the  slow death lasts

up to a half hour or more

while hanging on to threads of life

the shots and injuries continue

empathy non existent

compassion withheld

 at last the lower jaw relaxes

flippers cease to paddle

active motion slows

flotation no longer possible

the sink begins

once innocent, sentient, living beings

majestic royalty of the seas of an entire planet

now spirits passed on to the ‘nother places

lifeless, nameless, mammoth bodies

hauled by ropes

attached to arms of men

through life blood thickened waters

ultimate bounty is declared

liquid assets pending

cash prizes collected

goods liquidated

to meat markets hidden

behind signs that proclaim

“It is finished.”

in the name of scientific research.

~~~~~

Written by:  Gerean Pflug for The Animal Spirits, all rights reserved

Copy permitted with a link back to this page.

~~~~

Japanese whaling ships

under the guise of scientific research

slaughter hundreds upon hundreds of endangered whales each year.

They kill the planet’s wildlife in protected whale sanctuaries.

This is not only illegal, it is immoral.

The suffering inflicted upon the whales is unspeakable.

They feel.

They suffer.

We suffer as equals.

Blessings on those who out of empathy and compassion

 give voice to living beings who cannot speak for themselves.

Blessings on International Heroes:

Captain Paul Watson,

the crew and volunteers of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

and every individual of the international community

who take action in support of their work.

~~~~~

NOTE:  The above writing is inspired by the work of The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Follow The Sea Shepherd on Facebook at:  http://www.facebook.com/TheAnimalSpirits?ref=hl#!/seashepherdconservationsociety?fref=ts

Additional Resource: “The Inner Lives of Whales” ~  Society for the Advancement of Animal Wellbeing

EMPATHY TRUMPS APATHY

“Science may have found a cure

for most evils;

but it has found no remedy

for the worst of them all –

the apathy of human beings.”

~Helen Keller

~~~~~

~~~~~

Those who lend a voice

to living beings who cannot speak for themselves

exercise empathy.

Empathy trumps apathy.

~Gerean Pflug, for The Animal Spirits

~~~~~

Poster by:  269 Life ~ http://www.269life.com

Join 269Life on Facebook

THE DECLINE OF THE DANCING BEARS OF INDIA

~~~

NEW DELHI: The sight of poorly fed and badly treated bears being forced to dance on the streets of India is a thing of the past as a campaign to wipe out the practice has finally borne fruit, activists say.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and India-based Wildlife SOS, which runs sanctuaries for bears, have also declared an end to the practice in the last few months, 40 years after a government ban in 1972.

~~~

HISTORY

• Since the 13th century, bears have been forced to dance for the entertainment of humans.
• In India, bear cubs were purchased from poachers for about $22.00

~~~

THE PROCESS OF FORCE

• The process of force began by hammering a hot iron rod through a cub’s sensitive snout.
• The bear cub’s teeth and claws were removed
• A threaded rope was inserted through the snout so that the bear can be forced to perform “tricks.”
• Humans forced the bear to the streets and for the price of a few rupees, initiated pain to force the bear to sway and jump

~~~

THE SUFFERING OF THE BEARS

• Removed from their mothers as cubs
• Loss of freedom
• Terror
• Extreme Pain
• Infected Snouts
• Infected and damaged root canals
• Untreated tuberculosis contracted from humans
• Malnutrtion
• Abuse
• Neglect
• Exploitation
• Death

~~~

PROGRESS & ACTION

• The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and India-based Wildlife SOS, which runs sanctuaries for bears, have also declared an end to the practice in the last few months, 40 years after a government ban in 1972.
• Donation-funded groups, have been influencing exploiters of these innocent, living beings to stop this inhumane practice by providing them with money and incentives to re-train in other professions.  One example of many:  After six years of moving from place-to-place with three captive bears in tow, one man handed over his bears to Wildlife Trust of India officers, who offered his family financial assistance and helped him and his younger brother learn driving skills.
• “India is changing rapidly and this is an outmoded, inhumane tradition. The ‘trainers’ themselves realise now that it is far easier for them to earn a living doing other jobs,” Menon of WTI

Note:  Success in actions taken to end this travesty is opening opportunities for other campaigns, such as the one to rid India of its snake charmers who can still be spotted illegally plying their trade, often with the snakes’ mouths sewn shut.

~~~

THE CONTINUING NEED

• Menon of the WTI says that the dancing bear industry was also “a dominant cause behind the disappearance of the sloth bear”, a focus at the bear conference which focused on conservation and welfare.
• In the last three decades, the number of sloth bears, a species native to South Asia, has fallen by at least 30 per cent, according to the IUCN-SSC Bear Specialist Group (BSG). There are now less than 20,000 of them.
• “The widespread poaching of bear cubs and the killing of mother bears clearly affects the population of the species,” ~ Menon (WTI)

~~~

Any action taken to protect an innocent, sentient, living being makes a difference.

Every click, share, comment,

tweet, blog post, reblog,

letter written, phone call placed and donation made

reaches thousands.

Blessings on those who give voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.

~Gerean Pflug, The Animal Spirits

Resources:

India’s ‘dancing bears’ retire in animal rights victory.

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA):  http://www.wspa-international.org/

Wildlife Trust of India:  http://wildlifetrustofindia.org/

Bear Specialist Group (BSG):  http://www.bearbiology.com/index.php?id=bsgmain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfBjzX5ZTJE

http://dawn.com/2012/12/02/indias-dancing-bears-retire-in-animal-rights-victory/

LISTEN TO THE ANIMAL IN ME

I came across this video by Rapper IFEEL today and was really excited about the way he is using his gift.  He raps a message that is sure to be a part of the greatest social issue of our time and that is that animals FEEL,  and they HURT,  and they SUFFER, and they have as much a right to respect and compassion as human animals do.

These are living beings who feel just like we do.  They are being tortured, abused and killed in our laboraties, in slaughter houses, in their natural habitats . . . by butchers, hunters, trappers, scientists, circus owners and psychopaths.  They NEED our voice !!!  Any action, even seemingly small, makes a difference.  We can be heard through our blogs, on all social media platforms, through letter writing, petition signing, volunteering for animal welfare causes and with our dollars through donations.  Please become ACTIVE!

On behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, Thank You.

~Gerean Pflug, for The Animal Spirits

~~~

ABOUT THE MUSIC OF IFEEL

Animals in IFEEL’s songs share their feelings and thoughts. They express their pain, they are angry, they cry, they laugh, they try to communicate with us, they are disappointed, they are grateful. And when they are abused, they fight back. As IFEEL explains: “If someone abused or hurt you, you would protect yourself, wouldn’t you? It’s the same with animals. The only reason they don’t retaliate for all the abuse they are put through is because their abusers have all the vicious tools to keep them locked up, torture them and murder them with cruel efficiency.”

Why does IFEEL do this? “I do it cause it’s so damn easy to kill / breed it, feed it, cut it, ship it, serve a happy meal / I do it cause they steal em, beat em, breed em and bleed em / treat em like trash, throw em away when they don’t need em. ”

~~~

Watch the Video:  IFEEL:  Call 911

~~~

~~~

“Please make ’em stop,

this is so wrong,

please make ’em stop,

I can’t go on.”

~Call 911, on Animal In Me, by IFEEL

CHECK OUT IFEEL MUSIC AT:

http://www.reverbnation.com/ifeel

Article:

http://www.prlog.org/12042868-rapper-ifeel-brings-animal-rights-issues-to-the-world-of-hip-hop-with-his-album-animal-in-me.html

Share this:

Jessica’s life here on earth has made a profound positive difference. She is powerful from the ‘nother places, where her spirit continues to make a profound difference. How wonderful that her family, friends and others are honoring her life by honoring the life of others; these innocent horses, that she loves, are not only being spared one-life-at-a-time but a MIGHTY message is being sent worldwide that influences the hearts, minds and spirits of man’kind’ that empathy and compassion are the keys to universal well being.

I love the ancient Native American belief of “The Bridge” and find it so comforting :

https://animalspirits222.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/the-bridge/

Blessings on Jessica’s sweet, innocent spirit. Blessings on Jessica’s family who in the face of grieving her loss, honor her. Blessings on the spirits of the horses that have passed on …also at the hands of men. Blessings on all who work to promoted respect, kindness and peace for all living beings.

Thank you for your post. I believe it touched the hearts of many today. It certainly touched my heart. Thank you for all that you do to raise public awareness of the need for protection of the innocent lives of the horse spirits. I will post a link to this on “The Animal Spirits”on Facebook today.

~Gerean Pflug, The Animal Spirits

Straight from the Horse's Heart

By Jonathan Phelps Staff writer for the Salem News

“Jessica loved everything about horses…”

“Today is ‘Feel Good Sunday‘ and we fully intend to fulfill our weekly commitment to supply our readers with a story that will help to uplift spirits and recharge the soul, today shall hopefully not disappoint but this installment comes with a bit of a warning; your heart strings will be pulled.  So with that in mind, revel in the good things that good people do in an effort to flush the evil from our lives.  Only occasionally am I proud to be a member of this species and after reading this story, today has become one of these days.  Keep the faith.” ~ R.T.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HAMILTON, MASS — Six-year-old Jessica Rekos dreamed of having her own horse one day.

While her parents promised to get her one when she turned 10, Jessica’s dream will never come true…

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HEROISM BY SPEECH

“When we suffer . . . we suffer as equals.”  ~ Philip Wollen

This is a world-wide must see video.  Speaker Philip Wollen OAM is an Australian philanthropist who went to school at the Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, Bangalore. He is a former vice-president of Citibank and was also a general manager at Citicorp.  I recommend that all of us who support animal welfare,generate this video in-mass on FB, Twitter, Pinterest, email and our blogs and ask all of our social network audiences to post as well.

~~~~

On behalf of the innocent, sentient, living beings

who cannot speak for themselves . . .

Thank You.

~Gerean Pflug, The Animal Spirits

~~~~~

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL DEBATE “ANIMALS SHOULD BE OFF THE MENU

(1 hour 51 minutes)

Share this:

This needs to stop immediately. Please use all social networking platforms available and reblog to raise public awareness. Write letters. Contact information of public officials are listed below ~Gerean Pflug, The Animal Spirits

~~~~~

RAISE AWARENESS

REBLOG AND POST TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING PLATFORMS:

FACEBOOK, TWITTER, TUMBLR, EMAIL, etc.

WRITE LETTERS/SIGN PETITIONS

~~~~~

Write these people NOW.  DEMAND a buffer zone around Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.  DEMAND they relist wolves.  No more killing.  Reinact laws.  Stricter laws of protection.  Stop inhumane treatment of the wolves.  Highest level of punishment for those who do not adhere.  Add Obama to this list too.

~~~~~

Ken Salazar, Secretary Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20240

~~~

Tom Vilsack, Secretary Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC 20250

~~~

Tom Tidwell, Chief U.S. Forest Service 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washington, D.C. 20250-0003

~~~

Jonathan Jarvis, Director National Park Service 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240

~~~

Daniel Ashe, Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20240

~~~

Mike Pool, Acting Director Bureau of Land Management 1849 C Street NW, Rm. 5665 Washington, DC 20240

~~~

Mary Gibson Scott, Superintendent Grand Teton National Park P.O. Drawer 170 Moose, WY 83012-0170

Dan Wenk, Superintendent Yellowstone National Park P.O. Box 168 Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168

Howling For Justice

I can hardly believe the numbers. 605 wolves have been slaughtered in the combined hunts since August 30, 2012.  In 102 days or a little over three months, hundreds of wolves have been wiped out. Images of their mangled, bloodied bodies litter FB and hunting forums. The smiling, grinning wolf killers are gloating in their blood bath. AND this is only December. Montana opens wolf trapping season on December 15.  The Colville Tribes in Washington state are  hunting wolves on their reservation.

Seven collared wolves from Yellowstone National Park have been killed.

Killed late October: 824M of the Mollies pack.

Early November: 829F of the Blacktail Plateau pack.

November 10th in WY: 754M of the Lamar Canyon pack.

November 13th in MT: 823F of the Junction Butte pack (sole collar).

Date/location unknown: 762M and 763F of the Madison pack.

Date unknown, killed in WY: 793(?) of the Snake River pack.

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