AWAKENING ACCOUNTABILITY
There can be no reasonable judgement deserved
for ignorance nor indifference,
while we are yet asleep,
However, as awakening increases,
awareness increases,
therefore, accountability increases.
As you do as you will …
consciously choose to do no harm.
~~~
For Nonhuman and Human Animals,
For The Planet,
For Life,
As awareness increases,
increasingly choose,
non-violent, compassionate action
as a priority.
Choose to do No Harm.
~ Gerean Pflug for “The Animal Spirits”
~~~
THIRSTY
“Water is the new oil.
Nations will soon be going to war for it.
Underground aquifers that took millions of years to fill
are now running dry.
It takes 50,000 litres of water
to make one kilo of beef.”
~ Philip Wollen, Kindness Trust
~~~
“There’s a limit
to how far we can diminish
the life in our oceans.
We cannot live on this planet
with a dead ocean.
If our oceans die, we die.”
~ Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
~~~
“Water and air,
the two essential fluids
on which all life depends,
have become global garbage cans.”
~ Jacques Yves Cousteau
~~~
We will become increasingly
THIRSTY
until we unify
in common, responsible, compassionate,
international objective;
to protect The Earth and all Earthlings.
~ Gerean Pflug, The Animal Spirits
~~~
~~~
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
I am writing this post in support of the efforts of Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. This is a call to action to the WordPress blogging community. For the past few days, many of us have followed and posted about the status of the 12 orca whales trapped in the ice in Quebec. The Facebook and blog posts were flying faster ‘n speeding bullets and the comments were off the charts. Meanwhile, Captain Paul Watson and the crew of The Sea Shepherd fleet were preparing for their next dangerous and sure-to-be-bloody battle on the front lines of the war on poachers who are planning to begin the slaughter of literally thousands of whales within the next 10 days.
This plea for help is being sent out to all of those who claim dedication to the welfare, protection and convervation of our planet and our wildlife. I challenge all bloggers to begin utilizing the written word as a mighty tool . . . to raise public awareness to the highest levels of action, to reach influencial members of society and to demand action by world leadership, who currently are not illustrating the level of concern necessary to stop these heinous, criminal acts against our oceans, the animals that live there and to the human species.
We are living in desperate times. These times require that all available humans dedicate themselves and their abilities to the channeling of passionate intensity for the entirity of at-risk whales. Those on the front lines, such as The Sea Shepherd, are putting their lives at risk in defense of 1000,s of innocent, precious lives. They need immense amounts of support
When I read Captain Watson’s letter below, I felt embarassed and ashamed that it had not been ridiculously obvious to me that MY help is needed. I fight my own negative thoughts daily that whisper to me, “You are only one person. You don’t have enough power. You will not make a significant difference.” But, that is a lie. Every action taken with intention is MIGHTY and every action taken with intention makes a difference. I believe that in a state of passion, we can unite and make a “SPLASH” that is heard across all of the oceans of the world. I can. I will. You can too. Will you?
In ten days the Japanese whaling fleet arrives with their harpoons to inflict an agonizing and brutally prolonged death to hundreds of whales. The Sea Shepherd units will be there to attempt to stop them. This is an URGENT request for assistance. Digital animal welfare supporters ALL need to “strap on a set” and ring louder bells from our laptops, blogs and all other possible social media network platforms. If the pen is at least as mighty as the sword, then take up your pens. Let your voices be heard. Become a mighty warrior for the whales from where you stand. THIS IS NOT A DRILL!
Many Blessings on all who take action to protect
and to give voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.
~Gerean Pflug, The Animal Spirits
~~~
~~~
MESSAGE FROM CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON OF THE SEA SHEPHERD
COPIED FROM CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON’S FACEBOOK PAGE 1/10/2013
“When nature is the enemy, the world rallies to save the whales from being trapped in ice or stranded on the beach. I am happy that people are so compassionate and so eager to lend their help. I am… happy that the media covers the plight of the whales, like the orcas trapped in the ice in Canada or pilot whales stranded on the beach in New Zealand or a lost whale that wanders up the Thames River. I love whales and to see people rally to them to save and protect them fills my heart with joy and gives me hope for humanity. But what I don’t understand is why such passion and concern is displayed for 13 orcas in the ice off Quebec or the three Grey whales caught in the ice a few years back in Alaska yet the fact that Japan intends to kill 935 Minke whales and 50 endangered Fin whales and retains the option to slaughter 50 endangered Humpbacks and this elicits the response by many, not all, but many, of the people who rally to the trapped whales to turn a blind eye to the slaughter by the whalers.
What is it that makes people accepting of the death of whales by harpoons yet so concerned about the threat of death by ice or stranding? Why are those who thankfully volunteer to go to the whales in the ice to help the whales lauded as heroes yet those who try to block the harpoons are called extremists. I am glad there are selfless people willing to rescue whales in trouble and they are indeed heroes but are we the lesser for trying to save whales from a horrific death by these savage harpoons. Is it that we humans like to display our compassion in the face of nature but we submit to the violence of our own kind when humans murder the whales.
We are presently in the Southern Ocean trying to save the lives of 1035 whales and for this we are vilified, made to look like criminals and accused of being extremists and some of these accusations come from people who have expressed concern for the fate of the Orcas in the ice off Quebec. Thankfully it looks like the Orcas have been freed but in ten days the whaling fleet arrives with their harpoons to inflict an agonizing and brutally prolonged death to hundreds of whales. We are here to stop them and we will, but it is sad to think that our support base would be so much stronger if we were down here to rescue whales from being trapped in the ice and not from the harpoons of the Japanese whaling fleet.”
References:
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/notifications?id=477803525602859#!/seashepherdconservationsociety?fref=ts
Captain Paul Watson on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/notifications?id=477803525602859#!/captpaulwatson
“Empathy is a universal solvent. Any problem immersed in empathy becomes soluble.” ~Simon Baron-Cohen
Empathy is defined as “a complex form of psychological inference in which observation, memory, knowledge, and reasoning are combined to yield insights into the thoughts and feellings of others. Empathy is a highly developed and sophisticated emotional response that references self and others. ”
The heinous taking of innocent lives not only in Newtown Connecticut, but worldwide, can neither be explained nor cured by debate of weapon control. There always have been and always will be a way to take the life of another. The recent travesty in Newtown did not happen because of guns, it happened because of a human being who had no empathy. An empathetic human being does not take such action of harm against another living being. All life taken by violence violates all of humanity
Can we control the senseless taking of innocent lives? Sadly, no, we cannot. Control is an illusion. We have never and will not ever control the actions, reactions, thoughts and even words of others. The only things we control are our own individual actions, reactions and words.
While we argue and fight among each other . . .
Someday the planet earth will cease to exist. Someday the sun will burn out. We are not promised tomorrow. We are not even promised the rest of this day. This moment is all that we have. If we use this moment to channel our energies into making a positive difference in the lives of others, we will effect profound change of mind, heart and spirit. These changes ripple and grow and affect the lives of others, not only in the moment, but vastly beyond this moment.
If we choose to spend this moment in argument, competition, debate, anger and words that hurt, what will we achieve? Nothing. I believe that this moment is the perfect moment to shift to higher levels of consciousness. Today is a very good day to begin to act from the heart, not the critical mind and to focus on becoming true models of the good we wish to see in this world.
For myself . . .
I choose to
support, discuss and write about
those things that build up,
encourage,
inspire,
motivate,
uplift
and propel others toward love.
I choose
to focus on
and promote
the heroes of this world,
rather than the villains
(although one certainly cannot be illuminated without the other).
I choose
to hope
that all of us will consider
the powerful opportunity
provided to us
to make a profound positive difference
from where we stand
and through the act of
standing together
in unity
reaching for the highest level of consciousness . . .
the evidence of this consciousness being . . .
empathy,
compassion,
kindness,
gentleness,
understanding
and peace.
Many Blessings.
~Gerean Pflug, The Animal Spirits
THE ANIMAL SPIRITS 