BLESSINGS ON THE SURVIVORS

Image Credit: Thandi by
Angie Goodie

BLESSINGS ON THE SURVIVORS

Her name is Thandi.

She has survived

a merciless attempt to end her life,

solely for profit from the sale of her horn.

She is a pregnant,

critically endangered,

innocent, sentient,

Rhino Spirit

who has been saved

and is being cared for by compassionate human rescuers.

She matters.

Every ONE matters.

Blessings on The Human Rescuers.

Blessings on The Survivors

of ALL species.

~~~

~ The Animal Spirits

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The Animal Spirits on Facebook

Thandi’s Fundraiser on Facebook

BLOGGERS CALLED TO ACTION

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

~~~

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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

THE DECLINE OF THE DANCING BEARS OF INDIA

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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)

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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/