Stop the inhumanity at Chinese fur farms!

Animals are being brutally tortured to death at Chinese fur farms. MANY ARE SKINNED ALIVE. All fur farms are disgusting and evil, but these ones in China defy imagination.

Please consider signing this petition to stop the unbelievable cruelty at Chinese fur farms:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/stopcff/petition.html

Here is the video, but I warn you, it is very graphic and extremely disturbing:
http://www.peta.org/feat/ChineseFurFarms/index.asp

From the PETA website: "When undercover investigators made their way onto Chinese fur farms, they found that many animals are still alive and struggling desperately when workers flip them onto their backs or hang them up by their legs or tails to skin them. When workers on these farms begin to cut the skin and fur from an animal's leg, the free limbs kick and writhe. Workers stomp on the necks and heads of animals who struggle too hard to allow a clean cut. When the fur is finally peeled off over the animals' heads, their naked, bloody bodies are thrown onto a pile of those who have gone before them. Some are still alive, breathing in ragged gasps and blinking slowly. Some of the animals' hearts are still beating five to 10 minutes after they are skinned. One investigator recorded a skinned raccoon dog on the heap of carcasses who had enough strength to lift his bloodied head and stare into the camera.

Before they are skinned alive, animals are pulled from their cages and thrown to the ground; workers bludgeon them with metal rods or slam them on hard surfaces, causing broken bones and convulsions but not always immediate death. Animals watch helplessly as workers make their way down the row. Undercover investigators from Swiss Animal Protection/EAST International toured fur farms in China's Hebei Province, and it quickly became clear why outsiders are banned from visiting. There are no regulations governing fur farms in China—farmers can house and slaughter animals however they see fit. The investigators found horrors beyond their worst imaginings and concluded, 'Conditions on Chinese fur farms make a mockery of the most elementary animal welfare standards. In their lives and their unspeakable deaths, these animals have been denied even the simplest acts of kindness.'

On these farms, foxes, minks, rabbits, and other animals pace and shiver in outdoor wire cages, exposed to driving rain, freezing nights, and, at other times, scorching sun. Mother animals, who are driven crazy from rough handling and intense confinement and have nowhere to hide while giving birth, often kill their babies after delivering litters. The globalization of the fur trade has made it impossible to know where fur products come from. China supplies more than half of the finished fur garments imported for sale in the United States. Even if a fur garment's label says it was made in a European country, the animals were likely raised and slaughtered elsewhere—possibly on an unregulated Chinese fur farm."

Response to "Harvard’s Crisis of Faith"

Response to "Harvard’s Crisis of Faith" by Lisa Miller, Newsweek Feb 22, 2010

http://www.newsweek.com/id/233413

As a graduate of Harvard with a Masters in Religion, I feel compelled to respond to this article. I am also an atheist who is against the organized practice of religion. I study religion because I find it fascinating from a phenomenological standpoint, and view it as another expression of human culture and identity. However, I also see it as the main force for hatred and ignorance in the world, and know that I must, in Ms. Miller’s words, “understand how religious belief and practice influence our world.” Part of what Ms. Miller describes is not consternation at Harvard over whether religion courses per se should be required or not, but rather stems from an overhaul of the entire Harvard Core Curriculum. Harvard has one of the oldest and most prestigious divinity schools in America, with groundbreaking centers for Women and Religion and World Religions, as well as professors who incorporate religious history into their own department (art, music, literature, cultural studies, etc). The Committee on the Study of Religion is not a freestanding department, but neither is Women’s Studies or Medieval Studies – by Ms. Miller’s own logic, that would mean Harvard is also sexist and anti-Middle Ages. It may surprise you to learn that there are many atheists, agnostics, and non-practicing students studying religion all over the world; while I am in the minority, I certainly am not the only one.

At HDS, I had the best professors in the world who challenged and expanded my mind in ways for which I will forever be grateful, even as I found most of the faculty there (and at College X, too) to be practicing or devout in their own religions. I studied the mystical experiences of Medieval women, and it never mattered to me whether their visions were ‘real’ or not (I suspect they were not) – I take their religious worldview as a given, as my personal belief did not need to conflict with academic and intellectual inquiry. I have found the same of every religion professor I have ever known, whatever side of the belief divide they are on. The tone of Ms. Miller’s writing is tired and unoriginal, rehashing sloppy debates about “faith versus reason” at a level a Dan Brown fan would understand, with some facile Harvard-bashing thrown in for good measure. Perhaps it’s just possible that faith can be part of academic discourse, while both respecting and keeping distance from personal faith practice.

As for the Harvard bashing - just about everyone who implies Harvard isn't "all that" has a tear-stained rejection letter in the back of a drawer somewhere. Also, Ms. Miller totally does NOT understand how the system works there. There is NO bureaucratic division between the Divinity school and the rest of the University. All HDS students can take up to 50% of their classes anywhere in the University, which allowed me to study, work and teach in the Music department. Furthermore, HDS is part of the Boston Theological Institute, a consortium of about 10 schools throughout the Boston area, which also has porous cross registration, and a vigorous, diverse membership.

If the Catholic student mentioned in the article is whining that he couldn't bring up god in his classes, why did he not avail himself of HDS or BTU courses?!

Not sure how to feel...

I just read a posting on Michael Moore's website (the political instigator, not the fabulous London chef!) entitled "An Open Letter to President Obama from Michael Moore" which extolls the President not to swell troops numbers in Afghanistan. Since he wrote this letter, of course Pres. Obama did decide to increase troops in Afghanistan. I do not entirely agree with MM. First (and I would not say this in public because Americans go apeshit) I do not "support our troops" as the mantra goes as a matter of course. I do feel great compassion for individual soldiers and for their families, but I do not support the troops as a rule. You cannot be against war and for warriors as the same time. All these wars are sad shams and it's a shame that predominately poor, underprivileged young kids have no other option for money and education that to join the armed forces. I don't find that admirable.

But, more to the point - I think we're in the shit in Afghanistan and pulling out might make it worse. I will admit I don't know enough about the situation to really make good predictions, which is why the Pres and the Generals should be in the decision-making process. I don't think we should be fighting wars in the first place, but since we're there, we should finish the job. I am a HUGE fan of MM, but he really is given to unfounded histrionics sometimes. Iraq was the War of Mistakes, but that does not mean Afghanistan necessarily is... I am not entirely sure about any of this though, what do you all think?

Petland is evil! Do not shop there...

... but in good news, petitions do work!

The transparent nature of Facebook, the rapidity of internet social action, and the magic of petitions have worked to close down an animal torture house in Akron, Ohio called 'Petland.' Here is the story in the Examiner. Basically, animals are not fed or cleaned at all, so they resort to cannibalism to live, and then they are drowned, frozen or beaten to death. In this case, a wonderful young lady named Elizabeth Carlisle gleefully drowned two rabbits, who were already dying from malnutrition and fighting, before urging her colleague to take a picture, which she then posted on Facebook. Petland employees themselves have been sickened by this evil, selfish, inhuman and depraved corporate policy. Read about their experiences here as this is not an isolated incident by any means.

If you know Elizabeth Carlisle, seen above, be sure to give her a piece of your mind! I hope her parents are so proud, they did a wonderful job raising her.

Now Petland officials claim that this is in outright opposition to their policy: "Petland will in no way, shape or form tolerate any abuse of animals in its care. We are outraged of this gross violation of Petland's animal care standards," according a written statement issued by the company. "Petland policy demands that medical treatment and protocol is to be provided and determined by the store's consulting veterinarian and not be undertaken by an employee. Petland policy also dictates that no animal be euthanized in ANY manner by any staff member."

But that is only policy on paper. If employees are being threatened with termination for merely CLEANING CAGES then clearly Petland itself is guilty of gross abuse. And even if the company has the best intentions, they clearly cannot control their employees and should still be banned from selling live animals.

Please click here to sign a petition to get Petland to stop selling rabbits in all their stores. When this story broke, the public outcry was so strong and immediate that the Akron location was permanently closed down! Petland has been in hot water the past year for buying dogs from puppy mills, but of course their policy of greed and cruelty continues unabated. PETA and Care2.com have spearheaded the petition movement.

So what can you do? Sign the petition. Write to the county judicial system in Akron and demand that Elizabeth Carlisle be prosecuted to the very fullest extent of the law -- she was indeed brought up on charges of animal cruelty, and will appear in Akron Municipal Court on August 17th. But most important, DO NOT EVER BUY ANIMALS FROM PET STORES. Ever! There are millions and millions of healthy and lovely dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, birds etc etc in the SPCA, shelters and farms across the country. If you do shop at stores like Petland, you are personally responsible for things like this happening. Those lovely animals are then euthanized because they cannot find owners, when you guys buy pets instead from stores that in effect are gulags or prison camps. Does that make sense?!? Once again, err on the side of compassion.

Paint a vulgar picture

I was just futzing around on Facebook and as I belong to PETA’s group, I read one of their update articles. I am SO sickened, disgusted and upset, I cannot do anything else but think about what I just read; and I guess the best way to work through it in my mind is to blog it. So off we go, time for more Goddess ranting… PETA has a new campaign called “McCruelty: I’m Hatin’ It” to expose the insane and cruel methods McDonalds still uses in their ‘meat production.’ Be warned – the video is quite disturbing but REAL and true and based on undercover cameras from real chicken slaughter houses. You know, the kind you patronize every week when you buy their evil.
McCruelty: I'm Hatin' It--Learn More.

PETA has put together an UNHappy Meal which teaches children that not only will the contents of their McDonald’s Happy Meal damage their own health, but is a big ol’ box of animal suffering and human cruelty. Read more about this UNHappy Meal here. I saw this bit of text on the website “PETA's spoof of a McDonald's chicken sandwich box features the image of a knife-wielding Ronald McDonald, along with pictures of birds who have been mutilated and scalded alive and information about controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK), the less cruel method of slaughter that PETA is asking McDonalds to adopt.” and decided to follow the link to CAK. That is when I became glad I haven’t had breakfast yet, because surely I would have vomited.

So, kind friends, let us explore what does happen in the vast majority of poultry slaughter houses in the USA (all following quotes taken directly from the PETA website):

- Electric immobilization, the conventional method of slaughter in North American poultry slaughterhouses, causes an array of animal welfare, economic, and worker-safety problems. The process involves dumping and shackling live birds, running them through an electrically charged bath of water to immobilize them, slitting their throats with a machine, and defeathering them in tanks of scalding-hot water.

- Birds endure bruised and broken wings and legs and can suffocate when they are dumped and shackled.

- Frustrated workers often commit gratuitous acts of abuse and have been documented tearing live birds apart, spitting tobacco in their eyes, spray-painting their faces, stomping on them, punching them, kicking them, and even sexually assaulting them.

- Electric current levels are too low to render birds insensible to pain, and all birds are conscious as their throats are slit.

- Those who miss the blades—and millions do each year—are scalded to death in defeathering tanks.

- This abuse is permitted because the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, the only federal law designed to protect animals from abuse at slaughter, doesn’t protect chickens or turkeys. Chickens and turkeys make up more than 95 percent of the animals slaughtered in the U.S.—9.5 billion chickens and turkeys are slaughtered each year, compared to about 100 million pigs and 45 million cattle and sheep.

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!!! They sexually abuse the birds?!? I cannot even fathom or wrap my mind around this one. The people who work in these factories have no souls, no brains and no consciences – I shudder to think what their karma must be like. I do applaud PETA, however, for pointing out how the typical methods outlined above are also dangerous for the workers themselves.

Now, I know some of you think of PETA as a radical, leftist terrorist organization who wants to take your fur coats, hotdogs and good ol’ American fun away from you. I will say you’re wrong, we do not want to spoil anyone’s fun – least of all, the animals'. Selfishness and absolute gratification are not good American values that need any defending.

I am somewhat pleased to report that more humane methods of killing, such as CAK advocated above, are the norm in Europe and in my home, the UK. While I am still categorically against the taking of animal life for any reason, at least if they are still to be slaughtered, the method of death should be less evil.

Whenever I post a little blurb on Facebook about the cruelty of eating meat or the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle, I ALWAYS get little self-conscious, defensive (but friendly) replies from my friends, nervously defending their own meat-eating choices. 99% of the time it reads something like this – ‘well, we really don’t eat meat all that often, only once a day/ week/ month, but I try to be environmental otherwise…” In other words, they know I'm right deep down, but want me to think highly of them anyways. I love my friends a ton and I know they are generally good people, but…

I am sick of dicking around. IF YOU EAT MEAT YOU ARE A BAD PERSON. IMMORAL, CRUEL AND SELFISH TO THE MAX. No more hand-holding, ethical relativism or ass-kissing. You just cannot eat animals and retain any degree of conscience today. And if you feed it to your children, you’re a double shit. And please do not accuse me of crude self-righteousness here. That is not what this is about, and as I still eat fish once in a while, I'm in the same unethical shithead boat as the rest of you. Plus, I have thought deeply about all these issues, and think about them every day. I’m too smart to merely be up on my ethical high horse here. And so what if I am?!? You’re the shithead who practices cruelty on a daily basis, then licks the delicious BBQ sauce right off your fingers.

PLEASE please please chose compassion and humanity over cruelty and selfishness. It won't cost you anything! Thanks for reading and listening and thinking...

Recession hits pets hard too

I just read the most thoroughly heartbreaking article today on msn.com: Recession takes its toll on man’s best friend. "As more families are forced to sell their homes, an increasing number of pets are being left behind in shelters or, worse, empty houses. Though it is difficult to put an exact figure on the number of abandoned pets, shelters across the country say they are seeing double-digit percentage increases in the number of animals left in their care. The Humane Society estimates that more than 3 million animals will be euthanized this year... Shelters across the country are taking steps to stop the influx of abandoned animals. In Richmond, Va., the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers to board pets until families get back on their feet. They also have pantries and clinics that provide free pet food and veterinary care to pet owners who don't want to give up their animals, but can't afford to care for them at the moment. During the past several months, the Richmond SPCA has seen a 15% to 25% increase in the number of pet owners who come in and qualify for its free services."

Isn't this just devastating? Part of me wants to go find those families and severely beat the shit of them hourly, and part of me feels so badly for them. I cannot imagine what it would take for me and my husband to give up our dog and cats; basically I never would, but as much as we are hurting in this economy, I probably will never have to face that decision. I would like to wag my finger about being a responsible pet owner -- I mean, really, these witless fuckheads are just leaving pets in the houses they abandon! would they leave their own children behind if they got too expensive?!? -- but this economy (our very own parting gift from the incompetent Bush administration) has bitten all of us in the butt.

So one thing I can ask you to do is PLEASE donate whatever funds you can manage to your local SPCA, Humane Society, rescue organization or shelter. Also, you can donate for free, with just a simple click a day, on the following internet sites; the Animal Rescue site and the Care2 site. And if you are interested in adopting a pet for your own house, the shelters are full to bursting with wonderful, healthy animals who need a home. Buying an expensive purebred from a pet store, or an evil abhorrent puppy mill, is socially irresponsible at best. I have a HUGE issue with buying purebred dogs and cats, when there are millions of beautiful mixed breed animals that are all but free in your local SPCA or shelter. And have your pet spayed/ neutered too, please. You can look in your local papers and CraigsList as well for pets who need a good home.

Here are photos of my own gorgeous pets

Donderdag – Veggie Dag

Well I have to say, Europe rocks! The lovely city of Ghent, Belgium, has made every Thursday a vegetarian day for city officials, schools and other organizations. What a wonderful idea! Over a million people in Taiwan also pledged to start a meat-free diet last year. 

Please read more about this special initiative here, but in the meantime, here are some snippets from the article...

"The Belgian city of Ghent is 30 miles west of Brussels, with a population of around 200,000. Just over a week ago, this small city committed to taking a major step forward in environmental responsibility, setting an example for the rest of the world to follow... City officials have declared that meat intake is a major contributor to pollution, and say that making one day a week meat-free 'is good for the climate, your health and your taste buds.' Tom Balthazar, a Ghent city councilor who is backing the initiative, quotes the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), when he says that meat production is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gases. Ghent's officials are teaming up with Belgium's national vegetarian organization, EVA (Ethical Vegetarian Alternative), and adopting Thursday as a vegetarian day for officials. From September, the city's schools will be making a meat-free meal the "default" option every Thursday. At least one hospital wants to join in....'If everyone in Flanders does not eat meat one day a week, we will save as much CO2 in a year as taking half a million cars off the road, said the EVA..."