On October 13, 2001, the Discovery channel aired a show called "Animal
Attacks". It was during this airing that I became more fully
aware of the many injustices and cases of cruelty against animal species
on this planet. Man has driven many species to extinction or onto
the endangered lists by hunting them, not just for food, but for "sport".
No one is unaware of the tragic circumstances that befall laboratory
animals as they are imprisoned in cages tortured in the name of science
and medical technology.
As I viewed the Discovery program, I was especially outraged by ongoing
incidents in Spain. I knew I had to begin another segment of "Geolor's
Earth Watch/Earth Issues" to include unnecessary cruelty
to animals. Therefore, the purpose of these pages will be to provide
links to specific cruelty issues. I truly believe that only a well-informed
public can abolish these horrible acts of cruelty perpetrated against
innocent animals. It is not always a case of donating money either;
a well-informed public can vote on issues with a better understanding
of the consequences of their decisions. This was the case recently
in California when voters decided to maintain the ban on hunting mountain
lions, even though there had been attacks on people over the last
decade.
Since this is a new area for me it will take sometime to develop it
as I add to the issues of animal cruelty. I invite viewers to e-mail
me with web sites they believe would educate the public and in any
way assist unfortunate animals, perhaps even saving them from additional
torture.However, I would like to begin with the issue that most upset
me and prompted me to include this topic on my web site:
SPAIN'S LONG-STANDING AND ONGOING
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
An outstanding British woman, Vicki Moore, made frequent trips to
Spain to record and photograph unbelievable and sadistic cruelty to
bulls, goats, geese and chickens, donkeys, cattle, rabbits, pigs,
squirrels, etc. all in the name of "fiesta", i.e.
celebration.
Donkeys are crushed to death by masses of people leaning on them.
Goats are dropped from windows and landings high off the ground, and
if not caught, they land on the hard pavement below.
Chickens and geese are hung by their feet as riders on horseback rip
off their heads.
Bulls are speared and their horns set ablaze for the purpose of enraging
them to fight while weakening them to make them "more on the
level" of the matador, obviously so he will win.
Bulls are castrated "for fun". Some are drowned.
After the torture, the bulls are killed.
Vicki Moore's fervor concerning this issue actually took her life
as she tried to defend a bull being tortured, which unfortunately
then turned its rage against her. Though she survived the initial
attack, 5 years later her injuries caused her death. However, during
those remaining years of her life, she remained steadfast in her belief
that a stand had to be taken against the Spanish traditions involving
the torture and killing of innocent animals. Harboring no ill-will
for the unfortunate, tormented bull that gored her, she persisted
in her efforts to educate the public and in her attempts to stop Spain's
animal cruelty.
Now her husband, Tony Moore, is continuing her efforts.
Please visit their site and educate yourself fully as to the horrors
perpetrated on animals by the Spanish customs and traditions.
These links will take you to pages about:
Bullfighting
Spanish Hunting Dogs (where "hunting" means "shooting")
Blood Fiestas and more.....
Pictures are quite graphic but they tell the story
that needs telling.
You can also find out how to help animals in Spain...and not just
by sending money...but by writing a simple letter.
Here is the Moore's web site: FAACE
Fight Against Animal Cruelty In Europe
Sometimes criticized for being too radical, I applaud
them for exposing horrific mistreatments that no one would ever know
about were it not for their bold and brave actions.
Want to be convinced that animals need our help if they
are to have any voice in how they are treated?
Here is a video, accompanied by the most appropriate music, that should
convice beyond a doubt.
If you are reading this page because you are a thrill-seeker
at the expense of living creatures, then you will be amused by this
video.
But, if you are reading this page because you are an animal lover,
then you will find this video very disturbing and, like me, you will
probably shed tears. I don't think I could watch it twice.
It never ceases to amaze me---the methods of torture human beings can
come up with to cause immeasurable suffering to animals. I would like
to present you with a link to a website devoted entirely to the horrors
and reform of the "bullfighting issue". A long-standing form
of animal torture, it is uncanny to think that it still continues in
this "Age of Enlightenment", a time-period where "Animal
Rights" are now legal issues and medical science has revealed the
extent to which non-speaking creatures on this planet are capable of
feeling pain.
Bullfighting is not a "sport" of only Spain. I was surprised
to see the geographic extent of the atrocities in the name of recreation
and amusement.
This website will also provide you with sample letters you can email
in an attempt to end upcoming bullfighting events. Graphics pictures
appear; but then, how else could one illustrate such an horrific event?
Koreans EAT dogs and cats. They are considered FOOD
there, just as people around the world consider beef to be food. I
do not pretend to believe that one can stop other people from enjoying
what they consider to be everyday delicacies, no matter how much I
personally distinguish between a pet and animals commonly bred for
food. However, there are humane ways to kill the creatures
one will consume and the Koreans are breaking all the rules of humanity
in the way they are executing dogs and cats.
You see, they have this belief that, if the adrenalin
flows into the animals system, their meat will be tastier. So the
more you scare and torture the animal, the better it will taste. Now
isn't that just lovely!
Warning: The links I provide below will take you to
pages that explain the horrors perpetuated by Koreans against dogs
and cats, but also include graphics photographs. I can tell you that,
when I visited these site, what I saw upset me a great deal.
Kill
All Cats!
This particular page is the one that upset me the most! I wonder how
many readers wished that the perpetrator of this horror could, herself,
experience the pain and torture of immersion in boiling water while
still alive!
This is a quote from one of the pages listed above:
"Cats have a special disadvantage in Korea. They
do not hold any position of affection in Korean society. If one were
to believe all of what is said about cats in Korean media and popular
wisdom, one might also assume that cats live to deceive and frighten
people, as well as spread disease." (Koreananimals.org)
Concerning this belief of Korean society, I am reminded
of a famous quote by Chef Dan George (1899-1981) which states:
"If you talk to the animals, they will talk with you. If you
do not talk to them, you will not know them. What you do not know,
you will fear. What one fears, one destroys".
This site hosts petitions concerning many global issues,
including concerns over animal abuse. Please visit. You can choose links
directly related to USA issues, those related to specifically animal
cruelty or search for other petitions of interest to you. The link I
placed above will take you to the "About Us" page. From there,
one can branch out to the many issues and petitions that are hosted
FREE on this site.
Links from the "About Us" will supply you with information
about current animal cruelty/rights issues in addition to providing
you with "petitions" you can sign online. There is no typing
of long letters so it will take you a minute to send your support to
stop animal cruelty. Once you sign ONE petition, if you choose to sign
others, your information will already be filled in. I sent off many
in minutes.
Before you sign any of the petitions, you can follow a link to a page
that will further inform you about the atrocity being addressed in the
form letter.
This site is definitely worth a visit and worth the time it will take
you to give your support to help animals that are mistreated in so many
ways worldwide.
WARNING!
Sometimes, when you send a form-letter petition to
an official, you may receive a response that will not be to your
liking. Here is a copy
of an email I received from a city councilman in response to an
email I sent to him concerning an animal abuse issue. Names have been
withheld.
Here is a description of their site: "Kinship Circle
letters are composed by professional writers for activists to send to
legislators, businesses, the media. Search the Letter Library for current
and past letters, organized by topic and date. Click the letter you
want. Print it in ready-to-send style. Sign, mail...and help another
animal today."
A candid, to-the-point website that displays animal
abuse photos depicting animal cruelty at its worst, yet they are photos
that need revealing in order to fully comprehend the depth of cruelty
being perpetrated on helpless and trusting animals.
The Menu for this site includes:
Hunting, Vivisection, Fur, Factory Farming, Quotes, Free Literature,
Join the Club, Go Vegan, Close HLS, Animals in Entertainment, Direct
Action, News, Take Action and Links.
