Petition to stop animal abuse

[Margarret]

Originally Posted by Snowbird Sue

I do understand that, my point was that we may not like what other countries do, but we cannot police all of them. Voice your opinions to the address Jolly@5 has provided. Sure, a LOT of things happen here, but we have laws that we can use to stop such behavior here. We can only voice our opinions and dislikes as to what is happening in Honduras. I DIDN'T say it was right or OK. I oppose it also. It is pure animal abuse, for sure. But I also doubt if we can actually "do" anything about it. One other thing, "cussing" on the board doesn't get anyone anywhere.

Sue, We do have so called "laws" in the USA. Many are obviously not enforced or taken seriously to wit, the sparrows in the windows of a dept. store, netting of pigeons for pigeon shoots in large cities and many many other incidents too numerous to mention. So, although there are laws, I feel they are ignored much of the time, which makes us little better than countries that have none at all. I think that we are becoming a global community by way of the internet. We have had petitions and comments from several countries here on PT for varied needs. Our members come from all over the world. IMO it is the communication that counts. In this instance addressing the international art community, which is quite well linked between countries, would be the focus. It might not do anything, but again it just might. I like to think that enough people setting intentions by way of protesting abusive action has a possibility of success.

Margaret

[maryjane]

Originally Posted by Charis

If I don't stand up for what I believe in, I can't sleep at night.

Amen to that! I often think of what I call "the starfish story" in cases like this.

Roughly translated........I can't remember it word for word lol but here's the jist of it:

There is a man walking along the beach and he sees another man who is throwing back starfish that are stranded during the low tide. He approaches the man and says, "Why are you wasting your time doing that? Do you see how many thousands of starfish are stranded on the beach? Even if you worked for days here, you could never make a difference!"

The man throws back another starfish and says, "Makes a difference to that one."

Everything I do in life, just about, reminds me of this story which I heard long ago. Whether it is putting a mosquito hawk outside to be safe from the spider webs and cats, or pulling over on a busy freeway to pick up a hurt pigeon, or knocking down walls at my dad's shop to pull out abandoned feral kittens....there are so many examples we could all give where our actions matter to that creature at that moment. Someone's signature (I can't think of who's at the moment, sorry!) says something along the lines of "All beings are fond of themselves...." and goes on to say they all feel pain, joy, etc. Every "little" thing we do in order to help something or someone, matters. Every single little thing. I truly believe that and as Charis puts it so perfectly, if I don't stand up for what I believe in, I can't sleep at night, and rightfully so!

[Charis]

Originally Posted by maryjane

Amen to that! I often think of what I call "the starfish story" in cases like this.

Roughly translated........I can't remember it word for word lol but here's the jist of it:

There is a man walking along the beach and he sees another man who is throwing back starfish that are stranded during the low tide. He approaches the man and says, "Why are you wasting your time doing that? Do you see how many thousands of starfish are stranded on the beach? Even if you worked for days here, you could never make a difference!"

The man throws back another starfish and says, "Makes a difference to that one."

Everything I do in life, just about, reminds me of this story which I heard long ago. Whether it is putting a mosquito hawk outside to be safe from the spider webs and cats, or pulling over on a busy freeway to pick up a hurt pigeon, or knocking down walls at my dad's shop to pull out abandoned feral kittens....there are so many examples we could all give where our actions matter to that creature at that moment. Someone's signature (I can't think of who's at the moment, sorry!) says something along the lines of "All beings are fond of themselves...." and goes on to say they all feel pain, joy, etc. Every "little" thing we do in order to help something or someone, matters. Every single little thing. I truly believe that and as Charis puts it so perfectly, if I don't stand up for what I believe in, I can't sleep at night, and rightfully so!

Maryjane...You have reduced me to tears....totally in a good way.