tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238226219068468962024-03-13T22:30:28.015-07:00The Musings of EvylShnukumsI didn't have time for a snappy intro but I have plenty to say. I am opinionated, I am politicised, and I have some spare time to blog now and then. Feel free to disagreeEvyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-14848904711471751192016-08-12T04:45:00.000-07:002016-08-12T04:46:20.397-07:00Time to resurrect Ye Olde Blogge thenI haven't posted on here in 5 years and it's intriguing to see how much I've changed. My writing, my thinking, the way I come across, are all different (in a good way, mostly).<br />
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Anyway, the reason I am back is that I am doing the <a href="https://courses.edx.org/courses/course-v1:UQx+Write101x+2T2016/info" target="_blank">Write101x course</a> via <a href="https://www.edx.org/" target="_blank">EDX</a>. We were asked to do a journal as part of our progress through the course. The idea is to come back to this later to compare and reflect on our earlier thoughts and writing.<br />
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However I completely suck at journalling and while I actually started off enthusiastically enough, I now don't even know where my journal is. So I am shamelessly copying <a href="https://elementalfiction.com/2016/08/my-initial-reflections-on-the-write101x-course/" target="_blank">this guy's</a> idea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eZlFsierJCM/V620-ohVMaI/AAAAAAAAAvw/8_pZWwEUHlwpkqMnfoIB-QaclEkXAz4TgCLcB/s1600/woman-writing-in-her-journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eZlFsierJCM/V620-ohVMaI/AAAAAAAAAvw/8_pZWwEUHlwpkqMnfoIB-QaclEkXAz4TgCLcB/s320/woman-writing-in-her-journal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This could be me, but I'm too disorganised. Sigh</td></tr>
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I will be writing down my thoughts if and when I find some time. For now I'll just briefly mention one of the activities posted on the forum: Do you agree with Dot Wordsworth's comment that 'it’s cruel not to teach grammar to children?'<br />
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Hell. Yes.<br />
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If you don't want to forever stunt a child's potential, teach them grammar. It will help them express themselves better, it will give them more opportunities, and it will save them from being flamed by grammar Nazis on the interwebs.<br />
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Anyway that's enough for now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1tthuBUVsBI/V622orFWdjI/AAAAAAAAAv8/8MeV4jT4ZMIk5Vmmllz-hWKkG_JCgn21ACLcB/s1600/Dr%2Bwho%2Bstudy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1tthuBUVsBI/V622orFWdjI/AAAAAAAAAv8/8MeV4jT4ZMIk5Vmmllz-hWKkG_JCgn21ACLcB/s320/Dr%2Bwho%2Bstudy.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can I refuse?</td></tr>
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<br />Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-10774376483886017592011-03-31T13:11:00.000-07:002011-03-31T13:15:35.721-07:00Baby breastfed by vegan mother diesI posted this rather quick, off-the-cuff response to <a href="http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/2011/03/baby-breastfed-by-vegan-mother-dies/">this blog post</a>: <br /><br />"Wow. "abstinence from all animal foods is a danger to one’s health and most particularly, your baby!" Uhm, Sarah, not true. A vegan diet can be very healthy but like with every diet, people can get it wrong. The reason we need to get B12 from supplements is simply because our veggies are washed - cyanocobalamin is naturally found in soil and fermented things. The only animal foods with significant levels of B12 are calf's liver and sardines, which not everyone eats. And vitamin A is abundant in red and yellow fruit and vegetables. All the vegans I know are quite knowledgeable on nutrition and would never dream of feeding a child just breastmilk esp when not taking supplements.<br /><br />I think very few people actually know anything about nutrition other than what they learned at school and home, which often is very limited and outdated. I didn't know that B12 was so crucial until a few years ago, and I don't know many people who have a clue that you need, say, vit D to help calcium bind to your bones, or vit C in order for your body to use iron.<br /><br />This is a tragic case of parents not being particularly clued up and doctors not doing more when they did have concerns. At any rate punishing parents for being ignorant and suspicious of Western medicine smacks very much of Big Brother, and putting the blame on a vegan diet smacks of bias."Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-17608093033456264922010-12-14T12:57:00.000-08:002010-12-14T13:05:52.693-08:00On animal rights<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-ZA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> 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name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">My response to a fellow Facebook user and bird enthusiast, on PETA’s 12 steps (honestly I didn’t know them and frankly can’t be bothered, I don’t need a 12-step programme to teach me what is right).<span style=""> </span>I have had to knok this off inbetween 50 million other things so if there are inconsistenies or errors, you think I'm talking plain old rubbish, please point it out. I know I've left out a lot.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, PETA’s points (as quoted by the mentioned person) in bold, his comments in italics and mine as is:</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><i style=""><span style="">1<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i>1<span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><b style=""> Abolish by law all animal research.</b> <i style="">(There would be no cures for AIDS, cancer, heart disease, etc., and testing of new drugs would be done on humans, or not at all.)</i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;">---this is a long answer and I urge you to read up on the many alternative methods and viewpoints.<span style=""> </span>Animal research is unfortunately hit-or-miss at best (thalidomide anyone?) and many more sophisticated means of testing medicines have appeared, not least of which TraumaMan <a href="http://www.simulab.com/product/surgery/open/traumaman-system">http://www.simulab.com/product/surgery/open/traumaman-system</a>, cell cultures, lab-grown tissue and organs, computer simulations, microdosing...of course I could also point out the fact that many substances have very different effects on humans than they do on other animals.<span style=""> </span>There’s a wealth of literature out there, should you want to read up more I’d be happy to point you in the right direction.<br /><br /></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;">2. <b style="">Outlaw the use <span class="textexposedhide">...</span><span class="textexposedshow">of animals for cosmetic and product testing, and classroom demonstration</span></b><span class="textexposedshow"> <i style="">(physicians would perform their first surgeries and procedures on humans without any previous experience).</i></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">---again, see my friend TraumaMan above (and computer models, and a myriad of other lovely, interactive and non-icky physical models) for classroom demonstration.<span style=""> </span>Furthermore with over 8000 known safe cosmetic ingredients not to mention the plethora of currently available products, I do not think there is any justification for testing cosmetics on animals.<span style=""> </span>Short of conning people into buying yet another silly anti-aging cream or hair colour, what is the point?<span style=""> </span>Why should animals suffer and die for human vanity?</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br /><span class="textexposedshow">3. <b style="">Vegetarian meals should be at all public institutions, including schools.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;">---what’s the problem there?<span style=""> </span>Surely any child has the right NOT to eat meat should he or she choose not to?<span style=""> </span>Surely only serving animal products can be argued to be infringing on the rights of these children?</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">4. <b style="">Eliminate all animal agriculture</b> <i style="">(resulting in no milk, eggs, chicken, fish, or meat for food, no leather for shoes or clothing). (How many foods do you eat that contain eggs or dairy products, or a derivative of the same? Did you know your keyboard and mouse may have been made with animal products?)</i></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">---none.<span style=""> </span>I am vegan and do not use any of the products you mention.<span style=""> </span>I am aware that animal products are ubiquitous but this does not have to be so.<span style=""> </span>The animal agriculture sector is unfortunately also the locus of the worst animal abuses – think battery farming, sow crates, veal crates, dehorning, debeaking, foie gras, downer cows, dumping or alternatively gassing or maceration of day-old male chickens...the list goes on.<span style=""> </span>Even welfarists should be offended at the kind of cruelty routinely perpetrated, not even mentioning specific cases like that of Conklin Dairy Farm.<span style=""> </span>This could be a whole discussion on its own.<span style=""> </span>There are great environmental and nutritious benefits to a vegan diet.<span style=""> </span>If you want to understand my views on food animals, this piece puts it in a far more eloquent way than I can: <a href="http://www.peacefulprairie.org/letter.html">http://www.peacefulprairie.org/letter.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br /><span class="textexposedshow">5. <b style="">Eliminate all herbicides, pesticides or other agricultural chemicals. Outlaw predator control</b><i style="">.(Farmers would not be able to produce as much food as they do now, driving the cost of living up, and eliminating the export of food to hungry nations. Animals such as coyotes are already a problem in some areas, coming into yards to eat garbage and prey upon outdoor pets.)</i></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">---I have no problem with dangerous pesticides (like Aldicarb) and herbicides being eliminated.<span style=""> </span>There are safer alternatives.<span style=""> </span>Distribution issues and politics have a far larger effect on food production and prices than predators and pests.<span style=""> </span>Given that animal agriculture is a current fact of life, I’d far rather support cruelty-free methods like using Anatolian hounds to guard sheep rather than using, say, gintraps or poison.<span style=""> </span>Were there no more animal farming, this would be a non-issue.<span style=""> </span>Pesticides and herbicides are a broader conservation issue – many of our raptors are endangered because of “pest control”.<span style=""> </span>Even our endangered Cape Parrots are killed because they eat from the pecan trees that have replaced their natural yellowwood forests.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br /><span class="textexposedshow">6. <b style="">Transfer enforcement of animal welfare legislation away from the Department of Agriculture.</b> <i style="">(Animal issues would be controlled by people with little or no experience in customary animal husbandry.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">---judging by certain laws like the 28-Hour Law* the USDA doesn’t know too much about animal welfare either. </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">* whereby a person may not </span>confine animals in a vehicle or vessel for more than 28 consecutive hours without unloading the animals for feeding, water, and rest.<span style=""> </span>28 hours???<span style=""> </span>More than a fll day and night.<span style=""> </span>It can even be extended to 36, by written request.<span style=""> </span>Oh and this does not apply to poultry.<span style=""> </span>Neither does the Humane Slaughter Act, which also neglects to protect rabbits and numerous other animals.<span class="textexposedshow"></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br /><span class="textexposedshow">7. <b style="">Eliminate fur ranching and the use of furs.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">---and the problem here is?<span style=""> </span>Does anyone here support fur?</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br /><span class="textexposedshow">8. <b style="">Prohibit hunting, trapping and fishing.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">---once again, I am unable see a problem with that.<span style=""> </span>I realise that I may offend hunters here but I can’t really comprehend the sport in killing animals.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br /><span class="textexposedshow">9. <b style="">End the international trade in wildlife goods.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">---I think we all agree with this one.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br /><span class="textexposedshow">10. <b style="">Stop any further breeding of companion animals, including purebred dogs and cats. Spaying and neutering should be subsidized by state and municipal governments until all companion animals are extinct. Abolish commerce in animals for the pet trade. Eliminate pet ownership.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">---ok this is a prickly one.<span style=""> </span>Something like 4 million cats and dogs are euthanased in the US annually because humans allow them to breed unchecked and do not look after the young.<span style=""> </span>So clearly there are some problems.<span style=""> </span>I am also most concerned about how many people in the pet trade operate, not least selling wild-caught parrots.<span style=""> </span>However I myself have a number of companion animals; they make me very happy and I provide them with a good home.<span style=""> </span>Some of them are adopted, some (like the mynahs) are invasive species and cannot be returned to the wild here.<span style=""> </span>We have bought a bird from a pet shop.<span style=""> </span>We spotted her when going to buy water bowls and perches.<span style=""> </span>She’s a one-legged yellow-backed lory that was being kept in a hamster cage, away from the other birds.<span style=""> </span>I couldn’t leave her there.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br /><span class="textexposedshow">11. <b style="">End the use of animals in entertainment and sports</b> (resulting in no horse shows, cat or dog shows, animal actors, rodeos, animal movie stars).</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">---…no elephants being beaten and abused by handlers in circuses, no greyhounds being shot and their ears cut off before they’re dumped, no bullfighting, no “dancing bears”, no dogfighting, no horsefighting (I shit thee not), no fire bulls...no Taiji slaughter...you see where I’m going with this?<span style=""> </span>Dog and cat shows may be innocuous, many other entertainments are not at all.<span style=""> </span>I am happy to elaborate if you like.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br /><span class="textexposedshow">12. <b style="">Prohibit the genetic manipulation of the species</b> <i style="">(resulting in the elimination of critical medical research relating to Cancer, AIDS and other life threatening diseases, as well as crop production improvements such as the difference between the Holstein and the Angus, and eliminate all pedigreed animals, etc... ).</i></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">---this is a somewhat tricky one.<span style=""> </span>I generally am sceptical of GM (whether breeding or actual GM) because I don’t think we have enough knowledge, wisdom or foresight.<span style=""> </span>Killer bees anyone?<span style=""> </span>Not to mention companies like Monsanto who force food dependency by only providing their super duper disease resistant seed on the condition that farmers have to keep buying from them, etc.<span style=""> </span>I am all for studying genetics, just not too convinced about the manipulation of genes for profit.<span style=""> </span>And of course this would not eliminate pedigreed animals – how would it do that?<span style=""> </span>I don’t have any problem with curbing attempts to breed animals to a point where they are not healthy, like pugs who have respiratory issues and chihuahuas whose legs break like chicken bones because they are just too small.<span style=""> </span>And cows are not crops ;)</span><br /><br /><span class="textexposedshow"></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span class="textexposedshow"><i style="">You may sympathize with one of the points above... however, do you agree with all of them? If you disagree with only some, you cannot, in good conscience, continue to support the animal rights agenda with donations or support of their legislation. For example, I happen to agree with item 9, above, but if I send money to the animal rights groups, it may be used to support items with which I disagree.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">---once again Art, PETA are not the custodians of animal rights, neither of my conscience.<span style=""> </span>Animal rights thinking has existed long before PETA.<span style=""> </span>I do not give them money.<span style=""> </span>I base my ideas on simple extension of human rights (the right to life, the right to bodily integrity, non-intervention, conservation etc.) and furthermore I have read some of the ideas of people like Peter Singer, Gary Francione, James LaVeck, and South African thinkers like Michelle Pickover and Dr Les Mitchell. <span style=""> </span>I do support causes like:<span style=""> </span>CLAW <a href="http://www.claw-sa.org/">www.claw-sa.org</a> , HHCU <a href="http://www.horsecare.org.za/">www.horsecare.org.za</a> , Sharklife <a href="http://www.sharklife.co.za/">www.sharklife.co.za</a> , and numerous others that actually put in the legwork of making animals’ lives better.<span style=""> </span>My family and I have rescued, rehabilitated and released numerous birds and other creatures.<span style=""> </span>I try to educate my own child and other children about the importance of treating animals with compassion and respect.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At the end of the day animal rights is not about an agenda, it is a philosophy that has at its core the best interest of animals, not from a condescending viewpoint of the “crown of Creation” or “top of the food chain”, but from a deeply felt need to understand what is truly the best way to co-exist with creatures that are more similar than different to us. I am unable to understand why anyone would oppose this ideal.<br /></p>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-42321470139192922922010-12-08T11:40:00.001-08:002010-12-08T11:40:32.364-08:00Technology rocksMaybe now that I can blog from the comfort of my phone, I'll actually get around to doing so. Of course I may instead just carry on spending time arguing about animal and human rights with unreceptive people on the internet *shrug* At any rate, I love technology, partially because it allows increasingly sophisticated platforms for people to do what they've done since time immemorial - bickering, showing off and sharing naughty jokes among others. Anyway, as you were<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5</div>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-8576607600049893812010-08-27T01:24:00.001-07:002010-08-27T02:30:57.516-07:00Of Rhinos and Citrus Trees<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.eco-h2o.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/blackrhino.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 298px;" src="http://www.eco-h2o.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/blackrhino.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This blog post is long overdue about the </span></span><a href="http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=46066"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">desperate situation faced by rhinos in Africa</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> but also in response to </span></span><a href="http://planyoursafari.com/blog/what-rhino-horn-and-citrus-trees-have-in-common/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">this post</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> by Kevin Leo-Smith, who believes that our "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Western bunny-hugging, conservation attitudes ARE BUSY pushing the Rhino towards extinction." Now while I find that statement, as well as his Facebook statements about "armchair rhino activists" quite insulting and offensive, the future of the rhino are more important than either of our opinions. Thus in the interest of constructive debate, I will engage with Mr Leo-Smith as far as possible. Due to time constraints, I can't nearly address everything I'd like to address, but here goes.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My first question to Mr Leo-Smith is as follows. Is it really our bunny-hugging conservation attitudes, or does it have more to do with the following issues?</span></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Certain people believe - despite clear evidence - that rhino horn has medicinal propertie</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">s, and they are willing and able to pay for these. In Tanzania, among others, there is a thriving </span></span><a href="http://albinos-in-tanzania.blogspot.com/2010/05/appetite-for-albino-body-parts.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">trade in the skin and body parts of albinos</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, as they are believed to possess magical properties. I am sure that Mr Leo-Smith will agree that sustainably harvesting skin from albinos is not an option, but that educating their countrymen could be.</span></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Many people in Africa are poor and disempowered</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Now we can create a new industry in rhino horn but I have a sneaking suspicion that - much the same as with mining - the (mostly white) investors and business owners that will make the money, while the impoverished Africans will still need to poach rhino to ge</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">t a slice of the pie </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Tourism is widely seen as a part of the answer to Africa's economic problems - I have a hunch that over its lifetime a live rhino is far more valuable to the country than a bit of horn. Also, these are expensive animals and losing them at such a rate must deal quite a blow to these game reserves - not good for our economy.</span></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There are people illegally flying around in South African airspace with hi-tech weapons</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, invading private property and endangering the lives of, not the armchair rhino sympathisers but the actual game rangers, conservationists and normal staff working on the ground. Does anyone else see a problem here? The </span></span><a href="http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-08-23-national-antipoaching-committee-established"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">anti-poaching committee discussion</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> was the first real peep from SANParks, those people to whom us taxpayers entrust this work, and nothing from the government. Perhaps I am paranoid but I am sure there are kickbacks involved here. Why is the military not involved in what is essentially a small-scale invasion? Why does it fall to private reserves to fight this when the military has the skills and the equipment to track poachers and intervene? </span></span></span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Secondly, I would like to point out to Mr Leo-Smith that not all conservationists are privileged whites; not all Africans are potentially poachers, or at all pleased at the wholesale killing of rhinos; and, while I appreciate their circumstances, it is worth remembering that the poachers are also armed and are often more than willing to shoot to kill, and that their opponents - game rangers and the like - are often also poor Africans.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">One thing Mr Leo-Smith and I seem to agree on is that </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">education is key</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, and that we need a multi-pronged approach. I just think that legalising rhino horn is not part of that approach. We will only be endorsing rhino horn as a legitimate product and (as others have pointed out) opening up easy distribution channels for illegal rhino horn. How will the end user be able to tell the difference? And honestly, if we can't monitor armed helicopter gangs, how will we monitor the rhino horn trade? </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Legalising rhino horn will make a few people a quick buck, and will exacerbate the problem in the long run.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Education, ground-level enforcement, diplomatic efforts between our government and buyer countries, economic empowerment of our people and the commitment of all stakeholders will be necessary. I am willing to, and do, financially support conservation efforts, and am willing to dedicate physical resources to the fight, Mr Leo-Smith, with no expectation of return other than the conservation of a magnificent animal. So, other than legalising rhino horn, what are your suggestions? I am looking forward to hearing them.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-61181387333635597612009-09-22T13:09:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:58:50.165-07:00Creationism, or, please don't challenge my dearly-held paradigm with nasty evidence<div>I am speechless. I have just read <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6173399/Charles-Darwin-film-too-controversial-for-religious-America.html">this article</a> * about <em>Creation</em>, a movie about the life of Charles Darwin. People do not want to see the movie because apparently evolution is "a silly theory with a serious lack of evidence to support it despite over a century of trying". </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It suggests a serious lack of understanding of evidence, of scientific method, and imho, of faith. Believing in a deity doesn't mean you have to avoid all knowledge. Accepting evolution as a valid theory doers not mean you can't believe in God. If I were Christian I'd be loads more impressed by a God who designed a universe to adapt and evolve than by one who just made things from clay and sort of stuck them there. And whether or not you believe in macro-evolution, you can't deny micro-evolution** - the ways in which species change and adapt in such small and rapid ways that humans can observe it.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Anyway, I suppose some people are just more comfortable avoiding anything that might challenge their comfort zone. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*thanks to <a href="http://rememberyoulive.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-think-tyrannosaurus-skeleton-would.html">Marcia</a> for the heads up</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>**thanks to Andre Croukamp for the terms, not to mention lots of material to think about wrt evolution and numerous other things</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>P.S. I was tagging this and thinking that I need a "wtf?" tag. then discarded that idea because just about every post would require said tag. The world is a strange place, people :)</div>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-16451594370892072292009-09-08T23:35:00.001-07:002009-09-08T23:35:46.294-07:00You have the right to freedom of expression, as long as you say what we tell you<span xmlns=''><p><a href='http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/15/39677.html'>This article</a> frightens the crap out of me. Does anyone else think this law is a throwback to apartheid days, when the government decided for you what you were allowed to see or hear? Can you say "unconstitutional"?<br /></p><p>It is bleeding obvious what the aim of this law is - to protect our corrupt and incompetent officials against exposure. I can't help seeing in this yet another, and an ominously significant, deviation from that promising path of freedom and democracy that lay before us in 1994. The longer the ANC is in power, they more they resemble the Nats <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>L</span></p></span>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-62223489320424814392009-08-24T04:35:00.001-07:002009-08-24T04:58:08.875-07:00Wishing well<a href="http://www.nataliedee.com/092705/wish-granting.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 389px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 171px" alt="" src="http://www.nataliedee.com/092705/wish-granting.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>A friend of mine wrote a blog post entitled "<a href="http://thingsiwriteaboutstuff.blogspot.com/2009/08/be-careful-what-you-wish-for.html">Be careful what you wish for</a>" and my post today is about that. </div><br /><div>We spend most of our lives wishing for this, wishing for that, thinking, "if only I have X I will be happy", forgetting to be happy in the meantime and letting wonderful, beautiful things pass us by.</div><br /><div>Sometimes we get a wake-up call - losing someone we love, or something we value; or seeing someone else get what we want and realising that it's not necessarily a piece of cake. </div><br /><div>I am trying to be happy in the present - after all, my life is ridiculously good in most regards at the moment, and I am deeply grateful to the Goddess and the God. So I will stop whining about that which I cannot have, and immerse myself to the fullest in what I have right now.</div>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-71744024094364075232009-08-13T08:58:00.001-07:002009-08-13T23:33:57.115-07:00Just to clarify<span xmlns=''><p>I have recently gotten myself into numerous veganism-related discussions, some more amicable than others. I felt that perhaps I should clarify why I feel so strongly about the vegan lifestyle, and why I will not shut up <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><br /> </p><p>Yes it is a personal choice. But while omnivores exercise that choice, animals suffer and die. People attack vegan ideology from economic, cultural, personal liberty and other perspectives. And whereas I feel that the facts stand up for themselves in these matters, the plain and gory truth is that, for you to eat an animal, the animal must die. For you to eat eggs, a chicken must lay them. For you to eat dairy, a cow must become pregnant, have a calf, and be milked. <br /></p><p>This is where Mr James LaVeck's brilliant quote comes in:<br /></p><p><span style='color:#FFFFFF; font-size:10pt'><em>"There is a reason why human rights groups do not endorse 'humane' methods of executing political prisoners, and why children's rights advocates do not collaborate with the pornography industry to develop standards for films that make 'compassionate' use of runaway teens. To do such things is to introduce moral ambiguity into situations where the boundaries between right and wrong must never be allowed to blur."</em></span><br /> </p><p>Yes I completely subscribe to that. Even if slaughtering methods were humane (which it simply cannot be due to the overwhelming demands for meat, and let's for one minute forget how animals are raised), it is my honest opinion that taking away a sentient being's life – except in extremis, such as a dog with a terminal illness – can never be anything but cruel. <br /></p><p>As for eggs and dairy, is it possible to provide these to a 7-billion strong population in a "humane" way? No, again the demand is too big. We simply do not have the space for truly free-range chickens, and cows do not produce enough milk to be viable if their calves are left with them. Besides that, as long as animals are exploited for their "products" they will remain a commodity, in the same way that slaves were still a commodity no matter how well they might have been treated by some of the slave owners. And being a commodity means not having universal, inalienable rights. It means being vulnerable to abuse, it means never being free, and it means that when you are no longer economically useful, you will be discarded by the cheapest means.<br /></p><p>Gary L. Francione calls our relationship with animals morally schizophrenic, and I feel this is accurate. We accord some rights to companion animals and all decent people are horrified when cruelty is inflicted on these companion animals. But most of the same people seem blissfully unaware that similar cruelty is perpetrated against "food" animals every day. And of course people generally do not feel that animals should have rights like humans do, forgetting how the same rhetoric, the same excuses were used to subjugate black people and women, to excuse the horrible abuses of religious inquisitions and in the early lunatic asylums. <br /></p><p>We are told that anthropomorphising animals is bad science, but is it? Animals, especially mammals but to a large extent birds, have similar brain structures and similar neurotransmitters, and their brains behave in similar ways to ours when similar stimuli are applied. So how different can their emotions be? Even here our beliefs about animals display a certain logical disconnect. We accept that animals can feel fear, but not that they can experience love, or grief. Except maybe a dog, right?<br /></p><p>When these things are brought to people's attention, those doing so are usually seen as "extremists" and all-round unpleasant people. But knowing how animals – whom I passionately love – suffer every day, for every egg or slice of bacon someone eats, how can I be expected to remain silent? I do not judge nor do I seek to prescribe. What I want to do is to challenge misconceptions, but perhaps more importantly, I want to challenge why people hold the opinions they do. Is it truly your opinion or did you inherit it?</p></span>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-51821054839381362482009-08-12T07:15:00.000-07:002009-08-12T07:19:33.561-07:00Yay!The first post is up on the <a href="http://morethantofu.blogspot.com">vegan food blog</a> is up and running. Please check it out and comment, request stuff, argue, whatever. <br /><br />Thanks :)Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-81721964320019460112009-08-06T22:52:00.000-07:002009-08-07T00:06:53.150-07:00I have lost my mojo...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7R9evH0YoPM/SC0Uxr0QIkI/AAAAAAAAAAc/OK-sNC-Yu7E/s400/angry%2Bbbq.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7R9evH0YoPM/SC0Uxr0QIkI/AAAAAAAAAAc/OK-sNC-Yu7E/s400/angry%2Bbbq.bmp" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />...or have at least misplaced it. For a while now I haven't blogged because I couldn't think of anything to blog about. Now I have realised why. I am too happy. My life is going quite smoothly. I have a decent job, family life is good, I have actually been out a couple of times, etc etc. Generally life is very good. So I am not angry enough.<br /><br />While I am certainly not complaining (I am quite satisfied with my life being this good thank you very much), the rest of the world is pretty much the same as always and there's plenty to be angry about.<br /><br />So to start off with I have today's <a href="http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/ad5f1bf337cd4dc7bace4004cb4cfebf/06-08-2009%2002-08/Oprah_sex_complaint_rejected">WTF moment</a> - I mean who would want their daughters to be armed with knowledge about sex, right? And who actually sits down with their 13yr olds to see what they're watching on TV?? Shocking *rolls eyes*<br /><br />But even better, read <a href="http://www.news24.com/Content/Africa/Zimbabwe/966/8a0c5e88c5e64515ac46c33ea08ff7e5/06-08-2009%2004-08/Mugabe_preparing_for_war">this</a>. Seriously, when is this crap going to stop? How can this madman and his evil camarilla be allowed to continue destroying Zimbabwe? And will our president actually do something for a change??<br /><br />Only time will tell, but of one thing you can be sure: I am back, and pissed off as ever ;)Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-56412285890733419272009-07-29T23:31:00.000-07:002009-07-30T00:03:56.025-07:00Domo Arigato Mr RobotoI haven't actually had time to blog something decent but just wanted to say thanks to my followers (I love the sound of that) :)<br /><br />Pretty soon I shall have a wedding blog up and running, and Malcolm will have a vegan food blog. I shall share addresses here.<br /><br />While I'm at it I shall wish everyone a happy Imbolc.<br /><br />And finally, although it's a bit late for this year, I reckon <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/23/maybe-day-anton-wilson">Maybe Day</a> should be celebrated annually (shout out to <a href="http://anunquietday.blogspot.com/">An Unquiet Day</a> for the link). Just so we can all remember that no-one really has a clue.<br /><br />As you were.Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-48453644555370337722009-06-19T13:16:00.000-07:002009-07-12T08:07:21.657-07:00Evyl Shnukums' Guide to Vegan Living<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_juesVw1UmuE/SkPkz8UZ1VI/AAAAAAAAASc/MHKoArYEvgk/s1600-h/Veg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351372363262448978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_juesVw1UmuE/SkPkz8UZ1VI/AAAAAAAAASc/MHKoArYEvgk/s200/Veg.jpg" border="0" /></a>Because I have all the zeal of a recent convert, and because switching to veganism can be tricky in a place like South Africa, I have decided to write mine very own beginner's guide to being vegan.<br /><br />First off examine your motives and ideas. If you approach this as a huge sacrifice, you will probably endure pain. If you approach it as a conscious, "fcuk you I won't buy what you tell me" decision, you'll have a lot more fun.<br /><br />Bear in mind that a. this list is hardly exhaustive and b. I have been vegan for a total of 6 months, so I am hardly an expert. And of course the links here are rather lazily added, I'll add more when I can be bothered.<br /><br /><br /><ol><br /><li>Let's get the worst out of the way. Say goodbye to cheese. This is the one thing you probably will miss. Few cheese replacements are any good although <a href="http://www.buteisland.com/">Bute Island Cream Sheese </a>is awesome, and Free Food's No-D Cheese (available from <a href="http://www.freshearth.co.za/store/">Fresh Earth</a>) melts well in white sauces etc. </li><br /><li>You gotta like veggies. This may seem obvious, but I hear whispers of people who don't like vegetables. I feel sorry for them :) </li><br /><li>Meat is actually quite expensive so going vegan means you can afford to buy awesome stuff like cashews and capers and other tasty things you can eat instead of meat and animal products.</li><br /><li>Learn to cook. If you can toss up a nice veggie meal you will a. save money, b. eat less frankenfoods, c. have a prettier plate and d. still get all those nutrients people are forever quizzing you about. Find lots of recipes <a href="http://www.google.co.za/search?hl=en&q=vegan+recipes&meta=&aq=0&oq=vegan">here</a>.</li><br /><li>Don't let all your food consist of substitutes but do make use of them when convenience is an issue. Some substitutes (e.g <a href="http://www.frys-special.com/">Fry's</a>, <a href="http://www.hotfrog.co.za/Companies/Bassets-Ice-Cream">Bassets' Tofu Treats Ice Cream</a>) are as good as the oringinal.</li><br /><li>Pack a lunchbox. Even if you have a work cafeteria, the chips and/or green salad will seem a bit samey by the third week.</li><br /><li>Get recommendations from people about restaurants, or go there and check out the menu. Don't be afraid to ask waiters, caterers etc what is in the food. They will usually be quite helpful, considering that some food allergies can be fatal they will usually be happy to tell you exactly what goes into a dish. <a href="http://www.tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=273536&fSectionId=360&fSetId=251">Shahi Khana</a> in Norwood and Sho Ming in Kensington, for example, are very understanding and helpful. </li><br /><li>Be prepared to get flak from people. The majority of people are cool with veganism but some people seem genuinely offended that a person may not want to eat dead animals.</li><br /><li>Arm yourself with knowledge. Read up on <a href="http://www.vegansociety.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=30&Itemid=79">nutrition</a>. Neutral sources like <a href="http://www.patrickholford.com/">Patrick Holford </a>will be a good start, as will veggie websites and recipe books. Also read up on general facts. E.g. if someone tells you that the Amazon is being cleared to grow soy for vegans, tell them that <a href="http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/as-we-soy-so-shall-we-reap/">"85 percent of the world’s soybean crop is processed into meal and vegetable oil, and virtually all of that meal is used in animal feed. Some two percent of the soybean meal is further processed into soy flours and proteins for food use…"</a> . Even better, refer them to <a href="ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a0701e/a0701e00.pdf">Livestock's Long Shadow</a>, published by the FAO.</li><br><li>Join the <a href="http://www.vegansociety.co.za/">Vegan Society</a>.</li><br /><li>Do not be discouraged. Be assured that however small the difference *you personally* make, the cumulative difference made by all people who try, will have an effect.</li><br /><li>Remember that veganism is not really just a dietary preference. It is a lifestyle choice, and in some cases a political statement. It includes boycotting <a href="http://www.bwcsa.co.za/files/bwc_approved_products.pdf">companies who test on animals</a> (and trust me the bastards are everywhere), boycotting fur, boycotting products with <a href="http://www.vegansociety.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=98">animal ingredients</a>. In a similar vein I avoid buying clothes made in China. It's that "fcuk you I won't buy what you tell me" approach again. No I'm sorry I will not buy your factory farmed chicken, your cosmetics tested on helpless animals, your tissues made from old-growth forests' trees, or your branded crap made in a sweatshop.</li></ol>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-17504565747635507492009-06-19T12:59:00.000-07:002009-06-19T13:13:32.975-07:00Real men don't rapeI read <a href="http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-06-18-quarter-of-men-in-south-africa-admit-rape">this article</a> about a rather scary research study conducted by the MRC regarding rape and HIV/Aids. Do read the comments section too.<br /><br />I responded to the article (and the commenters):<br /><br />"Firstly, in the context of polygamy, virginity testing, women being violently abused for wearing trousers or short skirts, dry sex, jackrolling, female genital mutilation, and voting against the UN declaring rape an act of war, I am going to be so bold as to say that Africa has some serious problems when it comes to the issue of women's rights, and men's sense of entitlement. This does not mean that Africa is the only place where this is true, but many of these sexist practices are socially sactioned. If you do not oppose the practices I've listed, in my opinion you do hold that problematic ideal of masculinity Prof Jewkes refers to.<br /><br />Secondly, my studies tell me that rape (by and large) is not a problem of "sick people". It is a problem of a society with skewed beliefs about women and sexuality. Be honest, how many of the men (even women) on here truly believe that an incident was rape if the woman did not physically resist and scream? Even if there was a weapon involved. How many people would say that a drunk woman in a bar was "asking for it"? All cultures have been subjected to pathological ideas about women's rights and about rape for centuries. As Gareth said, marital rape, "corrective" rape, date rape etc are not seen as rape. I agree with Delia that a more in-depth study of the motivating behaviour and the thinking behind rape would be beneficial, but such studies have been conducted on convicted rapists and the results are not particularly surprising. Entitlement and sexual myths play a huge role.<br /><br />Thirdly, do remember that the study (if not the newspaper article) is peer-reviewed and the raw data, workings etc must be published and *will* be ripped to shreds if not rigourous. I am not sure about the provinces and the age group apparently used, but the sample size seems reasonable. The stats don't literally imply that if I'm on a bus with 4 men that one of them *is* a rapist. <br /><br />Has any of the commenters actually read the report? And why do some of the men here seem so precious about this? Kind of like that ad with Charlize Theron. Can anyone deny the seriousness of the problem?<br /><br />Oh and finally this is not a race issue. It's a gender rights issue."<br /><br />Mysogyny should never be confused with traditionalism.<a href="http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-06-18-quarter-of-men-in-south-africa-admit-rape"></a>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-61768534658924176922009-05-21T00:26:00.000-07:002009-07-01T04:06:11.768-07:00It's only fun till someone gets hurtWe all grew up with the idea of the circus as something fun and wholesome. Most kids love animals and a circus is the closest you can get to lions and elephants. If you were like me you also believed that they must be well taken care of - after all they are powerful animals and they would attack their trainers if not properly treated, right? And yes, their cages are small but when they're not travelling they get to frolic in open fields and rest until the next season, right?<br /><br /><a href=" http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=66">Not quite</a>. Circus animals are trained from a young age, and are taught how to behave by domination and punishment. They spend most of their lives either in tiny travelling cages or performing in noisy, crowded environments.<br /><br />Recently <a href="http://www.lionrescue.org.za/news23.htm ">this lion </a>was removed from a circus and is currently in recovery at the Drakenstein Lion Park. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. In any event please consider not supporting circuses featuring animal acts.Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-18489422124071915342009-05-04T01:46:00.000-07:002009-05-04T02:38:18.696-07:00Green eatingI have just read this <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-tips-for-green-eating.html">article about green eating</a>. I am pleased that the author address the issue of eating less meat. As you may be able to tell I am vegan, and believe that it is one of the simplest and easiest ways to <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM">reduce your environmental impact </a>[1]. But let's face it, <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/can-you-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-with-a-vegan-diet-763208.html">many people for a variety of reasons will never go vegan</a>, and therefore from an environmental point of view, being a Lessmeatatarian - eating less meat - is a good alternative. A typical Western diet consists of far more meat than our bodies require. This has many adverse effects from <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7959128.stm">being bad for one's health</a> to the obvious problems involved in the intensive rearing of animals, from the sometimes <a href="http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming.asp">obscene cruelty</a> that is nowadays <a href="http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming_pigs.asp">simply a part</a> of the <a href="http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming_pigs.asp">industry</a> [2] to the breeding and promotion of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/mexican-lawmaker-factory_b_191579.html">disease</a>. <br /><br />Therefore, if you want to do one thing that can make a difference on numerous levels, all of them important, eat less meat.<br /><br /><br />[1] Of course this only applies if you eat sensibly, cook most of your veggies, grains etc from scratch (or even better, have them raw in a nice salad) and don't live off only polystyrene-packaged take-aways and factory-produced substitutes. <br /><br />[2] Don't believe the PETA link? See the movie <a href="http://www.earthlings.com/">Earthlings</a>. It will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about whether the animals that end up on dinner plates really frolic happily on wide open fields until they are humanely and painlessly killed, or whether the reality is slightly darker.Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-72706619849994619682009-03-18T12:33:00.000-07:002009-03-18T13:28:04.222-07:00Free Burma's Political Prisoners<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_juesVw1UmuE/ScFXL2Y8cdI/AAAAAAAAAR0/AdLKGM8-NVI/s1600-h/Poster_fr_NLDHQ.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_juesVw1UmuE/ScFXL2Y8cdI/AAAAAAAAAR0/AdLKGM8-NVI/s200/Poster_fr_NLDHQ.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314624896364212690" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I tried to write an impassioned plea for you to yet again raise your voices against the oppressive regime in Burma, and its illegal imprisonment of people whose only crime is refusing to acknowledge the authority of the tyrannical junta. </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, I don't think it is necessary. Most people are familiar with the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma#Government_and_politics"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">situation</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, most people know that the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Burma"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">status quo is unacceptable</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, as you will see in this email from </span></span><a href="http://www.avaaz.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Avaaz.org</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, there is the slightest possibility that things may change:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Burmese pro democracy leader and </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nobel peace prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, has spent 13 years detained by the Burmese military junta.</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> She and thousands of fellow monks and students have been imprisoned for bravely challenging their brutal regime with calls for democracy. This week a glimmer of hope has risen for their release, and it's time for us to stand with them.</span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />Risking danger to speak out for their jailed friends, </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Burmese activists this week demanded the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners and called on the world to help.</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> As the global economic crisis makes aid flows more essential, Burma's generals are becoming more vulnerable to international pressure, but </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">we need a flood of petition signatures to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to make this a top priority.</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Follow the link to sign the petition, and forward this email on to make sure she and her fellow prisoners are freed:<br /><br /></span></span></span><a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_burma_political_prisoners/?cl=198780419&v=3010" target="_blank" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><wbr>burma_political_prisoners</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <br /><br /></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Burmese organizers have set a goal of 888,888 signatures.</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> The number 8 is powerful in Burmese culture, and the ruling junta is extremely superstitious - such a large and significant number might have a special influence on them. But this issue isn't in the headlines, so to build our numbers we need to forward this email and persuade our friends to help.<br /><br />Aung San Suu Kyi is the international face of the struggle for democracy in Burma. She has been detained over and over again since 1988. She is now under house arrest and is allowed no contact with the outside world. <br /><br />But growing international </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pressure is working</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> -- In December, 112 former Presidents and Prime Ministers from 50 countries sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging him to press for the release of all political prisoners, and 20 political prisoners were released in February after a United Nations envoy visited the country.<br /><br /></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sources now say that the military regime is fearful of this unified and massive online call to the UN</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> -- over 160 Burma exile and solidarity groups in 24 countries are participating in the campaign. But it will take all of us and all our friends signing this petition to get Mr Ban’s attention. Avaaz has done it before for Burma – we can do it again. </span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />This is one of those times where if enough of us act we can truly make a difference. Let’s join the courageous Burmese democracy activists in jail and in hiding and help end this violent repression."</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If you agree, go to </span></span><a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_burma_political_prisoners/98.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this link</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, or </span></span><a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_burma_political_prisoners"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this one</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, and tell UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon that the time has come to put the pressure on and to make sure the Burmese political prisoners are released. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></div></div>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-84087909873491707222009-03-10T07:40:00.000-07:002009-03-10T23:49:07.533-07:00Omar al-Bashir is a c*nt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_juesVw1UmuE/SbaBSXNY4-I/AAAAAAAAARk/TeGSxUrjHPM/s1600-h/sudan_omar_al_bashir_195_04Mar09.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_juesVw1UmuE/SbaBSXNY4-I/AAAAAAAAARk/TeGSxUrjHPM/s200/sudan_omar_al_bashir_195_04Mar09.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311574962997879778" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Last week, the</span> </span><a href="http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/exeres/0EF62173-05ED-403A-80C8-F15EE1D25BB3.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President al-Bashir</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In response, </span></span><a href="http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-03-08-sudans-albashir-makes-defiant-darfur-tour"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bashir ordered 13 humanitarian aid organisation to leave Sudan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I think we can all agree that he is an unmitigated arsehole.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">What can we do?</span></span></span></div><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sign a petition urging US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to lead an urgent, intense and sustained diplomatic push to ensure the continued flow of humanitarian aid and end the genocide in Darfur</span> </span><a href="http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign/iccclinton"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Make a donation to Oxfam America to pick up where Oxfam UK was forced to leave off</span> </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/aswodn"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></li></ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Any other suggestions are welcomed.</span></span></span></div></div><div><br /></div>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-50873368069054922872009-02-16T06:27:00.000-08:002009-02-19T22:40:29.959-08:00Greyhound racing - again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_juesVw1UmuE/SZl4vieULDI/AAAAAAAAARM/5bPtR2bp1dM/s1600-h/Hagger%26HaggerW.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 161px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_juesVw1UmuE/SZl4vieULDI/AAAAAAAAARM/5bPtR2bp1dM/s200/Hagger%26HaggerW.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303402794308611122" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:11px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Please call and/or forward this to as many people as you know who will be likely to attend and object to greyhound racing</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />Your help is needed now to stop dog racing and we only have a few weeks left to do it. However, it is not in the form of an e-mail, SMS or petition but your presence is needed at a hearing to state your objection to the introduction of greyhound racing.<br /><br />The DTI is holding public consultations so that members of the public and interested groupings can submit their input. The process is neither confrontational nor a debate, and all that citizens are required to do is give their name, state whether or not they support greyhound racing, and why.<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">How?</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />Simply by attending the hearing nearest to them and participating in the process and saying NO to greyhound racing. In this instance as your presence and input are required inside the actual hearings to make a difference.<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Where and when?</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">CAPE TOWN</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />13 FEBRUARY 2009 : 09h00-12h30<br />PROTEA SEAPOINT HOTEL<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">PORT ELIZABETH</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />20 FEBRUARY 2009 : 09h00-12h30<br />PROTEA MARINE HOTEL<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">BLOEMFONTEIN</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />26 FEBRUARY 2009 : 09h00-12h30<br />GARDEN COURT HOTEL<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">PRETORIA (HATFIELD)</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />27 FEBRUARY 2009 : 09h00-12h30<br />PROTEA MANOR HOTEL<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">EAST LONDON (ESPLANADE)</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />6 MARCH 2009 : 09h00-12h30<br />GARDEN COURT HOTEL<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">POTCHEFSTROOM</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />13 MARCH 2009 : 09h00-12h30<br />WILLOWS GARDEN HOTEL<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">BE THERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">WHY CONDEMN DOG RACING?</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />The introduction to South Africa of abhorrent practices that surround this activity as they exist in other countries globally ultimately would result in enormous untold suffering and deprivation of welfare for thousands of animals in the future. Empirical research shows that the greyhound racing industry is in rapid decline around the world, for good reason, in that progressive societies are realizing the extent of cruelty involved in the sport, and thus a greater lack of support for the practice. <br /><br />Global evidence reveals that ultimately only a few interested stakeholders will profiteer enormously off the back of suffering not animal amongst the animals, but amongst the millions of impoverished citizens for whom gambling merely adds to their economic deprivation. If South Africa is to thrive both economically and as a prosperous democracy, both government and its citizens should be engaging in positive economic opportunities, not encouraging a lose-lose industry whereby both the poor and the animals will be the resultant casualties at the hands of a few profiteering opportunists. In so many other respects, South Africa continues to hold its head high globally for its extremely progressive constitution and democratic practices, which many fought and sacrificed so much in order to achieve. It would be a very sad day indeed if South Africa slid back to darker days involving oppressive practices that involve causal suffering, both economically and socially. <br /><br />As a country, we should continue to serve as an example to the rest of the world as a thought leader and that we reject all forms of regressive practices, however lucrative they are to a small pool of self-interested business proponents who have no self-regulatory system to combat welfare issues or concern for the poor.</span></span><br /></span>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-90046078822851848132009-01-23T03:09:00.001-08:002009-02-16T06:25:08.415-08:00Requiem<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Bekkie</span></span><br /><br />Bekkie was a baby Cape White-eye that had fallen out of her nest no more than a day or two after hatching. My mom found her on Friday, 5 December and gave her to me. She was still naked and blind but immediately opened her mouth for food - hence the name Bekkie. It was love at first sight. I fed her Avi Plus and she slept (with a hot water bottle) next to my bed. She travelled everywhere with us and countless waiters and shop assistants told me that "God would bless me" for taking care of the little bird. <div><br /></div><div>As time went by Bekkie's tiny, soundless cheeps became audible, her feathers grew and she eventually opened her eyes. Her right leg seemed to have trouble gripping, perhaps from the fall, but still she grew. As her appearance changed we wondered what on earth she could be. When tiny white feathers started growing around her eyes, we were sure - she was a Cape White-eye. <br /><br />We started taking her outside so she could catch insects and nibble on flowers. She started flying in rapid bursts, and liked nibbling on our hands. We had to bathe her once or twice after she'd jumped into her food bowl. She would sit with us in the evenings, flitting over my notebook or nestling in my lap, or lie on her back in my daughter's hand while we tickled her tummy.<br /><br />On Thursday, 22 January, we found Bekkie lying dead on the floor of her cage. No warning, no sign of anything wrong. Just a life ended, without reason, without warning. All that promise, all that hope, all the love and care come to naught.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Luis</span></span><br /><br />Luis was a 7-year old boy from Guayaquil, Ecuador. He was an orphan, living with his older sister and other siblings in absolute poverty. He was about to start his second year of school, and had learned to write beautifully in his native Spanish. He drew pictures of his friends and of animals, and enjoyed learning reading and sums. On 8 January, he complained about abdominal pain and was taken to hospital. The doctors treated him for pancreatitis but he passed away that same evening. </div><div><br /></div><div>Again I felt so helpless. A life, full of promise, ended. I know the hospital and medical staff did what they could but had he not been born into such a life of hardship, would he not have had a better chance?<br /><br />Luiz was involved with an organisation called <a href="http://www.children.org">Children International</a>. They do wonderful work with children in impoverished communities. Please check them out.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is no real point to this post, no political agenda, no opinion I am putting across. I am just sharing with you my sadness. </div><div><br /></div><div>I entrust them to your care, Mother.</div>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-48790143087325517882009-01-15T23:35:00.000-08:002009-01-15T23:48:18.829-08:00Women's magsThis was a question on a mailing list I'm on:<br /><br />19.What are your feelings on "semi-nude" pictures of women, specifically in public areas? Do you think it objectifies women? why?<br /><br />One person responded that women objectify women, citing the fact that women's mags, like men's mags, have women on the cover and that women are always checking out each other's hair, clothing etc.<br /><br />My response was as follows. It was quickly dashed off, but more or less got my point across:<br /><br />"In the 18th and 19th centuries women of “gentle” birth were not allowed to work, except maybe as a governess (which was a k*k job), and therefore the sole object of a girl’s education was to render her “marriageworthy” for lack of a better word. This basically meant squeezing every bit of self-reliance and natural curiosity out of her and interesting her only in her own appearance and “accomplishments”, such as embroidery or, if the parents were daring, playing the piano. Ms Wollstonecraft said this better than I but you get the gist. In order therefore, for a girl to have a semi-decent life she had to marry well, and in order to marry well she needed to be pretty, meek and generally “feminine” i.e. interested only in girly stuff. That hasn’t gone away, especially considering that women are still paid less than men and are still almost discouraged (by their socialisation and education) to do “masculine” work like being a pilot or an engineer. Hence looking at what other women are dressing like etc., is almost to make sure you are able to compete for resources. In a similar vein to men reading up on investment, flashy cars or how to last longer in bed ;)" <br /><br />I will expand upon this post later, but it gets the point across. In fact this poem does, too http://themagazineanalysts.blogspot.com/Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-56179492784882645732008-11-20T06:22:00.000-08:002008-11-20T06:34:40.139-08:00A Vegan Pagan's Prayer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1282/1120573811_e8ec37cf54.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 493px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1282/1120573811_e8ec37cf54.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I found the most beautiful prayer on <a href="http://diannesylvan.typepad.com/dancing_down_the_moon/2007/03/a_vegan_pagans_.html">this website</a> and had to share:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> A Vegan Pagan's Prayer</span><br /><br />Lord of the forest and field, Lady of the starlit night,<br />I acknowledge the truth that for me to live, something must die.<br />I give thanks for the gift of free will,<br />And I acknowledge the responsibility that comes with the freedom of choice.<br /><br />I choose then to abstain from the cycle of unnecessary suffering.<br />I pledge to be an agent of healing, not a bystander to slaughter.<br />I say to the animals:<br />You do not have to suffer and die for me.<br />I say to the workers:<br />You do not have to kill for me.<br />I say to the corporate death machine:<br />You will no longer profit from my blindness.<br />I say to the Earth, and to all that is holy,<br />That though we are taught to feast upon war,<br />I choose to lay down the sword<br />And take in peace instead.<br />I ally myself with Nature, not as her master, but as her child.<br />I will not claim dominion over that which is wiser than I.<br /><br />Lord of the forest and field, Lady of the starlit night,<br />May compassion fulfill and transform me<br />May I give as You give, may I love as You love<br />And may my choices bring grace to my life<br />As You bring grace to the world.<br /><br />So mote it be.<div><br /></div><div>Picture from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10280404@N03/1120573811/">here</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-87634565546537971302008-11-19T23:22:00.000-08:002008-11-20T01:17:19.608-08:00And yet more Zuma, or, The Protector of Other People's VirtueOnce again, Mr Zuma has shown his utter contempt for the <a href="http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/index.htm">Constitution</a>, and for human rights, by stating that we must <a href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081120065116149C870475">make children pray before school</a>.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span">I am flabbergasted. I commented as follows on the article:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span">"So do we start fearing God once we've finished committing adultery or trying to <a href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20080912145440862C110212">wheedle our way out of facing the court on criminal charges</a>? And which religion are we going to force on schoolkids? Will the ANC decide? Is this all part of a grand plan to brainwash our kids, starting by <a href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081110050228435C439483">taking them from uneducated mothers</a> and then forcing religion down their throats? At any rate I would prefer to teach my child to conduct herself according to love and compassion, not fear. Mr Zuma, you have previously shown your bigotry with, among others, your <a href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1159291084393B252">comments about gays</a>, and it appears you say whatever your audience wants to hear. But your contempt for our Constitution is becoming intolerable. <a href="http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons2.htm#15">Religious freedom is enshrined in the Constitution</a>, and any attempt at infringing upon it by your party will be met with legal action."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span">I am pleased to say that many other people also expressed their concern - well said Sharon :) - but scarily many people seem all for it. In fact many people seem to think that his suggestion that "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span">people would consider their actions more carefully if they kept in mind how the departed, or God, or other citizens, would view their behaviour" is correct. Um, again I am prompted to ask, when did Mr Zuma complete a degree in Social Science, Psychology or Criminology? <a href="http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9289766_ITM">Fear is never a good basis for behaviour</a>. Instilling <a href="http://www.satyamag.com/nov02/weil.html">respect for the rights and dignity of others</a>, however, may go a long way towards promoting positive behaviour among children. But this would mean that we'd have to start at the top, and that won't be easy.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span">And again I say, NO-ONE will force my child to say any prayers to anyone, least of all the misguided self-styled protector of our virtue. </span></span></div>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-51621785846217543762008-11-10T00:43:00.000-08:002008-11-10T01:06:56.909-08:00Zuma is at it again......shooting his mouth off.<div><br /></div><div>Read <a href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081110050228435C439483">this gem </a>of well-reasoned discourse. </div><br />I commented as follows:<br /><br />"What a joke. School dropout is a complex problem and "educating by force" will not solve it. And how pray tell, if our government can't provide free basic education to any decent standard, how will they provide tertiary education for those who cannot pay for it?? Better, safer schools, better infrastructure, more protection and encouragement for children would be good places to start.<br /><br />Better yet, are we now going to punish teenage mothers by taking their babies away? There is culture of viewing women and girls as objects, and unprotected sex as a man's "right". THAT is what needs to be addressed. But hey, if we take children from their mothers we have a better chance of indoctrinating them."<br /><br />The man never ceases to amaze me. Perhaps the fact that he had <a href="http://ww2.mg.co.za/contentimages/246906/Biography_of_Jacob_Zuma.pdf">no formal education</a> makes him more sensitive to the difficulties faced by kids in a similar situation, or perhaps I'm trying too hard to justify his ridiculous comments. Most of <a href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081107054114421C285317">our Grade 3s are functionally illiterate</a>, so one may imagine that the matter is a bit more complex than educating people by force??<div><br /></div><div>Eish.</div>Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-523822621906846896.post-57472649674928643072008-10-17T00:05:00.000-07:002008-10-17T00:28:00.683-07:00Looking backToday is my daughter's 6th birthday. I can't believe that it's been six years since I held a tiny, skinny baby with thick, dark hair and the bluest blue eyes in my arms for the first time.<br /><br />In that time a tiny baby grew into a talking, thinking, dancing, singing, drawing, playing, story-telling, caring, debating, learning little person with a life and a destiny all her own.<br /><br />Happy birthday, my beautiful daughter. May life continue to smile on you.Evyl Shnukumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10848326950642948604noreply@blogger.com0