Our Compass

Posted by Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux
From Care2
Immediate, please sign HERE

Here at Care2, we’ve been following the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani for over a month, and the latest development adds just one more horrifying layer to the ongoing saga, which involved international protests, an asylum offer from Brazil, and threats that forced her attorney to flee the country. On Wednesday night, the mother of two “confessed” on Iranian state TV, saying that she was an accomplice to her husband’s murder.  The woman identified as Ashtiani also criticized her lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaei, for publicizing the case.

Ashtiani, who was first convicted in May 2006 of having an “illicit relationship” with two men after the death of her husband.  She was sentenced to death by stoning later that year after being convicted of adultery, although she later retracted her confession.  Last month, Iran lifted the stoning sentence after international protests, but that doesn’t change things very much for Ashtiani, who has also been convicted in involvement in the death of her husband, who Iranian officials claim was murdered.  She could still face execution by hanging.

Read more…

By Bob Timmons

The greatest thing to artists is when their artwork takes on lives of their own!  One of three of my art pieces has the chance to take on a life of its own and this life would bring awareness for the Ocean and one painting can expose the SSCS as well!

Your Votes are what make this happen by making the Painting your favourite and LEAVING A COMMENT! That’s it!  Please click on the links or the actual pictures to vote and comment.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

Originality, Effectiveness in Communicating Ecological Challenges or Solutions, Creative Application, and Technical Skill.

The Prizes:

The top five winners of the popular vote will be named as the “Top 5 Climate Artists” of 2010 and will be:

• Featured on the Planet Green Planet 100 show.

• Showcased at key global warming events on 10/10/10.

• Disseminated to non-profits and the press.

The Judging Semi-Finalists will be selected by staff and twenty (20) Finalists will be chosen by our esteemed panel of judges.

The Judges:

• Jackson Browne (musician)

• Jayni Chase (philanthropist)

• Chevy Chase (comedian)

• Mel Chin (artist)

• Dianna Cohen (environmental artist)

• Philippe Cousteau (ecologist)

• Agnes Gund (renown art collector)

• Van Jones (environmental activist)

• David Ross (former head of Whitney Museum and SF Museum of Modern Art)

• Carrie Mae Weems (artist)

Below are my paintings that were accepted and need your help. Just follow the link or click on the picture. They need your votes by making them your favourites and leaving comments. If you like them say it with a great comment.  Help my paintings go on and change minds around the world to help the ocean, thank you!

The Unlucky Seven Of Global Irresponsibility

http://artistfortheocean.deviantart.com/art/Global-Irresponsibility-174917472?q&qo

Acrylic on Canvas  48″ X 40″

This painting depicts the awareness of the “Recipe For Disaster” that is affecting us all. Global warming is being caused by this Recipe and is now showing great impacts to the blue heart of the planet. From Oil to Plastic the industrial actions have created some very noticeable reactions that we cannot put a blind eye towards anymore. The turtle is depicted in this painting since all seven species are either threatened and/or endangered due to the industrial revolution. I believe from my research doing this painting and many others is that in the last 50 to 60 years we have forced the decline of 90% of all our natural resources and species on this planet.

Handful Of Screams Call Out For Worldwide Protection

http://artistfortheocean.deviantart.com/art/Handful-Of-Screams-174926152?q&qo

Acrylic on Canvas 48″ X 40″

(If you like the Sea Shepherd You may want to vote on this one because it will bring the awareness to the SSCS by the “Bob Barker & Steve Irwin” depicted in the Painting!)

I created this painting to bring awareness to the destructive measures forcing the plight of the ocean. From polluted bodies of water – dumping of chemicals – and oil spills to name a few, all lead to the ocean and cause destructive damage. I aim to show people the real story of what is now, and that we can change our actions to help the much larger picture, which is a healthier ocean that transforms into a much healthier planet.

Defcon 1

http://artistfortheocean.deviantart.com/art/Defcon-1-174907235?q&qo

This painting is: 16X20 Acrylic On Canvas

The industrial revolution has placed major strain on the ocean, which we are only now seeing. Global Warming has caused disastrous effects to this great blue body of the planet.

Bob Timmons, Artist for the Ocean

By Arthur Poletti

Email The Pope with your own message or copy the LETTER TO SEND below, following the picture essay, which includes the same message.

It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.
Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2418

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
00120 Via del Pellegrino
Citta del Vaticano

benedictxvi@vatican.va

Holy Father, there are literally millions of people throughout the world who are appalled and disgusted by the madness and cruelty that takes place when bulls are tortured and murdered for fun and laughs and tradition during the Toro de Coria event each year in Spain.

To make matters even worse, most of these events are dedicated to saints from the Catholic church (such as Saint John for the Toro de Coria) which is blasphemous!

What an insult!

What could be more fun and entertaining then watching a slow blood bath massacre as the bulls’ bodies are methodically ripped apart and ultimately murdered to entertain an arena filled with cheering, brain-dead, blood-thirsty people that look like the devil’s disciples?

Pope St. Pius V decreed that bullfights are “altogether foreign to piety and charity.” He wished that “these cruel and disgraceful exhibitions of devils and not of men be abolished,” and he forbade attendance at them under penalty of excommunication.

Pope St. Pius V — was not afraid to express his utter disgust with bull fighting. The following articles and illustrations will explain why.

BULLFIGHTING SCHOOLS – THE “ART” OF TORTURING AND KILLING

In Spain, according to the numbers of the Ministry of Interior, there are 43 registered bullfighting schools. All these schools are subsidized by the Autonomic Regions, local authorities, etc. For example, the region of Andalucia has 22 bullfighting schools and in 2007 the Government of Andalucia gave 300,000 euros of public money to these schools.

Children begin learning the “art” of torturing and killing at an early age. The minimum entry age for these schools varies from one region to another, for example in Valencia it is 9 years old, and in Madrid, 12.

The schools provide all course material. Field trips include visits to farms of bull breeders to participate in tientas ( tests where bulls and cows are pinched with long spears to see how brave they are), and they also practice on calves, young bulls and cows with banderillas, swords, etc.

If you add to the inherent cruelty of a bullfighting spectacle the inexperience of these children you can imagine the carnage.

The minimum age to perform in a spectacle in Spain is 16 years old so many children as young as 11 or 12 go to Mexico to perform since there is no minimum age in that country.

Besides the very well known Spanish bullfights, this country has something commonly called Popular Festivals (popular fiestas) which are in reality another way of torturing bulls. Some of these popular fiestas are outrageous and terrible.

The following are but a couple of the most horrific popular fiestas:

TORDESILLAS “El toro de la Vega”
(bull of Vega)

This so called popular fiesta consists in chasing a bull with spears all over the village sticking them into his body until his death. Meanwhile, since the crowd think that the torture is not enough, they cut his testicles off while he is still alive.

CORIA “El Toro de Coria”
(Coria’s bull)

The bull walks and runs for hours in the streets while people throw darts at him. When he is too tired and weak from loss of blood to continue to escape, the villagers kill him with a gun and cut his testicles off. How neat! You wonder why the world is so screwed up.

“Holy Father” I feel certain that when you carefully consider the value and importance of all of God’s precious creatures you will agree that God wants humans to protect and care for them, not to needlessly torture and murder them.

The real question is, who is going to come to the aid and defense of these precious creatures?

Who is brave enough and bold enough to express the will of God in a convincing and persuasive way that will be heard loudly and clearly and could make a real difference in helping to stop these pathetic mass murders?

Holy Father, once again I plead with you to come to the aid of animals that most often are facing certain death. That are brutally tortured and murdered while most of the people that are watching are licking their lips with great joy and enthusiasm.

The Toro de Coria campaign event really needs to come to an abrupt end. Please seriously consider helping God free these animals from this horrible blood sport by taking a stand and making an announcement expressing your disgust with the Toro de Coria event and all events like it.

Holy Father, It would be impossible to present a list of cities and addresses of towns with bullfights. The best solution is to make a personal telephone call and to send protests to the Prime Minister of Spain and to the Ministry of the Interior (the entity that governs bullfights in Spain).

It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.
~ Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2418

Thank you, Holy Father

For the sake of all animals.
Arthur Poletti, God Does Not Eat Meat
Read for free online at: http://www.all-creatures.org/book/gdnem.html

“They too, are created by the same loving hand of God which Created us…It is our duty to Protect Them and to promote their well-being.”
~ Mother Teresa.

“Killing animals for sport, for pleasure, for adventures, and for hides and furs is a phenomenon which is at once disgusting and distressing. There is no justification in indulging in such acts of brutality.”
~ His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama

Please email The Pope with the following message to the associated email address, or send a message of your own, thank you.

WHERE TO SEND YOUR LETTER:
benedictxvi@vatican.va

LETTER TO SEND:
Holy Father, there are literally millions of people throughout the world who are appalled and disgusted by the madness and cruelty that takes place when bulls are tortured and murdered for fun and laughs and tradition during the Toro de Coria event each year in Spain.

To make matters even worse, most of these events are dedicated to saints from the Catholic church (such as Saint John for the Toro de Coria) which is blasphemous!

What an insult!

What could be more fun and entertaining then watching a slow blood bath massacre as the bulls’ bodies are methodically ripped apart and ultimately murdered to entertain an arena filled with cheering, brain-dead, blood-thirsty people that look like the devil’s disciples?

Pope St. Pius V decreed that bullfights are “altogether foreign to piety and charity.” He wished that “these cruel and disgraceful exhibitions of devils and not of men be abolished,” and he forbade attendance at them under penalty of excommunication.

Pope St. Pius V — was not afraid to express his utter disgust with bull fighting. The following articles and illustrations will explain why.

BULLFIGHTING SCHOOLS – THE “ART” OF TORTURING AND KILLING

In Spain, according to the numbers of the Ministry of Interior, there are 43 registered bullfighting schools. All these schools are subsidized by the Autonomic Regions, local authorities, etc. For example, the region of Andalucia has 22 bullfighting schools and in 2007 the Government of Andalucia gave 300,000 euros of public money to these schools.

Children begin learning the “art” of torturing and killing at an early age. The minimum entry age for these schools varies from one region to another, for example in Valencia it is 9 years old, and in Madrid, 12.

The schools provide all course material. Field trips include visits to farms of bull breeders to participate in tientas ( tests where bulls and cows are pinched with long spears to see how brave they are), and they also practice on calves, young bulls and cows with banderillas, swords, etc.

If you add to the inherent cruelty of a bullfighting spectacle the inexperience of these children you can imagine the carnage.

The minimum age to perform in a spectacle in Spain is 16 years old so many children as young as 11 or 12 go to Mexico to perform since there is no minimum age in that country.

Besides the very well known Spanish bullfights, this country has something commonly called Popular Festivals (popular fiestas) which are in reality another way of torturing bulls. Some of these popular fiestas are outrageous and terrible.

The following are but a couple of the most horrific popular fiestas.

TORDESILLAS “El toro de la Vega” (bull of Vega): This so called popular fiesta consists in chasing a bull with spears all over the village sticking them into his body until his death. Meanwhile, since the crowd think that the torture is not enough, they cut his testicles off while he is still alive.

CORIA “El Toro de Coria” (Coria’s bull): The bull walks and runs for hours in the streets while people throw darts at him. When he is too tired and weak from loss of blood to continue to escape, the villagers kill him with a gun and cut his testicles off. How neat! You wonder why the world is so screwed up.

“Holy Father” I feel certain that when you carefully consider the value and importance of all of God’s precious creatures you will agree that God wants humans to protect and care for them, not to needlessly torture and murder them.

The real question is, who is going to come to the aid and defense of these precious creatures?

Who is brave enough and bold enough to express the will of God in a convincing and persuasive way that will be heard loudly and clearly and could make a real difference in helping to stop these pathetic mass murders?

Holy Father, once again I plead with you to come to the aid of animals that most often are facing certain death. That are brutally tortured and murdered while most of the people that are watching are licking their lips with great joy and enthusiasm.

The Toro de Coria campaign event really needs to come to an abrupt end. Please seriously consider helping God free these animals from this horrible blood sport by taking a stand and making an announcement expressing your disgust with the Toro de Coria event and all events like it.

Holy Father, It would be impossible to present a list of cities and addresses of towns with bullfights. The best solution is to make a personal telephone call and to send protests to the Prime Minister of Spain and to the Ministry of the Interior (the entity that governs bullfights in Spain).

It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.
~ Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2418

Thank you, Holy Father.

For the sake of all animals.

NAME
ADDRESS

RELATED:
Help stop EU subsidies for the bullfighting industry

Email the minister with your own message or copy the SAMPLE LETTER below.

From Born Free

A groundbreaking bill proposing to outlaw the fur trade throughout Israel is set to be put to a vote on September 2nd, potentially making Israel the first country in the world to ban fur for fashion. If passed, the bill would prohibit the production, processing, import, export, and sale of fur from all animal species not already part of the meat industry.

This landmark bill has attracted widespread support in Israel, as well as created a global stir among members of the public, politicians, and celebrities. The bill still needs to pass crucial votes to become law and it is under severe threat due to lobbying from the international fur industry.

Please write to the Minister – TODAY – to let him know you support the ban, and help send the message that people throughout the world are paying close attention to the progress of this bill and that we stand behind its passage.

Important Note:
Due to reports of the Minister’s email account occasionally crashing, we are asking our members to please take the time to cut and paste the sample letter (below) into an email, and watch out for bounce-backs. While we recognize that this is an extra step, over and above what you are used to, it is vital that your important message reaches its destination!

Immediate International Support is Vital.

WHERE TO SEND YOUR MESSAGES

E-mail:
binyaminb@knesset.gov.il and lishka.sar@moital.gov.il

(Please keep trying if your email bounces back, although neither of mine has as of yet.)

Or copy/paste into your TO and hit one carriage return:
binyaminb@knesset.gov.il
lishka.sar@moital.gov.il

Postal:
Binyamin Fuad Ben-Eliezer
Minister of Industry, Trade and Employment
5 Bank Israel Street
Jerusalem
Israel

SAMPLE LETTER courtesy of Born Free, addresses above.
Dear Minister,

I am writing to let you know that I strongly support the bill to ban the fur trade in Israel. This ban would set an important, compassionate example for other countries to follow.

As you know, each year, more than 70 million animals are killed for fashion. Whether used as a full-length coat or simple trim, fur represents senseless pain and suffering.

Wild-caught fur, obtained by setting traps or snares to capture fur-bearing animals, can result in the animal remaining in the trap or snare for several days before starving or slowly strangling to death. If the animal is still alive when the trapper comes to check the trap or snare, it will be beaten over the head or shot. Non-target animals who are accidentally caught and killed in these traps, such as deer, cats, dogs, and squirrels, are called “trash” and discarded.

Israel has a remarkable opportunity to be a world-leader by banning fur nationwide. The government should stand strong and do what’s right, unmoved by the self-interested pleadings of well-paid lobbyists. There is a global groundswell of support for the Israeli legislation in countries that are Israel’s friends and allies. These legions of compassionate citizens will hold Israel up as a beacon of hope for the entire world to see.

Once again, please support the ban on the fur trade to alleviate animal suffering and so that other countries, including the United States, may follow your compassionate lead.

Sincerely,

(Your Name Here)

Related: https://ourcompass.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/israels-potential-fur-trade-ban-wins-support-please-show-yours-again/

IMMEDIATE:
please sign STOP the barbaric “tradition”!
or click on the picture

By Loredana Versaci

Targeting: Francesca Martini (Animal Welfare), Michela V. Brambilla (Minister of Tourism) and Papa Benedetto XVI (Catholic Church)

Background:
Every year in Italy many animals (Horses, Donkeys, Geese, Pigs etc) are tortured, and often killed, in the name of “religion”. These horrific expressions of human evilness are blessed by the Catholic Church, these “sagra, palio, festa” are bloody traditions that are not worthy a “civilized, progressed” Country. The worst day is Aug 15, Ferragosto, the day dedicated to the Mother of Jesus Christ: in her name many animals are exploited, and killed. This is not religion, this is cruelty. It’s time to STOP abuses and abusers!

Every year in Butera (CL), they “celebrate” the traditional festival “U sirpintazzu and the goose” where a real goose (killed for the occasion) is hanging to be roughly abused under the public eye. Keeping the tradition alive, should not lead to the killing and the subsequent mistreatment of a helpless animal, either alive and dead. The fact that such barbarity goes on for more than 200 years, in no way justifies the death of the goose; the tradition must continue, but with full respect for animal dignity: use a fake goose, be humane and compassionate as your religion says you should be.

Petition Text:
Greetings,

I am writing today to share my grave disturbance regarding the rituals Ferragosta, U sirpintazzu and the goose, and all o…ther celebrations surrounding the deliberate and barbaric slaughter of animals. I have learned that these events are characterized by the depraved and savage butchery of animals, mutilated, tortured, and killed as an observance of religious tradition. This unremitting torture is inflicted on these terrified animals, fully conscious, subjected to what can only be considered excruciating pain and prolonged suffering, inflicting what can only be considered heightened states of fear, agony, and misery. With utmost respect, I plea with you to intervene to cease this animal cruelty.

These events are promoted as a religious tradition, a celebration of heritage, spirit, and theological commemoration, but mitigating words and euphemistic descriptions cannot conceal the inherently barbaric nature of these rituals. Any celebration built on a foundation of extreme animal cruelty, exploitation, and suffering cannot be justified as an expression of religious tradition or doctrinal observance and worship; indeed, condemning animals, to any torturous ceremony, regardless of religious interpretation or disguise, is indefensible. Celebrating religion is admirable, yet subjecting innocent creatures to such primitive and evil rituals only demonstrates your country as an apathetic and unprincipled society.

I understand the significance of religious expression; however, religious tolerance ends when innocent beings are targeted for harm and death. Just as one human cannot morally harm another human based on religious expression, neither can a group expect immunity during rituals that clearly violate any international animal welfare standards concerning the practice of such. Furthermore, this event sets a dangerous societal precedent, reinforcing the fact that violence breeds more violence: when animal cruelty is received with cultural tolerance, both violence and acceptance escalates, the result of which is societal impunity towards all suffering.

Animals are sentient creatures who, as humans, experience love, fear, pain, suffering, and who value their lives as you value yours. I am respectfully asking that you provide immediate relief on behalf of these innocent, sentient animals who cannot be targeted as legitimate sacrifices for religions not practiced, observed, or exercised by them; it is an irrational belief to excuse bloody, unnecessary, and depraved acts as religious ceremonies to conceal human indulgences. Surely any logical person would accept that such cruelty cannot be sanctioned as traditional. Our shared cultural histories are punctuated with such barbaric illustrations of inequity and mass killings upheld at the time as valid religious conflicts but that are now recognized as extreme indifference and barbarism and denounced as evil acts.

I therefore implore upon you to act swiftly and responsibly by enacting an immediate moratorium on these savage events. Regrettably, until such a time, I feel my only recourse is to promote a boycott of Italy with respect to both tourism and products as well as to encourage friends, family, and members of large online community networks to participate in boycotts as well. Please provide your obligatory duty and responsibility by protecting these animals; your ethical gesture of compassion would serve as an international model of empathy.

IMMEDIATE: please sign STOP the barbaric “tradition”! or click on the picture

1. US Friends, please sign and send automatic message Urging Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to Retire the Alamogordo Chimpanzees
2. Please sign PCRM’s Change Petition to End Chimpanzee Experiments, Pass the Great Ape Protection Act
3. Please sign Help Pass the Great Ape Protection Act

From PCRM

I am asking for your help with an urgent situation in Alamogordo, N. M., that could affect the lives of almost 200 chimpanzees. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to move these animals to the Southwest National Primate Research Facility in San Antonio, Texas, where they will be subjected to painful, invasive experiments. Urge Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius to keep the chimpanzees in New Mexico.

None of these chimpanzees have been used in research since 2001, and because of their advanced age and health many, may not even survive the move to San Antonio. There is tremendous local support for keeping the chimpanzees in Alamogordo. Academy Award winning actor and New Mexico resident Gene Hackman has spoken up for the chimpanzees. In July, Gov. Bill Richardson wrote a letter to NIH and he continues to support permanently retiring these chimpanzees.

“This is an urgent situation and I am asking the National Institutes of Health to permanently retire the 202 chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility so that they may not be used for invasive research. New Mexico wants to save these chimpanzees who have already given so much of their lives to the American public as part of medical research studies,” said Gov. Richardson.

Now we need your help—this issue is not just a concern to New Mexico, it is a concern to all of us. NIH is using your tax dollars to move these chimpanzees to a San Antonio research facility that is notorious for animal welfare violations.

Please take a minute to send an e-mail to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and urge her to permanently retire the Alamogordo chimpanzees.

Additional information: Great Ape Protection Act Moves to Senate

By Wendy Kobylarz

A year or two ago my mom sent me a link to Playing for Change’s first video, musicians from around the world playing and singing Stand by Me. I think mostly they’re street musicians, though some are probably professionals.

I sat and watched it and cried. Music and hope can be so powerful, and really I’m not that tough. 😉 Even if I am the vegan police.

After opening an email from them this morning I thought hmmm, I haven’t seen one of their videos in ages, so I went along to YouTube and looked some up. I’ve pretty much been playing them all morning, tears just dripping from my eyes. I listened to One Love, then Stand by Me then went on to Change is Gonna Come. When the video opened, it was titled to show it had been filmed at some kind of leadership conference at Starbucks. At where!? Sponsored by what!?

So I immediately had to post to Facebook. What I wrote is pretty long, but I will repeat it in this note in case you missed it.

I find myself constantly engaged in a struggle between good and evil, or variations thereof: wanting, wanting, wanting to believe in goodness (really) and finding a reality that slams into me like a mountain of brick-hard shit. Nice image, right? Specifically: politics and hope, hope and politics.

More specifically: Playing for Change. I LOVE it. I check out their YouTube stuff, go to the song Change is Gonna Come — and it’s being presented by Starbucks. 😦

Most of us, I know, compromise our ethics to some extent, and this world isn’t perfect, but the very corporations that “promise” change, or donate money to help (Chase Manhattan and Pepsi giving are all over FB) are the precise corporations that are responsible for continuing massive trouble for millions of people, billions of animals and the planet we all share. I get confused!

Yes, I want that shelter to have money. Yes, I want Playing for Change to be able to build music schools for kids. No, I don’t want to support the corporations that do this because the money they spend on it is chump change (and who are the chumps?) to them, but the PR couldn’t be better for them if they hired the most expensive PR firm in the world.

This is not a rant, this is confusion. You may tell me: nothing’s perfect. I know that. But how do we bring on real lasting change, people-powered change, through promoting corporate America, corporate Europe?

Read more…

Please email the parole board with your own message or copy the SAMPLE LETTER below, but please modify and shorten.

Oppose Parole for David Tant HERE (all characters of sample fit in webform)

• Offender: David Tant

• SCDC Number: 306170

• Zipcode: For non-US friends, please select one and associated city from HERE

Or feel free to use a distributed petition address:

Riddle Press 4555 SW Main Avenue
Beaverton, OR
97005-2747

From Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF)

David Tant was reportedly considered by the underground dogfighting community to be one of the top breeders of fighting pit bulls in the country. In April 2004, a land surveyor wandered onto his property and was injured by a destructive device (a booby trapped shotgun) allegedly created by Tant. Authorities searched the property and seized 47 pit bulls, many with injuries consistent with dogfighting. They found dogfighting equipment: caged treadmills, a “rape box” (designed to restrain female dogs that so that they can be forcibly bred), cattle prods, harnesses, a bear trap, homemade gun silencers, dogfighting magazines and remnants of a dogfighting ring.

The newly formed South Carolina dogfighting task force, the Attorney General’s office, the State Law Enforcement Division, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were involved with the investigation. In November 2004, after two days of a jury trial, the defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of animal fighting and one count of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for animal fighting, 10 years in prison for creating the booby trap, and restitution of about $150,000. On July 21, 2010, six years into his 30 year sentence, Tant was granted his first parole hearing in front of three members of the seven-member parole board. He was not required to go in front of the full parole board because, shockingly, his is considered a non-violent offense. The vote was split 2-1 in favor of parole.

Because the partial board did not reach a unanimous decision, Tant will go in front of the full board on September 8. Take Action! Write a polite letter to the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to oppose parole for this dogfighter, who is responsible for the suffering of many innocent animals in this violent bloodsport. Use SC PPP’s online comment form to oppose parole for David Tant, SC Department of Corrections inmate # 306170. Thank you for joining ALDF in our push to make sure authorities get tough on dogfighters!

Thank you for joining ALDF in our push to make sure authorities get tough on dogfighters!

SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Board Members,

I have learned of extremely disturbing and malicious cases of animal cruelty committed by Mr. David Tant, inmate # 306170, who has been found guilty of operating an underground dogfighting industry; I am writing to express my support of denying this inmate parole and to request he be required to face the maximum penalty to which he was sentenced, 30 years.  Mr. Tant committed deliberate and methodical torture on an innocent, sentient dogs, and as such, it is essential to recognize that Mr. Tant’s decision to inflict incredible suffering and pain on these animals was premeditated as demonstrated by the chronicle of abusive events in which he participated and the dogfighting weapons and devices that were found, including rape racks, cattle prods, gun silencer, bear trap, and a disassembled dogfighting ring.

I find it incredulous that his has been defined as a “non-violent” crime.  Please allow me to elaborate.  When I try to imagine what possible motive animal abusers entertain for subjecting their animal victims to such malicious, heinous acts of brutality, I fail, but I am thankful for a lack of cognitive understanding and rationalization. To voluntarily engage in such malicious behaviour suggests sadistic tendencies, and Mr. Tant’s actions, causing unmitigated pain and suffering, demonstrates his incontrovertible lack of morality regarding other living beings and a gross disrespect for the law. In fact, a person who shows such a remarkable lack of compassion towards non-human animals has the ability to show such indifference towards human animals. This link between animal and human abuse has been established, and if we excuse his criminal behaviour by offering a lesser punishment we only harm ourselves by unjustly nullifying cruelty as acceptable behaviour.

I, as well as global contingent of concerned people, am hoping that you will take an unyielding position against animal cruelty and hold Mr. Tant accountable by sentencing him in accordance with the maximum penalty given, 30 years in prison. If the justice system does not administer the harshest penalty available, it is indeed excusing his malicious behaviour towards sentient beings, and to excuse this type of sadistic cruelty harms all by disregarding the basic moral tenet of respecting life and appreciating the value of it. Apathy permeates throughout society and damages all, and we therefore need to teach our children that the law does not excuse, allow, or enable cruelty against human or non-human animals. We need to demonstrate in both word and action that the human essence of empathy does not exist to excuse maliciousness, it exists to provide compassion and justice to the brutalized and punishment to those who willingly deviate from this capacity. If we do not do our duty to provide this, we harm animals and invite injustice into our society.

I know your time is limited and I want to thank you for your attention and consideration.

NAME
ADDRESS

For two additional sample messages, please click HERE but modify accordingly, thank you.

A live chicken is lowered into a lion enclosure.

From Animals Asia Foundation

What is live feeding and where does it take place?
The practice of feeding predatory carnivores in zoos and wildlife parks live “prey”, has been discontinued in most countries for many years. In China, however, it is still widely practiced today.

According to a 2005 report by the Environment and Animals Ethics Group (EAEG), a Chinese working group, the numbers of “wild animal parks” and “safari parks” mushroomed in China from none pre-1993, to over 30 by 2005. Most of these parks contain predatory carnivores, and most (12 of 18 visited by the EAEG in 2003-04) practice some form of “live feeding” as a public spectacle.

The predatory carnivores in the parks include most big cat species, bears and hyenas. The “prey” animals fed to them include cattle, buffalo, goat, horse, chicken, ostrich, duck, guinea fowl and rabbit.

Predators are often starved prior to the “shows” in order to make them more aggressive so that the “show” is more spectacular, and the prey animals are often removed from the predators before they get the chance to eat them. Some prey animals are used several times before they finally die a slow painful death.

Both predators and prey are often kept in small, cramped cages or enclosures. The “show” is very far from anything that would happen in the wild, and is nothing more than an act of barbaric cruelty.

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From AVAAZ.ORG

Please sign and send HERE

The father of a victim of the rape trade has sent a moving appeal to Avaaz:

“My daughter Oxana was a beautiful, wonderful girl, gifted in languages. She left our home when she was 20 to take her dream job as a translator in Europe. We were so happy for her. 3 weeks later the police told us she died falling from a 5th story window, trying to escape men who fooled her with the job and forced her into a sex club. I died when she died. Now I live only to stop this from happening to other girls. Please, help me.”

A powerful new treaty is our best weapon against the global rape trade in women and girls. If Russia signs it, it will put a major dent in this horror – let’s get 1 million voices to appeal to Russian PM Putin to sign the treaty and help protect girls like Oxana:

To Prime Minister Putin and President Medvedev:

We urge you to take strong action to protect Russia’s women and girls from the rape trade by signing the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking in Human Beings. Working together with other countries, Russia can play a key role in ending this horrific trade forever.

Please sign and send HERE

From Care2
Posted by Robin Marty

A child’s death is always shocking, and a child killed by a caregiver is even more horrible.  But when the physical abuse is caused by an adult for no other reason than because the toddler was “acting like a girl,” there are simply no words.

I read about the story of Roy Jones, the 17-month old boy beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend, with the shock and anger that any person has when a child is murdered.  But those feelings were heightened when the cause of the boyfriend’s rage was revealed as simple inability to deal with the child not being “boyish” enough for him.

Pedro Jones, 20, has been arrested on manslaughter charges.

Jones told reporters outside Southampton Town Justice Court that he didn’t mean to do it.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “That’s my baby. I loved him to death.”

The agony spilled into the parking lot.

“You’ll get some jailhouse justice, you pig!” shouted one person.

State police say Jones beat the life out of 17-month-old Roy Jones.

“He’s a beautiful baby boy that didn’t deserve what happened to him,” his cousin, Rainbow Hill, said.

According to court documents, Jones, who was not related to the boy, punched him over and over with closed fists and grabbed him by the neck.

Documents say he confessed to the crime, telling troopers, “I was trying to make him act like a boy instead of a little girl. I never struck that kid that hard before. A one-time mistake, and I am going to do 20 years.”

Please watch this beautiful boy and find the DA contact information below to demand justice now.

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From Jewish Voice for Peace, December18th.org
Immediate, please sign and send HERE

The Shministim are Israeli high school students who have been imprisoned for refusing to serve in an army that occupies the Palestinian Territories. December 18, 2008 marked the launch date of a global campaign to release them from jail.

SHMINISIM 2010: A new Shministim letter has been drafted for 2010, and 88 Israeli young people have signed it. The letter, addressed to Prime Minister Netanyahu, slams the Occupation and asks, “Can military rule of a civilian population be considered anything other than a dictatorship?” To learn about this new class of conscientious refusers, go HERE

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Immediate, please send automatic message HERE or click on the picture

From PETA

The Toro de la Vega “festival” takes place every September in the autonomic region of Castilla y Léon, Spain. The event entails chasing a young bull through the streets of Tordesillas and stabbing him with darts and spears until he is bleeding and crippled. His tail is cut off while he is still alive. When he dies of his injuries, the person who ultimately kills him is awarded a ceremonial spear and a medal by the City Council.

Instead of celebrating the town’s culture, this event shows a callous disregard for animals. It is unacceptable to harass, torment and kill animals in the name of culture or tradition, and such senseless spectacles have no place in civilised society.

Please send automatic message HERE