OH HAPPY DAY
During the long days of an illness … reading about the world …
I thought mostly: s i g h.
On the second day of April in this year 2010 I was sitting on the “T” going to a doctor’s appointment when my world changed as quickly as if I had been swept (by a worm hole?) into a fantasy.
It was the kind of subway car where you can sit on parallel rows facing each other. Across from me I noticed a woman absorbed in an old black book, which, squinting, I could see was Antigone. She was 40-ish, absorbed, dark hair drawn back, a former ballerina? Next to her a woman, older, her countenance weary, was absorbed in a paperback, Cabin 333. I realized that five of those in this seven-place seat-set were lost in reading: a young woman, perhaps 27, a hardcover copy of God Is Not Great…a slender bookish-appearing man, The Economist. A handsome dark-haired man, perhaps early 30s, had his hands wrapped so securely around his hardcover book I couldn’t read the title. As I was leaving the car I asked him for the title: Treasures of the Earth: Need, Greed and a Sustainable Future. Friendly and curious he said “Why do you want to know?” I’m surveying what people read on the T, I said. He gave a big smile.
I paused on an outside bench to ponder: If five out of seven people on a random subway car were reading what I just saw they were indeed reading, then the world is better, it has to be! Maybe the change is coming. My heart had lifted up, reasonable or not. The world seemed hopeful. My persistent hyper-seriousness danced in my mind a semi-hostile tango with my intermittently-appearing happy heart. I swept it all away and walked on with my happy heart.
Coming back I was walking from the far end of the Charles Street Station’s platform when I remembered a scene from years before. Two young teens, black, were standing with their backs to the river; I heard one say “Maybe we can see Charles.” I thought to help: “No, you have to turn around, it’s the river, the Charles River, over there.”
On an instant their faces were startled. One said “It’s our cousin Charles. Sometimes we can see him in the yard.” They had been looking with such great intensity in the correct direction: at the Charles Street Jail. While I, a white busybody stranger, had thought she would “help” them understand what Charles was. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” I awkwardly said as I took a step away. Oh! My chagrin arrived like a lightning strike. I was consumed with a grievous awareness.
Life lessons.
Now on today’s day I crossed over for the first time to the hotel developed in 2007 out of the imposing building that had been built in 1851 as a “humane” jail for short-term prisoners. I entered beneath a modernist sign “The Liberty Hotel,” walked past a bar café labeled in jaunty sans serif letters: “Clink.” The concierge told me the jail’s history was illustrated in a small space around the corner of the gigantic atrium.
Among the prisoners in the early decades were murderers awaiting trial and young boys fined $3 and two days in jail for “playing ball in the street.” In 1945 a U-Boat commander, seized in the Azores and imprisoned in Charles Street Jail with his crew, killed himself with glass from his sunglasses.
The exhibition heralded one of the most well known residents: birth control activist William R Baird imprisoned in 1967 for giving out birth control devices at Boston University. State law at the time banned distribution of contraceptives except to married couples with a doctor’s prescription, a case eventually overturned by the Supreme Court.
Standing in the great atrium I registered how confidently architects and designers had transformed the old building into “Can you believe it!” Vast walls of nineteenth century brick, uncovered in their careful beauty, sweep around the atrium like upright meadows. Hugely ornate round windows drew visual focus in a way that must not have been possible before.
And there is a slight eeriness, like the thrill we deny we feel when we see an accident. The past can easily be felt. Some will no doubt sense the prisoners, the bad times.
The concierge had an impeccable and solicitous manner far beyond what we usually see in these helpful professionals. A kind of shield? For him? For us?
I walked away to find and eat unwashed strawberries out of their box. To daydream about the subway readers, the black teenagers, the prisoners, the privileged guests lounging at the bottom of the atrium’s vastness. How fascinating to see the world. I was super alive. I was happy.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
We win on this one
Massachusetts Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz reported that the House Bill prohibiting devocalization of dogs and cats was passed by the Senate.
She said This legislation will make the very painful and cruel act of devocalizing dogs and cats illegal in Massachusetts, except when deemed medically necessary by a licensed veterinarian. The bill will also pose strict criminal penalties on anyone, including a veterinarian, who conducts this surgical procedure unlawfully, including imprisonment, fines and/or losing their practicing license.
In my letter on this issue I said: "This bill is being opposed by commercial animal sellers who want to add destructive amendments.
"Commercial breeders want to devocalize animals so they can locate their often-suspect "breeding mills" in any area at all without complaints about loud sounds. Additionally they want to expand their client base by selling the "convenience" of customized bark-free animals.
"Devocalization goes along with "declawing" in being a misleading euphemism used to advance sales and mislead the public. Declawing means amputation of parts of the cats feet. Devocalization means surgical excision of the vocal cords and larynx, a complex operation performed in a delicate and important part of the animal's body, with the risk of collateral damage, infection, leisons, scarring and the assurance of pain along with permanent psychological harm to the animal.
"Devocalization" is against the law in the UK and parts of Europe.
Commercial breeders treat animals as product, therefore no moral obligation to the animals' lives. They seek buyers who want a modified (read mutilated) animal in order to reduce the amount of care and attention to the animal.
When barking causes neighborhood disputes and legal problems, it usually begins because the owners have not provided the dogs with the basic needs for their lives.The dilemna of chronic excessive vocalization by dogs rests on the shoulders of the owners, usually guilty of improper socialization, care and training, conditions of stress, boredom, neglect, fear or frustration. Some owners make insensible decisions, such as putting a German Shepherd or other large breed in a tiny apartment with no provision for walks or other exercises. Many dogs are led out of the house for five minutes twice a day, taken a few feet down the sidewalk to relieve themselves and dragged back into what is -- in fact -- a prison.
Mutilating dogs and cats for human "convenience" violates the tenets of many spiritualities in the world. Those who push these mutilations exist on a continuum of degraded behavior that harms the world and the spirits of those who seek new answers for life on the planet. We humans are OF the earth. Those we call "other" animals are OF the earth. A new consciousness has begun to evolve seeking ways for us to live congenially, pragmatically and spiritually with all the rich life forms sharing the earth with us. There are hopeful signs we may yet transcend the horrors of the present and the past.
She said This legislation will make the very painful and cruel act of devocalizing dogs and cats illegal in Massachusetts, except when deemed medically necessary by a licensed veterinarian. The bill will also pose strict criminal penalties on anyone, including a veterinarian, who conducts this surgical procedure unlawfully, including imprisonment, fines and/or losing their practicing license.
In my letter on this issue I said: "This bill is being opposed by commercial animal sellers who want to add destructive amendments.
"Commercial breeders want to devocalize animals so they can locate their often-suspect "breeding mills" in any area at all without complaints about loud sounds. Additionally they want to expand their client base by selling the "convenience" of customized bark-free animals.
"Devocalization goes along with "declawing" in being a misleading euphemism used to advance sales and mislead the public. Declawing means amputation of parts of the cats feet. Devocalization means surgical excision of the vocal cords and larynx, a complex operation performed in a delicate and important part of the animal's body, with the risk of collateral damage, infection, leisons, scarring and the assurance of pain along with permanent psychological harm to the animal.
"Devocalization" is against the law in the UK and parts of Europe.
Commercial breeders treat animals as product, therefore no moral obligation to the animals' lives. They seek buyers who want a modified (read mutilated) animal in order to reduce the amount of care and attention to the animal.
When barking causes neighborhood disputes and legal problems, it usually begins because the owners have not provided the dogs with the basic needs for their lives.The dilemna of chronic excessive vocalization by dogs rests on the shoulders of the owners, usually guilty of improper socialization, care and training, conditions of stress, boredom, neglect, fear or frustration. Some owners make insensible decisions, such as putting a German Shepherd or other large breed in a tiny apartment with no provision for walks or other exercises. Many dogs are led out of the house for five minutes twice a day, taken a few feet down the sidewalk to relieve themselves and dragged back into what is -- in fact -- a prison.
Mutilating dogs and cats for human "convenience" violates the tenets of many spiritualities in the world. Those who push these mutilations exist on a continuum of degraded behavior that harms the world and the spirits of those who seek new answers for life on the planet. We humans are OF the earth. Those we call "other" animals are OF the earth. A new consciousness has begun to evolve seeking ways for us to live congenially, pragmatically and spiritually with all the rich life forms sharing the earth with us. There are hopeful signs we may yet transcend the horrors of the present and the past.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Bureau of Land Management Wants to Remove 1000 horses
My personal words preceding the opposition letter:
"Being part of the change in the enlightened America now being evolved means looking carefully at the customary approach to "wild" animals who are our co-inhabitants of the planet. We need to question, with appropriate respect, human ideas about "management." Imprisoning, culling, removal, killing -- those methods belong to the atavistic past. Along with the original human inhabitants, most of the non-human animals living on this continent were killed in terrible and persistent massacres. Life itself now has reached a point where we must learn from, not blindly copy, the past, when we must not unthinkingly resort to solutions that were wrong even at the time."
Following from 'In Defense of Animals.' The link is at the bottom.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been found repeatedly to arbitrarily set Appropriate Management Levels (AMLs) for wild horses. The BLM's contention that approximately 1.7 million acres in the two HMAs can only sustain approximately 1,165 horses is questionable.
The proposed massive removal of wild horses and burros from the Adobe Town and Salt Wells HMAs and the warehousing of these animals in government holding facilities violates the intent of Congress and the will of the American people that our wild horses be managed on the range in a humane and minimally-intrusive manner that preserves their wild and free-roaming behavior.
https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1421
"Being part of the change in the enlightened America now being evolved means looking carefully at the customary approach to "wild" animals who are our co-inhabitants of the planet. We need to question, with appropriate respect, human ideas about "management." Imprisoning, culling, removal, killing -- those methods belong to the atavistic past. Along with the original human inhabitants, most of the non-human animals living on this continent were killed in terrible and persistent massacres. Life itself now has reached a point where we must learn from, not blindly copy, the past, when we must not unthinkingly resort to solutions that were wrong even at the time."
Following from 'In Defense of Animals.' The link is at the bottom.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been found repeatedly to arbitrarily set Appropriate Management Levels (AMLs) for wild horses. The BLM's contention that approximately 1.7 million acres in the two HMAs can only sustain approximately 1,165 horses is questionable.
The proposed massive removal of wild horses and burros from the Adobe Town and Salt Wells HMAs and the warehousing of these animals in government holding facilities violates the intent of Congress and the will of the American people that our wild horses be managed on the range in a humane and minimally-intrusive manner that preserves their wild and free-roaming behavior.
https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1421
Friday, March 12, 2010
Canada to begin annual seal pup slaughter
The first two pghs are my precede to the following Humane Society letter to the Canadian prime minister. Sign by pasting this in your address line:
http://humanesociety.org/cancelthehunt
"Killing animals to sell their skin for ornamental wear is as outdated as killing entertainment in the Roman Coliseum. Aside from the horror of the seal killings, what kind of message does it extend to the world? We are already in the transitional time when humans realize that other species are not here for wholesale murder at the whim or commercial desire of humans. My own country also has customs of murdering animals; but please, can Canada be among the countries who say: No More?
The wholesale murder of baby seals is hurting the soul of the world."
Harp seals are facing a natural disaster. They need the sea ice to give birth to and nurse their young.
But this year, Environment Canada reports the lowest ice formation in history off Canada's east coast. For the first year on record, virtually no sea ice has formed in key seal birthing areas. The impact will be devastating. Many mother seals are likely to abort in the water, and unprecedented numbers of pups may die.
In the short term, we cannot halt the devastating impacts of climate change on these seals. But, a responsible government must take action to save the pups who manage to survive.
If the 2010 commercial seal hunt takes place, the few seal pups who live through this disaster will be clubbed and shot to death as they cling to tiny pans of ice.
The world is watching Canada's commercial seal hunt this year. Please protect both the seals and Canada's international reputation: Cancel the 2010 commercial seal hunt.
In the longer term, I urge you to consider the extremely negative animal welfare, ecological, and economic impacts of the commercial seal hunt, and end it for good.
http://humanesociety.org/cancelthehunt
"Killing animals to sell their skin for ornamental wear is as outdated as killing entertainment in the Roman Coliseum. Aside from the horror of the seal killings, what kind of message does it extend to the world? We are already in the transitional time when humans realize that other species are not here for wholesale murder at the whim or commercial desire of humans. My own country also has customs of murdering animals; but please, can Canada be among the countries who say: No More?
The wholesale murder of baby seals is hurting the soul of the world."
Harp seals are facing a natural disaster. They need the sea ice to give birth to and nurse their young.
But this year, Environment Canada reports the lowest ice formation in history off Canada's east coast. For the first year on record, virtually no sea ice has formed in key seal birthing areas. The impact will be devastating. Many mother seals are likely to abort in the water, and unprecedented numbers of pups may die.
In the short term, we cannot halt the devastating impacts of climate change on these seals. But, a responsible government must take action to save the pups who manage to survive.
If the 2010 commercial seal hunt takes place, the few seal pups who live through this disaster will be clubbed and shot to death as they cling to tiny pans of ice.
The world is watching Canada's commercial seal hunt this year. Please protect both the seals and Canada's international reputation: Cancel the 2010 commercial seal hunt.
In the longer term, I urge you to consider the extremely negative animal welfare, ecological, and economic impacts of the commercial seal hunt, and end it for good.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Sometimes we win ... a little bit
Many of us wrote to the USDA after seeing a nightmare video about veal calves at a Vermont slaughter house. We can dream of a time when infant calves are not packed without being able to move into dark boxes for their entire short lives to feed the human desire for white baby meat. But for now we have a chance that their last days and hours will not be the unrelenting nightmare shown on a Humane Society film. Part of the response from the USDA follows:
"Subject: Communication with FSIS Regarding Handling of Veal Calves at Vermont Facility
Dear Sir or Madam:
Thank you for your correspondence to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the handling of veal calves at a Vermont facility. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has been asked to provide a response to you. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.
As you know, USDA launched an immediate investigation upon learning of an undercover video produced by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that depicted animal abuse at Bushway Packing, Inc., of Grand Isle, Vermont. The deplorable scenes recorded in the video released by HSUS are unequivocally unacceptable. USDA’s FSIS is continuing its investigation into alleged violations depicted in the video.
In addition to its ongoing investigation, FSIS immediately suspended inspection at the plant, effectively shutting it down. USDA fully supports the investigation of all those involved in these alleged violations of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), which requires that all livestock at federally inspected establishments be handled and slaughtered in a humane way. To this end, the Secretary has also called on USDA’s Inspector General to conduct a criminal investigation of the events in the video.
As you know, USDA launched an immediate investigation upon learning of an undercover video produced by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that depicted animal abuse at Bushway Packing, Inc., of Grand Isle, Vermont. The deplorable scenes recorded in the video released by HSUS are unequivocally unacceptable. USDA’s FSIS is continuing its investigation into alleged violations depicted in the video.
In addition to its ongoing investigation, FSIS immediately suspended inspection at the plant, effectively shutting it down. USDA fully supports the investigation of all those involved in these alleged violations of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), which requires that all livestock at federally inspected establishments be handled and slaughtered in a humane way. To this end, the Secretary has also called on USDA’s Inspector General to conduct a criminal investigation of the events in the video. ..."
"Subject: Communication with FSIS Regarding Handling of Veal Calves at Vermont Facility
Dear Sir or Madam:
Thank you for your correspondence to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the handling of veal calves at a Vermont facility. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has been asked to provide a response to you. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.
As you know, USDA launched an immediate investigation upon learning of an undercover video produced by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that depicted animal abuse at Bushway Packing, Inc., of Grand Isle, Vermont. The deplorable scenes recorded in the video released by HSUS are unequivocally unacceptable. USDA’s FSIS is continuing its investigation into alleged violations depicted in the video.
In addition to its ongoing investigation, FSIS immediately suspended inspection at the plant, effectively shutting it down. USDA fully supports the investigation of all those involved in these alleged violations of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), which requires that all livestock at federally inspected establishments be handled and slaughtered in a humane way. To this end, the Secretary has also called on USDA’s Inspector General to conduct a criminal investigation of the events in the video.
As you know, USDA launched an immediate investigation upon learning of an undercover video produced by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that depicted animal abuse at Bushway Packing, Inc., of Grand Isle, Vermont. The deplorable scenes recorded in the video released by HSUS are unequivocally unacceptable. USDA’s FSIS is continuing its investigation into alleged violations depicted in the video.
In addition to its ongoing investigation, FSIS immediately suspended inspection at the plant, effectively shutting it down. USDA fully supports the investigation of all those involved in these alleged violations of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), which requires that all livestock at federally inspected establishments be handled and slaughtered in a humane way. To this end, the Secretary has also called on USDA’s Inspector General to conduct a criminal investigation of the events in the video. ..."
Monday, March 8, 2010
Wild horses and burros "Program"
Congressional hearings are scheduled again to decide on funding for "management" of wild horses and burros, meaning torturous round-ups, culling and killing.
Androcles wrote to the relevant congresspeople:
"Killing persons and animals as a solution to so-called problems needs to transition into the atavistic past of humanity. The time has already arrived when we must decide to co-habit with the other beings of the earth. Down the road of animal murder lies our destruction. Killing what we identify as inconvenient or as living on lands we want is not worthy of a civilized nation. Please join the new time now in transition. Please do not dig your feet into the murderous mud of the past."
Androcles wrote to the relevant congresspeople:
"Killing persons and animals as a solution to so-called problems needs to transition into the atavistic past of humanity. The time has already arrived when we must decide to co-habit with the other beings of the earth. Down the road of animal murder lies our destruction. Killing what we identify as inconvenient or as living on lands we want is not worthy of a civilized nation. Please join the new time now in transition. Please do not dig your feet into the murderous mud of the past."
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
U.S. may undermine whale moratorium
Greenpeace reported there is indication that some in the present administration are championing a deal to undermine the whale moratorium of 1986 and secure the future of the outrageous and unnecessary practice of commercial whaling. Although the moratorium has been defied by Japan, Iceland, and Norway, it has proven to be the most important whale conservation agreement in history. Androcles emailed the president:
"Killing the whales in ocean waters is like deliberately killing the inhabitants of another country. Nothing can justify it. Most enlightened humans have evolved in their consciousness and subsequently in their thinking about humanity's relationship to other species with whom we share the earth.
With every day we see that wholesale killing is not the solution or the way for the web of life to continue on this planet.
The same developments that created civilizations and enabled the ascent of humans as the apex predators on the planet gave us two conflicting opportunities. One was the technology to eliminate entire species for food, clothing, industry and ornament or because we wanted exclusive use of the land they occupied. At the same time came the other opportunity: through thinking and observation we began to see the precious and essential web of all life. There is no defensible reason to continue the method of earlier and more primitive mankind by killing species without regard for global consequences.
We humans pride ourselves on being the most successful predators in the history of the planet. Also we pride ourselves on the gift of consciousness. When will our consciousness see the impractical, immoral and perilous consequences of rampant killing? No killing is simply a killing.
The wholesale elimination of other species by murder and destruction of territory is not consistent with our survival.
"Killing the whales in ocean waters is like deliberately killing the inhabitants of another country. Nothing can justify it. Most enlightened humans have evolved in their consciousness and subsequently in their thinking about humanity's relationship to other species with whom we share the earth.
With every day we see that wholesale killing is not the solution or the way for the web of life to continue on this planet.
The same developments that created civilizations and enabled the ascent of humans as the apex predators on the planet gave us two conflicting opportunities. One was the technology to eliminate entire species for food, clothing, industry and ornament or because we wanted exclusive use of the land they occupied. At the same time came the other opportunity: through thinking and observation we began to see the precious and essential web of all life. There is no defensible reason to continue the method of earlier and more primitive mankind by killing species without regard for global consequences.
We humans pride ourselves on being the most successful predators in the history of the planet. Also we pride ourselves on the gift of consciousness. When will our consciousness see the impractical, immoral and perilous consequences of rampant killing? No killing is simply a killing.
The wholesale elimination of other species by murder and destruction of territory is not consistent with our survival.
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