With Compassion & Soul

PREFACE

The opinions to follow are my personal opinions....Not everyone will agree with them. ....It is an individuals' right to live their life how they wish and I do not make judgement on how you choose to lead your life.... I just hope that you will think about some of the things I write below and if you agree with some of them and you are not already doing something about it then maybe you could try some of the Actions I suggest.

In my opinion......

Statement : It is no longer necessary to test on animals and cause pain & suffering to animals as there are 1000's of cruelty free products to choose from. Every product you would use in your home or for personal use is available cruelty free from toothpaste to floor cleaner to shampoo to lipstick to air freshener and 1000's more. I myself use Neways products as they are also chemical free as well.

Action 1 : If you wish to see some of the cruelty free products available please click here http://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/list.html   from this Choose Cruelty Free site you can order a copy of the Preferred Product List. There are many companies which produce compassionate products, One in particular is called Paul Penders and they produce both organic and not tested on animals products and have been doing so for 40 years. (read the interesting section on testing the products on NUNsS) http://www.paulpenders.com/

Action 2 : Have a look at the products in your house and see if either the Choose Cruelty Free bunny symbol is on the product or if it has 'Not Tested On Animals' written on the product.

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Statement : It has never been necessary to humiliate and cause behavioural deprivation of animals like those living the circus life. Wild animals used in circuses are routinely subjected to months on the road confined in small, barren cages. These animals often live in filthy and dilapidated enclosures or are chained in one position for the majority of the day with no chance to move, let alone express their full range of natural behaviours or to socialize with other members of their species.Eliminating animal exploitation in circuses simply means the increased use of human performers, not an end to the tradition of circuses

Action 1 : Refrain from going to animal based circus (unless you are protesting at them). Instead go to one of the many human based circus's like Cirque du Soleil or Circus Oz

Action 2 : Contact your local council to find out if it allows animal circuses on its land. If it does, write a letter asking them to ban animal circuses in your area.

Action 3 : Write a letter to the editor of your local paper, or speak on talk-back radio about the cruelties involved in animal circuses and why they should be banned.

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Statement : It has never been necessary to imprison wild animals in cages at zoos depriving them of their nomadic lifestyle and their natural behviours. Zoos in Australian capital cities have made big improvements over the last few years and it is great that there are more open-range zoos. However, in my opinion I think there should ONLY be open range zoos. The monkey enclosure at The Adelaide Zoo is far better than what the monkeys live in but I strongly believe that they would be better off back in the jungle they came from! Caged animals may be deprived of their normal society, their families and mates. They have little opportunity to run, soar in the sky, swing through the trees, or roam over large distances. Most importantly, they usually have nothing to do, and don't need to use their intelligence and skills to solve daily problems of survival. They don't have to look for food, shelter or a mate, and they don't have to be on alert to avoid predators. Nothing much changes in a zoo enclosure. Deep instincts that have evolved over thousands of years can't find any outlet. The result is boredom and stress. Animals may become apathetic and just sit in one place. They may show signs of mental disturbance through abnormal behaviours.

Action 1 : Only visit Open Range Zoos, or if you want to see monkeys/apes take a trip to Sepilok, Borneo and see the beautiful Orangutans in their natural habitat or if you want to see Lions then go on an eco safari in Africa.

Action 2 : If you see an animal in a zoo which you think should not be there then right a letter to that Zoo and the media and say why you think it doesn't belong there.

Action 3 : If you would like a more detailed analysis of why we should not have zoos then please click here http://www.animalliberation.org.au/zoos.php and you will see some good arguments for the phasing out of zoos.

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Statement : Rodeos should be banned, they are inhumane and inflict unecessary pain, fear & suffering causing injury and sometimes death to horses and cattle. Rodeos are violent events.To make bulls and horses buck, a strap is pulled tightly around their groin. Bulls are shocked with an electric prod as they leave the chute. Riders wear spurs to further irritate the animals. Calf roping can bruise the neck and even damage the windpipe.

Action 1 : Do not attend Rodeos (unless protesting and then be careful as you too could be physically assaulted)

Action 2 : Write to sponsors of Rodeos you see advertised and alert them to the cruelty inflicted at these events. Animal Liberation had much success with this avenue resulting in sponsors declining from sponsoring future events once they understood the cruelty involved.

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Statement : It has never been necessary to kill & maim animals for blood sport or use animals for sport. This is just an egotistical, sadistic and violent pastime which should be banned immediately. All blood sports including bull fighting, cock fighting, dog fighting, fox hunting, horse racing, jump racing, duck shooting, trophy hunting, game hunting and the poaching of exotic animals for chinese medicine, trinkets & aphrodisiac potions should be illegal and policed.

Action : Object to these disgusting activities anywhere and anyhow you can. Send letters to foreign  embassies and politicians, make your voice heard and your vote count. If you are travelling and come across any of these things be sure to tell the management, owners or whoever is running these activities that you strongly dissapprove and you think it is cruel.

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Statement : It is no longer necessary to kill animals for food and products in the developed world. There are so many food and product choices these days which do not involve the torture and suffering of animals. If we choose it is possible to live & eat compassionately and healthily. If you love animals why eat them? A dog is the same as a cat or a cow or a pig or any other species of animal, they all feel pain, suffer, experience fear and depression just the same as we so. I hear people condeming the Koreans or Balinese for eating dog but the person doing the condeming eats cow, chicken, pig and fish, what is the difference whether it is a dog or a cow? This is a form of Speciesism. Despite having laws (codes of practice) that supposedly protect animals that we kill for food production, we still treat animals in ways that would be regarded as torture if humans were involved. We are all sentient beings.

Action : Think about becoming vegetarian for a trial period or at the very least start by purchasing only freerange eggs , chickens, lamb, beef, pork, bacon and ham. If this all seems to difficult how about being vegetarian 2 days each week instead.

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Statement : Live Anmal Export should be banned. Australia is the largest exporter of live animals in the world. Millions of animals, mostly cattle and sheep, are exported by sea each year. Many die on the way: all suffer. They are sent around the globe to be slaughtered, most whilst fully conscious.

Action : Click here to go to The Animals Australia website to find out what you can do about this horrific export of animals. http://www.liveexport-indefensible.com/help.php 

                                      SUFFERING & DEAD SHEEP                                                                         HAPPY SHEEP

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STATEMENT : In my perfect world ALL Companion Animals (apart from excellent quality breeders of specific breeds of animals who have been approved and are audited without warning on a regular basis) should be desexed before a family/person receives them. The family/person should also have to attend a animal training and welfare course within the first 6 months of welcoming an animal into their home. I think a separate department within our local councils should be responsible for initiating, implementing & monitoring this programme. Animal Welfare Organisations spend a HUGE amount of money on an annual basis housing & trying to rehome stray animals before euthanising over 1/4 of a million annually. Animals have become disposable. Much of these funds come from the 'responsible, animal loving public. These organisations do a fabulous job but I feel that the government should fund a prevention programme like mentioned above which would reduce the need to euthanise most of the animals that get euthanised annually. If most animals were desexed there would only be a small amount of animals going to these shelters and it would be far more manageable. If we had compulsory animal welfare and training courses we would have far less neglet, cruelty and relinquishing of animals to shelters and both animals & people, would come out the winners. I think the above applies to other types of Companion Animals also like rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, fish & birds maybe to a lesser degree. On the topic of birds and fish I believe that birds should not be kept in cages except when a bird is being rehabilitated or will never fly again and that fish should only be in large ponds swimmimg freely in a semi natural or natural environment.

Action : Neuter all of your animals, cats & dogs, keep your male and female rabbbits , rats, mice and guinea pigs separate if not desexed.

THERE ARE MANY MORE ANIMAL ISSUES THAT I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT BUT I THINK THE ABOVE WILL HAVE YOUR BRAIN ACHING FOR QUITE AWHILE. MAYBE LATER I WILL ADD A 2ND CHAPTER TO 'IN MY OPINION' AND SAY HOW I FEEL ABOUT MULESING, JUMP RACING, DAIRY COWS, KANGAROO SHOOTING, HORSE RACING, FISHING, ULTRA FINE WOOL, FACTORY FARMING - BATTERY HENS & PIGS,