Animal Welfare

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When in Beijing…

11 July 2008 in Animal Welfare, China, Food, Olympics, Politics, UK | No comments

We are going into their culture… why should they adapt to appease us? When in Rome, do as the Romans do… I guess “When in Beijing” doesn’t apply?

“Concerned that canine dishes might offend animal rights groups and Western visitors, Beijing said restaurants expected to be popular among foreign visitors must stop serving dog meat ‘to respect the dining customs of different countries.’ ” Yahoo Article Link

It would suck to live in a society where a government can dictate your restaurant’s menu. Personally, I am a vegetarian… so to me a dead animal is a dead animal. No difference between eating a dog, cow, donkey, horse, pig, cat or chicken - it’s all dead animal. So what’s the difference? Even though I don’t eat meat, I would not change my menu to appease some people in another culture.

Dog Art 1

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In other world news…
Looks like Englanders are upset over google mapping their streets over “privacy” concerns. Seems to me, from a country that is always busy taking away more rights from it’s citizens… that everyone would be up-in-arms over more important matters. So someone mapped your street… big deal!

Privacy? What privacy do you have now? Your government does more spying on it’s own people through wire tapping, internet spying and CCTV; a google map of your street is the least of your concerns.

Stick to it Google!

Google Mapping Car spotted in London

Olympic Boycotts

7 April 2008 in Animal Welfare, Boycott, China, Clinton, Olympics, Politics | No comments

The Olympic Boycotts (or those ideas of such)

When I heard about the Olympic protesters in England over the weekend I was a little shocked, but not surprised. Then I heard the latest from Hillary today - which as it usually does, just prove to me why she’ll never get my vote.
So lets face the facts. Yes, the Chinese are not the nicest people in the world. Yes, they do very unpopular and inhumane things. Yes, they hate the idea human rights. Yes they are controlling communists. We have known all this for years.
So what is the big deal now?
We decided that the Chinese would host the Olympics… Now maybe it wasn’t thought all through what that would entail. The first thing I think of is that: it’s their country, their rules. Whether we agree with their rules or not, it is their country and we have to respect that. Just as we expect them to follow our rules when they come here. Second, there are some hot-button issues over that way now, would that cause implications? (yes)
So I can understand why people are protesting, but at the same time, I am also don’t understand why people are protesting now - especially when there are other more powerful ways to protest. 
When I join a protest I ask:
1) What will be gained? - In this case, publicity.
2) What will be lost? - The spirit of the games, especially for young & first time viewers.
3) What will happen (or not happen)? - The Chinese will most likely not change. People will just get angry and there will be silent and violent protests.
4) Who will be hurt? - The athletes will be effected, Vendors that support or provide products and services.
5) Is there a more effective solution? - Yes.
Perhaps a more effective solution would require a temporary lifestyle change (just imagine how well that would go over.) 
I am thinking that the most effective solution would be a straight boycott of Chinese production. That would get some attention much more than a boycott of the Olympics. The boycotting the Olympics would effect the whole world and athletic community, a boycott of Chinese production hurts the Chinese directly. But who wants to give up cheap inhumane products from China? Who wants to give up their new laptops and technology till plants could be moved elsewhere? 
It is much more convenient to show your point of view by a protest to sooth your conscious and then return to the chinese-product-laden world.
Really though, The Olympics are a time for the world to come together in sport with the best athletes. I’d really hate to see the spirit of the Olympics or the best talent not perform because the Chinese are being Chinese. What did you expect by having the Olympics over there? So just let the games be games and voice your opinion with your purchasing power.
As for Hillary, well… I agree that I’d like to see the situation improve in Tibet. Who wouldn’t? But is boycotting the Olympics opening ceremony the best way? Perhaps I am wrong, and this will open lots of eyes and cause the chinese to concede to some change. Anything is possible… but if you are going to boycott one thing, why not boycott some cheap Chinese products now (like toys and dog food?)

Oh cry me a river!

9 March 2008 in Animal Welfare, China, Politics | No comments

On the news this weekend there has been much talk of what China has been doing… and I agree that I do not care for most of what China does. Well it looks like the Chinese are now rounding up thousands of cats to clean up the city before the Olympics - fair enough.

BUT wait… here comes the main stream media… “oh you can’t treat cats like that. Those are Death Camps for cats.” Pet keepers, “oh those poor kitty cats.” Animal welfare people, “its inhumane.”
Well you know what I have to say to all those people… “SHUT UP!”
We treat chickens a thousand times worse in this country than what the Chinese are doing to some poor cats (and dogs last year). So unless you are going to be complaining against all factory farming as well, I don’t want to hear a damn peep from you about some poor kitty cats ending up in a meat grinder. Let’s not even think about how the Chinese are getting the cheap leather for this country.
If there is one thing that rattles my cage, it is hypocrisy. Hell, I am even an animal loving vegetarian and you don’t see me flaming and crying a red river at the Chinese. Yes I agree it is bad, but it is the Chinese and their moral system is completely different than the worlds.
Enuff said.