Cold hands, Warm hearts

Announcement #1

ONCE AGAIN – A big thank you to everyone who has supported us by chipping in however you can. So far, we have received quite a handful of signed petitions sent to us via post which is absolutely fantastic. One anonymous individual has even photocopied the flyer and collected signatures on our behalf. Thank you very much! A total of 2000 leaflets have been distributed in various parts of Brisbane so far and about 800 leaflets distributed in Sydney last week. We will continue to distribute the flyers till the end of the month in parts of Brisbane and Gold Coast. Please continue to support us by sending this link to all your friends and family.

A personal note

I have just returned from a 5-day trip to Sydney. It’s, as predicted, much colder than Brisbane. There were many fur hoodies on sale and many consumers buying them. The sight of so many consumers (still in the dark) wearing fur-trimmed hoodies had really motivated me to step up and do more.

Big thank you to Rhiannon and Sarena for posting the link on their facebook accounts and for telling friends and family about this. In particular, I am extremely grateful to Rhiannon, Jun, Justina and Andrew for helping me pass on the leaflets. Thanks guys!

Announcement #2

Grants & Prizes –

The Voiceless Grants Program offers financial support to non-profit organisations, councils and universities for the design and implementation of projects which improve the lives of animals in Australia. The 2009 Grants Program will run from 1st – 31st July during which time an online application form will be available for submission.  This year, grants will be awarded in varying amounts of up to $15,000 per project. To find out more, click here.

Reflection #1

Mom’s here to visit and has been roped in to help out with flyer distribution. She is currently spending the week in Melbourne but will return to Brisbane shortly. So far, family has been extremely supportive and patient; I am very thankful and blessed and will channel all this positive energy to furthering this cause so that one day, we can eventually live in a fur-free society. Although Mom’s been supportive, she had found it very difficult to comprehend that the fluffy furry trims lining the edge of hooded jackets could actually belong to a pooch. We have examined the jackets (and it’s not hard because they are everywhere!) and it is without a doubt that most of the trims are too real to be ‘fake’. In fact, as we were peering into the cages inside a pet shop a week ago, we couldn’t help but notice that the soft brown and white fur ball (some Maltese Cross Poodle of some sort) looked SO familiar – we’ve seen them on the jackets. There is no doubt at all. I say, that’s evidence right there.

Rain or Shine

Action #1

The leaflets I ordered have arrived! All 10,000 of them. It was freezing on Thursday at UQ. Possibly one of the coldest days in Brisbane ever. I was trembling and my fingers were completely numbed; yet I felt really fired up when I saw everyone reading the leaflet I was giving out. Not a single person I gave to threw the leaflet away (a good friend warned me that it might happen and I shouldn’t feel too upset if it did). I saw people wearing fur hoodies everywhere and it has really created this sense of urgency for me to really try to get the message across. Every one person I talk to will be one less person buying fur products – I tell myself.

– Thursday – UQ St Lucia Campus: 250 flyers
– Saturday – Indooroopilly and Milton residential (mail box distribution): 800 flyers
–  Monday – City: 500 flyers

Big thank you to the following people for helping me pass some on to friends, colleagues and schools: Jill, Russell, May, Robyn, Sarah, Julie, you guys are gems!

Please email stopliveskinning@gmail.com if you wish to help.

Action #2

Peter Steele’s Asian Campaign. Peter (Animal Saviors) will be backbacking (with anyone who wants to accompany him for the whole or any part of the campaign) through India, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and through the centre of China ending at Tienanmen Square in Beijing to raise awareness, enlist support from politicians and religious leaders and to present the petitions to the Chinese Minister of Commerce. Peter, a retired lawyer from the Gold Coast, has spent not just time, effort and money to try his best to save the animals, he has shown passion and conviction with his actions. I was very honoured to be able to meet up with him two weeks ago. In the upcoming weeks, we will have more information on this campaign, so stay tune.

Announcement #3

Our online petition has a total of 551 signatures – thank you for making a stand everyone! Please continue to spread the news to your friends and family. More people needs to know the real cost behind the fur jacket (fake or otherwise) that they are buying. Due to unpredictable weather conditions, our Brisbane campaign – collection of signatures around Brisbane – will now be collected from (1) the petition site, and from (2) leaflets. A total of 10,000 leaflets will be distributed between now and mid-July in Brisbane, parts of Gold Coast and Sydney (city). Readers have the option of sending in the signed leaflet to PO Box 895, Indooroopilly QLD 4068. Signature collections will continue after August but only via Internet. The next phase of the campaign involves writing letters of appeal to Chinese authorities and embassies (in both English and Chinese) to ban the skinning of cats and dogs on grounds of inhumanity.

Announcement #4

Good news. I’ve compiled a pdf report, Global Alert, documenting reports, evidence and campaign on this issue. There is irrefutable evidence that cats and dogs are skinned in inhumane ways for their fur because of the fur and fur-trim industries. The chapters covered are listed below:

Chapter 1: Fur Industry – From Real (then) to ‘Fake’ (now)
1.1 Exposing Real fur
1.2 Exposing ‘Fake’ fur
Chapter 2: The truth about cats and dogs
2.1 Cat and dog fur IS faux fur
2.2 Legislation to protect domestic cats and dogs
Chapter 3: The farming/skinning process (if you don’t already know)
3.1 It is cruel, inhumane and unnecessary
Chapter 4: The value of fur – WHO decides?
4.1 Market-driven industry
Chapter 5: Solutions, an assessment of what has been done and what more can be done
5.1 Campaigns and successes

If you would like a copy of the pdf report (free), please email stopliveskinning@gmail.com. If you only have enough time to read one article, then read this: Dying for fur, A report on the fur industry in China, update 25 Jan 2007 , Copyright East International/Swiss Animal Protection SAP

Big Thank You

Announcement #1

Our online petition is up and so far we have 50 over signatures in just over two days. That is fantastic. We’ve got people from all over the world coming to our site and writing in to give their support. For those who have yet to sign it – please take a minute to do so. We need as many voices as possible. Our objective for the online petition is to get at least 1000 signatures from each country so please forward the link to all your friends and family.

Announcement #2

Thank you Simone for posting our website link on your page and for urging fellow members to sign the petition. Care2.com, like gopetition.com, is an extremely useful platform for passionate individuals to come together. To help spread greater awareness on our campaign, please feel free to add our e-flyer on your personal website or email us (stopliveskinning@gmail.com) for a pdf flyer that you could distribute in your neighbourhood.

Announcement #3

Brisbane says ‘No’ to Live Skinning Campaign – We are in the midst of setting up a PO BOX address. Once that is up, you can now have the option of mailing us the signatures you’ve collected in your area. We also need as many volunteers as possible who could spare an hour or so a week distributing door-to-door petitions. These petitions can also be mailed to our PO BOX address. To help, please email stopliveskinning@gmail.com.

Announcement #4

Animal Saviors is organising a few events aimed to raise awareness on this issue.To sign their petition, click here. In the upcoming months, I hope to follow their developments as it is taking place. There are many ways to show support toward a campaign and blogging is an effective way. By setting up a Cause Blog, you are committed to your cause and you are empowering yourself in the process.

Brisbane says ‘No!’

Announcement #1

I am organising a state-wide campaign to petition against the live skinning of cats and dogs for fur trading and meat consumption on the grounds of inhumanity. The objective of the campaign is to approach as many people as possible at selected suburbs and to collect at least 100 signatures from each suburb for the upcoming three months, beginning 1 May 2009. All signatures collected will be filed, documented and forwarded on to all Chinese Embassies in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom as a means to have the Chinese authorities take this matter seriously and formally acknowledge it as an inhumane practice, and on such grounds, be banned in China. To find out how you can help, see Current Campaigns. To sign our online petition now, click here.

Announcement #2

Thank you TampinesZone.Com for adding our e-flyer to your front page. If you would like to help as well and would like a customised e-flyer to add to your website, please email stopliveskinning@gmail.com.

Announcement #3

A group of Brisbane lawyers who called themselves “BLEATS (Brisbane Lawyers Educating and Advocating for Tougher Sentences)”  have formed an organisation to campaign for animal justice. Their major aim is to focus attention on the apparent unwillingness or seeming inability of Magistrates to wield their powers under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001. Sign the petition to Support Tougher Sentences for Animal Cruelty today.

Dog eating – A generation GAP

How far would you go to save Man’s best friend? Dog eating (and cat eating) is increasingly being viewed as a cultural affair to some Koreans and Chinese. I have intentionally avoided entering a moralistic debate on what should or should not be eaten. However, I condemn all who resort to unnecessary cruelty for personal gain and consumption. Similarly, any one who is aware of the cruel acts inflicted to living things and still turn a blind eye to it, is equally guilty.

I have recently received an email from a friend, forwarded on in a chain-mail, titled very simply: “Pls stop this by forwarding to everyone”. In disbelief, I saw pictures of dogs cramped into dirty cages, some reared since young in them, awaiting for their execution and sold in markets as food. The execution manner was obscenely cruel and I felt sick in my stomach immediately. You can view the images here (viewer discretion advised).

This is not a new topic to animal activists and very often, innocent people from the cultures perpetrating such cruel acts are implicated in the process. It is very easy to ‘hate’. How many times have we heard this remark – Why are Japanese so cruel? I hate Japanese. Chinese are such cruel people! I hate Chinese. Very often the speaker expresses his/her anger in this manner as a means to cope with the overwhelming pain; cats and dogs to some are like their children. There are Chinese and Korean residents campaigning against such acts as well. 

 source

Animals Asia Foundation has also reported changing attitudes in China. I believe that the culture of dog eating (and whale eating for that matter) will eventually stop along with education and increased awareness. With advancement of technology, more and more people are becoming aware that they are being cruel just by being consumers. Please do not scorn the effectiveness of public education on this matter and spread the news to all your friends and family. Our young generation – and I mean the Koreans and the Chinese – can and will end such acts of cruelty because they have been made aware of it. 

Here are more articles and information (and pictures):

• International aid for Korean Animals
• Animals Asia Foundation
• Wok the Dog by William Saleton
• Comments on “stop the dog-meat trade in Korea”
• Cats on the menu
• Outrageous cruelty to dogs and cats

I have created a new page, Writing Letters, and it is a work-in-progress. I will be adding addresses of embassies as well as sample letters to the page.

“Meat’s Not Green” Week – Join Me

The week of Earth Day – April 20-26 – is possibly the best time to take the Go Veg pledge! It would be hard – especially if you’ve been conditioned since young to love your meat – but it’s also definitely worth the effort; think about all the animals you are saving and could be saving, and imagine staying healthier and fitter at the same time. During my many campaigns to save Australia’s forests, I have met many people who are passionate about the environment and concerned enough to pledge time and money to do their part to save Mother Earth; here’s a shout-out to you all then – going Veg is also a very good way to do our part to battle climate change so…take up the PETA Challenge today! 

Quick re-cap:

• raising animals for food contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions
• farming of animals produces 13 billion metric tons of excrement annually (which in turn contributes to water pollution/land contamination)
• meat processing and distribution accounts for high fuel usage

Need I remind all the benefits of going vegan (or vegetarian for those just starting out)?

• lower incidences of obesity
• lower rates of chronic diseases (which include some cancers)
• good karma! (you are saving up to 100 animals a year from the cruel meat-generating industry)

I’ve planned out this week’s “Green Menu” for my housemates and myself and it looks absolutely delicious; we are going to have “Thai Rice with Mushroom” on Monday and “Spinach with Rice and Herbs” on Thursday. I got the recipes off this site. Let’s spread the Green vibes this week!

Spread the Word: Street Campaigns

Distractions aside, I have been able to secure some time for the upcoming weeks for street campaigning. I’m a little apprehensive about the kind of responses I may get but I’m sure I would be able to overcome these obstacles. Hopefully I could squeeze in a blog or two about my street campaigns – around and about the city of Brisbane. Happy to say that my flyers are ready (finally!). If you need a copy, email stopliveskinning@gmail.com and I will send you a high-res pdf copy with your own blogsite/address (optional).

 

Size: A4 (makes 6 flyers) ; Black and White
To print on recycled paper or unwanted paper

  

Print-making can be another quick and easy way to print flyers. The foam letters are purchased from K-Mart and mounted onto a board (A5) laterally inverted. Slather on the poster paint of your choice and print the letters onto coloured or recycled paper; it’s absolutely up to you how you want to represent your message. Remember to remind everyone to “pass it on”. Good luck!

Spreading the Message

A friend of mine played around with glass tiles and created very beautiful pendants and accessories with them. I ordered some online. They were not expensive if you purchase them in bulk. The shipping was quite costly though. I experimented with them and realised I was able to make fairly professional looking badges and chest pins with them. The bigger heavier ones could double up as paper weight or fridge magnets. I will be pinning them on my bag, and distributing them to friends. 

 

In the months to come, I will be experimenting with more creative ways to spread the message – hopefully, more people would come to realise the seriousness of this issue. If you would like to help, please let me know how many tiles you would like (max 8 per person). You only need to pay for the postage and the materials. All tiles will come with the print mounted. You can decide if you want to use it as a chest pin, fridge magnet or paper-weight (magnets and pins may be purchased from craft shops cheaply).  Email: stopliveskinning@gmail.com

A Pledge

Today, I pledge that I would do everything within my capacity to campaign against the live skinning of cats and dogs, and all other animals. By taking this step, I hope to inspire and empower like-minded individuals to join me in this fight for a more humane society. We do not need to wear fur and it is wrong to skin animals while they are still alive. It is wrong to rear cats and dogs for their fur in inhumane conditions. 

Action taken:

Building my own Cause Blog.