My month of Animal Rights protest is over. What have I managed? I read about the use of animals in our culture and watched what animal cruelty looked like. I learned something that will carry me through the rest of the year: nothing is black or white.
We all believe in something and most of the time we have a strong opinion about it. When I first started out, I knew I didn't like how animals were treated in our country and I was gung-ho about doing something about it. Along the way, however, I found out there wasn't a PETA persona hidden within me.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Revolt Gone Terribly Wrong
I love animals and I will protest for them, but I'll never do something so psychotic as kill someone. Today, I saw the news report about a woman named Meredith Lowell from Cleveland, Ohio hiring a hit man (FBI agent) to kill anyone randomly wearing fur. It's so bizarre how she laid out the plan for the would be hit man who, I'm sure, was recording her in disbelief.
Lowell identified with the animal rights group Animal Liberation Front, ALF, which is widely known for using violence to prove their point. These are people that can ratchet the protest to a dangerous point. They are considered a domestic terrorist group. The young woman also compared her liberation of animals to the WWII troops "liberating people from Nazi camps."
The whole story is just plain disturbing. Her reasoning is disturbing as well. Although not uncommon. Animals have been compared to a lot of oppressed people in history. It's an interesting tactic that's very exploitative and jarring. Lately, PETA has made a point to compare whales in captivity to America's history of slavery. It's a very irresponsible claim to make. Although I don't like the oppression of any living thing, the timing of their statement is disrespectful. It's Black History Month! As a black woman I sometimes feel like: "Damn, can't I just have small amount of time for recognition?" No, cause PETA's taking that away from me.
The gimmicks, the shock and the disturbing are taking away from all of these people's message. What starts out as well meaning work and protest gets out of control. At the end of the day, these people look like fools and make the rest of look like dangerous quacks. Here's that clip about PETA:
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The whole story is just plain disturbing. Her reasoning is disturbing as well. Although not uncommon. Animals have been compared to a lot of oppressed people in history. It's an interesting tactic that's very exploitative and jarring. Lately, PETA has made a point to compare whales in captivity to America's history of slavery. It's a very irresponsible claim to make. Although I don't like the oppression of any living thing, the timing of their statement is disrespectful. It's Black History Month! As a black woman I sometimes feel like: "Damn, can't I just have small amount of time for recognition?" No, cause PETA's taking that away from me.
The gimmicks, the shock and the disturbing are taking away from all of these people's message. What starts out as well meaning work and protest gets out of control. At the end of the day, these people look like fools and make the rest of look like dangerous quacks. Here's that clip about PETA:
Monday, February 20, 2012
Petland: Stop Selling Rabbits
I'm still reading and signing petitions but I thought I would try my hand at creating a petition for change.org.
My love for rabbits was the catalyst for this:
Greetings,
I just signed the following petition addressed to:
Petland USA
Ed Kunzelman, Founder and CEO
Frank Difatta, President
250 Riverside St.; Chillicothe, OH 45601
ph: 740-775-2464 or 800-221-5935
----------------
Dear Ed Kunzelman:
As the founder and CEO of Petland Inc., I know you must care a great deal for animals big and small, because you bring joy to plenty of customers each year by offering a new addition to their family.
However, I am not satisfied with the manner in which you sell animals, especially rabbits. Easter is right around the corner and I'm concerned by the means with which you procure your rabbits and the treatment of the rabbits once they are in your stores.
The drowned rabbits incident in Akron, OH is still fresh in our memories and can be called a symptom of a much greater problem:
--Your baby bunnies, from rabbit mills, are collected and sold at too young of an age.
--Your baby bunnies are kept in living areas too small.
--Your baby bunnies don't go to the vet upon getting sick. Instead, your employees dispose of them at your stores.
--Your employees are not knowledgeable enough to give advice to potential bunny owners. They don't prepare owners with the necessary information to maintain and care for rabbits.
After this Easter, your Petland locations will be responsible for the deaths and the abandonment of hundreds of rabbits.
If you stop selling them at your stores, you will save lives. I know you are in the business of saving lives, not killing them. Please to an end to this.
----------------
Sincerely,
[Your name]
My love for rabbits was the catalyst for this:
I have petitioned the pet shop chain Petland to stop selling rabbits in all of their locations in America. Honestly, Petland is also known for getting dogs from puppymills and I would like to put a stop to that too. But I have to start small and make a precedent with the corporation. It's my hope that Petland will eventually stop selling animals in general and just stick to pet supplies.
Here's what my letter looks like and you can visit my petition page to read more and sign up!
I just signed the following petition addressed to:
Petland USA
Ed Kunzelman, Founder and CEO
Frank Difatta, President
250 Riverside St.; Chillicothe, OH 45601
ph: 740-775-2464 or 800-221-5935
----------------
Dear Ed Kunzelman:
As the founder and CEO of Petland Inc., I know you must care a great deal for animals big and small, because you bring joy to plenty of customers each year by offering a new addition to their family.
However, I am not satisfied with the manner in which you sell animals, especially rabbits. Easter is right around the corner and I'm concerned by the means with which you procure your rabbits and the treatment of the rabbits once they are in your stores.
The drowned rabbits incident in Akron, OH is still fresh in our memories and can be called a symptom of a much greater problem:
--Your baby bunnies, from rabbit mills, are collected and sold at too young of an age.
--Your baby bunnies are kept in living areas too small.
--Your baby bunnies don't go to the vet upon getting sick. Instead, your employees dispose of them at your stores.
--Your employees are not knowledgeable enough to give advice to potential bunny owners. They don't prepare owners with the necessary information to maintain and care for rabbits.
After this Easter, your Petland locations will be responsible for the deaths and the abandonment of hundreds of rabbits.
If you stop selling them at your stores, you will save lives. I know you are in the business of saving lives, not killing them. Please to an end to this.
----------------
Sincerely,
[Your name]
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