VVOC.org

We have all I am sure been saddened to hear of the tragedies which have occured to people and animals alike in the recent Haiti disaster.  It is heart warming to me to see that the government of Haiti actually requested the assistance of WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) – that in the horror of all that has happened to the people of Haiti, and the immense amount of assistance that is required to aid the population, that the welfare of animals has not been forgotten.  The Animal Relief Coaliton for Haiti (ARCH) has been formed to deal with the Haiti crisis and is led by WSPA and iFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare).  More information can be found at the WSPA website – www.wspa.org.au

Coming up to Christmas, it seems the perfect opportunity to remind our meat eating friends of the cruelties of factory pig farming and encourage them to either go without or to buy free range. Especially since some of them will have seen the expose recently shown on 60 Minutes about the topic.

Have a look at:
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/60-minutes-the-hidden-truth.php#article for more information about the work Animals Australia has been doing in conjunction with 60 Minutes to show the truth to the Australian public.

Kangaroo Campaign

Animal Liberation is running a campaign to try and protect the devestation caused to kangaroo populations by the gourmet dining industry.  Please read the information found at the following site: 
http://animal-lib.org.au/campaigns/120-kangaroo-campaign.html
It is really worthwhile to read the information they have compiled which outlines exactly how devestating it is to the kangaroo population in ways that would not necessarily be obvious.

Please, if you have time, write some letters to the lists of restaurants they have compiled, and ask them to stop contributing to the suffering of these beautiful animals which are a symbol of our country and deserve to be better protected by our government.

The Guardian Campaign
Here is an interesting campaign, found on a website with many interesting topics, called All-Creatures.org

Information on the Guardian Campaign can be found at:
www.all-creatures.org/articles/cac-guardian.html

The campaign asks us to consider ourselves guardians of our companion animals (and other animals in the community) rather than owners (or bystanders).  It urges us to make a committment towards ethical treatment of all animals in a way that hopefully stimulates thought.

Also worth looking at whilst at their website, is “Ten Commandments for a Responsible Pet Parent”
www.all-creatures.org/articles/cac-ten.html

As a followup to last month’s highlighted campaign, I am asking you to please join the following call for action:

Perhaps less well known than Canada’s seal slaughter (at least to me) and even more distressing if you read the details about it’s support by an Australian company, is the slaughter of seals in Namibia.

Please go to Animals Australia at:
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/namibian-seal-slaughter/ and join the petition to encourage the company Hatem Yavuz to stop financing this atrocious event by their purchase of the pelts, of which they are the only company still doing so, in what has been named the “largest and cruellest seal slaughter”.

Olympic Shame 2010 – PETA’s Campaign to End the Canadian Seal Slaughter

As the world turns its attention to the Vancouver Olympic Games, millions will also focus on Canada’s shame, so PETA is calling on the Vancouver Organizing Committee to use its clout to help stop the Canadian seal slaughter.

www.olympicshame2010.com is a newly launched interactive Web site, which is a spoof of the Vancouver Olympic mascot’s site.  The aim is to intensify global pressure on the Canadian government to end the bloody seal slaughter once and for all.  Take a look and join the campaign…

Not so much a campaign as a worthwhile cause…

Serendipity Farm is run by the Veivers family near Gatton, and is a “rescue farm”.  The family take in farm animals who are no longer “useful” or “required” by commercial farming and who otherwise would be put down or (or like calves no longer required in the dairy industry) sold to the abattoirs.  They love and take care of numerous animals, including a blind cow, a 3 legged goat, and an injured stock horse.  Being a huge job to care for all the animals, the Veivers are always grateful for support or volunteers.

Take a look at the story that was run by Brisbane Extra last week:
http://extraonline.com.au/stories/story/14317.html

Help Stop the Misery of the Dancing Bears:  “Li-bear-ate the Dancing Bear”

The life of a dancing bear is one of unbelievable misery and it gives me great heartache to even read about it.  But there are organisations out there trying to help where they can.  One such organisation is Wildlife SOS who are working in India to not only rescue and rehabilitate bears, but also to try and solve the problem.  They recognise that bear dancers (Qalandars) are very poor and many feel that if they had another way to survive they would.  So Wildlife SOS is assisting them with start up costs and training to enable them to earn a livelihood in another way.

Also they are  subsidising costs so their children can go to school, and providing vocational training to their wives so they can contribute to the family income too.  This all helps to make the bear rescue efforts sustaninable, with the hope of breaking the cycle of dancing bears permanently.  For more information on this worthwhile cause, go to:
http://www.wildlifesos.com/ibr/Dbears/bdancebody.htm or
http://www.hsi.org.au/index.php?catID=164

Wildlife Victoria – Bushfire Appeal

As we all have no doubt heard, the Victorian bushfires have devestated communities with sadly many people losing their lives and whole towns destroyed.  Most people are starting to realise too that millions of animals have died, both native and pets/stock.   Thousands of animals have been left injured, many being needed to be euthanased and many more requiring treatment and care.

Take a look at www.wildlifevictoria.org.au to see the wonderful work they are doing.

Soi Dog Foundation, Phuket

Although the majority of people in developed nations are horrified at animal abuse and neglect, and the perpetrators of it are in the minority, it remains a huge problem in other areas of the world.  In so many countries there is a dire need for education of the population about better treatment of animals, and the ongoing enormous need for organisations who care for abused and neglected animals.  Take a look at www.soidog.org.  I’m sure you’ll agree with me that the Soi Dog Foundation in Phuket is making a huge contribution to reducing the suffering of many animals (not only dogs).  I truly believe that each one of them is precious in the sight of God, who created them.  Can you help just one of these precious creatures today?