"The Starfish Story."
Current mood: determined
Category: satisfied Life
The Starfish Story
There once was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore, as he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.
He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man, and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something, and very gently throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out, "Good morning, what are you doing?"
The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"I guess I should have asked; why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them then they'll die."
"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely, then bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference to that one."
Liberate your language:"Correct animal terms to use while being active!"
Current mood: productive
Category: Thankful for these words. Pets and Animals
Liberate your Language Language is a powerful tool. The words we choose do more than name or describe things ; they assign status and value. Be careful, then, how you choose words that refer to non-human animals, for you may be using expressions that maintain prejudices against them. Referring to a non-human animal as an 'it' strips him or her of dignity and perpetuates the view that other animals are objects, inferior things or property. Referring to people who share their homes and lives with non-human animals as 'owners' or 'masters' connotes slavery, and we should be uncomfortable with the connotation. Friends, companions, or protectors is preferable. Avoid calling other animals "living things". They are living beings. Refer to non-domestic animals as free or free-roaming, not 'wild' or 'wildlife' . When referring to animal suffering and death caused by human action, use painfully explicit words that reveal the true facts. "Euthanize", "put to sleep", "sacrifice" and "destroy" are favorites of animal researchers (and some animal control people) while "cull", "harvest", "manage" and "thin the herd" are favorites of hunters, trappers, and their ilk. These words mean kill, so say kill. Guilty people try to cover up their horrifying cruelties against, and backward exploitation of, non-human animals with deceptive euphemisms like the ones above. SAy it like it is, and correct others when they don't, so that people will realise the true nature and full extent of the suffering we inflict on other living beings. Watch out, too, for expressions that convey contempt for animals. "Son-of-a-bitch", "bird-brain" and "hare-brain" are insults at the expense of animals. Think of alternatives to calling a person a "snake", "turkey", "ass", "weasel" , "chicken" , "dog" or the like.
Liberate your language, for it's an important step in liberating all animals!
----by Noreen Mola and the Blacker Family The Animals' Agenda, 6, no.8, October 1986, p.18.
Activist's Pledge.
Current mood: impressed
Category: Pets and Animals
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Activist's Pledge
Written by Janet Riddle
Until the last flesh is consumed and no more animals are born to doom Our struggle is beside the weak respect for life is what we seek
Until the last is forced to entertain and no more animals are driven insane For all those beaten to a cower we lend our strength and our power
Until the last suffers in a cruel test and scientific fraud is finally confessed To those voiceless we give them word until their agonizing cries are heard
Until the last dead skin is worn and for our usage no animal is born Relentless battles we must fight until all others see compassion's light
Until the last abuse has ceased and existence is granted to every beast We won't abandon or give in because this war we intend to win
sad
pissed off
infuriated
determined
productive
impressed