A Little Goes a Long Way
Trip Start
Feb 21, 2007
1
51
Trip End
Ongoing
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Thursday, April 21, 2011
When I picture the planet from above and the network of life within it, I envision a selfish, thoughtless, and cruel overtaking by a race more intent on getting ahead then caring how they do it. Being a mum makes this an even harder human burden to bear and makes me indescribably sad for my son, who will only see the destruction advance in his growing years. If we sit and think for a few minutes, clear all the noise in our minds, we come to realize the simplicity of life,the importance of all life and how all things are interconnected.
I think the ratio between care: don’t have time to care is appalling and deeply saddening. I know this is a huge issue that has endless facets to it but there has to be a way to make people care again. To overcome the numbness that is evidently taking over.
I had the amazing opportunity to live adjacent to, care for, and begin to understand an elephant’s world several years ago when volunteering in SEA at a wildlife refuge, just one of the many times I have dedicated my time in a small effort to help in any way possible. The kind of horrors I witnessed there impacted my soul in a way I cannot even describe. The types of abuse happening to animals–all around the world– is horrific and I wonder how these perpetrators can even be considered human. Is life not life? Our feelings of superiority as humans is disgusting. The fact that we feel we deserve it all is outrageous. The emotional exhaustion of seeing these atrocities day in and day out was awful and the only way through it was the immediate ability to connect to the other animals there, starving for love and care. The ability to offer this, even for a few short months, was an amazing experience that only furthers the charge.
(And please, don’t get me wrong, I know there are plenty of amazing individuals and organizations in the world trying as they might to help where and how they can and that is one of the most under-appreciated yet most important of all efforts in the world today.)
Thankfully, there are millions of people shining lights on countless local, national, and international animal rights issues, promoting education, and the small ways in which I can make a difference are ways you can help too. I know everyone these days is too busy to take on extra causes but there are many easy ways in which you can make your voice heard. Supporting causes like the Oceanic Preservation Society, and petitions like those from care2 which offer a way in which we can dedicate the very minimum time to do our small bit to help animals around the world by signing petitions and sending letters to our leaders. Who and what to support is a personal choice but even if you just choose one cause, or sign up for updates for new petitions arising every day, you are doing a small thing that collectively adds up to a laudable effort overall. You can even get weekly updates to minimize the time spent searching for potentially life-changing petitions.
If you read this, thanks for making it to the end. You are obviously a very caring individual or are probably already doing something to help our fellow species. Here are just a few petitions you can sign to get started.
Love,
Susie :)
Great Ape Protection Act
Protect Australian Race Horses
Ban Animal Testing for Cosmetics in the EU
