PETA Cries Constitutional Foul on Seaworld

Write to Blackstone now with a click.

Leave it to PETA. I love this group because the out-there actions they take get people’s attention and makes us think about our relationship with animals. In a latest effort to stop the inhumane treatment of wild-caught orcas at Seaworld, PETA is suing the amusement park for violating the 13th amendment of Constitution which prohibits slavery but does not refer to mankind only. Okay, whether you’re a speciest or not, their point hits home. In the wild, orcas live in complex social units and travel hundreds of miles a day with their pod. They are instinctual hunters.

Now picture them at Seaworld. They are held in small pools for hours and hours on end with nothing to stimulate them, nowhere to swim, and nothing to hunt. Dead fish are thrown at them and social interaction with other orcas is often denied.  We’re talking about WILD orcas here…not orcas bred in captivity.  And really that’s a moot point anyway; wild or not, their instinct to hunt and swim great distances still exists.  Check out this picture where Tilikum is kept in a pool where his head and tail almost touch the walls end to end. All this for us to ooh and ahh at them doing “tricks.” PETA claims this is enslavement by definition.

I personally will never take my family to Seaworld. Moreover, I look forward to the day where animals behaving unnaturally, due to what is usually inhumane training techniques, is no longer considered entertainment. Blackstone Group owns Seaworld and PETA has written a letter for you to send to them. The letter demands that these whales be released into the care of sanctuaries that are prepared to care for them the RIGHT way. All you have to do is sign (i.e., type) and click. This PETA campaign is sure to get national attention. Will you be a part of that?

Write to Blackstone now with a click.

Meeting a Stranger

“We die to each other daily. What we know of other people is only our memory of the moments during which we knew them. And they have changed since then. To pretend that they and we are the same is a useful and convenient social convention which must sometimes be broken. We must also remember that at every meeting we are meeting a stranger.”

― T.S. Eliot

Shared by ~~~J Wave~~~

Prevent Another Ohio Tragedy

As promised, we will occasionally be offering up a variety of petitions and action opportunities. If you find them intriguing, horrifying, praiseworthy or just fun, please take a moment to add yourself to the effort and see what comes of it.

Petition to Ban Exotic Animal Ownership in Ohio

Today’s petition is in response to the recent killing of 48 exotic animals in Zanesville, Ohio. It is bizarre and mysterious stories like this that grab the attention of the average citizen, causing them to pause and give thought to animal rights. I have had more friends mention this story to me than I expected. There is genuine shock and heartache in their voices and in their eyes as they express their reaction. For those of us more deeply embedded in the world of animal rights advocacy, the photos of dead bears, lions, tigers and wolves may not be as viscerally shocking, but the tragedy is still clear. These animals were kept on land owned by a man named Terry Thompson in a state that is one of only seven that have no bans on ownership of exotic animals. The level of care that was provided to these animals is unclear and the setup itself has been referred to as a “farm,” a “game-preserve,” and a “menagerie,” so it is difficult to know exactly what kind of place this was. What is known is that the animals were released by Thompson, who then committed suicide, and then all but a few were killed by police. The event was preventable.

 

This petition is directed to Ohio Governor John Kasich, asking him to sign legislation that would ban ownership of exotic animals in Ohio. This is the strongest petition I have been able to find for this cause. There are currently over 85,000 signatures! As someone who signs a lot of petitions I can attest–that is a big number for a petition going to a governor’s desk. Since the petition began, legislation called “Phillips Bill” is rushing through Ohio government. If the governor signs, it would create regulations for exotic animal ownership in Ohio, but would not ban it.

The online petition started by Liz Dumler, 22, of Athens, is linked through an organization called Change.org. Each time someone signs the petition, an email goes to Kasich’s office and the Department of Natural Resources as well. Now is your chance to keep the number growing and turn your frustration and heartache into action. Here is where you do that:

Petition to Ban Exotic Animal Ownership in Ohio

 

The “Why” of It All

I’m so excited to be taking part in this blog! I’ll be known here as S Wave and although I will be carrying out administrator duties and sharing posts of news and art, I’ll also be a blogging about a specific topic…my journey with animal rights. I am a lover and respecter of all animals. I am an animal advocate. I am a vegan. I am perfect in none of these but I strive toward improvement in all of them. I will write about situations I encounter and how I approach them. The story I tell here will be about the process of learning who I am, what I believe, and what I can do.

 

I want to write about this because I know some of you are on your own journey of wondering “why?” My “why” might be about animals and yours might be about human rights, the environment, politics and so on. The point is that we are questioning! Some of you might have those specific questions about animal rights. Why do we treat animals the way we do? Across all the arenas where animal life and human life intersect (e.g., food, companionship, entertainment, clothing, etc.), why is it that the status quo is what it is? These questions were always there for me, as long as I can remember. Of course they started out as feelings. I felt sad, not amused, when I saw our hamster on the wheel. I felt great joy when my cat purred next to my ear as we fell asleep. I was elated to see a doe and her fawn emerge from the forest into our field in the back. Eventually feelings led to questions like, “Does our new hamster really enjoy running on this wheel like we all say?” or “How can my uncles—who I know are good and loving—enjoy shooting deer?” That is the way change happens. Little by little, asking questions as you go, adding to your storehouse of information, and understanding that sometimes there’s no easy—or even right—answer.

 

Now, with so much information at our fingertips about animal treatment, I know more and more people who are questioning the status quo of food production, animal “training” for entertainment, and so forth. These are good and worthy things to ponder. I hope that as I tell my story, it will resonate with you. I hope that my story helps you and yours helps me as we navigate together. And ultimately I hope that our cumulative stories will contribute to an increasingly humane society that extends honor and reverence to our fellow creatures.

 

In my next post I will tell you my early story in more detail. If you like farm-girl turned city-girl tales, then stay tuned….

Welcome to threepennyposts

Well, here we are… a bunch of people who want to focus on the good and worthy things in life and want to connect with others while doing so. As we were pondering all the possible titles for this blog we were drawn back to threepennyposts over and over. In the end, we knew that it was the perfect title for our call and response section. We believe in the value of what you have to say. So check in every few weeks here at threepennyposts and answer our weekly query. We just ask that you keep your answers brief and respectful, but honest and open as well.

To kick off, here is a fitting question for all you new readers. Please reply in the comment box below.  We look forward to your ideas!

 

What would you like out of a site like this?Now that you’ve seen some of what we are planning on offering, what would you suggest we add to our offerings? 

 

7 Billion and Counting

The arrival of the 7 billionth person on Earth is happening this month! And Jeffrey Sachs says it’s cause for “profound global concern.”  In this article he responds to the questions: What will it take to maintain a planet in which each person has a chance for a full, productive and prosperous life, and in which the planet’s resources are sustained for future generations? How, in short, can we enjoy “sustainable development” on a very crowded planet? See what you think about his strategy and let us know!…

Sachs on CNN: A Huge Task Before Us

 Shared by

~~~A Wave~~~

It Suffices to Walk

But where is this gathering?

I don’t know, my little angel.

But do the others know?

No, they don’t know either.

How can you go to a gathering without knowing where it is?

It suffices to walk, just walk.

Those who are invited will find the way.

- From a Sufi story    

Shared by  

~~~J Wave~~~

Irvine, CA passes progressive humane law

 

 

“Irvine, California’s City Council passed an unprecedented bill this week banning rodeos and circuses with exotic animals, and the retail sale of dogs and cats. This huge victory for animals passed with a 4–1 vote after nearly 40 supporters, including IDA’s Elephant Campaign Director Catherine Doyle, spoke in favor of the ban.

 

Most dogs sold in pet stores come from puppy mills where dogs are kept in filthy, cramped, inhumane conditions. Animals in circuses suffer terribly from cruel training, painful physical problems from living in semi-trailers and on chains, and sheer boredom. Animals in rodeos are not aggressive naturally – they are domesticated animals who are painfully coerced and injured for the sake of entertainment. IDA applauds the city of Irvine for their compassionate decision. Congratulations to the Irvine activists whose perseverance and hard work made this amazing victory possible. California just got a little safer for animals.”    

                           

   - In Defense of Animals (IDA)

Occupy Wall Street Facing Eviction?

Unarguably one of the most important movements taking place right now in our nation. Occupy Wall Street has united thousands of people in cities across the country. Now, for the latest development…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15300491

Doors in San Francisco

In San Francisco, there is no lack of striking scenery. I’ve tried to figure out why these doors caught my attention as much as they did…in the midst of seasides, wildlife, bright colors, and LOTS of people. I think I’ve figured it out. It is the combination of conflicting textures, the movement in the wood and metal, and the containment that the lines provide that appealed to me. The whole compliments my personality. I appreciate structure and clear parameters. But, I relish the motion of one moment to the next and the great spectrum of beauty that surrounds us wherever we go.

~~~S Wave~~~