[ Home ]
|
|
|
|
|
December 2006 Dear Living Creatures who enjoy our Club, I would like to begin my letter this month by piggy-backing a little on what Matt wrote in our last issue. First of all, I have tremendous respect for people who are true vegetarians, as they, in their own small way eliminate a certain amount of suffering among living things.. That includes, Jackie, my wife, Linda, my cousin and Jeff, my best friend since I was a young teen. I wish I could join their rank, but it seems to be much more difficult for me. I do have an idea for all of us, however, whether we are herbivore, carnivore or omnivore. That idea is for us to write letters to our lawmakers urging them to make laws to protect animals living on farms. Animals are alive and have feelings until they are dead. Agribusiness has become a very cruel industry and the animals are treated like pieces of meat long before they are actually in that state. . While these animals are alive they need protection from the greed that puts veal calves into tiny crates in which they can barely turn around, and keeps laying hens in cages where they can just about stand up and lay down to lay an egg. Cows have their tails cut off and their horns removed by the use of a painful caustic acid placed on their heads. Pigs, which are acutely intelligent animals are kept in conditions where sensory deprivation is the rule. Ducks and geese are force fed so their livers fester for the fois gras industry and there are many many more atrocities that can be listed here. The point I am making is not to tell people what they may or may not eat, but that animals be treated as the living sentient creatures they are and then when the time comes for slaughter, we need laws to make that done as humanely as possible too. Unfortunately, money rules and agribusiness is a mighty rich industry. Write letters, people, please write letters. Tonight is very special as it is the time of year we all enjoy celebrating together. We, at our club, do it with a covered dish party and some mighty tasty treats for everyone. We, also, have our penny social and it is just nice to party together and share each others' company. Any birds that are here tonight are welcome to eat out of everyone's plate; they make our food taste better. If all goes well, Matt will be running our meeting in January while Jackie and I will be riding elephants through the jungles in India. Peggy Ann, our parrot judge, will be our speaker and I am sure her program will be very interesting. I have scheduled a program for our February meeting (besides my birthday) with the head of the foster parrot organization from Massachusetts. That should also be fascinating. Not too much more to say. I wish everyone a safe, healthy and very happy holiday and a wonderful new year. January 1st is Jackie's birthday, so the new year is that much more special to us. By the way, December 1st was Little Matthew B.'s birthday so give him a pinch to grow an inch. People, birds, elephants etc, have a great, great year................... LOVE, RICHIE |
|
[ Home ]
|