that 'australia day' ad...

this ad, by aussie farms, is the one that should be on television... "...what it really means to eat lamb on Australia Day..." - read more at https://www.facebook.com/AussieFarms/posts/1723952881166679...

i am so over the horrific carnist advertising pushed at any 'celebratory time' (although carnist crap is 'there' all year, it's just so fucking more full on at the moment, coming up to australia/invasion day)... i am so over having dismembered body parts of others in my face wherever i turn and the smell of decaying flesh in my nostrils whenever i breath - walking down the street, shopping at the supermarket, and the staff kitchen is somewhere to stay away from at lunch times - and then there's the smell of burning flesh from the barbecues on balconies and in backyards that surround my home, my sanctuary... help stop the animal holocaust - go vegan...

rape by any other name...

i read an alarming article the other day that appalled and sickened me – well, let’s face it, there are many things that appal and sicken me about human treatment of animals – but this is disturbing on so many levels, its prevalence frightening…

"Bestiality brothels spur call for animal sex ban

Animal sex abuse is on the rise in Germany, with bestiality brothels being set up across the country, according to a state animal protection officer demanding stronger laws to protect mankind's furry and feathered friends.

Madeleine Martin, the animal protection official for Hessian state government, said the law needed to be changed to make sex abuse of animals – known as zoophilia – a crime.

“It is punishable to distribute animal pornography, but the act itself is not,” she told the Frankfurter Rundschau daily paper on Friday.

“There are even animal brothels in Germany,” she said. Sex with animals was being increasingly seen as a lifestyle choice, and thus more acceptable.

“The abuse seems to be increasingly rapidly, and the internet offers an additional distribution platform,” she said.

She said the justice authorities had found it exceptionally difficult to convict a man from Hesse, who had offered pictures and instructions for animal sex abuse over the internet.

“Zoophilia must be completely banned in the reformed animal protection law,” said Martin, referring to the governments plan to rework that section of the law.

Sex with animals was banned until 1969, when the animal protection law was introduced, but failed to include a specific ban on zoophilia, the Frankfurter Rundschau said.

Martin said the current legal situation makes it too difficult for authorities to intervene – an animal has to be shown to have massive injuries before the animal protection laws prescribe action."... read more at the local, germany’s english language newspaper…

lifestyle choice? There is no possibility of consensuality here - it’s only a fucking choice for the human scum – there’s no choice for the voiceless animals… rape is rape…

according to deb doxbury from bella online: the voice of women:

“Intercourse with animals is becoming an expansive legal trade throughout European subcultures. The rationalization for the existence of these brothels is that it is a "lifestyle choice," while blindly overlooking evidence that this service is a prime breeding ground for predators. Though acts of bestiality are evident around the world, Europe is unique in the fact that select countries choose to profit from this malevolent behavior.

European bestiality brothels state that it is illegal to harm an animal while engaging in intercourse. What these facilities fail to point out is that forcing sex on an animal is an act of unwanted aggression and is therefore harmful in nature. Female animals are oftentimes sedated, some are bound, and many experience physical complications from being exposed to repeated acts. Most of the animal kingdom view sexual encounters within their own species as a means to a procreative end and do not spend time consumed by intercourse outside of heat cycles. Therefore, not only are people physically harming these animals, they are also violating the animals’ understanding of their natural life-cycle process….”

this horror is by no means confined to europe...

"Douglas Spink Arrested in BESTIALITY Case : Mice in Vaseline, Dogs, Horses Found at Exitpoint Stallions Limitee" convicted cocaine smuggler has been arrested for running what authorities say appears to be a bestiality farm in Washington state in which visitors could engage in all sorts of twisted sex acts with animals.

Douglas Spink was arrested at his ramshackle, heavily wooded compound near the Canadian border in Whatcom County along with a 51-year-old tourist from Great Britain who is accused of having sex with three dogs." read more at huffington post

even when prosecution happens, there is no justice for the animals, the fuckers get leniency...

 "On April 14, 2010, Spink’s ramshackle farm was raided and Stephen Clarke was arrested for having sex with dogs.  The evidence against Clarke was pretty compelling and Clarke pled guilty on May 11.  Now that we have a law making bestiality a Class-C Felony in the State of Washington, the judge could have sentenced Clarke to five years in prison and imposed a $10,000 fine.

Instead, Clarke was sentenced to 30 days in jail (most of which has already been served) and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine to the Whatcom Humane Society, who has custody of the dogs as well as several horses removed from the property.  It is estimated that the humane society has incurred something close to $10,000 by now taking care of all Spink’s animals, except, of course, for the string-wrapped, vaseline-coated mice that had to be euthanized....

...we find it outrageous that all of these criminals - these men who cruelly abuse animals - these men who have sex outside their species with animals that cannot speak for themselves - we find it outrageous that they are still getting off with tiny little slaps on the wrist.  $300 here, $1000 there, and a few days of jail thrown in ... It took Washington 121 years to decide that bestiality was a form of animal cruelty, but a Class C felony is the same charge given for Internet gambling.  What???" ... from hope for horses 

then there's the horrors perpetrated against luna, the dog brutally raped and murdered in simcan, turkey in march, 2011... and pony, the orangutan used terribly as a 'prostitute' in borneo... you can read their stories on the animal rape and animal brothel page of pia berrands' site... 

if you think it doesn't happen in your country, you may need to think again... since childhood, i remember growing up with a 'running joke' about farmers and their sheep, which brings a smirk to far too many peoples lips, the implications and inference - the abuse of animals, the RAPE of sheep - never dwelt on... no doubt this 'joke' has its basis in a reality we need to believe is merely someone's sick fantasy... 

and here it is, happening now (still?!) in australia - only recently, january 2012, candice keller reported "middle-aged south australian trio admit bestiality offence", and this from queensland in september 2011 "man to be charged with importing bestiality material..."... bestiality is illegal here but that illegality doesn't stop the abuse - animals are expendable commodities in this society so how can we ever know exactly how widespread it is...

and then there are the sociopaths (and we certainly will never know how many there are worldwide!!)... it is a widely held view that animal torture is the starting point for predators to perfect their later crimes against their own species - this is supported by psychologist andrea beetz in "bestiality and zoophilia: associations with violence and sex offending", and this hansard entry of the nsw parliament "animal abuse and sociopathy link"... and where pornography involving animal abuse is found, it appears you will also find child pornography - take the abc report "man charged over child torture, bestiality pictures" from january this year... or the report from may 2011 "northern man admits bestiality offences"...

and what of the brutalized animals? this from hope for horses...

"It takes thousands and thousands of dollars, and months or years (if it’s even possible) to rehabilitate animals who have been sexually abused ... These people are sex offenders, and should be treated as such.  Although many of them will tell you that they “love” their animals, that they think of them as “family,” that they have a “relationship” with them, having sex with one’s animal is no different from having sex with one’s child - presumably who is also entitled to a loving relationship as part of a family."

i am appalled at the arrogance of these humans, ashamed that my species is capable of imagining, let alone perpetrating, this cruel abuse, and i weep for the countless numbers (millions? billions?!!) of voiceless victims worldwide who have been, are, and will be, subjected to unimaginable horrors only the human species is capable of...

this graphic sums up exactly how i feel about the human species at the moment...

when no-one is watching...

atrocities are rampant and unchecked, as evidenced in the undercover investigative footage shown by lateline last week which resulted in the immediate closure of a nsw abattoir because of its appalling animal abuse… the following is an extract from the transcript of that exposé...

"The focus of cruelty in abattoirs is shifting to Australia from Indonesia.

Late today the New South Wales food regulator suddenly closed down an abattoir after viewing video footage which it says reveals, "acts of gross animal mistreatment".

The footage, taken secretly inside the abattoir north of Sydney, has been given exclusively to Lateline.

The New South Wales Food Authority is promising a full investigation of slaughter practices at the abattoir, which the authority says is the worst treatment of animals it's seen...

... Shot undercover over six days at the Hawkesbury Valley Abattoir near Sydney, this footage has been described by the NSW Food Authority as disturbing and containing acts of gross animal mistreatment.

Here, pigs are being dragged onto the sticking table. They should be rendered unconscious by a stunner before their throats are cut, but in this instance, it hasn't been done properly and the slaughterman reaches for what looks like an iron bar. The pig's head was pummelled seven times. A minute later, the same worker is at it again, this time beating another pig over the head 13 times." you can read more, or view the footage, here...

this is the second abattoir to close in australia within 3 months - and we supposedly have animal welfare standards in slaughterhouses… if that’s the case, i’m sure we can assume brutality (aside from the obvious brutality of slaughter itself!) is rife in all abattoirs in this country…

it takes dedicated people to get this information to the outside world… those who are prepared to take direct action – heroic people who are prepared to put themselves on the line by going undercover to expose the brutaliy... 

after this successful exposé, and having just received my copy of “behind the mask”, it seemed to be the perfect, most fitting time to watch this documentary about the animal liberation front – no longer a single, local grass roots organisation these days, but a global movement of clandestine animal rights activists - from undercover investigators to liberators and economic sabateurs – all fighting on behalf of animals and in protest against the animal testing, fur, entertainment, meat & dairy industries - a dangerous endeavour, with direct action activists now labelled the #1 domestic terrorist threat by the FBI...

directed and narrated by shannon keith, animal rights lawyer, founder of ARME and uncaged films (a production company founded after she learned that she had been an FBI target, labeled as an `animal rights extremist') - she “goes behind the mask and captures the hearts and souls of men and women who unveil their individual struggles for animal liberation.

Who are these “animal liberationists” and why do they believe that breaking the law is the best way to help animals? What inspires them to challenge the status quo, fight against all odds, and endure public reproach?

Behind the mask exposes never-before-seen footage that reveals the extent to which these individuals will go to save the lives of animals.’

People of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the globe, tell their tales of liberation, incarceration, sacrifice and determination, while exclusive underground footage reveals heart-thumping action sure to leave you wondering, who are these people…"

animal liberation front guidelines: 

• Liberate animals from places of abuse
• Inflict economic damage on those who profit from the exploitation of animals
• Reveal atrocities committed against animals
• Take all precautions against harming any animal, human & non-human

many animals have been liberated from unimaginable horrors, many lives saved... numerous activists have lost their freedom through years of incarceration… and still they don’t give up…

and the movement keeps growing, with more and more organised groups aligning themselves with the animal liberation front network, taking on even more animal abuse industries and exposing even more hidden practices, and more domestic and wildlife animal sanctuaries being established and providing refuge for the abused and displaced...

we have heroic, direct action activists here in australia too… passionate people such as debra tranter and lyn white (to name just a couple!!)... and there are many who prefer to remain in the background...

these dedicated people inspire me – they are proof that there is compassion in this world, that many are fighting the complicity of silence that exists within the status quo…

and let's not forgot all those who use their online presence to share these investigations, spread their stories around the world via blogs, social networks, petition sites - and those who get out and demonstrate, or email politicians to protest against the horrors... theirs is another layer of activism necessary to change this world...

all of these people make me proud to be a thinking, questioning womon, proud of my politics, my ethics, my morality, my veganism -  i'm proud to blog and demonstrate alongside so many other passionate activists, and i'm proud to be a part of this dynamic animal liberation movement…

it’s because of this global movement that others are starting to pull their heads out of the sand and become outraged - are you one of them? all you have to do is open your heart and mind…

you can view the official trailer here, or watch the first 10 minutes of the documentary below - perhaps after a glimpse you may want to watch the full 72 minute film available from arme - a proactive action in itself, as all proceeds help continue the fight for freedom and educate others...

 

#1 terrorist threat - you have got to be fucking kidding - i call them freedom fighters... pity the FBI and similar agencies take the side of corporate greed... in the words of john f kennedy:

"those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

a nip here, a tuck there...

it appears beauty is no longer in the eye of the beholder, but in the hands (and abilities) of cosmetic surgeons these days...

i was listening to a program this morning about the latest cosmetic surgeries that people are 'voluntarily' undergoing… body decoration has been part of many cultures throughout the centuries, but in a society obsessed with looking young - and with the technology and surgical techniques available - decoration has been displaced by bodily mutilation at the hands of overly eager surgeons - every single part of our body needs to undergo some sort of augmentation, reduction, lift or tuck (mutilation by any other name!!!!)

dimpleplasty and toe shortening surgery are the latest trends - but there are so many other procedures:

• botox

• blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)

• breast augmentation

• breast lift

• breast reduction

• brow lift

• buttock augmentation

• buttock lift

• chemical peel

• dermabrasion

• face lift

• facial implant

• injectable fillers 

• sclerotherapy (injection with solution to collapse spider veins)

• forehead lift

• arm lift

• hair replacement

• intense pulsed light treatment

• laser hair removal

• laser vein treatment

• laser skin resurfacing

• labiaplasty

• labia majora augmentation

• mons pubis reduction

• re-virgination

• g-spot amplification

• vaginoplasty

• penile augmentation

• liposuction

• mentoplasty (chin surgery)

• chin reduction

• microdermabrasion (skin rejuvenation)

• neck lift

• otoplasty (ear surgery)

• rhinoplasty (nose surgery)

• rhytidectomy (face surgery)

• thighplasty (thigh lift)

• thread lift

• tummy tuck

according to the cosmetic surgery directory “… cosmetic surgery is performed to improve your appearance and self-esteem. Cosmetic surgery involves reshaping parts of the body that are otherwise functioning properly.”

so, they’re doing it to improve our appearance and self-esteem hey… making billions of dollars isn’t their prime incentive… creating the illusion of easily attainable perfection and then peddling it to a public already bombarded by a constant visual barrage of 'beautiful people' definitely affects people’s perception of themselves, creating negative body images and low self esteem - then comes the perceived need to alter (mutilate) themselves to look 'normal' – the abnormal becomes ‘the norm’ and our physical diversity erodes - while their bank balances grow…

with more procedures specifically targeting them, womyn have been the major victims of this industry for a long time - but more and more men are going 'under the knife' in their quest to fit into this youth obsessed world... and sadly more and more teenagers feel the pressure and are succumbing to the false notion that changing their looks will change their lives...

"A recently discovered syndrome (hyper-aesthetic syndrome to be exact) has left youths as young as 16 wanting to look as good as they possibly can in a bid to emulate the brushed up and seemingly perfect celebrities in the glossy magazines that they pour over on a day to day basis.

Up there on the list of highly sought after procedures is breast augmentation (breast enlargement surgery), liposuction, rhinoplasty (nose surgery) and even tattoo removal." read more here

invasive surgery has the potential to go terribly wrong - surgeons aren't infallible - actually some are downright incompetent and shouldn't be allowed to touch a scalpel - there are many personal tales of destroyed bodies and lives easily found online...

and then there are those such as jocelyne wildenstein and actor mickey rourke who became addicted to the procedures and lost themselves in the process... 

but the 'nip'n'tuck' brigade is not alone in creating an unattainable image… the media, the cosmetics and the fashion industries have been complicit in the perpetuation of the beauty myth for decades  – the misogynistic profiteers and 'myth-makers' have a vested interest in maintaining the view that real womyn are somehow lacking and totally without appeal... if you don't have surgery, you at least need to mask your face with makeup, dye your hair, wax and pluck your body, change your natural smell with deodorants, perfumes and vaginal sprays, wear shape-changing clothes and top it all off with crippling shoes… no money to be made in people being natural - natural's just not acceptable!

and let’s not forget the heinous experiments performed on animals in the laboratories of the cosmetics companies - the violence and death attributable to the fashion industry - cruelty for the sake of 'beauty'… this is a subject that deserves to be explored in depth… so that’s for another post... but a question to ponder - are the products you use cruelty-free?

after viewing a slideshow on animal testing on the unleashed website i was dismayed at my ignorance of the cruelty of the american tobacco industry (the home of marlboro, camel and many other popular brands) which continues to experiment on animals - i'm also horrified that i unwittingly supported this industry by smoking marlboro for years - i  had however cut down my consumption of this brand over the last few months - although i still bought the occasional pack to intersperse with drum (and use in a mull) - no longer an ethical or moral choice for me...

apparently american spirit, who broke ranks with big tobacco and became the first-ever cruelty-free cigarette in america, is available in australia - now, i just have to find a supplier... but i am getting used to smoking tobacco again - drum yellow - it satisfies my addiction and it's british - "since 1995 no animals have been used to test tabacco or tabacco products (in the UK)"....

of course i could give up - then i'd just have to get used to smoking 'unadulterated' dope - unfortunately that won't help with the stress levels at work - i can't just 'nick out' for a quick joint!!! but as that's not part of my psyche at the moment drum is my 'poison' while i continue to need nicotine...