SAVE A SCREAM

And My Name's Not Even Mary

I got a message this morning from a random male on a website. In amongst some other things he wrote ‘You scare the livin sh*t out of blokes with all that animal rights stuff.’ Although he meant it in a light-hearted way (he added at the bottom that he hoped his email made me smile), it got me thinking. Why does a female into animal rights scare a guy? And in reality, us people into animal rights are the least scary people at all – because we are the most caring, compassionate people on earth. We wouldn’t even hurt a fly!

Is it the thought that we have a voice and might speak up if we desire that is scary? Is it the thought that we’re not one of those girls who will knit socks, cook for her man at the kitchen while he’s out making a living, will not argue back if he says something wrong that we don’t necessarily agree with, even possibly have a brain to think that something he says is not right?

I’m shy, I’m quiet, I’m sweet (ahem… ok, I can be… at times… providing you stay on my good side! ;-)). I’m possibly one of the least scary people ever. I would never do anything that’s ‘wrong’, I’m a good person who sticks to the rules, I don’t believe in violence, I’m against people that cause trouble, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t take drugs, I’m not a party animal, I prefer staying in and writing than going to a club (ok, if there was a cute guy at the club, I might make an exception, lol)…

How can I be scary?

It’s crazy how two words – ‘animal rights’ – can terrify people. It’s like being scared by a spider. Something so small and innocent and fragile amazingly has the capability to turn someone 50 times its size into a trembling wreck.

Maybe genius is scary. Maybe brilliance is scary. Maybe amazingness is scary.

A famous quote – ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’.

Listen and learn – were you ever told that at school? If there’s someone different to you, don’t get scared, don’t shut them off, don’t automatically assume you wouldn’t get on or they’re weird. Get to know them. Find out what makes them tick. It could ultimately make you tick too.

I’m not saying that getting to know me and why I am vegan will make you vegan – but at the end of the day, most of us people love animals to an extent – whether it be just the dog or cat that our aunty owns or that we had as a kid. Open the kaleidoscope. There are lots of colours there. It’s not just black and white. Animals are not just cats and dogs. Compassion shouldn’t just stop at the bottom of your garden.

Don’t be scared… of opening your heart. And thinking about the other living creatures that live on the earth that share the same emotions as us. The lambs that want to gambol in the field (but instead are then slaughtered and eaten). The pigs that can’t turn around in their crate because their future is the frozen department in Tesco. The fly that accidentally ends up in your house because he took a wrong turn from the bush outside. He didn’t mean to annoy you and he definitely wouldn’t have done it if he thought that death could be his fate.

If you were an animal would you want to be stamped on or squatted? Would you want to be mercilessly sliced alive? Or tortured on a daily basis?

I could go on and on. But I’ll end my 9am-on-a-Wednesday-morning ramblings here. My name’s not Mary. I’m not scary. Quite the contrary. Or maybe you’re just a fairy. ;-)

Horny

What’s this about a rhino’s horn being worth thousands - thus rhinos are being killed in South Africa? That begs my usual question; why is it ok to do this to an animal and not a human? A kilo of rhino horn is now apparently worth £36,300. So they kill a rhino to get that. I’m sure there are lots of wealthy celebs worth a lot more than £36,300. No-one kills them, do they?

If a celebrity was killed there’d be an uproar, the murderer would go to jail for a long time, if nothing else. But no-one cares when an animal is killed.

Why is an animal seen as just a product, something to make money, something to use to benefit yourself? It’s so insane, it’s so wrong. It’s time humans stopped thinking they’re the best thing on the planet and can use any other living creatures how they want.

I like free T-shirts

The awesome people at peta2 sent me a couple of free T-shirts the other day. I took a photo of me in one on Saturday. I actually like this pic. I usually take 100 photos and they all suck. Same happened this time as usual, but I liked this one.

Pulin of peta2 is actually featured in the next issue of Black Velvet - issue 62 - out next week. I got him to answer the questions in the ‘Me Me Me & My Rock CV’ section - all about working at peta2.

Speaking of PETA, I just saw the new advert that Kelly Osbourne has done. Kelly is standing up for seals and against the horrificness that is the seal slaughter and wearing fur. She speaks in this cool video below. Way to go, Kelly!

Celebrities Speak Out Against the Seal Slaughter. Learn More.

We Weren't Born To Follow

I’m liking the new video for Bon Jovi’s single ‘We Weren’t Born To Follow’. Although there’s no animal rights footage in it, as far as I can see, there are pix and bits of video footage interspersed between the band performance footage, of moments in history including a few protest pix. There’s a climate change protest photo and other stuff. The song is obviously about how we should stand up for what we believe in and how ‘we weren’t born to follow’. I think it’s an inspiring song for anyone who wants to make a difference and a change in the world, and make it a better place.

If you haven’t watched it, you can find it at http://www.bonjovi.com

The Veronicas

I’m happy to hear that The Veronicas just did a photoshoot with peta2 yesterday. Jessica and Lisa have in the past twittered about vegan food or places, and they twittered to let everyone know they were doing a photoshoot with peta2. Yesterday they posted a couple of pix from the photoshoot - although they didn’t give too much away. I look forward to seeing the end results. It’s awesome that The Veronicas don’t eat meat and support organisations such as PETA.

http://www.theveronicas.com/behind-scenes-peta-photoshoot

U.D.O.

German band U.D.O. have just released this official statement after announcing their cooperation with peta2.de:

Dear Fans of U.D.O.

The band always supported different organisations helping nature, animals and humans. We have been private about our beliefs and not done this publically because we never wanted to receive more promotion for the band just while helping the poorest creatures on this planet. F.e. only a few people know what Fitty did for some russian children…..!

Now we changed our mind and have decided  to use our limited influence to generate more interest in the work of this wonderful organisations worldwide and to make sure they can continue with their work. We don´t care if the organisations support campaigns in Russia, Germany or South America. We´re all people of  the ONE planet and we have to take care that this fragile planet has a chance to survive. It´s up to every single individual to save this
world. YES WE CAN!!!!!

The band travels a lot and we see many problems all over this planet and in nearly every country children, nature and animals get treated very badly, even our closest friends like dogs, cats and apes. It´s not just in the neighbourhood like Spain, Rumania, Russia, Italy but also in Germany. It is everywhere and animals have NO rights. Animals have NO lobbyism at all and get treated in the worst possible way. EU politicians f.e. discuss if a stupid banana has to be straight or how much it might be crooked to be allowed to be sold in the EU but they are not willing to create a european wide law to save the animals……???? How stupid is that? It´s just because of money and power.

Each cigarette you smoke cuts down your lungs. What can you do without your lungs? You die… but at the end of the day THIS is your personal decision (by the way a lot of animals have to die and suffer because of the damn cigarette industry…..)!

BUT each tree we cut down in South America (or anywhere else on this planet) will cut down our oxygen! Well you all know what will happen without oxygen! Right, we ALL gonna DIE!!!! So please help to save the lungs of the world, help to stop the criminals who are cutting off the lungs of the world!!!

Friends and fans, we want you to help this organisation to score all their goals. Support them (and support doesn´t just mean to spend money) of course they need money as well. They need YOUR help writing protest mails to politicians and responsible people, support them with your vote and your voice. Don´t buy any products just because they are cheap. “Cheap” most likely means that someone else has to pay the difference with deepest pain! Take care about the environment, help to avoid garbage and try to save water. Be fair to other humans and treat the animals like friends and not like shit! There are so many things we have to take care of…..

Don´t look away! The pain is everywhere and children, nature and animals can´t help themself against the exploitative business guys and politicians. They need our help!!!!!

Further activities will follow during the tour. Watch out!

You can also see a video at www.peta2.de/atbhbandvideo

Propagandhi

The sun’s shining, there’s a spring in my step and my mouth is almost even curving slightly up into ‘smile’ mode. Oh and there’s a glint in my eye.

I love when someone inspires me.

But it’s not supposed to happen like this!

If I do an interview with you for SaveAScream.com, it’s not supposed to be THAT GOOD that I want to put it in Black Velvet!

SaveAScream interviews are meant for SaveAScream.

But I interviewed Propagandhi and their answers are soooooo good that it has made me want to print the interview in Black Velvet. I want Black Velvet readers to read this interview. So as much as I also want to put it on SaveAScream.com for everyone in internet-land to read, I want it in Black Velvet. ‘Cause the BEST interviews are always in Black Velvet.

Now I just need to convince everyone reading this to order issue 62 of Black Velvet, so they can read it… (Hey… YOU… Go to http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/nextissue.htm and order it, ok? Order it now already.)

If you don’t know much about Propagandhi check http://www.propagandhi.com. Not only are they vegan and stand up against animal cruelty (so much so that they’ve written songs like ‘Purina Hall Of Fame’ and ‘Apparently, I’m a “P.C. Fascist” (Because I Care About Both Human And Non-Human Animals)’) but they really know what’s right and what’s wrong in the world and do what they can to change the wrongs and make them right (even though there are so many evil people also in the world making it hard). They are against human rights violations, sexism, racism, homophobia and other bad stuff. Proceeds from the pre-release downloads of latest album ‘Supporting Caste’ went to PETA2, Sea Shepherd Society and Partners In Health. They have done sponsored races to raise money for organisations, they have volunteered for organisations and more. I particularly like a line in the interview where Todd Kowalski says “Anything you do to make someone else’s life better is worthwhile whether you’re helping your granny out, handing out leaflets or protesting”.

Read the Propagandhi interview in Black Velvet 62 and be inspired too.

Dear Jeremy...

Jeremy Clarkson who writes a column for The Sun does my head in. Every so often he added a piece which portrays how little he cares about animals. In today’s newspaper he brings up the new animal testing numbers - the 2008 figures have risen 14% since 2007. 3.7 million animal tests were conducted in the UK in 2008. An appalling number. A sad figure. A really disgusting fact. Jeremy is FOR these tests to continue.

How many new cures do you think we have found? How come people are still dying of cancer? How come with have no new miraculous drugs that save lives? It’s because no matter how many animals humans abuse or torture the fact is they’re not the same as humans so the drug result is not likely to be the same as on humans. Why don’t people like Clarkson understand this?

After reading Clarkson’s column and getting wound up as I usually do, I have just written him the following email (no doubt he won’t read it, or if he does, which I doubt, I would be surprised if his brain actually comprehended any of it).

Dear Mr Clarkson,  

I was disappointed (as usual) to read your column - since you wrote AGAIN about how you don’t care about animals being tested up. You pointed out how Vioxx was tested on animals and then caused a mass number of heart attacks and strokes on humans. You also mentioned the drug that was tested on animals before making six human volunteers very ill. I think you don’t understand - surely that in itself tells you that the animal tests are pointless. The animal testing that they went through before moving onto humans showed that the drugs were ok - else they would not have gone on to people. You are saying that you agree with animal tests - yet if these animal tests continue more people are going to end up like those that tried Vioxx and these other drugs. Surely you can comprehend that? If animal tests were so trustworthy, why did these drugs get passed yet then fail on the humans? It just goes to show that animals and humans are completely different species and that when testing a drug on animals its result probably won’t be the same on a person.  

There are organisations such as Dr Hadwen Trust (see http://www.drhadwentrust.org/) that fund non-animal research such as cell culture, micro organisms and computer models. A drug would NOT go directly to a person - yet it has more chance of working than via animal tests which are as efficient as flipping a coin.   I hope you will read up on these humane research methods. You can also visit http://www.safermedicines.org/ which has further info on how useless animal tests are.  

Also, I imagine people with unfortunate diseases or conditions would rather be a guinea pig and get to test a new drug rather than having to wait for it to go through all the animal tests anyway. While we’re waiting for these animal tests to work, people are dying. I guess you don’t care about that, huh?  

Shari Black Velvet  

PS. How many more years are we going to wait for a cure for cancer? How many years have they been testing on animals and what cure have they found? People like Farrah Fawcett went through three years or more of chemo and pain and trying drugs for nothing. Why? Because those animal tests are not working. And they will continue to not work, until the government puts money into humane research methods. We’re not living in the dinosaur age. We have the power to progress rather than continuing to tread water. Think about it!

Does that monkey look happy to you?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2534231/Brain-power-moves-robotic-arm.html

Click the link and check all 3 photos in the slideshow.

This makes me fume. I can literally feel the blood inside of me bubbling with annoyance and anger and sadness at seeing this poor defenseless monkey that is trapped in a laboratory, having been put in this horrid plastic confinement, after someone having put a microchip in his brain - and then being made to do tests to see if he can ‘will the food’ to come reach him. It’s disgusting. They say it will advance human paralysis - but seriously - why can’t you just put these chips in the paralysed people’s head and let them advance the studies? Don’t use a poor monkey that has nothing wrong with him and make him live a life of abuse and torture. I’m sure all the paralysed people in the world would be happy to undergo tests to help them and their condition - and if I was paralysed (yes, I’m grateful I’m not and have sympathy for anyone who is) I would much rather be the guinea pig in trials than have some animal, a completely different species to me, having things put in his head and being kept in a cruel laboratory where he had no life, no freedom, no anything.

I am horrified and disgusted and these pictures just make me realise what a screwed up world we live in and why I have to speak out about the subject and continue to do what I can to support the anti-vivisection campaign. If you do nothing else, please the support organisations that are involved in: http://www.makeanimaltestinghistory.org/ We will only move forward and cure diseases and help less fortunate humans when the nightmare of animal testing is stopped.

Please read and support http://www.buav.org, http://www.navs.org.uk and http://www.drhadwentrust.org

Give Bulls A Break

A bull killed a person during the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain yesterday and apparently gored another today. Isn’t it time Spain just stopped bullfighting and stopped using bulls for entertainment and got a little bit more up-to-date with cruelty free entertainment? Sheesh. Poor bull, that’s all I can say - for being exploited and mistreated. It’s no wonder they end up goring people when people are bothering and tormenting them. Give bulls a break. Thank God we in England don’t do anything like bullfighting and the running of the bulls. Mind you, horse racing, greyhound racing and other cruel ’sports’ are enough to contend with. I do think bullfighting is worse though - getting a bull to go in a ring and tackle a human for warped entertainment purposes while brainless people sit and watch and cheer. Bullfighting should be banned. Can’t they just use humans without the animals? Two humans in a ring is much better. At least they are both consenting.