Nothing makes me angrier than this horrific fast food nightmare. Okay, anytime animals suffer for human greed makes me angry. Okay, anytime animals suffer makes me angry. Anywho...I've always hated "dirty bird" as we call it and when one was planning to open up, coupled with Taco Hell, next to my supermarket I was livid. It happened. Taco Hell and Kentucky Fried Cruelty opened. That whole area stinks now like death. I'm always astounded when I hear people say "that smells so good." Huh? I guess I've been so far removed from the fast food scene that all I smell is burning fat and oil and all I think about is tortured animals.
Yesterday's Sun made me very happy when I saw this story. PETA is launching a tv add in Vancouver to boycott KFC in Canada. Woohoo! I tried showing the article to someone at work and she said "I can't read that I don't want to know." There's the problem right there. People have an idea that something awful is going on but refuse to look and see what exactly is happening to animals. Just go to PETA's website or Farm Sanctuary's website to find out a little truth.
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Notes on running for the Chimps
I sent these notes to Fauna for their newsletter and I thought I'd post it on the blog since I did say I would wrap up on the fund raising side of the race. By the way, sis and I raised over $800 for Fauna!
Training for a marathon (42 km) was a new experience for me. I have completed several half marathons (21.1 km), but pushing it that much further seemed like a long journey and big commitment and it was.
Early on I decided that running my first marathon was a good opportunity to raise money for the Fauna Foundation again. Now I had two goals motivating me: a 42 km race day on June 10th and fund raising for the Fauna Foundation. I had chosen the Edge to Edge Marathon in Tofino, B.C. It’s always been a dream of mine to run that race since I started running in 2004.
I was three months into my five-month training schedule when an Achilles injury sidelined me. At this point I already knew that my mom, brother and his girlfriend, my step-dad and my sister were all coming to B.C. from all parts of Canada. My sister decided to run the half marathon, (her first ever) and would raise funds as well. I had set up a donation page on Canada Helps.org. I was fully committed to run the distance and raise money for Fauna.
When I went back out after my break I could barely run 1 km without pain so I needed more rest and some cross training to keep me fit. Gradually I started running again, but I couldn’t do my hill or speed training for risk of worsening my Achilles. I did get the long distance runs in with my partner, db, alongside me on his bike for those long Sunday morning runs. It sounds melodramatic, but I did encounter every possible scenario on those runs. Wind, rain, heat, pain and those dreaded walls you hit when running long distances all surfaced, but the desire to meet my goals kept me going even if it meant I had to walk the rest of the way. On one occasion I used the same tactic I used in my tough Mississauga half marathon run last year and I thought of the Chimps, naming them to motivate myself to push further.
A week before the race Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History screened in Vancouver. I was fortunate to not be working. db and I went to the film and I cried through the whole thing for all of those Chimps that we (humanity) have treated so poorly. I cried with joy as well seeing the Fauna sanctuary and Gloria interacting with the Chimps with such love and compassion. It was so lovely to watch Billy Jo and see him outside on the island. What perfect timing to see this film. I knew that day that I would finish the race and I was so proud of my sister and I for our efforts.
Race day I was nervous. My mom said to think of the Chimps, but I already felt I had drawn on that in those training runs, those early Sunday mornings rain or shine getting out there to run, with fatigue and doubt setting in. Now I just had to stay focused on finishing to complete my goals.
At the start line in Tofino I will selfishly admit I was running for me first. I had to remind myself of this when I felt like stopping along that stretch of road in the Pacific Rim National park. What a beautiful landscape. I did think of this lush environment sharing some similarity to where the few Chimpanzees still live in their natural world in Africa. Running in Tofino was a dream come true for me. At the finish line I collapsed in one big emotional release because I had done it and no matter how much you believe in yourself you never know until you cross that finish line.
Incidentally, I finished the marathon in fours hours and thirty minutes, placing in the middle of the pack. It’s a new victory for me. I’ve already thanked my family (at the finish line) and friends, but I need to thank Fauna and the Chimps as well. Without them I may have given up and slept in a few Sundays instead of getting out there and facing those tough runs.
I hope to visit someday. Maybe I’ll have to run in Quebec so I can make the trip. Thanks family, friends and everyone at Fauna.
Training for a marathon (42 km) was a new experience for me. I have completed several half marathons (21.1 km), but pushing it that much further seemed like a long journey and big commitment and it was.
Early on I decided that running my first marathon was a good opportunity to raise money for the Fauna Foundation again. Now I had two goals motivating me: a 42 km race day on June 10th and fund raising for the Fauna Foundation. I had chosen the Edge to Edge Marathon in Tofino, B.C. It’s always been a dream of mine to run that race since I started running in 2004.
I was three months into my five-month training schedule when an Achilles injury sidelined me. At this point I already knew that my mom, brother and his girlfriend, my step-dad and my sister were all coming to B.C. from all parts of Canada. My sister decided to run the half marathon, (her first ever) and would raise funds as well. I had set up a donation page on Canada Helps.org. I was fully committed to run the distance and raise money for Fauna.
When I went back out after my break I could barely run 1 km without pain so I needed more rest and some cross training to keep me fit. Gradually I started running again, but I couldn’t do my hill or speed training for risk of worsening my Achilles. I did get the long distance runs in with my partner, db, alongside me on his bike for those long Sunday morning runs. It sounds melodramatic, but I did encounter every possible scenario on those runs. Wind, rain, heat, pain and those dreaded walls you hit when running long distances all surfaced, but the desire to meet my goals kept me going even if it meant I had to walk the rest of the way. On one occasion I used the same tactic I used in my tough Mississauga half marathon run last year and I thought of the Chimps, naming them to motivate myself to push further.
A week before the race Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History screened in Vancouver. I was fortunate to not be working. db and I went to the film and I cried through the whole thing for all of those Chimps that we (humanity) have treated so poorly. I cried with joy as well seeing the Fauna sanctuary and Gloria interacting with the Chimps with such love and compassion. It was so lovely to watch Billy Jo and see him outside on the island. What perfect timing to see this film. I knew that day that I would finish the race and I was so proud of my sister and I for our efforts.
Race day I was nervous. My mom said to think of the Chimps, but I already felt I had drawn on that in those training runs, those early Sunday mornings rain or shine getting out there to run, with fatigue and doubt setting in. Now I just had to stay focused on finishing to complete my goals.
At the start line in Tofino I will selfishly admit I was running for me first. I had to remind myself of this when I felt like stopping along that stretch of road in the Pacific Rim National park. What a beautiful landscape. I did think of this lush environment sharing some similarity to where the few Chimpanzees still live in their natural world in Africa. Running in Tofino was a dream come true for me. At the finish line I collapsed in one big emotional release because I had done it and no matter how much you believe in yourself you never know until you cross that finish line.
Incidentally, I finished the marathon in fours hours and thirty minutes, placing in the middle of the pack. It’s a new victory for me. I’ve already thanked my family (at the finish line) and friends, but I need to thank Fauna and the Chimps as well. Without them I may have given up and slept in a few Sundays instead of getting out there and facing those tough runs.
I hope to visit someday. Maybe I’ll have to run in Quebec so I can make the trip. Thanks family, friends and everyone at Fauna.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Animal Voices Film Festival
Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History screened at the Animal Voices Film Festival. How timely that this film should be screening just a week before the marathon. I cried through the whole sixty minutes of the film. I recognized the chimps from the Fauna sanctuary, having gotten to know them through reading and hearing about them through Fauna. Most moving was to see Billy Jo so prominent in the film and so in need of constant reassurance. He died not long after the film was made so it was quite wonderful to be able to see Billy Jo with his companion caretaker, Gloria Grow (the founder of Fauna), and to see him finally outside on the chimp island, out in the open air with no cage overhead.
Each of the stories in this film, both chimp and human, are remarkable. There's something about the ability of a companion relationship between the two that gives me hope.
I am more inspired than ever to raise money for this sanctuary and for all those who work to release chimpanzees from labs, roadside zoos, and from being sold as "pets." I encourage you all to learn more about the lives of these beautiful animals that have 96% identical DNA with humans.
So if any of you want to donate, click on the right to help me raise money for Fauna. If you're looking for a gift, the Adopt a Chimp program is a wonderful gift that provides a personalized certificate and info about a specific Chimp. As I've probably mentioned before, my sister adopted a chimp (Jean) for db and I on our 5th anniversary. Learning about Jean's life moved me to learn more about the rest of the chimpanzees. And now...here I am running to do what I can to help these creatures live out their lives in dignity and to have some peace in their final years.
I highly recommend this film and a visit to any of the chimp sanctuary sites. I hope PBS screens the film again.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Dutch elect first animal rights MP
P. emailed this article to me about the first animal rights MPs to be elected to parliament. It makes me hopeful.
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