Animal Liberation: "compassion begets compassion"

Meat Dementia: The Animal Protein and Mental Health Connection

2012-01-05T12:27:00.000-05:00

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/meat-dementia-the-animal-protein-and-mental-health-connection/

Leading British psychotherapist, Peter Field has advised people to abstain from eating meat and animal protein if they value their mental health. According to Field, there is a direct link between the consumption of animal protein and cognitive dysfunction, which may result in Alzheimer’s and senile dementia.
Quoting Cornell University Professor T. Collin Campbell, author of The China Study, Field says that “Cognitive dysfunction tends to be much higher among people who are consuming an animal based diet. People with cognitive dysfunction have now been shown to have about a 6 fold increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”

According to Field, the best way to avoid such problems is to adopt a whole food plant-based diet, which provides all of the elements necessary for good health — mental and physical.

ORPHANED BAT IS RAISED BY HUMANS ~VIDEO

2011-12-13T17:54:00.000-05:00

All animals are precious and deserving of love, respect and when needed....a helping hand.

A Farm Grows in Brooklyn - Video

2011-12-08T09:54:00.002-05:00

'Greed' Capture on Film

2011-11-13T14:41:00.001-05:00

What can possibly be said to add to this picture?

Ecuador & Bolivia Grant Mother Earth Strong Constitutional & Legal Rights

2011-11-09T06:41:00.000-05:00

Enlightenment...but not in America, in America Nature & Animal remain 'resources' to exploit.

What is “Right’s of Nature”?

“Rights of Nature is the recognition and honouring that Nature has rights. It is the recognition that trees, oceans, animals, mountains have rights just as human beings have rights. Rights of Nature is about balancing what is good for human beings against what is good for other species, what is good for the planet as a world. It is the holistic recognition that all life, all ecosystems on our planet are deeply intertwined. “ Source

Ecuador Adopts “Rights of Nature” in Their Constitution

“Ecuador is the first country to recognize Rights of Nature in its Constitution. A great first step for humanity towards a change of paradigm! Ecuador is home to the Galapagos Islands, Andean Mountains and Amazon rainforest as it is a geologically, ecologically and ethnically diverse country

Ecuador rewrote its Constitution in 2007-2008 and it was ratified by referendum by the people of Ecuador in September 2008.

The new Ecuadorian Constitution includes a Chapter: Rights for Nature. Rather than treating nature as property under the law, Rights for Nature articles acknowledge that nature in all its life forms has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles. And we – the people – have the legal authority to enforce these rights on behalf of ecosystems. The ecosystem itself can be named as the defendant.” Source

To download a PDF file of the constitutional changed declared by Ecuador, click here
See the entire “Universal Declaration Of Rights Of Mother Earth” here

The Law of Mother Earth: Behind Bolivia’s historic bill

** Please note that this bill was passed on the 22nd April 2011 which was Earth Day**

“Indigenous and campesino (small-scale farmer) movements in the Andean nation of Bolivia are on the verge of pushing through one of the most radical environmental bills in global history. The “Mother Earth” law under debate in Bolivia’s legislature will almost certainly be approved, as it has already been agreed to by the majority governing party, Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS).

The law draws deeply on indigenous concepts that view nature as a sacred home, the Pachamama (Mother Earth) on which we intimately depend. As the law states, “Mother Earth is a living dynamic system made up of the undivided community of all living beings, who are all interconnected, interdependent and complementary, sharing a common destiny.”

The law would give nature legal rights, specifically the rights to life, regeneration, biodiversity, water, clean air, balance, and restoration.

The law would give nature legal rights, specifically the rights to life and regeneration, biodiversity, water, clean air, balance, and restoration. Bolivia’s law mandates a fundamental ecological reorientation of Bolivia’s economy and society, requiring all existing and future laws to adapt to the Mother Earth law and accept the ecological limits set by nature. It calls for public policy to be guided by Sumaj Kawsay or Vivir Bien (an indigenous concept meaning “living well,” or living in harmony with nature and people), rather than the current focus on producing more goods and stimulating consumption” Source

The Law of Mother Earth includes the following;

the right to maintain the integrity of life and natural processes
the right to not have cellular structure modified or genetically altered
the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration
the right to pure water
the right to clean air
the right to balance, to be at equilibrium
the right to be free of toxic and radioactive pollution
the right to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities

Turkey Is Now Debating An Ecological Change To Their Constitution.

22nd May 2011 - “We are just starting a campaign calling for an ecological constitution,” said Turkey’s Green Party spokesperson Ümit Sahin, who is among 40 people including politicians, academics, and lawyers involved in the Initiative for an Ecological Constitution (IEC). “As Turkey has been talking about making a new constitution, which is supposed to value the individual, then we should be talking about an ecological approach to it,” Sahin said, adding that their role models are Bolivia and Ecuador, which understand the value and rights of Mother Earth. The IEC believes in this approach of the Latin American states, he said, because neither the European states nor the United States have been able to fully address the issue even though there are some examples like France, which has a Green Charter, and some states in the US, which have been adopting ecologically sensitive laws. Source

A Sweet Story of A Mouse's Rescue.

2011-10-30T10:57:00.001-04:00

By Marguerite White of England
One evening, our kitten was playing and as I walked past, I saw something very little. I bent down and saw that it was a very still mouse, so I gently pushed it into my empty teacup. I didn’t want to go get anything else to catch it, just in case another cat pounced on it. The kitten was just staring at it and I think he was waiting for it to move. The mouse seemed all right and it was late evening, so I found a container to put it in until morning. I never saw an injury but could see that it was frozen with fear.
The mouse was all right in the morning, so I got a cage out of the shed, which had plenty of room. I added grass and shredded paper and a small container of water. I also sprinkled gerbil food. I didn’t know much about what mice ate, so I improvised. It seemed to thrive and we had the little one for more than three weeks. I knew it was time to let it go when it had become bigger and stronger, so I reluctantly took the cage into the garden and went to a shady covered area with loads of shrubbery. After I released the mouse, I put the cage contents near it so it felt safe and said, “Goodbye little mouse. I hope you find your family.”

Some Harm. Others Rescue.

What’s most remarkable about Marguerite’s story is that she showed compassion for a small creature that many others treat with contempt. Because mice are so often the victims of intensely cruel traps and poisons, it is truly refreshing to look to Marguerite’s example of compassion.

White Bean Gravy

2011-10-08T14:27:00.000-04:00

THIS SOUNDS DELICIOUS!!!

White Bean Gravy

GA Man Starts Pet Food Bank

2011-10-06T07:24:00.003-04:00

It's so encouraging and heart-warming to run into articles like this. Altruism is still with us....

Greatest Person of the Day: Tom Wargo - Lilburn-Mountain Park, GA Patch

Greatest Person of the Day: Tom Wargo
Tom Wargo runs Daffy's Pet Soup Kitchen, the first nonprofit food bank for pets.

Fourteen years ago, food banks told Tom Wargo his idea to stock pet food for the needy was unnecessary.

“I said, 'I'll build shelves, I'll build a storage unit, I'll build
something at your location and then I'll stock it with pet food, so that
if people come in, you can give them pet food,'" the Lilburn resident
said.

They wouldn’t budge, so Wargo decided in 1997 to start his own
nonprofit, the SOS Club, to meet the need. He bought pet food with his
own money and gave it to people straight from his truck. Wargo says the
dogs and cats he helped feed were often the only good thing in their
owners’ lives.

“The people that I was helping were going to the local co-ops and
local food banks to get people food, and they would bring the people
food home and feed their animals with it,” he said. “They're not going
to let their animals starve, they're not going to kill them at the
pound, so they're going to feed them, just like if you have kids.”

The effort expanded in 2008 when Wargo started Daffy’s Pet Soup
Kitchen in Lawrenceville to give SOS a a physical location. It’s become
one of the largest pet food banks in the nation, providing 600,000
pounds of food last year for dogs, cats and other pets in more than 60
counties in Georgia. Provisions include prescription food for pets with
diseases such as diabetes or cancer.

A number of other Daffy’s locations and similar organizations have
since popped up across the nation, although the Lawrenceville
headquarters -- which will soon move to Lilburn -- remains the largest.

Wargo also cares about preventing unwanted pets. Daffy’s requires
pets to be spayed or neutered in order for their people to get pet food,
and helps by directing people to centers that offer the services at a
discount.

“If you can’t afford one [dog], you definitely can’t afford one plus 10 puppies,” he said.

Adding to his todo list, Wargo also rescues pets during natural disasters.

“When the tornadoes hit in northwest Georgia, I’m up there trapping
cats, two and a half hours away, staying in a dumpy hotel because most
of them got wiped out by the tornado,” he said. He brought in about
15,000 pounds of food for the April crisis.

Wargo says he wants to keep Daffy’s growing and keep spreading the
word about spaying and neutering so that fewer animals wind up being
abandoned and ultimately put down.

“If you come to us for help,” he said, “your dog gets to stay at home
and stay happy, he’s sleeping in his bed with you, and he’s fed. He’s
great.”

For more information, check out Daffy's website.

(Editor's Note: This article is featured on Huffington Post as part of its Greatest Person of the Day series.)

GREED

2011-09-30T14:01:00.000-04:00

The greed of gain has no time or limit to its capaciousness. Its one object is to produce and consume. It has pity neither for beautiful nature nor for living human beings. It is ruthlessly ready without a moment's hesitation to crush beauty and life out of them, molding them into money.

-Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941)

It’s Time to Replace Animals in Harmful, Painful Experiments

2011-09-20T10:13:00.004-04:00

Orignal Article Here: It%26%238217%3Bs+Time+to+Replace+Animals+in+Harmful%2C+Painful+Experiments

From: One Green Planet: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/

In late August I participated in a 4-day conference in Montreal. The 8^th World Congress on Animals and Alternatives in the Life Sciences drew over 800, mostly scientists. The mission of the meeting was to advance “the 3Rs,” which aim to Replace, Reduce, or Refine (i.e., lessen the suffering of) animals used in research, testing, and education.

I mingled with people representing a wide range of viewpoints, from groups like Americans for Medical Progress and the New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research, whose mission is to defend the continued use of animals, to organizations dedicated to ending harmful uses of animals as soon as possible, like the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, InterNICHE, PETA, AnimaLearn, and EuroGroup for Animals. My own paper, which used records obtained through the US Freedom of Information Act to chronicle the miserable lives of primates in two American laboratories, was one of several from The Humane Society of the United States.

Some of the presentations were stark reminders of just how sensitive animals are to the intrusions of humans on their lives. For example, just being transported to a new location was so stressful to caged rats that their body weight, heart rate and blood pressure aren’t back to normal two weeks after being moved, and their levels of activity and blood corticosterone (a hormone associated with stress) never returned to pre-move levels. A Canadian wildlife veterinarian presented data showing that the health of polar bears declines each time they are subjected to the stress of being captured (for study). The more times caught, the worse their physical condition becomes. The presenter asked his audience to imagine how stressed we would feel to be chased and caught by predatory aliens. Wild animals may struggle so hard to escape human capture that they are vulnerable to “capture myopathy,” irreversible muscular damage that can cause permanent lameness, even death.

But the great bulk of animal research is the kind done in laboratories. One of the sessions I attended focused on animal pain, with an emphasis on rodents. Disturbingly, pain research on animals is a thriving enterprise, and the past decade has seen a dramatic increase in research that deliberately subjects mice to unrelieved pain. All mammals process pain along the same neural and biochemical pathways, so it strikes me as a prejudice that rodents are commonly thought of as “lower mammals” whose pain and suffering is somehow less worthy of our concern. New studies further expose this prejudice. We saw video clips of mice being marked by having small holes punctured into their ears with a hand-held hole-puncher. This common laboratory method is routinely done without anesthesia. The mice squinted their eyes, opened their mouths wide and struggled violently in response to the assault. Rabbits having their ears pierced with a tattoo hole-puncher reacted similarly. The presenter told us he had the audio turned off so that we wouldn’t have to hear their screams. A video of a rabbit whose ear had simply been treated 20 minutes earlier with a topical anesthetic showed no pain response, and the presenter implored researchers to use this simple refinement.

Contrary to earlier belief, rodents and rabbits—which like many animals have evolved stoicism to avoid detection by predators—do show detectable pain on their faces and bodies. So reliable are these subtle pain responses that a research team has developed a Mouse Grimace Scale (MGS) that quantifies the severity of pain based on orbital tightening (eye closing), nose and cheek bulging and ear and whisker positions. A similar Rat Grimace Scale has since been developed. Even a complete novice can learn to recognize a rodent’s pain with just ten minutes of training.

I asked if a mouse’s pain might endure after grimacing stops. Yes, it’s fairly certain that it does. For example, we stop grimacing long before the pain of a sprained ankle or broken bone is gone. And yet, while human patients typically request and receive pain medication for 1 – 2 weeks following surgery, animals in laboratories (including the primates whose lab records I examined) typically get 1 – 2 days, and sometimes no pain relief at all.

This is all the more sobering considering that tens of millions of rodents are currently used in experiments, and a single research lab may have over 100,000 mice. I and a growing number of my scientific colleagues share the view expressed recently by the noted British biologist Richard Dawkins that “we have no general reason to think that non-human animals feel pain less acutely than we do.”

Some may conclude that the challenge is to reduce the pain and suffering of animals in labs. But I think this information demands another conclusion: we shouldn’t be using them at all, for the same reasons we don’t use humans.

Defenders of vivisection declare that animal research is “a necessity.” This is like saying that capital punishment is a necessity. Whatever one thinks of it, we are not bound to do it. We do it by choice, so we can choose not to. To me the most compelling reason to desist is that animals feel pain and suffer essentially like us. That being the case, there really is only one morally defensible “R”: Replacement.

J onathan Balcombe was born in England and raised in New Zealand and Canada. He studied biology in Canada before earning a PhD in ethology (animal behavior) from the University of Tennessee. He is the author of three popular books on animals: Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good (2006), Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals (2010), and The Exultant Ark: A Pictorial Tour of Animal Pleasure (May 2011). Dr. Balcombe is the Animal Studies Department Chair for Humane Society University. In his spare time he enjoys nature-watching, biking, piano, vegan cooking and trying to understand his two cats. Dr. Balcombe is available as a environmental keynote and event speaker with Macmillan Speakers Bureau

Cows Enjoy Music

2011-09-18T13:18:00.001-04:00

One of my Blogger Friends posted a link to this site and it impressed on me how the non-human animal responds to 'art' thought to be enjoyed only by Humans. Something to think about.

YES, I THINK WE (HUMANS) ARE THE DEVIL.

2011-09-11T13:16:00.002-04:00

DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO LISTEN?

2011-09-11T13:07:00.003-04:00

Recipes: Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Muffin, Vegan Icing, whipped Cream

2011-09-03T13:26:00.001-04:00

Everyone who knows me knows that I'm a Vegetarian. Essentially I am the the family 'Eccentric', yeah, every family has one of their very own.....but I digress...

Anyway, here's a Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe that I tweaked to make it Vegan friendly: Now I realize that Organic Canned Coconut Milk is a bit pricey (or as my Scottish Husband would have said: 'Aye, that's dear') but since I don't buy meat I'm still ahead of the game as far as 'cost' is concerned. Also I sometimes find Roland Coconut Milk cheaper on amazon.com and usually shipping is free after you've hit the $25.00 mark.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

makes 1-2 servings

Ingredients:

2 cups Soy -or- Coconut -or- Almond milk

2 tablespoons canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute ( I like Agave Syrup) - you can halve this amount

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee (I've used Instant Coffee)

Directions:

In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. If you don't have a blender, don't worry about it - just whisk the mixture really well with a wire whisk.

Pour into a large mug or two mugs. Add the coffee on top.

***If you like whipped cream on your Latte:

Vegan Whipped Cream Recipe

1 Pack Silken Tofu

2 Tbsp Powdered Sugar

2 tsp Vanilla Essence

1/4 Can Organic Coconut Milk (I like the Roland Brand, Organic full fat)

When you open a can of coconut milk ( best if you chill the can in the fridge for an hour or so before opening) you will find thick creamed milk at the top of the can, scoop off the 1/4 of thick milk cream that you need for this recipe.

In a blender mix the sugar and silken tofu together.

Add the coconut cream and vanilla and blend into a smooth thick cream.

Ohhh....what to do with the leftover canned pumpkin? Why...Make Muffins of course!

Vegan Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup pureed pumpkin (Fresh or from a can; do not use pumpkin pie mix)
1/2 cup Coconut milk <-- another way to use up extra 'canned' coconut milk but I prefere reserving it for more Latte
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons molasses

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a twelve-muffin tin.

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices.

In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin, soy milk, oil,

and molasses. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix.

Fill the muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes,

until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

What's a muffin without a decadent icing ?

Tofu Cream Frosting

Makes 1 1/3 cups (enough to frost one 9"x9" cake)

1 cup firm silken tofu (1/2 pound)

2 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 - 4 tablespoons maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until very smooth. Scrape the sides of blender often with a rubber spatula to get the frosting completely smooth.

Per 2 1/2-tablespoon serving Calories: 65

ENJOY!!

Women Break Into Burning Seattle Home To Rescue Dogs

2011-08-23T15:07:00.001-04:00

Women Break Into Burning Seattle Home To Rescue Dogs - News Story - KIRO Seattle Video on site

Women Break Into Burning Seattle Home To Rescue Dogs

SEATTLE -- Two dogs are safe Monday morning after two women broke into a burning house.

Karen and Kimberly Swenson-Jacobs were driving down Martin Luther King Way South near East Pine Street when they saw the home on fire. They broke into the home and saved the Staffordshire Terriers.

"It doesn't seem real," Kim told Central District News of the ordeal. "I am not an impulsive person; I am a very logical person."

She added that, "I would do it again in a second."

No word yet on what caused the fire.

Ban Horrifying Animal Abuse Videos in the Philippines

2011-07-30T10:57:00.001-04:00

NOTE: I know there are people out there who dislike PETA but I hope those that do can get past their dislike enough to 'hear' the message. Personally, I could never do the investigate work that their agents do, I am not strong enough to even watch the videos... so I admire, respect and appreciate these people who are able to perfore their duties in spite of the sounds, site and smells of the horrors that surely scar them. For the animals, it's all about the animals...

http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2011/07/26/children-forced-to-crush-animals-to-death.aspx?c=weekly_enews

After a year-long investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific and the National Bureau of Investigations, police have now charged a Philippine couple with cruelty to animals and other crimes related to producing a series of pornographic videos in which young girls torture and kill animals. Faced with the charges, suspects Dorma and Vic Ridon have fled. Warrants have been issued for them.

WARNING: Graphic descriptions follow.
The "crush" videos that the Ridons are believed to have produced show scantily clad 12-year-old girls as they stomp on live animals, a rabbit as he or she is skinned alive, other rabbits as they scream while their ears are cut off and they are set on fire, a dog as he or she is burned with a clothes iron, and a monkey who was repeatedly hit in the eye with the sharp end of a stiletto heel. There is more, including puppies crushed until they vomited their own internal organs. A bill currently in the Philippine Senate would criminalize the sale of such "crush videos," already illegal in the U.S. and other countries.
PETA Asia-Pacific is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of Dorma and Vic Ridon. Anyone with information on the couple can e-mail Info@peta.org and we will pass it along. You can also make a donation to PETA Asia-Pacific to help the group fight cruelty to animals in this case as well as in many others.
Written by Michelle Sherrow

Posted by PETA

Concealed Cruelty - Pork Industry

2011-06-30T17:32:00.000-04:00

Heartbreaking.....

Woman in China roasts puppy alive

2011-06-19T14:55:00.002-04:00

What is there that anyone can say about this? I am not wicked person but I wish this soulless woman a similar long painful, torturous, agonizing death that she inflicted on this helpless animal. I die by inches every day just reading about this inhumanity.

Woman in China roasts puppy alive | SingaporeScene - Yahoo! News

Woman in China roasts puppy alive
By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene – Thu, Jun 16, 2011

The Chinese woman is said to have roasted the dog near the entrance of Kengkou market, in Guangzhou. (Screengrab …
A woman in China has been captured on photograph roasting a live puppy over an open fire, using what appears to be a portable stove.

The gruesome incident is reported to have taken place at Kengkou market in Guangzhou, according to an article carried on Chinese website chinaSmack.The woman is seen grilling the live puppy with a pair of tongs, in front of a small crowd, including children. After a while, the dog's body appeared stiff and its skin slightly charred.
Respondents on the website were horrified by her actions.
One user known as VIP posted a comment, "Are you still human? Think for a moment, how would you feel if you were roasted alive/barbecued alive?"
Another who wanted to be known as Love, said, "What's wrong with people these days? They don't even seem like people/human anymore."
This abuse comes hot on the heels of another animal abuse case in Indonesia where live cattle exports were subjected to mistreatment.
On 31 May, it was reported the Australian government suspended live cattle exports to Indonesian abattoirs after a television program showed videos of cattles being unnecessarily whipped and left to bleed to death after their throats were cut using blunt knives.
The videos were recorded by Lyn White, a former police officer and campaign director of the animal welfare group Animals Australia. It is understood that the said abattoirs are located in Jakarta, Bogor, Bandar Lampung and Medan.
It's understood Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered an investigation of slaughterhouses in the country, saying, "We have to highly respect animal welfare."
Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
Warning: Pictures below may be disturbing.

The puppy on the left was roasted by the woman on an open fire. (Screengrab from ww.chinasmack.com)

Two women seen roasting the puppy using what looks like a portable stove. (Screengrab from ww.chinasmack.com)

The woman could be seen roasting the puppy with people watching on including children. (Screengrab from ww.chi …

Heartbreaking Video: Seal Hunt

2011-05-27T10:20:00.000-04:00

Monsters ARE real. They walk upright, on two legs.

Live Chicken Vending Machine

2011-05-14T09:37:00.000-04:00

When shoppers in a Frankfurt shopping center walked up to a curious vending machine called the "Egg Machine," most thought they would be walking away with candy eggs. Instead they came face-to-face with a vending machine filled with live chickens.

The machine was the brainchild of NOAH, an animal rights organization and an advertising agency called Publicis Frankfurt.

The purpose of the clever scheme was to make the public aware of the inhumane living conditions of battery-caged hens.

What You Do Matters

2011-05-13T21:47:00.001-04:00

Jordan Peterson on difficult truth

Published Date: 01/21/2009 | Length: 00:50 |

Jordan Peterson hails from Northern Alberta. He taught at Harvard before he joined the University of Toronto. He is a professor of psychology and a practicing psychologist. Jordan Peterson is the author of Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief, a magisterial study of origins of mythology.(Recorded on June 05,2007)

Jordan Peterson's website

I think this is fascinating

2011-05-13T21:37:00.001-04:00

On Saturday 14th May 2011, @AtheistMission said:

Whoever wrote Genesis is a literary genius. It took U. of T. Psychology Professor Jordan Peterson to convince me of that in a brilliant lecture on the nature of evil and its distinction from tragedy. The lecture was recommended to me by one of the few people in the world who can afford to buy anything they want (i.e. net worth north of 2 billion). The video of the lecture is available here: http://www.tvo.org/TVO/WebObjects/TVO.woa?videoid?24640854001 but I think it is more powerful in audio form. It’s available for free as a podcast on iTunes, just search TVO Big Ideas Jordan Peterson on the nature of evil. Great stuff.

Big Ideas - Jordan Peterson

Published Date: 12/13/2008 | Length: 42:35 |

University of Toronto Professor of Psychology Jordan Peterson discusses the nature of evil and its distinction from tragedy in this lecture presented at the 2008 Conference on Personal Meaning. Also featured are excerpts from Conference lectures presented by Ernesto Spinelli, Senior Fellow at the School of Psychotherapy and Counseling, Regent's College, and Kirk J. Schneider, co-editor of The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology.

Go to episode page

Cross Species Communication

2011-05-12T15:12:00.000-04:00

On The Divine, by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

2011-05-01T19:22:00.000-04:00

Photo: Gate at Buchenwald

NOTE: I very often sit and wonder about 'The Human Condition'. My husband who was literally a Genius would tirelessly indulge me when I would broach the subject again and again and again. He was an Atheist and at the time I was not, I still believed in God. I no longer do. The longer I live and the more wanton destruction of 'life', the capacity of man's cruelty that I see & hear of has crushed my ability to believe that a loving god could possibly exist. -But- that's just my opinion and thoughts on the matter. I Read this poem by Goethe today and the first word that popped into my mind was 'incongruent' . I will say no more.

The slogan: Jedem das Seine (literally "to each his own", but figuratively "everyone gets what he deserves”).

ON THE DIVINE

Let man be noble,
Generous and good;
For that alone
Distinguishes him
From all the living
Beings we know.

Hail to the unknown
Higher beings
Of our intuition!
Let man resemble them;
Let his example
Teach us to believe in them.

For the realm of nature
Is unfeeling;
The sun sheds its light
Over evil and good
And the moon and the stars
Shine on the criminal
As on the best of us.

The wind and the rivers
The hail and the thunder
Storm on their way
And snatch one victim
After another
As they rush past.

So too does blind fortune
Grope through the crowd, now
Seizing a young boy’s
Curly-haired innocence
And now the bald pate
Of the old and guilty.

As great, everlasting,
Adamantine laws
Dictate, we must all
Complete the cycles
Of our existence.

Only mankind
Can do the impossible:
He can distinguish,
He chooses and judges,
He can give permanence
To the moment.

He alone may
Reward the good
And punish the wicked;
He may heal and save
And usefully bind
All that strays and wanders.

And we revere
The immortals, as if
They were human beings
Who do on a great scale
What little the best of us
Does or endeavors.

Let the noble man
Be generous and good,
Tirelessly achieving
What is just and useful:
Let him be a model
For those beings whom he surmises.

Translation (German to English) by David Luke

Video: Elk Playing In A Puddle ~ Animal Emotions

2011-05-01T11:47:00.000-04:00

If the non-human animals is capable of expressing sheer joy in play then it stands to reason they are also capable of feeling dispair....watch this Elk experiencing joy.

How do we justify the horrible things we do to the non-human animal"? I say there is no justification.