Positive action for cow protection

[Guest guest]

This conference has been in existence since 1993 when I created it. Throughout

its existence, outraged letters have been written and accusations have been

made against the leaders and others about nothing being done for the cows and

the Varnasrama development. I think the most positive result of this conference

was the creation of the Minimum Cow Protection Standards which is now ISKCON

law. But as far as its enforcement, well that job was left to only two people

who are still struggling to get attention to it and how it will help the cows

existence in ISKCON.

 

In short, I am saying talk is cheap and action very expensive to one's personal

lifestyle. Unfortunately I have observed that the very people who are most

outspoken are not often the people who get their hands dirty both in a

psychological sense and in a physical sense to do something for the cows. If we

are really concerned for the cows then take some action. Here are some

suggestions.

 

1) Fund your local cow protection program

2) Participate hands-on in your local cow protection program

3) Protect some cows yourself, but be careful as it is a long term

responsibility (Hrimati is an example- refer to her recent letter)

4) Help the Ministry for cow Protection and Agriculture deal with the disregard

for the cow in various centers. Right now we have no budget and it is mainly

Balabhadra and myself who stand in opposition to some of the most powerful

leaders in regards to their inadequate cow programs.

5) In third world countries like India, parts of Mexico, Africa the cow is

revered and cow protection would not be such a foreign concept to develop. Join

forces to finance, collect donors, etc. to creates such a program. (refer to

Rajaram's recent letter) Contact ISCOWP for further info.

6) Stop drinking milk produced from the cow slaughter industry. Many, many

devotees see no problem in buying this milk. if this is a must for you then at

least follow Madhava Gosh's (many letters on this conference) concept of giving

a certain percentage of your milk cost to your cow protection program.

7) Unite forces. Join forces with other leaders, grass roots devotees who are

already aware of the problems and are engaged in positive implementation

instead of trying to gather all information, curriculum, practices on your own.

Utilize the expertise and experience of other devotees. Cooperate with others

as that was what Srila Prabhupada wanted us to do before he left.

 

There were even more ideas than this discussed on this conference but often

nothing happens. When it comes down to actually doing something,the momentum is

lost for one reason or another. We have tried on the conference to formulate a

land use proposal that would facilitate the cowherds security and no one stuck

with it long enough to get any results. Pancaratna is a good example of trying

to do something positive for cow protection utilizing to some degree the

facility of this conference in his formulation of a cow protection and

community supported agriculture (CSA) in Alachua.

 

I pray that at least all these years possibly some devotees have become

inspired to participate in some way in cow protection through this conference.

Afterall you do not need the leaders to be enthusiastic about cow protection

for you to do something. This should be a matter of the heart and its

connection to Srila Prabhupada's teachings and desires. If it is not your

responsibility to watchguard the leaders then you have the time to do

something practical for the cows.There are so many things wrong with the

structure of ISKCON and attempts to achieve a real permanent change in the

consciousness of the majority of leaders, and therefore the body of devotees,

will take a lot of united long term effort at sometimes great personal costs.

Through this conference we have been also able to fix a few ISKCON cow programs

for a time and then the same practices seep back in simply because the overall

structure is lacking and there is no manpower and funds to maintain the changes

against the forces that be. So to see some real long term changes requires some

real efforts backed by funds, manpower, cooperation as one sees in many non

devotee organizations that are concerned with animal protection.

 

However, the immediate truth is that on an individual level you can do

something positive for the cows or cow right now in a simple way as suggested

above. Perhaps discussions along these lines or examples and stories from those

who are doing something on a personal level would be most encouraging to the

overall body of devotees. In our newsletter we print examples often of projects

or individuals who are making a difference. This last issue we had an article

about the Mysore farm and the Hungary farm. Please visit www.iscowp.com

Go to the news button. Almost all the newsletters are published there with a

great deal of practical knowledge given. The newsletter I am talking about is

the latest one.

 

Your servant,

Chayadevi