Elephant polo update

[Guest guest]

Dear AAPN colleagues,

In the three weeks that have

ensued since the beginning of the Elephant Polo discussion, there have been

numerous e-mails posted on AAPN and I have personally received many

messages. Some of these messages have been extremely moving in their

spontaneity, depth of understanding and contemplativeness. Some people have

also taken the trouble to make long distance calls and ask questions to

clarify the issues surrounding this event. I am thankful to all those who

have taken time and trouble to show concern on this event. I am also

grateful to those who have either supported the polo event or clearly stated

that they are not taking a stance. In any discussion or debate, it is

important to see both sides of the coin and essential not to shoot the

messenger for the truth to prevail.

Some pertinent questions have been asked that I felt the need to

collectively address. Some of you have expressed concern if this matter is

restricted within AAPN. The answer is no, the matter has gone way beyond the

limits of AAPN. Each and every relevant message on this subject has been

forwarded to the organisers as well as all the relevant authorities who have

written to the organisers asking them to desist from participating in this

event. Unfortunately, it seems that the organisers are determined to go

ahead with this game come hell or high water.

At this point of time, I am not sure if there is going to be any

litigation concerning this event although there is no way one could rule it

out. There are still three weeks to go and anything may happen. At the

moment, we have to wait and watch.

For all of you who have come out in opposition of this event, please be

assured that the organisers are well aware of the fact that litigation or no

litigation, match or no match, they are on a sticky wicket. They know it as

well as we do, that the real game might actually only begin after November

18th if they decide to go ahead with the match since the singular event, no

matter how glamorous, is not enough in itself, to tackle the captive

elephant issue in India.

I also want to make it clear that I do not believe in majority status

being necessarily right. Indeed, my individual stance on several issues(eg.,

religion, evolution) puts me in a minority. But in this case, I have found

no rational reason to support the use of elephants in sport for fund raising

when there are any number of alternative and more efficient methods to do

so. What is good about this debate is that animal welfare activists, animal

rights activists and conservationists have come in union. This is something

which we have discussed on AAPN, ie., how congruent or divergent the goals

of rights, welfare and conservation are. What is sad is that the contentious

event has been undertaken by an animal welfare organisation, regardless

of how benign the intention.

It is also remarkable that this debate has generated academic interest in

the topic of elephant polo and Azam's commendable effort in putting up a

website in very short time has generated a lot of academic intrigue. As the

Roman poet Horace mentioned two thousand years ago, " Atque inter silvas

Academi quarere verum. " (And thou shall seek the truth in the groves of

Academe).(Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Epistularum liber secundus)(Horace,

Epistles, II).

Best wishes and kind regards,

 

Yours

sincerely,

 

 

Ghosh

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Indeed, I am thankful too to all of those who have voiced their

opinions with regards to this 'elephant polo' match.

This support not only proves that 'elephant polo' with/without

ankush is a wrong thing, but also has made it very clear as to 'WHY'

it is wrong.

 

There has been such wonderful opinions and comments from experts who

understand elephants and have been working with them for years and

speak with full integrity and first hand experience.

These people are not self styled experts overnite.

 

Therefore, since there was not much written on the negative aspects

of 'elephant polo' for captive elephant rights,in the internet, it

was very much essential to get to hear from the experts. Experts not

only for elephant rights, but experts who have hand reared

elephants, researchers who have focussed on elephant trauma etc.

 

 

So now having heard them and having gathered 100% support, we feel

even if the 'elephant polo' match is given a go ahead this time it

shall be a VICTORY for all of us UNITED AGAINST ELEPHANT POLO.

Victory because we now know what is Right and what is Wrong !

The sad part is that perhaps the 'captive jumbos' may have to go

through the trauma this time as the organisers have showed almost NO

signs of backing out. After all it may not be easy for them too as

many things may have to be looked upon.

It has got the State Government of Rajasthan involved. A

multinational 'Cartier' has committed to sponsoring it. Lots of

funds are perhaps being processed. It is not easy to disappoint

Royal Guests. And ofcourse this event has been advertised very

intelligently through the news media both by the organisers and

the 'cruelty free ele-polo people', so that takes care of the

tourism industry too.

 

We the 'United against Elephant Polo' are against media publicity as

far as this divide is concerned, simply because we should not let it

out to the press and media that there are cracks within ourselves.

We must remember that it takes generations to get things right but a

simple mistake is enough to ruin the entire Goodwill we have created

in a lifetime. We have to be careful as the captive elephant abuse

lobby, circus industry could be eyeing for every opportunity which

can help them resurface once again.

 

Let us keep the effort united as 'Tough times never last'.

This is the begining and the end may not be too far.

Please do keep your opinions comming in to AAPN.

Thanks,

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

 

> grateful to those who have either supported the polo event or

clearly stated

> that they are not taking a stance. In any discussion or debate, it

is

> important to see both sides of the coin and essential not to shoot

the

> messenger for the truth to prevail.

 

 

aapn , " "

wrote:

>

> Dear AAPN colleagues,

> In the three weeks that

have

> ensued since the beginning of the Elephant Polo discussion, there

have been

> numerous e-mails posted on AAPN and I have personally received many

> messages. Some of these messages have been extremely moving in

their

> spontaneity, depth of understanding and contemplativeness. Some

people have

> also taken the trouble to make long distance calls and ask

questions to

> clarify the issues surrounding this event. I am thankful to all

those who

> have taken time and trouble to show concern on this event. I am

also

> grateful to those who have either supported the polo event or

clearly stated

> that they are not taking a stance. In any discussion or debate, it

is

> important to see both sides of the coin and essential not to shoot

the

> messenger for the truth to prevail.

> Some pertinent questions have been asked that I felt the need to

> collectively address. Some of you have expressed concern if this

matter is

> restricted within AAPN. The answer is no, the matter has gone way

beyond the

> limits of AAPN. Each and every relevant message on this subject

has been

> forwarded to the organisers as well as all the relevant

authorities who have

> written to the organisers asking them to desist from participating

in this

> event. Unfortunately, it seems that the organisers are determined

to go

> ahead with this game come hell or high water.

> At this point of time, I am not sure if there is going to be any

> litigation concerning this event although there is no way one

could rule it

> out. There are still three weeks to go and anything may happen. At

the

> moment, we have to wait and watch.

> For all of you who have come out in opposition of this event,

please be

> assured that the organisers are well aware of the fact that

litigation or no

> litigation, match or no match, they are on a sticky wicket. They

know it as

> well as we do, that the real game might actually only begin after

November

> 18th if they decide to go ahead with the match since the singular

event, no

> matter how glamorous, is not enough in itself, to tackle the

captive

> elephant issue in India.

> I also want to make it clear that I do not believe in majority

status

> being necessarily right. Indeed, my individual stance on several

issues(eg.,

> religion, evolution) puts me in a minority. But in this case, I

have found

> no rational reason to support the use of elephants in sport for

fund raising

> when there are any number of alternative and more efficient

methods to do

> so. What is good about this debate is that animal welfare

activists, animal

> rights activists and conservationists have come in union. This is

something

> which we have discussed on AAPN, ie., how congruent or divergent

the goals

> of rights, welfare and conservation are. What is sad is that the

contentious

> event has been undertaken by an animal welfare organisation,

regardless

> of how benign the intention.

> It is also remarkable that this debate has generated academic

interest in

> the topic of elephant polo and Azam's commendable effort in

putting up a

> website in very short time has generated a lot of academic

intrigue. As the

> Roman poet Horace mentioned two thousand years ago, " Atque inter

silvas

> Academi quarere verum. " (And thou shall seek the truth in the

groves of

> Academe).(Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Epistularum liber secundus)

(Horace,

> Epistles, II).

> Best wishes and kind regards,

>

>

Yours

> sincerely,

>

>

> Ghosh

>

>

>