further to campaigning against 'Elephant Polo'

[Guest guest]

Dear Azam:

 

It is indisputably true that elephants are treated with great

cruelty in " training " after they are captured from the wild. No

animal advocate could find this acceptable. Christine Townend is not

condoning the capture of elephants from the wild or the training of

elephants for human use. She is only trying to make one form of

elephant use a little less cruel. Until the controversy erupted, I

never heard of elephant polo at all.

 

I would wholeheartedly support a complete ban on the capture

and/or training of elephants for any purpose, but until it is

achieved, I am glad that Christine is doing something - however small

it may seem - to reduce their suffering.

 

While I am an animal RIGHTS advocate, I have no problem

accepting animal welfare measures as long as they do not impede

further progress on the issue or require endorsement of animal

exploitation. It is not clear to me that Christine is doing either.

 

It is very easy for us to call for an end to some

objectionable activity and say that we should all work on it, but

there are relatively few of us and we are all stretched thin.

Whoever can pick up the ball on elephant polo and work for a total

ban has the momentum of the current international protest to ride.

It would seem to me more productive and more of a priority to focus

on elephant polo matches in which elephants are treated cruelly

rather than to try to first stop a less abusive match.

 

Kim Bartlett

 

 

 

> " azam24x7 " <azamsiddiqui

>Delivered-mailing list aapn

>Sun, 15 Oct 2006 05:11:09 -0000

> Public opinion against 'Elephant Polo'

>

>Please find some reactions/ views of the public worldwide with

>regards to seeking a total BAN on the'elephant polo' sport.

>

>It is good to see that although we are divided in our opinions with

>a majority voicing for a NO NO to 'epephant polo' in Jaipur, it is

>also a point to be noted that after Dr. John called out for UNITY,

>even those assisting the 'elephant polo' ( of course in the interest

>of the captive elephants ) have come forward with a much wider

>proposal: To support a total BAN.

>Atleast people are speaking out. Silence is often misunderstood.

>

>I also respect the views of Kim and Merrit ( although it came a

>little late ), and request them to highlight the trauma, terror and

>pain of captive elephants which they have to undergo throughout

>their life after their capture from the wild. These things have been

>documented on video, but they also need the blessings of 'Animal

>People' in a similar way as any other form of animal abuse gets

>space on the esteemed tabloid. I am sure there are much more people

>who instead of getting hooked on to the internet for animal absue

>news, do demend on 'Animal People' as it is quite popular worldwide,

>and because of its free circulation its an excellent tool to spread

>awareness.

>

>Please help us Kim & Merrit !!

>

>

>This is truly very good for all of us working for and with Indian

>animals, as we shall time and again have to carry out the mantra

>of 'NETWORKING' if at all we are to succeed in getting animal

>cruelty abolished from India.

>

>So I personally feel that having voiced our opinions we must not

>take anything personally against any individial or organisation

>since we are on the SAME PLATFORM, and getting the events such

>as 'elephant polo, elephant tug-of-war, elephant mock fights,

>elephant races, elephant dances and all other undignified sporting

>events involving animal abuse scratched of permanantly should be our

>prime objective.

>

>Let us all focus on it.

>

>The lawers, experts and public opinion is with us.

>

>What else are we waiting for ??

>

>Regards,

>

>Azam Siddiqui

>

>

>---

>We are not stopping anyone else trying to impose bans.

>

>Christine Townend,

>Help in Suffering

>

>---

 

--

Kim Bartlett, Publisher of ANIMAL PEOPLE Newspaper

Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 960, Clinton WA 98236 U.S.A.

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