Guest guest Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 I refer to the email as listed below. I sent the email about Shirley receiving an OBE as a celebration of Shirley's work. Shirley has worked for many many years for primates and other animals and an OBE is a very public recognition of her dedication just as Jill Robinson's MBE was recognition for her work and Marjorie's Wilson (Kangaroo protector in Australia) was a public recognition of her work. I am dismayed that Mr Ghosh is so rude to turn this in an excuse to express his hatred of Prince Philip instead of a celebration of Shirley's work, of Jill's work and Marjorie's work. I attach the following from our last newsletter. From Professor Colin Groves. It is more than 30 years ago that Shirley McGreal founded IPPL, and back then she really was isolated. But she persisted; over the years, she never ceased her fight. Perhaps what began to make a difference was the unerring accuracy of her information; the smugglers and traffickers of primates might be frightened at the threat to their businesses, and the " end users " might be annoyed at having their very rationales questioned, but without exception they had respect for the quality of her sources of information, and this generated a sort of sneaking admiration for her persistence. This award is the most public, the most " mainstream " recognition of what Shirley has done, what her work has come to mean for so many people, and what she has accomplished. Far from isolated, far from the lonely figure she once was -- everybody knows now, if they didn't know before, of the enormous achievements of Dr Shirley McGreal, OBE. Congratulations, Shirley. Very well deserved. These awards are public recognition and it is wonderful that people working for animals can earn the same recognition and awards as people working for people. The three people I know that have been given awards, Shirley, Jill and Marjorie have all earn't them and all of us should be very happy for them and the way that these awards bring their work into recognition with the mainstream public. The plight of animals receive attention when these awards are given out and for that I am grateful. My email was about Shirley not Prince Philip. This is the same as saying Jill's award means nothing and Marjorie's award means nothing. I am sure most people will be dismayed that the good work of these people is used as an excuse to express hatred of Prince Philip instead of celebrating these wonderful people and their work. However I know of 2 people in Australia that used to be hunters. If we had kept criticising these people they may still be hunters. One is now vegan and is helping with anti-vivisection campaigns. The fact that Prince Philip hates the cruelty suffered by animals in the disgusting illegal trade means that there is some compassion there. When he is interested in listening as he is with Shirley McGreal we should make the most of it. The fact that he has some compassion means he may be open to seeing things differently. I for one think Shirley, Jill and Marjorie's work should be celebrated. There are times to express your feelings but when an award is given to someone for the work they do in animal protection, it is wrong to use that to express hatred instead of saying to these people, Thanks for a job well done mate. Lyn .. - Lynette Shanley Cc: AAPN List Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:56 PM Re: Fw: primfocus: Dr McGreal honoured at Buckingham Palace Dr Shirley McGreal has achieved wonders and richly deserves all the congralations one could offer. But her association with the British Royal family, especially having Prince Philip as the patron of IPPL is mysterious. The British Royal family, historically has been involved in so many abusive activities concerning humans and animals, that one is left wondering whether one should glorify their patronage of animal welfare. Prince Philip has been described by The Times newspaper as " the most tireless killer " having shot hundreds and thousands of animals throughout his royal career. His disregard of basic human rights is so flagrant that it is accepted even by a wide section of the British community that he is an embarrassment to England and a shame on humanity. Royal concern for animals or humans has more to do with enhancement of personal status and prestige than a genuine move towards justice or equality of all living creatures. Royals, by their very nature, are against democratic principles so they would themselves be genuinely threatened by any movement that would strive for equality of all humans and all living beings. That they survive in today's age is a testament to the unfair means employed by them to cling on to power. For some, like the Nepali Royal family, time has run out. Others like the British Royal family are trying to convince commoners of their worth by endorsing charitable activities. I have great admiration for Dr Shirley McGreal for her animal welfare and conservation work but have little regard for the royal patronage of her activities. On 6/17/08, Lynette Shanley <lynetteshanley wrote: Since Dr McGreal helps so many Asian groups I thought you would like to read this. - " Jean Martin " Wednesday, June 11, 2008 4:59 AM primfocus: Dr McGreal honoured at Buckingham Palace > Dr. McGreal was presented with an OBE (Order of the British Empire) at a > ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 4 2008. Queen Elizabeth presented > the > award. She spoke with Shirley and asked her about her work with primates > and > about the wonderful gibbon necklace which Shirley always wears. > > Two days before the Investiture there was an exciting phone call from > Major > Richard Maundrell, equerry-in-waiting to the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince > Philip had requested a private meeting with Shirley. > > Before the ceremony Shirley had a 20- minute meeting with the prince. They > discussed previous cases in which Prince Philip had worked with Shirley, > like the Bangkok 6 orangutans. He had written a wonderful letter to the > judge to request that the case be prosecuted fully. They also discussed > contemporary issues involving primates, including the emergence of China > as > a major supplier of primates to laboratories. > > The IPPL team came early to the palace. We were all given a tour of many > areas where the public does not get admitted. There were many beautiful > state rooms, full of magnificent historical portraits. For the investiture > ceremony the IPPL team had front row seats. It was spectacular to see the > Gurkha guards leading the queen in, just a few feet away from us. The > queen > looks wonderful. She wore a beautiful lime green dress with no hat! Just > under 100 people were invested and the room was packed. Each person was > spoken to by the queen. There was a background of live military band music > for the ceremony. > > After the investiture the IPPL team had a private meeting with Major > Maundrell and Brigadier Miles Hunt Davis who is private secretary to the > Duke of Edinburgh. > > There was a photo session after the event was over. > > This is a well-deserved honour. It is great to see people who have done a > lifetime of work with primates being honoured. Shirley was the only > representative from animal welfare who was honoured at this ceremony. > > There was a report of the Investiture in the Times, the well-known London > newspaper. > > From The Times > http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article4068275.\ ece > > June 5, 2008 > > Court Circular: June 5 > > Buckingham Palace > > 4th June, 2008 > > The Queen held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace this morning. > > The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP (Prime Minister and First Lord of the > Treasury) > had an audience of The Queen this evening. > > The Duke of Edinburgh, President Emeritus, World Wide Fund for Nature - > International, this morning received Dr. Shirley McGreal (Chairman, > International Primate Protection League). > > Jean Martin > Lantzville BC > > _____________ > Primfocus mailing list > Primfocus > https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/primfocus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 I am equally dismayed to find out someone trying to deny the reality of the British Royal family's brutal hunting record. In my message, I have clearly stated my admiration for Dr McGreal's work but expressed reservations about her association with Prince Philip, a point that I reiterate. I mentioned nothing about Jill's work and in fact I have personally discussed the MBE recognition with her and am satisfied with her explanation as to why she accepted the honour. Ms Lynette Shanley, in her anger, drags Jill's name, I did not and consciously so. Whereas some people laud royal honours and crave for them, there are others who question its origin and have been bold enough to reject it for its imperial undertones. One of the most notable animal rights activists who has rejected royal honours is the British poet Benjamin Zephaniah whom I have met and interviewed. When I asked him about his rejection of the royal award, he told me that he wrote to give pleasure to people and not to win awards. I hereby append for your perusal, Benjamin Zephaniah's article in the Guardian where he explains why he rejected the honour. Carla Lane has also returned her OBE to protest the British government's treatment of animals. In England, there is an ongoing discussion to change the name of the royal award since it mentions the British Empire that is synonymous with exploitation and human rights abuse. The British MP George Galloway has eloquently mentioned that it is a shame that today an award is being given to commemorate the Empire that signified so much that is considered antiquated in this enlightened age. N number of accolades for an individual winning a royal award cannot change the fact that Prince Philip is a monster and I have said so and I say it again. Any kind of association with him is open to question and scrutiny. And the attached article by Benjamin Zephaniah proves that I am not alone in questioning the nature of royalty and the dubious nature of the awards granted by them. I think it is extremely sad that Ms Lynette Shanley has construed a portrayal of reality, ie., calling a spade a spade, as rudeness. Thankfully, there are people like Benjamin Zephaniah who do not consider hobnobbing with royalty as a special privilege and recognition. http://www.benjaminzephaniah.com/content/174.php ARTICLE: 'Me? I thought, OBE me? Up yours, I thought' Read the The Guardian article and my thanks to all those who supported me, and my reply to Trevor Phillips who criticised my rejection of an OBE *The Guardian, Thursday November 27, 2003* *An invitation to the palace to accept a New Year honour...you must be joking. Benjamin Zephaniah won't be going. Here he explains why.* I woke up on the morning of November 13 wondering how the government could be overthrown and what could replace it, and then I noticed a letter from the prime minister's office. It said: " The prime minister has asked me to inform you, in strict confidence, that he has in mind, on the occasion of the forthcoming list of New Year's honours to submit your name to the Queen with a recommendation that Her Majesty may be graciously pleased to approve that you be appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire. " Me? I thought, OBE me? Up yours, I thought. I get angry when I hear that word " empire " ; it reminds me of slavery, it reminds of thousands of years of brutality, it reminds me of how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised. It is because of this concept of empire that my British education led me to believe that the history of black people started with slavery and that we were born slaves, and should therefore be grateful that we were given freedom by our caring white masters. It is because of this idea of empire that black people like myself don't even know our true names or our true historical culture. I am not one of those who are obsessed with their roots, and I'm certainly not suffering from a crisis of identity; my obsession is about the future and the political rights of all people. Benjamin Zephaniah OBE - no way Mr Blair, no way Mrs Queen. I am profoundly anti-empire. There's something very strange about receiving a letter from Tony Blair's office asking me if I want to accept this award. In the past couple of months I've been on Blair's doorstep a few times. I have begged him to come out and meet me; I have been longing for a conversation with him, but he won't come out, and now here he is asking me to meet him at the palace! I was there with a million people on February 15, and the last time I was there was just a couple of weeks ago. My cousin, Michael Powell, was arrested and taken to Thornhill Road police station in Birmingham where he died. Now, I know how he died. The whole of Birmingham knows how he died, but in order to get this article published and to be politically (or journalistically) correct, I have to say that he died in suspicious circumstances. The police will not give us any answers. We have not seen or heard anything of all the reports and investigations we were told were going to take place. Now, all that my family can do is join with all the other families who have lost members while in custody because no one in power is listening to us. Come on Mr Blair, I'll meet you anytime. Let's talk about your Home Office, let's talk about being tough on crime. This OBE thing is supposed to be for my services to literature, but there are a whole lot of writers who are better than me, and they're not involved in the things that I'm involved in. All they do is write; I spend most of my time doing other things. If they want to give me one of these empire things, why can't they give me one for my work in animal rights? Why can't they give me one for my struggle against racism? What about giving me one for all the letters I write to innocent people in prisons who have been framed? I may just consider accepting some kind of award for my services on behalf of the millions of people who have stood up against the war in Iraq. It's such hard work - much harder than writing poems. And hey, if Her Majesty may be graciously pleased to lay all that empire stuff on me, why can't she write to me herself. Let's cut out the middleman - she knows me. The last time we met, it was at a concert I was hosting. She came backstage to meet me. That didn't bother me; lots of people visit my dressing room after performances. Me and the South African performers I was working with that night thought it rather funny that we had a royal groupie. She's a bit stiff but she's a nice old lady. Let me make it clear: I have nothing against her or the royal family. It is the institution of the monarchy that I loathe so very much, the monarchy that still refuses to apologise for sanctioning slavery. There is a part of me that hopes that after writing this article I shall never be considered as a Poet Laureate or an OBE sucker again. Let this put an end to it. This may lose me some of my writing friends; some people may never want to work with me again, but the truth is I think OBEs compromise writers and poets, and laureates suddenly go soft - in the past I've even written a poem, Bought and Sold, saying that. There are many black writers who love OBEs, it makes them feel like they have made it. When it suits them, they embrace the struggle against the ruling class and the oppression they visit upon us, but then they join the oppressors' club. They are so easily seduced into the great house of Babylon known as the palace. For them, a wonderful time is meeting the Queen and bowing before her presence. I was shocked to see how many of my fellow writers jumped at the opportunity to go to Buckingham Palace when the Queen had her " meet the writers day " on July 9 2002, and I laughed at the pathetic excuses writers gave for going. " I did it for my mum " ; " I did it for my kids " ; " I did it for the school " ; " I did it for the people " , etc. I have even heard black writers who have collected OBEs saying that it is " symbolic of how far we have come " . Oh yes, I say, we've struggled so hard just to get a minute with the Queen and we are so very grateful - not. I've never heard of a holder of the OBE openly criticising the monarchy. They are officially friends, and that's what this cool Britannia project is about. It gives OBEs to cool rock stars, successful businesswomen and blacks who would be militant in order to give the impression that it is inclusive. Then these rock stars, successful women, and ex-militants write to me with the OBE after their name as if I should be impressed. I'm not. Quite the opposite - you've been had. Writers and artists who see themselves as working outside the establishment are constantly being accused of selling out as soon as they have any kind of success. I've been called a sell-out for selling too many books, for writing books for children, for performing at the Royal Albert Hall, for going on Desert Island Discs, and for appearing on the Parkinson show. But I want to reach as many people as possible without compromising the content of my work. What continues to be my biggest deal with the establishment must be my work with the British Council, of which, ironically, the Queen is patron. I have no problem with this. It has never told me what to say, or what not to say. I have always been free to criticise the government and even the council itself. This is what being a poet is about. Most importantly, through my work with the council I am able to show the world what Britain is really about in terms of our arts, and I am able to partake in the type of political and cultural intercourse which is not possible in the mainstream political arena. I have no problem representing the reality of our multiculturalism, which may sometimes mean speaking about the way my cousin Michael died in a police station. But then, I am also at ease letting people know that our music scene is more than what they hear in the charts, and that British poetry is more than Wordsworth, or even Motion. I have no problem with all of this because this is about us and what we do. It is about what happens on the streets of our country and not in the palace or at No 10. Me, OBE? Whoever is behind this offer can never have read any of my work. Why don't they just give me some of those great African works of art that were taken in the name of the empire and let me return them to their rightful place? You can't fool me, Mr Blair. You want to privatise us all; you want to send us to war. You stay silent when we need you to speak for us, preferring to be the voice of the US. You have lied to us, and you continue to lie to us, and you have poured the working-class dream of a fair, compassionate, caring society down the dirty drain of empire. Stick it, Mr Blair - and Mrs Queen, stop going on about the empire. Let's do something else. On 6/18/08, Lynette Shanley <lynetteshanley wrote: > > I refer to the email as listed below. > > I sent the email about Shirley receiving an OBE as a celebration of > Shirley's work. Shirley has worked for many many years for primates and > other animals and an OBE is a very public recognition of her dedication just > as Jill Robinson's MBE was recognition for her work and Marjorie's Wilson > (Kangaroo protector in Australia) was a public recognition of her work. > > I am dismayed that Mr Ghosh is so rude to turn this in an excuse to express > his hatred of Prince Philip instead of a celebration of Shirley's work, of > Jill's work and Marjorie's work. > > I attach the following from our last newsletter. > From Professor Colin Groves. > It is more than 30 years ago that Shirley McGreal founded IPPL, and back > then she really was isolated. But she persisted; over the years, she never > ceased her fight. Perhaps what began to make a difference was the unerring > accuracy of her information; the smugglers and traffickers of primates might > be frightened at the threat to their businesses, and the " end users " might > be annoyed at having their very rationales questioned, but without exception > they had respect for the quality of her sources of information, and this > generated a sort of sneaking admiration for her persistence. > > This award is the most public, the most " mainstream " recognition of what > Shirley has done, what her work has come to mean for so many people, and > what she has accomplished. Far from isolated, far from the lonely figure she > once was -- everybody knows now, if they didn't know before, of the enormous > achievements of Dr Shirley McGreal, OBE. > > Congratulations, Shirley. Very well deserved. > > These awards are public recognition and it is wonderful that people working > for animals can earn the same recognition and awards as people working for > people. The three people I know that have been given awards, Shirley, Jill > and Marjorie have all earn't them and all of us should be very happy for > them and the way that these awards bring their work into recognition with > the mainstream public. The plight of animals receive attention when these > awards are given out and for that I am grateful. My email was about Shirley > not Prince Philip. This is the same as saying Jill's award means nothing and > Marjorie's award means nothing. I am sure most people will be dismayed that > the good work of these people is used as an excuse to express hatred of > Prince Philip instead of celebrating these wonderful people and their work. > > However I know of 2 people in Australia that used to be hunters. If we had > kept criticising these people they may still be hunters. One is now vegan > and is helping with anti-vivisection campaigns. The fact that Prince Philip > hates the cruelty suffered by animals in the disgusting illegal trade means > that there is some compassion there. When he is interested in listening as > he is with Shirley McGreal we should make the most of it. The fact that he > has some compassion means he may be open to seeing things differently. > > I for one think Shirley, Jill and Marjorie's work should be celebrated. > There are times to express your feelings but when an award is given to > someone for the work they do in animal protection, it is wrong to use that > to express hatred instead of saying to these people, Thanks for a job well > done mate. > > Lyn > > . - > > > Lynette Shanley > Cc: AAPN List > Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:56 PM > Re: Fw: primfocus: Dr McGreal honoured at Buckingham Palace > > Dr Shirley McGreal has achieved wonders and richly deserves all the > congralations one could offer. But her association with the British Royal > family, especially having Prince Philip as the patron of IPPL is mysterious. > The British Royal family, historically has been involved in so many abusive > activities concerning humans and animals, that one is left wondering whether > one should glorify their patronage of animal welfare. Prince Philip has been > described by The Times newspaper as " the most tireless killer " having shot > hundreds and thousands of animals throughout his royal career. His disregard > of basic human rights is so flagrant that it is accepted even by a wide > section of the British community that he is an embarrassment to England and > a shame on humanity. Royal concern for animals or humans has more to do with > enhancement of personal status and prestige than a genuine move towards > justice or equality of all living creatures. Royals, by their very nature, > are against democratic principles so they would themselves be genuinely > threatened by any movement that would strive for equality of all humans and > all living beings. That they survive in today's age is a testament to the > unfair means employed by them to cling on to power. For some, like the > Nepali Royal family, time has run out. Others like the British Royal family > are trying to convince commoners of their worth by endorsing charitable > activities. I have great admiration for Dr Shirley McGreal for her animal > welfare and conservation work but have little regard for the royal patronage > of her activities. > > On 6/17/08, Lynette Shanley <lynetteshanley<lynetteshanley%40aapt.net.au>> > wrote: > Since Dr McGreal helps so many Asian groups I thought you would like to > read > this. > > - > " Jean Martin " > Wednesday, June 11, 2008 4:59 AM > primfocus: Dr McGreal honoured at Buckingham Palace > > > Dr. McGreal was presented with an OBE (Order of the British Empire) at a > > ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 4 2008. Queen Elizabeth presented > > the > > award. She spoke with Shirley and asked her about her work with primates > > and > > about the wonderful gibbon necklace which Shirley always wears. > > > > Two days before the Investiture there was an exciting phone call from > > Major > > Richard Maundrell, equerry-in-waiting to the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince > > Philip had requested a private meeting with Shirley. > > > > Before the ceremony Shirley had a 20- minute meeting with the prince. > They > > discussed previous cases in which Prince Philip had worked with Shirley, > > like the Bangkok 6 orangutans. He had written a wonderful letter to the > > judge to request that the case be prosecuted fully. They also discussed > > contemporary issues involving primates, including the emergence of China > > as > > a major supplier of primates to laboratories. > > > > The IPPL team came early to the palace. We were all given a tour of many > > areas where the public does not get admitted. There were many beautiful > > state rooms, full of magnificent historical portraits. For the > investiture > > ceremony the IPPL team had front row seats. It was spectacular to see the > > Gurkha guards leading the queen in, just a few feet away from us. The > > queen > > looks wonderful. She wore a beautiful lime green dress with no hat! Just > > under 100 people were invested and the room was packed. Each person was > > spoken to by the queen. There was a background of live military band > music > > for the ceremony. > > > > After the investiture the IPPL team had a private meeting with Major > > Maundrell and Brigadier Miles Hunt Davis who is private secretary to the > > Duke of Edinburgh. > > > > There was a photo session after the event was over. > > > > This is a well-deserved honour. It is great to see people who have done a > > lifetime of work with primates being honoured. Shirley was the only > > representative from animal welfare who was honoured at this ceremony. > > > > There was a report of the Investiture in the Times, the well-known London > > newspaper. > > > > From The Times > > > http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article4068275.\ ece > > > > June 5, 2008 > > > > Court Circular: June 5 > > > > Buckingham Palace > > > > 4th June, 2008 > > > > The Queen held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace this morning. > > > > The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP (Prime Minister and First Lord of the > > Treasury) > > had an audience of The Queen this evening. > > > > The Duke of Edinburgh, President Emeritus, World Wide Fund for Nature - > > International, this morning received Dr. Shirley McGreal (Chairman, > > International Primate Protection League). > > > > Jean Martin > > Lantzville BC > > > > _____________ > > Primfocus mailing list > > Primfocus <Primfocus%40waste.org> > > https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/primfocus > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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