ITD Update 16/07/09

[Guest guest]

" It's Their Destiny "

 

News items on Asian animal abuse

 

 

July 16, 2009

 

 

Koreans Protest Dog Eating

Dear Friends,

We are pleased to be able to forward on the following

report from the Korea Times, perhaps a sign that there is hope for the

future. Our congratulations to our Korean colleagues who have campaigned for

so long.

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Concert Consoles Puppies on Dog Day

 

By Park Si-soo

Staff Reporter

 

For human beings, summer is a thrilling season. Millions

of Koreans escape from the hustle-and-bustle of daily life to enjoy their

freedom under the blazing sunshine.

 

For dogs, however, it must be an appalling period as tens

of thousands of chubby dogs are slaughtered for use in an energy-boosting

meal.

 

Any sense of guilty?

 

An inaugural concert for puppies and dogs was held in

Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday.

 

It marks ``Chobok'' ? the first of the so-called dog days

in July-August when dog meat soup called ``boshintang'' is consumed

nationwide as a traditional health food for summer.

 

The concert symbolizes the changing lifestyle of Koreans,

with more and more men refraining from eating dog meat these days out of

concerns at the content of boshintang.

Due to a lack of supply, boshintang sometimes contains

other animal meat, including rabbit and cat. Sometimes ill and stray dogs

are used for boshintang.

 

On the other hand, many young Koreans love to live with

puppies and dogs as pets, and this new generation has grown up without

eating dog soup.

 

A Seoul-based 64-member symphony orchestra and popular

K-pop singers went to Cheongdo, 320 kilometers south of Seoul, to play in

the unprecedented event, hosted by famous comedian Jeon Yoo-sung. Cheongdo

ward office was the sponsor.

 

The 60-year-old comedian, now retired, is well known for

his eccentric and norm-breaking repetoire.

 

``Dogs have sacrificed themselves a lot for humans. But we

have done nothing for them. That's the reason for the event,'' Jeon said.

``I hope this event will help refresh their minds during the stressful

season.''

 

Raising the curtain at 8 p.m. with the ``Light Cavalry

Overture'' composed by Suppe, the orchestra played a variety of classical

and contemporary music pieces, whose themes either originated from dogs or

were helpful in consoling their ``sacrifice.''

 

The concert went on for about two hours under torrential

rain.

 

To enter the venue, small dogs were required to wear a

name tag, while wearing a muzzle was necessary for larger dogs, the office

said.

 

``Among the music played were marching songs such as `Pomp

and Circumstance' composed by Elgar, and others by Beethoven. This is to

keep participating dogs from being disheartened so much during the season,''

Jeon said. ``I am considering making it an annual event.''

 

14/07/09

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/07/117_48448.html

 

 

 

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On another note, most of us have at some time or another

felt the pain of the passing of a pet dog or cat. Our friends at Sirius GAO

(http://sirius.2kat.net) have now opened a forum at

http://sirius.forumotion.com - anyone is welcome to leave a comment,

memorials, or just share thoughts.

 

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Our continued thanks for your support and for caring

enough to want to make a difference.

 

From all the team at ITD

 

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