Purrs 4 Peace - Year Two - Announcement: Human and Animal Rights Declared

Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace. 
--Albert Schweitzer

In June of 2009, the Purrs 4 Peace project began with an idea…a flight of imagination…a dream of a headline:

Peace breaks out...attributed to simultaneous purring of cats worldwide.

Well why couldn’t it happen? We all have observed the instant calming effect inspired by the purring of cats. So began 52 weeks of simultaneous purring by cats and honorary cats worldwide for the sake of Peace.

To usher in the PEACE we purred about causes and barriers to PEACE.For eradication of puppy mills and catteries we purred. To stop War we purred. Ending the barbarity of dog fighting we purred. For the victims of natural and unnatural disaster we purred…….And while I believe we have done much good and sent a mighty force of positive energy into the universe, we have not yet achieved world peace. And since humans obviously cannot achieve PEACE on their own, I hereby announce YEAR TWO of the Purrs 4 Peace project.

Year 2 of the Purrs 4 Peace project will take place on the first Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. Eastern (in the United States) for 12 months.

In considering this second year it occurred to me that the root of much of the lack of PEACE in this world is a failure to recognize and respect each other Therefore, I make my Declaration of Fundamental Human and Animal Rights.

We (Mummy and I) hold these truths to be self-evident, that all humans and ANIMALS are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights….

FIRST among these is the right to LIFE……..

This month we purr RESPECT for the right of all animals and humans to merely LIVE! Let’s purr for life.

The appointed time is Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 3 p.m. Eastern (United States time) which is 8 p.m. in the U.K.

Participants should purr for three minutes.

The cat’s human staff should assist their cats with the project by stroking, nuzzling and generally catering to their cat.

Please post purrs if possible online on twitter (@ConfuciusCat), or on Facebook (as your status or on the wall of Ally Mason). You may also post purrs here or on the wall of the Facebook event page created by the Acolytes of Confucius Cat group. Please include the name of the cat and the country in which you purr.

Spread the meow to all your cat friends. One year of simultaneous purring. Surely if we give it our all we can achieve Peace in the world through the greatness of Cat.

Peace * Paix * Frieden * Vrede * Pace * Fred* Paz * Shalom * Salaam * Om Shanti * Heddwch * Síochán * 和平

Purrs 4 Peace Week 24: Choosing Role Models Who Choose Life

This week we purr for the end to the practice of hunting for sport.

One important way we can all encourage the end of this evil is in the role models we put upon our society’s pedestals and allow to flourish. Take for example a woman who is to many a role model who is loved and respected for her “Pro Life” stance: Sarah Palin. Putting aside any consideration of her other opinions and whether we and our families are Republican or Democrat, Mrs. Palin’s views on animals and hunting in my opinion provide all we need to decide she is UNFIT to be admired and we as a society should send her into obscurity at the earliest opportunity.

Sarah Palin, as we know, is proud of her ability to kill animals, bragging about shooting wolves from a helicopter. She exhibits a childhood photo of herself skinning a seal in her recently released book, Going Rogue. Moreover, the following quote has been attributed to that book: “if any vegetarians came over for dinner, I could whip them up a salad, then explain my philosophy on being a carnivore. If God had not intended for us to eat animals, how come He made them out of meat?”

In fact the Bible states humans and animals are equal and mankind has no advantage over the beasts (Eccles. 3:19).

Moreover, as to vegetarianism, Paul said “I will never eat meat any more, for I will not be the cause of my brothers’ downfall.” (1st Cor. 8:13. “The right thing to do is to keep from eating meat, drinking wine or doing anything else that will make other believers fall. (Romans 14:21.)

Her book is also quoted saying: “I love animals....next to the mashed potatoes.”

We may not all be vegetarians, but we should at least respect the life given in exchange for our food.

There are many Republicans who love and respect animals. There are many Democrats who do not. I hope my Republican friends do not feel I attack all Republicans or conservatives by criticizing Mrs. Palin because that is not my reason or my goal. She is mentioned here because she is currently promoting a book with anti-animal rights views.

I hope that whether we are Republican, Democrat, Independent, or any other affiliation that we will insist that our role models are those who exhibit a love of ALL LIFE. Those who respect and have compassion for animals.

2:59 p.m. Get ready to Purrrrrrrr.

SET.

3:00 P.M.

Confucius Cat say: GO!

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr,. Purrrrr,purrrrrr.....

Purrrrringgggggggg....See your purrs a cool breeze, quenching hate, calming fears , soothing pain.

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr....

Purrrrrrrrrrr, purrrrrrrrrrrr, purrrrrr Imagine respect for ALL life blooming in every heart.

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, See any who would hunt animals laying down their guns.

Purrrrrrrrrr..... Compassion, Empathy, Love, Kindness, Life triumph over Ambivalence, Arrogance, Hate, Negligence and Death.

Peace * Paix * Frieden * Vrede * Pace * Paz * Shalom * Salaam * Om Shanti * 和平

Purrs 4 Peace- Week 17 - Rescue the animals too.

Welcome to week 17 of Purrs 4 Peace. Happy World Animal Day!

This is a project with a dream: that we can change the world with our purrs.

Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole [of] nature in its beauty. ~Albert Einstein

With global climate change, the number and severity of natural disasters is increasing. Hurricanes, tornados, floods, drought, wildfires... the list goes on. We in the U.S. remember well Katrina and last year’s hurricane on the gulf coast. Recently, the Philippines experienced the worst flooding in 40 years. And in the last week we have all heard about the devastation in Samoa and Sumatra. Not only humans have been affected. Thousands of animals have been left dead or trapped. Animals are stranded, injured, hungry, homeless, and alone. While the human tragedy isn’t to be minimized and I am concerned about the rescue and recovery of human victims, I am particularly touched by the poignancy of the stories of the animals who are routinely left out of evacuation, shelter and rescue efforts. For example, the animals who perished because they were chained to a post. They never had a chance.

Subsequent to Katrina some movement has been made in the U.S. to legislate emergency preparedness planning that includes animals, but mostly it is left to individuals and animal rescue organizations to help the innocent tiny beings caught up in these disasters.

What can we do? We can:

• Support rescue and recovery efforts financially with reputable animal rescue organizations.
• Advocate for effective evacuation, shelter and rescue planning in your community that includes animals.
• Prepare your own household for possible emergency. The wonderful humans and animals at www.ourcatablog.blogspot.com have a fabulous and informative post today on how you can help plan for an emergency. I urge you to check it out.
• Increase our own efforts to take care of planet Earth and insist our governments do the same.

As to this last point, I will note that some doubt that global climate change is the result of human pollution of the earth. Others say that only by humans changing their polluting habits can we hope to stop or reverse global climate change. No matter what we each believe, I think we can all agree that taking care of the planet we have been given is in itself a good thing to do. Therefore, the household of Confucius cat will try to: 1. reduce, reuse, recycle. 2. use less heat and AC 3. replace regular light bulb with compact florescent bulbs. 4. drive the automobile less. 5. buy energy-efficient products. 6. use less hot water 7. plant trees and 8. turn off electricity when not in use.

2:59 p.m. Get ready to Purrrrrrrr.

SET.

3:00 p.m.

Confucius Cat say: GO!

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr,

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr... Purrrrrrrrrrrrr.... See your purrs as a hand reaching toward the victims. Pulling them out of entrapment, ending their pain, alleviating their suffering.

Purrrrrrrrrinnnnnnggggg for rescue of every victim, Purr for recovery of those injured. Purr for revitalization of the communities. #purrs4peace

Purrrrringgggg. See your purrs providing food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless, care to the injured.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Purring.... See your purrs fortifying the rescuers, bringing abundance to those who help the victims, animal and human.

Purrrrrrrrrrr. Imagine all animals in harm’s way protected, all stranded animals rescued. #purrs4peace.

Purrrrrrrrr. Imagine all injured animals healed, all lost animals reunited, all abandoned animal sheltered in loving homes. #purrs4peace

Purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purr

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. See your purrs working in every human mind and heart impressing on them the need for planning that protects all life in the event of disaster.

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, ........... purr protection, purr safety, purr rescue, purr recovery, purr revitalization, purr planning, purr peace.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......

Purrs 4 Peace- Week 16: Sanctuary for the Innocent

According to on-line statistics, over 70 million animals in the United States alone are subjected to animal testing each year. They are scalded, poisoned, blinded, maimed, and genetically manipulated. They endure traumatic injury, live vivisection and more in the name of science and research. Mice, rats, rabbits, apes dogs and cats...each a living, feeling, being who suffers fear and pain.

In the opinion of Confucius Cat, animal testing should be banned. These tests are CRUEL. Most are performed without painkillers. Most result in permanent injury and death. When a small number of humans subject animals to this pain and suffering, they create a stain of guilt upon the whole human race. ANIMALS HAVE RIGHTS and are not placed on this earth for the use of humans. There can be no peace in the world while the pain of these animals cries out into the universe. Worse, most of these tests NOT NECESSARY since they are done merely to protect commercial companies from lawsuit. Moreover, the same tests may be performed by multiple companies who do not share information. The tragedy of this is compounded by the fact that animal tests are NOT RELIABLE. Humans are different from animals. So a medicine or cosmetic that is safe and effective for animals may not be safe or reliable in humans. (See www.BUAV.org). Moreover, there are effective ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL TESTING such as human volunteers. (See www.stopanimalstest.com). These alternatives are often less expensive and more reliable.

This week’s purrs are dedicated to stopping the practice of “pound seizures” which is the selling of cats and dogs by animal shelters. That pets who were supposed to be protected within SHELTERS should be subjected to the torture of animal testing and research is unconscionable. Animal shelters should be a sanctuary. A place where the dogs and cats can be safe until their forever home is found.

"If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals."
-- Albert Einstein

11:59 a.m. Get ready to Purrrrrrrr.

SET.

12:00 p.m.

Confucius Cat say: GO!

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr,

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr... Inside you love and compassion grows as the lava builds inside the volcano. Molten love and compassion flowing through you and then into the universe.

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, Purring.... See that love and compassion touching each and every suffering animal, soothing their pain, comforting their fears.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrr. With your purrs speak to the hearts of all who are meant to provide homes. Your purrs are leading and guiding them to find their homeless furry children.

Purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr,

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Imagine every cat and dog living in a loving, safe and nurturing home.

Purrrrrr.purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr...Imagine the headline: Scientific community declares animal testing obsolete. Government bans antiquated practice.

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, ........... purr compassion, purr protection, purr safety, purr adoption, purr belonging, purr love, purr peace.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......

Purrs 4 Peace- Week 16 Announcement - "Shelters" should live up to their name.

Atrocities are not less atrocities when they occur in laboratories and are called medical research.
--George Bernard Shaw

Pound Seizure. Two innocuous words but together they mean something horrific: animal shelters or humane societies-places that are supposed to protect animals and find them good homes- selling household pets for use in testing and research. With this practice some die quickly. Many others are subjected to tortuous and agonizing long-term laboratory studies. I won’t even go into all the gut wrenching details of what these animals are subjected to or that some suffer vivisection while still alive. Just looking at the information online for purposes of this post took mum’s breath away and made her physically ill.

I abhor vivisection with my whole soul. All the scientific discoveries stained with innocent blood I count as of no consequence.
--Mahatma Gandhi

www.Care2.com has recently highlighted a heartrending story of a pet dog named Koda whose family was having a hard time and gave him up to a local shelter in hopes the shelter would find a good home for him. Instead, he was sold to a dealer and resold to the University of Michigan where he was deliberately inflicted with traumatic injuries as a subject in the University’s Advanced Trauma Life Support Class. Ultimately he was euthanized.

Koda’s story has led legislation proposed in Michigan to ban pound seizures in that state.

Although it has been proposed there is no Federal statute against this practice. I was only able to find 13 states that have outlawed pound seizure: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia. Some states actually mandate pound seizure, i.e., mandate that shelters must sell pets to dealers on demand. These include Minnesota, Oklahoma and Utah. Elsewhere it is up to local counties and municipalities to decide whether to mandate or to prohibit pound seizure. For more information see www.Americanhumane.org

This issue is even more crucial in this time when shelters are critical to the protection of animals. More and more are being made homeless due to the deployment of their humans in the military or due to the fact that their humans have lost homes to foreclosure or weather incidents.

Week 16 of Purrs 4 Peace details are as follows:

• Week sixteen’s appointed time is Sunday, September 27, 2009.
• Participants should purr for three minutes commencing at 12 p.m. EDT (U.S.) which is 5:00 p.m. (17:00 hrs.) BST in the U.K.
• The cat’s human staff should assist their cats with the project by stroking and nuzzling the cat at the appointed time.
• Please post your cat name and the country you purr in at www.confuciuscat.blogspot.com as a COMMENT if you are participating in this historic project. (posting a link to your own website-if you have one-is encouraged.) Or let me know by message on twitter or facebook.
• Posting purrs on facebook ( Acolytes of Confucius Cat or as friend to Alley Mason) and twitter (@ConfuciusCat) is encouraged, since it inspires purring in others, but not required. On twitter please use #purrs4peace in your tweets.

This week we will purr to stop this barbaric practice of pound seizures. Purr to pursuade. Purr to protect. Purr for peace.

As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people. Slaughter and justice cannot dwell together.
--Isaac Bashevis Singer