The Ultimate Whistle Blower: EARTHLINGS

Do not protect from your eyes what they endure with their bodies.

Reviews of Earthlings

Watch Earthlings here.

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Yes Luiz! You did do something beautiful!

When I was first introduced to this video it had about 300 views... It now has over a million hits. This video has made the circuit on countless blogs, websites and internet news media. I'm certain you've seen it - But I just can't help but include it here as well. Why would I ever pass on the opportunity to share such pure joy?


Of course, I'm referring to Luiz Antonio, whose wisdom and sincerity is infectious!

Mom: Now eat your octopus gnocchi
Luiz: Ok mom. alright... This Octopus isn't real, right?
Mom: No.
Luiz: Then alright... He doesn't speak and he doesn't have a head, right?

I'm enamored by the way he sing-songs his case through the naming of other species:

Luiz: Octopus are animals...All of them are animals... Fish are animals... Octopus are animals... Chicken are animals... Cows are animals... Pigs are animals.
So...! When we eat animals they die!
I don't like that they die...
I like that they stay standing up.
These animals... you gotta take care of them... and not eat them!

We are all touched by you! Yes Luiz! You did do something beautiful!

Coincidentally I watched this video right behind a second listen to this Animal Rights Zone podcast that features an interview with Australian advocate and student/graduate of the World Peace Diet facilitator's course Gypsy Wulff. At about 8:30 minutes into the podcast Gypsy is speaking of her upcoming book Turning Points in Compassion. It's to be a collection of more than 50 personal experiences of fellow advocates. Gypsy Wulff also has a website by the same name. She truly is a remarkable woman.

As I listened to the podcast I was particularly tuned in when the question of how and why people eventually become awakened was asked.  After acknowledging that every one's story is different Gypsy also states that "Many of the people talk about their childhood experiences, and how there were things that made them very uncomfortable. But because as children we are powerless to make our food choices, they gradually became unconscious about it and in their adult years they come back to it." Gypsy goes on to further endorse the idea that teaching compassion must begin in childhood. She also discusses how society (especially regarding the slaughter of animals) represses these early notions of justice and kindness by creating lies and myths. And so it goes that our instincts of fairness become swallowed, silenced and suppressed by these societal secrets. 

One doesn't have to go far to see these myths in story books where cows "give" milk, sheep "give" wool and pigs "give" bacon. Further on it's evident that adults still cling to the dissonance by the perpetuation of "happy meat" and even the twisted portrayal of Suicide Food. Clearly we know what problems telling lies to children creates... How can we ever expect to raise a whole and healthy culture if we don't deal with children and our food issues honestly?

I hope every parent heeds Luiz's advice... We really shouldn't harm anyone. And with potatoes and rice and so very many more options we don't have to!

I also hope parents and other adults guide children to the books available at Turning Points in Compassion and to the sister-site Kindness is Kool. The mind awakening and life affirming materials there ought to set any child on a road to a healthy heart, mind and body. We all want a future with emotionally and ethically strong fellow humans like Luiz. Let's give them every chance to become such by the example of respecting our fellow creatures as well.

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Damien Mander - Strong Enough to be Kind - Brave Enough to be Vegan

Meet founding director of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation Damien Mander. This about him from Rock 'n Ride Rhino:

"He served as a Clearance Diver in the Royal Australian Navy before transferring to a Special Operations unit within the Australian Army where he worked as a sniper. Following the completion of military service, Damien joined a Private Military Organisation tasked with retraining the future police of Iraq. He eventually moved to the position of Project Manager, overseeing daily operations of the Iraq Special Police Training Academy in Baghdad, before working alongside the US Army Core of Engineers, involved with reconstruction efforts. 

Damien returned home to Australia from Iraq in 2008 after three years service. Arriving in Africa at the beginning of 2009, the intention was to apply his background skills to wildlife protection and conservation. After traveling the Southern half of the continent he came to rest in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. 



It was in Zimbabwe that he realised he could not turn his back on the decimation poaching was having on wildlife populations. Incensed by the lack of resources made available to combat the problem he founded the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF), designed to counteract the bloodshed through assertive action and specialist tactics & training. He has since been working very closely with other conservation organizations with similar objectives. 

Together with Jason Hartman, Damien is also a director of Conservation Guardians, an association based out of the Principality of Monaco with the mission to protect and conserve wildlife and bring support to communities. His partnership in Rock 'n Ride 4 Rhino is a natural extension of his conservation work."

Most would call that heroic enough... But there's more. Much, much more:




In an age where so many wanna-be "men" are revving up their bravado with a bully's fist aimed against the innocent and helpless, here comes this authentic champion equipped and able to fight for justice and compassion! 

I'm too overwhelmed to verbalize the inspiration and respect I have for this larger-than-life Modern Warrior. Just being introduced to him was a gift...

Thanks CQ for the tip on the best vegan story I've heard/posted in a long time! ;)

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A One-Fanged Feline Helps Tell A Vegan Story

Before I can continue with the most special part of my last post I must introduce you to Teco, AKA Cinderella, Thumbelina, Scamper, Princess, and Muffin-Girl. She was found eleven years ago in a cardboard box at a K-mart parking lot.  She was such a tiny squirt that my husband brought her home in his shirt pocket. In an instant she made our family complete. 

Teco grew to be an amazing being. As perfect a feline as there ever was. She spends lots of time in two different screened in rooms so she manages to frequently catch wayward lizards. You can always tell when she does because she'll bring him into the house and loudly announce her "prize". This early warning signal has managed to spare most of them... (minus a tail or two). Is she "sweet enough" to do this deliberately? I don't know. But if you knew her, you'd almost say it was true.

She's incredibly affectionate and doesn't mind giving her dog or human family a good tongue- licking bath! Oh... And did I tell you that she coos and has a singing language too? 

We love Teco! 

You can imagine how frightened we were when we thought that one of her upper fangs was infected! She never had the best teeth... But this time her gums were swollen and we worried about how to have the root of the (missing?) tooth removed. Thinking the worst we carried her to our vet. And here comes the bonus to my story.  

For the last dozen years Mitsie Vargas at Orchid Springs has been our vet. Throughout the years Mitsie has taken excellent care of my companions and was also a tower of support when I had to say good bye to some of them. Mitsie is a woman of dedicated compassion. She started out caring for animals when her neighbors brought their sick or injured pets to her for treatment. In this community as well, you can't find a person who doesn't have the highest confidence in her and her staff. And so we took our Teco-Girl to get the best care we knew of.

In a matter of a few minutes into the exam my husband and I were told that Teco's tooth had already fallen out! Completely! With some minor antibiotics the swelling would subside and the worst of any discomfort Teco had was already over! Yippee! What a relief!

But what could be better than this? The good doctor was soon to tell!

More good news? What could it be? 

The whole Vargas family is now vegan! You could have knocked me over with a whisker!

This has been a desire of mine for the longest time: To have one of the most compassionate people I know see the full picture. I never could understand how caring people (especially  veterinarians) didn't get what I thought was so obvious. But a Vegan Outreach pamphlet and a screening of Forks Over Knives landed Mitsie to the better side of her judgments.  

Upon hearing the good news I embraced her in thanks and in celebration. With mutual tears in our eyes she said, "Now I know I am really living as cruelty-free as possible".  Right you are Doc. Right you are! ;)

So this dear readers is the best of my super special compilation of vegan stories. ;)

I hope it uplifted and renewed your hope that open minds can meet the challenges of change and ethical growth. 

I also hope your own vet is inspired to compassion as well.

Teco thinks that would be a purr-fect ending too! 

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