EXOTIC ANIMALS HAVE SOULS

Take a look at these pictures, aren´t they fashionable handbags?

Well, in fact, they are! Who doesn’t like to have a handbag like these ones? But there is a detail that many people do not consider at the moment of buying handbags: most of them are made of skin animals. Not only are handbags made of skin, but also jackets, boots and other accessories. A crucial question to this situation may be: how many animals have been killed to make one of these handbags? Is it worth killing animals?

As a result of this situation, several famous people are committed to different campaigns to inform people about the massive slaughter of animals. Joss Stone, my favorite singer, is a clear example of this. I came across with this ad a week ago and what called my attention was her unusual fearful face. Then, I realized she was almost naked. Finally, I read the co-text and I see the reason of her being naked. In a way, we can say that she is talking to all of us to make us aware of the damage we make every time people buy expensive handbags (or whatever) made of animal skin. If animals cannot defend themselves, who then? As this advertisement clearly exposes, 3 animals, in this case crocodiles, are killed to make a bag; therefore I consider that famous singers, actors etc, who have the possibility of being seen by many people around the world, must do something in the name of animal´s right.

 If we analyze the picture, we can see Joss´s face depicting fear, worry with tears shedding from her eyes. Besides, her body is painted in such a way that resembles a crocodile´s skin. Joss Stone doesn´t have the reputation of being exuberant, wearing few clothes; on the contrary, she is conservative, simple, and, most importantly, she loves nature and everything that has to do with it. That is why I really appreciate her courage to pose nude in this campaign carried out by PETA. 

PETA (The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is a foundation in UK dedicated to establishing and protecting the rights for all animals. This organization got what they have found for many years, an exotic-skin trade where crocodiles are left bleed to death on farms that supply skins to a luxury brand. Here you can see the video (which in fact it is a video recorded by a hidden camera) which is in the official webpage of PETA.

If you have watched the video completely, I´m sure that you are going to think twice before you buy a skin handbag. The video is shocking, but I think people need to see these kinds of things to realize how much animals suffer. We have to appreciate animals as they are, they weren´t born to be a piece of clothing. Thus, PLEASE! Stop buying items made of skin animals, and remember: 

NEVER WEAR THEM

A friend in need is a friend indeed

Two days ago, one of my best friends, Wan Shu, graduated. She didn´t want to go to the graduation ceremony, because she didn´t like those kinds of events when people are on the spotlight, but I obliged her to go because (I told her) it will be a special moment for her and her family. I can´t explain with words what I felt when I saw her on the stage receiving the degree. You may think I´m a little bit exaggerated, but I consider the friendship we have is unique, a friendship which began 6 years ago the first class at the IFDC.

6 years ago, I started studying to be an English teacher. I remember the expectations I had that day because I was going to know the teachers and my classmates. I was a little bit lost because I saw hundreds of classrooms which resembled fish tanks (“how peculiar!” I thought) and I was alone, trying to see if I recognized someone. Among all the students (which, believe me, were a lot) I discerned a Chinese girl who stood out against the rest. She was alone too. I approached her and we exchanged some words. That day I realized we were going to be great friends and I realized she was a girl of few words too.

I could see the first years at the IFDC were difficult for her because she didn´t know some words in Spanish, thus, imagine how difficult it was for her to learn English!

The years passed by and our friendship consolidated more and more. First, we saw each other every single day at the IFDC;  then, we gathered to go there. We discovered we had some things in common. We met to study in my house and I taught her to brew “mate”. Some other days she and her family invited me to have lunch in their house and they taught me their traditional tea ceremony. In their house, the Wang family received me with a unique warm; though they cannot communicate very well, they made me feel very comfortable. They taught me to eat with chopsticks, she taught me some Chinese words; but most importantly, she taught me what true friendship means. We are not compatriot, we do not share the same traditions, we have different preferences but we stand by ourselves whenever we need. Sometimes we don´t need to talk to know what we are feeling.

Therefore, how shouldn´t I feel proud of her after so many year of friendship? She and her family are special for me, so, when she was at the stage with the degree in her hands I say to myself: “she did it!” after some years of studying hard she finally gets what she has expected so much. That degree is the result of patience, perseverance, hours and hours of studying and commitment. Congratulation my dearest friend! 

FRECKLED  SKY

Spending time on the internet, I came across this video. It may be a little bit long for you, but BELIEVE ME, it is worth watching.

 

This video was from a famous TV program “America´s Got Talent” in which people auditioned to win the final prize.

At the beginning of this video you could see two dancers telling us what they do. They seemed to be ordinary people, with no makeup at all, no hairstyle and no gleaming outfit to admire.

When I watched the first three seconds of the videos I said: “ok, this will be the typical performance of classical music”. But Olga, the female dancer, anticipated that their style was something out of the normal because it incorporated different elements. Then, they presented their couch. Well, I must admit that after looking at his face I didn´t have many expectations on the couple. Anyway, the couch insisted that it was his dream and that he sold everything he had to make that show, so I thought “I will give this video a chance, I will look at it completely”. The dancers introduced themselves to the judges of the casting and they promised it was going to be something different. At this stage, I was curious.

Suddenly, they started dancing and I didn´t know if what I was looking at was real or not. Were they really there? Wasn´t it a screen which displayed the images?. No! They were there dancing with water and splendid visual effects. While they were dancing, we could see the judges were taken aback with the performance. The couple surprised them so much so that Howard Stern, (who is an American radio and television personality, producer, author, actor, and photographer) hit the “Golden Buzzer”; this particular device gave the judges the chance to send one act, and one act only, each automatically through to the live semi-finals. “It is the kind of thing I´m looking for, you are absolutely different” said Howard at the end of the performance.

To go a little bit deeper into the video, I would like to say the reasons of having chosen it. First of all, I love art, any kind of art, it doesn´t matter whether it is music, painting, dancing, etc. I enjoy watching talented people doing what they know. Secondly, I consider that their art extends beyond the boundaries of people´s imagination; I have never watched something like that and I consider they deserved being rewarded in that way. Last but not least, I choose this video because I appreciate the fact that this kind of TV programmes give talented people the opportunity of showing to the world their talent.  As Olga anticipated at the beginning of the video, it is something different and I would be that kind of people who would pay to see them on stage.

When I finished the video I realized how wrong I was. Though simple, they did an amazing performance and this leads me to a conclusion: sometimes less is more.

 

Save the Arctic!

In recent years, “global warming” has become a buzz phrase. Everybody knows that the climate is not longer the same as the one we had many years ago. I have heard thousands of anecdotes from adults proving that the climate has been really changing. Talking about this topic with my mum, she told me: “when I was a child, winter was winter and you could feel the icy wind penetrating your clothes; nowadays we have winter days of 25° something which would be abnormal some years ago”. But I think, people are not aware of this problematic till they see pictures like this:

By looking at this picture, I´m sure no one can escape from feeling down. This picture shows an emaciated polar bear walking on a receding ice. The photograph was taken in the Arctic where changes are more visible than anywhere else.  But it is not a problem which emerged last year, it is the result of hundreds and hundreds of years of human activity, contamination, pollution, among some other reasons, which generated global warming in our planet. We may say our planet is getting hotter and hotter and maybe we do not directly feel its effect, but animals do and they are by far the most affected species in the world, especially those who live in remote areas and rely on nature to survive. Now we can feel regret, of course but there is always something else to do to help our planet. Although for years people haven´t taken it seriously, we still have time to take action and help the vulnerable animals which cannot act for themselves. Many nongovernmental organizations, for example, have been actively involved in campaigns to help animals, our welfare and the planet. The most famous one is Greenpeace, but of course there are many other organizations. 

Considering the problem in the Arctic, we cannot avoid what has happened with Shell. According to the Anglo-Dutch company, “the Arctic holds around 30% of the world’s undiscovered natural gas, as well as 13% of its oil and 22% of its natural gas liquids also yet to be found. This amounts to around 400 billion barrels of oil equivalent, 10 times the total oil and gas produced in the North Sea to date.” It may sound interesting if we do not take into account the environmental problems it may cause. The Arctic is considered to be the world´s air conditioner but, due to global climate change, the volume of sea ice has been disappearing, causing oil companies to take advantage of it. What is even worst, all the arctic species (apart from the polar bear) strongly depend on sea ice to survive. Therefore, we should take into account what would happen if the ice was vanishing with terrifying speed. It is not necessary to make any scientific research on this, we simply need common sense: Without sea ice to hunt, rest, and breed, the very survival of polar bears and other wildlife is under threat. Mother polar bears, weak and starving, have trouble reproducing. Their cubs must fight the odds to survive into adulthood. Will they disappear? Probably they will if we ignore the problem.

Greenpeace has carried out a campaign against Arctic oil drilling operations for years. Luckily, the “Save the Arctic” movement has successful results. During this period of time, campaigners have endeavored to prevent Shell´s vessels to drill the enormous masses of ice. Annie Leonard, the Executive Director of Greenpeace US, said, "Every second we stop Shell counts.” What is more, in Greenpeace´s webpage, people have the chance to sign the petition to stop the drilling. The attitude members of Greenpeace have, fills me with hope because though it was difficult, they kept on fighting for the planet, the polar bears and for us. And which was the result? Shell abandons Arctic drilling.

Apparently, the amount of oil in the Arctic was not worth taking since the costs the planet has to pay would be even higher. In Greenpeace webpage I find this phrase which makes us realize that everything is possible if we are really committed with our ideals and desires: “Together, you turned what the oil industry hoped would be a small business story into front page headlines. Together, we demonstrated that people have the power to fight companies and governments who consistently value corporate profits over the health of our planet.”

I think it is time to take the bull by its horns and contribute with our everyday action. Thank you Greenpeace! Thank you Shell! We hope you never come back!