A Worthy Title

Being an animal lover is a title worthy of praise.  We adore our dogs and cats, but rarely do we recognize how our daily choices impact the lives of so many other species.

If we looked closely, the animal-human bond appears more like an abusive relationship. Animals are often at the mercy of humans. They are forcibly confined, their habitats destroyed, and their right to life according to their own needs and desires are stolen. Extending our circle of compassion to embrace all species expands our hearts and tears down old faulty belief systems about how we treat animals.  With compassionate action we can deconstruct exploitative systems and live according to our deepest values.

1. Go Vegan

Animals used for food are some of the most abused and mistreated animals on the planet. They are often confined in spaces not large enough to stretch, mutilated without anesthesia, pumped with hormones and antibiotics and slaughtered (sometimes while conscious).
Eating a vegan plant-based diet not only spares lives, but is found to prevent and reverse diseases like heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Being compassionate can actually make us healthier!

2. Cut Out Disposable Plastics

Eighty percent of marine litter originates on land. Plastic pollution can be detrimental to seabirds, whales, sea turtles and other marine life, causing strangulation, intestinal blockages and starvation.
Instead, use reusable bags for shopping and reusable containers for food, drinks and left-over meals from restaurants.

3. Cut Out Unsustainable Palm Oil

Palm oil is a common ingredient in processed foods.  Palm oil production is a major contributor to deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, clearing more than the equivalent of 300 football fields in one hour. Orangutans and Sumatran tigers are on the brink of extinction due to palm oil production with another 300,000 types of other animals who are injured, killed and displaced during deforestation.  Try to find ways to reduce your consumption of conflict-palm oil and try more DIY recipes at home.

4. Observe Animals In Their Natural Habitat

Animals used for entertainment are forced to abide by rules and regulations and often punished for acting out natural behaviors. Elephants, tigers and bears are often trained with bull hooks, electric prods and other devices to incite fear to perform.
Instead, take a hike at your local state park. Watching animals in their natural habitats can spark a feeling of awe in us.  They are wild and free to roam the land, fly without boundaries and swim with the current. Imagine that sense of freedom.
As humans wish to not suffer, so do all species. Being a more humane animal lover asks that we consider the needs of others before mindlessly acting on our own desires. Choosing to make more humane choices for animals will naturally lead us to live more peacefully and sustainably on the planet while instilling in us a deep sense of unadulterated joy.

References:
Farmsanctuary.org
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Nrdc.org
Saynotopalmoil.com
Helpelephants.com


4 Ways to be a More Humane Animal Lover.
Via Margie Pacheron Mar 18, 2015

Quote by Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf

Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf (born 6 November 1940) is a German aviator, 

airline executive and religious leader.  He currently serves as the Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and is the ninth most senior apostle in the ranks of the church.

One of the beautiful and final photographs of Cecil the lion

Here's the photo of how we should remember Cecil the Lion

“Cecil was a famous 13 year old lion, being tracked via GPS collar and was involved in a wildlife study out of Oxford University. It is, I believe, illegal to kill a GPS collared lion. The lion was lured out of the national wildlife park via scenting and strapping a dead animal to the safari jeep. At this point, barely outside of the parks boundaries, Cecil was shot with an arrow. The arrow did not kill the lion and he was suffering for 40 hours while being tracked and was eventually killed with a gunshot. The Hunters then attempted to destroy the GPS collar before skinning and beheading the animal. The dentist in question has been in previous trouble for lying to wildlife officials regarding the specifics of a bear killed in ’08. While unrelated but speaking to his moral character, he also previously settled a lawsuit (100K+) for the repeated sexual harassment of one of his dental aides.
E: Furthering this tragedy, the 23 or 24 cubs fathered by Cecil, will most likely be killed by the next male in the hierarchy, to further his individual blood line, as is common in lion society.” 

Informational References provided through: 
Animals are People Too and ElephantJournal.com

Through the Sands of Time

"When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits,  I dreamed

of changing the world.  As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world

would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to

change only my country.

But it, too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for

changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have

none of it.

And now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize:  If I had only changed

myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to 

better my country, and who knows, I may have even changed the world."

~Written on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in Westminster Abby

Albert Einstein Quote

A Righteous Life

"If a man aspires toward a righteous life,

his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals."

~ Albert Einstein

J. Robert Oppenheimer and Carl Sagan on War

"Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do." ~ Voltaire

"We knew the world would not be the same.  A few people laughed,

a few people cried.  Most people were silent.  I remember the line

from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita;  Vishnu is trying to

 persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and, to impress him,

takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now I am become Death, the 

destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." 

~ J. Robert Oppenheimer, after a nuclear test at Los Alamos.

"Nuclear warfare is like two men standing in a pool of gasoline,

one with five matches, the other with two."  ~Carl Sagan