The MaddHatter's Takeover is a full day of events on Saturday, April 3, 2010. Tom McPhee, Executive Director of WA2S.org, aka The MaddHatter, will join supporters wearing their most outrageous HATs as the WA2S.org takes over animal inspired events in NYC.
--MW
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
WA2S.org Partners with the Rescue Party Tour
The World Animal Awareness Society - WA2S.org takes over the Rescue Party Tour. WA2S.org is developing the Tour to benefit rescue groups around the country by giving them opportunities in which they can participate. Next stops are New York & Florida.
--MW
--MW
Monday, March 29, 2010
Hello Haiti
February 1 thru 3, 2010
I try to have a purpose to everything I do and that's no different right at this moment, 9:47 am by the in-dash stereo of the Mistubishi Montero that I find myself riding shotgun in now. As the sun plays catch me with the mountains, we are nearly 3 hours out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on our way to earthquake ravaged, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The we riding in this car with many miles on it is Daniel Polanco, who is driving and the brother of Marcos Polanco (VP of SODOPREC@ and the man I'm going to see), Flaco, Arturo and Juan, all with SODOPREC@, the Dominican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Karen Levy, a transplanted volunteer originally from Boston. We are traveling swiftly west by the deft, purposeful sort of driving by Daniel that I prefer and we are making good time through the lush, garbage-filled mountains on our way to the people, rubble and garbage filled streets of that 'place' I've been seeing for days on CNN…
Everything I had pushed forward over the last 10 days was about getting here -- getting to Haiti where the action is, getting to hook up with members of ARCH (Animal Rescue Coalition Haiti), getting to film the rescue and the assessment work being done by major animal rescue organizations in this monumentally devastated place. Laser focused, I have a purpose. As the Executive Director of the World Animal Awareness Society, I believe I am here to film the important interactions between humans and animals during this time of crisis.
A little more than 6 hours into the journey, as we drive through what I will describe as an ancient bazaar, gypsy-like portal to another world--alive with colorful people in motion everywhere--a severe sliver of a border town wedged between water, white lime and dust covered hills known as Mallepasse, Haiti, I further notice the barren, chalky, void of any trees, dusty landscape, and as the border guards waves us through, the thought invades my brain, "why am I here and what is my purpose?"
After meeting with Marcos Polanco at base camp, next to the busy and loud re-opened airport for what seems like only a fraction of a second, we find ourselves negotiating the newly reformed world of Part-au-Prince, down mad avenues and "fishing" for animal rescue business in some neighborhoods--neighborhoods instantly made from anything that will provide simple shelter following the jarring temblors that smashed this town to the ground and killed tens of thousands, where you can sometimes smell flesh when you pass a pile of rubble…
Tents are a luxury here, and so is animal rescue and assessment to some degree. I have been warned not to give anything of any value to anyone, even though in my possession are small sweet treats for exactly that purpose, due to the simple fact that I could die. Since stampedes and deadly misunderstandings have already occurred, I heed the warning.
Following a night of deceptively little sleep, I awoke to what appeared to be chicken pox--thousands of tiny red dots from forehead and ears, to ankles and underarms--delivered rigorously throughout the night by a small army of insects, mostly unheard and unfelt. I actually feel better now than when I drifted off to sleep the night before and only after I ingest cornmeal mixed with water in a plastic cup for breakfast, did I really know that I was ready to meet the day.
This was the day that a few households on a couple of tiny streets, in a small neighborhood, on a hill overlooking the choked and crushed city, with a population density nearly 8 times greater than London, had its first rescuers come to the aid of the people, who now lived outside in fear of their crippled houses and yet another aftershock. It did not matter in the least to these fine folks that the help was for their pets--they were so glad to have any help--that as soon as the ARCH team set up a portable triage station and the vet work started, our new neighbors began to stream in with their pets, primarily dogs and cats. Dogs and cats that could have used the assistance of ARCH prior to the earthquake.
I felt my purpose resolve at that moment.
The next issue of the "American Dog Magazine" will feature a text & pictorial story of my trip to Haiti, a story that will include the images for which these next sentences were written: The following images are the culmination of this day. I hope they move you as they have moved me. They have given me purpose and meaning and underscore the reason for being in Haiti in the first place.
Please visit http://www.WA2S.org to view the companion video & images to understand our purpose.
By Tom McPhee, Executive Director
World Animal Awareness Society - WA2S.org
I try to have a purpose to everything I do and that's no different right at this moment, 9:47 am by the in-dash stereo of the Mistubishi Montero that I find myself riding shotgun in now. As the sun plays catch me with the mountains, we are nearly 3 hours out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on our way to earthquake ravaged, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The we riding in this car with many miles on it is Daniel Polanco, who is driving and the brother of Marcos Polanco (VP of SODOPREC@ and the man I'm going to see), Flaco, Arturo and Juan, all with SODOPREC@, the Dominican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Karen Levy, a transplanted volunteer originally from Boston. We are traveling swiftly west by the deft, purposeful sort of driving by Daniel that I prefer and we are making good time through the lush, garbage-filled mountains on our way to the people, rubble and garbage filled streets of that 'place' I've been seeing for days on CNN…
Everything I had pushed forward over the last 10 days was about getting here -- getting to Haiti where the action is, getting to hook up with members of ARCH (Animal Rescue Coalition Haiti), getting to film the rescue and the assessment work being done by major animal rescue organizations in this monumentally devastated place. Laser focused, I have a purpose. As the Executive Director of the World Animal Awareness Society, I believe I am here to film the important interactions between humans and animals during this time of crisis.
A little more than 6 hours into the journey, as we drive through what I will describe as an ancient bazaar, gypsy-like portal to another world--alive with colorful people in motion everywhere--a severe sliver of a border town wedged between water, white lime and dust covered hills known as Mallepasse, Haiti, I further notice the barren, chalky, void of any trees, dusty landscape, and as the border guards waves us through, the thought invades my brain, "why am I here and what is my purpose?"
After meeting with Marcos Polanco at base camp, next to the busy and loud re-opened airport for what seems like only a fraction of a second, we find ourselves negotiating the newly reformed world of Part-au-Prince, down mad avenues and "fishing" for animal rescue business in some neighborhoods--neighborhoods instantly made from anything that will provide simple shelter following the jarring temblors that smashed this town to the ground and killed tens of thousands, where you can sometimes smell flesh when you pass a pile of rubble…
Tents are a luxury here, and so is animal rescue and assessment to some degree. I have been warned not to give anything of any value to anyone, even though in my possession are small sweet treats for exactly that purpose, due to the simple fact that I could die. Since stampedes and deadly misunderstandings have already occurred, I heed the warning.
Following a night of deceptively little sleep, I awoke to what appeared to be chicken pox--thousands of tiny red dots from forehead and ears, to ankles and underarms--delivered rigorously throughout the night by a small army of insects, mostly unheard and unfelt. I actually feel better now than when I drifted off to sleep the night before and only after I ingest cornmeal mixed with water in a plastic cup for breakfast, did I really know that I was ready to meet the day.
This was the day that a few households on a couple of tiny streets, in a small neighborhood, on a hill overlooking the choked and crushed city, with a population density nearly 8 times greater than London, had its first rescuers come to the aid of the people, who now lived outside in fear of their crippled houses and yet another aftershock. It did not matter in the least to these fine folks that the help was for their pets--they were so glad to have any help--that as soon as the ARCH team set up a portable triage station and the vet work started, our new neighbors began to stream in with their pets, primarily dogs and cats. Dogs and cats that could have used the assistance of ARCH prior to the earthquake.
I felt my purpose resolve at that moment.
The next issue of the "American Dog Magazine" will feature a text & pictorial story of my trip to Haiti, a story that will include the images for which these next sentences were written: The following images are the culmination of this day. I hope they move you as they have moved me. They have given me purpose and meaning and underscore the reason for being in Haiti in the first place.
Please visit http://www.WA2S.org to view the companion video & images to understand our purpose.
By Tom McPhee, Executive Director
World Animal Awareness Society - WA2S.org
Friday, March 19, 2010
Don't Have A Cow!?
To Eat Meat OR Not To Eat Meat?
In food terms, meat is a non-human animal raised and prepared for human consumption. These animals may include sheep, cattle, pigs, chickens, buffalo, crocodile, or horses. In some cases fish are also included as a meat. Humans who do not consume meat are considered vegetarians. Vegetarians follow a plant-based diet and sometimes limit dairy or egg intake.
Talking Points
(a) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
(b) The Vegetarian Society
What do you think?
--MW
In food terms, meat is a non-human animal raised and prepared for human consumption. These animals may include sheep, cattle, pigs, chickens, buffalo, crocodile, or horses. In some cases fish are also included as a meat. Humans who do not consume meat are considered vegetarians. Vegetarians follow a plant-based diet and sometimes limit dairy or egg intake.
Talking Points
- Hunter-Gatherer
- Farmer
- Genetic Engineering
- Progeny Testing
- Nutrition
- Antibiotics
- Slaughterhouses
- Ethics
- Diary / Eggs
(a) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
(b) The Vegetarian Society
What do you think?
--MW
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Caution! Animals Ahead!
Many animals have been stereotyped by humans, but are these stereotypes based on fact or fiction?
A Stereotype is a simple, standardized image to characterize something held common by members of a group. Many stereotypes are based on real life experiences, while others are creations of our imagination due to images in visual media, publications, or urban legends. Many of these stereotypes are misunderstood and evolve over time.
Talking Points:
(a) Wikipedia
(b) Psychology Department, Mercer University - Dog Breed Stereotype and Exposure to Negative Behavior
What is the main source of these stereotypes? Is there a need to evolve?
--MW
A Stereotype is a simple, standardized image to characterize something held common by members of a group. Many stereotypes are based on real life experiences, while others are creations of our imagination due to images in visual media, publications, or urban legends. Many of these stereotypes are misunderstood and evolve over time.
Talking Points:
- Breed Specific Legislation
- Breed Specific Activism
- Childhood Stories
- Shelter Animals
- Man-Eaters
- Animal Advocates
- Media/Publishers
- Hero vs Victim
- Education
- Experience
(a) Wikipedia
(b) Psychology Department, Mercer University - Dog Breed Stereotype and Exposure to Negative Behavior
What is the main source of these stereotypes? Is there a need to evolve?
--MW
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Animal Athlete!
Many Animals Are involved in Sporting Events...
The animal athlete, in a sense, is a type of working animal. Many types of sports include human and animal participation in varying degrees. A few of the sports include: rodeos, dogsledding, horse racing, greyhound racing, agility competitions, elephant polo, dog-fighting, pigeon racing, bear baiting, camel wrestling, hunting, fishing, obedience trials, show jumping, and dressage.
Talking Points:
(a) International Debate Education Association (IDEA)
(b) Library Index
Do you think the animal athlete is well-trained competitor or are humans exploiting these creatures? Are these legitimate sports or should they be illegal? WA2S.org wants to know what you think? Are these topics something that we should focus a lens upon in the coming year?
If you enjoy our blog, please click on the follow button in the widget on the right-hand side of this page.
--MW
The animal athlete, in a sense, is a type of working animal. Many types of sports include human and animal participation in varying degrees. A few of the sports include: rodeos, dogsledding, horse racing, greyhound racing, agility competitions, elephant polo, dog-fighting, pigeon racing, bear baiting, camel wrestling, hunting, fishing, obedience trials, show jumping, and dressage.
Talking Points:
- Olympic Games
- Highly Trained Animals
- Natural vs Unnatural Activities
- Overworked
- Profit
- Animal Achievments
- Education
- Satisfaction Gained
- Death
- Animals in Peak Condition
(a) International Debate Education Association (IDEA)
(b) Library Index
Do you think the animal athlete is well-trained competitor or are humans exploiting these creatures? Are these legitimate sports or should they be illegal? WA2S.org wants to know what you think? Are these topics something that we should focus a lens upon in the coming year?
If you enjoy our blog, please click on the follow button in the widget on the right-hand side of this page.
--MW
This is Only a Test, Or is It?
Non-Human Animal Testing, Experimentation, Vivisection....
Animal experimentation is surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living or non-living organism, typically non-human animals, to view internal structure, for classroom experiments, product testing, vehicle crash worthiness tests, and teaching purposes.
Talking Points:
(a) Cad. Saúde Pública vol.15 suppl.1 Rio de Janeiro 1999
(b) Wikipedia
(c) National Acadamies of Science: Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random Source Dogs & Cats
Click here for a list of Companies who do test and who don't test from the Caring Consumer/PETA.
Are there valid alternatives to this type of experimentation or is it necessary in the first place? Do you think that this is an area that the WA2S.org should explore in more detail? Please comment...
--MW
Animal experimentation is surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living or non-living organism, typically non-human animals, to view internal structure, for classroom experiments, product testing, vehicle crash worthiness tests, and teaching purposes.
Talking Points:
- Biology Teaching Purposes
- Medical Field
- Production of Vaccines (Human and / or Veterinary)
- Animal Welfare / Animal Rights
- Alternative Methods
- Pain or Suffering
- Pound Seizure / Class B Dealers
- Bred for Testing
(a) Cad. Saúde Pública vol.15 suppl.1 Rio de Janeiro 1999
(b) Wikipedia
(c) National Acadamies of Science: Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random Source Dogs & Cats
Click here for a list of Companies who do test and who don't test from the Caring Consumer/PETA.
Are there valid alternatives to this type of experimentation or is it necessary in the first place? Do you think that this is an area that the WA2S.org should explore in more detail? Please comment...
--MW
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Does Captive Breeding Help or Hinder?
What is your opinion about captive breeding?
Captive breeding is the process of breeding animals in human controlled environments with restricted settings, such as wildlife preserves, zoos and other facilities. Captive populations are established for many reasons, including conservation, education, exhibit of interesting species, the exotic pet trade and research.
Talking Points:
(a) Wikipedia
(b) Smithsonian National Zoological Park
(c) Born Free USA
(d) National Wildlife Federation
(e) Humane Society of the United States
Click here for Lesson Plans for Teachers from National Geographic Expeditions
Do you have an interesting story about captive breeding programs? Do you think this is a topic that WA2S.org should document? Join WA2S.org in exploring these human + animal interactions to study how our world is evolving. Share you ideas today.
--MW
Captive breeding is the process of breeding animals in human controlled environments with restricted settings, such as wildlife preserves, zoos and other facilities. Captive populations are established for many reasons, including conservation, education, exhibit of interesting species, the exotic pet trade and research.
Talking Points:
- Extinction
- Reintroduction to the wild
- Biodiversity and the health of ecosystems
- Inbreeding
- Exotic Pet Trade
- Genetic diversity
- Puppy Mills
(a) Wikipedia
(b) Smithsonian National Zoological Park
(c) Born Free USA
(d) National Wildlife Federation
(e) Humane Society of the United States
Click here for Lesson Plans for Teachers from National Geographic Expeditions
Do you have an interesting story about captive breeding programs? Do you think this is a topic that WA2S.org should document? Join WA2S.org in exploring these human + animal interactions to study how our world is evolving. Share you ideas today.
--MW
Monday, March 1, 2010
The WA2S.org Wants To Know What You Think!
What do you think are the most important ANIMAL-CENTRIC stories of our day, right now (puppy mills, BSL, factory farming, fur, etc...)?
The WA2S is interested in what you think? What stories should the WA2S make a priority when filming in 2010?
Leave a comment here or submit your ideas through the website today! WA2S.org
--MW
The WA2S is interested in what you think? What stories should the WA2S make a priority when filming in 2010?
Leave a comment here or submit your ideas through the website today! WA2S.org
--MW
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