It takes diehard advocates to make ‘feel good’ news for animals

Capybara

A recent blog comment mentioned “feel good” news here with appreciation, as if that’s a rarity.  Well, it is!  Isn’t media focus usually on the unconventional-to-bad news?  Don’t headlines usually scream the same things (to those who still read newspapers)?  So-called “good” or “feel good” news really is the exception, isn’t it?

However true, that’s a huge shame. But consider: how long would we read or watch “feel-good news” with interest?  Wouldn’t it become ho-hum? even saccharine?

In the world of (non-human) animals, alas, bad news seems to prevail. Maybe it’s about helpless animals on factory farms (certainly no good in that!) or the latest plans for a deer hunt, or abuse of a pet.  And we haven’t even gotten to elephant, rhino and pangolin poaching, or the myriad other horrors animals are subject to around the world.

It can seem that (non-human) animal life is fraught with peril and death.  And to the degree that’s true, we keep reading and seeing “feel bad” news about animals.  Remember human entitlement?  the belief that we have dominion over all other creatures?  Far too many humans still subscribe to that outlook.

The very best news of all in animal reporting deals with those who aim to counter the hateful things done to animals by working for animals -- the animal advocates of all kinds (volunteers, legislators, donors . . .) who press for humane treatment of animals, who remind us of our values, who keep up the fight to improve the lot of animals -- which continues to be sorely needed!

Jaguar

Whether individuals, groups, state or national organizations, the animal advocates I’m speaking of are the ones who give us hope and invite us to join their rescue operations.  In reminding us of what’s possible, they recruit the “better angels” in us.  Their doing so is more important than ever now, with cruel, uncaring people in power, eager to strip away animal protections and penalties for offenses against animals.

In earlier blog posts here I’ve written, admiringly, about a few people who take specially good care of animals.  I want to learn about and talk up many more such people!  Now, with summer nearly over and school starting soon, it’s time for animal advocates to share their plans, appeal for support, enlist helpers and get going!  

Rain forest animals

The thousands of fires now burning in the Amazon rain forest are catastrophic for the millions of humans who live and work there, for people the world over and for the world itself.  The fires also terrify and jeopardize the more than 2,000 species of animals living there, who must somehow deal with this horrific situation to survive. 

Tapir

The Dodo story linked here outlines ways to help animals in the Amazon: (1) donate, (2) get involved, and (3) consider what you eat.  (That last section is lame, I think, doing little more than suggesting at least one meat-free meal a week.)

https://www.thedodo.com/in-the-wild/how-to-help-animals-amazon-rainforest-fires

Worth remembering: the Amazon rain forest is considered “the greatest reservoir of fresh water and biodiversity on the planet.”  It’s home to 1 in 10 animal species on earth.  It must be saved!
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/26/opinion/amazon-rainforest-fire.html?em_pos=small&ref=headline&nl_art=9&te=1&nl=opinion-today&emc=edit_ty_20190827?campaign_id=39&instance_id=11932&segment_id=16511&user_id=a360dad7b26df61ea65737080d3deedd&regi_id=20760274emc=edit_ty_20190827

‘Do what I say, not . . .”

I can’t help feeling a little smug right now because I scooped the Times of Trenton -- which had published that ridiculous story about former Gov. Christie and his civility project (see previous post) without accompanying editorial criticism.  In contrast, I read it, disbelievingly, and reacted in print asap. 

But yes, the Times did later editorialize on the gross hypocrisy and cowardice of Christie’s initiative.  I wonder whether Christie read it. . . !
https://www.nj.com/opinion/2019/08/chris-christie-like-melania-trump-calls-for-civility-editorial.html

#

Please comment on this post!  Just go to 1moreonce.blogspot.com to react.