Animal Activism

[smokingboot]

Following on from my last post, in discussion of the LARP scene, a chum of mine said, 'I get it...the trouble with LARP is that it is full of wankers.' I set them straight. LARP certainly has more than a few wankers, but we're talking a tiny percentage of inadequates here. If you want to lose the will to live, try animal activism.

There are some astonishing people on the Animal Rights scene...but there's no denying it, there are some massive plonkers as well.

Some chums and I went on a protest against the infamous Dolphin Drive in Taiji. I went, not because I consider dolphins to be sea angels or guardians of the oceans or portals to the fifth dimension; I went because killing an aware intelligent being by slitting its throat and letting it bleed out for five minutes in front of its young is a disgusting thing to do. It was a very cold day, and success was ours - if you count success as the twitch manifesting in some diplomat's temples when we sang 'You're not going to get the Olympics,' at him. This chant clearly irritated embassy staff much more than anti-cull slogans. Worth remembering, that.

So, afterwards, an activist who goes by the monicker 'Misty the Dolphin,' - I don't think s/he is an actual dolphin despite her claims - had a pop at us all for wearing fake fur. She wasn't standing there in the cold playing games with the police of course, no, she was on everyone's favourite social nutwork. By wearing fake fur, we are advocating buying real fur, she said. Or possibly dog. Or rabbit. Or skinned Dalai llama. Cue Facebook furore.

Then there's Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's Fish Fight. Experts say we need 127 marine conservation areas around the shores of the Sceptred Isle, or we are going to end up with empty seas and no fishing industry. So, the gent organised a large march, from the London aquarium to the Houses of Parliament. All right so far? Stick with me...

Sea Shepherd were hanging around looking cross. They wouldn't support the march because one of the sponsors, as shown on our free t-shirts, is Sea Life. These guys own the London Aquarium. Now, Sea Life protest vociferously against the keeping of cetaceans for entertainment in theme parks etc, as opposed to Sea World who of course, tout exactly the opposite, and unfortunately help keep the Taiji drive economically viable by buying dolphins and whales from the Drive. Sea Life and Sea World directly oppose each other - and are owned by the same parent company. Also, Sea Life is against using whales and dolphins for entertainment, while advertising snorkeling with sharks at the aquarium. £5 from each ticket goes to the Shark Trust. Confused? Me too. So, to support or not? Go on the march or not? I like Sea Shepherd's readiness to put their bodies where their mouths are, but some of their reps come across as Captain Birdseye on crack. One budding Sea Shepherdess has recently been refused her promotion to the boats, or she's been cast adrift or something, because she was wearing a politically inappropriate t-shirt, touting some group - Earth Race I think - started by Sea Shepherd mutineers. Or maybe not. There are no facts someone hasn't red-crayoned in indignation.She didn't know. Her pirate life curtailed, she is now devastated.

Now the badger cull starts up again, despite expert evidence from across the board stating it's not the way to prevent TB in cattle, and loud, plentiful opposition from the public. This cause is remarkably knob end free, so I will stick with it. But I vow to myself that this must be my last great cause for at least 6 months. Or I am in danger of punching someone in the face.

Comments

[abutterflygirl.livejournal.com]

I find this. It gets to the point where it stops me wanting to be involved due to the ignorant, narrow minded, abhorrent knob heads that seem only involved to engage in an argument. I know these people can be few and far between but they drive me insane. They make fighting for causes so much more difficult, to the point where I give up. And that's not an attitude I relish, but I find it takes so much from you and detracts from the original cause. Gets me questioning people's sanity and asking where they left their basic logic, rationale and compassion!

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Exactly, Butterfly!

I am beginning to think that there's a weird core of people, in every cause or belief system, or even (thought I'm still not sure about this) hobby, who feel that they are the true and beating heart of their cause, and that everyone who comes in cannot understand the crusade in the way they do.

Certainly in animal activism, there is a huge amount of point scoring. You care about dolphins but what will you do for them? You care about fish but what about eggs? You won't wear fur but you're still wearing leather aren't you? What's your handbag made of? Where do you buy your eyeshadow? You still drink milk don't you? Check that honey won't you? It can turn into this huge army of remonstrating angerjunkies. I can understand the ferocity big time. But this stuff just turns demonstrators and volunteers right off.

Fortunately I haven't encountered this rubbish in the anti-badger protests - Bryan May, the Artful Badger, some excellent people involved. Fingers crossed on that one!

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about this just the other day - how people seem to be almost inherently incapable of sticking to a single cause and fighting for it, together, without politicking, power-gaming, point scoring, jibing at each other, diluting or expanding.

It's sad, because it seems to me that there are some things that many many people agree about, which could be fought for.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

I do begin to wonder: It seems that some get involved for the cause itself, others for validation/belonging/acceptance/approval, others for some combination of all the above, and still others for different reasons entirely. When it's about self scrabbling for place in hierarchy, the cracks form but where the cause is truly the reason for the group activity, it can have amazing results.

Kept pure, it really works. Keeping it pure is hard, but I hope not impossible. Because I think you are right. There really are things many people believe in, things that are worth fighting for.

I thought for a long time about why I am doing it; why march now, why sign petitions now, why move now? My trigger is very clear. I see the pictures and rage at the blood.

[casparrrrgh.livejournal.com]

I think you know, as well as I do, Debs, that any kind of pressure/campaign group irrespective of it's motivation, be it political, animal, gender, racial etc, gets broken down into roughly three parts:

1. 10% immensely dedicated workhorses who plan, organise, and run a neverending plethora of marches, fundraisers, campaign events.

2. 10% incredibly loud, obnoxious, aggressive individuals who consider themselves to be the arbiter of all that is and isn't right in the world and woe betide anyone who deviates from that interpretation!

3. 80% of supporters, sympathisers and allies, who often get confused, bewildered, and disenfranchised by the inevitable fractious nature of the movement which is usually caused by band 2. They see it as completely unnecessary and counter-productive, but try telling that to band 2!

A very rough breakdown I know, but I think Python put it best with the People's Front of Judea and associates.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Hah! The People's Front of Judea! So that's where I've been!

Thank you Mr. It may be a rough breakdown, but it's accurate and it made me laugh :-D

[casparrrrgh.livejournal.com]

My cynicism age of 50 bypasses detailed analysis, especially in this environment! ;)

[abutterflygirl.livejournal.com]

At least sanity remains in some places!! I shall have to look into the anti-badger culls you mention :-)

[croak108.livejournal.com]

Hmm igh have tu mull tHis stuff. THere are ppl who consider maintaining tHat tHey are right tu be the most important thing in anyh circumstance. THere are ppl who want tu shut down the A`R moove:ment. THey have a motive for encouraging the `ime right` crew. THis should be madheled at length, preferably in a physical forum.