Category — Animals

To a lot of people in China it seems that the world is turning against them. Over the recent months they have heard non-stop criticism of their country and witnessed global “anti-China” demonstrations.

But, whatever we think about the Chinese Government’s appalling Human Rights record, it is now time to show our solidarity with the people.

To date, it is estimated that over 50,000 people died in the earthquake that devastated China’s Sichuan province. Millions more are homeless. Please join with Avaaz and light a virtual candle to send a message to the people of China telling them that the world shares their grief and stands with them in the urgent work of caring for survivors.

Light a Candle

We all know that the people of Burma are desperately in need of our help after the cyclone but how can we get aid to them?

We all know the regime is totally corrupt and that officials will try to cream off most of the aid coming in.
We all know the difficulties and expenses that aid organisations will face in trying to help the people who need it most.

So how can we help?

The Burmese monks have an established and well-tested network of monasteries across the country. They are able to work directly with the people. They are able to move money about the country without it falling into the hands of the corrupt leaders. They know what the people need and how to deliver it. And what’s more giving support to the monks is also giving support to local grass-roots organisations.

Avaaz has set up a page where we can send donations directly to the monks.

I have.

Will you?

Which is the most boycotted company in the UK? Well right now I doubt anyone knows.

The last survey was carried out a few years back and is now out of date.

So here at A Just Life we thought it was time for another.

The survey should only take you 5 minutes to complete.

To avoid confusion!

A boycott is the act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with someone or some other organization as an expression of protest. (Wikipedia)

Not a UK consumer?
Then don’t feel left out as we’re really interested in hearing your views for our next (USA) survey.

Please pass on this link to anyone else you think would be interested.

Thanks

Inky

Click here to get wafted over to the survey centre

ps: curious as to why a company was included?

“Hundred of migrating birds are dying after landing on a tailings pond in northern Alberta owned by Syncrude, environment officials confirmed Tuesday.”

read more | digg story

The Independent on Sunday’s expose of the battery farm business.

Let’s all support the campaign to end this unnecessary cruelty.

read more | digg story

Having fished the seas almost to extinction Canadian fishermen are eagerly anticipating the mass slaughter of baby seals due to begin next week. This year about 250,000 seal cubs will be bludgeoned to death bringing in about £8m in revenue.

These days life should be ever so slightly better for the baby seals. Legislation passed in 1987 demands that they be able to live for at least two weeks and more recently, and more importantly it is now illegal to skin the pups whilst they’re still alive. But in the rush to ‘process’ the maximum possibly number the rules tend to get ignored.

It is hoped that an EU wide ban on the sale of seal products could bring this yearly massacre to a grinding halt – but not till next year. The ban will prevent the movement of seal pelts through the EU to the major buyers in Russia and China.

Please support Stop the Seal Hunt

1. Stocks of once common fish like tuna, cod, halibut and flounder have dropped by 90% since the 1950’s.  In the 1960s 800,000 tons of cod were caught off the coast of Newfoundland by 1992 there were just 1,700 tons left.

2. Dolphins, porpoises, sharks, turtles, seals, seabirds and unwanted fish get caught up in the fishing nets.  Most of these are dead or dying when they are tossed back into the sea.  It is estimated that about 35% of the total catch is thrown back in this way.

3. Fish farms are the fastest growing sector of the food economy.  It is the equivalent of factory farming and with all the associated problems.  Overuse of drugs, overcrowding, cruel slaughter, widespread disease and a threat to human health.

4. In 1989 only 3 chemicals were fed to farmed salmon by 2000 it was 26.  These include antibiotics, growth-promoters, pesticides and disinfectants.

5. The colour of your farmed salmon is determined by the amount of artificial colouring fed to the fish.  The SalmoFan colour chart allows the farmer to choose the precise shade he feels will sell best.

6. In Scotland the pollution from ammonia from fish farming is comparable to the sewage produced by 9.4 million people.  This has devastating effects on the nearby water and land.  It was pollution such as this that lead Alaska to ban all fish-farming.

7. Highly poisonous environmental pollutants, such as PCBs and dioxin are present in most fish but more so in farmed ones.

8. Fish have pain receptors.  They DO feel pain.  There is a stack of evidence to prove this.  

9. Fish are often gutted whilst still alive.

10. Plant foods such as linseed, rapeseed, soya oil, nuts and leafy green vegetables are a better source of Omega 3 then fish.

So today’s small action in our series of 40 small steps to change the world is to stop eating fish for a day (or more).

End of the Line – How commercial fishing is devastating the world’s oceans.  (Wardle, T and Preston M 2007) Viva! Guide 3

What organisations speak for you? Charitable, political, activist or protest, whatever rings your bell there’s an organisation out there trying to tell the world about something you believe in. And what are you doing to help them?

Today’s small action in our series of 40 small steps to improve the planet is to push yourself one step further. Whatever you do, do a little more.

Start off by finding an organisation you want to support. If one doesn’t immediately spring to mind then Charity Choice is a good place to start. But be warned, organisations that are deemed to have a political agenda aren’t allowed to register as a charity. The BBC’s Action Network is great for local groups but using a search engine is probably the best bet. I tried “Protect Whales” and the first entry took me to the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s Whale page. Whereas “Protect Wales” let me to the Woodland Trust’s page for protecting trees in Wales. Play around with your search terms till you find what you want.
Next step is to think how you can help. Membership is a good start but is really the minimum you can do. Consider what else is possible.

• Help publicise the organisation
• Join their Facebook or MySpace group
• Help out in their office
• Do other voluntary work
• Become an activist
• Fund-raise
• Join their Committee

What matters is that you do something and today is the day to get started.

Good luck!

Got something you want to say to the world but can’t think of a way to get your message across? Then don’t be a wilting wallflower, shout it out and let them know. Here are some great internet related ideas to get you started.

Start your own blog: Check our WordPress.com – its free and very easy to use. There’s a wonderful selection of themes to choose from which give you a choice of layouts and colour schemes. All you do is add the content.

Verdict: Easy to use and free. However, be warned, it takes a lot of time to keep your blog updated and unless you make a lot of effort no one will know it exists.

Price: free

T Shirts: A wide range of options available here and even the possibility of opening your own online shop. Check out comboutique.com who’ll make t shirts to your own design and host your store.

Another option is to do-it-yourself and use fabric paints. These are available as pens, crayons or traditional paints.

Limited artisitic skills? Then design your T on line and print it onto transfer paper (available from any stationery shop like W H Smiths)

Verdit: Commerical printers are great for bulk orders and will do a high quality job. Do-it-yourself allows you to make a unique design but can be taxing if you’ve limited artistic skills.

Price: 100 – 200 Ts should cost under £3 each from a commercial printer. More for better quality.

Postcards: There’s now a whole range of online printers who’ll even help you get the layout right. Postcards are pretty cheap especially if you order in bulk. Use them as postcards, handouts or flyers.

Verdict: Easy enough to do but don’t be tempted to over order just because it seems such a great bargain. You’ll need to store them!

Price: You should be able to get 1,000 full-colour postcards for about £40.

Badges, Fridge Magnets, Calenders, Key rings etc: These are easy to make and people do appreciate well designed ones. I like the fridge magnets best. Calenders are great if you get the timing right but too often get chucked in the (recycling) bin rather than hung on the wall. Badges are my 2nd favourite but a good design is a must. You can hire a simple machine to make your own. Key rings – not my favourite – I hate the hassle of changing my heap of keys from one ring to another.

Verdict: Good but consider carefully how long they are likely to be used for and make sure the design is top-rate. Check out other people’s sites for ideas.

Price:

Badges – about £50 for 400 25 mm badges

Fridge Magnets – Special offers normally work out at 10 for £4

Key rings – Acrylic ones tend to be about £20 for 100

Calenders – £100 for 100 smaller desktop calenders

Whichever you chose, whatever you want to say – Shout it loud and have fun!

20 days into Lent and its time to start preparing for Easter. So today’s task in our series of 40 small steps to make the planet a better place is to support the Fairtrade and organic chocolate industry. Now hard hard is that?

Most of the big supermarkets have jumped on the bandwagon and are now stocking a small supply of Fairtrade/Organic chocolate but we all know their hearts aren’t really in it and their true motivation is the bottom line. So this Easter let’s support the good guys.

	Dr Hadwen Trust. The Trust is dedicated to finding alternatives to experimenting on animals. Its closing its shop and so all the vegan, organic and Fairtrade chocs are on sale. The shop will be open between March 2nd and March 20th.
	Chocaid: Gourmet Chocolates Gifts with a Conscience. A small, family run concern dedicated to Fairtrade/Organic chocolates. They have a small but totally yummy range. Available via the internet or from John Lewis, Waitrose or Debenhams.
	The Ethical Superstore stocks a far wider range of Fairtrade chocolates with some certified as organic and some as vegan.
	The Fairtrade Foundation supplies a list of all certified Fairtrade suppliers. The link was down when I wrote this blog but do have a look to see if there a shop near you.