Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Power to Make a Difference

Today I received an email from the Humane Society of the United States, about Fay, a fighting dog whose lips were cut off by the thing who had her (this is as polite a description as I can muster). Fay was rescued. In a sense, she was "lucky." How many other dogs (cats, pets, animals) - Michael Vick's come to mind - don't get rescued, or are so damaged (psychologically and/or physically) that the only merciful act is euthanasia?

Fay's story, most of which I could not read, made me sad, of course. And made me think about all the suffering imposed on animals, whether they are companion or farmed or otherwise used, by people. And honestly, in this season of good tidings, I cannot muster up the compassion needed to forgive or understand what was done to Fay, what has been and is being done to other animals - and if wishing were doing, there'd be 6 billion less people on this earth right now.

But while I am not all-powerful, I am certainly not powerless - and, yes, voice of the voiceless comes to mind. I can and do speak up. I read to learn more. I do my best to eat compassionately. I volunteer with animal rescues. I adopt my pets and don't buy them. And finally, I give.

And that brings me to the subject of today's post - charity, or how Fay's story inspired me to blog a list of the organizations I support. Here they are:

1. Animal Legal Defense Fund - because impact litigation has the power to make a difference for animals.

2. Animal Haven - because it's important to support a local rescue.

3. UC Berkeley - because I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't gone to the best public university in the country.

4. CCR - because they pioneered impact litigation and creative lawyering and have never been afraid to channel David against any Goliath to fight the good fight.

5. City at Peace - because I need hope that there will be a next generation able and willing to take on the cause of social justice work.

6. Humane Farming Association - because someone needs to stand up to the abuses of the factory farming industry and stop them.

7. Island Dog - because Americans should not countenance grotesque animal abuses on U.S. territory.

8. New York League of Humane Voters - because politicians should be held accountable to our collective interests.

9. Medical Students for Choice - because the right to choose depends on access to the everyday heroes who are abortion providers.

10. Vegan Outreach - because militancy never changed anyone's diet.

11. WNYC - because knowledge is power.

12. Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary - because preaching compassion can be fun.

I hope you will think of ways that you can make a difference in the coming year.

Peace.

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