Jan 15

Haiti Relief Now

Finds, Personal, Politics 3 Comments »
Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti, for the trauma and loss they’ve already experienced since Tuesday night’s calamitous 7.0 earthquake hit, with its epicenter not far from the densely populated capital of Port-au-Prince. News agencies report that thousands have perished, many are still trapped in the rubble of buildings, and hundreds of thousands of others are without shelter, medical care, or other life necessities. Governments and relief agencies are deploying to deal with what amounts to one of the worst disasters of modern times, with its impact compounded by the chronic poverty, deficient infrastructure, bare-bones medical care, and other problems that afflict the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.

Damage from the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti
Logan Abass/United Nations / CC BY 2.0
Damage from the Jan. 12 earthquake.

When people suffer in this terrible way, so do animals. The HSUS, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, and our global affiliate Humane Society International are working on a preliminary assessment of Haiti’s animal-care needs, taking into account the security, transportation, housing, and supply challenges that we would face in deployment. Fortunately, one of our veterinary teams had been conducting a program at a veterinary school in the neighboring Dominican Republic when the quake struck. We are looking to determine if they can get into Haiti to conduct an on-the-ground assessment. We are also communicating with human relief agencies, and looking to cooperate with them. One difficulty is that there are no organized animal welfare groups anywhere in the country, and no animal shelters or veterinary schools. This lack of infrastructure will complicate any response.

If you would like to support our disaster response work around the world, you can give here. Please stay tuned to the blog, and to humanesociety.org for continuing updates.

If you haven’t done anything yet to help out regarding this disaster in Haiti, even getting word out by spreading info #’s – please – I ask you to help.  Time is of the utmost importance right now and is critical.  Text “YELE” to #501501 or “HAITI” to “90999″ – we are one human race. It MATTERS. Wake up everyone. There is no such thing as too small – this includes our animals.  I have donated to Doctors Without Borders, The Red Cross, and of course, am working tightly within the Humane Society.  Each small effort adds up to an enormous gesture and even greater change.  Do it now.

Thank you, JL

Jan 10

Addressing Sea Shepherd

Personal, Recommendation 3 Comments »

Statement On Sea Shepher’s Ady Gil Attack

The recent news regarding the crew of the Sea Shepherd is just another example of the allegiance I have to a group of people fighting on behalf of one of my most personal issues – our animals. The protection and conservation of our planets whales is something I will never stay silent on. Included are some of the videos as well as reports on the latest clash. As always, it’s up to you to form your own conclusions on who is at fault. The key issue with me remains; the action of my friends and extended family within the crew of the Sea Shepherd vs. the inaction of those who have sat back and allowed the brutality and harm to our whales is a debate I’ll never back down on. While often it may seem I take a more spiritual and idealistic position on animal issues, make no mistake, I am fully educated and aware of the dominating laws at hand here. Whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is illegal. The harpoon vessel – the Yushin Maru, has been whaling in that territory for a solid amount of time. There is no question about the fact that the actions of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Whale Sanctuary not only break the law, but continue to obstruct countless other laws the longer they stay and the more whales they kill. The Sea Shepherds unconventional methods of madness are aimed only at those who harm and brutally murder for no reason. Let me make this extremely clear – the crew is well aware of the risks involved in their participation on board – they fight on despite it because their work has nothing to do with them – they are in it for the cause. Protecting the welfare of those who can not is paramount. With that – I continue to stand by them and their continued work and efforts.

JL, 1/09/10

Australia Tells Japan: Stop Whaling
Paul Watson: Sea Shepherd’s Stern ‘Warrior’ Defies Japanese Whalers

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