In Deep Waters

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is in deep water in more ways than one. Its Captain, Paul Watson is being held by the German government, pending examination for extradition to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica accuses Paul Watson of violating their maritime rights during the filming of a documentary film about the illegal practice of cutting off shark fins. He is alleged to have used a ship to intimidate another vessel and put its crew at risk in 2002.

This is about more than interfering with an illegal Costa Rican fishing boat. It is the long-term impact that Captain Watson has had on the very lucrative ‘shark fin’ business run by the Taiwan mafia. Japan has not hesitated in putting pressure on Germany to follow through with the extradition, because Captain Watson is also an enormous ‘thorn in the side’ for Japanese whaling, dolphin, tuna etc. enterprises. It is an opportunity for them to be rid of him.

Until now, various threats, including a price on his head, has not interfered with Paul Watson’s devotion to protecting our seas and oceans. He has stated that whatever happens to him, the combat will continue. He is convinced, however, that should he be extradited to Costa Rica, it will be a death sentence without a fair trial. The Taiwan mafia have ways of getting to him in prison.

It all comes down to money, greed! All the slaughtering of sea creatures, as for land creatures (such as elephants for their tusks, rhinoceros for their horns others for their furs) is big business. But the day that the oceans are over-fished, the whales and dolphins etc. are extinct, will also be the day that we are doomed beyond redemption. Dead oceans become the cancer which will end it all.

‘For want of a nail, the kingdom was lost’! Captain Paul Watson is that nail. Take the time to write to those in Germany who hold his destiny in their hands. Your small contribution to saving Paul Watson is perhaps only a ripple in the water but it will have a long-reaching effect. Thank you.

Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger
Federal Minister of Justice
Deutscher Bundestag
Platz der Republik 1
11011 Berlin

Telephone 030 – 227 751 62
Fax 030 – 227 764 02
E-Mail: sabine.leutheusser-schnarrenberger@bundestag.de

Federal Ministry of Justice
Mohrenstrasse 37
10117 Berlin
Germany

Telephone: +49 (030) 18 580-0
Telefax: +49 (030) 18 580-9525

Dr. Guido Westerwelle – Minister of Foreign Affairs
FDP-Bundestagsfraktion
Platz der Republik 1
11011 Berlin

Tel.: 030 / 22771636
Fax: 030 / 22776562
E-Mail: guido.westerwelle@bundestag.de

THE ULTIMATE IN CO-OPERATION! 5 ‘Indie Authors’ are alternately working on a novella that has it all – suspense & comedy in a twisted tale! suzybazaar ebooks also offers FREE books/audio books!

So you think that writing novels is a throat-cutting business between authors? Each author only thinks it is about ‘Me, me, me’?
Sorry, there you are wrong. When it comes to the group of Indie Authors who have come together on the suzybazaar ebooks website, it couldn’t be more right!

FREE audio book, ‘The Timely Gift’!Welcome visit Our WebSite:http://suzybazaar.webs.com/

Do you enjoy thrillers, mysteries, comedies, poetry, romances, sci-fi or paranormal? Perhaps the down-to-earth description of life’s daily struggle appeals to you? You like catching a glimpse of other people’s lives? You will be well served by this co-operative of writers who have the knack in all those genres.
Their passion for writing and a ‘je ne sais quoi’ , an unknown element, has united them mysteriously. They are spread around the world, have never met and yet internet has brought them together effortlessly. They have gone one step further by combining their talents into one work. They have taken on the joint writing of a novella. As the chapters unfold telling Thorndyke’s story, each writer has added his own style of writing.

Any proceeds collected from the sale of the story will be going to the worthy charity, Sea Shepherd. Paul Watson has devoted his life to the protection of sea animals and the writers hope to contribute to his cause.

The story begins…

‘Sweat beaded on Thorndyke’s upper lip. His breathing was controlled and shallow, in an attempt to avoid detection. The big bass drum of his heart felt as if it would burst from his chest. Being found was inevitable. Death was inevitable. He was merely prolonging the agony. Agony. Deep down, it wasn’t death that really scared him. It was how he would die. These people meant business. To these people, their “clients” were people to keep in line, and those that stepped beyond that line were to be made an example of.’

Be sure to follow the story’s progress on suzybazaar ebooks website. Another press release will announce its publication.
Gary Weston, Anna Scott Graham, Jeffra Hays, Barnaby Wilde and Suzy Stewart Dubot are the enthusiastic authors.

RG2E’s EOTD include Suzy Stewart Dubot’s The Timely Gift and Dina Silver’s One Pink Line

RG2E’s EOTD include Suzy Stewart Dubot’s The Timely Gift and Dina Silver’s One Pink Line.

Time travel novella featured on Ebook of the Day.

Supporter of dedicated ‘Animal Rights’ militants

William Wilberforce

Because we find ourselves in a minority, it is assumed that we are wrong or unworthy of attention. It is so easy to go along with the crowd because there is no need to voice an opinion; there are plenty of others who thrive on showing that they are part of a big movement.

But if we look at history, it is filled with people in the minority who have believed so firmly in their right to a certain way of life that they have had the power to change the majority. 

Mrs. Pankhurst

Richard Pankhurst

Emmeline Pankhurst and her husband Richard Pankhurst come to mind for women’s rights including the ‘women’s property act’ and their right to vote. I am a great admirer of William Wilberforce, an English abolitionist who worked tirelessly against the solid resistance of businessmen and public opinion. By chipping away and against all odds, he turned the tide in favour of the abolition of the slave trade. What few people know is that he was also involved in the humane treatment of animals.

He was among the founder members of the Clapham Sect who began the S.P.C.A. which would later become the R.S.P.C.A. (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). *

Today, Nelson Mandelais still here as a testimony to those who stand by their convictions.

Nelson Mandela

You’re thinking that I’m long-winded? So I’ll come to my point which is to have you look at animal rights protestors in a different light. They’re not making a noise just for fun. It was no fun during the recent demonstrations against AIR FRANCE/KLM which were held during the freezing weather we had in January and February. They will not give up on their combat to stop AF/KLM from transporting primates and other species to their deaths in laboratories in testing. Nothing is ever going to make them change their minds because when you have loved a dog or a cat or any other animal and know they have a soul, it is not conceivable to let other animals suffer! Vivisection is a HORROR!

The combat against bull-fighting is not new. William Wilberforce was aware of it. He fought against such British activities as bear-baiting, dog fights and cock fighting – all blood letting in its most gruesome forms for the pleasure of a crowd. WE cannot in all conscience allow bulls to be tortured for the pleasure of spectators. Olé as the animal makes his last move before falling to its knees. Shame on bull-fighting spectators!

Animal rights protestors will one day come into their own right. I hope I’m still alive to see the day but until that time, I will continue to support them with the money I can spare and with a fathomless supply of words. More power to dedicated ‘animal rights’ militants. They have done something worthy with their lives!

*My novel ‘The Viscount’s Midsummer Mistress’ had devoted some paragraphs to William Wilberforce and his work in Regency times.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93406 

Supporteur de Droits d’Animaux

Je me souviens, il n’y a pas mal d’années à Londres, qu’il avait des restaurants s’appelant ‘Cranks’. Il faillait oser y manger parce que les plats servis étaient exclusivement végétariens et un végétarien n’était pas normal, donc un ‘Crank’. Il était considéré comme une illuminée ou un excentrique. D’être vu entrant dans un restaurant végétarien équivalait d’être vu entrant dans un ‘sex shop’ néanmoins, moins excitant. Les temps changent et me voici une de ces personnes ‘pas tout à fait normale’. Je n’entre pas dans les boutiques de sexe (je l’ai fait une fois) mais je suis végétarienne, comme mes trois filles. Ma fille ainée est allée encore plus loin parce qu’elle est Végétalienne (aucun produit animalier).

Alors, vous vous demandez le rapport entre les restaurants ‘Cranks’ et les droits d’animaux… ? Le voilà : Les supporteurs des droits d’animaux sont vus comme des ‘Cranks’ Ils sont comme les ‘dineurs végétariens’ des années auparavant qui vivaient véritablement en marge de la société. Manifestant contre Air France/KLM* peut sembler ridicule ou même agaçant mais, tous les jours, il y a davantage de gens qui se rendent compte que la torture des animaux de laboratoires est inacceptable. La pratique est emballée dans les mots acceptables comme ‘dans l’intérêt de la science’ ou ‘pour notre bien’ (la vivisection : l’action de découper ou bissecter une partie d’un corps vivant comme méthode d’étude physiologique ou pathologique).

Bullshit ! Conneries ! Sachez qu’aucun animal n’est un substitut pour un autre. Les expériences sur les singes ne sont viables que pour des singes. La Thalidomide a été testée sur plusieurs espèces d’animaux sans résultats nuisibles avant d’être utilisé par l’homme. Qu’est-ce que la science nous a fait là ?

Et, sur le sujet de bullshit (bouse de taureau), comment peut on payer pour voir la torture d’un taureau jusqu’à sa mort? Où est le plaisir de crier ‘Olé’ lorsqu’il tombe en fin sur ses genoux?

Je ne vais pas commencer à parler du commerce de la vraie fourrure ou la mort des baleines etc. Ce sont des sujets dont j’en parlerai un autre jour au risque de sembler un ‘crank’. La prochaine fois que vous entendez un haut parleur ou un mégaphone qui dénonce la maltraitance des animaux, ne pensez pas que les manifestants sont des excentriques mais plutôt des meneurs dans un combat qui, en long terme, peut nous rendre une meilleure santé et nous laisser avec une conscience tranquille. Pensez à leurs joindre afin de faire la différence dans le monde, même en étant un crank !

*Air France/KLM continue de transporter des singes et d’autres animaux à leurs morts dans des laboratoires. La moitié meurt en route dans les transports. C’est eux qui sont les chanceux…

Supporter of Animal Rights

I remember many years ago in London, England that there were restaurants called ‘Cranks‘. It was most daring to eat there because it was vegetarian and vegetarians were not quite normal, in other words, they were cranks!  Going into a vegetarian restaurant was almost on a par to being seen going into a sex shop, although a lot less exciting.

Times change and here I am one of those ‘not quite normal’ people. I don’t go into sex shops (well, I did once) but I am a vegetarian with my three daughters. My oldest daughter has gone one step further as she is Vegan.

Now you might be wondering what this has to do with Animal Rights…?
It is simply that supporters of animal rights tend to be seen as cranks. They are like those veggie diners years ago, who were on the fringe of every day behaviour.

Demonstrating against Air France/KLM* seems laughable to some folk or even annoying but every day there are those who are gradually coming to the realisation that there is something wrong with the torture laboratories inflict on all types of animals. It is wrapped in the acceptable words of ‘in the name of science’, ‘vivisection’ (The action of cutting or dissecting some part of a living organism; spec. the action or practice of performing dissection, or other painful experiment, upon living animals as a method of physiological or pathological study).

Bullshit!
Just remember that no animal is a substitute for another. Tests on monkeys are only viable for monkeys. Thalidomide was tested on several different species without harmful results before it was used on humans. What does that say for science?

And while I’m speaking of bullshit, how can any person pay to go and see a bull tortured to death? Where is the pleasure in shouting Olé, as the poor creature finally falls to its knees?

I am not even going to start talking about the real fur trade or whaling or any number of other dreadful practices against animals. They are subjects that I will discuss, at the risk of appearing a crank, on another day.

The next time you hear a loud speaker or megaphone denouncing the mistreatment of animals, don’t think of those demonstrators as eccentrics but rather as the leaders in a whole new way of thinking that may actually make us healthier people in the long-run. You might like to join them and make a difference to the world as a crank!

*Air France/KLM continue to transport monkeys and various other animals to their deaths in laboratories. Half of them die in transport. They are the lucky ones…

So – I’m supposed to pat myself on the back and you are to be witness…

I received yet another book booster pep-talk this morning. This time it is concerning two ebooks that I have entered into a competition and that I should in some obscure way promote before the competition is over.

Nominated

I’m not sure I want to draw attention to the fact that they may be losers! In fact, what are the chances that both will win? I think I’ll wait a while until they are at least nominated as finalists. Then I’ll have something to crow about.

On second thoughts, anyone that is interested in casting an eye on the two books will find them on various eBook sites. The competition site is called ‘Global eBook Awards’ http://globalebookawards.com/category/fiction-nominees/fiction-romance-historical/ but they are also available for sampling here : https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93406                                                                                                       

& https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/119066

There. I’ve done what I didn’t want to do. Now, they can’t say I didn’t try, albeit half-heartedly…