20 December 2016
Dear friends
“The highest realms of thought are impossible to reach without first attaining an understanding of compassion.” Socrates
On behalf of the voiceless and defenceless in our community, I urgently seek the support of the Unleashed community to stop a rodeo planned for Wollongong in January 2017.
Rodeos are a cruel spectator sport where terrified bulls, calves and horses are physically provoked into displaying ‘wild’ behaviour and pitted against a ‘cowboy’ in a display of extreme animal cruelty.
James Serpell stated in his In the Company of Animals:
"… these rodeo performances hinge on the violent subjugation of living animals, some of which are deliberately incited to frenzied violence by raking them with spurs, constricting the genital region with leather straps, or by thrusting an electric prod into the rectal area.”
Countless animals in rodeos have suffered broken ribs, backs, and legs; punctured lungs; deep internal organ bruising; haemorrhaging; ripped tendons; torn ligaments and muscles; snapped necks; and agonizing deaths.
I urge Unleashed and its wonderful members and supporters to join with other caring and compassionate members of the community and inform Mayor Gordon Bradbery and the council that tormenting frightened and unwilling animals in an attempt to demonstrate the 'brute strength' of man is a spectacle that has no place in modern society.
Every councillor has to be asked if they want a city which shows kindness and compassion to all living beings or a city which promotes, supports and sanctions cruelty to defenceless and voiceless animals.
The endorsement of cruelty to animals by any political leader, Mayor or councillors, all of whom are elected representatives of the people, is both morally and ethically wrong and the compassionate and caring people of the Illawarra and South Coast of NSW want a council that shows by its actions it truly understands, cares, respects and values all living beings and will never promote, tolerate or sanction cruelty to animals in the name of ‘fun and entertainment for all the family’.
An infinitely more worthy achievement is compassion and the way to prove your true worth is through kindness, not cruelty. Together we can create a loving, caring and gentler world for all living beings and ensure we provide a voice for the voiceless.
If our children are brought up in this way, there will be an end to cruelty to animals.
Please register an objection with Council to Development Application DA-2016/1699 – objections close 9 January 2017
https://epathway.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/ePathway/Production/Web/GeneralEnquiry/EnquiryDetailView.aspx?Id=785230
There is also a petition (link below), organised by a passionate, caring and concerned resident, which needs support and signatures and if this could be posted on your social media, signed and shared with the members of your community then together we can make a difference.
https://www.change.org/p/gordon-bradbery-no-bull-riding-at-bulli-showgrounds?recruiter=26322430&utm_source=petitions_share&utm_medium=copylink
Please raise your voices and speak out on behalf of the voiceless and defenceless because cruelty knows no boundaries, locations or States. Together we can make a difference.
“Kindness and compassion toward all living things is the mark of a civilised society.” Cesar Chavez
Kind regards
On behalf of my beautiful grandchildren Ella, Lucy, Joshua and a little boy I am soon to meet who all live on the magnificent south coast of NSW and love and adore all living beings.
