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April 25, 2008

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D

You say you are not an "animal activist", but the reality is that you are. Wanting to do no harm to both people and animals is the #1 animal activist trait, with #2 being that you help animals. By exposing the cruelty, the risk, the "big bad wolf" that is the circus, you are helping these innocent creatures.

Perhaps you shy away from the "Animal Activist" term because you feel it will taint peoples views of your writing, or make it hard for your stories to seem unbiased, but yes, you ARE an activist - and a damned good one, title, or no.

Jane Stanley

This article reminds me just how powerful one or all of us together can be if we act as one, with considered and researched arguments in the right places and to the right people.
My question always is though "What would be done with all of these elephants (and all the other performing animals in circuses and zoos who carry illness or cause harm to humans) if their 'usefulness' was ended?"
Not only do we have to fight for their freedom, but we also have to plan for it. There needs to be large and appropriate places for the animals to retire to, and many caregivers, and lots of money for their care. We have seen what happens when the elephants of Asia are made "redundant" when their work is made illegal.
I think that Carol and Scott (The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee), some others in Africa, and Lek (Elephant Nature Park in Thailand), are on the right track in involving a whole community in the hosting and maintenance of a sanctuary for elephants. How long it has taken them to make the idea acceptable in those communities! Are there other 'bright lights' like them who could take on this task? Are there communities here where we live who would support it?

Barbara Shepler

Thank you for such an important article. It should be required reading for anyone who still believes the circus is a healthy, fun experience.

I have to note that the last link in your article needs to end in .html rather than .htm The correct link is http://www.gan.ca/campaigns/circuses/factsheets/tuberculosis+in+elephants.en.html

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