SAFE SUPPORTER BULLETIN
CAMPAIGNS X EVENTS X NEWS X ACTIONS X RESCUES X GIVEAWAYS

     

Our lives are complicated emotionally. No sooner are we happy, we are sad. We can be blissfully content and then restlessly pensive. We experience a wild emotional rollercoaster ride of joy, anger, pleasure, embarrassment, guilt, pain, fear, grief, sadness, envy, jealousy and happiness. Each of us deals with emotions differently. They define us as who we are. It is argued our ability to experience emotions also divides us from the rest of the animal kingdom. However according to Professor Marc Bekoff humans aren’t the only ones to be emotionally connected.

Last week I attended Bekoff’s lecture entitled Animal Emotions and Beastly Passions: Why ‘good animal welfare’ isn’t good enough. Bekoff is Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado and is an internationally acclaimed author of many books including The Emotional Lives of Animals and Minding Animals. He is an inspiring speaker who is emphatic that animals have the capacity to experience the same emotional roller coaster as us. He cites science and a seemingly unlimited number of anecdotes of animals expressing emotions all too similar to those of our own. He says we are fools to think, for instance, a mother’s grief at the loss of her loved offspring is only reserved for humans. It is sobering if we accept that animals experience similar emotional ordeals to those of our own. All that suffering. All that pain. I feel sick thinking about it.

The animal rights community is itself in mourning as we pay our deepest respects to Suzanne Carey, a close ally to the animal rights community who died suddenly at the mere age of 34. Many of us attended Suzy’s funeral to pay our respects to someone who remained impassioned and uncompromising. While strangely divisive, there was no denying Suzy’s commitment and loyalty to the rights of animals. She was a champion and hero in the eyes of many. Her parents, while in much grief and despair, can take comfort knowing Suzy has touched many hearts and saved countless lives. Suzy, may you rest in peace knowing you did your best. You will be remembered.
Anthony Terry
Director



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PIGGY ART AUCTION FOR SAFE!
SAFE is delighted to bring you a gorgeous original painting to buy, with all proceeds going towards SAFE’s LovePigs campaign. SAFE member and artist, Rua de Reus, has kindly donated a vibrant canvas painting to SAFE to be auctioned on TradeMe. Rua is a member of the Otago Art Society. More. . .

SAVE ARAPAWA ISLAND GOATS
A war is being waged in a remote part of the Marlborough Sounds. The Department of Conservation (DoC) is planning to shoot rare goats that inhabit Arapawa Island deep in the Sounds. The goats have lived on the island since 1773 and are thought to live wild nowhere else in the world. Island resident and founder of the Arapawa Island sanctuary Betty Rowe has been at loggerheads with DoC for years trying to save the goats from being eradicated. It is understood next month DoC will begin shooting so calls have been made to form a group of fit, energetic people to assist with catching these goats to relocate them within the island’s sanctuary. More. . .


SAFE’S LITTLE PIGGY ARMY!
In order to step up its fight against factory pig farming, SAFE has commissioned 15 more model pigs in sow crates to be dispatched to SAFE centres around the country. The SAFEBid! art auction organised by SAFE’s promotion manager Amanda Sorrenson and MCd by Outrageous Fortune star Robyn Malcolm raised the necessary funds for these highly effective stall props. More. . .


SUPPORT IN INVERCARGILL
Invercargill coordinator Emily Beale and SAFE volunteer Anne Michels have been working hard down south to promote the cause. Prior to SAFE’s annual appeal they were focused on making the organisation as well known as possible. Now these two have managed to secure incredible support from their local environment centre. More. . .


EXPLORING ANIMAL MINDS
This month’s National Geographic explores animal emotions and questions just who the smarter animals are. Check out some of the stars of this issue!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Hawke’s Bay SAFE meeting
Hawke’s Bay volunteers and anyone interested in becoming involved locally are invited to the SAFE meeting on Sunday 30 March at 4pm. Vegan nibbles provided. If you are interested in attending please email Donna at: hawkesbay@safe.org.nz

Christchurch Film Night
If you’re in Christchurch on the 20th of March at 7pm and wish to catch a free AR flick head to SAFE on Level 1, 145 Armagh Street. There will even be free vegan nibbles provided! For more info and film details email sacha@safe.org.nz

Regular film nights in Auckland
The powerful film ‘ Peaceable Kingdom’ was shown in central Auckland last month with people left feeling inspired to become volunteers and at least one deciding to become vegetarian. The next film screening will be at the Tea Culture café located upstairs at 208 K Road from 7pm on 2 April. For film details email eliot@safe.org.nz

SAFE at orientation
SAFE has kept up a presence at Auckland tertiary institutions over the last couple of weeks with stalls at various orientation music gigs. SAFE campaign officer Chris Zack said “We had loads of students signing up to join their local campus group and give support towards the LovePigs campaign.”

During the SAFE stall at AUT, lead singer of Spacifix, Tau Manukia, made himself known to the SAFE team and gave a donation and purchased a LovePigs badge which he wore on stage! Nice one, Tau!

  

11 MARCH 2008 #44




SAFE has a funky prize pack to give away from the generous folks at Deviate. Deviate is an Auckland-based company that provides superior non-leather and vegan friendly shoes, wallets, clothes and accessories. Established by a vegetarian, Deviate strives to stock quality and quirky goods available online making shopping a breeze!

Win a fabulous Ladies gift pack containing jandals, sweetie canvas bag, patchwork shoulder bag, cheque book-style wallet, cap, and pocket tin valued at $125. Wicked! Email your name and address and you could be looking street smart this autumn. In the meantime check out the latest styles and gear. Draw closes 19 March.

Congratulations to Liz Sawers for winning the ‘Please Don’t Eat My Babies’ TippiTappi organic cotton t-shirt and Alyssa Topp for winning the ‘Zoos = Prisons’ t-shirt.

LUSH PRIZE WINNER!
Nga Tawa school student Ashley Moore says she is mad about animals.

“I am an animal addict which is why I joined SAFE. I have a Bichon Frise called Cracker. One day I wish to pursue a career that involves helping animals,” says Ashley.

Ashley made regular monthly donations to SAFE last year as part of a fundraising initiative associated with SAFE’s 2007 celebrity calendar. All those that maintained monthly pledges went into the draw to win an awesome Lush Beauty prize pack worth $1000 which Ashley was lucky enough to win.

“I would like to thank Lush cosmetics for my awesome prize and SAFE for running the competition.”