Monday, March 22, 2010

For those that cannot speak...

Those of you who know me, know that I LOVE animals. I've grown up with cats and dogs all my life, and join tons of animal groups and organizations on Facebook in support of them. I've come to the sad realization that one can't simply say, "shame" and join a page and think that they are helping or contributing. Watching clips of animal torture, hearing it on the radio or reading about it doesn't help matters either. The reality is that there will always be animal abuse (yes, and not forgetting human abuse - but that's a whole other topic), but what can we do to prevent some of it, eliminate part of it and just do our bit for these creatures that don't ask for much, who love us often without question, and who can't speak for themselves?

I'm not adding any abuse images to this blog, though a picture speaks a thousand words, there are more than enough on the internet and that's not the purpose of this post. When I read or hear about what goes on in the world; I feel sick, furious and sad. I'm tired of just sitting back with these feelings and hoping it will all just go away, or worse trying to ignore it. Ask yourself, are you really ok with someone being fined a couple of hundred bucks for killing a puppy deliberately? Or the kids treating that kitten like a cricket ball? Yes, I don't want to read this kind of thing either and I'm upset just typing this, but what are we going to do? Unfortunately we can't legally take someone and smash them around with a bat (that's how strongly I feel about this), but why aren't there stricter punishments in place? How about jail time...not a few days, I'm talking about years and plenty - without bail.

I'm going to do a lot more research about this, and anyone who can offer some advice on where to go from here (the right channels or who to contact) or who want to join me,  I welcome your input, assistance or help. We're all put on this earth for a reason, and I believe there is a reason that I feel so strongly about this sort of thing, and I for one don't want to sit back anymore and pretend it doesn't exist.

On that note, I've researched a few great organizations doing their bit for animals. I know we can't support each and every single one of them, some months we can't even support one, but if you can - take a few minutes to see what these fantastic organizations are doing to make a difference. You'd be surprised at how far even R20 will go. I'll update in my next post about this which ones I've chosen, even if it's R20 a month - it's still a lot better than nothing.

TEARS - www.tears.org.za
TEARS is a pro-life organisation based in Sunnydale (near Kommetjie). Our core aim is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home abandoned, abused and neglected dogs and cats. We care for over 250 rescued animals at any given time. To date, we have found homes for almost 10 000 dogs and cats.

Wetnose Animal Rescue Centre -  http://www.wetnose.org.za
Wet Nose Animal Rescue Centre was opened in April 1999 by Tracy Forte who had a belief that all animals deserve a second chance in life and that healthy animals should not be killed just because they are unwanted. A safe haven had to be opened for these precious babies where they stand a chance of getting a new loving home. Wet Nose is a registered non-profit organisation devoted to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of lost, abandoned and neglected animals. They are a right to life organisation and do not believe in euthanasia, except in the most extreme cases – they try and re-home all the animals into loving homes after they have been rehabilitated and sterilised. To date they have successfully re-homed over 20 500 dogs, 1 700 cats, donkeys, a goat, horses, guinea pigs, pigs and rabbits.

P.E.T.S - Pets Empowerment in Townships - http://www.pets.org.za
PETS is a non-profit, pro-active, pro-life animal rescue organisation, run by a group of members that still have to work full time and is indebted to all our wonderful foster mom's, and families. Without your support structure, only a small amount of what we do today would be possible. We do not sit around and wait for animals in need to come to us, instead we spend every free minute we have (much to the distress of our husband's) in the townships LOOKING for the animals that need help.

Animal Anti-Cruelty League - http://www.aacl.co.za
The Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL), has been protecting and caring for animals since 1956.  It is South Africa's second largest independent Animal Welfare Organization, relying entirely on the generosity and goodwill of the animal-loving public for financial support. We are an organization that gets involved  with all aspects of animal welfare - provide shelter for abandoned animals, promote an efficient adoption programme, prosecute animal cruelty cases, run welfare hospitals for lower income groups, visit underprivileged areas with fully equipped mobile clinics and regularly address schools and clubs on the challenges of animal welfare.


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Taking a chance

We've had a bit of a roller-coaster ride during the last few weeks, but instead of getting down in the dumps and all depressed about the situation, we've kept our heads up and remained positive. They say things happen for a reason, and I believe that this was a sign from up above for us to think outside the box, and really put ourselves out there. I realised that although I've got a home based business that's doing well, there is still so much more that I want to do and explore. Forget about office work - that's the reason I started my own creative company in the first place. On a whim one Friday evening, I applied for a half day Au Pair position. It must have been fate, because on the Sunday morning I was told I'd gotten the position! I can honestly say that besides my own business, I don't think I've enjoyed a job so much in my entire life. Yes, it's alot of responsibility, caring for and looking after someone else's child. Maybe I'm just blessed with a really well behaved child, well besides the fact that in my first week she's given me pure coffee disguised as a chocolate cookie to eat; made me believe that there were bergies living in their garage - a real actress this one; and embarresed me by chucking a half eaten fruit bar out the car window while driving in heavy traffic! (All preparation for what's to come in a few years down the line I would imagine!) ;)

As luck may have it, I've also taken on a couple of hours a morning to assist a catering company. Today was my first day, and I absolutely loved it! Will blog more about this once I'm into the swing of things...need a couple of days to get used to having 3 jobs a day. I know this will probably mean working at night when needed, but all I can say is....bring it on!! For the first time in my life, I feel like this - everything I am doing now is what I was meant to be doing all along.


Thursday, March 4, 2010

Seeing Avatar


We finally got round to seeing Avatar yesterday. At first, I wasn't too keen to see it because it looked like a bit of a kiddies movie (to me). After we heard all the hype about the movie from friends and saw the ratings; and the fact that it was in 3D, we thought it might be worth seeing. Fully booked for weeks (unless you wanted to sit right in front), we finally got round to watching this much talked about movie yesterday.

The movie opens with a scene of people waking up inside a huge space shuttle. They've been asleep for five months while en-route to another planet. At first, I thought this was a preview to a GI-Joe meets AI type of movie, and made a mental note to catch the name of it at the end of the preview. Because I was expecting Avatar to open with lots of blue people living in a fantasy land, I was really surprised at the opening of this movie, and was hooked from the moment the movie started.

The lead actor, Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully, an ex-marine who is called in to take the place of his deceased twin brother. He becomes an Avatar (a human mind in an alien body), and his mission is to convince a group of indigenous people, living on Pandora - an alien planet, to move away from their sacred village and beloved forrest.


 

Without giving too much of the storyline away,  Jake finds himself drawn to Neytiri (played by Zoe Saldana - who you might remember from Centre Stage in 2000), the daughter of the leader of the group.  Slowly a bond forms between the two, as she is given the task of training him to become one of their own.  For months, Jake learns everything about the forrest, and it's inhabitants while he discovers more about his character and what is really important to him.


While on this journey of discovery, he has to continuously report on his progress to his military team leader, who ultimately turns out to be his enemy. He finds himself torn between doing what he was recruited for by the military, and following his heart with this group of indigenous people who have come to trust him, and with whom he truly feels at home with.

There is a reason (actually there are many) why this movie topped the box office, knocking Titanic off as one of the biggest grossed movies of all time. For one, the special effects of Avatar are outstanding, and because it's a movie made in 3D it makes the experience even more incredible.  The movie is just over 2 and a half hours, but it's not one of those movies where you look at your watch wondering when it's going to end. I literally wanted this movie to carry on for another 2 hours, it was that good. The storyline and plot of the movie kept me glued from the time it started, right until the closing credits.

Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi and Michelle Rodriquez were brilliant and believable in their supporting acting roles in the movie.

The sound tracks and music were perfectly matched to each scene, and I found myself laughing, crying and getting angry throughout the movie. I walked out of the cinema with a strange feeling of peace, and have not been able to get this movie out of my mind. One of, if not THE best movie I have ever seen.

If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favour - splurge a little extra for the 3D glasses, and enjoy one of the best movies ever made! This is definently not one of those movies that you wait to see on DVD.