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EXTRAORDINARY MEWSLETTER 23 JUNE 2010
Hi Everyone, and a very warm welcome with a belly rub and gentle head butt from all of us here at the Daily Mews Mansion to all the new subscribers who’ve tentatively pushed an inquisitive nose through the cat flap. It’s a beautiful summer’s day, not a cloud in the bluest of blue skies, birds are chirping, insects are busy going about their business and it’s the kind of day where you stand in the doorway, survey your kingdom and give thanks for being alive.
This is not your usual Mewsletter; this is an EXTRA ordinary Mewsletter because I have some amazing news to impart. Most of you have heard of an incredible man called Jim Willis. He and I have been friends for about 10 years or so and I’ve been witness to the selfless acts of kindness that Jim will go to in order to rescue animals in need and find them good homes. If they don’t find a good home, they stay with him and join his ever-increasing fur family. Please read the following and follow the links – and ACT. Thanks to an amazing woman called Angela, Jim Willis’ iconic essay "How Could You?" has now been translated into Chinese. His story first made news almost 10 years ago, when it was broadcast by a Toronto drive-time DJ, who broke down in tears on the air; crying drivers pulled off roadways and created a traffic jam that a Toronto newspaper reported on. Radio stations elsewhere have broadcast it with similar results. The Chinese government has come under increased scrutiny over human and animal rights, but The People of China are looking for change. World Animal Day recently appointed two Ambassadors there and Jim Willis, WAD Ambassador for the USA, has enlisted their help in spreading the message of "HCY?" "How Could You?" has been translated into over 50 languages. This latest translation into two kinds of Chinese offers Jim's story its largest audience ever. He said he believes that "the pen is mightier than the sword," and that it is energizing to watch hearts and hands uniting over his story and World Animal Day. To know that minds can be encouraged to change and caring people can be inspired to act drives this one man’s determination to see that all animals – the world over – live as they were meant to; for companion animals, that means in loving homes, with good food, fresh drinking water, toys to play with, a decent place to sleep and human interaction. World Animal Day on October 4th of every year is a day when you can do your bit for the animals. Not just those in your care, but animals in general. (The Chinese Moon Bears that are imprisoned in body-hugging cages and milked for their bile is one such cause close to my heart and this is a vile practice that needs to be stopped.) To get involved, those of you who use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, or any social media, including e-mail, can send a copy of "HCY?" to everyone, including your local newspapers and broadcast media. Please ask the media to feature animals from local shelters. Jim said the primary goal of his campaign is to increase adoptions of shelter animals and slow the tidal wave of animals being relinquished to animal shelters as a result of our faltering economies. You might ask yourself how you – just one person - can help stem the tide of global abuse and neglect. The answer is in Jim’s poem, The Animals’ Saviour Copyright Jim Willis 1999, all rights reserved http://www.crean.com/jimwillis I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter … The cast-offs of human society. I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was angry. “God,” I said, “this is terrible! Why don’t you do something?” God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly. “I have done something,” He replied. “I created You.” (From the book Pieces of My Heart – Writings Inspired by Animals and Nature) Michele Hollow, another friend and animal advocate, has a brilliant (free subscription) blog on everything animal-related, where you can get further information about Jim and his work: http://petnewsandviews.com/2010/06/u-s-animal-advocate-makes-impact-in-china/ To find out more about World Animal Day, see Jim’s WAD link and all the resources elsewhere on that site: http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/Ambassadors/Webpages/USA.asp The link for Ryan O’Meara who is the WAD ambassador for the UK is: http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/Ambassadors/Webpages/UK.asp Wherever you live in the world, there is a WAD ambassador for your country too. Just go to: http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/Ambassadors/Webpages/AmbassadorIntro.asp To read “How Could You?” please click on this link on my website: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/howcouldyou.htm Your ‘usual’ Mewsletter will – hopefully – be with you shortly while I update the website over the next few days. Enjoy this wonderful news and please ACT. Thanks to all of you in advance, we CAN make a difference. All good wishes Pauline, Billy, Sam and Ollie BACK TO THE MEWSLETTER Archive Index
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