Gratitude - Being Thankful, Showing Appreciation for and returning Kindness.
This is the Oxford Dictionary Definition for the word - Gratitude.My husband and I have had an incredibly fortunate life to this point. We have good health, good fortune and we are financially secure. We are retired and have not yet turned 60 and we travel a great deal. As a thank you for all we have, and to show we are grateful for every blessing bestowed upon us, we chose to support an animal which suffers so terribly at the hands of humans.
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| Our Sponsored Bear - Wilfred (Willie) |
THE ISSUE:
More than 10,000 bears – mainly moon bears, but also sun bears and brown bears – are kept on bile farms in China, and just under 2,000 in Vietnam. The bears are milked regularly for their bile, which is used in traditional medicine.
Bile is extracted using various painful, invasive techniques, all of which cause massive infection in the bears. This cruel practice continues despite the availability of a large number of effective and affordable herbal and synthetic alternatives.
Most farmed bears are kept in tiny cages. In China, the cages are sometimes so small that the bears are unable to turn around or stand on all fours. Some bears are put into cages as cubs and never released. Bears may be kept caged like this for up to 30 years. Most farmed bears are starved, dehydrated and suffer from multiple diseases and malignant tumours that ultimately kill them.
BEAR SANCTUARIES:
Animals Asia operate bear sanctuaries in China and Vietnam where bears are rehabilitated and cared for and where their bear teams gather vital evidence of the effects of bile extraction.
Their world-class bear rescue centres in Chengdu, China and Tam Dao, Vietnam provide the bears with comfortable dens and semi-natural enclosures where they are able to recover in safety and spend the remaining years of their lives in the company of other bears. To date, 400 farmed bears have been received into their care.
During their rehabilitation at the rescue centres, the bears’ behaviour and well-being are closely monitored by the bear teams through regular health checks and daily observations. This not only ensures that the bears receive the best care possible, but also enables staff to gather vital scientific evidence on the physical and psychological effects of bile extraction.
Reports and papers published by the teams have helped to raise the profile of the moon bear within the scientific community and to increase public awareness of the terrible cruelty involved in the bear bile farming industry.
The sanctuaries also provide direct employment for over 250 Chinese and Vietnamese people in areas such as bear care, horticulture, food preparation and security. Several hundred local people are employed indirectly through services and construction. There is also an active and ongoing education program in these countries. There has been positive support from governments in China and Vietnam to finally rid the practice of bear bile farming.
HOW WE CAN HELP:
For further information go to the Animals Asia website at https://www.animalsasia.org/intl/our-work/end-bear-bile-farming/
ABOUT WILFRED - Willie
I am enormously grateful for all I have and to be able to help this gorgeous animal puts a huge smile in my heart.
Until next month, remember - "What Goes Around, Comes Around."
It takes the same amount of effort to be kind as it does to be mean.
God Bless and Stay Safe
Sue
Western Historical Romance Author
Website: http://horsnells.wix.com/susan--1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernlovin
