You know that we don't usually depart from our focus on companion animals, particularly dogs and cats, but we thought you'd enjoy this information.
First up a ruling from the Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the European Union's highest court: According to a recent article in the New York Times, France has been lax in its protection of the Great Hamster of Alsace, the last wild hamster species in Western Europe, and "if France does not adjust its agricultural and urbanization policies sufficiently to protect it, the government will be subject to fines of as much as $24.6 million." It seems that there are only about 800 of these 10 inch creatures left in France, mostly because of habitat destruction, and before they were officially protected, poisoning and trapping by farmers who regarded the little critters as a "farmyard pest." Although this hamster looks sufficiently like a squirrel for me to want to chase, not protect it, both Parental Unit and I give this ruling a paws/thumbs up. Check out the full article here: www.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/world/europe/10hamsters.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general
And did you hear about a new documentary titled, "One Lucky Elephant", which a New York Times review describes as "a sweet and heart and trunk-tugging, modestly sized documentary...about a circus man and the wild animal he foolishly bought, helped to train, loved like a (captive) daughter and finally, tearfully tried to do right by, mostly by letting her go." The review mentions, importantly, that the film never really addresses "the ethical questions of what it means to capture and keep wild animals," thus the appropriate title of the review: "The Trick an Animal Cannot Learn: How to Be Wild Again." Apparently the end of the film provides a link to the movie's own website, oneluckyelephant.com that includes a link to a charity formed to help Flora, the film's heroine. Read the full review here: movies.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/movies/one-lucky-elephant-documentary-opens-review.html?scp=1&sq=Manohla%20Dargis&st=cse
And finally, dear friends, please stay tuned for tomorrow's very special post! We'll be doing a book review of the newly released best seller, The Bond Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them, by Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States. The post will include excerpts from an interview with the author, who Parental Unit had the honor of meeting today. And we'll be giving away two signed copies of this extraordinary, groundbreaking book! So stop by early and often tomorrow through Thursday for a chance to win!
First up a ruling from the Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the European Union's highest court: According to a recent article in the New York Times, France has been lax in its protection of the Great Hamster of Alsace, the last wild hamster species in Western Europe, and "if France does not adjust its agricultural and urbanization policies sufficiently to protect it, the government will be subject to fines of as much as $24.6 million." It seems that there are only about 800 of these 10 inch creatures left in France, mostly because of habitat destruction, and before they were officially protected, poisoning and trapping by farmers who regarded the little critters as a "farmyard pest." Although this hamster looks sufficiently like a squirrel for me to want to chase, not protect it, both Parental Unit and I give this ruling a paws/thumbs up. Check out the full article here: www.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/world/europe/10hamsters.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general
And did you hear about a new documentary titled, "One Lucky Elephant", which a New York Times review describes as "a sweet and heart and trunk-tugging, modestly sized documentary...about a circus man and the wild animal he foolishly bought, helped to train, loved like a (captive) daughter and finally, tearfully tried to do right by, mostly by letting her go." The review mentions, importantly, that the film never really addresses "the ethical questions of what it means to capture and keep wild animals," thus the appropriate title of the review: "The Trick an Animal Cannot Learn: How to Be Wild Again." Apparently the end of the film provides a link to the movie's own website, oneluckyelephant.com that includes a link to a charity formed to help Flora, the film's heroine. Read the full review here: movies.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/movies/one-lucky-elephant-documentary-opens-review.html?scp=1&sq=Manohla%20Dargis&st=cse
And finally, dear friends, please stay tuned for tomorrow's very special post! We'll be doing a book review of the newly released best seller, The Bond Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them, by Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States. The post will include excerpts from an interview with the author, who Parental Unit had the honor of meeting today. And we'll be giving away two signed copies of this extraordinary, groundbreaking book! So stop by early and often tomorrow through Thursday for a chance to win!
3 comments:
I *definitely* want to chase that. Just sayin' it looks fun. Once they are no linger endangered, maybe you and I could chase just one?
Thanks for always keeping us update-to-date, Bocci! The elephant movie sounds devastating - not sure my mom will be able to see it!
We don't usually blog on Tuesdays, but we will make an exception and tune in tomorrow for your interview!
Your pal, Pip
Thank you for posting. Very informative.
Pet Sitting California
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