Other Forms of Slavery are Amazingly... Still Slavery!

There always seems to be great opposition to the discussion of slavery when it includes multiple types of slavery. Most individuals I speak to are very content keeping to the traditional ideas of slavery, namely the Atlantic slave trade and the Holocaust. These examples are both important and extreme but are not alone in enslaving groups of individuals.

Wage slavery is the dominant structural form of slavery in our economic system. The most obvious examples include natural rubber workers in Liberia. These rubber plantations are owned and operated by massive tire corporations that provide almost every tire on the road today. The employees are paid so little and worked so hard that they are forced to bring their children at night to help them get a start on the day. Liberia has an unemployment rate that hovers around 80% which prevents them from leaving the plantation due to work conditions. The wage they earn is only enough to provide the basics for their families, but not even enough for clean water. This is wage slavery, it happens in every capitalist country and targets the working poor almost exclusively.

There must be mention of the largest form of physical slavery that has ever existed on the face of the Earth - and it is happening right now. The agricultural complex murders tens of billions of individuals every year to provide wasteful, unhealthy products to both unknowing and uncaring consumers. The individuals killed are sentient, they have the ability to feel pain and suffer greatly both physically and mentally from the process. The amount of individuals killed in a single day by this system dwarfs both the Atlantic slave trade and the Holocaust. This is not to devalue anything surrounding the Atlantic slave trade and the Holocaust. They are both horrific experiences in human history, but just because they are important doesn't mean that all other forms of slavery should go without critique.

Animals in the agriculture business are slaves because:
-they do not want to be slaves
    -in addition, they do not want to die
-they do not have free mobility
-they are sentient
-they suffer physically and mentally
-they are profited off of by few
-perceived benefits to some are used to justify their slavery
-their social structures and natural behaviour are denied

Whether or not you value other species is often a cultural or nurtured adaptation. Either way, both forms discussed are still slavery. There is no way around it.

Canada Goose - Another Canadian Shame

It may be like shooting fish in a barrel to criticize the treatment of non-human species in Canada but it must be addressed. The most widely known is the horrific treatment of baby seals, in which they are bludgeoned to death, during the Northern Canada seal hunt. More recently to come under scrutiny is the treatment of wolves and other animals used by the clothing company Canada Goose. They employ the use of leg traps, in which animals struggle to get away for days. Some fall prey to other species as there is no way to protect themselves. During the starvation and exposure some bite their own legs off to escape, only to die of blood loss. Once collected they are murdered, skinned and displayed on overpriced coats for ignorant Western consumers.



Mass murder is never 'ok', or fashionable. Don't support Canada Goose.

A F*** Fur Protest will be happening in London, Ontario (Canada) February 11th at 1:30pm.
It will be located outside of the Channer's Mens Ladies Apparel.
Come out and support this cause if you are in the area!

A Long Time Coming - Unions vs Caterpillars

Its been a long time since my last post. Technical difficulties started it, other difficulties continued it. In recovery of this page ANIMAL IDEOLOGY will relay information dealing with international news, organized labour and animal rights.

This was my latest big activity. The company Caterpillar locked out their London, Ontario locomotive workers on new years day expecting them to take a 55% wage cut on the threat that they would move their facility to Indiana, US. The workers are striking and not backing down. Recently local TSC Stores, which specialize in home and garden machinery and supplies have stopped selling Caterpillar goods. CAMI workers in Ingersoll, Ontario have blocked a Caterpillar made Locomotive from being delivered to its customer.

The following images come from a demonstration at Victoria Park, London, Ontario. It was held to protest the actions of Caterpillar and corporate greed. This was the largest demonstration to ever take place in London; estimates reaching 15,000.

Nycole Turmel, interim leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

Peggy Nash and myself. She is an NDP Member of Parliament running for the leadership of the NDP.

Ken Lewenza, President of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), giving a very inspiring speech.

Canada's Oil Sands - The Ethical Fuel?

    The oil sands in Alberta are known as the most environmentally destructive project on Earth. The oil is dirty, the production is greatly polluting and it is destroying the environment. It is wholly unethical.
    A new ad campaign is branding Canada's oil sands as the ethical choice. The point is to contrast Canada's human rights versus alternative oils in Africa and the Middle East. To that there is some virtue but the perspective is weighed heavily in Canada's favour. They do not, for example, talk about the ethical flaws concerning the oil sands. Such as damaging the ecosystem and condemning humanity to further climate change. Another step in the wrong direction.

Nestea - Vivisection, Torture and Hell on Earth

    The link below is for a new PETA campaign against Nestea entitled CruelTea. The experiments are horrendous, including: vivisection (live dissection), forced high cholesterol, muscle deficiency and electrocution until death. The first minute of the video is very PG and can be stomached by anyone. Please take the time out of your day to at least be aware of what your money enables.

Please Boycott Nestea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LbT8Xw_au94

Girls Imprisoned, Raped, Injected with Chemicals, Tortured and Murdered

    Countless girls and women around the world are being brutally abused. Forced sexual activity has become a common practice; their children are torn from them at birth. The conditions of which they live are horrific as all things good in life are extinguished. Chemicals and hormones are also being injected on a daily basis. They are often beaten, tortured and are eventually murdered in disturbing ways. Their killers often take pleasure in what they are doing. No one listens to their screams.



    All of these concepts would be deplorable if it were not that they were from a different species. Dairy cows face this reality on a daily basis all to supply selfish individuals with a luxery commodity. Everyone that consumes dairy, meat, gelatin or leather has the blame on their shoulders. If it was you, what would you want to consumers to do?

Everyday Death

    There are many things that never make it into Animal Ideology, or do so rarely. There is; however, one thing that should not be overlooked. Everyday occurrences that now make up our world include terrorism, crashes and massacres. Some of them are noteworthy, as in standing out from the rest, but most are not. To ignore such things is not appropriate if our world is to try to better itself. As a snapshot of the morning of September 7th, 2011; here are today's tragedies that would not usually be written about due to their high frequency. This is, as one might expect in a dystopian world, just another day.

-explosion rocks high court in Delhi: 11 dead
-dual suicide attacks in Pakistan's Quetta: 25 dead
-Russian plane crash, hockey team aboard: 36 dead
-gunman attacks civilians at IHOP in Nevada: 5 dead

    We must also not forget the countless people dieing of starvation in Somalia, the rest of Africa and around the world.

Turkey Doubles Down - Trade and Military Ties Suspended with Israel

    The combination of Israel's refusal to apologize for the flotilla attack on May 31st, 2011; and the UN's stance that the gaza blockade is legal has prompted Turkey to suspend all ties. A previous article on this page, about two down, gives further details on the flotilla attack and the downgrade of diplomatic ties. The Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, has stated that an apology over the event would show weakness. So, for not apologizing, today Israel is weaker. They have lost a major military and trading ally in the Islamic world which leaves them almost completely alone.

Young Girls in Poverty - The World Does Need a Kick in the Pants

    The following link will take you to a video being put out by women activists concerning the effects of poverty on young women. Behind the well crafted video lies a terrible truth that pervades the entire world.

http://www.girleffect.org/question

Donate, Spread the Word and Learn.

Turkey Suspends Diplomatic Ties with Israel - Middle Eastern Instability

    Since the flotilla raids of May 31st, 2010, relations between Turkey and Israel have been strained. Turkey has officially expelled Israeli diplomats and has suspended military co-operation. This move should not be taken lightly due to the fact that Turkey is one of Israel greatest allies in the region.
   
    Israel was met with criticism [which was deserved] when it's military attacked an aid flotilla, consisting of human rights activists, heading to Palestine on May 31st, 2010. Israel accused the flotilla of transporting weapons; however, that was found to be false. It seems that the Israelis simply wanted to deter aid groups from entering occupied Palestine and helping those currently being displaced or impoverished.
   
    Nine individuals onboard the flotilla were killed, most of them of Turkish origin. One of them was a teenaged male who was shot multiple times in the back and then in the head while running away. The exessive force used has prompted the current diplomatic stress. The situation in Israel must be tense due to the overthrow of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak, who was an ally of Israel, and now the ties to Turkey that helped ensure its safety. I hope that Israel may now take its warcrimes seriously and hopefully this will be of benefit to the people of occupied Palestine.

Orange Tower - Laying Jack to Rest

    On Saturday Jack Layton's body will be in Toronto where it will be laid to rest. As in Ottawa, it is expected that over 10, 000 people will attend the proceedings. Due to a great amount of lobbying the CN Tower will be lit orange that night. Certain areas of downtown Toronto have already been covered in chalk messages and images to Jack and to the people of Canada. Jack lived in Toronto; he is known for riding his bicycle at all possible times and retrofitting his modest home into a 'green home'. Layton's last public appearance was at a gay pride parade; once again showing his commitment to human rights.
    There are questions being raised surrounding the future for the NDP after Layton. He took over the party's leadership role in 2003 and since then has changed the Canadian political landscape forever. Layton headed what seemed to be a natural third place party and transformed it into the official opposition in the last election. His intent in the case that he died was for the party to choose a permanent leader by spring 2012.

    Jack was a passionate politician, activist and musician. The latter definitely shows the natural side of Jack. The link below offers that side:

Party for Sale or Rent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh_vsP0DJqc

    Hopefully there is a passionate politician to take up the helm of Canada's Official Opposition.

Take the Fight to Tripoli - Rebels Close in on the Gaddhafi Regime

    After months of fighting the Libyan rebels have advanced on Tripoli, the capital of Libya. Colonel Gaddhafi remains defiant, stating that the rebels are making orphans and widows. He also stated that they hate Libya and are destroying it. Perhaps the celebrations taking place below in Benghazi bust that claim. As well it was Gaddhafi that threatened genocide on his own people.

    They have beaten the odds and may soon put the Transitional Government into power in all parts of Libya. Hopefully what becomes of Libya is a free democratic society and not what Iran turned into after their revolution. Libya demonstrates that international aid, such as the NATO air strikes, are effective so long as there is a greater driving force from the national community. NATO cannot successfully force change on a country; this explains why Libya is succeeding and Afghanistan is failing.

   

$16 Billion Tax Payer Dollars a Year to Animal Testing in the US

Click Picture for a Larger Format

London Burning

    Riots in London, England extend into their third night. They have now spread to multiple cities across England. Countless cars and many buildings are now on fire as the civilian anger escalates. The riots began after police shot dead a young man. Another circumstance for widespread anger may be the state of the European economy. The British Prime Minister has cancelled his holiday to confront the violence.

    With the riots in England, fascists in Greece and overall European discontent; what was a tinderbox may be ignited.

US Loses AAA Loan Rating - Worldwide Depression?

    Standards and Poor's has decided to lower the US debt rating from its perfect AAA rating to an AA+ with a negative outlook. The Republicans have manufactured a crisis to achieve ideological ends but, along with that, have forever damaged the US economy. China has criticized the US for their addiction to debt and the downgrade has shaken the stock markets. Most economists agree that this will raise inflation and raise the prices on all goods and services in the US. US dollars are used to trade oil worldwide but this could change if another country seems more reliable.
    For what this means to Canadians; our largest trade partner is the US. Much of our remaining trade is to Europe. Both of these economies hang in the balance. There is a great potential for another worldwide recession that may be much worse than the one we were in the process of digging out of. We will have to see what the fallout will look like but so far it doesn't look good.

    Perhaps the Republicans have just put the first nail in the coffin of the American empire.

Countless Children Abused - 72 Charged in Child Pornography

    72 members of the child pornography ring Dreamboard have been charged. The US based site contains members across 5 continents and 14 countries. The illegal group abused children in many scenarios including the cause of intentional distress.
   Attorney General Eric Holder said, "Some of the children featured in these images and videos were just infants and in many cases, the children being victimized were in obvious and also intentional pain, even in distress and crying, just as the rules for one area of the bulletin board mandated. They had to be in distress and crying."
    Worldwide; about 600 individuals are members of the site. The officials have taken it down and confiscated its staggeringly numerous and disturbing materials. It is good to see that crackdowns target the right people. I am still waiting to see when those complicit in religious child abuse are brought to justice. (Hint: probably not until they are dead)

Free Birth Control for All - An Attempt to Reinstate Women's Rights in America?

    The Obama administration has just set out new health care guidelines. Health insurance providers in the US must pay 100% of the cost of birth control for their clients. This would give US civilians with limited funds the ability to get birth control with any insurance plan. This decision would help women living in poverty gain control over their reproductive rights in the face of Republican bigotry. Republicans in 48 US states have restricted women's rights surrounding reproductive health. These acts include shutting down all abortion clinics, slashing funding, creating unreasonable building codes and interfering with the doctor patient relationship. Some of the most absurd laws include reading each woman a right wing, anti-abortion, and politician written letter before each abortion. They have also increased waiting times, the distance between women and clinics; and also expect that a medically unnecessary ultrasound is conducted to show a woman her baby.

    The new guideline will not help to remedy what the Republicans are forcing upon women but will restrict the number of women put into a dire position.

Debt Ceiling's Last Hurdle

    A deal has been finalized between the Senate and the House of Representatives to raise the US debt ceiling and avoid an economic disaster. The bill must now go to Congress to receive approval. It is almost certain that it will pass congress, as the increase must be passed by tomorrow. The circus that Republicans have made this issue is coming to a close. At least they didn't call Obama's bluff.

Iranian Man Freed from Forced Blinding

    An Iranian man was set to be blinded by acid as a punishment for an acid attack against a young woman. Majid Movahedi threw acid in the face of Ms. Bahrami in 2004 after she refused his marriage proposal. Up until now, Ms. Bahrami was determined for him to suffer the same fate.

 

    Mr. Movahedi was pardoned by Mr. Bahrami on the day of the punishment. She is stating that even though she still believes it is right for such a punishment to be carried out; she stopped it for the sake of her country. Iran has received harsh criticism for this form of sharia law. Mr. Movahedi is still required to spend another 3-5 years in prison and won't be freed until she is paid a compensation of $216, 000 US dollars.

US Republicans Hold Ideology Above Americans

    By August 2nd the US will default on their debt for the first time in American history. Even being this close to defaulting may cause their AAA debt rating to be downgraded. This act alone would cause catastrophic inflation effects leading to job and home loss. The Republicans are still claiming that not raising the debt ceiling would do nothing. They propose that they could move cash flow around to pay debts. The result of this would be the end of medicare, pensions, military pay, infrastructure and  basically all social programs. The US GDP will collapse by 10% immediately. Either choice is a man made downfall of America. This does not have to happen but the Tea Party Republicans will not listen to economists; even Republican ones.
    The suffering that this will cause to an already beaten American people is staggering. Inflation will cause all goods to be raised in price. Subsidy food programs for children and the poor will stop immediately. The elderly, those who are barely surviving, will not receive any cheques. Disabled people who can not work and some who cannot leave a hospital bed will not be able to pay for food or shelter. Infrastructure will cease; meaning roads, bridges and programs will stop. There is a great potential that fire fighters, garbage collecters and police officers would not receive pay. The House of Representative Republicans are willing to do all of this because Obama's concessions are not 100%. The childish game that has been played; as in anything Obama wants we don't want, is a damaging one to be playing.
    Due to the fact that America is the world's only superpower this will have drastic effects on the world economy. Look for a worldwide depression if a deal is not reached. The entire world trades gas in US dollars so the outlook for this is an increase in gasoline prices for every non-oil producing state and under producing state around the world. Trade from or to the US would sharply decline due to a lack of consumer and business confidence. For example, the US accounts for 73% of Canadian exports. If a large portion of that were to stop; Canada would be a bad place to be.
    The most disheartening part about all of this is that some Republicans are not holding out for a personal gain (as they usually do). Some of the freshmen Republicans say plainly that they will not raise the debt ceiling. These are people that cannot be worked with. If Obama had to divert an American armageddon he could invoke constitutional rights. It is in the American constitution that the validity of American debt may not be questioned. To do so used to be considered treasonous. He could unilaterally raise the debt ceiling. This could, however; later lead to impeachment processes if his judgement was questioned by Republicans. Which it most definately would.

Harper: Criticizing Israel is Anti-Semitic - An Affront to Free Speech

    Stephen Harper has publicly stated that any criticism of the state of Israel should be treated as anti-Semitic. The Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism (CPCCA), over a two year period, developed a report as to how best quell what they describe as growing anti-Semitism. The problem with what they have proposed is that the Canadian government should, as they write, criminalize the act of singling out Israel for criticism. If fully implemented, it would be illegal for me to state that Israel is:

-committing human rights violations

-ethnically cleansing Palestinian and Israeli territory

-guilty of numerous war crimes

    Any form of anti-Semitism is appalling; but to call pointing out the wrongdoings of a state, racist, is an affront to free speech and authoritarian in nature. In essence the adamant supporters of the Israeli state use the accusation of anti-Semitism to quite those who believe that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live and thrive. No matter what is put on the books I will continue to write against the occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.



    To say that being openly against heinous treatment of civilians is racist, is wrong; and its not my Canada.

Disrespect for Your Own Beliefs: Mayor of Kandahar Murdered by Turban

    The Mayor of Kandahar, Afghanistan was killed by a suicide bomber who had explosives in his turban. Ghulam Haidar Hameedi becomes the third major political figure to be assassinated by the Taliban in one month. It is difficult enough to defend religious and social freedoms in Western society with the current stigma and bigotry. It is even worse when extremists cause even further stereotypes and racist ideas. Instead of causing increased racism, one should realize that these people are extremists in nature. They do not represent Islamic society; no matter the problems that are rampant in any religious culture. However; terrorists (who murder countless Muslim people too) must stop using religious icons to kill people. Turbans are taboo enough in some communities in Canada but putting a bomb in one makes it worse.
    In contrast, the western media should stop blaming Islam for all bombing attacks with no evidence. When the Norway attacks began, many US media outlets preemptively blamed Muslims. Once they found out that was not the case they began to spin the story into a lesson against Muslim extremism. The reality was a home grown, Christian and right-wing madman.

Young Girls Forced Into Pornographically Crushing Animals

Lots to say, this article is directly from the PETA website. The disgust I feel for what this contains cannot be expressed without overly profane language. So I will leave you to read the following:

After a year-long investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific and the National Bureau of Investigations, police have now charged a Philippine couple with cruelty to animals and other crimes related to producing a series of pornographic videos in which young girls torture and kill animals. Faced with the charges, suspects Dorma and Vic Ridon have fled. Warrants have been issued for them.


WARNING: Graphic descriptions follow.
The "crush" videos that the Ridons are believed to have produced show scantily clad 12-year-old girls as they stomp on live animals, a rabbit as he or she is skinned alive, other rabbits as they scream while their ears are cut off and they are set on fire, a dog as he or she is burned with a clothes iron, and a monkey who was repeatedly hit in the eye with the sharp end of a stiletto heel. There is more, including puppies crushed until they vomited their own internal organs. A bill currently in the Philippine Senate would criminalize the sale of such "crush videos," already illegal in the U.S. and other countries.
PETA Asia-Pacific is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of Dorma and Vic Ridon. Anyone with information on the couple can e-mail Info@peta.org. You can also make a donation to PETA Asia-Pacific to help the group fight cruelty to animals in this case as well as in many others.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Ireland Gives the Middle Finger to Child Rapists

    The Vatican has recalled their ambassador to Ireland in protest of the Irish government's treatment of diplomatic relations. The Irish PM, Enda Kenny, had recently criticized the Vatican's act of downplaying, hiding and contributing to the abuse of children by Catholic priests. The diplomatic action taken against Ireland is serious, when undertaken by a true state, but will not lead to much when done by the Vatican. The disgust that should be natural when an organization covers up child rape must be amplified when it fails to admit its full wrongdoing. The outrage shown by Kenny hopefully represents the majority of society no matter what religion one belongs to. When it comes down to it a connection to an invisible and ancient desert god does not justify the sexual abuse of thousands of innocent children.

Mass Shooting at Youth Camp

    Leading off from my last article, there has been a shooting in Norway. The death toll is up to 94. The individual was a right wing extremist who attacked a youth camp. He allegedly spent 90 minutes firing at teenagers. The camp, which is on an island,  is now littered with bodies. More corpses are being recovered because teens attempting to swim to safety; were shot in the water one by one. The accused is also being blamed for a bombing in Oslo just hours earlier, killing around 10 people.
    The brutality of this man's actions must remind the Western world that home grown radicalism is still a threat; and that demonizing foreigners will accomplish very little towards peace and safety. The solution to our problems must start locally.

Norway on Fire

    A large bomb exploded in central Oslo, the main city of Norway. Just hours later a gunman opened fire on a youth camp killing at least 87 people. The massive loss of life is astounding. The current death count between the two attacks is at 97 individuals. The bombing was apparently aimed at a government building. The ability for radical groups to access such powerful firearms and explosives is haunting. Tonight, at least 100 families will be dealing with a great loss. Let the brutality that has currently befallen sleepy Norway be a lesson that freedom doesn't mean access to deadly weaponry.
    My condolences to the innocent parties.

War Criminals on Canadian Soil

    The Canadian Borders Services Agency has just released the names of 30 individuals that are thought to be hiding in Canada. These individuals are accused to war crimes. Review the website below to see pictures and names.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/wc-cg/menu-eng.html

A Different Poverty

    A common defense of purchasing goods made from impoverished areas is that doing so will raise them from poverty. Boycotting goods from those regions would, as they claim, cause them to fall further into poverty. These include areas such as Bangladesh, Mexico and Romania. The initial excuse for creating business in those regions was that through trickle down economics improvements would be made over time. The biggest problem with this hypothesis, however; is that poverty persists and the quality of life is falsely raised.
    In the Western world the poor of any society is seen to begin in nomadic or native culture. So naturally we colonized these peoples, forced our religions upon them, made them give up their survival techniques and gave them production jobs. As seen in India, we also force them to buy goods from us that they once produced themselves (clothing, salt, etc). But what these workers are paid often cannot afford them adequate food and shelter. In Bangladesh many families share the same corrugated steel huts and live in squalor. So what we have done is not improve their lives but take away their ability to survive.
    What we considered poverty; farming, fishing and hunting, allowed them to live. Perhaps they had less access to medicine, media and technology but they can not afford that even now. So purchasing goods from these regions only increases the profits of corporations but does very little to help the civilians. They would be better off being entrepreneurs and start their own industries, or attempt to regain their skills.

The skillset is changed from feeding themselves, to making clothing and shoes.
If you have any interest in how we are holding foreign women, men and children in poverty...

Google: Maquila Zones

Congrats to Gay Marriage in NY

    New York has become the largest state to legalize gay marriage. New York city believes it will unable to accommodate the initial marriage rush so a lottery has been proposed. Homosexual and Heterosexual couples will have to compete for 764 positions to be married on the 24th of June, the first day of the legalization. Judges have actually gone out of their way to give marriage licenses to couples who have been discriminated against for so long in the state of New York.

    Congratulations to New York state for its accomplishment!
   

Republicans Hold the World Hostage

    The Republicans in the House of Representatives have still refused to allow the US debt ceiling to be raised. If it is not raised the US would default on its 14.3 trillion dollar debt, potentially causing:

-the US credit rating to fall
-distrust, no one would loan the US funds
-the US GDP could drop by 10% instantly and could cause another worldwide recession
-a government shut down
-all (though not much exists already) infrustructure programs would cease
    -this includes stop signs, crumbling bridges, roads and any state operated building
-persons on social security, disability or in the military would not receive any cheques
-the elderly on Medicare and pensions would not receive any cheques or healthcare
-paycheques for educators, police officers, firemen an state workers may stop

    The four main Republicans that are causing this to come so close to the wire have, between the four of them, raised the debt ceiling 19 times. This includes 9 times during the Bush administration alone. What has been a routine for many presidents has become a feice battle because the far right will oppose anything Obama attempts to do; which includes avoiding a catastophic event. So far Republicans have opposed anything Obama has put his name on. This includes many bills, like cap-and-trade, that the Republicans put forward to begin with. The childish actions of the party are becoming embarrassing but Obama is beginning to put his foot down with stronger language than ever before. Hopefully the self declared "adults" of the Republican party can actually do something instead of dragging their feet and tanking the US economy to cause discontent among American presidential voters.