
I'd like to take this occasion to call to all the people and make them to think about non-human animals who have to suffer in captivity. I hope for a day when all of animals are free. . .

And even if elephant I know could tell me what she wants, and would choose to stay in captivity, it would mean absolutely nothing to me. And not because I do not respect her opinion. Of course I do! But we have to admit that in some situations someone's very important Opinion is meaningless. When oppressed women are coming back to their husbands, who rape and beat them again and again, are we saying that it is ok because they chose to come back? Are we saying that this life is ok and we can't change anything, because they simply do not know better? Shouldn't we try to free them and teach them to have a life of their own? Don't we understand that this is only because they know no better, they have nothing else and the love they love their husbands is the same love slaves loved their masters? Of course we do (or at least people claim so). So why can't we see the parallel between this situation and animals in captivity?
It is very humanoid to own everything around You. Everything around teaches that this world was created to You. No one cares that we build roads on someone's house. No one cares about snails and run over them. No one cares about worm who is sinking in the pool. And no one ever would step into the ice water in the middle of winter just to rescue it (except those crazy people like me). Even religions teaches You that Man owns the world. To separate from that idea on Your own You need to have a very strong personality. If You are not surrounded by people who think so, it is very hard to make a decision on Your own and to be the one who stands up the first. It is easy to follow others. But to stand up alone, to dare to speak and admit that You were wrong is hard. It is fucking scary and so hard. You need to believe in what You are doing infinitely. . .
Many animal rights activists believe that people in zoo or circus do not love animals. How can You love someone and let them suffer? How can You love someone and ignore their pain? To understand that paradox You need to separate Your personal feelings and facts. So, yeah, I won't be popular between animal rights activists (not only because I would not listen to animals' opinion), but I believe when a person from circus says that he loves animals. There is no one way to love. Love is not a thing that You can put into strict definition. You can't say that only this type of love is right, and the rest is wrong. Anyway, many parents who beat their children still love them. They just do not know better and believe that this is the right thing to do. It is very wrong to cause pain to others, does not matter what circumstances. But how can we judge someone? People should understand that not another person is bad or wrong, but his actions. People love to dehumanise others. Everyone who is different in one or another way, everyone who do not follow one's moral norms is considered as scum, freak, villain and very often labelled as a bad person. Animal rights activists dehumanise animal trainers from time to time. And opposite, people from circus dehumanise animal rights activists. Why? Because the fact that both are the same people are just too disturbing. Most of humans feel very close connections to each other, so no one wants to accept that the killer is just a person like You with feelings, wishes and minds. . .
And still if You want to change something, You have to understand that everyone is different, and there is no one truth. I wish that there were more animal rights advocates out there, I wish that people would finally realise that it is ok to be different and by criticising someone's action, You do not attack the person. We all want to live in a better (one or another way) world, but still so stick to our own truth that cannot realise that there is a lot of place for many of them and they do not necessary contradict each other. . .
Ok, have a wonderful World Elephant Day!

"Protest am Welt-Elefanten-Tag, 12. 8. 2012, vor Circus Krone in Kaufbeuren
Am Welt-Elefanten-Tag, 12. August 2012, fanden in vielen Städten Demonstrationen vor Einrichtungen statt, in denen Elefanten ihr Leben in Gefangenschaft zubringen müssen. Um 12 Uhr fand sich eine Gruppe von sieben Aktivist_innen vor dem Circus Krone zusammen, der seine Zelte in Kaufbeuren aufgeschlagen hatte, um dort zu protestieren. An diesem Tag sollten zwei Zirkusvorstellungen gegeben werden.
Ziel des Protests war, die Zirkusbesucher und Passanten über die für nichtmenschliche Tiere unwürdigen Umstände der Tierhaltung in Zirkussen aufzuklären und die Forderung nach Abschaffung von Tierhaltung in Zirkussen bekannter zu machen. Dazu wurden zwischen den Eingängen zum Zirkuszoo und zum Zirkus selbst Plakate aufgehängt, die mit Slogans wie "Artgerecht ist nur die Freiheit" und "Kein Applaus für Tierquälerei" die Anliegen der Aktivist_innen unterstreichen sollten.
Die Aktivist_innen teilten sich in zwei Gruppen auf, um sowohl die Besucher des Zoos als auch die des Zirkus ansprechen zu können. Die Aktivist_innen verteilten Flyer an die Passanten und führten mit Interessierten und mit Zirkusbesuchern Diskussionen. In den Diskussionen ist das Argument, dass es nichtmenschlichen Tieren in anderen Tierausbeutungseinrichtungen schlechter ergehe als im Circus Krone, sehr häufig gefallen -- als ob das Leid eines anderen nichtmenschlichen Tiers das Leid eines anderen rechtfertigen würde.
Zwischen den Vorstellungen machten die Aktivist_innen eine kleine Stärkungspause und unterhielten sich mit Schere-und-Papier-Tricks, die neuesten Erkenntnissen der Möbiusband-Forschung entstammen.
Danach ging es in die zweite Runde der Informationsveranstaltung, die im Wesentlichen wie die erste verlief: Es wurden viele Diskussionen geführt. Um 18 Uhr beendeten die Aktvist_innen die Aktion, mit dem Wissen um die guten Ergebnisse dieser Aktion: Es konnten viele Personen auf die Umstände nichtmenschlicher Tiere in Zirkussen aufmerksam gemacht werden. Außerdem entschlossen sich einige Passanten, die ursprünglich eine Vorstellung besuchen wollten, das unwürdige Spektakel des Tierzirkus nicht mit ihrem Geld unterstützen zu wollen, und machten kehrt. "
© Jonathan Ott, 26.08.2012

- Visit our project Boykott Circus Krone to find out more about our actions concerning the biggest animal circus in Germany and probably in the whole Europe.
- Visit Elephant Haven website, and in case You feel like supporting a very great project, feel free to do so! I find it very important to have elephant sanctuary in Europe and support this initiative whenever I have time.
- Raise as much awareness about animal rights as possible every day.
- Organise protests in Your area, write letters to local media and educate others whenever You are able to.
- And of course, boycott all zoos and circuses with animals.
I'd love to write about, raise awarenesses, participate in every action and help organising things concerning animal and human rights, but I'm just one person, and there is not enough time for me to do that. But everyone of You are the same human beings as I am, and You can do many great things! Anyway, feel free to share everything that is relevant (or not) to the topic, I appreciate every single mind. Unfortunately it's simply not possible to react to every email and note I get, but I read them all. Keep writing to me. Thank You!
- Live vegan. Think vegan. And act vegan.
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