suffering

[Arthur Little]

I have been in daily contact with one Philipino friend in Surigao for about one year now and she tells me every day about the shortage of work, food and housing. There is no free medical or dental treatment and I have been asked to help save their lives on several occasions. It is impossible to pay any household bills like water or electricity without any income. I have built one traditional house on the beach and intend to build three more beside and buy some nearby growing land for rice and coconuts. Hopefully this will help some but I have asked those involved not to eat any kind of meat or fish. I am hoping this idea can be extended so that many others can enjoy a safe and happy life without causing suffering to animals.

You're proposing these people become vegetarian? I remember my daughter refusing to eat meat as a teenager - not because of an aversion to the meat itself - more in the interests of the animal kingdom, as you are suggesting now. And yes, ... up to a point! Health-wise, it's most probably a good too ... as humans have been "living off the land" since the dawn of time. But then, fish in particular, has accounted for an immeasurable part of the Philippine islanders' staple diet for equally as long ... and is proven to be a vital source of nutrition.

[Les_lady888]

Hopefully this will help some but I have asked those involved not to eat any kind of meat or fish. I am hoping this idea can be extended so that many others can enjoy a safe and happy life without causing suffering to animals.

I think this request for the people in Surigao not to eat meat nor fish is likely to be impossible. Life is hard here and people will eat just anything to live and survive ....and as what Sir Arthur has said....fish has always been part of every Filipino's dining table.

[cherelyn]

Thank you for your comments I too have doubts about them becoming vegans. I wanted to form a group of perfect people who did not cause any suffering to any creature. It is just that I can not bear to see or know about any form of cruelty and it is as you say, these people are among the worst in the world when it comes to fishing and even eating dogs that we in the west would consider very cruel, so I do have concerns. I am asked to help with injections for T.B, rabies, malaria, worms etc often for children. But no doubt I will sort it all out soon one way or another. Interesting you can build a house of the traditional type without planning permission or building regulations, it seems the weather is the building inspector, if it ends up in the sea do not blame anybody but yourself. I hope most of all that the locals do not become too westernized. Let us remember the lovely Philipino lady aged only 27 killed in a terrible car cash a few days ago, so upsetting and there is nothing we can do.

[Steve.r]

Thank you for your comments I too have doubts about them becoming vegans. I wanted to form a group of perfect people who did not cause any suffering to any creature. It is just that I can not bear to see or know about any form of cruelty and it is as you say, these people are among the worst in the world when it comes to fishing and even eating dogs that we in the west would consider very cruel, so I do have concerns. I am asked to help with injections for T.B, rabies, malaria, worms etc often for children. But no doubt I will sort it all out soon one way or another. Interesting you can build a house of the traditional type without planning permission or building regulations, it seems the weather is the building inspector, if it ends up in the sea do not blame anybody but yourself. I hope most of all that the locals do not become too westernized. Let us remember the lovely Philipino lady aged only 27 killed in a terrible car cash a few days ago, so upsetting and there is nothing we can do.

Hmm........ sounds a bit pointless to me. How do you stop pain and suffering to animals when you have street vendors selling baby chicks, dyed blue, pink, red and yellow in tiny woven baskets and sold to the children as toys. They are not fed or watered and often die from being pulled to bits. Good try, but impossible in my opinion.

[joebloggs]

.. and is proven to be a vital source of nutrition.

so vital Arthur i've managed without meat, fish or eggs for near 30yrs and i'm ok

[KeithD]

so vital Arthur i've managed without meat, fish or eggs for near 30yrs and i'm ok

You're a Manc, you have different biology to the human species

[joebloggs]

You're a Manc, you have different biology to the human species

yes the master race

and the scousers are our slaves

[KeithD]

yes the master race

So this is really you then?

smiley-icon-adolf-thumb5661567.jpg

[joebloggs]

So this is really you then?

smiley-icon-adolf-thumb5661567.jpg

you promised me you never post my picture

well cats out of the bag, i'll be getting a off the misses now

[Arthur Little]

so vital Arthur i've managed without meat, fish or eggs for near 30yrs and i'm ok

Oh yes ... ... vegans, vegetarians ... whatever ... DO have a lot going for them in the health *stakes (phonetically, perhaps not the best choice of *word in the circumstances! ). For instance, in February 2008, I ended up on the operating table for emergency surgery to my left carotid artery - which had become clogged-up due [probably] to my habit of preparing much of my food in a deep-fat fryer ... using cooking oil containing animal fats. Plus my cholesterol levels had also "rocketed" and I was in imminent danger of suffering a full-blown stroke - after learning that the 'transient ischaemic attack' I'd experienced earlier had been a warning sign.

So, reluctanty, I was forced to give the offending utensil the old heave-ho, and modify my eating habits forthwith.