Speciest... Perhaps.

Now I sit here and ponder

About something I have rarely wondered

The life of the laboratory mouse

Soft, small and fuzzy

Raised, tested and killed humanely

Helping to combat our enemies 

The diseases and the unknown

Which we cannot fend off alone

I do not know just how I feel

About their short lived lives

But overall I think I can accept this 

For this allows for more human life

Thanks little guy! 

Forward on Climate Rally

This past weekend I got to partake in an incredible event in Washington DC. The Forward on Climate Change rally, in protest of the Keystone Pipeline, brought over 40 thousand people to the nation's capital. There were many incredible speakers that spoke on the environment and the impact of the pipelines on the humans, animals and ecosystems around them.

I found it so moving too see all these people, both young and old, come together to help preserve our planet for future generations. I think that there is hope for our planet. I think that people want to change our behaviors to protect what surrounds us. The crowd cheered when the speakers who ranged from Indians, to investors, talked about changing for the future.

After the talks, all 40 thousand of us held our signs high and marched from the Washington Monument to the White House and back hoping to leave a lasting impact on the President (who was unfortunately golfing that day) and the nation, and I think that is just what we did.


For those of you who didn't get to go this past weekend you should check out this link: Forward on Climate Rally 2013

Hunting: My Family's Tradition

I have never thought that hunting was wrong. My grandpa, papa and dad all did it and when I grew up, they taught me all the things I needed to know to be an informed and ethical hunter. When we go out in the woods, we have fun. Walking through the woods, following trails and looking for any sign is something that we look forward to each fall. However, as fun as these  times are, we do not go out there to just carelessly shoot the animal that we are hunting. We primarily hunt deer and when we get one we use all the meat for something, from steaks to hamburger and we take the hide to a guy that lives over the hill from us where he makes it into gloves and hats. The only thing that we do not use are the bones.

My eyes have recently been opened to the concept of factory farming, where animals are raised in crowded areas and fed feed that is unnatural for them. The suffering of  these animals has put a halt to the meat that I previously consumed nearly every day. After learning this I began to question my dietary habits and came to the conclusion that meat that is raised on a 'good farm' or meat that is respectably hunted is acceptable for me to consume. It is natural for carnivores or omnivores to hunt for meat and in my opinion humans are naturally omnivores. So if you chose to eat meat why not eat something that you have worked for and that has lived a good life?

Modern hunting is a way to bring humans back in touch with the natural environment which surrounds them. Senses are heightened and you learn the ways in which an ecosystem functions by carefully observing patterns. I believe that hunters in many cases are the ones that will be the most positive when it comes to protecting the environment that surrounds us. We do not want to see something so beautiful disappear. So do not disrespect someone just because they have the title of a hunter. Respect them enough to learn why they do what they do because many of them will be the ones that protect the land and ecosystems that we love so much.