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October 22nd, 2009
Susie and Lucille, Farm Sanctuary, NY
I had to post one more photo from my recent shoot at Farm Sanctuary. This is Susie Coston with the lovely Lucille, who was found in New York City. Lucille had likely escaped from a live animal market. The whole story should be posted within the week; check the portfolio section soon!
More info about Farm Sanctuary : open link |
October 21st, 2009
Farm Sanctuary's National Shelter Director, Susie Coston
Susie is one of the most compassionate and hard-working people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. She's Farm Sanctuary's National Shelter Director, but I would argue that Susie is also the heart of the organization. 2009 marks her ten-year anniversary with Farm Sanctuary, and I'm spending the week here doing a story about her and the animals she has rescued. More photos coming soon! |
October 6th, 2009
Mink Farming in Sweden
Mink are ferociously territorial animals and spend up to 60% of their lives in water. The stress caused by close proximity to one another at fur farms leads to cannibalism and self-mutilation. While they can live up to ten years in the wild, farm-raised mink will endure a year in a small cage before being gassed or electrocuted, then skinned for their fur. |
October 5th, 2009
More about the bullfighting
I need to correct myself. In the last post I wondered what attracts the audience to bullfighting. Of course I understand that there's an art to the Matador's choreography. Years of training go into the execution (pardon the pun) of the faena: the time between the banderillas being placed, and the actual kill. What I don't understand is why the life of a sentient being is considered a worthy price for the entertainment.
In an essay, James A. Michener explains that while la corrida is indeed brutal, it is much less brutal than boxing, where more men die in fights each year. I was astounded. The bullfights are brutal because of the gruesome murders and massive death toll of the animals, (who, incidentally, did not choose to be there), not because one matador dies each year from being gored. By missing the point entirely, his specieist remark explains precisely why bullfights appeal to the masses. Just as in vivisection, factory farming, and the use of animals in entertainment, the lives of the animals around us remain inconsequential. |
September 29th, 2009
La Corrida
The Spanish culture of bullfighting is a fascinating thing. The more I researched, asked questions, attended bullfights and talked to the audiences, it became clear that this "sport" isn't the thriving, cultural event it once was. In fact, the statistics show that 80% of Spaniards are either indifferent to bullfighting, or outright don't like it. Attendees are largely made up of businessmen in after-hours meetings, newbie tourists who don't know about the cruelty involved in bullfights and who would never attend again, and die-hard spanish traditionalist old folk types. As for the rest, I wish I knew why they liked it, what made them tick. The spanish government heavily subsidizes the events. I'm amazed that they don't realize that la corrida is a national shame, frowned upon by anyone with a bit of compassion. I observed enough fights to know that the thing itself is based on false pretense; "an equal fight between man and beast" is hardly the case, considering the bulls are mortally wounded before the "dance" even begins. I'll elaborate on that in the new gallery in the portfolio section, which will be posted shortly.
This photo was taken behind-the-scenes, post-bullfight. Parties ensued as the last bull (right side of picture) was butchered.
I curse Ernest Hemingway for romanticising La Corrida! |
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