Save the cheerleader, save the dolphins

Fourteen thousand dolphins are killed in Japan every year. The manner of killing is barbaric. I learned about this sad fact, because Hayden Panettiere went to Japan to try to save a group of pilot whales from slaughter. msnbc wrote "As a spokesperson for SaveTheWhalesAgain.org, Panettiere hopes her traumatic ordeal will help raise awareness. 'We all crossed our fingers that those whales didn’t die in vain,' she concluded."

While it is not fair to condemn an entire country or a condemn an entire people for the actions of a few, or even the actions of the majority, the rational mind has it limits, and 14,000 Dolphins is past mine. I do condemn.

"Whales and dolphins are traditionally used (as resources) in Japan," said Hideki Moronuki of the Japanese Fisheries Agency. "In this light, we cannot accept an argument simply based on emotional causes."

I am angry, and angry people are not rational ones. I just lost my taste for anything Japanese, their cars, their foods, their clothes... everything with "Made in Japan" stamped on it. I will do my best, to give Ms. Moronuki, more than "emotional causes" to change her mind.

Next time someone ask me to eat at a Japanese Restaurant, I will just have to say, "I am sorry I do not eat Japanese food. They kill dolphins." Besides, all the blood killed my appetite.

Photo from SaveTheWhalesAgain.org

Pet food Recall

I found this piece of distressing news at MSNBC:

WASHINGTON - A massive pet food recall has touched a nerve with pet-loving Americans, many of whom see their pets as family members.

The recalled products — 60 million cans and pouches of wet dog and cat food manufactured by Menu Foods of Ontario, Canada — account for 1 percent of pet food sold in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has said. But in a country where more than half the people in a 2004 survey said they would risk their lives for their pets, the thought that food could kill their animals sent fearful consumers scrambling for information about affected products.

You can read the rest of the report here. Am a bit worried about what I feed my little Buffdog. Will see what else I can find and posts updates.

Update: I found a website where you can find a list of recalled products: Recalled Dog Product Information. Looks like it only covers wet foods for dogs and cats.

China adopts 'one dog' policy

Saw this on the news tonight:

"BEIJING - First it was one child. Now authorities say Beijing families will be allowed only one dog.
The restriction is part of efforts to stamp out rabies, state media said Wednesday. It follows a campaign in August in which thousands of dogs were killed in order to fight the disease.

China's capital will institute a 'one dog' policy for each household in nine areas, the official Xinhua News Agency said. "