Can you kill your baby? Read this!!
Dear blog friends,
I have posted this article up because I came across it on Facebook, watched the videos and was stunned and appalled.
The level of pure selfish evil cruelty is beyond description… just like seal murders for skins in Canada, fur trapping in the US, whale murders in Japan, and so on. The coldness of humans around the world never ceases to amaze. Enough said. What are we going to do? Read the article, be angry and then forget as usual? Well I am going to contact Jill. I will donate. And I will arrange a group of people to be visit this bear sanctuary in China. I will raise the funds… how… I don’t know yet… I want more information to help.
Please think, 20-30 years locked up, tortured, bile extracted, no movement, iron vests, limbs cut is a hell in itself… BEAR FARMING MUST END.
Please read the incredible story of why the mother bear killed her own cub I’ve posted below… please read and realize the emotions the mother bear felt….
Jill is a hero. She is compassionate. And she has a solid and beneficial purpose in life. We should take note and follow suit. Life is not about acquisitions. Life is about others and lessening sufferings… everything else we glamourize is pale… Thank you Jill.
Tsem Rinpoche
Traps were laid in the wild illegally. When the bear was trapped, she lost not only her paws and four limbs for a good fortune of money, but she was locked up in the cage and had to endure daily torture of bile collection up to 25 or 30 years. This bile collection process requires a hole to be cut in the bear stomach and an iron pipe inserted into the bear gall bladder. Bile was then taken several times a day. The entire procedure was done without anaesthetic in order to save cost. The pain was excruciating. The bear could not bear it and attempted to kill herself by punching her stomach. However, human prevented this suicide act by forcing the bear to wear an iron vest. With this iron vest, her movement was restricted; committing suicide was an impossible task. A mother bear knew it too well. When the bear worker wanted to open up her cub’s stomach, the mother bear broke open the cage and went after the cub. After failing to release the chained cub, she hugged the cub. The mother bear then killed the cub to save it from a life of hell. Here is the story from Chinese news.
continue to read more here: http://ingenira.hubpages.com/hub/A-Teary-Mother-Bear-Killed-Her-Baby-and-Committed-Suicide-A-Heart-Breaking-True-Story
A bear with iron vest
(Source: The Scavenger http://www.thescavenger.net/animals/bear-necessitities-interview-with-jill-robinson-animals-asia-38057.html)
Bears Rescued from Torturous Bile Farm
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/bearbile1.flv
A Tour With Jill Robinson
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/bearbile3.flv
Moon Bear Rescue – A decade on…
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/bearbile4.flv
Please watch this video very carefully. It is very informative.
Jackie Chan PSA on Bear Bile Farming
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/bearbile2.flv
Jill Robinson’s Blog (http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/)
新闻来源：http://renminbao.com/rmb/articles/2011/2/16/54119b.html
20年穿鐵衣取膽 母熊含淚殺子並自殺（多圖）
黑熊母子情深，雌性黑熊是保護自己孩子的模範母親。
【人民報消息】熊膽不是甚麼名貴中藥，完全可以用草藥或人工合成代替。請大家盡力告知所有人這個常識，廣泛宣傳，堅決不買、不用這些熊膽製品！！！中共國竟畸形到了這般地步：中國嬰兒吃的奶粉竟要加三聚氰胺，可是不必要的熊膽竟要直接從熊體中活取。中共的“向錢看”把國家精神摧毀殆盡。讓我們救救“月熊”！做點事吧！！！
人類在野外下陷阱捉熊，熊落入陷阱，導致熊掌或四肢撕裂。熊被捉到後，要被人類殘害近二十五年，熊痛得掏肚自殺。
但人給熊穿上防止自殺的鐵衣，使熊無法移動分毫，連自殺也不能。
有的熊無法忍受每日取膽的痛苦，曾掏肚腸自殺。為了防止它們自戕，就特製了這種鐵馬甲。
熊肚子被人類挖一個洞，插入鐵管到膽，每天活取膽汁數次，鮮血淋漓，劇痛無比，熊痛苦的吼聲像打雷，可是穿了鐵衣，無法動彈（節省成本，沒有麻藥）。有只母熊痛苦不堪，在人類要對她孩子小熊開腸破肚之際，搬開鐵籠子，把自己的孩子小熊撕碎——不願意讓小熊受一輩子的地獄折磨。
受朋友之托，替他管理幾天“熊莊”，那是位於某某市西北部山腳下一所隱蔽的別墅，也是朋友養熊的莊園。
是夜，五更時分，我在小樓裡輾轉難寐。山風不斷送入一陣陣的聲，像一聲聲悲泣，既痛苦又絕望。恰在此時，我彷彿聽到門上有輕輕的動靜，“咯吱，咯吱”，同時還伴著粗重的呼吸。我猛一翻身坐了起來，隨手拉開了燈。“誰？”沒有任何回答，沉寂得煞是怕人。我伸手抓起一把掃帚，輕輕走到門邊，猛地拉開了房門。
哈，門外蜷縮著一只小熊，它胖胖的身軀蜷作一團，毛烘烘的鬢髮柔軟地蓬鬆著。它怯怯地望著我，發出近乎諂媚的喏喏叫聲，“熊熊，來，來啊，”我張開手，小熊搖搖擺擺地爬到我面前，小掌搭在我身上，用那溫暖的舌頭舔著我的手，柔軟極了。
突然，一陣喧嘩聲從外面傳來，小熊眼神一怔，敏捷地鑽到了床下面。很快，傳來敲門聲，我拉開門問道：“甚麼事啊？”“熊房剛跑了只小熊，沒來打擾先生吧？” “哦，有啊，在這呢。”我指著小熊躲藏的地方。他們俯下身，一把就抓住了它，粗暴地從裡面用力地往外拖著，他們把四只熊腿對足綁定，用一只粗長的棍子穿起來抬走了。小熊在離開房門時，那仰著的頭顱彎過來無助地望了我一眼，那是乞求可憐的目光。
天亮後，帶班的老張說領我去熊房看看。來到一個有幾千平方米的高大建築裡。裡面很空曠，平放著六個籠子，每個籠子裡都有一只萎靡的黑熊。奇怪的是它們身上都箍著一個明晃晃的像兜肚的東西。老張告訴我： “這是取膽汁用的，現在的熊膽汁價格是每克300元。”他帶我來到第一個籠子跟前，打手勢告訴我：“采膽汁開始了。”
我看見兩個彪悍的工人麻利地左右綁好熊軀，在那鋼兜肚兩側各拉起一條粗大的繩子，經過一個特製的滑輪，齊喊了聲“嗨！”只見熊身上的鋼兜肚漸漸地收縮著收縮著。突然，熊發出了歇斯底里的吼喊：“嗚……！”那簡直不是吼叫啊，那是變了形狀的淒哭，只見他拚命仰著頭痛苦地瞪圓了眼睛，四個粗大的掌子在有限的空間蹬抓著地面，發出 “滋拉，滋拉”地刺耳聲響，瞬間，那腹下的鋼管裡“滴答，滴答”地流出了碧綠色的液體。操作工人又慢慢鬆開繩子，接著拉起下一個回合，又是一陣聲嘶力竭的泣叫。
我看到熊的眼淚漸漸淌下來，它竟然也像人一樣咬緊了牙齒，躬起了身體去承受著無休止的痛苦。好悲慘的一幕啊，我不忍再看，扭頭走開了。此時，我才明白，夜裡那些悲叫是這些帶著傷痛的熊，在難挨的暮色裡發出的呻吟啊。
老張跟我到門口，我聲音顫抖地質問他：“你們還有人性麼？它們可都是生命啊！”老張淡淡地說道：“沒辦法，我們幹的就是這樣的活啊。”情緒稍定，我無奈地問他：“多長時間采一次膽汁？”
他回答道：“那要看情況了，膽汁多的一天兩次，少的最遲兩天要一次，一般一個熊年產膽粉2,000克，可以采10年。”我的心戰慄了，一天兩次，10年，這是個甚麼樣的魔鬼數字啊，也就是說，這樣慾死的折磨每天都要進行兩次，要在這樣慾生不能的刑法裡忍受10年，7,200次剜心剔骨啊。要日復一日，年復一年的熬啊，縱是人的堅強生命力，也肯定難以堅持下來，我的心痛痛的。
我提出要回去。老張說：“一會要對小熊手術，這個關鍵時刻你可不能走，你代表劉總，你走了，出了事誰能負得去這個責任！”我只好跟他又回到了熊房。在他招呼下，四個彪悍的工人把小熊綁了進來。
小熊驚恐地望著大家，當它的眼神看到我時，頓時一亮，渴求地望著我。我的眼睛濕潤了，此時，它竟然“撲通”一聲向我跪了下來，是四個蹄子同時跪下…老張擺擺手，命令開始手術，小熊失望地朝著屋頂，放聲大哭“嗚……”那聲音慘極了，失望極了，是我在這個世界上從未聽過的震撼心靈的呼喊，它簡直就是用人類的語言呼喊出來的一個“媽”字，就連那些劊子手般的工人也為之一震。
就在此時，一個異常震撼的情景出現了，只見籠子裡的一只大熊嘶叫了一聲，竟然用那巨掌一點點地撐開了拇指般粗的鐵籠子，蹦了出來。嚇得那些工人四下逃竄，我頓時呆住了，腳下像生了鉛，一步也移動不得。可大熊沒有理會我的存在，飛快地蹦到了小熊的跟前，用那笨拙的巨掌去解那粗粗的鏈子，可怎麼也解不開，它只好親吻著小熊，勉強地把它依偎在自己的懷裡，用舌頭慈愛地舔去小熊滿臉的淚水，哼哼叫著去撫慰自己親愛的孩子。小熊也像在連連叫著媽媽，“嗚嗚……”地嗚咽著，求媽媽救救自己。
突然，大熊狂叫著，用自己的巨掌狠狠地掐住小熊的脖子，吼叫著用盡力氣掐著，掐著……直到小熊的身體軟綿綿地倒下來，它才鬆開了自己的巨掌，它看著已經死去的孩子，它嗚咽著。哀鳴著，彷彿在喊：“孩子啊，媽媽救不了你，但你再不會去受罪了，媽媽對不起你啊！”它先是撕咬著自己的毛髮，接著一把拽下了身上的鋼兜肚，那鋼管帶著半個膽囊飛了出來，肚子上的毛皮頓時被鮮血染紅了，汩汩的流淌著殷紅的赤丹。只見它大叫一聲，瘋了似的向牆壁撞去，“砰！”牆壁轟然倒塌了。我麻木了，根本不知道自己是如何走出這個殘酷的熊房的。
整整一天，我腦海裡都是那悲慘的一幕。我在心中自問：熊媽媽的舉動是母愛？我想是的，是一種無奈的母愛。在此時此地，它沒有能力幫助孩子解脫那20年地獄般的痛苦，無奈之下，只有把創造了的愛毀掉，再去冥冥之中陪伴它，尋覓它，惟有如此啊！
有的熊無法忍受每日取膽的痛苦，曾掏肚腸自殺。為了防止它們自戕，就特製了這種鐵馬甲，日夜穿在它們身上。
一隻身戴鐵馬甲的熊！
由於抽膽的傷口從來不閉合，從來沒痊癒；由於長年累月地受盡折磨，很多熊都患上腫瘤，得了癌症，這個熊得的就是肝癌。
穿著鐵馬甲被抽膽的熊，鐵馬甲都腐爛了，不知道已經抽了多少年。
一些人認為熊掌是人間美味，而活體砍掌據說味道最佳。這個被救助出來的可憐的熊之前被人砍掉兩個掌，而且還每天要被抽膽幾次。
中國黑熊的洋媽媽————亞洲動物保護協會創始人謝羅便臣，在自己的右肩紋上了“月熊”兩個中文字。
五年來她始終為黑熊在奔走，想建立一個較大的救護中心，可是家基金會始終認為沒有準備好。圖為謝羅便臣與一頭剛被解救的熊，熊身上被迫穿著防止自殺保護抽膽的鐵馬甲。
這個熊已經被關在籠子里長達22年之久！“不能轉身，不能站直，只有痛！！！沒有樹林，沒有陽光，只有黑暗！！！沒有自由，沒有止境，只有受苦！
黑熊取膽時非常痛苦。怕膽汁亂流，穿著鋼背心的黑熊大多隻能一個姿勢站在鐵籠裡。
除了頭能自由擺動外，身子已不能活動。每頭被取膽的黑熊，都瘦骨嶙峋，它們唯一的動作是拚命搖頭。
現在很多人哪，為了賺錢，連牲畜都不如啊！
Dear Rinpoche:
I have watched the 2 videos and various articles on this topic. This is very sad of human kind to think and behave this way even with the latest technology and information. How the bears and animals suffered for human is simply unreasonable. As research showed that we human don’t need Bear Bile to survive. And bear bile can also easily replaced by other herbs and medicinal plants.
What came to my mind was that at a very young age I was told by one of my uncle who traveled to China… He mentioned that there is this meal served to the Emperor during this period of time (forgotten which dynasty) that takes 3 days 3 nights to completely serve 108 dishes. The dishes consist of monkey’s brains, bear palm, and all the wild and exotic animals that we can imagine. And it was considered the highest of high to be able to consume this grand dinner. My uncle also bragged to the family that he had to pay a large sum of money to have a taste of that meal. This kind of education had built an imprint in us since a very young age. Therefore, as stupid as we are; from there we always think that rare Chinese herbs are as precious as they can be. Like what people still think of shark’s fins among the Chinese and dolphin meat in Japan.
I suppose it is this kind of “old methods” and beliefs have to go. The lack of education for consumers and the ignorant of consumers have caused so many beings to suffer whether it is for fashion sake, beauty sake, food/health sake or animal testing just to name a few. The beautiful packaging and loud striking advertisement got us totally. We are all blinded by the truth. How many consumers actually turned the packaging around to see whether it fits to buy?
Many are as ignorance as they can be, just like what this samsara world is all about… chasing after useless pursue, depending on “things” that made believed to stay healthy, youthful and beautiful to prolong long life. People chased after that therefore there is a demand. If consumers continue to do so, then there is a demand simply because we promote it for making money sake.
Education has to buck up, the new generation will now have a voice. Thanks to the power of internet. Truth can not hide anymore. It took Jill Robinson 16 years to struggle and get where she is today. I can imagine the determination, the disappointment, the rejections, the abuse and hopes she had to endure in order to have a voice. I respected that very much. It really shows how much she cares as she remembers each and every single bear in her tour video. Until today, more people have joined her force, and still she is still having the same passion and determination that she had 16 years ago.
That is something that greatly moved me and respect her a lot. Such great being she is.
Love,
Ethan
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for including me in this e-mail. I have read the article and watched the videos.
It is really heart breaking to know that in this era of advanced technology, where many of our creations are capable to be put in good use, the human race use these technologies for negative purposes. If they are so creative as to invent an ‘IRON VEST’ to curb suicides by the bears, why can’t these people invent medication that will not require bear bile? And well, it has been proven that bear bile is not needed in chinese traditional medicine. The fact that they create this ‘IRON VEST’ shows that they know the bears have emotions and are in pain.
Watching the videos, it is so nice to see the bears happily roaming around the sanctuary. I can see how Jill is so happy when introducing her sanctuary in the videos. Not because she has gain popularity or power by the work she does but because she is sincerely happy that the bears can now roam freely.
Something has to be done and I am more than willing to be part of this team. I hope with Rinpoche’s blessings I can play a part in this. For a start, I will share this article and videos with all my friends.
Also, I have come across Jill Robinson’s blog (http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/) that I think Rinpoche will be interested to view.
From Philip Yong
Dear Rinpoche,
I’ve read the article and watched the video.
It’s incredibly saddening and disgusting. The number of times these bears get their bile extracted is just staggering. Humans are so appalling to take other beings body parts for our own benefit.
The following paragraph is a good addition to the article: “In fact, many Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors are furious about bear farming. They could not accept how the body fluid of mentally and physically degraded animal can be in harmony with nature, the core belief of traditional medicine of health.”
It shows how people shouldn’t just blame the Chinese, coz not all of them support it. Countries that sell them are just as much to blame.
According to the website World League for the Protection of Animals (http://www.wlpa.org/bear_bile_farming.htm), the following countries sell illegal bear products:
“Illegal bear products were most readily available in the U.S. (91%), Malaysia (78%), Japan (77%), and Singapore (74%), closely followed by Canada (67%), Indonesia (62%), Australia (49%) and Taiwan (30%).”
I will help Shin in any research that she needs done.
Thank you,
Jean Mei
Rinpoche,
I have watched the two videos, and read the article.
I find it very disturbing that the people can ignore the bears’ obvious suffering, and think that what they are doing is okay or excusable because it is their job. I also found it strange that the humans are walking around dressed in sterilised suits, while the bears languish in unhygienic conditions.
I’m sad for those people who think what they are doing is okay, because it makes it so much harder for them to stop what they are doing, because they haven’t been educated to do so. And how the bears are pumped with antibiotics and drugs to keep them alive, really shows that the bears are treated as property, and not as living beings.
I think the worst bit is that the bears are not meant to be treated like this. What I mean is some people might argue that farm animals like cows, chickens, ducks, etc can be reared in captivity and in good living conditions (e.g. kampung chickens). However, there’s no human history of people rearing bears for food, etc – the bile that they produce has never been a necessity for human living. So in the end, bear farming is just torture for human’s enjoyment and entertainment.
Thank you,
Jean Ai
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you for sending this story. The videos are very heart wrenching. It shows that the people who work for these bear farms are so desensitised that they can continue torturing these animals daily for years. What huge stocks of negative karma the bear keepers are accumulating and also what karma must have lead to these bears’ continuous sufferings – to me, this really is hell on earth. It makes me think of those hells where you get disembowelled and then you heal and then you get disembowelled again, just repeatedly over and over.
Perhaps the bears and their keepers just keep changing places life after life, but they don’t learn their lesson. The only way for this evil practice to stop is for education that bear bile is not necessary in view of many herbal and man-made replacements, and that people stop creating the demand. This practice is the epitome of ignorance and attachment.
I’m glad to see Jill Robinson and her team at Animals Asia (http://www.animalsasia.org/ – there are also donation buttons at this site) are doing such a good job though. The bears which are being rehabilitated really look happy and are such a stark contrast to those in the cages at the farms. It is great that there are such passionate people out there who walk the talk and who are the very antithesis of those who are destroying lives. She is very inspirational.
I see Hong Kong celebrities, Jackie Chan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBpV1G68-vw&feature=player_embedded), Maggie Q (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vp3ZqS8SBk) and Karen Mok (http://youtu.be/teWIfkNppKg) also have videos against bear farming.
Some information on Jill Robinson from Wikipedia:
Jill Robinson is the founder of Animals Asia Foundation. Born and raised in England, Robinson was always interested in the welfare of animals. As a child she volunteered verterinary offices during her school holidays. In the mid-1980s she moved to Hong Kong, it was where she began working for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, focusing on work in China and South Korea.[1]
In 1993, Robinson visited a bear bile farm in China. According to Robinson, at the time approximately 10,000 Asiatic black bears were caged at farms similar to this one, in conditions many animal welfare groups consider horrific. At the farms, bile is extracted from the bear’s gallbladder for use in traditional Chinese medicines.[1] According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, only about 15,000–20,000 Asiatic black bears are alive in the wild in China, which would qualify them for the highest protection described by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Chinese authorities estimate that over 50,000 of the bears live in the wild, which would eliminate the necessity for higher protection.[1]
For the next seven years, Robinson researched the way bile was used and negotiated with the Chinese government. In 2000, the Sichuan Forestry Department signed a pledge with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to release 500 bears from the bile farms with the worst conditions. This marked the first time an agency of the Chinese government had come to an official agreement with an animal welfare organization.[1] To house the released bears, Robinson founded Animals Asia Foundation and established a bear rescue center in Chengdu. The foundation has since begun a similar sanctuary in Vietnam, where there are also thousands of bear bile farms.[1]
Robinson has also been a proponent of the Doctor Dog program, which rescues stray dogs in Asia and trains them to participate in Animal-assisted therapy.[2]
For her work with animal welfare, in 1988 Robinson was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) [1]. She has also received the Genesis Award (2002) and a Reader’s Digest Hero for Today award (1995).[3]
Thank you,
Best wishes,
Sharon Saw
Editor. Writer. Dharma Student.
Liaison to H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
Kechara Media & Publications Sdn Bhd
41-2A, Jalan PJU 1/3C
Sunwaymas Commercial Centre
47301 Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia
This happens in war, rather than watch their children be held for the gratification of others and rapped not just with the the body.
parents have killed their own children,This is a sad fact of our inhumain world. Sorry if this sounds harsh of me and yes I am sickend to the back of beyond.
There are those who do the same (kill and torture) to human lifes, not to mention animals. Yet, we are taught as Buddhist, to be compassionate to all with equinamity.
To understand their actions, we need to understand their psyche – does earning a living justify the action? Do they know that animals are sentient beings as well and feel the same sufferings as human, what the precepts are in light of the Dharma.
Not that their actions are justiable by any means but ignorance and illusions must be a basic reason for their brutal action which is rife all over the planet.
Other than a very few like Jill who challenges the course of engaging in limited affirmative action against animal cruelty, each of us as individual can only do our best in keeping the precept, highlighting the fact that it exist. The reality is that it such issues takes concerted effort from government to enforce the law and police it. Support support from the private sector is sporadic and not universal to ensure it’s action is sustainable.
What is this!!! I cant stop crying after reading!! This is very very sad, why does human do this????
I watched the documentary before and pissed me off so so badly!! Its really sad and angry!!! Especially when you hear the roaring in the cage and gone mad due to the permanently caging and some of them crying for help its really really heartbroken!!
Due to human needs, animals have to suffer all these!!! its just too selfish!!
Dear Rinpoche, sorry for being rude but i am really really angry everytime i watch this kinda news.
Human should stop all these demand!! Or else the animals will be suffering!!
Dear Rinpoche,thanks for posting this as it is a very important issue and more people especially in that part of the world need to know and learn about the cruel doings in China with animals like bears,dogs,cats,and even rats.The way that are killed and treated goes beyond any words about cruelty that I could ever find. I have signed many petitions regardings these issues in China.Hope through letters to the government and trhough international sanctions somethings gets done.Many blessings to you Dear Rinpoche
If we do not believe that animals are allowed to live out their lives freely and happily on planet earth, then its no wonder we can advocate war, violence, hatred and anger against anyone who is different from us.
When we learn to care about animals, we will truly evolve into a caring society. Until we learn to care for animals, we will remain an animal. Because when we poach, trap, torture and kill other animals for profit, entertainment, etc. we are no longer humane.
When we can provide other beings a living environment that is free of fear, then we can all live in a world that filled with peace, harmony and friendship.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this. It is cruel beyond words. It saddens me to know that in this “stupid cocoon” world I live in, such inhuman cruelty exists. The actions and work of Jill Robinson is admirable and courageous. I salute her!
Dear Rinpoche,
This is one of the most appalling treatment of animals I have ever seen. I can’t get the image of the poor moon bears being poked every single day for years. They are remarkably resilient to be able to withstand so much physical harm. The videos are heart-wrenching and its amazing what the Internet can be used to carry such powerful and beneficial message across of helping such animals.
Jill Robinson is such an amazing person to transform her harrowing experience at a bear farm into a lifelong effort to end such suffering. She fights for her cause and does what she needs to get her compassionate message across. I am glad she is championing this cause and wish her success. I think all of us have something to learn from this hero. If we come across a cause that we truly believe in, we should work hard to champion it.
This is ignorance of beings and choose to ignore the sufferings of beings, as they do not understand karma and reincarnation (the farmers and consumers).
Dearest Rinpoche
Thank you very much for post and the video. I have seen this over the TV before and it is indeed inhuman and painful and sorry to say that human are so selfish. No discrimination to nationalities but sad that many parts of remote China these things do happened and they could even chopped off a limb or a paw and leave the animal to licks it wounds. It is indeed painful for the animals and yet sad that these barbaric actions cause so much pain for the others. I pray that these people will learn other means of living. Only by learning other means of living the can stop working for these syndicate. Free all the sufferings of the animals.
Human cruelty towards animal is such a horrendous sight. they never thought about the suffering of the poor creature, their only concern is about profit without considering the ethicality of it.
it is so sad to see the bear being caged, tortured everyday for the extraction of the so called “medicinal property”. it is so heart wrenching to even read that the mother bear killed the baby bear out of compassion for not wanting to see the baby bear suffer the horrendous torture.
Jill Robinson is such wonderful lady, she is a courages and lovely lady for what is she doing for the moon bear.
It is heart-wrenching to read about the mother bear killing her baby to save it from a life of unending and horrendous suffering that she herself has been made to endure.
It is nauseating and disgusting to read about how desensitized and indifferent we humans have become to pain and suffering of other ‘species ‘of beings.
I applaud Jill Robinson for her heroic efforts to rescue these bears who have been subjected to such pain and suffering just to get the bile from them. I don’t know of any other race, but I agree with Ethan that the Chinese, in particular, have taken the brutal torture and killing of animals to such unbelievable heights as this just so as to serve them(these animals or their parts) up as a delicacy or as a medicinal cure for bodily ailments.
In light of the recent bombing and shooting spree by one (Norwegian) man that ended in the senseless and brutal killing of over 80 people (mostly teenagers), I worry about how people are becoming more and more desensitized and indifferent to the pain and suffering of others, whether of their own species or other beings.
The most urgent task facing us all is to educate all people (beginning with the young) to treasure every form of life and to be more caring of one another, regardless of color, shape, size or creed.
Thank you Rinpoche for bringing awareness to the suffering of these moon bears. I am unaware that such vile treatments exists in the interest of medicinal benefits.
The only way to stop this is to cut the demand for such products. As long a people are still buying them there will still be a sizeable market for the bile in the same way the lucrative fois gras business is in France.
Animal Asia is doing a great job in educating the mass public on the alternatives to bear bile and also bring awareness to such cruel treatments. Jill Robinson is a remarkable lady in championing the cause.
It is said in a news report by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network has found that poaching and illegal trade of bears, driven by large demand for bile, used in traditional medicine and folk remedies continues unabated across Asia on a large scale. Bear bile products were found on sale in Traditional medicine outlets in all but one of the 13 countries – except macao. Products, it seem were most frquently observed in mainland China, Hongkong, Myanmar and Vietnam and its most encountered products were whole bear gall bladders and pills. Domestic trade of bear bile is legal under strict regulation within mainland China, Japan but is illigal in cambodia, Malaysia,Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Irregardless of the legality of the trade within the countries, international trading is not allowed. Asiatic black bears and sun bears are both listed in the appendix of convention on internationaln trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora(CITES) which prohibits international commercial trade in these species, its parts and dirivatives. Unbridled illegal trade in bear parts and products continues to undermine CITES. The study found that the vast majority of the bears farms surveyed in Laos, myanmar and vietnam have no captive breeding programes, suggesting they depend on bears captured from the wild. The study makes a clear case for the authorities to shut down businesses selling bear products and prosecute individuals caught selling, buying, transporting or keeping bears illegally, as mentioned by Kaitlyn-Elizabeth Foley, lead author of the report and senior programe officer of the TRAFFIC southeast asia. As pressure mounts on the wild bear population, serious questions have to be looked into onthe welfare and pathology of the farmed bears, and the risks to human health in those who consumed the contaminated bile from the sick and diseased bears, so said Dr.Jill Robinson.
Thank you Rinpoche for passing this information. Thought I should let you know, I have made some contribution/ donation to Jill animal rescue website because of your article. Your effort won’t go in vain.
Dear Rinpoche,thank you for telling me to see this video.I feel the Bear is very special.I think people creating very bad karma.because people think they are help people but make more suffer for animal.I think Jill Anderson is doing something very great and she can speak out,work hard and she giving out everything to do animal sanctuary .I think our kas become like this.lucky we know Dharma.if we don’t have dharma we would be like this make animal suffer.
thank you monlam
Dear Rinpoche, I have read the article and watched the videos.
Frist thing i didn’t know people uses bears for on their medical treatment. Its very sad to know how they have been kept and used for human beings. I thing is very more to important educate people about bear farming. Its just like kfc and other animal slaughter houses how they have been killed but its wrose suffer for soo many years.Awareness is the key once people know where its comes from people will stop slowly. Its really heart breaking video and the article. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us.
Thank you, Kb
Dearest Rinpoche, Thank you for sharing and i have watched them. I am sad and speechless and i cried while i was watching this. I imagine myself at that situation and force to suffer and tortured by it twice a day and long-term be caged in, fundamental is live in hell everyday. Is a hard decision for a teary mother bear to kill her baby compare to commit suicide. It is showing that the mother bear not willing to let them suffered for their rest of life and that is the only BEST way for their baby bear to extrication. What a terrorist of this degenerate time! May all sentient beings be free of suffering. I will share this to everyone and let them know the bear bile can replace from other similar tradition medicine too. Once again thank you Rinpoche for sharing this to me. Regards,Cynthia Ng
Dear Rinpoche,
I have watch the last night together with Lili Ng, Iryene Chong and Kh Ng at KD office.
The Chinese are very cruel, can do anything just to make money, and yes we need to do something for the animal.
Sincerely,
Paul Yap 叶师杰
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing the article.
Thru Chinese media, I known of bear bile farming in Chinese that involves cruelty, but I was not aware of the magnitude of the cruelty involved.
How could anyone do this to another living being? I asked if, being a mother, would I do the same to my children given the same situation? The answer is a firm YES. This is, like Dato Ruby pointing out, a LIVING HELL, which no mother would let her child endure.
I am glad I am a vegetarian now…
Best Regards,
Siong Woan
Dear Rinpoche,
I have watched both videos.
As I was watching the videos ,I was thinking if I were reborn as a bear in the same situation as the Moon Bear….I would feel terrified , helpless and tremendous hopelessness !
With education and communication, I am certain this can be stopped and must be stopped.
Warm regards,
Yap Yoke Fui
Dear Rinpoche,
I’ve watched the 2 videos and read the article.
Moon Bear & Bile
- It is very sad that many people still view animals as inferior and exploit them for economic reasons.
- Sales of bile from a SINGLE bear brings in 600,000 yuan (RM274k) PER YEAR (can continue for 10 years) and it’s legal – that is a lot of money with “little” investment.
- It takes a lot of education to reverse the view that animals are there for human to exploit and their lives don’t matter.
Animals Asia
- It is inspiring to know that an organization that started in 1998 can grow so big in 12 years.
- They have offices in Australia, China, Germany, Italy, the UK and USA, as well as Moon Bear Rescue Centres in China and Vietnam, with headquarters in Hong Kong. They have around 270 staff worldwide.
- The monthly overhead of their rescue centre in China alone averages US$100,000 and Jill’s travelling schedule almost matches His Holiness’!
- “End Bear Farming” campaign is only one of their flagship projects. Jill Robinson is definitely very passionate towards her cause to better welfare for animals as she must have gone through a lot to establish NGOs in foreign lands, especially in Asian countries like China and Vietnam.
What I learnt about their approach
The approach for bear bile case is very comprehensive.
1. They worked with other NGOs to persuade the Chinese and Vietnamese government to reverse/change their policies and signed agreements to rescue bears.
2. They funded and sought out alternative substitutes to reverse the belief that bear bile is highly potent/ necessary.
3. They went the extra mile (not shown in video), e.g. they even compensate the Chinese (bear bile) farmers financially so they can either retire or set up in another business and their licences are taken away permanently.
What we can do
- Apart from raising fund, we can help to create the same kind of awareness Animal Asia’s trying to do.
- Animal Asia’s vision is to “foster a new era of compassion and respect for animals by promoting a change in attitudes”. It helps the Kechara Animal Sanctuary name if we get involve in raising funds for other animal causes, create awareness, or work with other groups.
- Under the “get involved section” of their website, Animals Asia encourages ‘China Bear Rescue Support Groups’ in various countries to raise awareness and vital funds for the rescue through events in their local areas. They encourage people to get involved by joining the existing or creating new groups. Perhaps this is something we can start doing to help them.
I’ve emailed Rinpoche additional info re Jill Robinson in a separate email.
Thank you.
Shin
Dear Rinpoche,
I have read the article and watched the video.
I am deeply moved by the story of the mother bear doing something which was so difficult for her, to end her cub’s life I can’t imagine the agony of doing such an act.
I think Jill Anderson is doing something really great and special which is she is giving protection and her life to these bears. For so many years she has to see so much cruelty from humans to these magnificent animals and yet she is still diligently working for them undeterred and even more determined.
How can suffering from these bears create better health for humans, just like how one of the Chinese doctors said, how can a unharmonius act like torturing an animal bring any balance to one’s health, and furthermore the bears are riddled with so much disease. Thank you for enlightening me once again, I do hope KAS can become something similar to ‘Animals Asia’ in terms of care.
Just like to share something closer to home, in Malaysia we have conservation projects dedicated to helping sun bears in Malaysia by this man called Siew Te Wong. He is an expert in sun bear conservation and many zoos around the world consult in him on matters pertaining to sun bears. Sun bears are the smallest species of bears in the world and they suffer from loss of habitat, hunted for meat, their cubs used as pets for being so cute.
Below are some links on conservation about sun bears
i) http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/bornean-sun-bear-conservation-centre-bsbcc/
ii) http://wongsiewte.blogspot.com/2010/03/youtube-wildlife-for-sale-at-malaysia.html
iii) http://news.mongabay.com/2008/0925-wcn_wong_interview.html
iv) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrix3oT5G-c
v) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvoIHaAwDmw&feature=related
vi) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmMn4lYnuA0&feature=related
Best Wishes
Wai Meng
Dear Rinpoche,
I have read and seen the videos. Thank you Rinpoche for once again shedding my ignorance. I never knew bile from these lovely cute creatures were used like this. I am speechless. When I read and saw the videos I experienced tremendous sadness like a depression.
It is important to help the cause and movement on Jill Robinson.
With folded hands,
Li Kim
Dearest Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing these videos and articles. I have watched them.
I thought I have seen it all and heard it all but there is really no end to the nightmare of samsara’s endless tortures. What’s more horrifying – there is no bottom in the pit of human ignorance. We carry out so many ghastly acts and justify them in the name of science, medicine and etc. – all done for the sake of extending the human life, but at the death of all others.
Real change cannot happen from just rescuing. Rescuing the bears and all other unfortunate creatures all around the world is just one part.
1) Re-Education & Awareness
We need to re-educate everyone about these atrocious acts and how un-necessary they are. Whether it is the alternatives available apart from bear bile, the harmful effects of bear bile, etc. Education and awareness will create a well-informed society who will, hopefully, make wiser choices in their buying as well as consumption.
2) Laws need to be Changed and Stricter
Then we need to ensure that such trades are made illegal at the local government and global level. Laws need to be changed. When entry into such industries are so difficult and risky, there might be less motivation for people to even consider doing it.
3) Buying must End
Above all, the buying needs to stop. Without demand, production will have to cease. And supply will no longer be acquired.
4) The Change in the Industry
In addition, those ‘ignorant’ farmers need to be re-educated and re-skilled for other jobs. As we cut off their current livelihoods, we need to help them see the error of their ways by making other options more lucrative for them. Even if it is paying them a higher salary in making them switch jobs. After all, these farmers and poachers are only in this trade for profit and money. When buying ceases and laws are changed, they will have a harder time to find livelihoods. Then they will look into other un-scrupulous trades to do. We would not like that or want that either. We would like them to stop for good.
I would love to see them reverse their jobs or trades. Instead of inflicting pain on those bears, they are the ones now caring for those bears. This is the kind of reversal we need to enforce in order to create a much better cycle of life for both the bears and farmers. Who in the right mind would choose a job of cruelty if a job of care pays a higher salary or profit? If only there are ways to bring this about. Then we can change the factories of pain into playgrounds of rehabilitation and care. In this way, the healing is both ways – both for the animals and the farmers/traders.
5) Poem to express my thoughts and feelings
The bastilles we force upon others
Are as evident as those in ourselves
Imprisoning our minds
Solely for our own selfish gains
Caging our hearts
From a duty to care and help
With the bile of our ignorance
We pile on
Vile agonies upon
The poor souls
Whose voices will never be heard
For they die before they can live
Reels of endless tortures
Mankind inflicts
On all others
This sums up the life
Humanity has extracted
On planet earth.
In closing, it hit me while watching the videos – humanity’s highest duty is to care and help. It is not to kill and extract. We can’t be gifted with so much and yet be the very culprits of the most gruesome acts to all living beings on earth. It just doesn’t seem right at all. Every cruel act, no matter how minute, is really just so un-necessary. I seem to just end up saying this over and over again – samsara is truly an ugly place – the samsara within and the samsara without.
With deep gratitude,
Shirley
Dear Rinpoche,
Speechless, and I can’t stop crying while watching the videos…
regards,
Lew, Kwan Leng
Dear Rinpoche,
I am lost for words to describe the gruesome act a being with conscious can inflict on another living being. Do they not hear the cries of pain and fear? Has it ever crossed their minds if the position was reversed? Such brutality just for money. It is so scary to think of where these people will take rebirth but on the other hand what has the bears done to be in this torture chamber for the rest of their lives? Either way, i pray that we will never be reborn in this situation. It is HELL ON EARTH!
Dato’ Ruby Khong
Liaison to H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
Personal Affairs & Outlets
President
Kechara Soup Kitchen
17 Jalan Barat (off Jalan Imbi)
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this article and these videos. As horrifying as it is, I do appreciate seeing these videos and knowing what’s going on out there.
The videos evoke two feelings me – total horrified shock for what the bears are having to suffer, as well as tremendous respect and awe for this lady Jill Robinson. What must the bears have done before to have to suffer this fate their whole lives – like Sharon said, it’s really a hell on earth, being “disembowelled” over and over again. It’s shocking and saddening that humans can treat other beings like this, becoming totally numb to the suffering of another being. It’s just a livelihood to them. It’s frightening to think of what karma they have too, to be in a state of mind that thinks this is okay and acceptable; in fact, they actively rejoice in it as it is their means of income and “survival” and money. It reminded me of a teaching Rinpoche gave me awhile ago of how frightening it is that if we don’t keep our promises and do our practices well, we become more and more attracted to wrong ways of thinking; and shun positive ways of thinking. So, we could become these people inflicting this pain onto the bears and thinking it’s fine, or rejoicing in it – all from just not keeping our commitments.
At first, it’s easy to feel angry at these people. I think most people will instantly think, “Well I wish someone would poke an iron pipe into THEIR stomachs and make them suffer the same”. The sad part is that they probably will suffer the same. So, why do we feel sadness for the bears but not for the people who are going to become the bears?
I am amazed at Jill and Animals Asia’s work. You can see her total dedication and love for the bears and her work is really just so inspiring. She reminds me a little of Jan Salter in KAT in Kathmandu. It’s that wonderful energy of someone who has devoted her whole life to the welfare of these bears – you can tell that she isn’t into relationships, money, material things, reputation or any of that. She has put all her own personal “interests” aside for the bears and in the process, has gotten all of the respect, love and reputation of the world anyway. What a tremendous way to live. All the more tremendous because those bears will never even be able to say thank you to her; she has even lost a few hundred of the bears along the way. But she doesn’t want anything in return anyway, except to see them safe and well. What an admirable person to look up to and take as a role model.
I’ll have a look online also to find other Asian animal groups, who may also know of this terrible trade and be involved in similar rescues. I’ll pass my findings on to Shin.
Thank you again Rinpoche for sharing this. I will be writing about this for my next online column and blog.
Love,
Furry Brown Moon Paris
Dear Rinpoche,
I’ve read the article and watched the videos.
It’s so sad to see the bear being tortured in such. How the mother bear choose to stop the cub suffering by killing it……is her own baby….
Seeing how human can really be so cruel and for their own interest. How much negative karma these bear keeper accumulated!!!
It’s so scary to see the bear destiny but of course it still relate back to their karma from their previous act. But it’s still hard to know and see it. Exactly like what Sharon mentioned, is hell on earth. Daily tortured and last for 10 to 20 years…….hell pain.
There are replacements for it that does not need to harm any living being. Can’t take it if to scarify others for my own interest.
People need to be educated and so glad to have Jill Robinson & Jacky Chan helping to curb and creating the awareness of this cruel act. More people need to know about this and more and more people need against this cruelty act. Kids need to know this and from young they understand the value of life regardless human or animals they will precious and help the unlucky one. The young generation is the hope for future.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these.
TQ,
Nicholas
Dearest Rinpoche,
Thank you for sending this article and the attaching videos. It never really struck me how disgusting this trade is, for a matter a fact, I actually didn’t know bear bile was sought after. The stories and videos were heart-wrenching, and I’m sure it induced the same feeling amongst us all – tears, immense sadness, heartache, digust and shame; shame for the human kind to be able to bring ourselves to carry out such abhorrent actions for material gain. But then again, we are in samsara, there’s nothing new to expect from what we can or cannot do for acquisitions to benefit ourselves. I agree with Ethan, that culture and education from young (from parents/background or society) makes people think that it is okay, and therefore the cycle of ignorance continues. It is how we are to break this cycle of not knowing, of habituation that will educate the future generation and result in a probable stop to animal cruelty in general.
Watching the bears suffer was excruciating; being tortured to this extent every single day, I cannot imagine how it’d be like. But then, when Jill was giving a tour, watching the bears in the sanctuary was really nice – it made me think of KAS, and how it could be like this. The facilities ranged from education to vetinerary services, rehabiliation to shelter – everything that KAS aims to achieve. I just imagined that KAS can be similar to Jill’s sanctuary and it made me think, wow – that’s something we can achieve here in Malaysia also. Jill’s perserverence, passion, dedication and tremendous hardwork is very admirable, and I like how she gives dignity and respect to each and every one of the bears, through remembering their names and background. As shown, although on a exterior surface the bears may seem dangerous and ferocious, they are gentle and loving in nature also. I remember how Marc Reed stumbled upon bears during his hiking trips but remained calm (as Rinpoche has advised him during childhood days) and the bear didn’t hurt him. It is digusting how humans belittle animals through power, thinking that animals do not feel what we feel or go through; which was proven otherwise in the article. I am sure any parent would have out of compassion, killed their own child knowning that the life ahead of them was a life of torture, hopelessness and insurmountable suffering. Imagine the pain of having to do that, but the realisation that the suffering that is to be endured is far far worse. It’s like a smack in the face, but for those working in the farms, it may not even have moved them a little.
There were many little stories here and there in the video that I really liked and as Jill said : we won’t die if we don’t take bear bile. But a bear will die if we do (she didn’t say that – that phrase jsut popped in my head. hehe). We don’t need to consume other living beings or any of their parts to stay alive. There are so many other alternatives that won’t harm others – the difficulty is changing people’s mindset about the ‘need’ to consume such products and animals.
The sanctuary requires immense funding to sustain it, as I’m sure the operational costs are huge. http://www.drmartinwilliams.com/jillbears/jillbears.html
By the way, Rinpoche, I don’t know why but the site http://www.animalsasia.org/ can not load up on my browser. Wondering if any one else has the same problem?
Again, thank you for the teaching, Rinpoche.
Much care,
Carmen Koo
Thank you Rinpoche for this post. It is so sad to see all the never ending suffering that is happening all around us be it what we can see and what we cant. Mentally disturbing…So sad.
Dear Rinpoche,
May I share some of what I learnt from attending Miss Jill Robinson’s presentation in August, 2011. She is a truly remarkable and inspiring person.
I learnt a lot from her presentation which was truly inspiring. She started by working for Animal Welfare based in Hong Kong and subsequently founded Animals Asia after a chance encounter with a captive moon bear in China. The incident inspired her to start a campaign to save them from the horrendous conditions they were kept in for as many as thirty years while their bile was harvested from them. Her passionate for her work is very evident and she speaks with great conviction and optimism despite all the obstacles that she faces every day. She shows great compassion and exudes a warmth and optimism. Despite all that she has seen and experienced in China there is no sense of condemnation of the people, just a realization that they need to have more awareness of the alternatives to bear farming. It seems to have strengthened her resolve to stamp out the cruel practice of bear bile farming through education and information. The following points were presented during her talk :
1 She is working closely with Chinese scientists who have developed equally effective drugs from plants that are a perfect alternative to bear bile. This information is disseminated through medical conferences for Chinese medicine where Chinese medical practitioners are informed of the plant alternatives to bear bile.
2 She stressed that support from the locals have been the key to the success of their work. It was considered the most effective method of changing public attitudes towards animal cruelty was through active participation of the local Chinese themselves. This was clearly illustrated in the change in attitude of the workers at the bear sanctuary. What was initially a job became a labor of love.
3 In addition to the rescue of captive moon Bears, her organization is involved with rescue of cats and dogs that were slotted for the meat trade. Rescued dogs and cats are neutered and the cats are released back into the community. There has been a change in attitude towards the treatment of cats and dogs by the Chinese public as evidenced by the cooperation from the community in gathering the cats and dogs for neutering. The locals are actively involved in the rescue of cats and dogs. Jill mentions that there is a groundswell movement from the Chinese themselves to stop inhumane treatment of animals. . Public protests (something that was unheard of until very recently in Communist China) by the Chinese population to stop inhumane treatment of animals have become more common. Rescued dogs are used as Ambassadors for the organization. They have been used for education purposes in campaigns like Professor Paws, a program to teach children to learn English.
She then showed many slides of the terrible conditions that the bears were kept in these farms. There are at least 7,000 bears in captivity in China alone and currently she has the Chinese government’s approval to rescue four hundred bears. This is done by paying the “farmer” to give up his bear farm by paying him a sum of money to permanently close his farm. The license to harvest bear bile is surrendered permanently and the Chinese Government no longer issues new licenses for bear bile farming. The bears are then surrendered to Jill’s organization for rehabilitation. To illustrate we are shown slides of the Chinese staff bringing the bears that had to be put down for rehabilitation. These bears are given a complete check up to determine their physical condition and the necessary steps taken to get them back into good physical condition. Unfortunately many bears were in such bad condition and beyond help that they have to be put down humanely. Ms. Robinson admits that she is increasingly no longer willing to pay for the permanent closure of these farms as many of these existing farms are wealthy. She is rethinking better strategies for the closure of the existing farms possibly through education and garnering public support against such practices.
She is extremely proud of the bear sanctuary in Chengdu which is the organization’s pride of accomplishment. A new sanctuary was opened in Vietnam with the blessing of the Vietnamese government to stem the illegal practice of bear bile farming in the region. There is clearly still a lot of work needed to end the practice in China and funds needed to continue with the work in Vietnam and elsewhere.
You are right Rinpoche to say that I am too comfortable in my own little world. I should do more to end the suffering of animals. Meeting Ms Robinson has opened my eyes to what one person can do to inspire help for the helpless that suffer unnecessarily for the empty pleasures of us humans.
I presented Miss Robinson with the book 108 ways to Grab my Apples and she was genuinely touched. I told her about Kechara and of course Your Eminence’s work in saving animals. I also expressed interest in visiting the bear sanctuary. I will be in contact with her office in New York to see if I can make arrangements to visit one of the sanctuaries on my trip back to KL in October.
With much love and humbly your student
Yee Ling