“Pets” Republic Of China, PRC
Dear All,
There are a certain countries in the world today where their citizens consider what we think of as pets, to be consumable products. What we perceive as “normal” is very subjective and it differs from people to people… collectively and over time, a “norm” can be created for a nation. This can be seen as the culture of a country.
In countries like China, there are people who do think of it as a norm to eat cats and dogs. This long-standing cultural way of thinking is slowly changing. There are people in the same country who view animals as companions, beings to share the good and bad times with… till (natural) death do they part.
I came across this trailer video made by an independent film maker called “Michael Zhao”. Having seen enough of how animals were treated by his country men, Michael decided to pick up his camera and make a movie. He wanted to bring animal cruelty to a national and global awareness. It’s not just the “Peoples Republic” but also a “Pets Republic”.
His movie is incomplete and he is requesting the public for kind support here.
There is one passionate animal rescuer in the trailer that said this to the camera. Even though I don’t speak a word of Chinese you can feel how genuine she is, her sincerity and her love for animals.
China is a country where the populous at large still thinks of dogs and cats as part of the daily diet. This is especially so in the rural areas. I applaud this man’s courageous mission to spread the message to his country and to bring about a change in the lives of possibly millions of animals. Please watch the video trailers below and visit his site, help spread the word.
Tsem Rinpoche
Help Support the “Heroes for Life” Documentary Film
“Despite the tremendous progress and social change brought about after three decades of mind-blowing unprecedented economic development in human history, pets are just beginning to be adored as family members in China. Indeed, some lucky cats and dogs in Beijing or Shanghai eat better food than most Chinese do, and a few even get hairdressing or cosmetic services that are not affordable by most of their fellow human citizens…”
~ Michael Zhao
SOURCE: http://www.chinasmack.com/2011/announcements/help-support-the-heroes-for-life-documentary-film.html
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/trailerHeroesForLife.flv
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/trailerHeroesForLifeUpdated.flv
Rinpoche,
Yes, I confess that it was’t until I worked in China, witnessed the cruelty and consumption of animals and then came across the Dharma message that even animals are a part of sentient beings, did I realise the general psyche of the locals in the way they regard and mistreat animals (i.e. they have no feeling like humans and are for eating). Fortunately, things are indeed changing rapidly with the PET republic culture but in the rural areas, animal mistreatment is still rife in the south. Don’t know what can be done effectively to shift the cultural behaviour other than let change take its course – given the high numbers of animals that suffer and people who mistreat them. Sometimes this taking and trading of animal lives is a means of income. Sigh!
I truly hope that with this movie people,especially in China,can understand that pets like dogs and cats,and all animals can feel as we do. The methods of killing these animals are gruesome and so painful.Ignorance brings suffering,and I hope through awareness and education that the world changes and that animal can reclame their freedom and their well being just as we want.
I am amazed at the level of courage these people have to be able to stand against their own culture of having cats and dogs on dinner plates. It is not an easy feat, adding on that the tradition came from a thousand year old heritage.
Come to think of it, we’re not much different from China either. How often does it occur to us to feed starving stray animals on the streets? When was the last we took the time to bath that old flea-infested tramp at home?
I, too, am ashamed of myself. Thank you very much for the kind reminder Rinpoche.