Jain Spirit 2003 03 No 14

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 13

GLOBAL NEWS
DALAI LAMA URGES END TO ELEPHANT BEATINGS IN THAILAND
screaming and futilely struggling, their bodies covered with bloody wounds. PETA has taken the unusual step of calling for a tourist boycott of Thailand
Bangkok, December 2002 On behalf of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, urging him to intervene in the systematic, widespread torture of baby elephants used as a draw by the country's tourism industry. Baby elephants are routinely torn from their mothers, immobilised and mercilessly beaten with nail-studded sticks for days in an attempt to break them in for use at tourist-frequented elephant camps and 'sanctuaries that are nothing more than cruel circuses. Many do not survive the beatings. PETA has obtained new video footage that shows terrified baby elephants
until the government enacts and enforces laws that would prohibit these cruel training techniques.
"Thailand's elephant camps are promoted to animal-loving tourists under false pretences," says PETA's Director of Captive Exotic Animal Department, Debbie Leahy. "No kind person will want to set foot in Thailand if they see the torture of these beautiful baby elephants."
In the past few years, His Holiness has also asked India to crack down on the leather industry for its cruel treatment of cows during transport and slaughter, and has written to officials in Taiwan, urging them to improve the atrocious conditions at pounds for homeless dogs.
For more information, please visit www.peta.org. The Dalai Lama's letter to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is available upon request.
SPIRITUALITY: OVER-LOOKED AND UNDER-UTILISED? Dennis Oliver, a member of the UK- Elaborating on his reaction to the spirituality relates to community based Community Action Network study, Dennis says: "My first reaction to development in Britain and would brings us news of a new study on Vaz's work is that even in our highly welcome comments on this subject spirituality as a community asset. In secularised nation, transcendent values (your contribution will be formally early December 2002, "Asset-based and convictions drive and support many noted in the article). He is interested in Community Development: Spirituality who persevere in the daily challenges of learning how we can "assess and as an Asset" was circulated through the community development and social acknowledge the role that positive ABCD internet discussion group. The entrepreneurship. Vaz, from his spirituality can and does play within the author is Valerio Vaz, a priest from Goa, experience of a more generally challenging communities in which we India. Dennis Oliver tells us: "The religious culture than ours, rightly live and for which we work. Dare we study concludes that spirituality - observes our reticence to acknowledge begin naming the positive characterunderstood as personal beliefs or this factor. Perhaps we identify istics that would mark spiritualities values' held within the core of a spirituality with analytic weakness, or (with and without a religious linkage) person's being, by which one directs fear the confrontation or enthusiasm as assets for our communities?" Dennis his/her life - is an enabling strength that it often triggers. But is this fair to is keen to learn more about Jain within communities, a major motivation the 'disadvantaged communities for perspectives on this topic, so readers of and support for many who struggle for whom faith can be an immense Jain Spirit are encouraged to contribute justice, humanisation and community resource?" Those who wish to read any relevant comments to Dennis on the building. Therefore, spirituality should Valerio Vaz's study can request a copy above email address. be recognised as a key asset and from Dennis Oliver, spiritualitimportant factor for building on the yarticle@dennis-oliver.co.uk or from SUBCRIBE ON-LINE existing strengths of communities and its Canadian source gcunnings@stfx.ca appropriately encouraged or at least Dennis Oliver is himself www.jainspirit.com accepted."
I researching an article on how
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Jain Spirit . March - May 2003