Jain Spirit 2004 03 No 18

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

Page 20

18
NEWS
Bollywood Hero Helps Children Help Animals
Pune: In celebration of India's Children's Day, Bollywood hero Jackie Shroff launched PETA India's exciting new website designed especially for South Asian young people, www.PETAIndiaKids.com. For children in the West, the group has been operating as www.PETAKids.com. Shroff (pictured) congratulated PETA's first 'Superstar Kid' - a feature on the new site that spotlights acts of kindness by today's youth - Pune-resident Rahul Patil, who rescued a dog that fell down a well, persuaded a fortune teller to relinquish a parakeet kept in a tiny cage, saved two goats he found tied up too tightly to take even a few steps, and helped raise money for campaigns to save animals. His story about setting free two fish caught by his father is featured in the latest issue of PETA India's magazine 'PETA's Animal Times.'
Most children are naturally drawn to animals, and PETA wants to help them put their compassion into action in practical ways. The new website for children features top tips on helping to reduce the suffering of animals raised for food and used in entertainment - from chickens to dancing bears and shows kids how to bring animal protection and modern teaching methods into the classroom by being 'conscientious objectors' to crude animal dissections. Fun features like drawing and painting contests, colourful cartoons that take the 'Mickey' out of people who are unkind to animals and easy
vegetarian recipes are sure to keep kids coming back for more and encourage them to feel understanding, compassion and empathy for all beings, regardless of any
surface differences.
Long-time PETA
supporter Shroff is always eager to find time in his hectic schedule to be a part of PETA's efforts to reach out to children. He has already helped by hosting PETA's Compassionate Citizen video, which is part of a humaneeducation programme sent to thousands of schools around South Asia.
"Nurturing kids' natural affinity for animals will help make them more sensitive to the feelings of others, including friends, classmates and family members," says Shroff, a father himself. A scholar once said, "If you teach a child to be kind to a mouse, you do as much for the child as for the mouse." In many ways, that sums up the goal of PETA India's youth initiative.
For more information, please visit www.PETAIndiaKids.com
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6th Biennial Young Jains of America Convention
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July 1-4 2004
Santa Clara, California For further details: www.yja.org
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