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| "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." - Martin Luther |
December 10, 2005 9.00 PM Tata-Nagar
It was a moment of joy for every Tibetan around the world - celebration of the 16th anniversary of Noble Peace Prize awarded to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. On this great occasion, Tibetan Sweater sellers in Tata-Nagar witnessed the plight of SEMCHEN (animals) through a series of slide shows and Videos screened by Mr. Rinchen Lanzey, Campaign Coordinator, Tibetan Volunteers for Animals. He revealed the pain and the sufferings animals go through before ending up at our dinner tables.
“We need to understand the suffering and the pain animals go through. Some of us would not like to look at it. But, that becomes an escape. Millions and billions - of animals suffer each day in different forms: animals killed for food, fashion and luxury products; animals traded as exotic pets; and endangered animal products used in traditional medicines. This is very sad. We humans so-called the higher intellectual beings, having clear guiding conscience, can live without meat, especially in our modern world having a plenty of vegetables and other supplementary foods, so we have the capacity and the responsibility to save billions of lives. We should also look at the trade of animal skins to Tibet very seriously as it is also causing a very negative political impact on our community.” Says Mr Lhanzey. Animal skins are used for fashion in Lhasa which is very sad. It is a stigma on our society and we must stop this.
Mr. Lanzey also explained the benefits of excluding meat from our diet as under. Giving up meat -
1. Helps in reducing the risk of having coronary heart disease and developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes
2. Helps in maintaining muscles, joints and healthy bones
3. Helps control weight, build lean muscle, and reduce body fat
4. Helps in controlling joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis
5. Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and improvement in mood and feeling of well-being and
6. Can help reduce blood pressure in some women with hypertension.
He appealed everyone not to eat meat during this Kalachakra, as an effort to make the Vegetarian Kalachakra a reality. Vegetarian Kalachakra Project is TVA’s biggest project (campaign) till now and aims to prevent any sort of killing or cruelty to animals during this great event. The project further aims at educating people about animal rights and Vegetarianism during the course.
We always pray that our mission be blessed so as to touch the heart of every human being and inspire them to join the ever-growing ranks of the new revolution which is beginning to sway the Tibetan community. Millions of people all over the globe are leading a vegetarian lifestyle, based on compassion and reverence for all life.
TVA has been responsible in providing useful information to those who would like to try and live a little more in harmony with nature and its surroundings. We hope that many humans and animals will benefit from this message. All the activities performed by TVA are to promote a way of life, which causes no creature of land, sea, or air; any terror, torture, or death.
We thank all the members of Tibetan Sweater Sellers Association, Tata-Nagar for their tremendous support and unconditional help.
Do not kill animals. Kill the animal inside YOU!
Report submitted by Jamphel Rinzin
Vice Chairman
Tibetan Volunteers for Animals
www.LoveAnimal.org
This news is also covered by Bod Gyalo, a monthly Video Magazine in Tibetan and English covering information on Tibetan Exile community. Follow the link below :
http://www.bodgyalo.com/tata_nagar.html
Report submitted by Jamphel Rinzin