Year 2005. Just about six years ago, I went to this online site. I can't seem to remember how I got there. I just remembered the feeling of sadness as I cringe while watching the videos. As I intently watch every second of the video, a lot of things ran through my mind. The simultaneous feelings were mixed. I first felt sad like I was about to cry but I just can’t, angry, disappointed, and most of all, nauseous. Here’s the link of the video that I saw about 6 years ago that really made a big change in my life:
Yes, I believe that animals have rights and that they shouldn’t be treated cruelly. They are already about to be killed and I don’t get why they SHOULD kill them brutally. I don’t get why Kentucky Fried Chicken would get their chicken from dealers who treat chickens so bad when they kill it. Wait, actually, I kind of do get it. KFC needs mass production of chicken because a lot of people eat “Kentucky Fried Cruelty” everyday and most probably because it costs cheaper than the “traditional” way of killing chickens. I just find it so absurd why some animal farms, especially those that are very technologically advanced, resort to electrocution, pouring of hot water directly to the animals, mechanically cutting of the beaks of the chickens, and all other things that would be considered murder when done to a human being. Animals can't communicate with human beings and I want to be their voice and fight for their rights.
One of the major animal rights campaign group is PETA or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA’s renowned internationally with a lot of headquarters in all of the continents. You can always hear them in the news (specifically, the celebrity/entertainment news segment) because of famous personalities that would rally with them during protests and because their rallies are most of the time extreme to the point of people getting naked just to be recognized. If you are a celebrity or a famous person and you wear fur coat, expect PETA to be there everywhere you go and tell you things like fur is murder and that you should NOT wear fur anymore. I have been with PETA since the day I watched that video though I incline more with the “don’t-eat-meat” and the “animals-have-feelings-too” campaign. I’ve been reading a lot of the articles PETA made to show how other people kill and abuse animals. Since Day 1, PETA helped me to become stronger with my cause. It has been 6 years already since PETA turned me into a pesci-vegetarian (one who does not eat meat except seafood and dairy products) and I’m so comfortable with my diet now. I can easily say no to crispy “lechon baboy”, chicken adobo, or a burger when placed on my plate. I’ve been so strong especially with the help of PETA. I don’t think I’ll be able to survive not eating meat without the endless campaign of PETA. I love PETA and I support them all the way.
International Relations (IR) is better with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) like PETA because it voices out specific causes that states can’t. The state’s interests are sometimes too general that some “side” interests of the citizens are not given a damn. If there are no NGOs in IR, important issues (for other people) would not be addressed. Most of the time, these important issues are critical that they can shape the events in the world. So, if not given the adequate attention given by NGOs, these important issues will just be ignored. NGOs help in determining what issues should be really given an adequate attention.
OBJECTIVE 2: Make an alliance with your friends or classmates, and find ways to lobby for your common cause. Tell us how you’ve made this alliance, with whom, and what means you used to advocate for a good cause through an original blog post, photo, or video. The return: not only do you get to be part of an NGO culture, but you also get points for your effort!
Last July, PETA visited De La Salle University and had a booth in Central Plaza. They were giving out posters, stickers, flyers, etc. When I saw it, I was seriously shaking because I've been dying to get those cute stickers. I felt like I'm home! In their booth, they laid out all of the types of publicity materials. I got one of EVERYTHING. When I walked away from their booth after talking to a PETA volunteer about how to help PETA hands-on, I had a lot of posters, stickers, and flyers in my hand. I remember tweeting about it and telling people I got some and if they want too because I will gladly get some for them (there were replies asking where to get them and I'm glad I made it known to my followers and friends).
My favorite from all those publicity materials are the stickers. Not only they are cute but they most importantly speak my cause. I brought some home at my province because I know killing animal abuse there is rampant. I gave some to our maids and they posted it in our door. I showed the stickers to my friends and they liked it and asked for some. Through the stickers and my friends, I was able to promote the cause. My friends and I were sticking it EVERYWHERE. You could find one in Agno (just right outside Nomi where a lot of people smoke and pass by). My friend and I also posted one in the bulletin board of the Beach House where a lot of people hang. I never got the chance in taking a picture of our effort but here's a picture of me and some of the stickers left that I got from PETA.
I also made my 2011 planner look awesome by posting PETA stickers.
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| "I'm scared of needles too!" "Be a BUNNY's HONEY" "100% Cruelty-Free" and my favorite... "CUT CLASS, NOT FROGS" |
Through these stickers and with the help of my friends, I am able to promote my cause and what I believe in. I'm so glad I had a chance to get a hold of those PETA stickers for FREE. They are actually selling it online (shop for PETA stickers HERE). I honestly thought of working for PETA once I graduate because I wouldn't only love my job but the satisfaction that I will get would be priceless.
OBJECTIVE 3: Tell a vivid story about a new breed of actors — NGOs — overcoming the primacy of states in international relations. What kind of world might that be? Use an original blog post, photo, or video to get points.
If NGOs were to be the primary actors in the international arena, most of the issues that are ignored or not given the needed attention today will be responded. Other issues that states think is important for themselves and more threatening like nuclear war would not be an issue. Instead, issues of environmental degradation, hunger in third-world countries, health epidemics, poverty, and animal abuse would be prioritized since NGOs would lobby for their own cause. I wouldn't say that it would be a better place because if states wouldn't be the primary actors, important interests of the states will not be addressed. A larger problem will arise if states will not pursue their own interests. If good governance of the states is the primary solution for the well being of the world, NGOs wouldn't struggle much with their cause. NGOs would go up like "We need to make effort to restore our forests!" and if the domestic government implement policies like legalizing cutting of trees in rain forests, NGOs would have a really hard time and it would seem like their efforts would not pay off. Let's face a little truth about NGOs. They are there to promote the issues that our governments think is not important a.k.a. "side" interests. I would like to compare it to academic and extra curricular work. States would be academic priority and NGOs would be extra-curricular activities. Academic priority is something that would go first in the list. Extra curricular work is just there to make you a well-rounded individual. Same goes in the international arena, NGOs are there to make the world balanced with the interests that is given attention to and states carry the important issues of the domestic government. Despite of these interest-clashing status, the generation today is also active in making NGOs known. People who support make it easier for the NGOs to speak their cause.
P.S.
Let's go vegetarian!
P.S.
Let's go vegetarian!
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