Secondlina's Panels

 No drawing today, mostly because I can't think of something to draw to illustrate my anger.

As many of you know, I try to donate every year to a few causes. Lately, more and more, those causes have been linked to the LGBT community, and also, the rights of animals. These I things I truly want to see improve more then anything. And on days like today, one gets to see some pretty horrible news and it really just.... makes me feel vengeful.

First off, let's talk about Berger Blanc (french company name. When you translate it, it's "White Shepherd"). This is a private company that has a contract with the city of Montréal to collect lost animals. It's basically a pound, or a place like the SPA. Basically. Because it is one of the most horrible places for animals I have ever seen. Pets kept in dirty little cages, underfed, killed in an unprofessional matter in large groups. This is basically an animal concentration camp. A report on it was made by a local television show. It show live animals being thrown out to be burned with the dead, owners who cry because their animals were picked up and killed in less then 24 hours, kittens that moans and twitch as they die because the euthanasia was badly performed... There animal torture here, done in the name of profit. The business tried to defend their turf, as shown by a long letter on their website. Today, there was a manifestation in the center of town to encourage the mayor to resiliate the contract with Berger Blanc. I hope all this bad publicity works. 

The problem is of course made worse by the owner themselves. By poking around the internet, I found the message boards where people first tried to assemble to do something about Berger Blanc. A few of the complaints and stories were truly heartfelt and inspired. A few made me want to kick people in the face. Like this one guy that adopted a gorgeous Labrador Retriever. The dog cried at night which "prevented the family from sleeping", so they sent it to Berger Blanc, where it got killed quickly. The guy was whining that he "lost good money". WHAT? How about a puppy's life? Does that count? As my friend miss_maggiemay  (who's LJ as images of the manifestation) said, it's really a problem that is a part of Quebec society. People here see pets as toys that they can just put away when they don't want them anymore. She told me that most people keep their dogs for an average of two years. Dogs live 15 years. That's horrifying. 

I wish I could adopt a dog. I would be a good master. I would love it with all my heart. But I can't, because my allergies give me asthma attacks... 

Now, let's talk about Baltimore. On the internet, you can find a 3-minute video recorded within a Macdonalds in Baltimore shows two ethnic women kicking, beating and ripping the hair off a 22-year-old transgender woman victim. The video and a petition can be found here, though I discourage you to watch the video if you don't like violence, it's pretty brutal. This is clearly a hate crime. The poor woman is attacked, unfairly, from all sides. Employees are FILMING the incident, egging the attackers on, and commenting on how they can see boobs. The only person aiding the poor girl is a rather scared looking older woman. Who tries to get in between the attacker and the victim. The victim clings to her leg and the old lady get her face slapped repeatedly by a purse. Being incapable of stopping the enrage teen, she steps away, and the beating continues. I'm amazed by how cruel these people are.  

Today is Easter day, and even though i'm not religious, I do usually spend the day with my family. So whether today as a greater meaning for you, or if you just use is as a day to be with family, also use it as a day to reflect upon human kindness, and what you can do to make it more tangible. Because in some places, it almost feels like it's running out.

- Isa 

Nothing like waking up in the morning, opening the internet and seeing that a part of the world seems to have cracked in two while you were sleeping. Japan's coast was hit by a 8.9/9 magnitude earthquake that resonated all the way to Tokyo and caused massive tidal waves. That's a really big earthquake. The 8.9-magnitude quake prompted the U.S. National Weather Service to issue tsunami warnings for at least 50 countries and territories. Among the affected spots we'll find the Philippines, Taiwan, Hawaii...

Good god. 

I'm watching un-edited videos on the internet right now and I feel horrified. I went to buy a calling card and i've been trying to reach friends in Japan... I hope you guys are okay. 

I'm also angry. as usual, whenever a tragedy hits, a lot of donation websites are set up. Many of those are fake. If you wish to donate to help a tragedy, make sure it is a reliable, secure website. A lot of people like to make money off anything, even tragedies. It's disgusting.

I'm even more annoyed that people seem to be using this as proof that the world is ending. 

....Good god. I'm speechless, really.

- Isa