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BREAKING NEWS—SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

HUGE GRATITUDE TO CITY OF OJAI, CALIFORNIA ON BEHALF OF ELEPHANTS

Elephants have the right to liberty in Ojai, California!  The city of Ojai made legal history for nonhuman beings by becoming the first city in the US to recognize the legal right of a nonhuman being following a 4-1 vote by the Ojai City Council.  Introduced by Council Member Leslie Rule and developed with and supported by the Nonhuman Rights Project, the ordinance defines and protects elephants’ right to liberty.  Thank you to Leslie, Professor Wise and the Nonhuman Rights Project TEAM.  We are five minutes before the miracle…Let’s GOOOOOOO!!!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nonhuman-rights-project_breaking-elephants-have-the-right-to-liberty-activity-7112610554808078336-6Xdm?utm_source=li_share&utm_content=feedcontent&utm_medium=g_dt_web&utm_campaign=facebook

United Nations Headquarters SDG Action Weekend in NY on September 16 and 17, 2023

I enjoyed the Honor and the Privilege of attending the United Nations Headquarters SDG Action Weekend in NY on September 16 and 17, 2023, and it proved AMAZING!!!
I learned where I need to focus my advocacy and legislation, and met the appropriate contacts to commence dialogues.
For example, I learned that the UN defines “food transformation” as minimizing, rather than eliminating, “meat and milk” because according to one of my contacts, developing countries do not have access to the nutrition that developed countries do and they need protein from meat and milk.  Additionally, he claims that the elimination of factory farming is not necessary to sufficiently reduce carbon emissions.
Of course, we know the two aforementioned statements remain FALSE.
He gave me his personal email address and we agreed to communicate via email to share statistics and Evidence of our differing viewpoints.
I attended the conference because, after I finally drafted a proposed charter amendment for the UN (because I decided the time is ripe), and emailed same and supporting documentation to almost all of the 193 members (except four countries that remain involved in heated controversies to the point where Americans should not visit their countries although one head of state surprisingly attended the UN GA Summit), I realized my proposed charter amendment resolved six of the 17 UN SDGs as follows: 

1 No Poverty

2 Zero Hunger

3 Good Health and Well-Being

13 Climate Action

14 Life Below Water

15 Life on Land

In addition, I learned I should attend the UN FAO meeting in Rome in November.  Unfortunately, my attendance depends upon how quickly I can get a passport.
The three UN Rome based agencies (RBSs),
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO);
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD);
World Food Programme (WFP);
offer a vast range of knowledge, financial and technical expertise, and discuss policy issues related to food security, agriculture and nutrition.

Resolution of Six of United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs created 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the purpose of a World Wide, Universal Call to Action to create a more Fair, Just and Equitable world.

New Hope Now’s proposed Charter Amendment Resolves the following six (6) of the 17 SDGs:

1 No Poverty

2 Zero Hunger

3 Good Health and Well-Being

13 Climate Action

14 Life Below Water

15 Life on Land

See New Hope Now’s Call to Action at

https://www.test.newhopenow.net/action-climate-and-health-crises/

Lifestyle Diseases

It remains OLD news that the consumption of nonhuman flesh, byproducts and secretions CAUSES all of the following issues:

(1) degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases;

(2) chronic illnesses such as arthritis, digestive disorders, acne, obesity, impotence;

(3) zoonotic origin global pandemics;

(4) hatred and discrimination as humans ingest adrenaline and cortisol hormones of nonhuman beings who experienced fear and terror minutes before their own horrific torture and death as they stood in line to watch their own fate as they witnessed same of their loved ones;

(5) Bad Karma: If we kill them, they will kill us. (See aforementioned four issues.) Why would a human being do this to himself?

See Neal Barnard, MD’s Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine at http://pcrm.org

See Michael Greger, MD’s at Nutrition Facts at http://nutritionfacts.org

The new medicine is the study of LIFESTYLE DISEASES all of which remain PREVENTABLE AND REVERSIBLE.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”  Hippocrates

“A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.”  Albert Einstein

Collective Consciousness Meditation Exercise

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, for all you do for all sentient, nonhuman beings every single day.

Preface:

I became vegan about 13 years ago when the Lord put a Soul Mission (nonhuman rights) in my heart.  Since I did not understand the Lord’s words or my calling, I spent the entire year of 2010 researching and learning about the health, environmental and ethical issues regarding the standard American diet, and, by the end of the year, started eating a plant diet after my shock, ie, factory farming, that left a hole in my heart.  (Looking back, I now Know of a couple of signs about my Mission that I overlooked during my childhood.)

I served at DoD under the Reagan administration, then completed a Bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of Virginia and one year of law studies (at an undergraduate level) including legal research and writing at the UVA School of Law Library.  I served at the VA AG’s office, in private law firms and in a large oceanfront development company.  (My forte’ was research and writing as well as trial preparation.)

At a youthful 61, I still may attend law school for the purpose of advocating legal personhood for all nonhuman beings.

A few years ago, I set up New Hope Now 501c3, and created a website and youtube videos for the purpose of Education and Awareness of Nonhuman Rights, health and the environment.  I also drafted Nonhuman Rights bills and met with Congressional counsel to Advocate the bills and request sponsorship for Legislation.

Finally, after years of writing to billionaire philanthropists, applying for foundation monies and researching grants, but not receiving funds for my Rescue Sanctuary, at the end of 2021, I became an Insurance Broker to protect families and their homes by specializing in mortgage protection and, of course, to fund my 501c3.

To this very day, I cannot bear to view the horrific pictures of the Hell we call factory farming.  I have so much Empathy for all sentient, nonhuman beings; and I just want to fix this Nightmare immediately.  I do not want any sentient, nonhuman being to suffer another minute.  When someone asks me “how I can eat a plant diet,” I explain the indelible pictures in my mind and the hole in my heart.  It’s quite easy despite the fact that my previous diet of three decades was a traditional bodybuilding diet,ie, almost entirely nonhuman flesh, by-products and secretions.

The following Meditation Exercise for the Collective Consciousness is based on the principles of the Law of Attraction because if we send POSITIVE energy into the Universe, we can MANIFEST Nonhuman Rights and Liberation.  [When I first became a vegan, nonhuman rights advocate and activist, I shared graphic, horrific photos with everyone I know, and cried and argued constantly until I watched Earthling Ed facilitate logical, Socratic conversations with people (reminiscent of my law courses in college) to make THEM THINK (and experience cognitive dissonance.)

 

Meditation Exercise for the Collective Consciousness:

Every morning, as soon as you open your eyes, before you get out of bed to use the bathroom, while you are still in your subconscious mind; AND

every night, directly before you fall asleep, as you are entering your subconscious mind,

with your eyes closed…

See a teeny, tiny, extremely bright white or yellow or green or violet light inside your heart…pause;

See the light gradually encompass your whole body…pause;

See the light expand and fill your entire room…pause;

See the light expand and fill the whole house or building…pause;

See the light expand and fill the entire community…pause;

See the light expand and fill the whole state…pause;

See the light expand and fill the entire country…pause;

See the light expand and fill the whole continent…pause;

See the light expand and fill the entire world…pause;

Now, FEEL (the Love, Joy and Peace) and VISUALIZE ALL sentient, nonhuman beings in the entire world as free, healthy, happy, and communicating with human beings!!!

 

Yes, we CAN manifest Nonhuman Rights and Liberation for all Sentient, Nonhuman Beings in the World.

2021 to 2022 Recap

We’ve been focusing on fundraising for our Rescue Sanctuary.

We finally found the Perfect property after a few false starts.

Now, we must raise the funds, and it’s a full time job of creativity and sweat equity!

2023 US Supreme Court Nonhuman Rights Victory!

MAY 11, 2023
AMAZING WIN FOR PIGS IN US SUPREME COURT!!!
The High Court banned the sale of meat from pig gestation crates:  small, incredibly cruel crates where pigs who are among the most intelligent creatures cannot turn around or even scratch themselves or take care of their babies.  Pig factory farms everywhere must now dismantle crates in order to sell in California.  
This High Court ruling opened the doors for MA, FL, AZ, ME, MI, OR and RI that also have gestation crate bans.

This is a MASSIVE VICTORY for pigs and the Nonhuman Rights movement.  The US Supreme Court upheld a proposition passed overwhelmingly by California voters that bans the sale of meat from pig gestation crates.  This is a HUGE victory as California is the world’s fifth largest economy.  Pig factory farms everywhere must now dismantle crates in order to sell in California despite the fact that pork producers challenged Proposition 12 in court for five years.

The High Court upheld an animal welfare law approved by California’s voters, ruling that the state’s restrictions on the sale of pork that is produced by the cruel
confinement of breeding pigs do not violate the Constitution.  This ruling is an amazing Victory for Nonhuman Rights advocates as well as the rights of the states to set their own laws.  The National Pork Producers Council said the law would require farmers in Iowa (that sells most of its products to California) and North Carolina (that has a tremendous presence of pigs farms) to change how they raise and confine these intelligent, sentient nonhuman beings.

LET’S GOOOO!!!  LET’S NOT QUIT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE MIRACLE!!!

Recent Nonhuman Rights Legal Celebrations

MAY 11, 2023
AMAZING WIN FOR PIGS IN US SUPREME COURT!!!
The High Court banned the sale of meat from pig gestation crates:  small, incredibly cruel crates where pigs who are among the most intelligent creatures cannot turn around or even scratch themselves or take care of their babies.  Pig factory farms everywhere must now dismantle crates in order to sell in California.  
This High Court ruling opened the doors for MA, FL, AZ, ME, MI, OR and RI that also have gestation crate bans.

This is a MASSIVE VICTORY for pigs and the Nonhuman Rights movement.  The US Supreme Court upheld a proposition passed overwhelmingly by California voters that bans the sale of meat from pig gestation crates.  This is a HUGE victory as California is the world’s fifth largest economy.  Pig factory farms everywhere must now dismantle crates in order to sell in California despite the fact that pork producers challenged Proposition 12 in court for five years.

The High Court upheld an animal welfare law approved by California’s voters, ruling that the state’s restrictions on the sale of pork that is produced by the cruel
confinement of breeding pigs do not violate the Constitution.  This ruling is an amazing Victory for Nonhuman Rights advocates as well as the rights of the states to set their own laws.  The National Pork Producers Council said the law would require farmers in Iowa (that sells most of its products to California) and North Carolina (that has a tremendous presence of pigs farms) to change how they raise and confine these intelligent, sentient nonhuman beings.

MAY 21, 2020
The Islamabad High Court of Pakistan affirmed the rights of nonhuman beings and ORDERED THE RELEASE of Kaavan (an Asian elephant held in solitary confinement at the Marghazar Zoo) to a sanctuary.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah stated that the global pandemic served as “an opportunity for humans to introspect and relate to the pain and distress suffered by other living beings” caused by the “arrogance” of human beings. Chief Justice Minallah stated that “zoos do not serve any purpose except to display their living inmates as exhibits to visitors.”
Chief Justice Minallah cited New York State Justice Alison Tuitt’s February 2020 decision in Happy the elephant’s case (on appeal by the Nonhuman Rights Project, counsel for Plaintiff Happy the elephant): “[Happy] is more than just a legal thing, or property. She is an intelligent, autonomous being who should be treated with respect and dignity, and who may be entitled to liberty.”
The Islamabad High Court is the second court outside the United States to cite Justice Tuitt’s February 2020 ruling, and the latest court to cite the New York Court of Appeals Judge Eugene Fahey’s rejection of chimpanzees’ legal “thinghood” in Nonhuman Rights Project’s chimpanzee rights cases of clients, Tommy, Kiko, Leo and Hercules.

Happy awaits her forever home.  Here is her story:  https://lnkd.in/eHKtHXRX

MARCH 21, 2018
Chimpanzees Hercules and Leo ACHIEVED FREEDOM with the support and legal prowess of their attorney, Nonhuman Rights Project Founder and President, Professor Steven M. Wise.
Hercules and Leo are celebrating their fifth year at Project Chimps sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia thanks to Professor and Nonhuman Rights Project Founder and President Steven M. Wise.  “I’m very happy to see them leaving a research facility,” exclaimed NhRP President Steven M. Wise in 2018. “I wish every primate could.”
Hercules and Leo have adjusted well in their forever home. Hercules protects young Kivuli during group conflicts and loves giant stuffed animals. Leo enjoys playing with the younger males in his group and loves peanut butter.
I remain elated that Dr. Jane Goodall is still alive to celebrate this incredible Victory!

LET’S GOOOO!!!  LET’S NOT QUIT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE MIRACLE!!!

Our feelings v. Their suffering

What about them? If we are simply acting as a voice for the voiceless, then why must we continually argue with each other?
Think about it. How can we have the audacity to compare human beings taking offense to words versus the constant suffering abuse, torture, pain, fear and terror that nonhuman beings must endure during their entire short lives until they experience their own violent deaths after witnessing the violent deaths of their loved ones?
This question begs two more questions.
 
First, what is the only species that kills for fun and sport?
“Of all the creatures, man is the most detestable. Of the entire brood, he’s the one that possesses malice. He is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creature that cannot.” Mark Twain, American writer, 1835-1910
 
Second, how should humans treat other species?
Most cultures agree with a common theme of Goodness which implies Compassion, Empathy, Gentleness, Kindness, Peace and the Golden Rule…which supports Veganism; not Violence, Torture and Slaughter.
For example, Christians refer to the Bible. In Genesis 1:26, the Bible states that God gave humans “dominion over creatures.” Many Hebrew scholars believe the word “dominion” is a very poor translation of the original Hebrew word “v’yirdu” which actually meant “to rule over” as a wise king rules over his subjects with CARE and RESPECT. It implies a sense of RESPONSIBILITY and ENLIGHTENED STEWARDSHIP.

“Unlike the animal, God has given man the faculty of reason. Ethically they had arrived at the conclusion that man’s supremacy over lower animals meant not that the former should prey upon the latter, but that the higher should protect the lower, and that there should be mutual aid between the two as between man and man. They had also brought out the truth that man eats not for enjoyment but to live.” Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948

“We are all God’s creatures—that we pray to God for mercy and justice, while we continue to eat the flesh of animals that are slaughtered on our account, is not consistent.” Isaac Bashevis Singer, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, 1902-1991

“Animals, too, are God’s creatures…Certainly, a sort of industrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible, or hens live so packed together that they become just caricatures of birds, this degrading of living creatures to a commodity seems to me in fact to contradict the relationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible.” Pope Benedict XVI, 1927-2022

“In my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. The more helpless the creature, the more it is entitled to protection by man from the cruelty of man.” Gandhi

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Gandhi

“When I see a cow, it is not an animal to eat, it is a poem of pity for me and I worship it and I shall defend its worship against the whole world.” Gandhi

“If God wants us to breed into existence billions of animals to enslave, torture and slaughter them (mostly as babies) for sensory pleasure, then what in the world could the Devil possibly want? Gary Yourofsky, American Activist

It’s not a Perfect World and It’s Not a Homogeneous World

The ideology of veganism remain analogous to politics and religion because the extremely delicate, sensitive issues continually challenge people’s morals and values.

In addition, factions exist within the Animal Rights Movement, politics and religion. There is nothing wrong with factions; however, it remains imperative for us to meet people where they are in their own journeys. After all, factions exist within both major political parties in the US today, and we acknowledge a third, independent party, Libertarianism. Many factions exist within religion, and people adopt a plant diet for the following four reasons: health, our environment and planet, animals, or some combination thereof.

I have learned that if we (members of the Animal Rights Movement) ever wish to accomplish anything, we need to meet people where they are in their own journeys. If we practice what we preach, ie, peace, love, empathy and compassion, we must make progress.  For example, I followed a strict bodybuilding diet for three decades (and an Italian-American diet for two decades before that) before I adopted a complete plant diet 12 years ago. Now, in hindsight, I remember the signs along the way that foreshadowed my decision to convert to a plant diet.

We must not allow the aforementioned four vegan factions to divide us and hinder progress. We need cohesion and cooperation. We must strive towards unity.

How can we embrace our commonalities? Celebrate your friends’ love of animals, concern for the environment, and choices to prepare and eat plant-based meals.

To my knowledge, the greatest achievement with regard to discussions about animal rights to date remains Earthling Ed’s epiphany and practice of using the Socratic method to converse with people rather than a judgmental, critical approach. He asks questions and allows people to think and reach their own conclusions.

I believe this concept is slowly catching on and the most critical, judgmental folks are the newest members of the movement who speak directly from their hearts out of pure passion, but have not yet developed a mature approach to advocate or discuss their beliefs in a logical, inquisitive way.

Try to understand their genuine intentions. They’ve had a revelation and they remain excited to tell everyone they know. They wish to shout it from the rooftops and scream it from the mountaintops. They desire to advise the world to save the world.  The Animal Rights Movement is a global movement, and the numbers are growing; we just need unity.

Let’s congratulate the folks who participate in Sid Lerner’s and Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future’s Meatless Monday global movement that encourages people to reduce meat in their diet for their health and the preservation of the planet.

Likewise, let’s celebrate Distinguished Professor Gary Francione’s abolitionist theory which advocates the status of legal personhood (which even corporations possess) for animals because they deserve the right to life and the right to liberty, ie, the freedom to spread their wings, walk around on the earth, etc. We have no right to take their secretions or byproducts despite the fact that, in doing so, we do not harm them. In addition, we have no right to “own” pets, although a “pet owner” is, arguably, a legal guardian or custodian.

Finally, political parties are generally domestic or national groups as opposed to the Animal Rights Movement which is global. Think about how much more diverse the Animal Rights Movement remains compared to a political party. Think about the varied factions within one political party. Now, compare one country or nation to the whole world. People of many different cultures bring their unique, sacred morals, values, ideologies, beliefs, experiences, education, etc. to the same issue. For example, consider this true story. Many years ago, in a college International Law course, my class engaged in an open discussion about the law of larceny. A female student from the other side of the world from me, commented, “In my country, if a person steals, we just chop off his hand.” I responded, “Two wrongs don’t make a right,” to which she replied, “He’ll never do it again.” Her comment ended the discussion. What could I say? Although I did not agree with the ideology, I could not argue with the logic or efficacy.

In closing, International Law proves difficult to enforce due to the players’ vast differences. It works only when voluntary cooperation exists. By the same token, the Animal Rights Movement depends on our tolerance of each other and our cooperation. If countries can do it, human beings can do it too.