New Chapters in your Book of Life .. are you frightened .

Perhaps a small poem to give you hope

Life can be scary, daunting and petrifying with it's twists and turns,

Often leaving us filled with a mass of concerns, 

One being should I stay with the known,

with the seeds already sewn.

Should I get out of the dread and the fear 

or look to live a life filled with cheer.

I have looked out the door and seen the cheer,

and the road ahead looks clear!

But I don't know this feeling!

it's foreign to me, 

maybe I need time,

maybe I have more steps to climb, 

before I am able to share the cheer,

or do I just need to be brave and change a gear! 

I was brave today, I took that step,

I felt I could breathe, 

I almost felt free!

a foreign feeling to me!

Maybe tomorrow I could take a second step.

A month later . . . 

I've have ventured out that door numerous times, 

with the sky so clear and the wind so fresh,

and everyone is still so filled with cheer!

I have laughed, I have smiled, 

I have shared the cheer,

Someone even said, 'Hello,  and how are you today my Dear?'

Still foreign to me but

I'm welcoming this new door filled with cheer.

There was a time my life was dark?

and I never thought it would change from that!

but I was brave, I took that step

and a few years on I have never looked back.

Nature's Physician's Global Health Mission

For all who are going to Elephant Country or contemplating going to a Circus - PLEASE SHARE

Wow, you get the chance to go on that trip of a lifetime and you say to your friends or your Travel Agent you're going to Elephant Country, then some of them might say 'you must go on an elephant ride, it's awesome, we can recommend this place or that place'.

Or someone offers you a ticket for a Circus which has Elephants in the parades/acts.

But before you decide we would beg you to take a look at some, if not all, of these photographs as this is what each captive (for financial gain) elephant has to go through from the beginning to the end of their life, no matter whether they are ridden, logging elephants, supposed painters or circus elephants! 

Please, take a seat while you are scrolling through them as some of them  are heartbreaking to see. 

Months on end the baby elephants are kept in such sheds until their spirits are broken ..  is it fair? the gestation period of an elephant is 2 years, yet just months or often ever days after being born they are hijacked put through horrific pain and what for -  all for financial gain. 

or would you rather walk with them, on their level, or share their grazing and water hole mud bath time.  

On behalf of all elephants who are being used for financial gain with pain . .  please share this post .

Thank you so much.

or if you hear of an Elephant who has done some damage to a human/humans, please take this poem in to account. 

It was not the Elephants fault.

Here are a few links to places where you can truly make a difference to an elephants life .  

David Sheldrick's Wildlife Trust - Africa

Elephant Nature Park - Thailand

Wildlife S.O.S - India

Carol Buckley's Chain free Project

and there are quite a number of other places that you can go and help them on the ground or financially from a distance. Or perhaps you would just like to promote their Volunteer programmes 

OR 

you could support other elephant facebook pages.

All these would help to give our elephants of today their voice for their dreams to become a reality tomorrow or sometime soon.

On behalf of all elephants 

Fukushima Reactor No. 4 potential lethal radiation leak, protection suggestions from Nuclear Emergency, Tsunami, Earthquake

Out of sight therefore often out of mind, but this is one topic we should all be aware of as it will indeed have a roll on effect on all living things : humans, animals, plants, fish, birds  . . 

Sadly there is nothing that many of us can do to prevent this potentially from happening, so below these articles there are some other links to suggestions on what to do in a Nuclear, Tsunami or Earthquake emergency.



1st March 2016


Silently lurking within the confines of Japan is one of the biggest threats to human civilization

Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, warns that the facility’s Reactor No. 4 is on the verge of a catastrophic failure that could turn our planet into a “dead zone.” Read as he details the growing danger in Fukushima below:


“The resulting releasing of radiation would turn North America into a ‘dead zone’ for humans". Link

So let's look back at a couple of the articles on the Fukushima Reactor No 4 . .


1  10th October  2013

"Radiation levels in seawater just outside one of the damaged Fukushima reactors spiked this week to the highest level in two years, the operator of the crippled Japanese nuclear plant said on Thursday.

Radiation levels on Wednesday, the day six workers were exposed to highly radioactive water, jumped 13 times the previous day's reading, the highest levels since late 2011".  Link

2 10th October 2012

"Japanese officials said on Saturday the unprecedented effort to remove spent fuel rods from one of the crippled Fukushima nuclear reactors was on track despite lingering concerns about the structure's vulnerability to another earthquake".

"I don't think the situation is unstable," said Goshi Hosono, Japan's minister in charge of the response to the nuclear crisis. He was speaking to reporters after his first tour of the twisted and partly destroyed building that houses Fukushima's No. 4 reactor". Link

3 15th October 2012 

"The company at the centre of Japan's worst nuclear crisis has acknowledged for the first time that it could have avoided the disaster that crippled the FukushimaDaiichi power plant last year.

In a reversal of its insistence that nothing could have protected the plant against the earthquake and tsunami that killed almost 20,000 people on 11 March, Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said it had known safety improvements were needed before the disaster, but had failed to implement them". Link

4 28th May 2012

"A new bulge in the walls of the Fukushima Unit 4 nuclear plant has driven growing new fears over in Japan.

Attention has focused on Unit 4’s spent fuel pool because of the large number of assemblies filled with rods that are stored high above the ground at that severly damaged reactor building. Three other reactor buildings at the site are also badly damaged, but their pools hold fewer used assemblies". Link

5 Japan Earthquake & Tsunami of 2011: Facts and Information

This is an incredibly informative link  written on the 7th May 2015 

Although we all hope this will not happen it could be a potential disaster, so we have researched some sites and created some links below that could help you, especially if you find you are in its' potential path. 

Protection information - Nuclear Emergency

• Protect yourself during a Nuclear Emergency - 

1 An article written by Robert Wilkinson 

2 How To Save Yourself From Radiation Poisoning After A Nuclear emergency

               Protection information - Tsunami

1 An article written by National Geographic 

Protection information - Earthquake 

1 Earthquake Protective measures

We would suggest you read the above link or do your own research and jot down the bullet points relevant to your situation and your area. 

X Box, PS3 Aggression, Hyperactivity - Education

Aggression, Hyperactivity and a lack of ability to concentrate seems to be on the increase within the Education Departments. 

However, when it comes to ICT or computer skills there are many more students away ahead of their time, but the various Technical Gaming Machines could be one of the main reasons why so many children these days can't sit still or have an inability to concentrate for lengthy periods of time or in a classroom situation.

As you sit and watch children play these games they certainly seem to be able to hastily multi-task, especially if killing, or some form of aggressive behaviour is repaid with points. In some of the games, for example GTA, if you are kind to someone or give the 'stolen money' back, points are taken off your score raised already by showing and acting in a  negative way for killing, stealing, breaking on entry etc.

Did the Producers of such games not realise how negative such games could be on Society but more importantly on the mental state of individuals.

There are two massive contrasts when you take a child in a class room and a child in front of a PS3 or X Box. 

1  The Class room

One teacher, an average of 27 students. The kids have to pay attention to the Teacher who at best walks from one end of the classroom to the other let's say for peace of mind, 15 times during each period, naturally expecting each child to give her/him their undivided attention

2 An Xbox / PS3

Anything up to 4 children (and others if they have access to other online friends, succeed beautifully to not only concentrate on, if we take GTA as an example,  driving a car,  knocking in to humans, animals and at the same time killing, with whatever lethal weapon,

 who ever they fancy as well as assessing which car or vehicle/form of transport to pinch en route but they also succeed in keeping an eye on the map at the bottom corner which shows them where the police are or if there are any Police on their tails! Now they seem to be able to do all this in a matter of seconds! a form of multitasking.

When you compare the two differences / activities within the same period of time is it that much of a surprise that Individuals who are allowed to play these Gaming machines for lengthy periods of time are perhaps unable to concentrate in school hours . . . . and why . . . perhaps because there is not enough stimulation or activity within each school period. 

As a conclusion to this small post, to maintain 'gaming addicts' attention within the Education System either Teachers are going to have to become almost robotic or games of a kinder and calmer nature, but point related, should be introduced or the killing or negative behaviour initiated by such games should be massively reduced but methods of polite social interactions increased.

There is always a happy medium of all activities, please make sure the XBox and PS's or negative television programmes do not control your children. If you are a Games expert please try and create a few games that encourage positive behaviour and thoughts with a view to making this world become a friendlier and more balances place for all. 

On behalf of all who do not realise that they have become addicted to the need for speed, aggressive behaviour and negative actions or who could benefit from a calmer and more peaceful world as well as the many Teachers who now struggle to keep Students attention span interested in all that they are trained to teach.

Thank you. 

A horse is given her voice and choice . . . and a human's health dramatically improves after a diet change

One of the most enjoyable parts of what we do here apart from guiding individuals (and all animals) towards better health both physically and mentally through diet and positive activities that suit each individuals chemical balance, as well as give the correct form of stimulation for mental contentment, is to allow the individual to speak through us with regards what they, as an individual, would like to do or what type of an owner they would like to have if they had to be moved on or sold on.

Sadly many, individuals/animals, are not given this chance or instead are dictated by humans as to what they should do, or perhaps more to the point, what they want to do themselves without giving the animal /individual their own choice or a ' Voice of their own!' 

When it comes to animals or ones that are commonly kept as a pet or competitive pet, or indeed a working pet/animal - such as dogs, horses, elephants, pigs and many more, many are trained in different ways  (some cruel, some not so cruel and of course the other way where 50/50 communication comes in or partly comes in). But why do animals have to be trained at all? perhaps because ;

• The human enjoys certain sports involving specific animals
• The humans job is made easier using an animal as a working partner
• The human thinks the animal looks the part for specific competitions
• The human wants to keep up with other humans, or as the commonly used phrase says ' They want to keep up with the Jones's!'
• The human needs what ever animal to work for them for financial gain, no matter the state of health both physically or mentally - Take Kabu the elephant who was crippled at an early age but still used for logging. or Raju, the bull elephant who was used as a street beggar tied and chained with spurs and regularly beaten in the process similar to that of Sunder the Temple elephant who was beaten when his owner felt like beating him! 
• Or they want a specific type of cat, but because it may, as an example, be a quality type or an expensive one, it may rarely be allowed to go outside, or is kept as a house cat only. Of course there are some cats who prefer to be inside - but given their choice in the wild, they would be out hunting, playing or just playing with others of their own species - or perhaps tormenting the neighbours caged rabbit but coming back for attention from its' own sort in its' own time not necessarily when other animals (a.k.a. Humans!) dictate it should get attention.

For whatever reason, sadly, often animals have to be moved on, and there are a thousand reasons why, apart from it being only a human decision it happens, and this moving on process is unlikely to change for as long as humans are in existence. Often, although definitely not often enough, owners want to try and do his/her best by the animal and wants them to go somewhere suitable where it wont just be regularly moved on from pillar to post and this is where we are asked to step in to find out from the animal what kind of an environment or people or other animals they would like to be surrounded by if they are moved on. But, as mentioned before, sadly not enough animals are given this choice because humans want to make a financial profit (in steps human greed yet again!). But for those who are given the choice the results are amazing and usually, a long term, forever caring, home is found, unless human physical or mental health poses a problem. 

So back to this beautiful horse who has such a kind eye. Like most horses when first born, they are loved and fed well, then the human intervenes and, in this instance she was trained to race, which sometimes can not be that easy for the horse depending on the trainer(s) of course. Later on she was then discovered by a lady who found her malnourished to the point that she was of no use and her future did not look rosy, but after some persuading the lady convinced the owner to sell her after which time she was fed, cared for, loved and eventually ridden but ill health prevented this lady from keeping her so she was determined to find her a similar caring home, which she did. But a year later, the young lady who rode her left school, went to college, as many do, and managed to get a placement in a yard hundreds of miles away but sadly she could not take this beautiful mare with her because the owner of the yard only accepted Warm bloods and not thoroughbreds!  so with this in mind another home is needed for this beautiful girl. 

The main questions asked was what kind of riding did she want to do, was it racing, hunting eventing, jumping, dressage,  general hacking out or another and her favoured one was . . . . .  Dressage and then Show jumping if she had to, but dressage was her favoured option. The next question, did she want to go to a male or female owner and it was the latter she chose but she also gave us the rough age and colour of hair she wanted her future female owner to have. Interestingly enough, her present owner had said that she had been told there had been a blonde haired lady who had been negatively involved with her which could explain why she wanted a darker haired lady as a future owner. One of the other questions was did she want to be with other horses, her answer;  just two or three but no more.   These answers gave her present owner guidelines to go by and she has assured us that this little beautiful creature will find a home suitable no matter how long it takes, so with that we reassured the Mare that everything will be okay.

Often when an animal has to be moved on for a reason such as this the owner can carry a feeling of guilt  which indeed was the case here, they also felt that with College the horse had not been exercised as much as they felt it should have been but in this particular instance, and because of this horses past, she needed to have a few months off to grow, to put her negative thoughts and fears aside and to realise that, actually, she wasn't going to be pushed every day to her limit, which had clearly happened at some stage in her past. Still being fed, watered, nourished with care and being considerately ridden occasionally was fine by her and indeed ten times more pleasant than some of the things she had experienced in the past. Having relayed this information to her present owner, she understood and that awful feeling of guilt reduced dramatically. 

Our over all opinion of having any animal  is that it is a shame that when people take them on they can't give them that long term feeling of mental and physical security, because sometimes having many moves / owners the animal can suffer from Behavioural and Mental issues, some of which can be troublesome for others to sort out. In view of this we would ask everyone to seriously think whether they do have the time, or the long term commitment to take an animal on, or if it's going to be awkward why  not see if someone else can share the animal with you, so that if you do have to move on then at least, for the animals benefit, they could be continued to be looked after by a 'known person'

On behalf of all the animals who have been re-homed but who were never given their choice of what type of a life they would like to lead perhaps from here on in, you will give your animal this option, Thank you. 

If you need some guidance on this please do not hesitate to ask us

We will give you an update on this horse later on. 

27,000 viewers to this Site

And an update on Sunder . .

Sunder's new chapter of his book of life  continues.  . . .  living the life of an elephant, well almost, just as an elephant should.

Our original post on Sunder dated  28th December 2013  which was a few months after we had been asked to scan him. Sunder not only touched our hearts but millions of others, and it is thanks to all the support he received from everyone and of course Save All Elephants, PETA India, Carol Buckley and many others that he is where he is now. 

He has moved the hearts of many and through his story other elephants voices have been heard. 

For us to see him now, after scanning him then . . . 

is truly wonderful. He put up with so much unnecessary abuse for far too long, although sadly not as long as many others who are still being abused. 

However to see this update on him now, and to see the care he is getting completely melts our hearts  even further. 

Sunder you are a fine Majestic King and we are so so sorry that the human race put you through such pain, upset, cruelty and fear. We know why you never fought back, and your patience or the way you held on to that thin, thin piece of thread for sanity deserves a massive medal and sheer acknowledgement.  

Sunder we bow down to you, 

Sunder we respect you,

Sunder we adore you, 

Sunder, now, no one will ever harm you.

Let your memory of pain be behind you,

and those dreaded footsteps be forgotten to. 

Enjoy, Smile, be happy with other elephants - so true

For now you can finally be you. 

25,900 viewers to this Blog. - Thank you one and all

A walking stick buddy . .. an imperative piece of equipment if you carry a stick - a.k.a ' The Raymond Stick'

A Stick holder . . . an ingenious idea

How many times do you see someone in front of you with a stick, they rest it against a counter and then it slips on to the floor, you politely say ' I'll get it for you' but for those who are filled with pride, say ' No, it's okay I can manage' then before you know it, both the stick and the stick handler is on the floor the wrong way up! 

This very clever elderly gentleman, once a keen walker, decided he was fed up of his stick always falling and his pride being dented to boot that he went in to a wee shop to ask if they could sew on an inch and a half piece of braid on to his jacket. This piece of braid then become a home for his faithful stick when it wasn't in use - an absolutely ingenious idea, and one that we thought we would share with you all. 

Once a person gets used to hooking it on, it becomes automatic and their faithful stick will never slip away again. 

So, the method in this tale is easy, find a piece of braid, sew it on to the opposite side of the hand the Stick user uses and their stick will always be within easy reach. 

Because of this great invention we are going to call it the 'Raymond Stick' .

Could the U.S patent signal the closure of pesticides, Herbicides and GMO's . . Our students can help to fulfil this . . . Part 1

Firstly a warm welcome to all newcomers, we hope this page will guide and help our future adults towards creating a healthier world for all. 

New U.S . . . . .

Part 1

"This new U.S. patent could signal the end of pesticides, herbicides and GMOs" if only exploitation could be included in this! 


The above phraseology needs to change to "This new U.S. Patent WILL end all pesticides and GMO's!'  (and wishful thinking on our part - exploitation)


If everyone truly knew exactly all the illnesses that are caused by these then nothing would move off the Supermarket shelves until there was food KNOWN not to have any chemicals or contact with pesticides at all.


Let's name just a few health issues that are often found to be triggered by Chemicals and Pesticides in humans and many of our pets and wild animals via ingestion, inhalation and absorption;

Asthma
Depression
Anxiety
I.B.S.
Chrohn's
Cancer
Skin Issues
Behavioural issues
Migraines
Bowel and Stomach issues


This term 'No pesticides, No chemicals' needs to be patented world wide! for they are rapidly killing the earth, the atmosphere and many animals.


It doesn't take much research to realise the following;


37% of Methane Emissions result from factory farming!


90 million tonnes of carbon dioxide go in to the atmosphere every year via fossil fuels used in energy, transportation and synthetic pesticides/ fertilizers!


Factory farming can also release harmful compounds such as Hydrogen Sulphide and Ammonia which can cause immediate negative effects in humans and animals!


More than a million sea birds and mammals are killed every year by ingestion of plastics!


Chemical run-offs from farms has apparantly created 400 dead zones!


Acid rain causes discharges toxic amounts in to water systems!


Noise pollution is driving many creatures to extinction!


And within 25 years due to deforestation there will be 28,000 species driven to extinction!


If we don't do something about it now, it's not only going to be good bye to many species but it will be good bye to humans as well!


If you are concerned about this, which you all should be! then please, consider what you eat and drink, stop buying anything with chemicals in it, stop buying the foods that have a shelf life of 30 days or more! stand up for the general Health and Well-being of this planet earth and our fellow animals, birds and fish that are supposed to be sharing it with us - after all the planet does not belong to humans - then and then only will the supermarkets and the 'Markerters', The producers market and the Pharmaceutical market realise that they will have to change their ways!


Encourage your youngsters to read or to research the true state of the Earth and its' animals, show them the pictures that are painful to watch, show them the hidden world that goes on unbeknown to many. Encourage them to make a difference, to have pride in the earth and it's living creatures (especially the largest animals of this planet - the elephants and whales),

exclude exploitation of all the millions of animals and humans who go through severe pain every minute of the day all thanks to Human Financial gain! Perhaps encourage them to study some of the following - instead of following the sheep or just copying someone else because they don't know what Profession to go in to. 


Animal and Environment protection
Animal Behaviouralism
Wildlife Rehabilitation
Wild Animal Husbandry
Volunteer
Habitat specialist
Animal Cruelty investigator
Animal nutritionalist
Marine Ecologist
Naturalist, Conservationist, Environmental scientist? Climatolology,
Political scientist ...
Eco-biology, Conservation
Veterinarian
Eco studies
Ecological politics
Scientist
Journalism - Documentary film maker
Writer
Artist- many people's views are changed by what they see & read & changes are made in the world by the power of public opinion & their ability to vote &/or protest.




Humans are causing more destruction than any other animal - what gives them the right to destroy the Earth?


If you agree with any of this please share this information and start to change the state of the earth now and our children's children will live in a much healthier world . . . on behalf of millions - thank you for taking time to read this post. 

In the meantime remember what humans have done to the earth, it's not animals who have nearly destroyed it, it's humans and it's only humans who can start to fix there forefather's and foremother's errors.

For updates on this site press follow, or like our facebook page which covers some of the information within this Site. 

All animals have a right to walk this planet,

on an equal footing as all humans . ..

Please support the future of all animals, 

but especially the ones most under threat. 

25,700 viewers to this site.

No matter who your neighbour is or whether they are single, married or elderly, look after them as if they were your own family . .

All different times of the year can be hard for individuals, especially for those who live on their own. Many put on a brave face but are confused, sore, sad or distraught, never seeing one person from one day to the next. Often choosing to become a hermit perhaps due to pressure, or sadness or an inability to cope with the paths that life has taken them on. 

But Winter time brings added issues, and Christmas time can be horribly lonely for many, but peaceful for others and a whole doze of fun for many more. Some are not able to cook that awesome Christmas meal, so why not add an extra few potatoes and vegetables in to your pan, make a slightly bigger cake or an extra Dessert or a bigger bowl of soup and hand a tray full in as a very welcome treat. 

It's an expensive time of year with more heating and food needed, warmer clothes and shoes to keep every one warm. Some find it difficult to make ends meet, some just find this time of year depressing and lonely. 

Please, if you have a spare bowl of soup at the bottom of your pan, or one last piece of cake, why not knock on your neighbours door, and say ' Hi, we had this left and thought you would like it! Or if you are going to the shops, knock on the door and say ' Is there anything you need', Or if you see a bargain, why not buy an extra one and hand it in as a treat.

Please never forget everyone needs someone and often many have no-one. 

Even if you have had a fall out with your neighbour over the years, let bygones be bygones and if you don't see them for a few days, check they are okay. 

On behalf of millions of people all over the world as well people in your area, thank you.

Are Humans the worst animals on this planet!

We all do our best to guide people towards a healthier lifestyle as well as a fairer outlook on all who we are surrounded by, no matter whether animal or human and no matter how many miles away they are in the world. 

As you all know we are extremely supportive of all  to be able to have their voice and choice, and actively encourage the weaker to feel stronger so that they do not feel pressurised by those who come across as being threatening or who threaten via words or actions. 

From previous posts you will all have guessed by now, that we are particularly fond, extremely concerned and supportive of the 'Elephant World' and its' future existence as well as the Animal world who share this planet Earth with us.  

Firstly, we would like to thank Elephant Nature Park, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust,Wildlife S.O.S Teresa, Patty, Becca, Lek and all the special Elephant Carers, for passing on their concerns regarding the future of the Elephant world. On top of our own concerns all your input towards this presentation completely helped to bring the Elephants real world to the fore.  On behalf of many presently living  Elephants and the millions of elephants who have brutally had to pass on against their own choice thank you.

Having had the absolute privilege to be invited to speak to about 200+  S 1 students and Teachers  at a High School regarding  the near extinction of elephants - sparked by our knowledge of the fact that 100's of years ago there were about 10 million elephants who walked the Earth yet in the 1900's only a few million and, sadly,  today approximately only 450,000  worldwide - - which means,  approximately, 35,000  die each year, 96 die per day and on average 1 every 15 minutes is brutally killed or dies from being poisoned or by the cruel methods in which many future isolated and captured elephants are trained through the 'crushing' method and other totally unnecessary and cruel ways or who die from sheer exhaustion from logging or from their spirits being totally broken in to smithereens, like a piece of glass is shattered in to a thousands pieces!  

With  not being so hot on maths! we asked the students if they could work out how many elephants are killed during the time they leave for school and return from school and they were totally shocked at their answers being in the region of 32. We then asked them how many were killed during the time they were asleep from their beautiful peaceful slumber, once again they were shocked at their answer being on average 40! 

Prior to this presentation a couple of the students had been asked to create something that might resemble a bull hook (bearing in mind that many of these Temples and Outback's do not have access to shops to buy bull hooks) they came up with something very simple - two bits of wood with nails sticking out at the top, and sides! and suggested that taking a rope might be a good idea as, thankfully, we had no access to spiked chains to show them! 

Two students vision of some older fashioned bull hooks

Although this school, like most, and us all in fact,  have covered deforestation, the pollution humans create in the air, the land the sea and by human brute force, never did they or their Teachers  realise the figures of animals who are suffering (including humans) were so high. Nor did they realise that  on average 28,000 species are going to become extinct within the next quarter of a century or that roughly 4,500 acres of forest are being cleared by forest fires or that 20% of the worlds oxygen is created in the Amazon, or that 37% of Methane Emissions are as a result of factory farming. Or indeed that The fossil fuels used in energy, transportation, and synthetic pesticides/fertilizers emits approximately 90 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. Or that one million sea birds are killed each year by the ingestion of plastics. When you say it all in one breath, it is indeed extremely alarming. 

But you, know the most serious thing out of all of this is, at the end, when asked who is the cruellest creature on this planet  their answers were not any of the living creatures that we call animals but it was humans ourselves. yes, it is humans who are polluting the air, land and sea and who are exposing pollution via inhalation, ingestion and absorption! As for the animals, actually they, for many a year have done the planet many a favour by planting seeds naturally, encouraging the 'circle of life' in nature's very own way without the 'human created chemicals or wish to speed up the process of what ever - all for financial gain! 

So back on to elephants, the Students were asked if they had ever been to a zoo, some hands went up, but naturally many had never heard of the antics that become so repetitive  when an animal is kept in solitude, so we did not dwell on this point too much. Then there were the 'lucky' ones who had been on a Safari, they had seen them free or at least in a grassy large compound. Others were asked if they had ridden an elephant, again, some said yes and told the rest of the class where this happened. The question was also asked - 'had any of them ever ridden a horse' -  quite  number had said yes, but after explaining that actually the anatomy of an elephant in comparison with a horse was completely different and that they did not have the same ligament structure to cope with heavy weights from above or indeed have the same back bone structure to cope with the various ways that humans instruct them to sit on a ball or balance on their noses or bottoms! or to walk on their hind legs!  Once again after basically explaining this the Students were quite upset that had they known all this they would  not have ridden an elephant or had cheered at the circus when the elephants were doing their human controlled 'acts'!

With regards logging, there were only a few words for this ' why push an elephant to its' death when we don't push ourselves to death or indeed inflict the same 'cruel' techniques to train a human to study Geography or Maths as an example. 

The question was asked, is there any way that an animal such as an elephant can be trained in a more considerate manner, with more respect and understanding. The answer was, we believe so. 50/50 communication and understanding is the only way forward with any animal, human included. We asked the students if they would like to be tied by spiked chains for 50 years with little or no freedom, or to be crushed with all two legs and arms tied  and to get prodded with a bull hook or five! Electric shocked, beaten just for the sake of it, or just because they showed no signs of being interested in Geography for example! or whether they would like to be chained and beaten for the ten years while at school and only fed the food that their teacher felt they should have. Their heads lowered filled with the sheer thought of this!

The question was also asked ' Do Elephants feel the same emotions as humans?' the answer was indeed they do, they feel the same grief and often for longer, often returning to where there loved ones lost their lives for many a year after, they have the same  cognitive behaviour as humans, they feel fear, joy and empathy and are highly acknowledged and praised for their intelligence. One of our comments was ' it is actually humans who should be learning about Social behaviour and life in general from the Elephants of this planet and not be steered purely by greed, or financial greed. It is totally possible for all living creatures to share this Earth, just as they used to many years ago, as long as there is respect and understanding for each other.

One of the Students said, 'but some Elephants are now being born without tusks - as if there is an inner instinct not to grow them!' 

Another said 'I will never ride an elephant again' 

Another ' Had I known Elephants went through such training as I have seen today I would never ever have ridden one'

During this presentation not only did we briefly touch on Logging elephants, supposedly ride-able elephants or circus elephants but we also touched on Elephants at Zoos, particularly the ones who were kept in solitude or the ones who have no access to a proper green belt where they can freely forage but we gave some examples of Carla and Pearl, but in particular Carla who was at the back of a zoo as thin as a slither of greenhouse glass, and the damage that can become of all the rubbish that humans eat at zoos and just leave lying around resulting in the elephants picking up the coke cans, the popcorn packets, the sweet papers etc , resulting in blockages within the gut. Just as many sea life creatures suffer from the amount of toxic plastic eaten, trapped and digested under water. 

How many zoos have you been to that have had a doze of rubbish in the corners of the pens or enclosures depending on which way the wind is blowing! 

How many of the birds in school play grounds suffer from the amount of rubbish that is not put in the bin or chewing gum that is left loitering at the edges for the Gulls and other birds to pick up on and who subsequently suffer just as we are quietly and silently suffering from the toxins in the air, land and sea and who by -  Human kind, certainly not the animals!  

We also covered the fantastic work of many Elephant groups as well as Elephant Nature Park Wildlife S.O.S The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and The Carol Buckley Chain Free Corals as examples of people and their teams who are definitely making a difference to the Elephant Health and their long term Well-Being and existence. 

We brought up the unique ability that Lek Chailert has by being able to speak to the Forest tribes on an equal footing, in each individuals language and not in a 'dictatorial fashion', a way that the Mahout realises that for some of their elephants it is kinder to release them to Elephant Nature Park or somewhere similar, depending on where they are in the world of course.

The Students were shown some footages of Navaan on his third birthday, within which there were clips of him playing with a massive long piece of tape, he then managed to get it stuck round a tree, which immediately showed to us that Elephants could 

To finish on a cheery note they were also told about the amazing story of other Elephants as well as Queen #Kabu Kabu the Elephant with the broken leg who had been used for Logging for 20 years but who is now free to roam! which certainly cheered them up after seeing and hearing some rather more horrific pictures. 

So to cap it all in a nutshell there were enough minutes at the end of each 45 minute Session, which were divided up in to about 5 Groups of in between 25 and 50 Students, to ask them and the Teachers what they thought of the days Presentation 

1 Informative
2 Frightening
3 Extremely sad 
4 They had no idea that these Majestic Creatures of this Planet (which is not ours) were treated in such ways prior to any form of Training for Circus Acts, Riding Tours, Logging experiences or some of those in Temple Situations
5 They would not ride an Elephant again
6 They would start to put all their rubbish in a bin
7 Humans are the cruellest animals on this planet
8 The Majority of Humans are self controlled by financial gain
7 But the most important one mentioned was by a young Male student who said ' 50/50 Communication is the one that struck a chord in me, remembering that every one and creature is different and has their own language. 

Our second last comment was  ' You know, the saying out of sight out of mind is so true isn't it, perhaps we should change it round and say ' always in mind but out of sight!'

Our very last suggestion was that if any of them would like to either draw a picture, write a story, or for those who found writing and drawing difficult if they were to record their thoughts or perhaps even create a short film we would assess them all, and the best one would win the sponsor of an Elephant for a year from which ever Elephant Sanctuary they chose and that the closing date for Entries would be the 10th December 2016. 

We have since heard that the main Teacher of this Group has suggested that they have a Fundraiser with a view to Sponsoring their very own Elephant - how wonderful is this. So so proud of them all. 

Knowing we only had 45 minutes per Group we tried to cover all aspects of pollution, exploitation, the Ivory trade the brutal behaviour that human beings seems to think is acceptable and much more, but in a way that was fun and as interactive as possible, without them being tied down by chains, spurs and being struck by bull hooks. The result has been amazing and apparently these Students are still talking about the Session shared. So we can just about take for granted 200+ students and the Teachers involved will, from here on in, take a second thought next time they see an Elephant doing something that they were not born to do as well as try their best to make this planet healthier for all. 

We must add that all the Students behaved impeccably and showed that they care about the future of  this Planet that is not ours to control in the first place. 

Thank you all so much for reading this post and if there is anything you can do to encourage your local Schools and Colleges to become more aware please, please try and organise it or if you need a hand or would like us to guide or help you, please just ask. 

This particular Session was triggered because the Geography Class had covered Deforestation . .  an ideal topic to introduce the animals who are becoming extinct. It only took a full morning to open the eyes and minds of 200 + individuals including Teachers, that's 200+ more than the night before the Session took place.   

On behalf of all who have suffered in the past, still suffer but also on behalf of those who are now free and safe thank you so much. 

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