Animals Included: Hating Venezuela
Animals Included: Hating Venezuela
October 11, 2016
by Maria Paez Victor
The present day “Bolivarian Revolution” of Venezuela is faithful to its revolutionary past in more ways than one. Sensitivity to animals was evident even in the 19th Century wars of independence for example, an officer in Bolívar’s British Legion, Major Richard Vowell, observed that the Patriots fighting against Spanish empire felt disgust at the Spanish practice of bullfighting and credited the Venezuelan-Colombian governments of abolishing it as soon as they controlled territories.[1] As well, Captain Basil Hall of the British Navy who was sailing in South America at that time, wrote in his log that “In every instance in South America, where the cause of independence has succeeded, two measures have been invariably adopted: one, the abolition of slave trade, and as far as possible, of slavery; the other, the relinquishment of bull fights.” [2]
Amongst the many Venezuelan anti-poverty social programs -called “misiones”- perhaps the most endearing is Misión Nevado, created in 2013. [3] It is named “Nevado” after Simón Bolívar’s faithful dog. The puppy was given to him in 1813 and thereafter was always at his side but died heroically in battle in 1821.[4] Misión Nevado was created as “collective, revolutionary, ecosocialist and animalist project to rescue and protect homeless dogs and cats”. [5] Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution considers ecosocialism to include the defense of animal rights and the rights of Mother Earth. Misión Nevado is a public, free-of–charge, system of holistic veterinarian care, giving priority to cats and dogs that are homeless, abused or abandoned. The Bolivarian Revolution proclaims the Universal Rights of Animals and Mother Earth, and although it may not have reached fully its lofty goals, it is a start that these principles are upheld.
Misión Nevado is following in the steps of the successful public health care system -Barrio Adentro- that providing good, free medical care, has substantially reduced mortality and morbidity indicators and has saved more than 1.7 million lives.[6] For pets, there are now 8 Misión Nevado free veterinarian clinics in the country that have given 213,000 consultations to date. They regularly go on mobile mode to visit the more remote towns and villages to provide vaccinations and care. In the two years that it has been operating, Misión Nevado has sterilized thousands of pets. The organization does not practice euthanasia of animals in their care, but finds homes for them and, up to now, has arranged the adoption of 5,600 pets. With the help of the Venezuelan Central Bank and scientists at the University of Zulia, Misión Nevado carried out research that produced the best balanced diet for pets, affordable at low cost, with available domestic ingredients and they distribute this information widely.[7]
When the president of Misión Nevado, Ms. Maigualida Vargas, was recently asked what were the greatest impacts the organization has had in these two years, she pointed out the thousands of free vet consultations provided when previously this kind of service has never been available to Venezuelans, but also she said that equally it has been their work in sensitizing people to the need for animals to be respected as part of respecting life on earth. [8]To this effect they carry out hundreds of workshops, fairs, teaching sessions and meetings in which citizens are encouraged and taught how to treat well their furry friends. She said that they have received widespread and touching solidarity from the citizens.
More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/10/11/animals-included-hating-venezuela/
