WHAT IS AN ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST? Animal rights activists are a rare breed. We feel the hunger of a starving dog, the pain of electrocution a mink endures, the burning agony of chemicals dropped in a lab rabbit's eyes, the emotional, physical and psychological pain of all suffering creatures in the world. To see or know that an animal is suffering at the hands of humankind causes a grief so painful that it pierces the soul. Not every human being possesses this gift, which some believe is divine. Christ felt it. Buddha felt it. Ghandi felt it. Animal rights activists know a spiritual mystery; that everything in Nature is interdependent and divine. No matter our individual spiritual beliefs, we know that all creatures possess emotion, intelligence, and experience physical pain. Other creatures only differ from us in degree of intelligence and physiology. We cannot explain how we know this to be true except to say that the knowledge is within each of us, in our spirit, and also through observation and experience. There are millions of us globally, so it is unlikely that we suffer from disillusion. It is this evolution of thinking that separates us from the careless in our human society. Animal rights advocates feel a passion, an urgency, to stop the senseless suffering and exploitation of animals. It is at once a divine gift and a painful odessey. We alone are the voices for the animals vulnerable to the self-serving members of humankind. The passion of we feel can be overwhelming. It can isolate us. Many people do not understand why we devote our lives to saving animals. They are content with living each day bumbling through life caring only about material possessions, entertainment, food and sex. Those of us commited to animal rights believe that we are here for a reason, and a purpose. Why we are not careless and insensitive is in itself a mystery. Perhaps each of us is touched by divinity to change the world. Our work is difficult, thankless and depressing. To save animals we must battle politicans and big-business, corrupted by greed and power, and standby as a majority of society turns a deaf ear. It can seem that we are fighting a losing battle. Therefore, animal rights activists are some of the strongest, ambitious and determined individuals you will ever meet. We will never give up for the animals' sake. We've learned to embrace the triumphs, no matter how small, and draw strength from the universal oneness that we all feel. That divine energy -the power of Nature that connects all things. We feel Nature lend us strength from the thousand winds that blow.We hear Nature's thanks in the swift uplifting rush of birds in flight. Below is a prayer for the animals written by Saint Francis of Assissi. If you would like to contribute a prayer or poem, please e-mail the webmaster below. A Prayer For The Animals God Our Heavenly Father, You created the world to serve humanity's needs and to lead them to You. By our own fault we have lost the beautiful relationship which we once had with all your creation. Help us to see that by restoring our relationship with You we will also restore it with all Your creation. Give us the grace to see all animals as gifts from You and to treat them with respect for they are Your creation. We pray for all animals who are suffering as a result of our neglect. May the order You originally established be once again restored to the whole world through the intercession of the Glorious Virgin Mary, the prayers of St. Francis and the merits of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ Who lives and reigns with You now and forever. Amen. Saint Francis of Assisi Orange County News & Action Alerts Plight of Circus Animals Help Farm Animals Become A Vegetarian! The Fur Industry Stop Animal Experimentation About Citizens Against Animal Cruelty & Exploitation Bulletin Board The Truth About Hunting Animal Rescue Help Page Animal Rights Links New York Cruelty To Animal Statutes Click below to contact the webmaster about problems with the site: