Seva

With your help and love, we raised $571 US dollars for B.A.R.C!

(Bali dog Adoption & Rehabilitation Center)

B.A.R.C

Please continue to help the dogs of Bali!

 

 

What happened to man's best friend?

The Buddha B Yoga Center needs your help.

The shocking state of dogs in Bali must change.

No earthling

deserves to live like this.

Please read and

help us make a difference.

"May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all."

 

Bali is known as the "Island of the Gods," but certainly not for its poor canine population. As two Bali-based filmmakers, Lawrence Blair and Dean Allan Tolhurst describe it, Bali is more like the "Island of the Demons" when it comes to its dog population. And though no one knows for sure the exact number of diseased and starving semi-feral dogs currently living on the island, estimates have been anywhere from six hundred thousand to as high as one million according to the Bali Street Dog Fund organization!

In contrast to its beautiful rice fields, incredible volcanoes and sandy shores, the sight of starving and suffering dogs roaming the streets of Bali, villages, markets, restaurants, and beaches is heart breaking and truly shocking for dog loving Westerners.

Though Bali's official religion is Hindu, its unique worship of "animism"(the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle) makes it very different to Indian Hinduism. The Balinese worship Sanghyang Widi (the one invisible god) as well as all of the dewa (ancestral gods). They worship gods of the earth, fire, water and mountains, Hanuman the monkey deity and the sacred cow, but unfortunately they do not revere dogs.

Ceremonies are held daily across the island to appease the gods and pacify the demons. The Barong ritual drama focuses on the ongoing battle between good and evil; the evil Rangda versus the good Barong. The Barong protects villages from plague and malicious magic, whereas usually Rangda menaces them with both. Offerings and incense are placed both high (in the temples for dharma-good) and low (on the streets and roads for adharma-evil) forces. Unfortunately the Balinese believe that canines are a manifestation of evil spirits and the dark side. These beliefs mean that dogs are at the bottom of the social strata, as most of them scavenge the streets in semi-feral packs and most in a near death state. Not only are they both negleted and ill-treated, they are also ritually eaten and sacrificed!

In 2007 when the Balinese government prepared to "clean up" the island's image for the UN Conference for Climate Change, hundreds of thousands of already suffering innocent animals were cruely poisoned and left to die a slow and painful death. The massive neglect and abuse of the canine population resulted in a widespread rabies epidemic in 2008. Rabies is still a very real threat to both the animals and the Balinese people. In addition to being plagued with parasitic and infectious diseases, many dogs are victims (maimed or killed) to roadside traffic accidents and simply left to die. 

Tourists visiting Bali can no longer turn a blind eye to this open wound. With help, the "Island of the Gods"  can do something to improve the lives of these animals.  The World Health Organization for Animal Health has made it clear that the massive slaughter of canines is not an effective method to preventing and/or containing rabies. A massive and on-going dog-vaccination program in conjuction with spaying and neutering are the only means to improving this very grim situation.

Organizations like the Bali Street Dog Fund (www.balistreetdogs.org), B.A.R.C the Bali (dog) Adoption & Rehabilitation Centre (www.freewebs.com/balidogs), BAWA The not-for-profit Bali Animal Wellfare Association (www.bawabali.com), and Yudisthira Bali Street Dog Foundation (www.balistretdogs.com) are working to eradicate rabies in Bali, alleviate animal suffering and educate the local population in animal wellfare.

But these welfare associations need all the help they can get. As the Bali & Lombok Lonely Planet guide book says: "How can such a seemingly gentle island have Asia's worst dog population?

Going beyond the compassion and animal rights issues is the fact that Bali’s dogs are the richest pool of genetic diversity of all dogs in the world. The two types of Balinese dogs, the Balinese street dog and the Highland Kintamani, have been living on the island, virtually unaltered, for at least five thousand years. According to anthropologist Lawrence Blair: "Whereas our ‘breed’ dogs are only a couple of centuries old. Genetic research reveals that their ancestry (Balinese dog) can be traced back some 15.000 years to before the last Ice Age." Dr. Pederson from the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at U.C Davis, California notes that: "The true pure breeds are these indigenous Bali-dogs. Their lineage goes all the way back to the first proto-dog that evolved from the wolves. Their genes are highly valuable for further research as they are a window on the ancestral dog." (Quotes courtesy of Yvette Benningshof's recent article August 23rd, 2011)

As tourists visiting Bali, we must do our part to help make a difference for these animals. By supporting the Balinese animal wellfare organizations, we can feel good knowing that change is taking place. So many of us think of Bali as an exotic destination and a yogi's paradise. However Ubud, the island's "yogaville", has one of the worst dog populations. The question then is how can we as yoga practioners get on the mat (with our sarong pants and Om t-shirts) and ignore the blatent suffering all around us? Perhaps if such highly popularized books such as Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love" dedicated more than just a few lines to describe the reality of the dog situation, animal lovers worldwide would know the truth and the severity of the situation. The Balinese government also needs to know that change must take place and that the situation must improve (in a humane and compassionate way and not by mass genocide). Tourism is at the heart of the Balinese economy, and foreigners planning to visit and dedicated to this cause need to voice their concerns and help the animal non-profit organizations by making a financial contribution (perhaps buying a few less souvenirs and making a real, and mutually beneficial lasting change). This change will not only improve the lives of all of Bali's animals (with the risk of rabies spreading to many other species of island wildlife), but also for the people of Bali.

One thing is for sure, the dogs of Bali definitely need to eat, need our prayers and definitely need lots and lots of love!

The Buddha B Yoga Center is dedicated to making a long term committment in bringing about change for these dogs. We will be contributing monthly to the various Bali animal organizations and will keep our students up-to-date on Bali's animal news.

We look forward to your support and to your feedback (go to the Buddha B Blog and let us know what you think). Also let us know if you would like to make a donation or get involved. We thank you, and the dogs of Bali thank you.

Namaste.

Valerie Grange & Rexx Samuell 

______________________________________________

Tibetan Vegetarian Association, NY

"About TVANY
    
    The New York chapter of Tibetan Volunteers for Animals (TVANY) is a non- profit organization registered and founded in New York in 2009. TVANY is managed and run by a group of young Tibetan volunteers determined to encourage and inspire people to become vegetarians and achieve equal consideration and respect for animals. We engage in peaceful demonstrations and non-violent direct action to bring attention to the plight of Animals. We also educate people about Speciesism, Vegetarianism, living healthy and saving planet through leafletting, information stalls, talks, food tastings, media work and online activity. Our missions have become well known in U.S.A,Canada, Europe, India, Tibet and Nepal's Tibetan society because of our team work. We strongly hope the goodwill will help many people to re-think when purchasing meat or any other animal products.  

Activities of TVANY
    
    Our small group has participated and organized different events. We have offered free vegetarian meals in a number of non-profit events for different organizations in New York including some shelter homes. We offered free meals during events such as  Tibet In Harlem, Sakadawa (Buddha Shakyamuni's Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana day), Kyigudo Earthquake benefit event, Choice HIV fundraising event, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's  long life Tenshug, Tibetan Calligraphy Exhibition, Japan Earthquake benefit event, His Holiness The Sakya Trizin Birthday, Winter Tibetan Buddhism Retreat and so forth. "

hupten Sherap: (718) 726-2434
email: thuptenveg@gmail.com 
log on: www.tiblayanveg.org 
facebook: Tibetan Volunteers for Animals,New York

The Sean O'Shea Foundation

http://www.seanosheafoundation.org/

 

Words from Sean

Life's Cycle
"The avoidable transitions of life, not to be feared, but to be realized.
With this understanding, actually, literally over standing, we can hopefully live each stage to the fullest of our capacity.
Keeping our minds aware of our short presence here may we truly cherish each moment, as difficult as it may sometimes be, treating it, caressing it, loving it as though it were our first, last and only."

- Sean O'Shea -
12-24-98

 

 About The Sean O' Shea Foundation

Mission Statement

To empower youth through yoga, nutrition and optimistic teachings that help to develop life skills that can enable youth to take responsibility for their life, develop respect for themselves and others, and have confidence in their own potential.

Project Mala

http://projectmala.org/

We have sponsored two children through Project Mala. Abhay Kumar and just recently Ragini. We will be posting both children's most recent pictures.

 

Meet Ragini!  Her story coming soon.....

Project Mala seeks out working children in remote villages of eastern Uttar Pradesh, India and gives them quality education in four R’s reading, writing, arithmetic and respect. In the three year Primary School course, we cover grades 1-5 of the national education standard. In the three year Middle School course, we cover grades 6-8.

We are governed by the National Institute of Open Schooling who provide certification at grade five level and grade eight level so children passing out can can progress into further education. In addition we give instruction in personal hygiene and respect for others and care of their environment. We also provide some training in life sciences in order for them to make the most of their lives within the primitive environment of their rural village.

• Vocational Training
  We help the children’s rehabilitation after schooling by providing some occupational skills, including sewing, kitchen gardening and food preservation. We also arrange visits to local industries, hospitals, post offices, etc.
  
  Other Activities
• We make their school days happy and enjoyable through sports and cultural activities

Nutritional Meals (Breakfast and Lunch)

All the children in our schools are provided with a breakfast and a cooked midday meal. At lunchtime they are allowed to eat as much as they want, as in some cases the child will not receive food at home. Our meals are supplemented with fruit in season, the majority of which is grown within our own campuses.

Healthcare

The children are examined on enrollment and full health details recorded. In most cases children have not been immunized which we, therefore, arrange. Children with serious problems are provided with additional medical services.

Extra Items

We provide the children with school books, stationery, school bags, two sets of uniforms every year and one sweater at the time of enrolment. We do not yet provide shoes but we are considering this as most children are barefoot.

Achievements since our formation

Since our formation

• we have enrolled over 6,000 children from 45 villages
• over 4,100 children who have completed the three years primary school course have been streamlined in Government secondary schools
• we hold regular parent/teacher meetings in all our schools
• we have conducted two impact studies to monitor the effect of our work on the community (see independent reports)

PETA

http://www.peta.org/

Tibetan Volunteers for Animals

http://www.tiblayanveg.org/

Washinton Humane Society

http://www.humanesociety.org/

 

Ashtanga Yoga Volunteer In Rwanda

http://intuition-ltd.co.uk/wordpress/

The above website is for Ashtanga for Rwanda, a blog that documents Isabella Nitschke's preparations for three months as a volunteer yoga teacher in Rwanda in spring/summer 2011. As a volunteer yoga teacher Isabella will work for Project Air, a not-for-profit organisation that has implemented a unique program to help survivors deal with some of the trauma and mental health issues left in the wake of the Rwandan Genocide.  You can donate directly to her via PayPal.