Compromise

Compromise

            After completing my research of the pros and cons of ivory poaching I notice that there are a couple of issues that need to be improved on. These include the need of stronger regulations governing ivory trade and poaching, a regulation of how many elephants are killed each day, and both parties need to stay educated on the well fare of the animal.  Having stronger regulations governing ivory trade will help both parties come to a compromise. This will allow everyone to still be able to sell ivory and also be aware of the conservation of the elephant. I also believe that their needs to be a set limit and monitoring of how many elephants are killed on a daily and yearly bases.  Another compromise that can be made is each party sitting down to educate each other on their views and coming to a common ground on what is and not acceptable for sustaining the population of elephants. If the animals were killed more humanely a compromise can be made between both parties.

Controversial Con

Controversial Topic Con

To Bloody Ivory:

            I do feel your organization is right when you all suggested that more legislations should be put into place to stop ivory poaching. I also feel like that your organizations proposed a great idea by having patrol officers in areas where poaching is extremely high. The use of ivory is in high demand in area in East Asia. Many of those who demand the use of ivory are for cultural traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Although the life of the elephant is being scarifies the ivory is being used to make valuable pieces that help bring revenue to countries that really need the help.

Ref:

1.  http://www.bloodyivory.org/stop-the-ivory-trade

Controversial Pro

Controversial Topic Pro

To Pro-Ivory Poaching Executives:

            The trading of elephant ivory has provided a high level of income for residents of Zimbabwe and Kenya. Although ivory poaching does not provide any benefit to the animal, it does allow many of the residents to make a profit. I feel that this organization can improve in many ways to help protect both the ivory industry and maintain the well being of the elephants. I feel that the best way to help the population of elephants to not decline so rapidly poachers should not kill 200 elephants a day. I feel that poachers should take in consideration of the mothers who have young elephants. I feel that your organization could kill less elephants a day, and try to cut the tusks in smaller pieces to make more pieces from the ivory.

Ref:

1. http://cei.org/studies-point/culling-be-kind-why-year%E2%80%99s-ivory-sales-will-help-elephant-conservation

Reflection of Class

Final Self- Reflection

            After taking the course I have learned a lot about the human-animal bond, and how we as humans interact with other non-human animals. From this course I learned that we interact with animals in many ways. This includes how we use these animals for food, clothing, entertainment, medicine and research, and work.  Before taking this class I truly forgot the other roles that animals play in our lives besides just providing food and clothing. This class also opened my eyes to the human-animal bond and how strong it really is.

            This class has truly changed my perception about how important animals are in our life. After watching many of the videos we did in class about the bond we have with our companion animals, and how service and working animals impact our lives I have gained more respect for these animals. I was truly impacted by our service and working animals lesson. I was amazed to learn of all these many tasks that these animals are trained to do. I was also inspired how dedicated service and working dogs are to complete the task at hand.

            Elephants are one of my favorite exotic animals. I really enjoyed being able to complete the social deconstruction project. This project allowed me to learn new things about this amazing creature. From this project I learned how extremely intelligent the elephant is.  I also got to learn more about controversial issues that impact elephants. I never knew much about ivory poaching but completing this project opened my eyes to how serious this issue is. Completing this project also gave me insight on some of the unfair treatment that this intelligent creature receives in the entertainment industry. Growing up I use to be excited to see the elephant perform in the circus. This project showed me that these animals do not deserve to be confine and mistreated as they are in circuses. Overall I really enjoyed this course, and learning about the importance of the human-animal bond.

My Moral Vision

                                                                                                              Moral Vision

After taking this course I have used the knowledge I have gained to come up with my own philosophy of how we should view and treat all non-human animals in this world. This course has truly open my eyes to how big of a role animals play in our lives. We as humans often time believe that non-human animals lack intelligence and emotions. This perception needs to change in order to create a sustainable and humane interaction between humans and non-human animals. Humans use other non-human animals for work, companionship, food, clothing, research, entertainment and other by products that are necessary. The use of animals in our everyday life is critical. In many of these cases the animals are being abused and inhumanely treated. I feel that the only way people will be able to improve the problem is to notice that there is a problem going on. Many people need to know what goes on and how the animals are harmed for human benefit in the medical, food, clothing, pet, and entertainment industry. If people educate themselves before buying pets about where the dogs in the shelter come from and educate themselves on adopting animals, there would be no puppy mills. Also if handlers in the food industry would handle the animals gentler and educate themselves about an animal’s flight zone they would find it easier to work and maneuver the animals. For animals used in zoos and or other entertainment, there should be AHA investigators there just as there is on movie sets to insure that when the animal is trained and performing they are truly being treated humanely. If people would just educate themselves on how intelligent animals are and see that they are sentient beings this would improve our overall interactions with animals. I feel without creating empathy with all these animals as we do with our companion animals we will never interact with the animals in a humane and ethical way. These animals play a very important role in our everyday life so it is important that we give them the most humane life that we can.

Elephants in Art

                                                                                             Elephants in the Arts

Elephants have been depicted in art since prehistoric times. The earliest images of elephants that have been displayed are etched on Egyptian ivory combs. These etchings date back as late as 3400 B.C. In these images it depicts three elephants stomping on cobras.

When it came to Egyptian art, elephants and other animals were used due to their attributes and characteristics. Over time these animals grew in importance and became symbols later on in Egyptian culture. Animals such as elephants, giraffes, leopard, and lions were just a few of many species the early nomads encountered.

In more modern art, elephants can be seen artist such as Salvador Dali masterpieces. In Dali’s piece Dream Caused by the Flight of A Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening shown to the right, he puts a new twist on how the elephant is symbolized in art. When it comes to art, elephants symbolize strength, dominance, and power. However, Dali contradicts the way the elephant depicts strength by painting the elephant with long spindly legs carrying bricks on its back to show the strength of the animal.

Ref:

1. http://www.sarada.co.za/subject/animals/elephants/

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_depictions_of_elephants

3. http://www.galomagazine.com/artculture/the-great-dawning-the-birth-of-ancient-egyptian-art/

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elephants