Stingrays, Humanity, Harp Seals, Alligators and Blogging to Change the World...One Animal at a Time

Hello, friends, family, readers, authors and fellow RVers

Even in the midst of my angst and unusual determination to do what I could to end the brutal hunting of harp seal babes, I was pleasantly surprised today to find some humanity in a world seemingly gone mad!

My significant other and I walked the beach here on the sunny Gulf Coast today. A fisherman took a long time to reel in his catch. It must have been something big. We stopped to watch him as did others. I cringed, hoping against hope it wasn't a stingray, for all their reputation as killers, very gentle creatures that my daughter and I have held in our hands, pet, fed and yes...even...kissed. Avoiding the stinger at all times, of course, and only in the company of an experienced stingray "wrangler."

Why was I afraid it was a stingray? Because three weeks ago when my daughter and my beautiful 5-month-old granddaughter were here visiting, we walked the same coastline, and came upon two men who had five stingrays lying in the sand...one bleeding and dying a slow, painful death... I think the older man even kicked it. Near them was a woman with two children, ages approx 9 and 11, also fishing, with another five or so stingrays lying about in the sand, a bucket sitting on top of one in an ungraceful end for such graceful creatures. There was no evidence they were going to eat the stingrays. If they were, they wouldn't have left them to rot on top of the sand. The wanton destruction so angered my daughter that she spat harsh words at both the men (one of whom laughed at her distress) and the woman (who ignored her and happily fished on...showing her children good values and kindness for living things.)

That's why I was afraid. Indeed, the man finally hauled out a good sized stingray. The crowd moved in to watch. I held my breath, hoping he would treat it well, whatever he decided to do with it. I saw him bend over, the people crowded near... Then the stingray was gone. My significant other tried to pull me away. My daughter's apple did not fall far from the tree. I approached the crowd and asked my question. Did he release the stingray? Yes, they grinned. Did it swim away? Yes, they nodded and smiled. I told them of the waste of all the stingrays we'd seen weeks before. They were shocked. I was happy to see the shock. Shock over waste and destruction of life is good. I approached the man and asked my questions. He said he did not take anything he didn't eat. He'd even returned a catfish that he wouldn't keep. I told him he was a "good fisherman." He said thank you. I was happy. He seemed pleased.

I couldn't wait to share this on my blog. I couldn't wait to share it with you!

We managed to get a nice picture of one of the local alligators, and I'm thrilled to share it with you. Isn't he or she a beaut? He or she even opened his or her mouth and "yawned" or "smiled" or something. Contrary to what the picture suggests, the little gator could hardly keep its eyes open, lazing about in the sun as it did. The small alligator is much further away into the pond than it appears. This photo was taken with a zoom lens.

In the face of such freedom and protection as this alligator has, the world of the harp seal pups should have seemed far away, but it has stayed with me all day long as I have taken small steps for mankind but giant leaps for me to do what I could to stop the seal hunt this year and in the future.

I went to the Humane Society site and e-mailed everyone the group recommended. I went to http://www.harpseals.org/ and followed many of their recommendations. I e-mailed Canadian newspapers, ministers, U.S. legislatures, all the stores I frequent (and I got some responses), even the fashion desginers who buy the seal furs. You know them: Dolce and Gabana, Prada, Versace, etc., etc. I posted to my blog, to MySpace, to my web site. I gave people links to follow. And I studied the situation from both sides as best I can. And I believe that tourism to the harp seal nurseries is a far better commercial enterprise than their slaughter. Harp seals only have one pup a year, just one. And I'll ask my fellow RVers to question the hunt when they travel north to Canada for the summer as RVers often do. Ask questions! Suggest alternatives! You're tourists...with money! Tell them what you'd pay to go see a harp seal nursery thriving with living pups and mothers.

And I asked my reading and writing friends to help me. This is what I said:

"Blogging to Change the World...One Animal at a Time"

I read Mary Pipher's "Writing to Change the World" several years ago, and I loved the premise. It made so much sense. If something is wrong, we as writers can use our tools--our words--to change the world. Yes, yes, yes! I try to do it every time I write a romance novel, one small concept at a time.

I heard some bad news today which I blogged about at my Will Travel For Romance site, http://willtravelforromance.blogspot.com/. And I wrote to "change the world."

I'd be thrilled if you would take a look at the blog. Especially for my fellow animal lovers.

Thanks...for everything."

So, people looked at my blog, and they made comments, and they in turn made contact with organizations which can teach us how to help.

My next plan is to paint a sign on the back windshield of my truck. It won't say "Just Married" or "Class of 2008." It will say "Stop the Seal Hunt. Contact www.harpseals.org." And I'll advertise that way until the hunt is over for this year. And I'll do it again next year!

That's what I can do as a person and as a writer to change the world. Thanks, Mary Pipher!

Is there something you feel so passionate about that you want to change the world...one blog at a time? You can do it!

May the wind never ruffle your feathers and may the road never meet you head on!

Bess McBride, http://www.bessmcbride.com/