People have forever marveled at the wonderful wonders of the ocean and the amazing creatures that call the oceans home. People have made spectacles of wild animals to give a accessible glimpse of how these wild animals can be trained into well mannered specimens. Through this process there are trainers that risk their lives everyday and put all of their trust into these massive aquatic creatures. For example, Dawn Brancheau is one of those people who gave her whole life to studying and working with orcas. These beautiful creatures that the loved, so much were in fact the cause of her death. On February 24th, 2010 an orca, Tillikum, took his trainer down to the depths of his tank and started thrashing her around, according to eye witnesses. After 16 years of training, 40 year old Dawn never saw this coming as she had been facing the audience and was pulled into the tank by the orca. Some eye witnesses state that the orca went for her pony tail as if it may have been a toy to him. Others state that the orca took her down by her waist or leg. No matter the method Tillikum used he has now claimed lives of two orca trainers.
Tillikum has caused the death of two trainers in the past one of which was found with his past trainer at the bottom the tank. It has been reported the trainer found in the tank had gone for a unsupervised swim with the whale after the shows had been conducted leaving no eye witnesses. With this attack in the past it was agreed with Sea World and the past owner that he would be kept only for breeding purposes, which they were successful at, but they went above the contract and had him performing as one of the main acts seeing that 12,000 lbs. he is the largest orca in captivity.
There have been many discussions on whether this animal will be kept. Sea World has decided that they will keep the whale for breeding purposes along with the task of being purely for show. There will no longer be meet and greets with the whale and it will have no further training or performaces. They do not feel another person should be put in the way of the strength of these magnificent animals.
Sea World did not consider putting Tillikum back in the ocean for the reason being a past orca, Keiko, did not adapt to ocean life once reintroduced and ended up dying in the Norwegian coastal waters. He had cost his owner millions in dollars in efforts to teach him to adapt, but Keiko ended up dying of pneumonia.
I feel that through the media making a spectacle of this situation people will once again realize these animals are not meant to be kept in tanks and shown of to the public. Even though I have gone to see dolphin shows it still seems cruel to hinder an animal of its freedoms. There is no way to change the animals that are in captivity now as they have adapted to the lifestyle of captivity. I do feel that through this animal rights activists may make a case that these animals are to unpredictable and angry causing them to react this way towards their owners and trainers leaving them to just die in a tank. Through this new case there needs to be new regulations for both trainers and orcas, so that an incident like this because more avoidable. My prayers go out Dawn's family who is morning the loss of their daughter.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Puppy Love
People have forever fallen into the big brown eyes of puppies. Puppies have become irreplaceable in many peoples hearts, but many other people feel certain breeds of dogs should not be permitted in cities due to the breeds history of violence. A case of this extreme has occurred in a little town of Regent, ND. An elderly lady has submitted a petition to the City Council in effort to ban the Grandson from housing 3 pit bull puppies in city limits. The petition also proposes Rottweilers as a breed that should be banned as well. Due to her past experience with this breed she is afraid that people are at risk of these pups. Her adult grandson purchased these registered puppies for $600 a piece, so he feels if this ban passes that he will move from within city limits to a farm.
Does this Grandma have a real issue on her hands? Well according to The Humane Society of the United States, pit bulls and Rottweilers are not the only breeds that show extreme aggression. There are more than 4.5 million people who are bitten by dogs each year, which only 10-20 have ended with a fatality. Some people feel that it is not the instinct in the dog breed that affects how they are perceived, but rather the group of individuals who own the dogs. Breeds such as the Doberman Pincher and the Presa Canario have in the past been deemed as breeds that only are useful for guarding and are constantly aggressive. Due to this felling these breeds were banned and owners moved to owning pit bulls and Rottweilers. This is a clear indication of how an owner has a major influence in how a dog is raise and in what conditions.
Since this stereotyping has occurred the positive aspects of the breed has dwindled forcing many to be sent to animal shelters. The current rate for pit bulls to survive a animal shelter is 93%. Some of this may be due to the media coverage that has claimed perspective dog owners attentions. Even thought there are several breeds that bite humans each year there is still a view that pit bulls and Rottweilers are the worst. If you think about it you hardly hear of a Labrador Retriever or a Golden Retriever biting a family member. Yet pit bull fighting has become a main focus of the media and has not helped these breeds.
A new show, Pit Boss, has been added to Animal Planet's t.v. line up. The new show concentrates on a animal shelter that only rescues pit bulls. This animal shelter tries to display the gentle, good heartiness of the breed through having the dogs participate in photo shoots.
To me it looks like there is a split feeling between the feeling about the breeds. Seeing 37.2 % of households own a dog there can be many variances on thoughts about this issue. On this issue I would have to side with the elderly who wants to ban pit bulls and Rottweilers, because these have appeared to be two of the most aggressive. Also, I have experienced being around a dog that was part pit bull when I was younger and even thought the owner was responsible the dog still seemed to have some fire in his eyes. He would nip and growl at whoever tried to change something in his surroundings. I would not want to chance it with a breed like that in city limits. I fell that the responsible thing to do, with more than two dogs, is to give them space out in the country.
Does this Grandma have a real issue on her hands? Well according to The Humane Society of the United States, pit bulls and Rottweilers are not the only breeds that show extreme aggression. There are more than 4.5 million people who are bitten by dogs each year, which only 10-20 have ended with a fatality. Some people feel that it is not the instinct in the dog breed that affects how they are perceived, but rather the group of individuals who own the dogs. Breeds such as the Doberman Pincher and the Presa Canario have in the past been deemed as breeds that only are useful for guarding and are constantly aggressive. Due to this felling these breeds were banned and owners moved to owning pit bulls and Rottweilers. This is a clear indication of how an owner has a major influence in how a dog is raise and in what conditions.
Since this stereotyping has occurred the positive aspects of the breed has dwindled forcing many to be sent to animal shelters. The current rate for pit bulls to survive a animal shelter is 93%. Some of this may be due to the media coverage that has claimed perspective dog owners attentions. Even thought there are several breeds that bite humans each year there is still a view that pit bulls and Rottweilers are the worst. If you think about it you hardly hear of a Labrador Retriever or a Golden Retriever biting a family member. Yet pit bull fighting has become a main focus of the media and has not helped these breeds.
A new show, Pit Boss, has been added to Animal Planet's t.v. line up. The new show concentrates on a animal shelter that only rescues pit bulls. This animal shelter tries to display the gentle, good heartiness of the breed through having the dogs participate in photo shoots.
To me it looks like there is a split feeling between the feeling about the breeds. Seeing 37.2 % of households own a dog there can be many variances on thoughts about this issue. On this issue I would have to side with the elderly who wants to ban pit bulls and Rottweilers, because these have appeared to be two of the most aggressive. Also, I have experienced being around a dog that was part pit bull when I was younger and even thought the owner was responsible the dog still seemed to have some fire in his eyes. He would nip and growl at whoever tried to change something in his surroundings. I would not want to chance it with a breed like that in city limits. I fell that the responsible thing to do, with more than two dogs, is to give them space out in the country.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Who, honestly, is running, empowering, and expanding our company?
In many American companies there seems to be only one main goal. This goal is to make money no matter what cuts on expenses many need to be taken. Some may say, "Well this is the world of business and people have to understand that." At the same time you have workers that are under compensated, under appreciated, under minded, and over worked. Very few of the large companies' CEOs know their employees outside of the conference room.
CEOs seem to only be concerned on receiving their bonuses and extending their powers over the smaller chains. A great local example of this is the story of the exposed CEOs of Blue Cross and Blue Shield who had flown to Grand Cayman Islands on companies budget as part of their bonuses. A report had been released stating that the CEOs had taken this vacation using $2.3 million. Also in further reports, Blue Cross and Blue Shield's CEOs had spent $3.5 million in hotel investments in Fargo, sales reward trips to resorts totalling $1.2 million, and $15 million in employee bonuses, these were given no matter if the goals for the year were met or not. The CEOs have since been fired and promptly replaced with company orientated individuals. While the past CEOs were taking their lavish trips the insurance premiums rose and the 450,000 coverage holders had to search for ways to make ends meet due to the increase expense or start searching for a new insurance provider, causing many hassles.
Even though these are tough facts to face, the media has decided to make this an issue by introducing shows that show the work of an average employee. Some of these shows happen to be "Dirty Jobs," "Deadliest Catch," and "American Loggers". These shows all have depicted the hard life of every day workers and the sacrifices in which they have made to survive. In addition to these shows, CBS had decided to launch a new reality series entitled "Undercover Boss". This new reality series is based on a President of a company making an effort to understand the workers blow them on the pay scale, and to see if the changes they have made in their company has been worth it or if the they have been undercutting and cold to the workers who make their life wages of their job. The first episode of the season pertained to one of the largest companies in the Midwest, Waste Management Inc. The President of the company decided to disguise himself as an entry level worker at the first day of work. He then continued to get a sense of what a day in the life of his workers was like and how dedicated they are to their work by performing a typical days work. The president did not live up to the standards that the workers are held at during the day. In fact, he was fired, for the first time in his life, by a foreman at one of the positions he started at.
Through this show the media, to me, has hit the need of the employees head on. CEOs need to respect their workers and understand that their employees are the ones that are powering their companies and launching them to new heights. Presidents of companies need to get a sense of what their employees go through every day and how each of them have struggles besides working that they are trying to manage. Every worker has a story and needs from their company which need to be met. The only companies that are worthy of what they do are the ones that care for their workers. I am glad to see that the media has brought to the attention of millions the need to focus on the little man and improve his work environment by exposing its faults to and of higher administration. By exposing these conditions it is making employers have to look at who, honestly, is running, expanding, and empowering the company.
CEOs seem to only be concerned on receiving their bonuses and extending their powers over the smaller chains. A great local example of this is the story of the exposed CEOs of Blue Cross and Blue Shield who had flown to Grand Cayman Islands on companies budget as part of their bonuses. A report had been released stating that the CEOs had taken this vacation using $2.3 million. Also in further reports, Blue Cross and Blue Shield's CEOs had spent $3.5 million in hotel investments in Fargo, sales reward trips to resorts totalling $1.2 million, and $15 million in employee bonuses, these were given no matter if the goals for the year were met or not. The CEOs have since been fired and promptly replaced with company orientated individuals. While the past CEOs were taking their lavish trips the insurance premiums rose and the 450,000 coverage holders had to search for ways to make ends meet due to the increase expense or start searching for a new insurance provider, causing many hassles.
Even though these are tough facts to face, the media has decided to make this an issue by introducing shows that show the work of an average employee. Some of these shows happen to be "Dirty Jobs," "Deadliest Catch," and "American Loggers". These shows all have depicted the hard life of every day workers and the sacrifices in which they have made to survive. In addition to these shows, CBS had decided to launch a new reality series entitled "Undercover Boss". This new reality series is based on a President of a company making an effort to understand the workers blow them on the pay scale, and to see if the changes they have made in their company has been worth it or if the they have been undercutting and cold to the workers who make their life wages of their job. The first episode of the season pertained to one of the largest companies in the Midwest, Waste Management Inc. The President of the company decided to disguise himself as an entry level worker at the first day of work. He then continued to get a sense of what a day in the life of his workers was like and how dedicated they are to their work by performing a typical days work. The president did not live up to the standards that the workers are held at during the day. In fact, he was fired, for the first time in his life, by a foreman at one of the positions he started at.
Through this show the media, to me, has hit the need of the employees head on. CEOs need to respect their workers and understand that their employees are the ones that are powering their companies and launching them to new heights. Presidents of companies need to get a sense of what their employees go through every day and how each of them have struggles besides working that they are trying to manage. Every worker has a story and needs from their company which need to be met. The only companies that are worthy of what they do are the ones that care for their workers. I am glad to see that the media has brought to the attention of millions the need to focus on the little man and improve his work environment by exposing its faults to and of higher administration. By exposing these conditions it is making employers have to look at who, honestly, is running, expanding, and empowering the company.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Compassion Towards The Weary
Recently the news has been bombarded with images and stories about the 7.0 earthquake and the 5.9 aftershock that caused Haiti to crumble to pieces. The images are grueling and the thoughts of the destruction is unbearable. There have been many nations that have rushed to Haiti's aid in attempts to support clean-up and re-stabilization. Funds have poured in and people have been switftly brought over to help find and recover bodies from the dismantled buildings. The Red Cross is one of the organizations that have been sending volunteers to assist with medical wounds and accumulated donations thus far of $37 million by online and mobile donations. Another group that has had a recent effort in raising money for Haiti is the Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Telethon For Earthquake Relief; a large number of actors, comedians, and vocal performers participated in this event hoping to accumulate their power over people's choices to raise a massive amount of donations to give to the Haiti efforts. Without a doubt, that is what they did throught this telethon; donations as of January 23 were $58 million. The donations continue to roll, due to the donations through the internet, phone, text message, and mail being accepted through June. Along with the telethon, and album was made featuring the artists who had been featured on the telethon. The album has appropriately been named Hope For Haiti Now and is available on iTunes. iTunes also has the whole telethon available for purchase as well.
Along with the financial and military efforts to help Haiti ,the national government is still asking people for donations towards relief. Even though national govenrment has taken into account the tight economic situation they are still urging for a push of support. Legislation has been written and proposed in attempts for an outlet that allows people on a tight budget to donate. North Dakota's delegation has decided to co-sponser legislation which would allow people on their 2009 income taxes to claim cash donations towards Haiti relief efforts made before March 1 as a deduction.
Even locally there are many people who have made an effort to help Haiti. One of them being Will Dort, owner of Skill Cutz in West Fargo, ND, has decided to donate his proceeds to Haiti disaster relief efforts. As a native Haitian, it has been an extemely difficult month. He has heard from a portion of his family, but has also acknowledged four of his relatives as part of the 15,000 people who have been claimed dead. Accompanying his efforts are a few other people who have decided to match his profits with thousands of dollars. Along with those strives to make a difference, there are hundreds of churches that have sent around the collection plate providing people a way to share their compassion for the weary people of Haiti.
Through all of these efforts, I have felt the compassion of the world and noticed how people in times of trial can embrace each other in order to give a country another breath of hope. Despite the wars going on and the financial fights between countries, they all gather to bring a sense of peace to one nation who in moments was sent into chaos. If only the world could act this way no matter the situation, if governments could put aside differences and embrace uniqueness, and if regions could see eye to eye the world may be more peaceful. Despite the donations that pour in and the people who have are standing up to help, there are some things that can just not be mended. The hearts of the people of Haiti are weary and burdened by the sadness that looms over the country, but with compassionate hearts and hopeful thoughts there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.
Along with the financial and military efforts to help Haiti ,the national government is still asking people for donations towards relief. Even though national govenrment has taken into account the tight economic situation they are still urging for a push of support. Legislation has been written and proposed in attempts for an outlet that allows people on a tight budget to donate. North Dakota's delegation has decided to co-sponser legislation which would allow people on their 2009 income taxes to claim cash donations towards Haiti relief efforts made before March 1 as a deduction.
Even locally there are many people who have made an effort to help Haiti. One of them being Will Dort, owner of Skill Cutz in West Fargo, ND, has decided to donate his proceeds to Haiti disaster relief efforts. As a native Haitian, it has been an extemely difficult month. He has heard from a portion of his family, but has also acknowledged four of his relatives as part of the 15,000 people who have been claimed dead. Accompanying his efforts are a few other people who have decided to match his profits with thousands of dollars. Along with those strives to make a difference, there are hundreds of churches that have sent around the collection plate providing people a way to share their compassion for the weary people of Haiti.
Through all of these efforts, I have felt the compassion of the world and noticed how people in times of trial can embrace each other in order to give a country another breath of hope. Despite the wars going on and the financial fights between countries, they all gather to bring a sense of peace to one nation who in moments was sent into chaos. If only the world could act this way no matter the situation, if governments could put aside differences and embrace uniqueness, and if regions could see eye to eye the world may be more peaceful. Despite the donations that pour in and the people who have are standing up to help, there are some things that can just not be mended. The hearts of the people of Haiti are weary and burdened by the sadness that looms over the country, but with compassionate hearts and hopeful thoughts there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.
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