the times they are a-changin’
It’s been awhile. I have been unable to continue the journey cos every time I look at pictures to refresh what happened over the years I get overwhelmed with sadness because I am no longer there, in Mexico. It was a beautiful time of my life, I felt that I had found my space. I know I should cherish those times, which I do but I cannot stop thinking of what might have been if I had stayed. I will never know. That said this post is covering my thoughts of why I am actually here writing into the unknown. Perhaps after writing I may accept the changes and get on with it. So here goes. By the way, puppies are fine and crazy as ever.
Going back to the mid 90’s while I was bartending at a popular haunt for the employees of Toronto City TV, one of my favourite customers was Bob Hunter, co-founder of Greenpeace. A fascinating man with whom I had many conversations with about his past and why he did what he did and what his future held. There is one sentence that sticks with me and I often wonder what he would think now with the every increasing presence of social media. Remember his comment as you continue to read.
“Once it hits the news, it is already too late“
Social, connecting with like minded individuals. Media, the main means of mass communication. About 12 years later after Bob said for me that profound statement I joined Facebook in August 2007, 17 years ago now, some four years after it was launched. It was fun, sharing pictures, silly stuff with friends who were miles and miles away. It was a wonderful way of staying in touch.
Now during that time there were people organizing to get the three remaining elephants, Thika, Toka and Iringa moved from the Toronto Zoo to PAWS sanctuary in California. They, Zoocheck, who are an amazing organzation succeeded after many ups and downs and the elephants were finally moved in October 2013. My mum, bless her was one of thousands who felt that this was the right move and many of her letters were posted in the Toronto Star. Mum at that time did not have a computer so she hand wrote her letters and sent them through snail mail. Remember those day when one actually wrote hand written letters? Those times are gone really, which is sad. It was something that I did not know about Mum as she really kept her feelings and thoughts to herself.
That got me started. I began to dive into the internet to find out more about other causes that were focusing on captive animals and how I could possibly help. Now I wonder if I should thank my mum or give her shit! It can take you to a very dark place. The atrocities that man inflicts on animals is horrendous. I literally had no idea of the extent of the horror. One day I came across an article about captive breed lions in South Africa and it literally broke my heart. The ‘king of the jungle’ reduced to a commodity for breeding so some asshole can kill it for a trophy. If you are unaware of this right now then you are living in a cave. If there is only one documentary that you watch, watch this one from Bloodlions and you will understand my passion to end this. The fight continues.
Facebook became a great tool. It connected me with other like minded individual fighting the same cause trying to get the message out to the masses. I have ‘met’ some incredible people but only personally met a few of those contacts. Many, now that I consider good friends.
Social media also creates monsters. One in particular was Eduardo Serio of Black Jaguar White Tiger in Mexico. At his height of popularity on social media he kept over 200 big cats in deplorable conditions. I will not go into the details of these conditions. Myself and a few friends began to expose him on the forum that made him popular. Thankfully after years of research and hard work, the authorities finally closed him down. The animals were moved to other facilities in Mexico. Eduardo went into hiding with his cartel friends and as far as I know has not been formally charged with animal abuse. Bastard. Without social media that would never have happened.
Over the years Facebook has changed and I think most people who have an account will agree with me, it has changed for the worse not better. Living in Canada I am also restricted because of an ongoing battle between the Canadian government and Meta. Over damn Money. I cannot share news articles. I cannot read news articles that are posted by friends from around the globe. So how can I continue to share, continue to see what is going on from small pockets of this world? Sure I can read articles if I search a particular story from a journalist in a news article on the internet but what if I want to share this to the many groups I am now in? I cannot. It has become increasingly frustrating. Facebook is now full of meaningless ads and the algorithms suck. The interaction is not the same. I personally feel, we are no longer having the impact we once did being what is termed as a keyboard advocate. Not all of us have the ways and means to be boots on the ground but damn it we can help spread the word. If we can. Clicking on a emoji is not the same. It acknowledges that you agree or disagree but does little to help what ever cause you support. Guess it makes you feel a little better. I need to read articles, I need to research that source. But I cannot see the damn article. SIGH. I will still use FB to connect with the friends that I have and try to share the news in a cut and paste format (ugh)but also looking into another platform that does not have the restrictions that I am faced with here in Canada. Starting afresh is a task in itself!
Social Media is quickly taking over MSM, main stream media for news. X is claiming to be the winner. Is either one the truth? Social media is immediate. MSM never really reports all the facts and is more than often bias. Real journalism on the most part is dying profession. Remember picking up a rag magazine while waiting in line at the grocery store? Crazy stories of alien abduction, celebrities caught doing lewd things, all oddities under the sun. It was entertaining. No-one really believed them. Now it is eyes down to your cell phone checking out the latest posts on social media. The internet, social media, MSM are now the same as those rag magazines. You cannot believe everything you see or read. As always, you need to do your research. People though are generally lazy and will not make the effort to research, to read both sides or find the facts. Another SIGH.
Which brings me back to – once it hits the news, it’s too late. But not anymore. We have the means, mostly, to read news as it happens in real time. We see videos from people with boots on the ground. And we have the means to act on that to do good. Let’s keep it that way. Let’s keep things moving for the good. It’s a jungle out there. Let’s use social media which ever forum you are in as a tool for the good.
