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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

ASWA COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

VICTIMS OF THE SYSTEM

PAW A COFFEE FOR ASWA

ASWA.ORG.UK | 1 IN THIS ISSUE

A WARM WELCOME 3

ASWA COMMITTEE ELECTIONS 5 5

VICTIMS OF THE SYSTEM 6 ANNUAL WELFARE SERVICES 7 7 A REFLECTION ON PSALM 23 9

POETS’ CORNER 11

NEWS FROM PAW A COFFEE FOR ASWA 2013 11 Cover image courtesy of Mateusz Stachowski 11

Sunday 29 June Animal Blessing Service, St Michael’s, Service, All Saints Sheerwater, Woking, Surrey, 3pm. DORIS’ DIARY Church, Snodland, Kent, 5pm. Easily accessible by rail to Snodland Blessing Service, Kirton Church at Hello! My name is Doris, and I station. St Andrew’s, Kirton-in-Lindsey, North Lincolnshire, 3pm. am a Border Leicester ewe with Sunday 6 July Further details from Revd Kathy very large ears! I was rescued by Sung Eucharist, St ’s Church, Colwell, katherine.colwell@btinternet. Road, Ewell, Surrey KT17 2AY, com, 01652 640552 or via the church ASWA secretary Sam Chandler, 9.30am. website www.the-umc.org.uk. as I had outlived my usefulness Speaker: Revd Dr Martin Henig, followed by All Age ’ Service at Animal Blessing (Pets) Service, Great as a breeding ewe. 11:00 am. Malvern Priory, 3pm. For further details please contact the Saturday 4 October Priory Office on 01684 561020 via Below are some great events ewe Pet Service, Thomas à Becket Church, email office@greatmalvernpriory. may enjoy! Pagham West Sussex, 3pm. org.uk or via the website www. greatmalvernpriory.org.uk Sunday 5 October Wednesday 12 March Animal Welfare Sunday Animal Service, Raglan Group of Inaugural meeting of the ASWA Suffolk Churches, Monmouthshire. Group, Stowmarket Parish Church, 7.30pm ASWA Annual Service, St Woolo’s Contact: 01291 690330 for further Contact: Peta Whiting Cathderal, Newport, , 10.30am. details. Preacher: TBC Saturday 10 May Please note that this is NOT an animal , St Paul’s Episcopal ASWA AGM, St Michael’s Church, Chester blessing service. Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA Square, London SW1W 9HH, 11am. Time TBA. Speaker: Ian Birchall, Kent Action Against Live Exports Sunday 9 November ASWA service of Remembrance at the Monday 12–Wednesday 14 May Animals’ War Memorial, Park Lane, Ecumenical Animal Welfare Retreat. London, 3pm. Led by Revd George Noddfa, Penmaenmawr, North Wales. Ochola. Contact Mrs Irene Casey, irene.casey@ talktalk.net for more information. for further details of events, please Sunday 1 June visit the website: www.aswa.org.uk Animal Blessing Service, St Michael and All Angels, Watford, 3pm. Speaker: Revd Dr Martin Henig.

Sunday 8 June Animal Blessing Service, Craigiebuckler Church Hall, Aberdeen, 3pm. Springfield Road, Aberdeen, AB15 8AA. Telephone: 01224 315 649. Email: [email protected].

Sunday 15 June Animal Service, St Lawrence Church, North Hinksey, Oxfordshire, 3pm. Speaker: Revd Dr Martin Henig

2 | ASWA.ORG.UK HELLO AND WELCOME TO EMAIL ADDRESSES ANIMALWATCH PLEASE! ASWA is updating its membership Welcome to Animalwatch. In this issue, we look at some of the frustrations we, records to include email addresses. as people who care about animal welfare and , can face. We This will keep the ASWA membership have a report on the sad case of Lloyd and Leila, and a powerful reflection on better informed of our activities and Psalm 23 that tackles head-on the frustration we all often feel at the slow, or expand our influence to help animals. sometimes apparently non-existent, progress towards a cruelty-free world. On Just put “ASWA email address (and a more upbeat note, we also have a report on the Annual Service that took your name)” in the subject line and place at Truro Cathedral in October, and profiles of those standing for election send it to: to the ASWA committee. [email protected] Don’t forget that our next issue will include our Young Members’ Page. If you know of any young people interested in animal welfare, do encourage them to Thank you to all those who have submit stories, poems, artwork or reports of animal welfare activities in which already done this in response to the they are involved. appeal in previous issues.

We hope that you enjoy keeping up-to-date with news and information on our website. Do check regularly for resources and information about upcoming events. Please do make a note of the dates in Doris’ Diary – especially the AGM ASWA NEWS taking place in May. We hope to see you there. Meat-free Lent

Please send any items for consideration for Animalwatch to Revd Jennifer Brown, Editor, PO Box 7193, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 8GT. Email is even Lent is nearly upon us, and ASWA is better – [email protected]. Please note that, owing to space once again supporting the ‘give up restrictions, it may not be possible to print all contributions, and that letters and meat for Lent’ campaign. Recent other contributions may be edited for length. articles by Isabel Oakeshot and in the Sunday Times and Daily Jennifer Brown, Editor Mail respectively, based on their book, Farmageddon*, highlight the impact of the world’s increasing demand for The deadline for the Spring magazine is Monday 12th May 2014. meat, especially cheap meat. They describe industrial farm units creating air pollution greater than that found Jenny McKay - Great Budworth, in a major city, animals subjected A Warm Welcome Cheshire to our new members. to cruel practices and unnatural Val Osborne - Wolverhampton conditions, obliteration of , We look forward to hearing Mrs Margaret Pinder - Burntwood, from you. and the diverting of food resources Staffordshire to provide animal feed, leaving the Mary Richards - East Ham, London Janet Benfield - Coggeshall, Essex world’s poorest populations without Ros Smith - Yeadon, Leeds, affordable and reliable food sources. Revd Chris Brice - Kentish town, West Yorkshire London Meat consumption has both ethical Mr Roger Taylor - Bridgnorth, and spiritual dimensions, especially Mrs Mary Buckland - Mold, Shropshire Flintshire when industrial-scale farming is Hilary Vivian - Holsworthy, Devon involved. Consequently, fasting by Gary Burnett - Bilbrook Codsall, Sandy White - Walsden, West Midlands abstaining from meat during Lent Todmorden, Lancashire is both a spiritual discipline and a Dionne Carey - Truro, Cornwall Rob Woodward - St Albans, Kathryn Mary Darby - witness to our concern for our fellow Hertfordshire creatures, and our fellow human Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire Charles Yates - Bromley, Kent Joyce Day - Oxford beings who also suffer as a result of Pauline Grant - Uckfield, these intensive farming practices. It East Sussex To all our new members we also provides an opportunity to think Mrs Christine Hamer - Irby, Wirral extend a warm welcome again about our own habits, and the Merseyside and, along with our existing impact that we have on others. Aaron Henzley - Bracknell, members, we would ask that Berkshire you encourage others who If you had your first meat-free Lent last Patricia Holmes - Tamatea, Napier, share your concern for animal year, or are having a meat-free Lent New Zealand welfare to join. Introductory this year, please let us know about Penelope Lethbridge - Exeter, leaflets are available from the your experience.

Devon Secretary. * A review of Farmageddon can be read on the ASWA web site.

ASWA.ORG.UK | 3 GOOD NEWS

Archbishop speaks up for animals

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, known throughout the world for his campaigning against apartheid in South Africa and his work to bring reconciliation between communities following the ending of the apartheid system, has now spoken up for animals. In his introduction to the new book, The global guide to animal protection, he says, “I have seen first-hand how injustice gets overlooked when the victims are powerless or vulnerable, when they have no one to speak up for them and no means of representing themselves to a higher authority. Animals are in precisely that position. Unless we are mindful of their interests and speak out loudly on their behalf, abuse and cruelty goes unchallenged. Churches should lead the way by making clear that all cruelty – to other animals as well as human beings – is an affront to civilized living and a sin before God.” Having such a prominent and well-respected leader in the Church speaking up for animals in this way is surely good news, as it will encourage others to consider animal welfare as urgent Christian issue.

ASWA NEWS & NOTICES Remembrance Don’t forget, you ASWA Local groups Sunday Service can follow ASWA on Don’t forget that there are ASWA local Twitter – aswanews On Sunday 10th November, ASWA groups in different areas. The Oxford held its third Remembrance Service group meets quarterly in different You can also keep up for Animals at the Animals’ War locations around the Oxford diocese. Memorial in Park Lane, London. with what’s new via our website – The contact for the group is Revd www.aswa.org.uk. Martin Henig (martin.henig@arch. Yet again, we had a marked increase Check the website for the latest ox.ac.uk). The Surrey/South London in numbers this year, which was lovely, resources for youth & children. group meets monthly and alternates and we were also delighted that Pen between a Monday, Tuesday or Farthing from Nowzad Dogs was able Wednesday evening. The contact for to join us again and give a short talk ASWA AGM this group is Janice Hoyle (01372- about his work. Saturday 10th May 2014, 11am 842884). This is now a firm date in the ASWA The AGM will be held at St Michael’s, The Watford group meets monthly. diary, so please come along and Chester Square, London SW1. Please Members come from as far as Tring, support us this year when we meet do join us if you can. Our speaker Milton Keynes and Chesham to this again on Sunday 9th November at this year will be Ian Birchall from Kent group. The contact for this group is 3.00pm. We realise that there is Action Against Live Exports. Sarah Dunning (01923-467502). another similar service that takes In addition, there is an Ecumenical place in the morning, but as many group, the Three Counties Animal of our members are clergy or church Animal Welfare Sunday Welfare Prayer Group, who meet for members who like to attend their own Sunday 5th October 2014 a service at Gloucester Cathedral at churches in the morning, we feel that by holding a service in the afternoon it Animal Welfare Sunday resources will 12.15 on the first Saturday of each enables our supporters to honour both be available via the web site later this month. The contact for the ecumenical humans and animals who served and year. group is the Revd Helen Hall (01633- 677775 or helen.hall123@ntlworld. continue to serve. We always lay a com). special ASWA wreath at the memorial but please feel free to bring your own ASWA Annual Service A new local group is starting up in wreaths or flowers if you so wish. Sunday 5th October 2014, March. The Suffolk group will have 10.30am its first meeting on Wednesday 12 Samantha Chandler March, 7.30pm at Stowmarket Parish ASWA’s annual service this year will Church. The contact for this group is take place at St Woolo’s Cathedral, Peta Whiting. Newport, Wales. ASWA is always keen to support the formation of new groups. If you are interested in starting a group in your area, please contact the Secretary.

4 | ASWA.ORG.UK ASWA COMMITTEE ELECTIONS It is that time again – time to elect Janet Murphy of Southwark and a member of the members of ASWA’s committee. There congregation at St Mary’s, Woodford, Janet has been is, however, no postal voting form Essex. His legal skills are of great a Christian and inside this issue of Animalwatch. This value to the ASWA committee. a member of is because at the time of going to press, ASWA for over there were only three candidates for fifteen years. She Helen Hall for four vacancies. The three candidates believes that the the position of are Rita Donovan, Janet Murphy and animal kingdom Chairman Philip Petchey. In addition, Helen Hall is an important is the sole candidate for the position Helen works as part of God’s of chairman. a parish priest in creation. Janet has served on the Newport, South The tasks of the committee are to ASWA committee since 2008, and Wales. She also manage the day-to-day running of has found it to be a great privilege. runs an ecumenical ASWA, including the planning of During her time on the committee, animal welfare ASWA services, commissioning and Janet has been finding creative prayer group which meets at producing informational material, ways actively to promote ASWA. Gloucester Cathedral. managing the budget, organising ‘Paw a Coffee for ASWA’ and other fund-raising events and the production events, including sponsored walks in Helen is a solicitor by background of Animalwatch, to name but a few. London and a Musical soirée have and is a member of the Association You will find information about the helped raise much needed funds of Lawyers for Animal Welfare. She candidates below. and encouraged new members. In has a special interest in the emotional addition to ASWA, Janet is a member and cognitive capacity of animals of many animal welfare Charities and believes that society often Rita Donovan and has been speaking to her local underestimates animals in this regard Rita has been Christian community on the recent and that this needs to be appropriately concerned badger cull situation. She has been challenged. For the past year, Helen about animal the proud owner of many ex-battery has been acting as interim chair of welfare from as hens as part of a re-homing scheme ASWA. far back as she from the British Hen Welfare Trust. can remember. She is also a Garden History tutor and She has served garden designer by profession and Any ASWA member who is interested on the ASWA works for the Charity, Mind. in standing for election to the ASWA committee for a number of years and committee next year (2015) should is a volunteer for a cat rescue and contact the Secretary by the end of Philip Petchey rehoming charity, both at the shelter December 2014. Candidates must and fundraising shop and as a pre- Philip is a barrister be willing to attend three committee homing visitor, and is a school speaker specialising in meetings a year which are held in for Animal Aid and occasionally for local government, London. Compassion in World Farming. She planning and shares her home with 4 rescued cats. ecclesiastical law. He is Chancellor of the Diocese

ASWA SPEAKERS ADDITIONAL OBITUARIES AVAILABLE RESOURCES Mrs Mabel Cleaver If you have a group or service that From Linda Bodicoat of Walberton, West Sussex, a long- would welcome an ASWA speaker, we Animal Welfare Prayer Cards, hymn standing supporter of ASWA. would love to hear from you! We often leaflets and price list available directly Mr Tony Moore travel a fair distance so please call to from Linda J Bodicoat, Rose Cottage, discuss it. We usually bring a stall and 51, Highfield Street, Earl Shilton, member of FAACE and prominent literature and always liaise with our Leicestershire, LE9 7HS Or by email campaigner to end bull fighting hosts to ensure the talk is appropriate – [email protected]. Please and other animal cruelty in Spain for their particular audience. Keep the use “ASWA/Prayer Cards” as a subject and elsewhere. Tony was known to invitations rolling in! heading if using email. many in ASWA, having once been a speaker at the ASWA AGM. He will be Animal Welfare Prayer Cards & Hymn remembered for the important work Leaflets are also available from the that he did for animals. ASWA website.

ASWA.ORG.UK | 5 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

AUSTRALIA: Two Nobel Laureates in a fortnight! That’s got to be good! SOUTH AFRICA: Powerful voices speak out In my own diocese of Newcastle, All our usual issues continue – factory New South Wales, I can report that World-wide cooperation in farming and live exports to name last October, St Francis’ Day was Animal Welfare but two. However, this has been a celebrated with a lovely service in our The Bear Group S.A. Trust is a charity good week for animals, as two very Cathedral. Many animals, including with an international reach. It was influential and famous individuals dogs, cats, fish, and donkeys were formed in 1997 following a television have spoken on their behalf. J.M. brought along. Afterwards the Dean, broadcast of bear-baiting in northern Coetzee, Nobel Laureate in Literature the Very Revd Stephen Williams, Pakistan. Horrified by this barbaric and Patron of Voiceless, the animal observed what a special moment it sport, South Africans in their hundreds protection institute here in Australia, was for each owner as their animal wrote letters to the television station, had an excellent piece in our major was blessed. Such special love we and a group of those appalled by national newspaper, The Australian, share with our animals. what they had seen got together to on 9th January, calling for an end to form the Bear Group S.A. In addition live exports. He says that government to continuing to work to rescue bears and industry should dismantle this subjected to bear-baiting in Pakistan, appallingly cruel trade as quickly as the Trust also contributes funds to possible. To quote him, “If we must Animals Asia to support their work subsidise graziers as they are weaned in rescuing bears kept in bile farms. from this disgrace, so be it.” The trust also contribuites to the World And as if that isn’t enough, as many Society for the Protection of Animals readers will already know, the greatly to support their work to rescue bears loved Archbishop Desmond Tutu that have been used in bear dancing of South Africa, 1984 winner of And finally, it is always encouraging acts in northern India, and the the Nobel Prize for Peace, has also to hear from others who share in International Fund for Animal Welfare spoken out for animals. As he says, our concerns. I would love to hear for the work of Professor Pathitnovin in he has seen oppression all his life, from any ASWA members living in Russia, rescuing orphaned wild bear and fought against it, and he believes Australia. Please feel free to contact cubs. that animals, oppressed and utterly me at the email address below. Anne Hemmings voiceless as they are, need us to fight Olga Parkes for them too. [email protected]

they should be moved. The Hillside there was no legal objection). There VICTIMS OF THE Animal Sanctuary was happy to are practical lessons to be learned, SYSTEM take them. In law they couldn’t be of course, and it is to be hoped that given passports but the Minister for they will be learned. It is not clear Many readers will have heard of Agriculture could make an exception to me why the Minister felt unable the plight of Lloyd and Leila. Lloyd to the requirement for a passport to make an exception and issue the and Leila were two cows who were for the journey to Hillside. He was passport. But Lloyd and Leila matter kept at Stepney City Farm and were urged to do so on the basis that in themselves. This is what all those a visitor attraction. As they grew there was no way in which the cows people who wrote about their case to maturity, however, there wasn’t would be able to enter the food were saying and the story should room for them. It seems likely that chain, the protection of which is the serve to emphasise this. Whatever that they should never have been reason for passports. He declined view you take about the keeping of brought to the farm in the first place, to do so. Unable to be moved from cattle to provide meat and milk, they although since their arrival it has City Farm to Hillside, Lloyd and Leila require our respect. No-one should lost land to Crossrail. On the basis were “culled”. think that it is ok to treat two cows that they might subsequently have as pets (in effect) for more than to be moved, they should have had This is a sad story. Many people, five years and then cause them to “passports”. including ASWA members, had be killed in circumstances such as written to both the City Farm and these. Neither Stepney City Farm The City Farm, which is now under the Minister and will be shocked nor the Minister was saying this, of different management from the that there wasn’t a happy ending. course, but the animals ended up time that the cows arrived, tried to The City Farm pointed to its advice; being killed just the same. find ways to keep them at the farm, the Minister said that he hoped that Lloyd and Leila would continue to but their veterinary advice was that Philip Petchey be kept at the City Farm (to which

6 | ASWA.ORG.UK ANIMAL WELFARE SERVICES

ASWA’s Annual Service Our new Chair, Revd Helen Hall who organised the evening event. It took the opportunity while the service always helps when visiting a new area was on to spend some time with the for an ASWA service to have an ASWA children and youth and so ensure that member to help with arrangements they were not left out of our message. and we would like to thank Claire Carter for all the contacts she provided As we were not able to have the usual us with. amount of input into the service as we have been used to in the past, we Samantha Chandler also organised an evening reception with drinks and vegetarian food in the cathedral Chapter House on All Saints’ Church, All Hallows, the Saturday evening before the Mealsgate, Cumbria service. We invited local Church We had a lovely service on Animal representatives of all denominations, Welfare Sunday, and are glad this local animal welfare groups and has become an annual event for us. members of the public, as well as the This year one of our Lay Ministers, Mayor, Councillor John Tamblyn, and Mrs Pat Hirst, led us in worship the MP for Truro, Sarah Newton. The and she talked about endangered In October 2013, on Animal Welfare evening was a great success and we species. She acknowledged the many Sunday, the ASWA team were invited will definitely consider doing a similar species around the world that are in to Truro Cathedral to share our event again. It enabled us to talk to trouble, but concentrated on our own message. We had never visited the fellow animal welfare folk about the endangered creatures, red squirrels, West Country before, and it was a specific mission of ASWA and also many farmland birds, etc. We sang great opportunity to meet a whole enabled us to talk about animal our usual hymns that have been set new bunch of people and talk to them welfare to those who might not have aside for this special service and our about animal welfare. given it much thought before. collection was in aid of ASWA, which Truro Cathedral wanted to keep the was just brilliant. The service also service as their Harvest Festival but came in the middle of our flower allowed us to provide the speaker for festival. The exhibits featured the rural the sermon and we had some input life of our parish past and present, on readings. We also had a stand and our young people created a displaying our literature. Our very lovely exhibit on animal welfare that own Revd Hugh Broadbent preached included an ASWA poster as part of (the full version of his sermon can their display. This was great because it be found on our website under brought ASWA to the attention of the ‘Sermons’, or a printed copy can be We would like to thank Canon Perran many visitors. obtained from the secretary). Gay for his help with our visit to Truro Helen Wallage and especially Marilyn and her team,

ASWA MERCHANDISE A variety of items are available from the ASWA web site Egg Cards: perfect for Easter − egg shaped cards with a prayer printed on one side. £0.35 each (minimum purchase 10). PAWS for Prayer cards: paw shaped cards with a prayer for companion animals printed on one side. £0.35 each (minimum purchase 10) ASWA postcards: 2 designs sold together in a pack of 6. £4 per pack. ASWA bags: handy cotton shopping by Jeremy Fletcher, illustration by Dave Walker, from Rules for Reverends, bag with the ASWA logo. £4 each. published by BRF www.brfonline.org.uk, 2013, used by permission ASWA.ORG.UK | 7 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor 50% stillbirth rate after cows grazed in resources are being bought. All it a field contaminated with chemicals would take would be one overturned It was reported in The Independent spilling from a waste pit. Prof. fracking waste-water lorry spilling 17th September 2013 “Fracking Oswald told The Ecologist: “[British] its contents into the Ribble, and its sparks food safety concern as expert farmers living in intensively drilled tidal estuary and the Sight of Special warns of serious risk to .” areas should be very concerned about Scientific Interest of the Moss would Professor Robert Oswald, an expert potential exposures of their crops and also be contaminated for good. on molecular medicine at Cornell herds to shale-gas contaminants in University, said his findings of deaths the water, air and soil.” The scientist Sandra Bigley, and deformities in American livestock said that all fracking should be halted St Annes-on-the-Sea, Fylde are so alarming that Britain should in Britain until a testing programme is halt the practice ‘until its impact is put in place to assess the impact on assessed.’ Fracking for gas and oil farmland, livestock and food supplies Dear Editor in the British countryside poses such of the chemical cocktail used to force a significant risk to livestock that a gas and oil from shale deposits. I found this quote by the 19th century moratorium should be imposed on Campaigners have said an array of Native American Chief Seattle in a the industry until its impact on food chemicals, including carcinogens woman’s magazine some time ago safety can be assessed, a leading (cancer-causers), is deployed during and wish to share it with your readers. researcher has warned. Prof Robert fracking. Unlike in US, British Oswald, co-author of the first study operators must release details of the into links between hydraulic fracturing chemicals they use. Prof. Oswald “If all the animals were gone, man and sickness in farm animals, said said: “Farmers have a right to know would die of a great loneliness of his findings of deaths and deformities what their families and their herds are spirit. All things are connected like the in US livestock are so alarming that being exposed to. The components of blood which unites one family. Man Britain should halt growth of the fracturing fluids and drilling muds to did not weave the web of life, he is practice while further research is be used in a well near a farm should merely a strand in it.” conducted. The warning comes be reported. We are reporting short- Kathleen Stephenson, as planners prepare to consider term health changes but no one applications to expand exploratory knows what the long-term health Huddersfield drilling operations around Sussex, changes may be, especially those a prime area. Prof caused by low doses of chemicals.” Oswald compiled 24 incidents across The debate on fracking in Britain has Dear Editor six US states where livestock on farms yet to consider any potential impact adjacent to drilling sites died or on food production, with protesters I am a 66-year old Christian animal suffered illness, including reproductive focusing on environmental pollution rights activist who lost my freedom and neurological problems potentially and possible damage to property. for those who cannot speak for following exposure to fracking themselves. I was one of the Oxford chemicals. While proponents of A. Wills, Ruislip, Middlesex Two. I think that if Jesus were here fracking have pointed to its possible now, he would be disgusted at what advantages, including making Britain is done to animals today. I have bad less reliant on gas imports, opponents Dear Editor health, but would not want an animal have highlighted incidents of pollution to be put through medical research affecting groundwater in America. Thank you for your article on for my benefit. It is not right to make Among the incidents investigated by endangered species (Animalwatch, animals suffer. I wish more people Prof. Oswald and a colleague was Autumn 2013). Your words, “The would at least stop and think about a leak in Louisiana of waste water demand for more and cheaper sources what happens in the labs. I hope that from fracking – the process to force of oil and gas and other resources one day it will stop and all animals gas from rock by blasting it with a mean that many wild areas are at will live in peace and have love. chemical fluid – which allegedly left risk of being exploited for their fossil 17 cows dead from respiratory failure. fuel resources,” speak so eloquently Robert Lewis, Ilkeston, Derbyshire In Pennsylvania, a herd suffered a of the dreadful price at which these

TALKING POINT

How can we keep the lights on? Over the past few months, energy and energy sources have been much in the news, in the UK and elsewhere. In the USA, the proliferation of fracking (extracting natural gas from shale by forcing the rocks apart using a mixture of water and chemicals injected under high pressure) has led to a drop in energy prices that has benefited both consumers and businesses. But this is not without controversy. There have been many claims of contamination of ground water as a result of fracking, and the drilling of wells can disrupt vital habitats and damage areas of natural beauty. There is also the question of continued reliance on fossil fuels while neglecting the (admittedly more expensive) development of renewable, low-carbon energy generation. As the UK and other nations explore the possibility of fracking to meet their own energy needs we must ask the question, “how far can we go to keep the lights on?”

8 | ASWA.ORG.UK A REFLECTION ON PSALM 23 FOR CHRISTIANS EXHAUSTED BY THE FIGHT FOR ANIMAL WELFARE.

1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall against. I like the mental picture this particularly the translation of two words: not be in want. verse conjurers up – God with a big stick Love is ‘hesed’ in the original Hebrew (rod) and a long shepherd’s crook (staff) 2 text. This is no ordinary love – it is maybe He makes me lie down in green steering us and keeping us safe. We better translated ‘covenant love’. It is pastures, he leads me beside quiet don’t know what the final outcome of all the word used to describe the covenant waters, our struggles will be and too often our relationship between God and people. 3 battles do not appear to end in victory. he restores my soul. He guides This is a legal agreement binding on However, although we might look and me in paths of righteousness both God and people. God has made feel like mice we have a lion protecting for his name’s sake. a covenant with me, through Jesus, us (or a shepherd with a big stick to be which is unbreakable and for ever. God Often my soul badly needs restoring. more literal!). I suspect that emotional exhaustion is cannot walk away from me and I cannot 5 an inevitable part of the struggle for You prepare a table before me walk away from him, which brings me animal welfare − if we are not often in the presence of my enemies. to the next astonishing word: follow. shattered and distressed and profoundly You anoint my head with oil; The word in Hebrew means to pursue frustrated in our fight then we are just my cup overflows. or chase someone as hard as you can in not paying attention. God knows we order to catch them. The creator God of This is a really attractive picture. So the whole universe is chasing after me. need the rest and the restoration that when will it happen? In this life would it brings so we can’t afford to neglect be amazing, but probably not. Our To paraphrase: “Because of God’s our green pastures if we are in for the Christian hope is a real one and we absolute commitment to me he will ‘long haul’. Everyone is different, so I are fortunate to be able to draw on chase after me to catch me in order to can’t say what works for you, but we all our belief in a God of justice who will be good to me all the days of my life” need to locate this ‘soul space’ and visit judge those responsible for the evils in it regularly in order to refresh our souls. However hard I find the issues, however this world. This knowledge provides us much I struggle with society and the If we don’t have those green pastures in with extra strength compared with the our lives, then we need to pursue them church to put animals on the agenda, non-believers who struggle with us for God is right in front leading us and right before we engage in the fight or we will animal welfare. burn out. behind us, chasing after us even when, Personally I find it really hard to deal especially when, we want to walk away So, first the restored soul and then the with the indifference and ignorance of from him. action. What does God want you to most Christians when it comes to animal do? Where is your battle field? Note Sometimes I would really like to ‘jack it suffering and animal needs given the all in’ – to walk away from the church that it is God who leads us there – he clear teaching in the Bible about care is the orchestrator of our lives and the and the widespread indifference to the for our Creator’s earth. I rather like this welfare of the animal world. Concern commander for the fight. Our job is to quotation from Gandhi: allow ourselves to be led by him. We and work for animal rights is tough might feel alone or insignificant but we ‘First they ignore you, then they laugh at enough without having to deal with are not – we are part of his battle plan. you, then they fight you, then you win.’ attitudes of rather large sections of the church not to mention the question of 4Even though I walk through the As a Christian called by God to struggle why a loving creator God is allowing valley of the shadow of death, for animal welfare, I’ve felt ignored, even half, even a tenth of all the animal I will fear no evil, laughed at, argued with but never had suffering we see at the hands of people. for you are with me; the experience of winning so far when But I can’t and this verse explains why – your rod and your staff, it comes to any main-stream church the hound of heaven won’t let me. they comfort me. or Christian movement. Excuse me if I sound a little bitter, but I am guessing We have a hope – however frustrating And where is darker and more death that the church as we know it is not the fight and hopeless our struggles, like than some of the evil places where going to be first in line in fighting for a this life and this suffering is not the animals are abused with little or no hope better attitude to animals in our society. end – not ever. There will be justice of reprieve? We can fill in an example However, things are slowly changing for and victory and that table full of vegan here for ourselves from the constant the better and our message is getting out goodies in front of those who opposed accounts of animal mistreatment we there and, one day, I hope the church us and didn’t listen. Hence there is no hear about on a daily basis. One will see this too and, you never know, space and no need for despair however group walking through countless dark maybe our cup will be overflowing in desperate the struggle for consideration valleys is the Animals’ Angels, founded our lifetime – it is all we can work for. for animals both in the church and in by German Christians. They follow the world. 6 long distance animal transports across Surely goodness and love will Jill Winslow borders, into the slaughter houses, to follow me do what they can to shine a light into the all the days of my life, darkness of the lives of these animals and I will dwell in the house of the waiting for their deaths. LORD for ever. It is real evil we are surrounded with – make no mistake. We are entitled to I think that this is the most powerful part be afraid of some of the people and of this powerful psalm, and it is easy to overwhelming indifference we are up miss as rather a lot is lost in translation,

ASWA.ORG.UK | 9 ameliorate their lot, and this little to my congregation for Lent reading BOOK REVIEWS book sets what is happening now this year, for its stark exposure of against Biblical texts which proclaim suffering in this world, for its helpful LET MY PEOPLE God’s love and express a yearning meditations and prayers, and finally GO for the freedom of creation. Each for its Easter vision of a brighter future Claiming the Bible section ends with a prayerful, poetic for us humans together with the other for the Animals reflection. While the writing is gentle, animals in the light of Christ. Martin Henig By Revd Christa compassionate and often very lyrical, I Blanke found this quite a difficult and, indeed, tearful read because of the appalling Published by suffering witnessed on a daily basis by A FAITH Animals’ Christa and her fellow workers. EMBRACING ALL Angels Press CREATURES ISBN 978-3-9814946-6-2 Like some of the psalms, the book is By Tripp York and 117pp Paperback shot through with a pious questioning Andy Alexis-Baker Price £4.00 from ASWA of God, rooted in prayer. Why is such (editors) terrible large-scale suffering allowed From the outset, to happen? This is a question which Cascade Press makes it plain that this is not a of course exercises all of us, often ISBN 978-1-61097-701-2 theological survey of what the Bible in relation to abuses against human 194pp Paperback says about animals and their rights beings, such as the Nazi Holocaust. Price £15 (there are other books on this, for Like the author, I think one simply example and Dan has to trust in the loving purposes of If you are a Christian and frequently Cohn-Sherbok, After Noah. Animals God, and like the late Hugo find yourself being challenged by and the liberation of theology,1997), Gryn answer the question ‘where was other Christians to defend your stance but rather, it is a forthright attempt to God?’ with another question: ‘where on animal welfare (and/or being a show how the implications of justice was Man[kind]?’ Christa Blanke vegetarian), then this book is for you. issues in the Bible, notably in the fearlessly tackles the evil our species It is a collection of essays designed story of the Exodus and in the words does while persisting in the faith that to answer the questions that are of Jesus recorded in the Gospels, God loves all his creatures and, as often asked of Christians who speak might be extended as a freedom she says, ‘He himself is with them, in up for animal welfare or choose a manifesto to embrace all creation. As slavery and during the mass killing.’ vegetarian/vegan diet. These cover a such, it is a timely echo of Archbishop Although ‘humans can kill and eat range of topics, from the concept of Desmond Tutu’s recent endorsement non-human animals… they will never dominion, to the practice of animal for the Global guide to animal succeed in killing God’s love for His sacrifice in the Old Testament, to protection, in which he states that, children.’ questions of whether or not Jesus ate ‘We do not honour God by abusing meat, and questions about the relative other sentient creatures’. If I have The extended message of what should value of humans and animals. any criticism of Blanke’s book, it is be seen as a powerful manifesto for that the author might have added that animals is that Christians should go For those who often encounter these much of the specific abuse of animals much further than simply ensuring types of questions, the essays titled that she details is in fact strictly half-adequate welfare standards for Didn’t Jesus eat lamb? and Didn’t contrary to several compassionate them on the way to slaughter. Killing Jesus eat fish? together with the essay provisions detailed in Biblical texts, and eating animals is ultimately an by Michelle Lloyd-Page titled Doesn’t notably Exodus and Deuteronomy. offense against the love enjoined on Romans say that vegetarians have These enjoin humane treatment of us by Christ, an offense against the “weak faith”? will prove very helpful. domestic animals by ensuring they freedom which all creation is destined For me, however, the most powerful are adequately fed and watered and to share. Moreover it is one aspect of essay was on the concept of Christian demand that the owner let them enjoy the way in which we are destroying hospitality, written by Laura Hobgood- a Sabbath rest. the earth and its delicate ecosystems, Oster. Exploring both scripture and though rather more might have been church tradition, this essay shows Christa Blanke’s focus is the work made of the fact that the clearance that Christians have an obligation of Animals’ Angels which exposes of tracts of forest in order to facilitate to offer a radical hospitality, and the gross cruelties which human meat-production is one of the major that this extends not only to our beings, motivated by greed, are still factors in environmental degradation fellow humans, but to all creatures, inflicting on countless animals sold and species extinction. The Anglican through the preservation of habitat, for slaughter both in the marketplace church, indeed the church as a whole, care for domestic and wild animals and when they are then transported has been silent for far too long in and the rejection of (at least) factory- over long distances to a terrible fate in condemning the callous way in which farmed meat. Although it’s not stated often unsupervised . our fellow creatures are reared in explicitly, Hobgood-Oster’s essay They try to provide a loving presence industrial squalor and slaughtered seems to be interpreting the concept alongside the animals on their as a commodity in their millions. I of human dominion in Genesis as final journey and where possible to am strongly recommending this book that of host on earth, and it is from

10 | ASWA.ORG.UK this God-given hosting role that the requirement to extend hospitality to POETS’ CORNER all creatures comes. Following some very enthusiastic feedback from the inclusion of Poet’s Corner Far more difficult to read is the essay in the previous issue, we have decided to include it in this issue, as well. We on factory farming. And yet it is hope that readers will enjoy this original poem by Lynne Chitty, which took third important to have our eyes opened to prize in the Jack Clemo poetry competition. the cruel practices that go on in factory Morning Eucharist Such is the congregation on this raw farms, and the scale on which this A blackbird March morning cruelty is practiced. If more Christians A robin at a fat ball, Swelled by families of tits could be persuaded to face the facts Another looking on, Great and blue. of where their food comes from, the wondering whether to squabble That zip in Church as a whole might begin to or wait and out. ask the question posed by Carol J He waits! Adams in her essay on dominion: Sparrows on the ground And as I pray “What kind of God do we as God’s Gleaning rich pickings ‘Thy kingdom come … representatives on earth make known Feasting on crumbs from under the on earth as it is in heaven.’ through our [mis]treatment and killing table which Just for a moment, of animals?” previous messy eaters have I think it already has. flung out. Each of the essays in this book is well- Water trapped beneath the ice in an written in language suitable for the old bowl, Lynne Chitty average layman, and each would waiting to be released. make an excellent basis for a Bible Plenty of early morning drinkers study or group discussion. Together, But no bathers they present a very coherent argument Not yet! for a Christian imperative to promote animal welfare. Jennifer Brown

NEWS FROM PAW A COFFEE FOR ASWA 2013 In November 2013 Broadway prosecutions. Money was always a Baptist Church in Buckinghamshire problem and in 1826 Broome was held two events to celebrate “Paw imprisoned for the society’s debts, A Coffee for ASWA.” During our but was released by the efforts of Sunday service on the 6th November Richard Martin, himself in financial I spoke a little about the work of trouble. Broome had given up his ASWA, focusing on the Christian living to concentrate on his SPCA animal advocates of the past. As a work, and must have lived on his Church we also highlighted the work assets and savings or gifts from of the RSPCA our ‘Everyday Heroes’ friends. In 1828 he was forced to by holding a coffee morning on a take a job, and was thanked by Saturday in our Church hall. We sold an acerbic comment in a SPCA home-made cakes and gifts, raising resolution “(regretted) he should find funds and awareness for ASWA and it inconvenient to attend to the duties the RSPCA. of the office,” and he was replaced as secretary. He remained on the The RSPCA was founded by a committee until death in 1883. Christian, the Revd . In 1824 he became the secretary It is not difficult to see the parallel of the new society, amongst whose between this self-sacrificial ASWA Donation founding committee were two other individual, treated badly by his Envelopes clergy: William Wilberforce, the friends, and the life of his Lord 1800 chairman Fowell Buxton MP, and years before. If you are Richard Martin. Arthur Broome was planning the vicar of St Leonard, located near Information about the RSPCA from Animal an ASWA Advocates ©ASWA. the horrors of Smithfield Market, animal service, where the society first concentrated Make a Difference in 2014, Paw A don’t forget there are ASWA Donation Envelopes for you to give out at those services. its activities. He employed, at his Coffee For ASWA (for invitations or own expense, a man to gather information contact Janet Murphy − For more information please contact: evidence of abuse and in the first Tel/Fax: 01252 843093 tel: 07793748634or email Email: [email protected] year the society brought nearly 150 [email protected].). ASWA.ORG.UK | 11 A selection of ASWA merchandise

E W TH ELF PAWS for Prayer card OR A Pack of F RE Y O T F IE A C N

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ASWA Merchandise Ad.indd 1 01/01/2013 14:33 ANGLICAN SOCIETY FOR THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS

PO Box 7193, Hook, Hampshire Patrons: President: RG27 8GT, UK. www.aswa.org.uk The Rt Revd Austin Baker The Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS (Former Bishop of Salisbury) (Bishop of Monmouth) Correspondance Secretary: Mrs Samantha Chandler Dr Tony Campolo Vice President: Tel/Fax: 01252 843093 The Revd Dr Martin Henig Email: [email protected] Mr David Coffey MRCVS Interim Chairman: Treasurer: Mrs Jenny White The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell The Revd Helen Hall (Bishop of Chelmsford) Editor: Revd Jennifer Brown Email: [email protected] The Rt Revd James Jones Membership Secretary: (Former Bishop of Liverpool) Mr Keith Plumridge Email: The Rt Revd John Pritchard [email protected] (Bishop of Oxford)

The Revd Dr Steven Shakespeare