July 22, 2023

It has always been difficult for people to understand why we do what we do. Why do we take such risks to the of life and freedom for the sake of animals.

To them being prepared to risk our human lives to protect a non-human life is insanity.

Most people can’t imagine the compassion that drives us to do what we do.

They threaten, us they beat us, they arrest, jail and fine us for intervening against the infliction of pain and death upon self-aware sentient beings.

They can’t fathom the reality that animals have emotions and feelings, that they experience stress and suffering. They refuse to accept that animals think and dream, that they love, they fear, they can be depressed.

By refusing to accept these things, they can inflict pain and death without thought, without sadness or thought, without concern and without worry of consequences. 

When you negate the sentience of animals, you can inflict the most sadistic treatment without troubling your conscience.

I wrote this poem about a Pilot Whale child to try and convey the reality of their lives. These are words that the Faroese whalers will laugh at just as all evil people have done through the ages when they committed atrocities.

The Tragedy of a Boy Named Tonlist*

In the depths of the dark, dark, sea.

Swam a little boy named Tonlist,

The pride and joy of his mother.

With their family wild and free,

They swam towards the distant mist,

His mother, sister and his brother.

It was a happy, happy, day,

Full of excitement and sweet joy,

Games to play with their family song,

Swimming towards a lovely bay.

Tonlist was a playful young boy,

On such a day what could go wrong?

“There are tales of monsters.” said Mom.

Strange creatures of raging lust, 

Beware, beware of the frightful clang,

Never stray too far from your Mom. 

For these creatures that we can’t trust,

Just remember, what our Elders sang.

After breakfast of mackerel and squid,

He played games with the other boys.

They had fun with bubbles of air.

Tonlist was just a happy kid, 

Despite the plastics and the noise,

A happy kid without a care.

His mother hugged him to her side,

Touching so warmly fin to fin,

Her soft voice echoed in his ear ,

That he was her bliss and her pride.

She dismissed his silliness with a grin,

So glad that he was here and near.

The sun sparkled across the main,

The cool summer sky, a calming blue,

When she felt the pod’s creeping fear,

A dull thumping impending bane,

Louder and louder the banging grew,

A hard wall of sound did appear.

To my side my sweet little boy,

Feeling anxiety and dread,

I know not what this thing can be,

Be brave, be brave my little boy.

Mother, why has the sea turned red?

Why does such noise pollute our sea?

Please leave my side my loving son,

I know not why we hear the cries,

I cannot protect you child, 

Swim my sweet son, escape and run.

All around us our family dies. 

Our entire pod has been defiled.

Mom, I can’t, I won’t leave your side,

What are these creatures on the beach? 

Your hot blood gushes over me,

My love, your life, our lives denied,

Salvation is beyond our reach,

Mom, I am unable to flee.

A searing hot pain slices me deep,

Mom, Mom, why are you so quiet,

Feeling so cold, so cold, so cold. 

The blanket of blood and I sleep,

To sleep and never to grow old.

From a morning of joy and fun,

Warm in a mother’s blessed love,

Beginning of a wonderful life,

Now lying dead under the sun,

Just a body to dispose of

After an orgy with lance and knife.

Tonlist is Icelandic for Music