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Monday, January 27, 2014

Be the voice for the voiceless and a movie review of The Book Thief and a tale by Andrew Verster



Be the voice for the voiceless
Lauren Immelman

Curiosity killed the cat. This seems to be quite literal for a young cat whose owners’ neighbour bought himself a new car. The cat from next door seemed to decide that it was okay to venture out and walk along the bonnet of the man’s new BMW M3. A few scratches later the once happy car owner was now put into a very different frame of mind.

Taking lethal measures to stop the cat, he decided to plant moon-travellers, fireworks that explode once ignited, into the cat’s anus which ended in the death of the curious cat.

For people who have that grandeur dislike for cats, who think that this is ethical to treat cats or any other animal like this, is dead wrong. There are organisations that feel that all animals should be treated with love, care and compassion. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is one of these organisations that defend the rights of animals. They feel that all creatures have rights as well as to be treated in a manner where their best interests are put into consideration.

A case such as the above is frowned upon entirely within the animal caring community. In addition to this mentioned, many cases of animal abuse are reported every year. Although an exact number is never really known, up to 100,000 animal abuse cases are reported. Even more animals die from cases of arranged fighting such as chicken fights and dog fights, which in turn feed man’s greed. Various animal anti-cruelty organisations, the SPCA being one of them are constantly phoned with complaints about cases such as these. The SPCA handles situations of animals that come from a domestic lifestyle, farm animals, animals reared for consumption, sports and research as well as wildlife.

The SPCA’s aim is to encourage everyone from all over the world to view and become a part of the community that they have established. They want to share and express the concerns for animals who do not have a voice of their own. Their main purpose is to prevent ill-treatment and improper handling on animals, so as to educate the community about humane treatment of animals. Fundamental education on proper treatment for animals creates a positive mind frame for every one alike to help each other become aware of the problems that many animals face on a daily basis. 

The local impact created by the SPCA is to encourage everyone to become a volunteer and to extend a caring hand which will benefit the animals in the best way. With donations flowing in from different communities, even from overseas where SPCA organisations are placed, the SPCA could be a place where animals are given proper treatment.

However, with a sad heart, we seem to forget that many animals in these shelters are euthanized to create either more space for healthy animals or simply because they are not being adopted. Chain pet stores seem to be keeping people from taking home animals that have lost what they used to have. In many instances when animals come from pet stores, their back ground is not a happy one. According to Oscar’s Law Pet store animals come from mills or irresponsible breeders who sell their animals that are in bad health. Whereas a shelter animal has been through its health checks and shots to make sure that they are fit to be adopted. If the public becomes more aware of these concerns, then the bigger impact in a local society on a positive scale will be awarded.


The Book Thief
Movie Review
By Lauren Immelman
Rating: 5 Stars 

                                             

What seemed to be the most interesting feeling in the world was the feeling of knowing that I was watching The Book Thief that first started off as a novel. A German based movie in the time of World War II, with only a small quantity of subtitles, kept me grabbing for more popcorn the better it got from scene to scene.

Liesel, a coming of age German girl, enters into the lives of a middle aged couple. Fostered into their way of life, and growing up in a house in a little village, Liesel learns to take each day as it comes and to take life by the fullest.

Befriending her neighbour; Rudy, and a man she calls Papa, Liesel is pulled into a world of the written word. In the dark of the night, ablaze with a burning fire allows Liesel to grow her curiosity in just one brief moment, so briskly unexpected. And when something absolutely terrifying yet so wonderful happens in her new little family, Liesel cannot help but  delve deeper into a realm where only her eyes and imagination can wonder. Max is its name.

I could not help, in most times while watching this movie also caught by myself, falling into her imagination alongside young Liesel.  The Book Thief is one of those movies where you feel a part of it no matter far removed you are to the whole spectacle. Liesel’s story seized my heart into the tears that fell down close to the end of the movie. 


RHYMING MANTRA BY ANDREW VERSTER

BEES, KNEES AND FLEAS
RATS, CATS AND HATS
DISHES AND FISHES
JUGS AND MUGS
HOGS, DOGS AND FROGS
PENS, PINS AND PANS
RAGS AND BAGS
EYES AND PIES
RICE, MICE AND LICE
COTS, DOTS AND PITS
MUSTARD AND CUSTARD
AUNT AND PLANT
SHELLS, BELLS AND BULLS
TRAINS AND CRANES
BRAINS AND PLANES
BOYS AND TOYS
GIRLS AND CURLS
RAMS, DAMS AND CLAMS
GNATS, KNOTS AND NUTS
FISH AND CHIPS
SHEEP AND SHIPS
ONE DAY AND SUNDAY
TWO AND BLUE
THREE AND TREE
FOUR AND DOOR
HEAD AND BED
RED AND Z
HEAD AND BED
WEED AND SEED
JUDGE AND FUDGE


Andrew Verster is a world famous artist and writer.
Email:  AndrewVerster784@gmail.com 




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