Henry went to hospital...
twas Bethesda Naval
and took a picture of an ape
in a restraining chair.
And took it to an international
picture wire called Black Star.
Which sent it round the world
and Gandhi saw and knew
that the US of A had broken the treaty
and she canceled monkey export
because Henry in five hours
cared enough to reach for
one bright and reachable star.
To Henry Spira, maritime union organizer, teacher of
English in Manhattan public schools, and for the last quarter century
before his death, a wielder of the Archimedes lever in the cause of
prevention of animal suffering.
(Restraining chair: primates are strapped into these devices for several
months at a time, never released for body functions such as sleep or
defecation or walking. The muscle cramping and boredom is severe.)
This is not meant to single out any country, as all harm
animals. Some would argue that because of fast food exports, the U.S. is
the biggest mammal butcher in the world.
The bears of China, the sable of Russia, the sturgeon of
Turkey, the seals of Canada, the whales of Norway, the dolphins of Japan,
the bulls of Spain and Mexico, the geese of France, the veal calves of
Italy, the foxes of the UK, the pigs of Poland, the lambs of Greece, the
monkeys of Zaire, the chickens of Haiti all deserve our protection.
Go on to Memorable Quote
Return to 14 August 2005 Issue
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