Fighting For Animal Rights

Who says only humans have rights. Animals have rights too although it is often overlooked by many simply because they are not up to par with the human race. They are the inferior species, it is true but it does not mean we can just trample on their rights just like that because they are living beings that can feel and get hurt too. Not everyone treats animals this way but it can’t be denied that there are those who enjoy inflicting pain and making these poor animals suffer for their own enjoyment. In the likes of these people are hunters, poachers, and everyone else who patronizes cruelty to animals in one way or the other.

Many times society has been torn as to what to feel and how to act on circumstances where animal life is not given importance at all. Science, after all, uses animals in their research and every other industry that require a testing of some sort before they can safely sell their products to their end consumers – humans. Shops that sell animal-related souvenirs or exotic delicacies are also included in this list. And if you look at it, our society has embraced some sort of tolerance to these behaviors over the years and some even consider it as part of the norm.

This dispute once again gave rise to questions about the legal personality of non-humans.

The 21st century has seen many attempts to recognise animals as legal subjects — from granting them protection from cruel treatment, to arguments for recognising them as legal persons and granting them property rights — but there has been discomfort in giving them a plenary membership within the human legal community. Scholars like Benjamin Berger have argued that it is the contrived attempt to treat humans and animals similarly that has obscured our understanding of animals as legal subjects, while moral philosopher Peter Singer contends that the idea of the species divide itself is feigned, and so the moral and legal distinction irrelevant.

(Via: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-legal-status-of-animals/article19710497.ece)

What confuses the majority are the conflicting perspectives of society in general over the very core meaning of animal rights and as to which animals have rights to be upheld and which ones aren’t that important. Remember that we are omnivorous eaters and meat is a big part of our cuisine, so it is understandable that we are torn over this subject because we eat fish, poultry, beef, etc. in our day-to-day meals. So, does that mean we stop eating meat from now on?

The Israeli march is expected to surpass a 1990 event in which 25,000 people marched for animal rights in Washington, DC.

Keynote speaker at Rabin Square at approximately 9:30pm will be Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the largest animal-rights organization in the world. Also coming to Israel for the event is James Aspey, a global animal-rights activist based in Sydney, Australia.

The march’s theme this year is “It’s in our hands.” Participants will be advocating for the rights of wild animals, strays and animals held in the entertainment, medical experiments, food and clothing industries, as well as for banning the sale of fur products in Israel, banning import of live animals for slaughter and increasing the national budget for spay-neuter programs.

(Via: https://www.israel21c.org/tel-aviv-to-host-worlds-largest-animal-rights-march/)

The issue of morality is the main reason why some people are fighting for the rights of these animals, aside from them not being able to fight for their rights themselves. If you think about it, there shouldn’t really be an issue on animal rights at all if we only learn to coexist with each other and respect the rights of one another. But unfortunately, there will be casualties as some species have to sacrifice in order for the human race to push forth the innovations and development we are all aspiring for.

While we can’t totally obliterate the conflict with animal rights, just being a little more sensitive about not hurting any animal in our daily life and not supporting any forms of cruelty towards the animal species as a whole is already a great start. You don’t necessarily have to become a vegan to make a point. The issue here is the senseless violence animals have to endure for human’s pleasure. Steer away from those and you are doing the best that you can in your own little ways.

The following blog post Fighting For Animal Rights Find more on: The I Am Not An Artist Blog

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The Problem With Hygiene

Everyone understands the essence of a good hygiene. Of course, you don’t want to be that stinky person most people want to avoid. And it also plays a big role in your success or failure in life. The majority of us take a bath daily and spend a good deal of our time inside the bathroom, so it’s safe to say we spend years in total doing our personal thing in the comfort of that enclosed space. Women probably spend more time because they have to deal with more feminine issues than men do and they have their monthly period to deal with and other icky “girl” stuff.

There is nothing wrong with taking care of your hygiene because it has a big impact on your health. The problem now arises on the trash we leave behind from using the loo. Sanitary products like tissue paper, tampons, napkins, etc. can create a big problem once they pile up. It is even more taxing if they are flushed down the drain. While most of these products say it is safe to do so, we don’t really have an idea what happens to them after.

Sanitary products are made from approximately 90 per cent plastic and, along with their plastic packaging, generate a mammoth 200,000 tonnes of waste per year in the UK alone. That's plastic which can take up to 500 years to decompose and potentially release harmful chemicals into seas and rivers if not disposed of correctly. Fish have even begun ingesting it, causing damage to their insides.

Statistics show that the average woman in the UK uses more than 11,000 disposable menstrual products in her lifetime and spends over £18,000 on the luxury of having them. In 2010, a UK beach clean found an average of 23 sanitary pads and nine tampon applicators per kilometre of British coastline. As demand is so high, companies pile up more stock than necessary, and stores end up disposing of new, unopened packages that aren't bought, says Hayley Smith, founder of Flow Aid, an organisation that campaigns for free sanitary products for homeless women.

(Via: http://www.wired.co.uk/article/thinx-reusable-sanitary-products-environment-waste)

Perhaps a lot of women will feel bad after knowing this as if the pain and suffering they have to go through during that day of the month isn’t enough of a burden for them but we can't deny the need for many of these sanitary products to keep them sane and clean because women have special needs after all. Yet no amount of rationalizing will erase the fact that most sanitary products are made of 90% plastic. And we all know that plastic is (very) bad for the environment, right?

Perhaps it is no coincidence that the record-breaking fatberg was discovered during a week of coordinated nationwide beach clean-ups, run by volunteers (Monster fatberg found inside London sewer, 13 September). Fatbergs like the “monster” found in Whitechapel could easily be avoided, but it’s time for an honest discussion about the causes. It’s not just cooking oil but a range of other items that we flush down our loos.

Tampons are widely believed to be flushable but swell up in sewers, combining with oil to create impenetrable blockages. Blocked sewers overflow into rivers, leading to the oceans, hence the huge clean-ups needed every year to rid our beaches of so-called sanitary waste. 

(Via: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/18/how-to-win-the-battle-against-sanitary-waste)

Now you know. Your waste doesn’t just disappear off the face of the planet once it disappears from your sight. This trash accumulates in the drainage or sewer and can block the pipes. It becomes a major headache during the rainy season because it contributes to the flooding in your area. What’s worse is when they end up on natural water sources like the river and they get washed to the beach and endanger the lives of marine life in the ocean.

Conservationists are hyping up the issue because we all experience the negative impact of climate change for quite some time now. We have witnessed the intense power of hurricanes and the destruction it leaves behind. Many other natural calamities have intensified and became a really big threat to human lives and properties. Since we (especially women) can’t avoid the use of these hygienic products, developing better waste management techniques and systems is an acceptable solution to this problem that the government should look into now, not tomorrow.

The Problem With Hygiene Read more on: Iamnotanartist.org Blog

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Are You Ready To Adopt A Pet?

Not everyone is meant to be pet parents. It’s a reality of life. Some people don’t just have the soft spot to care for another living being that is not human. It takes a big heart and a great deal of patience to support the needs of an animal friend aside from showering them with the tender love and care they also need as much as humans do. And you would actually be surprised to learn that animals have a lot of needs too and caring for them can be quite expensive as well, so owning one as a pet isn’t really something for everyone. You have responsibilities as if you are also raising a young child. So imagine how difficult it must be for strays to keep themselves alive and safe from the elements without owners to look after them.

However, a lot of animals have recently become orphans because of the onslaught of the destructive hurricanes that hit certain parts of the nation. Some of them are already strays fending for themselves while the rest are pets that have either been left behind, in short abandoned, by or have been separated from their owners. Many of them were rescued by local animal shelters. Unfortunately, they are so many that these shelters can’t accommodate them all. So, are you ready to welcome one furry friend into your home or not?

This weekend, local animal lovers will have the chance to adopt cats and dogs affected by Hurricane Harvey free of charge.

The Aggieland Humane Society's annual fee-waived adoption event will be held on Saturday, hosted by the Sterling Subaru dealership in Bryan. The company has paid for all the adoption fees of Humane Society animals that will be available, including the standard "adoption package," which includes free microchipping, spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations and a month of pet insurance.

Several of the animals that will be available were displaced in Houston after Hurricane Harvey. The event will feature both adult cats and dogs, as well as puppies and kittens. Animals will be staged on site at the Sterling Subaru dealership off of Texas 6 in Bryan, from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.

(Via: http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/adopt-pets-from-aggieland-humane-society-for-free-this-weekend/article_488f804f-a16a-5aa6-9e40-0a64892f8bfa.html)

It’s probably the best time for you to become a pet owner yourself with the number of poor, homeless animals cramped in animal shelters right now. Well, some will eventually be fetched by their owners but many are still left homeless for long. Why not give it a try and experience for yourself what it is like to receive the unconditional love of another living being who patiently waits for you to come home each day.

“Seattle Humane staff and volunteers, along with several other local shelters, will be waiting to receive the animals,” spokeswoman Amanda Anderson. “This is the first of several expected flights to Seattle to help shelters that are directly housing displaced pets outside of Houston.”

The Seattle Humane team will transport pets to a shelter in Bellevue, where they will be placed for adoption. Seattle Humane, which started in Seattle and is now located on the Eastside, also is organizing an emergency foster care orientation for perspective volunteers who can temporarily house pets from Texas. People who want to volunteer are asked to email emergencyfoster@seattlehumane.org. 

(Via: http://www.kiro7.com/news/local/seattle-humane-society-to-help-pets-from-texas-flooding/600137267)

Of course, the first priorities are the certified homeless animals while the ones with suspected owners or those with pet tags or those saved from abandoned homes will be left behind in shelters in the hopes that their owners will come back for them. Not everyone is expected to extend help and open up their homes to new animals, especially grown ones but it won’t hurt if you open up your mind and try caring for one before you even start complaining. Having a pet has its pros and cons but all your hardship won’t matter if you have fallen in love with that adorable four-legged creature that you now call your own.

Are You Ready To Adopt A Pet? is courtesy of The I Am Not An Artist Blog

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Let’s Talk About Music Piracy

Talent is usually God-given but you can work hard for it too. Some aren't really that talented but have harnessed their talent through years of training. Exceptional talent should be shared with everyone because not all are blessed to be as talented as these people are. One of the most followed and adored talent in the world has to do with music. Songs give meaning to our lives and we take delight in listening to them especially when we can relate to the song’s meaning or we simply like the melody. And for the longest time, singers and songwriters have made a living out of their talents. Some even earn millions to billions depending on their music and popularity.

While most of us know how to appreciate music and understand the effort that artists give in order to come up with really good songs, many don’t like buying actual records and pay for the artist’s hard work. Music piracy is a global problem and it is denying countless artists of their right to have ownership over their work and make money from it. They have dedicated their entire lives to making good music only to be pirated by others and leave them penniless and unable to pursue their passion anymore.

Music piracy is on the increase worldwide, with 40 percent of users are accessing unlicensed music, up from 35 percent last year, the global recorded music industry group IFPI said.

Internet search engines are making piracy easier, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) said in a report on Tuesday, calling for government action.

The increase in piracy follows a slump in recent years when policing of the digital music landscape appeared to be clamping down on the practice.

“Copyright infringement is still growing and evolving, with stream ripping the dominant method,” said IPPI chief, Frances Moore.

“With the wealth of licensed music available to fans, these types of illegal sites have no justifiable place in the music world,” she said, calling for greater regulation of the digital music sector.

(Via: http://www.manilatimes.net/music-piracy-increase-worldwide-industry-group/351544/)

It is a shame really that people have no regards for the artists’ livelihood when they pirate their music. This is the only way they make money and if the public has access to their music without paying the amount due to them, then what happens to them after? It is even easier now because of the web’s popularity. Those who want to listen to pirated songs can easily do this by “stream ripping” the content on the web. And the figures right now are far from comforting with 35% of web users doing it, which is up by 5% from the 30% figure last 2016.

The music industry—which has enjoyed a revival in profits after years of stagnation—has been increasingly aggressive in tackling piracy. In 2015, it succeeded in shutting the popular site Grooveshark.

IFPI also said that upload platform YouTube accounts for 46 percent of all the time spent listening to on-demand music but that this dominance was failing to create "fair value" for the music business.

It said the estimated annual revenue for the industry per user from Spotify was around $20 (17 euros), compared to less than $1 per user for YouTube.

The report also revealed the continuing rise in audio streaming.

It found that 45 percent of respondents were now listening to music through a licensed audio streaming service—up from 37 percent in 2016.

(Via: https://phys.org/news/2017-09-music-piracy-worldwide-industry-group.html)

In this case, technology is once again a double-edged sword. In one way, it helps artists improve their music and artistry through the use of various tech gadgets that highlight their natural talents. On one side, though, it is being used against the entire music industry by music pirates who want to enjoy the music of these artists virtually for free.

It’s even more convenient for them to do this today with the rise of the smart technology. Most people now own a smartphone or any smart gadget that allows them to access the web as long as they have data or can connect to a WiFi service. Addressing the problem of music piracy is still a work in progress and everyone involved in the field of music are doing their best to stop piracy from spreading further and giving the artists the remuneration they deserve for all their hard work.

Let’s Talk About Music Piracy was initially published on Iamnotanartist.org Blog

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A Globally-Interconnected Planet Via The World Wide Web

The world we are living in right now used to be just a dream to our ancestors. Life was simpler back then and there was little to distract you. While life was certainly less complex, it was mighty boring for some too. It’s perhaps also the reason why innovators pushed for the development of newer technologies that won’t just upgrade our lives but also connect us to the rest of the world. Who would’ve thought our most valued possession would eventually be the smartphone. It has served as our gateway to the rest of the world through the Internet. You can do almost everything virtually and in real time. No more is there a distance barrier that can prevent you from exploring opportunities and potential outside of your comfort zone. But also, you may find yourself in trouble.

We truly are living in a globally-interconnected planet. And you don’t have to go far or spend a lot of money in order to do so. No magic needed here either or some really amazing teleportation skills because all you need is your smart gadget and you’re good to go. And as the Internet’s technology progressed, social networking sites were born and made life even more vibrant and alive than before. You can now keep track of the lives of the people who mean the most to you or idols that you follow without going anywhere at all.

There is growing awareness of the importance of internet access to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. But as new players enter the race to connect the 4 billion people who remain offline, new questions are emerging about who is providing that connection and what their agenda is. As China’s interest in global development has grown, so too has its influence in the telecommunications sector, with two companies in particular — the privately owned Huawei and state owned ZTE — making up the majority of China’s efforts to connect the unconnected.

In Kenya, M-KOPA, which is known for its pay-as-you-go home solar energy systems, is now selling Huawei smartphones along with solar panels. Partnerships such as this result from work that Huawei has done to pioneer new models to provide access in rural areas where the business case is not always as clear, said Adam Lane, a senior director of public affairs for Huawei, who spoke with Devex from South Africa, but is mainly focused on Kenya.

(Via: https://www.devex.com/news/china-s-role-in-the-race-to-connect-the-next-billion-89900)

The race goes on. Despite the achievements that the Internet has now achieved today, it does not mean that everything stops here. New innovations are still being developed in the hopes of building better machines and truly creating smart cities that we have envisioned in the past. If you are an avid web surfer/user yourself, you’ll notice all those little changes that the web has undergone so far and is still going through as of the moment. Nothing is constant and we can only expect to see bigger and brighter things on the web in the years to come.

He was right. Today, 49% of the world’s population is connected online and an estimated8.4 billion connected things are in use worldwide.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is in full flower. The expanding collection of connected things goes mostly unnoticed by the public – sensors, actuators and other items completing tasks behind the scenes in day-to-day operations of businesses and government, most of them abetted by machine-to-machine “computiction” – that is, artificial-intelligence-enhanced communication. The most public items in the burgeoning IoT are cars, voice-activated assistants, appliances and other home systems, physician-prescribed or recommended health-monitoring devices, road sensors, public-safety and security devices, smart meters and personal fitness and health trackers for people and animals – dogs, cats, horses, cows and more. And then there are emerging IoT products that show how the urge to create connectivity extends to such prosaic items as toothbrushes, dental floss, hairbrushes, pillows, egg trays, wine bottle sleeves, baby monitors and changing tables, silverware, umbrellas, all manner of toys and sporting goods and remote-controlled pet food dispensers, to name a few.

(Via: http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/06/06/the-internet-of-things-connectivity-binge-what-are-the-implications/)

We may enjoy all the perks of modern living and being connected to the globe with just a push of a button but it has its downsides too. Today, we also have to worry about issues like data and cybersecurity now that criminals have found a new and profitable playground. There is a bigger risk involved as the IoT grows and more aspects of our lives are linked to the web. Knowing this reality is a great way to remind you to always exercise caution in all your virtual activities so as not to unnecessarily burden yourself with numerous tech-related problems that are costly and time-consuming to fix, if still salvageable, worse if it is not.

A Globally-Interconnected Planet Via The World Wide Web is courtesy of I Am Not An Artist Blog

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Can Playing Video Games Really Make You Healthy?

We all know that to stay healthy, once must stay active aside from eating right. Also, a sedentary lifestyle that most of us lead nowadays make us prone to developing ailments or predispose us to obesity because of the lack of movement our body needs in order to stay fit and healthy. There is no shortcut to health and wellness. Living healthily may look uncool compared to what the cool kids do these days, which is to hang out in posh and expensive cafes and eat in all the best food spots in town. A small minority are obsessed with video games, though, especially the males. They spend a great deal of time playing with games for hours on end and often binge eat on unhealthy foods that are convenient to eat like takeouts, pizza, burgers, fries, chips, and soda.

Playing with video games is obviously not a good way to boost your health as you sit for hours just glued to the screen but it seems that we have been mistaken all along because it can actually be put to good use. The truth is, people who are obsessed with video games are in their teens or are young adults with raging hormones. It means they are likely to have sexual contact but are the least educated when it comes to sexual health. With the help of this new video game technology, they can learn to better safeguard their health and avoid being in a compromising situation that can have a big impact on their life.

A videogame designed by Yale researchers to promote health and reduce risky behavior in teens improves sexual health knowledge and attitudes among minority youth, according to a new study. The findings validate the value of the videogame as a tool to engage and educate teens at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), said the researchers.

“We saw significant and sustained positive changes in terms of attitudes about sexual health and sexual health knowledge,” said Dr. Lynn Fiellin, associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine and in the Child Study Center.

(Via: https://news.yale.edu/2017/09/18/videogame-boosts-sex-health-iq-and-attitudes-minority-teens)

By focusing on these special video games instead, young teens can avoid catching some really nasty sexual infections and even have a good time while doing so. It’s really helpful as people rarely talk about these topics openly and it is also not discussed as extensively in school. Those in the minorities are even more ashamed to ask sex-related questions and end up making life-changing mistakes later on.

The findings, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, validated that the video game can act as an accessible and portable tool to engage and educate teens at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

“We saw significant and sustained positive changes in terms of attitudes about sexual health and sexual health knowledge,” said Lynn Fiellin, Associate Professor at the varsity. For the study, the team recruited more than 300 students, aged 11 to 14 in the US, to play the intervention game PlayForward: Elm City Stories, or one of several unrelated video games on iPad tablets for up to 75 minutes twice per week.

(Via: http://www.hindustantimes.com/sex-and-relationships/this-video-game-is-helping-teenagers-understand-sexual-health-better/story-o466Julk4jiIOreCIzSwzK.html)

These video games are the type that parents and support groups won’t be mad about since they are beneficial to your health. They serve a purpose considering they are labeled as intervention games, not just any other commercial game most people play with. The player’s progress is determined by their decisions and it determines how the game turns out in the end. It is similar to real life. The players realize that they shouldn’t be impulsive in their actions and think about things thoroughly at first before making big and costly mistakes that can ruin their lives such as contracting deadly venereal diseases that are without a cure. In turn, they may be able to apply these realizations in daily life and become healthier and the best versions of themselves too.

The article Can Playing Video Games Really Make You Healthy? was initially seen on The IANAA Blog

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Unintentional Video Game Masterpieces

Playing video games is one of the best past times. Many of you have probably enjoyed hours on end playing on video games in your youth. They are not just great boredom busters but you enjoy a lot too and the hours tick by without you noticing. Different video games have dominated the world over the years and certain ones stand out and define a certain era. Alongside it is the rising popularity of specific games consoles that made playing with these games possible for all of us. We may think that game developers always knew what they were doing in developing these iconic games but it appears that we are greatly mistaken. Just like with anything else in this world, some masterpieces were brought to life by accident. Some of these games are not an exception but we can’t deny how much they have shaped pretty much our entire childhood one way or the other.

Without these games, there would be less color in your life and you have little to talk about to friends as well. Some may actually be anti-social for a while and stay cooped up at home while playing with any of these video games all-day and all-night but it apparently has a profound impact to your life that you don’t easily notice at first. You may be surprised knowing that some of the games you loved and played for hours on end weren’t initially the plan but because fate intervenes, they unravel themselves at the perfect time and become a worldwide influence not just to kids who are obsessed in playing with many of these addicting video games but even to bored adults who just want to kill time without losing their sanity.

Games developers usually know exactly what they're doing. They approach a project with a specific vision, and the majority of the time, the finished article doesn't deviate too far from the sketches on the drawing board.

On other occasions, they encounter budgetary issues and creative roadblocks during the development process and are forced to make concessions, in some cases bigger than others, and this can completely reshape the game in question.

These cases are well documented, but there are rare instances where games have been created entirely by accident, in a way that's almost comparable to Sir Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin among his mouldy petri dishes.

There are cases where studio employees have had so much fun with bespoke non-gaming software that they've slapped it with a few bells and whistles and released it for public consumption. Other games started out in a different form until a glitch saw them mutate into something better, like Bruce Banner and the gamma bomb.

(Via: http://whatculture.com/gaming/7-iconic-video-games-that-were-created-by-accident)

Sometimes, these games were brought to life because its own creators had so much fun with it as well that they just felt the need to share it to others so they can also experience everything first-hand. Looking back, it seems amusing you were ever hooked to one of these games but then you actually did. We all go through that phase so it is understandable. An example is the viral game before that is Counter Strike. Its popularity was undeniable and almost every cool boy or guy knew how to play it. Some were even placing bets as to whose team will win the game and play it with their squad.

Japan didn't invent the first computer game. That accolade goes to "Space War!", a game created in 1962 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States.

But ever since then, Japan has embraced gaming culture with an almost unrivaled passion. From the Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog games that became cultural giants, to the Sega Mega Drive and Game Boy consoles which were symbols of their time, gaming was led by Tokyo for decades.

"Without the contributions of Japan, we wouldn't have a video game industry," Blake J. Harris, a video game expert and author of "Console Wars," says. "Or, at least, not one that resembles what we have today in any way.

(Via: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/12/asia/future-japan-videogame-landmarks/index.html)

And whether or not some of these video games were accidental masterpieces or not, Japan’s contribution to the entire video gaming industry is undeniable. Video games won’t be so popular if not for the amazing work the Japanese put in on the technology that has even shaped history. Think Mario Brothers, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Pacman, all legends in the field of video games before until now. Like whatever your age is, it is impossible that you haven’t yet heard about them over the years especially if you have kids because they will likely ask one from you if they haven’t yet. Until today, Japan still pioneers mind-blowing video gaming technology that will inevitably gift the world with more amazing games to capture our fancy and time as well whether by accident or not.

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