AAV Welfare Symposium Helps to Liberate Wings

 

This week I am attending the Association of Avian Veterinarians Welfare Symposium.  The range of people present gathering in one room trying to learn and listen to one another was the broadest I have ever seen in one room.  We had avian welfare activists, staff veterinarians for Petco and Petsmart.  USDA and Canada welfare regulatory veterinarians, sanctuary parrot owners, advocates of poultry well being, conservationists, private practice veterinarians, and one minister (me). The name of the entire conference was “Waves of Wisdom” and it is clear from what was shared in that room that there is gathering wisdom and power, and the wave towards human and avian liberation is there for any who wish to ride upon.  Here are some of the comments I heard that make up the gathering wisdom literature  of those concerned with the well being of all life (with my accompanying commentary).

  

 

Terry  Whitting , (Manitoba Agriculture, Chief Veterinarian): It is easier to believe than to talk about things.   He was referring to the complexity of avian welfare .When people are confronted with complex difficult topics, they shift into belief language and avoid communication with other humans.  It is this belief language then that keeps us from communicating at the level of values, authenticity, and interconnecting empathy. He went on to say that though we do some good work with the human –animal bond; it does not count as a relational ethic.  If anything, it detracts from the real work we need to be doing of compassionate care.  He concluded that we need skillful communication and I can whole heartedly echo – boy howdy!  Hence my presentation two days later on compassionate communication at this same conference.

Julie Murad, Director of Gabriel Foundation, a parrot sanctuary, said in her presentation that we need a more compassionate society. Again, I echo, boy howdy!  But how do we get there?

One way I see is how we all came into that one room.  Somehow we are gaining a common language of beauty, and this interconnecting gestalt ties us to one another and raises the level of trust so that we find a way to still the chatter that says you are wrong or you are different, and open our hearts to the beauty and dignity not just of the birds we love, but of one another.

 Do you believe that I am over stating the evolution of these people involved in avian welfare?  Let me give you an example.  At the AAV Avian Welfare Committee Jan Hooemeijer said that the social event kicking off the AAV meeting held at Sea World was morally inadequate. As veterinarians interested in the welfare of animals we should not be supporting activities that diminish the well being of others.  Those in the room were asked if they agreed. The hands raised immediately and enthusiastically. There was no discussion, no argument - just a consensus to do the right thing for those whose inherent worth has been diminished and disempowered  by the human species.  Yet is seems that is we who have been disempowered over the long millennia because we do not see how our own lives weave into the interconnected web of life.  This is changing.  Seeing and sharing the beauty and worth of whales, parrots, and chickens is finally bringing us into our power, which liberates us as it liberates others.

Raising  Wings and Hands Together for Avian Welfare (Starling near AAV San Diego Hotel) 

 

Hands and Wings Raised in Solidarity in San Diego