Written by PETA
Imagine if you could be fired from your job just for supporting animal rights on your own time. That's what Joe Hashman believes happened to him. The vegan anti-hunting activist was sacked from his job as a gardener at the Orchard Park Garden Centre in the U.K. the day after ghastly TV chef Clarissa Dickson Wright pleaded guilty to charges of attending an illegal rabbit-hunting event. Dickson Wright was brought up on charges in part because of undercover video taken by Hashman. The owners of the garden center are known to be hunting supporters.
Hashman has filed a suit, which has now gone before the court, and a pre-hearing review has been called to determine whether his animal rights positions constitute a "philosophical belief" that's protected under the law. Here's what he had to say—judge for yourself:
"Believing in animal rights means believing in the sanctity of all life." "I believe that hunting is completely morally unacceptable." "I don't believe that there can be any justification for the horrible husbandry techniques and slaughter methods which humans employ just to feed themselves." "I am devoted to the causes arising from my philosophical belief and I will not stop fighting for animal rights."
"Believing in animal rights means believing in the sanctity of all life."
"I believe that hunting is completely morally unacceptable."
"I don't believe that there can be any justification for the horrible husbandry techniques and slaughter methods which humans employ just to feed themselves."
"I am devoted to the causes arising from my philosophical belief and I will not stop fighting for animal rights."
We're pulling for you, Joe! No one should be afraid to speak out against injustice. Animals have rights—and so do the people who defend them. To find out how to work within the law to help animals, check out PETA's activism guide.
Written by Jeff Mackey
Well - here's a case of what could be called poetic justice...
(Jan 13 2011 Reuters) - A wounded fox shot its would be killer in Belarus by pulling the trigger on the hunter's gun as the pair scuffled after the man tried to finish the animal off with the butt of the rifle, media said Thursday."
"The unnamed hunter, who had approached the fox after wounding it from a distance, was in hospital with a leg wound, while the fox made its escape, media said, citing prosecutors from the Grodno region."
"The animal fiercely resisted and in the struggle accidentally pulled the trigger with its paw," one prosecutor was quoted as saying..."
www.reuters.com/.../idUSTRE70C5Q620110113
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