When things are hidden from our sight, we sometimes do not realise what is going on. The fact that more than three hundred million animals are kept in cages across Europe is a shocking statistic. I have just been reading my latest copy of 'Farm Animal Voice', the magazine of the charity Compassion in World Farming, and could hardly believe that in this more enlightened age such cruelty still continues towards the animal kingdom. I read, 'hundreds of millions of hens, sows, rabbits, geese, ducks, quail and calves are imprisoned in cages. These inhumane systems are a desolate reflection on society - but thanks to you, many members of The European Parliament and European Commissioners have now expressed support for ending their use.' The report goes on to explain that last October CIWF submitted their 'End the Cage Age' petition to the European Commission with 1.4 million signatures.
My cousin, Jeremy Hayward, has just emailed me saying, 'This is a monumental new dawn for Europe's 300 million plus caged animals and possibly Compassion's biggest achievement in its fifty four years of campaigning - a historic turning point.' He went on to tell me how proud he feels to be associated with this organisation which was founded by two brothers of the Lodge. I myself well remember that time, and the inspiration they had received from White Eagle to stand up and be counted; not turning a blind eye to the cruelty that Peter (Roberts) witnessed at first hand in his work as a salesman in the farming industry. Our former Lodge Mother, Ylana (Jeremy's mother) was one of the founding trustees of the new charity, and Jeremy coninues her work.
Prayer brings about many miracles, as we know, especially when linked with the incredible power and light of our shining six-pointed Star symbol. But I also believe that there are times when this should be combined with action on the outer plane. This inspiring story of 'Ending the Cage Age' is an example of this, and I know has White Eagle's blessing. We all long, I am sure, for cruelty towards our family of human brothers and sisters to end, but White Eagle has long said, that this must be linked with the ending of cruelty towards our animal brethren too.
I have great hope that we are indeed at the dawn of a new era when cruelty will become a thing of the past (like human slavery), and greater understanding of what brotherhood with our animal brethren really means will unfold in every human heart.
