A disease that should not exist

It's hard not to get hooked week after week with the various topics offered by the weekend experience community, sometimes you even want to tackle them all, but it's necessary to follow the rules. In this case, among so many topics and problems that affect the world today I would choose one and a thousand times to find the solution to eradicate cruelty to animals. As thinking beings I believe we can find the solution to organized crime, illiteracy, housing problems, among others.

Those who know me know that I love both books and horror, mystery and action movies; I can see the bloodiest images knowing that it is fiction; of course, but I can not tolerate the tender animal movies where in the middle of the plot the pet spends moments of anguish and pain because it is lost, this causes me a great sadness.

This leads me to always ask why animals are mistreated. There is no good reason to attack or mistreat them by action or omission. Whoever uses his power to hurt a defenseless being cannot be called a human being, but becomes part of the garbage of this world. Nor do I believe that he can manifest true love towards other people. I definitely consider him to be psychologically and emotionally unwell.

Almost 10 years ago I belonged to two environmental movements, one called "Habitat" formed by a local group and another one that is managed at a national level called "Venezuela Verde" where I met many people with the same ideals and with the firm conviction that with small actions we can make a difference in helping our planet. I also supported sister movements, protectors of wildlife and domestic animals, as well as the anti-bullfighting movements; where I felt very comfortable expressing my love for animals and categorically rejecting bullfighting that used to take place in the capital of my home state where they wanted to adopt it as "art" or "culture".

Much progress has been made in making people aware, and the simple fact that bullfights are no longer held in my country is a masterful achievement. However, there are still many who ask me: - How can there be or function a circus without animals? Without them, the circus would have no sense and no fun.

To deny them their right to a dignified life, to force them to be in places that have nothing to do with their natural habitat, to make them reproduce to obtain a financial benefit from them, to abandon them, to pay for a pet knowing that there are many who are homeless, to have an attitude of indifference to all these problems is insensitive on our part. From my position I feel fortunate that my work allows me to instill in my students the respect for life, to sensitize them at such a young age is fundamental to form more conscious people. Now we need to continue working to eradicate the "bulls coleado", an activity or what many consider an equestrian sport, carried out mostly in the Venezuelan plains, which consists of knocking down the bull by twisting its tail, if it manages to twist its tail, the bull is taken to the slaughterhouse. Each environment has its own struggles, in developed countries there is greater awareness about the care of animals because the laws are enforced and sentences are severe. Where you live is it common to witness cruelty to animals? Have you taken any action to prevent it? Whatever your answer is, remember that setting an example will always be one of the best ways to encourage others to change.