I belong to the earth

Just say NO to the Ringling Brothers ♣ March 26, 2010

Posted by Lena Shuster in Uncategorized.
Tags: animal abuse, circus
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Yesterday I attended my first protest. It was against the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus which touts itself as the “best show on earth.” Every year they tour the states and Thursday was their opening night in New York.

So what’s wrong with the circus and seeing all those cute exotic animals do cute things on stage?

Undercover investigations have revealed that the training involved to get animals to perform as well as the lifestyle circus animals are subjected to are cruel and abusive.

ELEPHANTS According to one ex-elephant-trainer, violent training methods are the only way an elephant can be trained to perform in circuses. Young elephants are stretched out, slammed to the ground, gouged with bullhooks, and shocked with electric prods as they struggle, cry and scream in pain. Furthermore elephants are deprived of healthy living environments and prolonged chaining (inactivity leads to osteoarthritis or a chronic foot problems). When the circus travels, which can be up to 11 months of the year the they are chained in filthy, poorly ventilated boxcars. At other times when they are at the breeding compound in Florida, they have access only to a fraction of the property where they are confined to barns and small, barren outdoor paddocks.

CATS Lions, tigers, leopards are subdued via hunger and underfeeding so as to make them more responsive to treats. They too live a life of constant travel in cramped quarters and often lacking adequate veterinary care. What do you think it takes to make a tigers, who like most animals is deathly afraid of fire to jump through a ring of fire? Fear-driven training: punishment, whips and beatings.

BEARS Many are kept muzzled and chained. They commonly have their noses broken while being trained or have their paws burnt during training when they walk on hot plates to make them stand on their hind legs.

PRIMATES These highly intelligent animals who share so much in common with us are deprived of the companionship of family and many are forced to live in small cages.

“No matter how well are treated in the circus, the wild animals suffer enormously, much more than those kept in captivity in Zoos. The animals have very little space at their disposal in the mobile circus cages or menageries, where elephants and zebras are bound. To this, the continuous stress of the circus life adds, with its tours, when often, after the show ends, the tent is dismounted and all is loaded, transported to another city, reinstalled and another show follows. During the transportation, animals can experience excessive heat or cold, or lack of water.

“Virtuosity numbers executed by elephants and bears are realized with a lot of patience and … cruelty from the trainer and his/her helpers. Of course, cruelty must be masked in our days, and the trainer (who can be a sexy young woman) may have just a stick. However, the stick is made of steel and, skillfully handled, can cause pain to the bears. For elephants, small but sharp hooks are used, handled with discretion by the man that apparently caresses the animal. Electric whips are even more efficient.“

Source

On their website FAQ Ringling writes…

How does Ringling Bros. feel about local legislation banning the use of animal acts in some towns?
A: We believe that these bans are unnecessary and take away a treasured part of the circus experience that patrons tell us they support and love. (Fortunately, such communities are the exception, not the rule.) By banning performing animals, the town is effectively saying that our experts are not fit to handle the animals they have devoted their lives to caring for. We can’t say it enough: Ringling Bros. loves animals as much as you do!

Really?! So love is taking animals away from their natural habitats and hurting them for profit? I had a discussion about this with my dad who dismissed my concerns by saying that if the circus feeds these animals, there is nothing to be discontent about….and that if the lions and elephants were so miserable, they would be aggressive and unmanageable.

But that is why violence must be used, especially with younger animals when they are most vulnerable. To scare them into submission. So when these animals are older and larger, the fear has been so painfully reinforced that they are manageable.

In nature, elephants don’t stand on their heads, walk trunk-to-tail, skip, crawl, or twirl, and adult female elephants do not mount one another. Tigers don’t hop on their hind legs and roll over in unison. In order to force wild animals to perform difficult and confusing circus tricks, trainers use whips, sticks, and bullhooks.

The animal circus seems like such a primitive venture to me. Sure it was entertaining for our ancestors to watch animals perform seemingly impossible feats like stand on a ball (even I can’t do that!) but our generation has infinite more possibilities to be entertained thanks to technologies like the internet and easier travel. Back in the Roman era it was considered fun to throw men inside the Colosseum and watch the lions devour them. It was a great place to bring the family and instead of popcorn they probably snacked on grains. Today, many of us condemn such entertainment as a violent and immoral fancy of our ancestors, and yet we justify subjecting (intelligent) animals to suffering in the circus for our entertainment.

But circuses are fun for children?

The children do not see the animals’ natural behavior patterns, intelligence, food gathering patterns, social interaction and other remarkable behaviour they exhibit in the wild… All they see are animals performing unnatural tricks learnt under difficult and painful circumstances.

Circuses portray animals as freaks and curiosities, devoid of context or dignity…

Of all the things that bother me, this is the only one I’ve protested against. Because all the others (meat eating, gm foods, industrial agriculture, environmentalist concerns, materialism) can be justified in some way, but holding animals captive in circuses and training them to do things they would never do if they were not pressured and threatened to is cruelty no ifs or buts. I’m not talking about animal treatment in the developing world, but here in America having enough to eat has meant that we can devote ourselves to other matters such as self-improvement and morality. So to be so cruel here gains a poignancy that’s absent in the developing world. (Although most animals held captive in the developing world have more access to the outdoors than American circus animals do, and their trainers lives’ are more intimately connected to their animals than those of the Americans’)

At the protest I saw many folks from PETA, mostly women. They were standing in a line on the side holding up signs and distributing elephant coloring books and pamphlets. I introduced myself and walked away. I didn’t want to be associated with PETA, and I didn’t think their positioning was very effective. Only later did I learn where us protesters were allowed to stand and considering these limitations maybe their strategy was effective. In any case, I stood directly in front of Madison Square Garden, my back leaning against the taxi line gates, my fluffy pink hat on my head (for attention & privacy). I stood from 6:30 to 8:30pm, my sign beneath my chin and the deserting sun above me. A few people stopped, mostly parents with children and a few took photos. One of the photos taken of me may have been by Ringling employees or security as these men looked like unlikely patrons of the circus in their formal clothes. No one accosted me and I never had to prove my assertions besides a few casual remarks and suggestions that they do their own search online. One of the hardest things was keeping myself from smiling foolishly, because standing alone amidst all those people felt strange and when I met their gaze I’d laugh at the strangeness of the situation. The police did not bother any of us and when I asked them later if there were so many of them because of us they said no and that basketball games had more police and more chaos.

For more information check out these websites for more information or do your own online search.

Baby elephant training
Ringling claims v. Reality (with documentation)
Big Cat Rescue Essays on Circuses

Consider visiting these fun and animal-free circuses…

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus

P.O. Box 1917 New York, NY 10009 212-726-1935 1-877-BINDLES cirkus@bindlestiff.org bindlestiff.org

USA, Canada, and Europe in the spring and summer

This is a vaudeville-like show that performs mostly at festivals and other events and offers workshops and exhibitions in schools and universities.

Circus Center

755 Frederick St. San Francisco, CA 94117 415-759-8123 info@circuscenter.org circuscenter.org

California—the San Francisco Bay area

This circus is an exquisitely choreographed adventure of acrobatics, aerial work, dance, and clowning that relies on grit, not glitz, to get its magic across. It provides scholarships to low-income children to attend its annual circus camp and distributes free tickets to nonprofit organizations. It provides free shows for community festivals, neighborhood fairs, and civic celebrations.

Circus Finelli

522 Haight St. San Francisco, CA 94117 mail@circusfinelli.com circusfinelli.com

Internationally, based in the San Francisco Bay Area

Four unruly women clowns present a Slavic, slapstick cabaret with daring comedy and dangerous cutlery. See the sights to entice and delight: juggling, acrobatics, contortion, dance, and disaster. All set to the tune of European accordion, and vaudeville ukulele. Ring Mistress Madame Vinaigrette hosts.

Circus Luminous

2778 Agua Fria, Unit D Santa Fe, NM 87507 505-992-2588 mail@wisefoolnm.org wisefoolnm.org

New Mexico (will work with other groups in the Southwest)

This is a dazzling and original production featuring daring young women on the flying trapeze, innovative choreography, elaborate costumes, and a turn-of-the- century look.

Circus of the Kids

9042 Shoal Creek Dr. Tallahassee, FL 32312-4076 1-866-CIRCUS-5 bruce@circusofthekids.com circusofthekids.com

USA, year-round

This circus is all about kids. They are the performers and are involved with the costumes, selling tickets, makeup, etc. The program is democratic, and there is no such thing as being too fat, too thin, or not smart enough to participate. The point is for the kids to feel good about themselves and to be challenged. This professional, intense, and strenuous circus allows ordinary kids to become stars.

Cirque Dreams

Cirque Productions Variety Arts Management 3803 N. 29th Ave. Hollywood, FL 33020 954-922-0888 info@cirqueproductions.com cirqueproductions.com

Internationally, in theaters and casino showrooms; on cruise ships, tours, and television; and at theme parties, festivals, fairs, trade shows, and corporate events

This is a combination of fantasy circus and Broadway dream in a European-style variety show with mesmerizing music, dazzling costumes, and limitless imagination. Customized productions are available upon request. Neil Goldberg’s Cirque has performed at corporate events for MCI, GE, Aetna Insurance, and Motorola as well as at numerous fundraiser galas for large charitable organizations.

Cirque du Soleil

8400 Second Ave. Montréal H1Z 4M6 Québec Canada 514-722-2324 contact@cirquedusoleil.com cirquedusoleil.com

Internationally, year-round. Cirque du Soleil has permanent shows in Las Vegas and Florida

This circus offers a blend of music, dance, and stunning athleticism that takes the audience on a metaphorical journey. It breaks all the rules, and its art is in a constant state of evolution. Cirque has won more than 100 awards and distinctions from various organizations and institutions for originality in its shows and excellence in management. There are more than a dozen Cirque productions.

Cirque Éloize

417, rue Berri Montréal H2Y 3E1 Québec Canada 514-596-3838 eloize@cirque-eloize.com cirque-eloize.com

USA (fall), Canada, and Europe

This circus combines theater with acrobatic performances, poetry, and circus thrills. Acrobats, clowns, jugglers, trapeze artists, and musicians team up to create a rich and subtle tango of emotions. Cirque Éloize has also developed a strong expertise in providing modern circus entertainment for private galas and corporate events.

Cirque Plume

37, rue Battant Besançon 25000 France 33-3-81-81-38-80 info@cirqueplume.com cirqueplume.com

USA and Europe— large venues only

Performances combine music, dance, comedy, and gymnastics.

Fern Street Circus

P.O. Box 621004 San Diego, CA 92162 619-235-9756 info@fernstreetcircus.com fernstreetcircus.com

San Diego area

This circus provides free quality entertainment to underserved neighborhoods. Also provides free-of- charge circus and music instruction at city recreation centers. This is a professional circus and variety artist performance in a simple and whimsical setting.

Flying Fruit Fly Circus

609 Hovell St. Albury, NSW 2640 Australia 02-6021-7044 info@fruitflycircus.com.au fruitflycircus.com.au

Internationally, year-round

Performances are a blend of circus, dance, theater, and live percussion with attitude. Australia’s Flying Fruit Fly Circus has established itself as one of the world’s premier youth performing arts companies. Its mission is to promote and enhance the education and cultural development of young people by providing high-quality circus training and by producing and touring contemporary circus performances.

Flying High Circus

FSU Circus P.O. Box 3064026 Tallahassee, FL 32306-3064 850-644-4874 circus@admin.fsu.edu circus.fsu.edu

USA, primarily in the Southeast. Occasionally tours in the Bahamas, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Europe, the Virgin Islands, and the West Indies

Performances feature high-wire acts, juggling acts, bicycle tricks, and acrobatics. The Flying High Circus performs on the road for a number of sponsored events. Shows range from 30 minutes in length to more than two hours, for all kinds of gatherings—including fairs, public or private fundraisers, or conventions. Performances can be held indoors, outdoors, or under the circus’s own big top.

Gregangelo & Velocity Circus Troupe 225 San Leandro Way San Francisco, CA 94127 415-664-0095 info@gregangelo.com gregangelo.com

USA, year-round (mainly commissioned by corporations for special events)

Shows combine daring skill, comedy, dazzling aerials, interactive audience antics, and magic, with stunning costumes and music. This troupe offers custom shows for business promotions, private parties, fairs, festivals, aerial classes, and more.

Hiccup Circus

Hawaii’s Volcano Circus Educational Nonprofit Organizations RR 2, Box 4524

Pahoa, HI 96778 808-965-8756 graham@hiccupcircus.com hiccupcircus.com

Hawaii, year-round, and occasionally in California

This circus performs at community events and works with schools. It has a unique program offering educational services to the public, with emphasis on elementary and intermediate school-age children and teenagers, especially in underserved, isolated rural communities.

Imperial Circus of China

c/o Management One, LLC 7380 Sand Lake Rd., Ste. 350 Orlando, FL 32819 407-909-1013 john.regna@worldentertainment.net Imperialcircus.com

Internationally, year-round

Considered the best of all Chinese circuses, it has played an important role in cultural exchanges between China and other nations. Its excellent performances have been warmly welcomed and highly appreciated by audiences around the globe.

Lazer Vaudeville

631 Spruce St. Boulder, CO 80302-5017 303-413-8116 Lazervaudeville@earthlink.net lazervaudeville.com

USA (usually excluding the summer)

This circus works with schools and gives performances that are educational and entertaining. Performances are a mix of black light, juggling, lasers with magic, audience participation, acrobatics, slapstick comedy, and dance with object manipulation.

Les Colporteurs

66. rue Villiers de l’Isle Adam 75020 Paris France 33-0-491-425-080 colporteurs.fdp@wanadoo.fr

Performers include traveling dancers, illusionists, and air musicians. They create a spectacle that is altogether circus, theater, dance, and magic.

New Shanghai Circus

645 State Hwy. 165 Branson, MO 65616 417-334-8781 info@nscc.biz acrobatsofchina.com

USA, Europe, and Asia, with a permanent venue in Branson, Mo., at the MGH Performing Arts Center

This circus offers breath-taking feats of strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, contortion, and magic. In the spring of 1999, the circus was invited to the New Victory Theater in New York for 28 performances, which were all “Sold Out on Broadway!”

Russian American Kids Circus

The Brad Simon Organization, Inc. 122 E. 57th St. New York, NY 10022 212-980-5920, ext. 122 212-730-2132 barbara@bsoinc.com rakidscircus.org

Internationally, year-round

This is a fully staged professional circus whose stars happen to be children between the ages of 6 and 18. These artists fill the stage with a blur of spangles, dazzling audiences with soaring acrobatics, synchronized unicycling, expert juggling, daring aerial feats, and precision balancing.

7 Fingers

Les 7 doigts de la main 3506, ave. Laval Montréal H2X 3C8 Québec Canada

514-521-4477 info@les7doigtsdelamain.com les7doigtsdelamain.com

Europe, Canada, and large venues in the USA

The joyous, surrealistic universe of 7 Fingers is filled with the beauty of awe-inspiring aerialists, the startling precision of amazing jugglers, the breath-taking exploits of graceful acrobats, and the wit and humor of seven young international circus performers.

Swamp Circus Theatre

19 Wansfell Rd. Sheffield South Yorkshire S4 8BE England 44-0-114-256-0962 info@swampcircus.com swampcircus.com

Internationally

This is an all-human circus theater with an environmentally flavored artistic direction, a commitment to arts in the community, and a taste for adventure. Work is characterized by a unique blend of innovative, high- energy circus theater, live music, and ecological themes. Projects range from community-centered workshops to world-class big top touring extravaganzas.