I received in the post this morning an unsolicited letter from the IRAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), drawing to my attention the plight of dogs particularly, and cats too, in the food markets in Korea.

I will spare you the details, but the letter was graffic in its description of the horrors involved. It was also asking for donations to the IFAW.

Now just the thought of this sort of suffering turns my stomach, makes me very angry, and moves me to tears of frustration. BUT, I am beginning to be dubious about the value of this sort of mail shot. I actually found it quite difficult to finish reading the letter, and almost ended up feeling angry with the organisation for having sent it too me. My daughter was particularly distressed after just a glimpse of the photographs.

I really am in two minds about this. I understand that they are trying to shock people into action, but almost every day I receive unsolicited mail from both human and canine charities, and I wonder if, because of the volume of such appeals, they simply aren`t such an effective tool these days.

I do support several charities, but I now feel wracked with guilt that I am not inclined to send a donation to this one. In the body of the letter it says `We must flood legislators and officials with petitions, letters, phone calls, faxes and e-mails from around the world`, but it doesn`t give any suggestions as to how an individual should go about doing this. I did get the feeling that they would prefer you to send the money, and they will do the writing.

Has anyone else received this letter? (:o|

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001

Answers

I have just taken the time to look at their web site, and to be fair to them, there is very specific and comprehensive information on how to go about writing to the relevant authorities. I intend taking the time to send some letters. Their web site is on:

www.ifaw.org

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001

As mentioned on another thread, I am a huge football fan, truly passionate about it. The World Cup is a big event in our household, and our lives are usually completely rearranged for the the duration of the competition and dog showing usually goes out the window.

The 2002 World Cup is being jointly held by Japan and Korea, and much as it pains me to say it, I would be much more proud of the England team if they refused to go as a protest against the Japanese whaling industry and the Koreans barbaric treatment of cats and dogs.

I can just about accept that their culture is different to ours, and that eating certain animals may be perfectly acceptable to them, but it is the degree of horror and cruelty involved which makes me weep. I can never accept that.

Do you think that boycotting sporting events is an effective means of putting the relevant governments under pressure? (:o|

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2001