Over the Edge - November 2 features 5 ‘HELLO UNBC. MY NAME IS LAURA. NICE TO MEET YOU.’ Over the Edge Get's a New Features Editor LAURA BEVACQUA FEATURES EDITOR As OTE’s new Features Editor, I want take this opportunity to briefly introduce myself and warmly wel- come public submissions to the Fea- tures section throughout the year. I look forward to serving the UNBC community by bringing our readers a variety of different articles that will stimulate public awareness, dialogue and interest. So, who am I and what am I doing here? A Toronto native, I completed my undergrad at York University in Environmental Studies. While in my final year I wrote for Excalibur: ’s independent newspaper. I later de- cided that I wanted to pursue a basic understanding of journalism and the opportunity to shift gears and write within a journalistic lens. I began my college education at George Brown College in Toronto and later, became a reporter with The Dialog. Over the past few years I have traveled, studied and worked within Central and South America. Most recently, I embarked on an internship with the here's a comic CRED.STEPHANIE BRODOWSKI International Institute for Sustain- able Development and worked with the Human Development Network in Brazil where I focused on pro- jects related to social entrepreneur- ship, women’s advancement, climate change and impoverished and vulner- able communities. I moved back to Canada and begun my Masters pro- gram in International Studies so I can continue developing my theoretical understanding of the world and fur- ther my research interests. It’s alright - you can call me a nerd. I have been interested in com- ing out to Canada’s beautiful west coast for some time because I find the natural landscapes within this province to be spectacular; if only I had more time to hike. Aside from a bit of culture shock and adjustment, I am genuinely thrilled and excited to be here. The UNBC campus itself along with the staff, activities and re- sources, in addition to the courses and faculty within my home department, have all played a role in contributing to my graduate experience at Can- ada’s Green University as a great one thus far. Enough about me. If YOU or some- one you know is interested in writing- specifically feature or opinion style writing- or want to learn how to ex- press topics or polish a piece before publication, feel free to send me an e-mail at over-the-edge@unbc.ca and I would be glad to assist you in col- laborating, carving through and edi- ting your work. Public submissions are open to the UNBC community at large. Sometimes the transition be- tween academic and journalistic writ- ing (or vice versa) can be challenging or unclear. Writing well is a constant practice. It is rare that anyone is ever “perfect” at it. Regardless of the style, structure or approach, it takes effort and courage to submit written work and have it critiqued and criticized. Like the great William Shakespeare wrote, ‘All the world’s a stage’ and life my friends, is but a story...’ MY DOG MAX A Dedication to the Cruelty Against Animals LAURA BEVACQUA FEATURES EDITOR For those of us who have owned or currently own a pet, or for those who have a sincere interest and love for animals, it is unbearable to think of them being treated cruely. My dog Max has been with our family for the past 13 years. He is charming, jovial and playful. He doesn’t have much interest or time for other dogs but will always stay close by our side. He’s a small dog and we often call him ‘little guy’ which I?ll admit, probably hasn’t been the best term to use in de- veloping his self-esteem. But, he is our little guy and as he continues to grow older the little guy is nat- urally shifting gears and slowing down. For those who are unaware, a 13-year-old dog is equivalent to ap- proximately a 77 year-old human. It has been hard being away from home periodically to then returning home and seeing the subtle changes in him, but his puppy face and behaviours remind me that he still has a lot of spirit and energy. Max is a lucky dog to be living in a comfortable and loving household. Unfortunately, not the same can be said for the millions of global ani- mals that are neglected and abused, many of which are unreported. Whether they are domestic, farm or exotic species, unnecessary cruelty and unfair abuse to which the voice- less are subjected to, have stirred international attention and call for action. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) recently reported that in Zanesville, Ohio, dozens of animals including lions, cheetahs, wolves and bears had been killed with assault rifles by the sher- iff’s department after the animals escaped the private grounds of Terry Thompson who has holding them. In 2005, Thompson was charged with cruelty against animals, yet Ohio currently has no regulations nor is willing to push an emergency ban on keeping exotic animals within the household. The Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (C.S.P.C.A.) is Canada’s first and leading humane society whose mis- sion is to protect animals against negligence, abuse and exploitation. The Animal Legal Defense Fund re- leased the third annual report rank- ing the strength and comprehen- siveness of animal protection laws within every province and territory. In 2010, the top four provinces with anti-cruelty laws included Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and New Brunswick. BC ranked sixth after the Yukon and Alberta. Quebec and the Northwest Territories (tied with Nunavut) ranked low within the bot- tom four. At the International level, the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare is an agreement among people and nations that if adopted by the UN, would call for international recognition to inspire and ban cruelty among animals. According to WSPA (the World Society for the Protection of Animals) enacting and enforcing laws that benefit animals will also inherently help people and the en- vironment. For example, responsible animal management has positive impacts on land use, pollution and the conservation of biodiversity. The UDAW also addresses and provides a framework in linking humanitar- ian development and animal welfare. The world has witnessed a torrential downpour of rising ‘natural’ disas- ters especially within the past few years and animals are often neglect- ed during disaster management and emergency response. Tackling issues related to animal cruelty is complex. Animal rights advocates, Indigenous communities and theorists have argued and dis- cussed the relative and differing in- terpretations of concepts and mean- ings surrounding animal rights and ethics. It is evident that international and national bodies are addressing cruelty and neglect and enforcing restrictions on the exploitation of Further dis- cussions, movements and practices the world’s animals. are needed toward harnessing and ideally preventing the cruelty and extreme neglect against animals. As expressed by philosopher Immanuel Kant, ‘we can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.’