| Author Website Page |
| Marc Bekoff |
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| Copyright 2008 © Barry M. Baker, Canines-and-Felines.com |
| Canines and Felines Authors |
| MARC BEKOFF, HIS COMPANION JETHRO (LEFT) AND THEIR FRIEND ZEKE |
| Photo by Cliff Grassmick for the Boulder Daily Camera |
Animals, People, and Environment at
the Boulder County Jail
Acting Locally, Thinking Globally
Marc Bekoff
the Boulder County Jail
Acting Locally, Thinking Globally
Marc Bekoff
Nonhuman animals have many of the same feelings
we do. They get hurt, they suffer, they are happy, and
they take care of each other. Marc Bekoff, a
renowned biologist specializing in animal minds and
emotions, guides readers from high school age up—
including older adults who want a basic introduction to
the topic—in looking at scientific research,
philosophical ideas, and humane values that argue
for the ethical and compassionate treatment of
animals. Citing the latest scientific studies and tackling
we do. They get hurt, they suffer, they are happy, and
they take care of each other. Marc Bekoff, a
renowned biologist specializing in animal minds and
emotions, guides readers from high school age up—
including older adults who want a basic introduction to
the topic—in looking at scientific research,
philosophical ideas, and humane values that argue
for the ethical and compassionate treatment of
animals. Citing the latest scientific studies and tackling
Animals Matter: A Biologist Explains Why We Should
Treat Animals with Compassion and Respect
Treat Animals with Compassion and Respect
controversies with conviction, he zeroes in on the important questions,
inviting reader participation with “thought experiments” and ideas for
action. Among the questions considered:
Are some species more valuable or more important than others?
Do some animals feel pain and suffering and not others?
Do animals feel emotions?
Should endangered animals be reintroduced to places where they
originally lived?
Should animals be kept in captivity?
Are there alternatives to using animals for food, clothing, cosmetic
testing, and dissection in the science classroom?
What can we learn by imagining what it feels like to be a dog or a cat or a
mouse or an ant?
What can we do to make a difference in animals’ quality of life?
Bekoff urges us not only to understand and protect animals—especially
those whose help we want for our research and other human needs—but
to love and respect them as our fellow beings on this planet that we all
want to share in peace.
inviting reader participation with “thought experiments” and ideas for
action. Among the questions considered:
Are some species more valuable or more important than others?
Do some animals feel pain and suffering and not others?
Do animals feel emotions?
Should endangered animals be reintroduced to places where they
originally lived?
Should animals be kept in captivity?
Are there alternatives to using animals for food, clothing, cosmetic
testing, and dissection in the science classroom?
What can we learn by imagining what it feels like to be a dog or a cat or a
mouse or an ant?
What can we do to make a difference in animals’ quality of life?
Bekoff urges us not only to understand and protect animals—especially
those whose help we want for our research and other human needs—but
to love and respect them as our fellow beings on this planet that we all
want to share in peace.
Based on Marc Bekoff's years of experience studying
the social communication patterns of a wide range of
animals, this important book shows that animals have
rich emotional lives. Not only can animal emotions
teach us about love, empathy, and compassion,
argues Bekoff — they require us to radically rethink
our current relationship of domination and abuse of
animals. Award-winning scientist Bekoff skillfully
blends extraordinary stories and anecdotes of animal
grief, joy, embarrassment, anger, and love with the
the social communication patterns of a wide range of
animals, this important book shows that animals have
rich emotional lives. Not only can animal emotions
teach us about love, empathy, and compassion,
argues Bekoff — they require us to radically rethink
our current relationship of domination and abuse of
animals. Award-winning scientist Bekoff skillfully
blends extraordinary stories and anecdotes of animal
grief, joy, embarrassment, anger, and love with the
The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading
Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy - and
Why They Matter
Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy - and
Why They Matter
latest scientific research confirming the existence of emotions that
commonsense experience has long implied. The author also explores the
evolutionary purposes of emotions in a wide range of different species,
showing how science is discovering brain structures that produce
emotions, how we can track an evolutionary continuum based on shared
brain structures among species, and how new information is being
revealed by noninvasive neurological research techniques. Filled with
Bekoff's light humor and touching stories, The Emotional Lives of Animals
is a clarion call for reassessing both how we view animals and how we
treat them.
commonsense experience has long implied. The author also explores the
evolutionary purposes of emotions in a wide range of different species,
showing how science is discovering brain structures that produce
emotions, how we can track an evolutionary continuum based on shared
brain structures among species, and how new information is being
revealed by noninvasive neurological research techniques. Filled with
Bekoff's light humor and touching stories, The Emotional Lives of Animals
is a clarion call for reassessing both how we view animals and how we
treat them.
As part of the Jane Goodall Institute's (www.janegoodall.org) Roots &
Shoots program, for which I'm the roving ambassador, I've been working
at the Boulder County Jail over the past eight years teaching animal
behavior, conservation biology, and animal and environmental ethics.
The discussions we have are extremely interesting and wide-ranging and
it thrills me at how outspoken and informed these men are about
important issues. I never leave without having learned something that I
incorporate into my daily life and my talks at professional meetings
around the world.
Roots & Shoots is about building appreciation and respect for animals,
people, and the environment. It originally focused on youngsters but now
there are thousands of groups for all age groups in more than 90
countries worldwide. And now, youngsters, seniors, inmates, and people
confined in refugee camps are part of Roots & Shoots. A major aspect of
this program stresses that all individuals matter, that the voice of each
and every individual needs to be heard and that each of us can make a
positive difference to make the world a more compassionate place for all
beings. Individuals in the program are empowered to work for change.
Crossing the divide into a habitat in which I've never lived really has been
an education for me. In my groups we talk about animal behavior and
spend considerable time discussing ethics - how humans should interact
with animals and how we should interact with the environment.
Discussions of animal behavior, animal protection, sustainability, and
climate change rival those of my university classes and debates about
animal thinking, emotions, pain, and ethics are informed and moving.
It never fails to impress me that many of the men with whom I work are
also incredibly hopeful individuals. And they're helping to nurture hope
among youngsters by writing letters and poems telling kids about the
mistakes they made, stressing that jail just isn't the place to be if they
really want to make a difference, if they want to be able to work for a
better world.
Many of the men with whom I work enjoy sharing messages of hope.
Many have families and want them to develop and sustain hope in what
often is presented as a bleak and hopeless world.
Some of the messages that I've gotten include:
Kids out there - you don't want to be like us - it's up to you to change the
world and make it a better place.
Obtaining an education will help unlock the doors to gaining opportunities.
If I could do my life over, these are the things I would do: Love myself, go
to school to learn how to live, be a good friend, love and respect my
family . . . you can feel in your heart what is right. Have faith and hope for
the future. Be happy. Time passes very fast, so please don't waste it.
You are all very special.
Be a kid, have fun, play ball in the afternoon sun . . . climb trees and care
about the birds and the bees . . . have simple days and simple ways, a
Kool-Aid smile to light up your face.
We can all learn from one another and we need to build bridges that
carry messages of hope, peace, respect, compassion, and love. Perhaps
more now than ever everyone should be encouraged to spread the word,
for there are many reasons for hope.
So, if you're looking for something to do go out and build new bridges,
cross frustrating and challenging divides right here in our community. Act
locally, think globally. Help those who are less fortunate get a fresh start.
It isn't always easy, but it's a win-win situation for everyone. We all can
make a difference and sharing messages of peace and hope with
youngsters and keeping their dreams alive - for that matter sharing these
messages with everyone and keeping everyone's dreams alive - certainly
is a good road to travel.
Marc Bekoff (http://literati.net/Bekoff) taught biology at the University
of Colorado at Boulder for more than 30 years. He is the author of many
books and travels widely spreading messages of hope.
Shoots program, for which I'm the roving ambassador, I've been working
at the Boulder County Jail over the past eight years teaching animal
behavior, conservation biology, and animal and environmental ethics.
The discussions we have are extremely interesting and wide-ranging and
it thrills me at how outspoken and informed these men are about
important issues. I never leave without having learned something that I
incorporate into my daily life and my talks at professional meetings
around the world.
Roots & Shoots is about building appreciation and respect for animals,
people, and the environment. It originally focused on youngsters but now
there are thousands of groups for all age groups in more than 90
countries worldwide. And now, youngsters, seniors, inmates, and people
confined in refugee camps are part of Roots & Shoots. A major aspect of
this program stresses that all individuals matter, that the voice of each
and every individual needs to be heard and that each of us can make a
positive difference to make the world a more compassionate place for all
beings. Individuals in the program are empowered to work for change.
Crossing the divide into a habitat in which I've never lived really has been
an education for me. In my groups we talk about animal behavior and
spend considerable time discussing ethics - how humans should interact
with animals and how we should interact with the environment.
Discussions of animal behavior, animal protection, sustainability, and
climate change rival those of my university classes and debates about
animal thinking, emotions, pain, and ethics are informed and moving.
It never fails to impress me that many of the men with whom I work are
also incredibly hopeful individuals. And they're helping to nurture hope
among youngsters by writing letters and poems telling kids about the
mistakes they made, stressing that jail just isn't the place to be if they
really want to make a difference, if they want to be able to work for a
better world.
Many of the men with whom I work enjoy sharing messages of hope.
Many have families and want them to develop and sustain hope in what
often is presented as a bleak and hopeless world.
Some of the messages that I've gotten include:
Kids out there - you don't want to be like us - it's up to you to change the
world and make it a better place.
Obtaining an education will help unlock the doors to gaining opportunities.
If I could do my life over, these are the things I would do: Love myself, go
to school to learn how to live, be a good friend, love and respect my
family . . . you can feel in your heart what is right. Have faith and hope for
the future. Be happy. Time passes very fast, so please don't waste it.
You are all very special.
Be a kid, have fun, play ball in the afternoon sun . . . climb trees and care
about the birds and the bees . . . have simple days and simple ways, a
Kool-Aid smile to light up your face.
We can all learn from one another and we need to build bridges that
carry messages of hope, peace, respect, compassion, and love. Perhaps
more now than ever everyone should be encouraged to spread the word,
for there are many reasons for hope.
So, if you're looking for something to do go out and build new bridges,
cross frustrating and challenging divides right here in our community. Act
locally, think globally. Help those who are less fortunate get a fresh start.
It isn't always easy, but it's a win-win situation for everyone. We all can
make a difference and sharing messages of peace and hope with
youngsters and keeping their dreams alive - for that matter sharing these
messages with everyone and keeping everyone's dreams alive - certainly
is a good road to travel.
Marc Bekoff (http://literati.net/Bekoff) taught biology at the University
of Colorado at Boulder for more than 30 years. He is the author of many
books and travels widely spreading messages of hope.
| Also...Marc Bekoff and Jane Goodall (EETA): www.ethologicalethics.org |
Marc Bekoff is Professor Emeritus of Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology at the University of
Colorado, Boulder.
and Evolutionary Biology at the University of
Colorado, Boulder.
| Fifi- by Jeff |
The program in which I now
teach is called "transitions" and
it's anticipated that the skills that
the men learn will be used when
they are released. Sergeant
Susan Yankovich, who oversees
the Program Support Services
for the Boulder County Sheriff's
Office, has worked closely with
me to be sure that this will
happen. Lisa Lopez has also
been wonderful to work with.
When each segment of
teach is called "transitions" and
it's anticipated that the skills that
the men learn will be used when
they are released. Sergeant
Susan Yankovich, who oversees
the Program Support Services
for the Boulder County Sheriff's
Office, has worked closely with
me to be sure that this will
happen. Lisa Lopez has also
been wonderful to work with.
When each segment of
the course is over or when someone is released, they receive a diploma
to show that they have taken part in the course and been successfully
graduated from it.
to show that they have taken part in the course and been successfully
graduated from it.
| A mountain lion and her kittens by Leon |
And they do indeed have much
wisdom to share. Their messages
often bring me to tears - sincere
outcries to try to make this a better
world for all beings - messages
that stress the importance of
"being a kid" and the overriding
importance of having a positive
self image and of boundless hope
and love. Some of the drawings
that accompany their prose are
outstanding works of art, two of
which are included here - a
beautiful pencil drawing of Fifi, one
of Jane Goodall's favorite
chimpanzees drawn by Jeff, and
another, by Leon, of a cougar and
her kittens.
wisdom to share. Their messages
often bring me to tears - sincere
outcries to try to make this a better
world for all beings - messages
that stress the importance of
"being a kid" and the overriding
importance of having a positive
self image and of boundless hope
and love. Some of the drawings
that accompany their prose are
outstanding works of art, two of
which are included here - a
beautiful pencil drawing of Fifi, one
of Jane Goodall's favorite
chimpanzees drawn by Jeff, and
another, by Leon, of a cougar and
her kittens.