Saturday July 4, 2009, 10:56 am
Clarke's rodeo stance receives seal of approval

MORE public figures such as Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke should speak out against rodeos to raise awareness of their cruelty, says animal protection group Animals Australia.

Cr Clarke said in The Sun-Herald this month he thought rodeos were "horrifying" and "human entertainment at the expense of animals" after attending one at the coast two years ago.

"I'm an animal lover and get upset when I see them being tormented to act out of character.

They [rodeos] are definitely human entertainment at the animals' expense," he said.

Last week, Animals Australia's president Joy Verrinder presented him with its inaugural Compassionate Citizen Award at the council chambers.

"Public figures who speak out against rodeos greatly help us educate would-be rodeo attendees, many who are totally unaware of the cruelty involved," she said.

Cr Clarke said the award was "unexpected but greatly appreciated".

Animals Australia is the nation's second largest animals protection organisation, with 40 member societies and thousands of members.

Ms Verrinder said thousands of animals each year are forced to display "unnatural and dangerous acts" in rodeos.

The Australian Capital Territory is the only jurisdiction to issue a total ban on rodeos and animal activists are lobbying industry and governments elsewhere to issue similar bans.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisale said he thought the day would come when rodeos were banned and welcomed debate on the issue.

"I don't think there should be any cruelty to any animals," he said.

"I'd be guided by community attitudes and I haven't had anyone calling me up saying we should ban them."

Ipswich City Council votes on Tuesday on banning animal circuses. Brisbane City Council Mayor Campbell Newman declined to comment but this month refused to support a ban on the use of circus animals.

Premier Anna Bligh is pro-rodeo.

Saturday July 4, 2009, 5:23 pm
It's good to know that people are standing up for animal rights!

Saturday July 4, 2009, 6:04 pm
The animals need more Cr Clarkes (& no Anna Blighs) !! Thanks Raffi

Saturday July 4, 2009, 8:34 pm
Thanks Raffi.

Saturday July 4, 2009, 11:19 pm
tX rAFFI

Sunday July 5, 2009, 4:46 am
Good on Ron Clarke - and a big thumbsdown to Anna Bligh!
Rodeos are an abomination - totally out of place in a civilised community.

Sunday July 5, 2009, 1:57 pm
Wonderful. Now can they please contact the whole of the US government and advocate for the aboliishment of all rodeos in the USA! I am very proud of them. And perhaps if more mayors in Australia speak up about this horrific animal torture for sports the corporations that help sponsor them will finally get the message - to take their merchandise somewhere else!

Thank you Raffi for this good news. Nice to know there are bright and clean souls in this world.

Monday July 6, 2009, 4:55 am
I'm glad the premier is pro-rodeo.

Monday July 6, 2009, 8:05 am
Sure thing... people with authroity should know what th egeneral public are feeling regarding these issues... erhaps the'll be voted into office next time... or voted off...

Monday July 6, 2009, 10:07 am
Clarkes gets my seal of approval.
Shirley H.

Monday July 6, 2009, 4:36 pm
"I'm glad the premier is pro-rodeo."
Why?

Monday July 6, 2009, 5:34 pm
RODEOS R TOTALLY SICK & I CAN'T FIQURE OUT Y NEONE WOULD EVER WANT 2 WATCH ONE ?

Monday July 6, 2009, 7:00 pm
With the premier being pro-rodeo at least there is a chance that both sides of this debate will be heard. It will be one time when the noisy minority are not able to drown out the voice of everyone else. A lot of decisions in this country are made to please city and coastal dwellers (more accurately, the few that can be botherd to say something about anything without proper understanding), with no regard for the opinions and lifestyle of country folk.

Rodeos in Australia are closely monitored by the RSPCA and animals are treated well. I don't believe all these claims of cruelty. I have been to many rodeos and will continue to support them and speak out to prevent them getting banned nationally.

Monday July 6, 2009, 8:04 pm
Ah yes. Those dreadful, oppressive, selfish city dwellers (of which I am one) who somehow manage to get by without the necessity of having their lives "enriched" by organised wanton cruelty. Same old same old, time to change the record. Normally I try to avoid personal comment but you madam are a disgrace to womanhood worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as Palin and Coulter. Hell no, I retract that as you would probably regard it as a compliment. Oh and just in case it has escaped you this is Care, that's C-A-R-E 2, not the Animal Abuse Support Group.

Monday July 6, 2009, 8:36 pm
Clearly you misunderstand my opinion and meaning, and I was not simply refering to rodeo. I don't remember mentioning dreadful, oppressive or selfish. Just because I am not an animal liberationist, and support welfare (not that you will believe me) does not mean I do not C-A-R-E 2! I definately DO NOT support animal abuse. Mention me in a sentence with whoever you like, personal attack will not make me change my opinions.

Monday July 6, 2009, 8:49 pm
"Clearly you misunderstand my opinion and meaning, and I was not simply refering to rodeo. I don't remember mentioning dreadful, oppressive or selfish."
The implication was clearly there for everyone to see in your "noisy minority are not able to drown out the voice of everyone else" and "...city and coastal dwellers (more accurately, the few that can be botherd to say something about anything without proper understanding), with no regard for the opinions and lifestyle of country folk." comments.
"Just because I am not an animal liberationist,..."
Nor am I but I know what animal abuse is when I encounter it.
"...and support welfare..."
Yeah. The welfare of animal abusing country bumpkins.
"I definately DO NOT support animal abuse."
And the Janjaweed do not indulge in ethnic cleansing. Riiiiight.
"personal attack will not make me change my opinions."
Wasn't intended to.

Monday July 6, 2009, 8:53 pm
Oh and I forgot, I certainly do not misunderstand your opinion and meaning, it's all too obvious.

Monday July 6, 2009, 9:20 pm
Interpret my comments as you wish. I am not the evil person you make me out to be.

Monday July 6, 2009, 9:51 pm
I thank everyone for their comments. I think we all agree that we are in here for the animals...and that we do want the best for them and that is the crux of this. That's what matters.

WE are their voice and we do our best to speak up for them in any instance that calls for it. I'm very fond of this quote by Voltaire- "I may not agree with what you have to say but will defend to the death your right to say it."

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 12:11 am
Well while you are sniping at each other there is another rodeo going on right now in Calgary Alberta, Canada, and yes there are Australian cowboys trying for the Big Money. I find the whole business sickening. One chuck wagon horse has been running for 15 years pulling a wagon at 40+ miles an hour around the race track.

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 2:08 am
"Interpret my comments as you wish."
I already did.
"I am not the evil person you make me out to be."
A bull or bronc miraculously granted the gift of communication might well disagree. Butt-shot any kangaroos lately?

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 2:15 am
"...there is another rodeo going on right now in Calgary Alberta, Canada, and yes there are Australian cowboys trying for the Big Money. I find the whole business sickening."
As would anyone with a spark of humanity, decency or compassion.
"One chuck wagon horse has been running for 15 years pulling a wagon at 40+ miles an hour around the race track."
Good clean country fun (sarcasm on). And us dreadful, oppressive and selfish city folks have to make do with the odd football game or boxing match.

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 6:14 am
Yes, Rosemary - and another poor horse has just needlessly and cruelly lost its life in this barbaric spectacle.

http://www.care2.com/news/member/525884267/1187025

It's undeniable..... rodeos ARE cruel -hideously, grotesquely cruel.Take a look at any of SHARK's videos, or Animals Australia's - if you can bear to!
Channel 7 here did a series on rodeos a while back which was an absolute eye-opener - the footage was unbearable - images which left me in tears, and which I'll NEVER forget.
The people responsible for the footage are personally known to me - they are "country folk", one of them was actually brought up in a family in which some are rodeo people. So being "country folk" doesn't necessarily mean it's compulsory to have the compassion gene stifled at birth! In fact, many become animal liberationists because of the the cruel practices they witness growing up in the country.
But it's amazing how acts which would be illegal and chargeable under normal circumstances, suddenly become acceptable when there's a "buck" in it!
Incidentally - the RSPCA are opposed to rodeos, and would like to have them banned. They are also not in attendance at each and every one - just not enough manpower.