KILLING INNOCENT ANIMALS FOR THEIR FUR IS UNETHICAL AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED.                  
Fox farms in China kill and sell dead animals to wear as a fashion product in the winter as profit.

(Above) Beaten to death: Foxes being beaten to death to become coats or hats for the public to wear this winter as part of fashion statement.

Thousands of innocent foxes get clubbed or skinned alive every day for only one unreasonable and materialistic purpose: fashion. Humans are the only cause for this cruel act towards animals for no benefit of their own, only to look somewhat ‘fashionable.’ These oblivious beings walk about the streets wearing the fur of innocent animals and have the audacity to call this ‘fashion.’ Little do they know the truth behind the fur coats they are boasting about. These poor animals are being hung by their feet whilst being skinned alive.

Before being violently killed, these poor foxes in their thousands await in small cages alongside other foxes for their turn to be converted into a fashion piece that humans can wear. These guiltless creatures are hardly able to move in these prisons before they are ended by vicious workers on the fox farms. They're either clubbed to death, skinned alive or if the worker has limited time: their necks crushed by the workers boots. The loud noise of screeching can be heard throughout the villages and no mercy is taken upon these innocent foxes.

Workers at the fox farms state that they don't have enough profit to provide a humane death for the foxes. A Fox farm owner stated "we don't have the money or time to kill the animals more humanly, we do this to make a profit and the only way to do that is for the process to be quick and cheap." Due to this, the foxes continue to be forced to be still whilst having their skin ripped off. During autumn months thousands of these animals including raccoon's, blue foxes and red foxes, are all compacted together until winter comes when they are dragged out along the mud with eyes full of terror and desperation to escape to become a warm winter coat just in time for the public's demand. They're beaten in front of the foxes cages, as the other foxes see this they panic and scream and cry to be saved from the torture.

The local's say they disagree with the fox farms and get disturbed from the noises coming from their neighbours murdering animals viciously as it upsets and distresses their children. A local who lives opposite the fox farms said "Whilst playing with my children outside I hear howls screeches and cries for help from the farm. The sounds are sometimes heard in the night waking everyone up, it's so unpleasant."

After animals are skinned and useless to the workers, they toss them into a pile of other skinless animals which are still alive left to suffer with the pain of being ripped to pieces. They put the fur with blood dripping everywhere onto a pole for the purpose of the public's appearance. I’m no fashion expert but wearing dead animals just doesn't seem that appealing to me. I just don’t quite grasp how wearing a little fox that once ran around minding its business to suddenly be murdered as an item of clothing is attractive. The public should not have to choice to invest in such disgusting and cruel garments which promote animal cruelty.

Although wearing animal fur is looked down upon from many people, tradition is the main reason for this act to continue. Those in favor argue that fur is tradition and is a symbol that humans dominate the Earth. Lauren, 67 said "I own a lovely fox fur coat. Its the same as what my grandmother used to wear and I've never felt cold when wearing it. We should be proud we're the most dominant species, we worked hard for centuries to produce and profit from anything we can such as fur coats and hats and that's why animal fur is so pleasing to wear. There was no problem with genuine fur back 100 years ago, its a sign of wealth and being proud of what you are."

“Would you want to be skinned alive?” “If you stop buying they’ll stop dying” “Go fur-free!” (Above) Protesters photographed fighting for the lives of poor animals to be spared for good.

Many protesters against animal cruelty and using animal’s fur as clothes or hats wait outside of fur selling shops to speak out about the wrongs of wearing these innocent creatures.

Amy Smith, a protester from the anti-fur campaign spoke of her opinions on the fox farming industry: “I think it’s vile, killing an animal to wear for others to look at, what’s so great about wearing dead animals anyway? It’s cruel and inhumane and needs to be stopped. The argument that is often used against us is that animal fur can keep you warm during winter, but we have faux fur coats and hats which look the same as real fur products, just without all the torture.”

The poor mammals continue to be tortured and beaten to become a winter coat, through no fault of their own. This will continue until enough people join and support the campaign to stop this act of cruelty against animals. (http://www.caft.org.uk/support.html)

Although Fox farming is a brutal act against foxes, these are not the only animals who suffer these consequences to become clothing for the public. Other animals such as beavers, chinchillas, dogs, minks, rabbits, racoons and more are forced to go through the same process. All of the pain and distress these animals go through to become a nice item of clothing to look at is completely unnecessary and needs to be stopped now.

Please go to the link above and support this campaign against animal cruelty. No animal deserves to suffer the pain of having skin ripped off their back for profits for companies that use this horrific process every day. 

Monologue

From Heaven

[A young girl in her teens is lead on her bed. She has her hair tied up in a messy bun and has mascara smudged down her face. She's staring deep into the ceiling, sniffling as if she is about to cry. She sits up and puts her head in her hands and starts to cry loudly for a few minutes. She pulls back and stares into the camera, looking distraught.]

It doesn't feel that long ago. 3 years is too long. I remember her so clearly, as if we were only together yesterday. [Pause] It didn't shock me... My sister’s death that is... it was inevitable, the day I refused a liver transplant to keep her alive for another month. I didn't refuse because I wanted her to die, I refused because it wasn't fair to continue living my life as nothing more than a science experiment. I was born for one purpose. That's all I was- A science experiment.

I guess it is really that long ago, 3 whole years since my sister took her last breath. 3 years since her eyes opened for the last time. My sister, my best friend, the only person I could turn to when everyone else turned away. I loved her so much, I swear I did.

[Looks to window and takes a loud deep breath. Looks at the camera and does a quiet laugh to herself, with a smirk on her face.]

I bet you feel sorry for me. I bet I have every ounce of your sympathy; you pity me, don't you? I've lost my sister so I must be completely devastated. But tell me, why would I feel any sort of grieving when I see her every day? Every morning, evening and night. [Pause] Her presence haunts me; her breath burns the back of my neck and her eyes dagger into me with every move I take. I'm constantly drowning in guilt because I didn't know what felt worse: continuing to be ripped open and having inside of me removed more and more every day, or living freely but without my sister. The doctors knew she'd loose the battle to stay alive soon enough, my job was to give my parents false hope that she could survive.

[A tear falls down the girls face. The girl lifts her hands to wipe it away as if shes refusing her need to cry.]

People think it was my fault she died, it was everywhere in the papers. "Young girl refuses operation to keep her ill sister alive." What a load of shit! Operation?! They make it sound like I only had to go through a week of pain when in reality it was years. Those writers had no idea! I had 77 operations since I was 3 months old! Most parents bring their children into the world saying they hope they'll be a doctor or a teacher or lawyer. My parents wanted me to be my Chloe's spare body parts. As long as my heart was healthy and my blood type matched hers, my parents couldn't care less what I turned out to be.

After 13 years being an object rather than a human being became too much. All of the operations, all of the hospital appointments, the words that were constantly repeated. "Do you love your sister, Katie?”, "why won't you help your sister? She needs you." The only time I could make my mother proud was when I returned conscious after a successful transplant which would determine whether my sister would last another month. Getting an A* in my maths test or completing a marathon which I trained so hard for after an operation were never enough. Surely every little girl deserves this during their childhood? Don't they? All I wanted is for my mother to love me for who I was, not what science is inside of my body. She loved my sister unconditionally, but loved me on a condition- I'd risk my life every day to save hers.

[The girl leans forward, crying. She stands up and slowly walks over to a chair next to a desk. She sits down and fiddles with a pen until she drops it. The girl turns to look at the camera but her eyes are staring at the floor.]

I'm not alive to give up everything inside of me. I wasn't born into a loveless and cold-hearted world where the only thing I'm useful for is internal.

I lived in a horror movie, but one that didn't have an end. One that I will be living in for the rest of my life. I didn't do any wrong... I never did. I let them use me as their science experiment, didn't I? A cruel experiment, I'd be unsure if I could make it another day myself. I was weak. I had no energy to do what I wanted to do. I wasn't aloud any emotions, sympathy or love from anyone. I was made to feel useless if I didn't help her, as if that was my only purpose in life.

I remember when I was 5; Chloe and I would dress up as princesses and run around the house singing at the top of our lungs. Wires were attached to her wrist but it didn't stop us from being happy and enjoying every bit of each other’s company. You might think I'm crazy because I swear I can still hear her singing in my dreams. I also hear the screaming,,, Loud screaming that I couldn't escape from. Almost as if the noise was locked in my head replaying over and over. The screaming came from Chloe when her body rejected the medication. [Girl wipes tear from her eye] I was too young to know. I wish I still was. I can remember what my life consisted of 3 years ago more than I can right now. All the arguments between my parents about what they were going to do after every threatening meeting at the hospital where they'd be told Chloe had few days to live unless she got a transplant.

Chloe was like the glue for us. She was the only reason we'd eat at the table as a family, the only reason we'd go on holiday or trips to beach or zoo. She held us together so that the rest of us didn't completely smash into pieces... Pieces that could never be glued back together without her presence.

I still replay the memory of all the panics we went through like a movie in my head, except I can't seem to find the pause or stop button anywhere. All the paramedics rushing in, sirens screeching into my ears making me feel like they were bleeding. They pushed past me shouting at one another "quicker! We need to get her in." [Pause] In where exactly? I was completely oblivious to what was happening. My sister, the other half of me, was being dragged around like a rag doll. She was crying in desperation to be able to breathe normally again. I could almost hear her body telling her each time that it had had enough.

The thoughts torture me and I think that's why it's on repeat: I deserve this torture don't I? [Raises voice] Well at least that's what my mum says! Whatever I did for her was never enough! I couldn't do it anymore, why couldn't anyone understand or imagine any of the pain I was in? A young girl shouldn't have to go through such mental and psychological pain, should they?!







[The girl cries violently, then lifts her head and wipes her tears with her sleeve.]

Now I'm living in a foster home. I live with an old couple who can't have children. I think that's the reason they decided to take me on. My parents didn't force me into care; I signed myself up for it. You would’ve done the same; anyone would’ve if they went through what I did. It felt like the right thing to do and I'm sure Chloe would've agreed. It was the only hope to make something out of myself and bring the half of me that died with Chloe back to life. [Deep breath] They're really nice about the whole thing, and by “their” I mean my new parents. I guess that’s the reason I'm more comfortable there. We eat at the table together and go out on trips like I did with my family. Only with them it's a lot more quiet and serious. There's never really any laughing or joking, but there is a sense of belonging which I never felt before. I like to think one day I'll have my own family, and love my children equally and the most I possibly can… unconditionally, too. They’ll never have to go through what I did.

[Takes a deep breath, her voice begins to shake as if she is about to cry but she holds it in]

You know, Chloe used to say how we were going to live together when we grew up, she always looked after me in ways no one could. We were each other’s best friend. We had the same taste in music and the same fashion style, the only thing that could separate us was the hospital rooms. She loved me for who I was, unlike my parents. Although we never spoke of the operations or transplants I knew she appreciated it. I always wanted to talk about it with her to ask how she felt about it all. She never really had an option; no one asked Chloe what she wanted to do. Mum didn't allow it; apparently it wasn't for her little girl to worry about.

[Girl stands up and tears slowly fall down her face. She turns to a table and picks up a frame and smiles. She turns the frame so the audience can see it, it's a photo of herself and Chloe]

Chloe's just a memory to me now... To all of us. Just a photo in a frame of a time were never going to live again. [pause] It's so depressing. In my opinion the only way you can truly move on from something like this is to forget. How do I forget? How do I forget any of this? Because I can sure tell you therapy won't help. I don't think anything will. Chloe's a lot like my shadow now: Follows me everywhere I go without being able to talk or touch her again. Ever. Torture. Complete torture.

Bed Among the Lentils.

- Read the opening stage directions. What key information do we learn about Susan?

Susan is reconised as the "vicar's wife" in the stage directions. This suggests that Susan is seen as merely an object or possession of someone else. It states that she is "thin and nervous and probably smokes" which instantly makes the reader reflect and question why this is, which is intriguing and encourages the reader/viewer to continue to do read/watch.

- What does Susan's language reveal about her age, social class and attitudes?

Susan's language for the duration of the monologue is complexed and descriptive. This gives the impression that she is well educated and traditional. This image created by the reader is supported by the information received through the stage directions, when it is expressed that Susan is a "vicar's wife." By using language such as "(a) pang of sympathy" lives up to the expectations, set by the writer, of how a vicars wife is assumed to act.

- Which techniques has Bennett employed to make this sound like spontaneous speech?

Bennett employed fillers and side comments in the monologue to make it sound spontaneous. This is because Susan is assumed to be saying her thoughts and feelings in the moment that she is thinking/feeling them. By using side comments such as "you can say that again" gives the effect that Susan is being conversational towards the reader. She is also adding extra sentences which don't carry any information needed for the reader to know more about Susan or how she feels. This shows the monologue is spontaneous as she is unaware of what she is going to say next.

- Identify any moments of humour and explain what makes them funny.

- Identify any moments of pathos (sadness) and explain what is significant about them.

Towards the end of the monologue on film, Susans voice starts to slur and stutter. She is sniffing and making the reader feel sympathy as she sounds as if she is about to cry. This moment of pathos is shown whilst Susan is speaking about Ramish and how he sold his shop. She shows signs of grieving and uses language to show she misses him. For example, when Susan says "She's old enough apparently" her tone changes from being steady and dull, to being higher pitched and slow.

- How does Bennett hint or foreshadow future events in the narrative?

About Me Analysis.

For my 'about me' post on my blog, I decided to write in a conversational tone and present myself in an open way. I did this to display to the reader that my writing reflects me as a person- open. I wanted to include the reader in my blog and did this by asking rhetorical questions- "who isn't?" so they felt hooked onto what they were reading and wanted to continue to do so. I also wanted to include the reader so they felt a sense of empathy towards my piece- understanding how I feel about myself throughout the emotive language I added into my blog.

As the 'about me' blog was written in a conversational tone I wanted to make the piece fast flowing alike the thoughts I was having at that moment. This again reflected me and fulfills the title 'about me' as the blog not only tells the reader of my opinions, but also indicates more personal information such as my thought process.

Armstrong and Miller Sketch.

Throughout the Armstrong and Miller sketch the writer includes informal and slang words to create comedy. The use of language such as "deal with it girlfriend" and "swear down" is associated with teenage slang, specifically teenage girls. Armstrong and Miller and presented as soldiers fighting during WW1 who in the viewers perception are expected to be formal and wise. In the sketch they both are seen gossiping about topics a lot less important than the war they are supposedly fighting.

In the sketch, the writer has used an over exaggeration of the amount of slang words usually used to empathize the illiterate use of language spoken by teenagers during this generation. The over exaggeration of the perception of teenagers adds to the comical script as the behavior of the soldiers is so unexpected and against the stereotype of how they were seen to have acted. The use of fillers is added throughout the sketch which is a familiar feature of spoken language that teenagers often use. Fillers are used such as "isn't it", and "uh." By using fillers throughtout this sketch it indicates to the reader that the characters are contradicting their expected formal speech and instead speaking informally.