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PONO LOVES YOU
Meepa and Beepa Front Page Hawaii tribune Herald
Many calls for homes
Meepa and Beepa are exploring, stretching, and spreading their wings...at last...
Save the Chickens
by Peter Sur Tribune-Herald Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:58 AM HST
Animal rights activist wants to find homes for former island egg-layers
HONOMU -- When the Hawaiian Fresh Egg Farm near Waimea closes later this year, thousands of hens will be laid off.
Hoping
to save them from slaughter or some other ignoble fate is Tony Marasia,
a Honomu vegan and animal rights activist. Monday, in the backyard of a
vacant home, he released the two former egg-layers into a 20-by-30-foot
pen.
It's a safe haven for the two hens, whom Marasia named
Meepa and Beepa. Before Marasia bought them June 30, the hens had spent
their lives in a space 16-by-18 inches across, shared with two other
hens. Marasia
-- he goes by one name -- is tall and thin, and he spoke with
conviction in an interview held Monday in the hen pen. As he spoke,
describing the importance of his work, Meepa and Beepa stood in a
corner, unsure of what to do.
Marasia's idea that chickens have
personalities is an unpopular one, given that less than 1 percent of
the U.S. population is vegan, according to a 2000 Zogby poll funded by
the Vegetarian Resource Group.
Vegans, unlike vegetarians, swear
off eating animals and animal products, including seafood and eggs.
They don't use any animal products, like leather.
Marasia, 33,
takes it one step further by hoping to find homes for as many of the
Hawaiian Fresh Egg Farm hens as possible, preferably so they can live
out their lives in some place far from the dinner plate.
"(The
farm) has 8,000 left. I'm sure all 8,000 have their own personalities
like Meepa and Beepa," he said. Marasia doesn't have the resources to
buy all of them, but he's hoping that people will be willing to step up
and adopt a few. The hens that are currently being sold off are nearing
the end of their cycle and are not being replaced.
..tr> ..table> Saving the Big Island's farm animals from slaughter wasn't always his goal.
Marasia
grew up in Pennsylvania and came to Hawaii a decade ago with the
intention of studying eastern religions and pre-veterinary medicine at
the University of Hawaii at Hilo, to become a zookeeper. Instead, he
became "sidetracked" by other ventures and didn't enroll. For a time he
worked as a security guard at the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo.
After
the death of his goldfish Goldie in 2005, he swore off eating fish. A
short time later, Marasia watched the video "Meet Your Meat," produced
by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, about the cruel
treatment of animals in modern farms. Six months later, in mid-2006,
Marasia met Pono, the cow.
Columnist Karen Welsh interviewed
Marasia for the "Meet Me on Monday" piece that was published Jan. 1,
2007. It remains the most-commented article on the Tribune-Herald Web
site with more than 700 comments. As stated in that column, Marasia
found Pono at the end of a 10-foot-long chain and started a successful
campaign to raise money to buy him, sparing the Holstein from a trip to
the slaughterhouse. That campaign began July 1, 2006, and ended July 8,
and since then Marasia has done something new to celebrate the
anniversary.
In July 2007, he opened an animal education center
in Honomu's Kayumangi Building. Those driving up Honomu Road will
notice the building with the large red star and the sign that says "GO
VEGAN: It's Easy." Inside, there are pamphlets and videos.
This
year, he marked the center's anniversary by starting the hen rescue
campaign. He wants to have people adopt as many of the hens as
possible, and sets 100 as an initial goal. Any amount would help, he
said, and after the initial investment of about $300 for the enclosure
and tarp, the hens won't cost too much. He relied on Internet donations
to get Pono, and hopes to draw on donors from around the world again
for this venture.
"To
me, with each hen that is rescued ... the world changes a litttle bit,"
Marasia said. "With each hen, for them the world has changed."
For
Meepa and Beepa, Marasia first saw them carried upside-down, their legs
bound together with black electrical tape, and "helpless and hopeless,"
he wrote in a MySpace blog entry. Today, he says Meepa likes to sing
and Beepa is the sunbather.
Marasia prefers to think of the hens as friends or individuals, rather than pets or animals.
"They
have personalities. They have likes; they have dislikes," Marasia said,
sitting in a green plastic chair as Meepa and Beepa strolled around
their new enclosure. Marasia built the pen himself and is renting the
backyard from the house off Puako Street for $100 a month.
"I sort of have a heart for farm animals," he said.
David Davenport, the owner of Hawaiian Fresh Egg Farm, supports the idea of a safe haven for the hens.
"I
think it's a good thing if people want to do it," he said. As of
Monday, the farm has a little under 7,000 hens and is producing between
50 to 60 cases a week. One case is 360 eggs.
The
farm is winding down production and is looking to close down in
October. The number of eggs produced is down from 550 cases about a
year ago with 45,000 hens, Meepa and Beepa among them. The egg farm is
the last of its kind on the Big Island, and was once the chief supplier
to KTA's Mountain Apple Brand.
On
Monday, under a clear blue sky and a fresh breeze, Marasia removed the
wire mesh that had kept them in a holding pen and let them jump out
into the new enclosure.
PONO
celebrates two years of freedom today. The Save PONO campaign began on
July 1 2006 and PONO was purchased and freed on July 8th 2006. PONO
will never be owned, chained, or threatened with slaughter ever again.
PONO is FREE!
Last
Year in honor of PONOs rescue week, we signed the papers for the space
that has become Love The Animals, the animal protection education
center.
This
Year we are celebrating by helping others become free from slaughter
and domination. We have begun a campaign and sanctuary to help hens that have lived in egg cages for the last two years find good
loving homes. So Far we have two hens, Beepa and Meepa Meepa
and Beepa join PONO in the Love The Animals family.
PONO
is so happy to be alive. He now lives with a herd of holsteins on the
ocean cliffs in a huge pasture almost 100 acres. PONO is still as
friendly as ever, friendlier even...and gentle as ever.
My
favorite memory of the day PONO was saved, besides taking that chain
off from around his neck and watching him leave the park where he was
imprisoned for doing nothing wrong...was this:
It was a Long
week, that is an understatement...someday we will write a book, maybe
this year... but there was a lot of drama, PONO almost wasnt saved. But
there was a magical moment when i told PONO he was safe, we had done
it... i kneeled down beside him...he was tired, i was tired too. PONO
put his huge head on my lap, let out a big sigh and fell asleep right
there on my lap. To my surprise, he snores. It was such a beautiful
moment.
PONO is my best and favorite friend, I love him...if you
knew him you would understand...he is such a special steer, the thing
is though, i think they all may be.... and that is the tragedy of the
dairy industry... but this is a day to celebrate... PONO life and love
and love will prevail "the future is vegan"
PONO LOVES YOU
Love the animals, marasia
Meet MEEPA and BEEPA
Want to email somebody a link to this photo?
Want to email somebody a link to this photo?
SAVE BEAUTIFUL HENS FOR THE BIRDS: Hen Sanctuary and Adoption
If you would like to donate our paypal account email is Pono@SaveBeautifulCows.com or contact me if you would rather send check or money order...thank you.
The last egg farm on the big island of Hawaii is closing. So
far we have befriended two amazing hens, Meepa and Beepa. Please consider making
a donation. We are currently creating the Love The Animals Sanctuary Hen Garden
Paradise where the girls will be staying until(if)they find excellent homes.
(Meepa and Beepa Stay with us) It will be a beautiful place, they deserve
something beautiful. We will be going back to the farm to get more hens as soon
as the sanctuary is ready and we are financially able to. We will also begin
looking for really special good loving homes for as many hens as possible. Thank
you all for your support, friendship, kind words. Help some hens have a chance
at a happy peaceful life! Thank you for all
you do for the animals.
Does anyone want to run a fundraiser for the hens? Please consider making a donation, thank you.
Donations can be made through Paypal email is Pono@SaveBeautifulCows.com or send a check/money order made out to Anthony Marasia to: Anthony Marasia PO Box 381 Honomu Hi 96728
special thanks to SoFiA
MySpace URL: www.myspace.com/ponto_final
for the beautiful black and white photos of PONO
Love PONO
Definition of PONO: Pono is the personal and organizational value of rightness and balance. When a person or steer is “Pono” they have the feeling of contentment when all is good and all is right in their life. Pono teaches the attitude of positivity and optimism. Life itself excites you, and you are full of hope, seeing that the future can only get better.
PONO LOVES YOU - LOVE PONO
We have a new Logo and Mascot for Love The Animals Thank you Antonella Canavesse for your beautiful art and for your kind and generous heart
Here is the story behind the little calf....told by Antonella:
And now the true story of this calf. I live near a small organic farm raising cows and sheep and poultry. They live well, free and in large places, even if they finally are used to feed owners and to be sold... I didn't manage to convince owners to become vegetarian...
Anyway, each time a newborn arrives, I go taking pictures of him. And this calf was born with a legs deformation and he couldn't stand up. He has been helped with a sort of corrective strips, and finally he lifted up. But some months later I didn't see him anymore and discovered he was dead, but I suppose he has been sold to be slaughtered.
So, is a sad story... and I hope in his short life could be a reason, why not to become a mascot for animals lovers? When I met your space and known your story and mission I immediately hoped to do something to help it, and this is the reason why I did the paint.
Want to email somebody a link to this photo?
Watch Our weekly Tv program Animal Rights Saturdays at 3pm on Channel 54 Big Island Hawaii Public Access Cable Television
LOVE THE ANIMALS
Animal Protection Education Center
DOORS ARE OPEN - FREE LITERATURE and INFORMATION FOR EVERYONE!
Organizations represented at the center include:
Peta, Farm Sanctuary, In Defense of Animals, Mercy for Animals, Vegan Outreach,
Compassion Over Killing, Compassionate Living Project, Viva, Humane Society of the United States,
Humane Farming Association, Humane Youth, Peta 2, United Poultry Concerns, Undercover TV, Sea Shepard, and more.
PONOs FRONT PAGE NEWS MOO HAWAII TRIBUNE HERALD JANUARY 1, 2007
By Karen Welsh
There's alot of pressure to provide a moo-ving tale on New Year's Day, but fate has decided 32 year old Anthony Marasia and his friend PONO the holstein steer will help kick off another fine and intersting year of columns.
It's an unlikely love story: A vegan man and a once homeless domestic beast become a perfect match for each other.
But they are.
The story began when marasia took a walk last spring at Honomu Park near where he lives.
He was startled to see the steer stuck to one end of a 10-foot chain.
One look in Pono's nut-brown eyes and Anthony was immediately bonded to the overtly friendly animal.
"He was sticking out," marasia said. "In a sea of green foliage was this black and white cow wrapped around a tree with his water knocked over. I just felt he needed to be cared for."
He began to make regular trips to the park to feed and water the incarcerated bull. Marasia found out that Pono was meant to be slaughtered, barbequed, and eaten.
"Pono and I became friends, and I had to try to help him." Taking pity, marasia began a campaign to save his friend Pono on July 1. Soon a web site - www.SaveBeautifulCows.com - was up and running and, within a week, the man on a moo-ssion, as he likes to call it, had raised enough money with the help of many kind people to buy and transport Pono to a safe location.
"He was rescued," marasia said. "I'm so attached to Pono now. He's got such a wonderful personality. He's lovable and he relates to people. He's happy being free of the chain. He dances when he sees me and , as much as I've helped him, he's helped me. He's taught me things."
Throughout the months, Anthony has spent time learning about the Holstein dairy cow's plight on the Big Island.
He said Pono was one of the ill-fated male calves born at an east Hawaii dairy location.
"Many people don't realize that a female dairy cow needs to be impregnated before she can produce milk," marasia said. "What happens is when the mothers have their babies, they are taken away from them shortly after birth. This is traumatic for the mother and the baby. The girl cows are used in the future to make more milk, but they have no use for the male cows - especially because there is no veal industry in Hawaii. They usually sell the males at a cheap price to be raised and slaughtered at a young age. That's what happened to PONO."
The story of Ponos salvation doesn't end with the rescue. Anthony said the fine steer has inspired him to save other unwanted male Holsteins and have them adopted to landowners throughout the island.
"Pono's mission is to help other animals in need," marasia said. "There should be another option available other than slaughtering these beautiful creatures. I don't like seeing people or animals in pain. Cattle are not just big dumb things out there, once you get to know them they are as wonderful as any family pet. Like Pono, each one is unique, lovable, and silly. They are all individuals that deserve to live their lives too."
Once Anthony's brainchild recieves nonprofit status, those interested in the program can contact both man and beast via the website, which will remain up and running to keep everyone up-to-date.
Marasia is trying to work it so the new organization will provide the fences and veterinary services to give the steers a long and happy life.
However, this dedicated animal lover doesn't want to stop there. He is also interested in creating Love The Animals, an international animal protection education center and theater that will have its headquarters on the Big Island, to teach others to be kind to animals. Someday this may even include a Pono-based theme park.
"My desire is to help eliminate sufferring and create peace in the world," marasia said. "Pono is an advocate for this. Together we want to change people's perceptions of animals by helping them to see the animal kingdon in a kinder way. I would like them to see everything as alive and wanting to live."
At present, Anthony is working to find at least one more cow, preferably a female Holstein, to keep Pono company in his lush pasture.
"Pono is very special and we need to find him a friend," Anthony said. "He's a herd animal. he doesn't like to be alone."
UPDATE: In the search for a friend, I found PONO a herd. Instead of Buying a Baby cow, I just moooved PONO into the herd where she was from. It is Beautiful and PONO loves it. 80 acres on the ocean cliffs...I always promised PONO and ocean view.The land is being is for sale is parcels, though but we will cross that bridge whem we get to it. Does anyome want to buy a piece of paradise and let PONO and friends live there?
In the end, marasia believes Pono and he were destined to meet and change each other's lives and together they believe it is going to be a wonderful and "Happy Moo Year."
"Pono's moo will be heard around the world," marasia said.
Photos of little orphaned "PONO's" from the island dairy PONO was born.
These pictures show part of the problem with dairy,
Unwanted males, lots of them.
More milk, more orphanes, more slaughter.
Retired Battery Cage donated by Neil Hornish of Compassionate Living Project
Love, Kindness, Compassion, and Consideration for all life...
