Michael Pickard

Thornbury, VIC 3071, Australia.
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January 30, 09:55 PM

Just spotted these poor sheep on the back of a parked pickup in Thornbury. I'm guessing their future isn't too bright... :'(

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November 02, 04:15 AM

Raleigh frame, Quando hubs, Driveline cranks/pedals.

sent via Android.

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November 02, 03:39 AM

Raleigh frame, Quando hubs, Driveline cranks/pedals.

sent via Android.

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November 01, 02:26 AM

The fuel pump on my kombi appears to be stuffed. Bad news because I'm gonna need a trailer to get it to the mechanic and because DOTVW is in 5 days (3 working days). :(

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October 30, 01:43 AM

I finally got my Jeff Soto and one of my Obey prints framed and hung. They look way cool. :-)

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October 12, 03:59 PM

sent via Android.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Animal Activists Forum" <info@activistsforum.com>
Date: Oct 12, 2011 8:23 PM
Subject: Activists Forum Agenda and Important Information
To:

Dear AAF Attendee,

Please find attached a copy of the preliminary agenda for the 2011 Animal
Activists Forum. This agenda is subject to change. A final agenda will be
available upon your arrival at the forum.

For more specific information on the content of each session, please refer
to the presentation outlines on the Animal Activists Forum website. This
information is frequently updated, so please check back soon if the
information you require is not there yet.

Please also read the attached information for registered attendees, which
includes instructions for arrival at the forum.

We look forward to seeing you in Melbourne next weekend!


Jo and Roy
AAF Convenors

AAF Preliminary Agenda.pdf Download this file

Attendee Information.pdf Download this file

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October 10, 04:12 AM

Here is a breakdown of my run in the 2011 Melbourne Marathon for those that might be interested - but mostly for myself as a permanent record...

Overall position - 705

Gender position - 545

Category Position - 109

10K - 47:46

20K - 1:34:27

30K - 2:23:03

40K - 3:11:22

Final Time 3:21:26

 

BTW, I'm now only $69 short of my fundraising target. PLEASE sponsor me!

 

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October 09, 06:18 PM

In the name of vanity, animals are subjected to painful and cruel ingredient testing by L’Oreal. The L’Oreal company does not want to share the fact that thousands of animals are needlessly tortured each and every day in the name of vanity and profit. The L’Oreal company is among the world’s largest beauty companies, but is the worldwide leader in animal cruelty.

Although many of the animals testes by L’Oreal are rabbits, dogs, and cats; they are very much an equal opportunity torturer. L’Oreal seems to have a special preference for rabbits because they are the only animal who can not flush chemicals out of their eyes without using aids like water or their paws. However, dogs and cats that are used often tortured by L’Oreal research as they are taken out of animal shelters. These animals would otherwise be euthanized. Their number comes to approximately 1.1% of dogs and cats euthanized in shelters. It is estimated that in 2010 alone, almost 2.5 million animals were tested in France.

L’Oreal regularly conducts disgraceful eye irritation tests by securing rabbits so they are immobile while substances are dropped into their eyes (rabbits are used because they have no tear ducts and therefore can’t relieve the stinging and pain). Poisoning takes place whereby groups of animals are continually force-fed an ingredient until half of the group dies. Other animals have their skin shaved and scraped until it’s super-sensitive, then the particular chemical is applied to test skin while L’Real researchers make sure that the animal cannot scratch or remove the substance.

It is hard to imagine the pain suffered by these beings. But we all know how sore it can be when we get something in our eye or our skin is scraped – at least we can immediately do something to relieve the pain. Think of what it would be like, if we were unable to touch or stop the pain, not just for a minute or two, but for hours running into days.

It’s simply disgraceful! And I have only briefly mentioned a couple tests – there are a further six animal tests commonly used by L’Oreal.

Thankfully, some countries, such as the United Kingdom, have banned cometic ingredients testing, so L’Oréal had to go elsewhere, such as Japan or the U.S. where animal testing is allowed. However, the sale of products developed via animal testing is NOT banned. So, despite overwhelming public disapproval, L’Oréal continues new product developments via animal testing.

L’Oréal is pretty much the single biggest obstacle to ending cosmetic testing on animals within the United States and the European Union.

Although L’Oreal has vowed to eliminate animal testing by 2013, they seem to simply be undergoing a corporate restructuring so as to contract out their animal testing to subsidiary or contract companies that they control.

Only you can stop L’Oreal from exercising these unnecessary and cruel animal testing practices by:

  1. Stop buying their products, especially from L’Oreal Professional.
  2. Sign the Petition to Stop L’Oreal Professional’s Cruel Exccessive Animal Testing.
  3. Send this post to every salon professional you know and urge them to take the above two actions.
  4. Only purchase hair color, cosmetics, or other salon products that are certified as cruelty-free by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
Advertisement -->

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October 05, 08:41 AM

At Northcote Social Club

 

 

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September 29, 10:49 PM

Camping overnight at Woodside Beach before returning back to Melbourne.

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September 24, 07:09 PM

Two weeks today I will have completed my first marathon (42kms), in the process raising $870 for Humane Research Australia an outstanding, and often overlooked, organisation who investigate and support alternatives to nonhuman animal-based research in medicine.

I began my running back in mid-January and made the commitment by signing up for the Bank of Melbourne Marathon in June; at which point I was running around 5km every three days. Since beginning my training I have first lost 6kg, then gained 7kg, ran one organised 10km road race, bought two new pairs of running shoes, and ran 961kms* in training. I no longer put my running gear on for less than 6kms.

I'm kind of looking forward to taking a week off from running after the race; right now it's taking up far too much of my time and the importance of not missing training runs regularly impacts my social life - and that of my dog, Stanley. I'm sure I'll continue running (it worked for Forrest Gump!), its got me into great shape, but 40km a week is a bit more manageable than 80!

It would seem that 'we' use animals (meaning nonhuman animals) in experimentation because "they are like us", and results of tests can be generalised to humans (often with disastrous consequences); 'we' justify this use of animals because "they are not like us". Clearly this makes no logical sense and we are no closer to finding the elusive 'cure for [human] cancer' than we were forty years ago despite billions of dollars being invested in research and many research conglomerates being household names. If you haven't sponsored me already, please, please do. It would mean a great deal to me and even more to the current and future generations of animals who have no life to lead except one of torture and abuse so that we may understand what causes cancer in (eg.) mice, or beagles, or chimpanzees...

* update: now 1047kms (06/10/11)

 

 

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August 26, 07:30 PM

A friend found this book on the floor of a bar last night and gave it to me, convinced it was a 'sign from above'. Has anyone read it? Is it any good?

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November 01, 02:26 AM

The fuel filter on my kombi appears to be stuffed. Bad news because I’m gonna need a trailer to get it to the mechanic and because DOTVW is in 5 days (3 working days).


October 30, 01:43 AM

I finally got my Jeff Soto and one of my Obey prints framed and hung. They look way cool.

October 10, 04:48 AM

Here is a breakdown of my run in the 2011 Melbourne Marathon for those that might be interested – but mostly for myself as a permanent record…

Overall position – 705

Gender position – 545

Category Position – 109

10K – 47:46

20K – 1:34:27

30K – 2:23:03

40K – 3:11:22

Final Time 3:21:26

 


October 09, 12:19 AM

In the name of vanity, animals are subjected to painful and cruel ingredient testing by L’Oreal. The L’Oreal company does not want to share the fact that thousands of animals are needlessly tortured each and every day in the name of vanity and profit. The L’Oreal company is among the world’s largest beauty companies, but is the worldwide leader in animal cruelty.

Although many of the animals testes by L’Oreal are rabbits, dogs, and cats; they are very much an equal opportunity torturer. L’Oreal seems to have a special preference for rabbits because they are the only animal who can not flush chemicals out of their eyes without using aids like water or their paws. However, dogs and cats that are used often tortured by L’Oreal research as they are taken out of animal shelters. These animals would otherwise be euthanized. Their number comes to approximately 1.1% of dogs and cats euthanized in shelters. It is estimated that in 2010 alone, almost 2.5 million animals were tested in France.

L’Oreal regularly conducts disgraceful eye irritation tests by securing rabbits so they are immobile while substances are dropped into their eyes (rabbits are used because they have no tear ducts and therefore can’t relieve the stinging and pain). Poisoning takes place whereby groups of animals are continually force-fed an ingredient until half of the group dies. Other animals have their skin shaved and scraped until it’s super-sensitive, then the particular chemical is applied to test skin while L’Real researchers make sure that the animal cannot scratch or remove the substance.

It is hard to imagine the pain suffered by these beings. But we all know how sore it can be when we get something in our eye or our skin is scraped – at least we can immediately do something to relieve the pain. Think of what it would be like, if we were unable to touch or stop the pain, not just for a minute or two, but for hours running into days.

It’s simply disgraceful! And I have only briefly mentioned a couple tests – there are a further six animal tests commonly used by L’Oreal.

Thankfully, some countries, such as the United Kingdom, have banned cometic ingredients testing, so L’Oréal had to go elsewhere, such as Japan or the U.S. where animal testing is allowed. However, the sale of products developed via animal testing is NOT banned. So, despite overwhelming public disapproval, L’Oréal continues new product developments via animal testing.

L’Oréal is pretty much the single biggest obstacle to ending cosmetic testing on animals within the United States and the European Union.

Although L’Oreal has vowed to eliminate animal testing by 2013, they seem to simply be undergoing a corporate restructuring so as to contract out their animal testing to subsidiary or contract companies that they control.

Only you can stop L’Oreal from exercising these unnecessary and cruel animal testing practices by:

  1. Stop buying their products, especially from L’Oreal Professional.
  2. Sign the Petition to Stop L’Oreal Professional’s Cruel Exccessive Animal Testing.
  3. Send this post to every salon professional you know and urge them to take the above two actions.
  4. Only purchase hair color, cosmetics, or other salon products that are certified as cruelty-free by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
Advertisement –>

Like this:

Be the first to like this post.

October 07, 11:51 PM

October 06, 03:41 AM

September 30, 07:28 PM

Two weeks today I will have completed my first marathon (42kms), in the process raising $785 for Humane Research Australia an outstanding, and often overlooked, organisation who investigate and support alternatives to nonhuman animal-based research in medicine.

I began my running back in mid-January and made the commitment by signing up for the Bank of Melbourne Marathon in June; at which point I was running around 5km every three days. Since beginning my training I have first lost 6kg, then gained 7kg, ran one organised 10km road race, bought two new pairs of running shoes, and ran 961kms* in training. I no longer put my running gear on for less than 6kms.

I’m kind of looking forward to taking a week off from running after the race; right now it’s taking up far too much of my time and the importance of not missing training runs regularly impacts my social life – and that of my dog, Stanley. I’m sure I’ll continue running (it worked for Forrest Gump!), its got me into great shape, but 40km a week is a bit more manageable than 80!

It would seem that ‘we’ use animals (meaning nonhuman animals) in experimentation because “they are like us“, and results of tests can be generalised to humans (often with disastrous consequences); ‘we’ justify this use of animals because “they are not like us“. Clearly this makes no logical sense and we are no closer to finding the elusive ‘cure for [human] cancer’ than we were forty years ago despite billions of dollars being invested in research and many research conglomerates being household names. If you haven’t sponsored me already, please, please do. It would mean a great deal to me and even more to the current and future generations of animals who have no life to lead except one of torture and abuse so that we may understand what causes cancer in (eg.) mice, or beagles, or chimpanzees…

 

* update: now 1007kms (01/10/11)

 


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