The CFO of the Stayart Law Firm, Bev Stayart balances her professional responsibilities with a wide range of philanthropic pursuits. Bev Stayart is committed to numerous animal protection organizations. One cause Bev Stayart actively supports is halting the abuse of donkeys cruelly exploited in the brick kilns in the Katmandu Valley in Nepal. Some 1,500 donkeys are currently subjected to abusive practices in 28 brick kilns in the Katmandu Valley in Nepal. A donkey will typically carry 3,000 to 5,000 mud bricks on his back every day, transporting them to the kilns. But no government department monitors the care and treatment of these donkeys. They fail to receive even basic care, including adequate nutrition, sufficient rest, or shelter. They are continuously overloaded with bricks and overworked for unceasing hours. They are beaten brutally by their handlers. Every year, at least 25 donkeys die from exhaustion in Nepal’s brick kilns, which have been called “medieval hell holes.” The animals are not protected from dust particles that surround the kilns, which leads to pneumonia, lung infection, and other health problems. Most develop serious skin infections from open wounds caused by the sheer weight of the bricks they are forced to carry all day long without rest. If a donkey falls and dies, he is immediately replaced with another. They are viewed as disposable commodities, not living beings. Consumers worldwide can help stop this exploitation of donkeys for profit by making wise purchasing decisions. A certification system is now being introduced in Nepal that will label kilns with a red, orange or green label. A red or orange label indicates that the kiln does not provide even basic care for animals, violating even minimal standards for preservation of the lives of these donkeys. A green label indicates that the kiln follows basic animal protection standards, including adequate nutrition, rest and veterinary care. While this is encouraging, much more needs to be done to stop the endless cycle of abuse of these donkeys.
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AuthorBev Stayart is an advocate for animal rights, and is involved in many campaigns to prevent horse slaughter for human consumption, to prevent the aerial shooting of wolves, and to preserve the baby seal population in Eastern Canada. Bev Stayart is an experienced genealogist. She is a descendant of James B. Stephens who founded East Portland, Oregon. His residence is the oldest home in Portland, Oregon, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Archives
July 2016
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