The documentary “Blinders”, by Danny Moss was screened last Wednesday by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the actor Alec Baldwin. The 52-minute documentary starts innocently enough with the gentle clip-clopping of hooves and the excited reaction from tourists. (Oaky, the tourists do appear a bit demented, but that could just be coincidence.) It then goes on to recount recent accidents with some gruesome shots of a horse lying in the street just after an accident. There follows a series of harrowing stories depicting the horrible treatment of these poor animals.
It would seem inevitable that this antiquated, brutal industry must be banned, as it has been in cities all over the world, from London to Beijing. The fact that the People’s Republic of China has proscribed this practice and the great city of New York has not should be telling enough. The next screening is not scheduled until August, but I am trying to find out if another showing can be organized before then. This is a movie all New Yorkers should watch.
I cried when I saw the movie in that Staten Island Film Festival. I can not believe how New Yorkers don’t band against the lobbyist James McMahon, brother of councilmember Michael McMahon, and demand the city council adhere to ASPCA, Coalition to Ban, Friends of Animals’ call for a Ban. This is a travesty. Just beautiful majestic animals reduces to haul loads of people in the MIDST of NYC Traffic. James McMahon Lobby firm send letters to the city council to boycott the blinder screening.
The New York Times reporter responsible for the City Blog review of Blinders uncovered one of the many lies D. Moss has woven into his film.
The reporter states that a simple websearch shows that there are indeed carriages in London & Paris….had she gone a little farther, she would have seen that they are available in Beijing as well!
It would behoove anyone, before they repeat ‘facts’, to make sure they are indeed….facts. lol.
Please do not take my word for it! Jump over to the NYT blog, or do a little Googling for yourself.
The truth will set you free.
I have been to London in late May and there were no horse and carriages near the London eye, Buckingham Palace or other tourist sites. I don’t believe there are any horse and carriages in London and in NYT blogs there is also doubt they do exit in London.
In regards to Beijing, does New York want to follow the lead of a city with the worst human rights record and no animal rights? Facts are that the ASPCA supports the ban. That Newsweek reported NYC has the highest carriage accidents rate in the country. Facts are that the horses are in the midst of NYC traffic and wedge between buses and trucks. They have limited movement restricted to the carriage and tied to the lampposts. Facts are the Richard Brodie the director of therapeutic riding center actually took pictures of the demonstrators against this cruel industry in 2 separate events. Their lobbyist James McMahon, brother of council member Michael McMahon actually send letters to all council members to boycott the movie. Facts are that these drivers both on the internet and in person have made anti-hispanic and ant–gay remarks toward many of the demonstrators. This is a cruel Industry in NYC that should NOT exist
sorry but I also at the London bridge and the towers and there were no Horse and carriages. London is a clean city and inhumane in that regard. NYC should be ashamed!!!
sorry but I also at the London bridge and the towers and there were no Horse and carriages. London is a clean city and HUMANE in that regard. NYC should be ashamed!!! Also the Queens horses at the royal mew where beautiful and so cared for!!! I guess some horses are lucky
I was in London recently and there are no horse and carriages!!!! Not only did I not see one but no traces of horses manual. Only beautiful horses in the mews. Perhaps not illegal but quite intimidating when the same person makes it a point to attend events to take picture of people’s faces. Taking pictures of horses and carriages is not the same. i don’t know of anyone who takes pictures of your faces all the time. the connection between the industry lobbyist James McMahon and his brother the council member Michael McMahon is inappropriate. Something is rotten when the ASPCA calls for the ban and the city does not adhere.
Uh. Facts are, Animal rights activists have made anti-muslim, anti-irish, anti-american, anti-everything comments, and are probably some of the most poorly educated New Yorkers I’ve encountered. In the history of the New York carriage industry the ASPCA has never once issued a cruelty to animals charge against the carriage industry. NOT ONCE. NOT EVER. The movie blinders is not a documentary. It is propaganda.
Mr. Grey’s attempts to marginalize the activists who seek a ban are mere rhetoric.
The ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States, Friends of Animals, and numerous mainstream animal welfare organizations are united in support a full ban on horse-drawn carriages in New York City.
NEW YORK Aug 31 2008– Two horses make it out alive after the white, flowered carriage in which they were reportedly drawing newlyweds gets into a collision with a livery cab in Brooklyn. One horse suffered a minor cut to the leg. The livery cab sustained minor damage. The crash happened at about 2 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of 66th and 12th streets in Brooklyn’s Borough Park. A bride and groom had reportedly been in the carriage and left the scene unscathed
http://www.wnbc.com/news/17353999/detail.html
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Cheers! Sandra. R.