Would you have given her 20p?

Would you give someone 20p?

A young woman catches the bus. It's 3am. She's been to a Christmas party. It's below freezing outside. She's 20p short of the fare.

She pleads with the driver to let her on. The driver refuses.

Can the bus wait for her as she goes to an ATM? ‘No,’ says the driver.

As the young woman tries to persuade the bus driver to let her on a dozen people are caught on CCTV boarding the bus. Despite hearing the woman's pleas, nobody offers to give her the 20p.

She has to get off the bus. It drives off leaving her stranded. She phones her mum and explains what happened. Her mum drives to get her and the young woman starts walking.

A few minutes later, she's pounced upon by a rapist. She's beaten so badly her mother doesn't recognise her.

Would you have given her 20p?

The police officer in charge of the case is so disgusted he tells the passengers and bus driver they need to examine their consciences.

This story really happened http://www.key103.co.uk/news/uk-and-world/20120608-woman-raped-after-being-thrown-off-bus-over-20p/

And I tell it here because it's so sad that a lack of human compassion led to a young woman being raped.

The next time you see someone who needs help, ask yourself 'should I help them?' and say 'yes.'  Because it's only when we reach out to one another we stop bad things from happening.

Note - this piece was initially posted on my Living Cruelty Free Facebook page.

How you can change the world

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

Anne Frank

Anne Frank wasn't just one of the bravest people to ever live, she was also one of the smartest because she was right when she wrote the above.

We can change the world and we can do it one small step at a time.

You don't believe me?

Here's an example - ducks and geese are being forced fed by having a metal tube shoved down their throats to make Foie gras until their livers expand several times their normal size.

What can you do about it?

Maybe you are a vegetarian or vegan who wouldn't eat dead animals anyway. So, what can you do to change things?

Make sure anyone you know is made aware of what Foie gras is so they will never eat it. What happens then is that if even just one person listens that will be one less person eating this cruel food.

If you are a meat eater, you can say that you will never eat this so-called French delicacy and tell others what it is so they won't either.

Education is the key, because how many people who eat these things know about the cruelty involved? Some people may know, but them all? No way. It's not like theforce feeding of animals is done out in the open because it's nothing to be ashamed of. No, it's done in secret well away from people's eyes.

Less people eating Foie gras means less animals suffering.

How to change the world...
The key to changing the world is to start small. This won't leave you frustrated and angry that you can't stop all cruelty, because no one can.

Why not try it today.

Think...what do I want to change?
Ask yourself...how do I do that?
Remember...a world free of cruelty begins with you by you now knowingly participating in it by buying products where animal abuse is involved and where people are not paid fairly for the goods they produce.

In my books, The Greatest Guide to Living Cruelty Free, there will be loads more ways that you can change the world and make it the more compassionate place we all want it to be.