Fri Jan 30 2009 16:50:01 By: lolav ( 813)
I hate to cut in before Blues_Lover has her say, but if what Lily Tomlin says is true, then the animal should be moved to a larger habitat. Now Lily, Bob and Cher, put your big money where your mouths are.

Fri Jan 30 2009 16:53:49 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
WOW! This story astounds me. For many minutes I was just...SPEECHLESS! I will say I have full faith and confidence in CHER and her animal and environmental awareness. She is sharp, considerate and has the self-sacrificing, financial ability and love in her heart to assist orphans in Nepal. The real struggle is in that I frequently wonder how the world can afford majestic animals like elephants, tigers, lions, polar bears, whales, dolphins, and still maintain the human population. The fittest survive, old Darwinism. Yet, without the heart of others...like CHER and her friends...I do NOT know how the World would find solutions. I support CHER 150% and love Lily Tomlin and if they and Bob Barker can find a way to help this animal enjoy natural and expansive habitat and feed it more properly, it will only give me more to be proud of them for.

Fri Jan 30 2009 17:01:22 By: delinan ( 2988)
Elephants, like all animals are beautiful and should be allowed as much freedom as possible!

Fri Jan 30 2009 17:04:32 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
delinan, I can't agree more *jokes "I would give them a checkbook if I could too," lol*

Fri Jan 30 2009 18:17:57 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
I can't resist adding, not many people have beeen lucky enough to RIDE an elephant. Sonny & CHER did it at least once I know of, in the movie "Good Times." And then CHER was Hostess in several Circuses in the 70's. As far as I know, the elephant used in the Farewell & Believe Tours was it? was Mechanical. But it brought a GORGEOUS diminsion of Mid East and tenants of Buddhism to the forefront, in the BEAUTIFULLY SACRED display. I like this idea. CHER has a unique appreciation for this animal many of us have not been lucky enough to experience. She is putting this love to use. She is BLESSED.

Fri Jan 30 2009 18:21:40 By: Johnsangel ( 2094)
Didn't Bob Barker pass away,i feel stupid for even asking this question and i should know it,i watch The Price Is Right lol,Drew is no Bob,however he has grown on me a tad bit.

Fri Jan 30 2009 18:28:14 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
Nope, he's alive and taking part in active protests and I just bet he's lovin' every minute of it...;D

Fri Jan 30 2009 18:33:54 By: 2sugha ( 1070)
Give me a break...please!

Fri Jan 30 2009 18:37:14 By: Johnsangel ( 2094)
Well that's good,i have no clue as to why i thought he passed on,it was probably another Bob i'm thinking of.

Fri Jan 30 2009 18:59:22 By: mlbgarcia ( 33)
why dont they let cher bob and lily walk billy 30 to 40 miles a day to another facility or why dont they put up the money to build a bigger enclosure this elephant is taken care of better than most animals

Fri Jan 30 2009 19:31:41 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
Well...Evidentally, Lily, CHER and Bob, think the elephant would thrive much better in a larger area...And they are VERY SMART people...^ Read about CHER's opportunites on elephants above ^ lol

Fri Jan 30 2009 21:29:43 By: Love Kills Slowly ( 681)
GOOD 4 HER AND DA ELEIS

Fri Jan 30 2009 22:36:30 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
YES, I love when Stars HELP ANIMALS! CHER ALWAYS impresses me and re-defines the meaning of the words ACTIVE PROCLIVITY!

Sat Jan 31 2009 11:10:33 By: lolav ( 813)
Elephants are not on the verge of extinction. So Blues_Lover, I disagree with the whole Darwin survival of the fittest concept (in this case). The species is more endangered now that the ban on harvesting ivory tusks (in certain regions) has been lifted. Many elephants die in the wild because of this travesty of humankind. The least we can do is provide these magnificent creatures with the loving consideration and profound respect they deserve. The same goes for polar bears, whales, etc. How can we afford NOT to?

Sat Jan 31 2009 12:28:20 By: Marcus Garvey ( 4196)
i would like to watch an elephant battle

Sat Jan 31 2009 18:20:20 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
Thanks for your comment, lolav. Your misunderstanding of my pointing it out, only emphasizes the need for these discussions so mankind is aware. I didn't explain well but whether an animal is on the verge of extinction or slightly or more than slightly endangered, does not take away from the fact that there is competition for resources and we humans remain the biggest source of competition.

So, I will pose this as a question...I am not sayin in anyway we should NOT give animals the love & respect they deserve. I am pointing out that the BIG question seems to be where does our HELP to humans stop and our HELP to animals start?

The problem is determining how MUCH in resources and spending is given to wildlife, zoos and projects abroad.
Personally, I would rather the War ended and animals supported in their natural habitats here and abroad. I truly wish it were that simple but the Cycle of Life of animals and humans is directly inter-related and inter-twined, making it a complicated challenge of dependence and inter-dependence.

Sun Feb 1 2009 00:18:09 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
Have you seen her LIVE in the last year?! She's coming BACK to Vegas February 21st for MORE SHOWS! I HAVE seen her lately and she sounds and looks
AMAAZING!

Sun Feb 1 2009 00:56:15 By: ilbaaaks ( 5)
God put us here as protector's of Animal's and not to abuse them. If Cher and Tomlin and other's want to move him and other's to a larger place there is a place, just can't remember where, in one of the Southern States I believe. He should be sent there if anyone can look them up and not only us lower middle class support them and other animal's, but Cher and all the very wealthy should donate monthly as so many of us due to help take care of the Elephant Sanctuaries and all Sanctuaries of our choice. Remember we are here to protect ALL animal's not be cruel to them. So let's try to find out this place and help Billy and other's to find the right home in his old age. That goes for all animal's and especially those who love and care for our smaller pet's that love and depend on their human's. They give their love to us so return it to them and all medium and large animal's.

Sun Feb 1 2009 16:18:16 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
Unfortunately, CHER has lost her initial Court Battle:

Cher Speaks Out Against Elephant Exhibit

For months, L.A.'s protracted debate over elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo has made City Hall a magnet for TV, movie and television celebrities. Today's City Council debate, perhaps the final one on the $42-million pachyderm exhibit, is proving to be no different -- a fact that quickly became obvious when Cher, the actress and singer, walked onto the council floor and stood a few feet behind Councilman Herb Wesson's chair.
Yet even a seasoned performer such as Cher had to do battle with The Hook, which at City Hall is the 60-second limit placed on each member of the public speaking during lengthy hearings. When that limit is exceeded, speakers are routinely shooed away from the lectern and cut off at the microphone. Council President Eric Garcetti struggled to get Cher to adhere to the time limit, repeatedly asking her to wrap up as she pressed ahead with warnings that animals at the Los Angeles Zoo are exposed to electroshock.
"I am not a fanatic. I just love animals, like most Americans," she told the council as she argued that elephant exhibits, like slavery, are a shameful tradition that should be ended. Cher was quickly followed by actresses Lily Tomlin and Tippi Hedren, as well as actor Kevin Nealon - all of whom oppose the elephant exhibit. Supporters of the exhibit include actress Betty White and Slash, who performed with the band Guns N' Roses.

Sun Feb 1 2009 16:18:46 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
(cont'd ^) Garcetti, for his part, said he tried to give each speaker a cushion of 10-to-15 seconds.
The City Council voted Wednesday to finish a $42 million elephant exhibit and keep its lone pachyderm at the zoo, despite pleas by CHER to scrap the project.
Source: LA Times and cherworld.com Thursday, January 29th, 2009
****
Perhaps CHER's efforts and the Media will help others to be aware of the situation and enjoin in the efforts of those who are able to help to create better and more expansive refuges for these and other glorious Creatures of God and Mother Earth.

Sun Feb 1 2009 18:22:58 By: InfamouslyMe ( 113)
Any type of Life that is captured & displayed, to me is inhumane. They were here first.

Sun Feb 1 2009 20:55:17 By: Blues_Lover ( 2083)
And caging anything living is wrong. So is taking away their freedoms.