On This Day – Page 86

On This Day in 2016: Draft Summit update: farmers demand end to Human Direct Investment in Park

July 18, 2023 By Imko Oaljefanta, TMD Archivist

After two weeks of what appeared to be promising Tuesday and Thursday meetings, the Draft Summit talks have stalled, according to A.P. Civet, president of The Park’s Society of Concerned Park Cultivators, Planters, Growers, and Farmers (SCPCPGF).

“We’ve come to an impasse,” Civet wrote in a press release on Friday morning.

But the issue that has stalled the talks—Human Direct Investment in The Park—has “absolutely nothing” to do with the problem the Summit was called to resolve, a frustrated Kalliope Sun Bear told Mammalian Daily Radio this morning.

Sun Bear, who represents the Weather Makers, Producers and Sellers Alliance of The Park (WMPSAP), one of the three groups participating in the Summit, said that while she understood the SCPCPGF’s concerns about HDI, she thought the talks should focus on the issue at hand.

“The Summit was called to discuss the effects of technology on The Park’s food supply, but it’s now veered off in another direction entirely,” she said.

But Civet insists that unless HDI is dealt with swiftly, there will be no food to find, with or without apps.

“Unless we convince the Archons, the Park Finance Office, and the Department of Well-Being and Safety that allowing Humans to farm in The Park is a danger to our food supply, we have nothing to discuss with regard to technology. All the BulbBeacons, FoodFinders, SpinachSpotters, and TulipTrackers will come to nothing if we don’t take back control of our farmlands,” Civet wrote in the press release.

Human Direct Investment dates back to January of 2011, when the sitting Archons, in conjunction with the Park Finance Officers, agreed to “rent” out portions of The Park’s farmland to Humans for their personal use. The agreement explicitly allowed for use of the land for the purpose of growing food for the exclusive consumption of Humans. An investigation conducted five years ago by The Park Police Force’s Undercover Operations Unit (UOU) concluded that the HDI deal was responsible for some of the food shortages experienced in The Park. The Archons have never revealed what the PFO does with the monies collected from the rent.

In the press release, Civet wrote that he will not resume his place at the Summit table until he has met with the Archons, the PFO and the DWBS to discuss the issue. No meeting has yet been scheduled.

Enforced Domestication victim: “It could happen to you.”

June 10, 2013 By Thaddeus S. Loris, TMD Health and Safety Reporter

A series of workshops entitled, “Enforced Domestication: It Could Happen to You,” was held in The Park this past weekend.

It starts with the offer of a bit of food or drink, a toy, or even a pat on the back, a free brushing, or a warm lap.

“It can be anything, really, as long as the Human thinks it’s what you would like,” says Enforced Domestication survivor Antoni Chomik.

This past weekend, thousands attended the Enforced Domestication workshops that Chomik chaired. The workshops were designed to educate Park Animals on the domestication tactics employed by Humans and they covered a wide range of subjects including awareness, prevention, escape planning, post-traumatic effects, and what Park administration could and should do to reduce the incidence of enforced domestication.

“It shouldn’t all be up to the Animal in question,” says Chomik, who believes the Department of Well-Being and Safety is not doing enough to educate the young.

“The young are particularly vulnerable to Human domestication tactics, as are the elderly,” says Chomik. “There’s no doubt that Park life might seem harder at times and there’s no shame in admitting that. Who wouldn’t want a full stomach, a comfy bed, and some form of attention?”

But, according to Chomik, it won’t take long for you to realize that this “harmless” gesture comes with a price.

“Imagine if your new Human friend bent down to give you a treat and said, ‘I promise you those things, but you’ll never be able to go outside or, if you do, you’ll never be able to visit your friends or stroll on your own. You will always be tethered to some Human and you will never be free again.’ Would you take the treat?”

Chomik admits that some would, but he says most would run or fly or swim as fast as they could.

“We are not built for domestication. Not mentally or emotionally,” he says adamantly. “Some species are more able to adapt than others but, by and large, we lose a part of ourselves when we succumb to it. That’s why we have to work hard to preserve ourselves and our way of life, no matter how difficult it is.”

Park celebrations “joyous” despite heavy police presence

October 15, 2012 By TMD Reporters

Not even the presence of a record number of police officers could mar Park residents’ enjoyment of this year’s Autumn festivals.

In fact, according to its organizers, the 20th annual Harvest Festival saw its largest turnout in history on Thursday. Friday’s annual Snowbird Farewell was also an extremely popular event this year.

“We were a bit worried, what with the recent violence, that fewer Animals would show up,” said Cécile Bardot, who assumed the position of president of the organizing committee in March.

“But, as it turns out, we had nothing to worry about. It was a joyous, joyous occasion, full of food and fun and music and laughter…[it was] a real celebration of the work that we accomplished this year.”

And, although festival-goers did notice the police, many seemed not to mind.

“It’s unusual to see police here,” acknowledged Dewi Beruang, who has attended the last seven Harvest Festivals. “I just assumed they came to celebrate, just like we did, and they seemed to be having a good time,” she said.

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Indeed, they did have a good time, according to Gareth Shepherd, President of the Federation of Canine Security Workers (FCSW), who oversaw security at both festivals. But, that wasn’t their prime objective.

“We were here to make sure that peace prevailed,” he said.

Aintza Kanariar, Director of Public Relations for The Park’s Department of Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations confirmed that the department felt the need for an obvious police presence at the two celebrations.

“We were sensing a degree of unrest in the populace, and with the two festivals coming so soon after the Noon Nuttiness fiasco, we didn’t think we could take any chances,” she said.