Why Petition?

Chinese version here.

中文：请愿书的意义

How much power is there in simple folks to bring about changes in the government's actions and in society as a whole? An individual's effort might seem negligible, but we should never underestimate the collective force of separate individuals. Huge changes come about due to subtle intentional and unintentional actions and inactions of each and every element of society.

Why a petition? Because we need to make noise.

I do not enjoy causing a racket just for the sake of it. If possible, I believe many people who are working for a cause would love to live in solitude without causing too much stir or bringing too much attention to themselves or what they do.

In this case, pigeons are routinely killed because there are people who do not like their presence and complain. But such complaints do not represent the vast majority of people who are not disturbed by the birds. Many of the people whom I've spoken with were baffled why the birds are being killed. People who are not affected by the birds keep quiet, while the voice of the vocal minority is being heard. Complainants are pacified, with the suffering and fear that helpless pigeons are being cluelessly forced to go through.

As this unpublished letter writer pointed out, we cannot identify 'problem areas' simply by asking people who are against pigeons to write in. Most people are not even aware that there is any 'pigeon problem'! The problem is, peace loving people who can live at peace with pigeons would not bother to write any letters or say anything or call the town council, simply because they don't see any problem. Yet one single person who thinks that there is a problem and complains (who knows, perhaps repeatedly) might be perceived to represent the whole population.

Which is why those who do not mind the pigeons have to speak up. It is unbelievably unfair, cruel and greatly ironical that peace loving pigeons have to die because of some mismanagement of humans affairs. Let the quiet voice of the majority be heard. It has to be made known that the ongoing killing disturbs the peace that the quiet and peace-loving majority wants.

We can never tell how much this petition would work in getting the authorities to spare the birds. However, even if we can't see a complete change in the way things are done, this petition is nevertheless a very important step, and serves a huge purpose. It might take years and decades or even centuries to move people, but if that is the time it needs to move them, so be it. Let us be a contributing force.

If a hundred years is needed, perhaps with our efforts this period can be shortened to 99 years. Which would translate to 1 year less suffering for the animals. Even if our efforts would amount to just shortening their suffering for 1 day or 1 minute, it is still of paramount importance. Perhaps we can try to recall the times we were undergoing intense suffering. During such times, wasn't even one single second too much to bear?

If you do not agree that the birds have to be killed, please consider signing the petition. THANK YOU very much!