Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim portrays himself as a defender of justice, yet right now, he is one obstacle to righting a wrong. Ignoring the recommendations of experts around the world, Lim refuses to approve the transfer of Mali, the ailing and depressed lone elephant at the Manila Zoo, to a sanctuary.
As the new Pope’s namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, said, “All creatures are created from the same paternal heartbeat of God.” Christ’s teachings of mercy and compassion are made a mockery of by the continued confinement of Mali the elephant at the Manila Zoo. Would Jesus have tormented one of God’s creatures capable of feeling [...]
There’s probably not a single country left in the world today where one would not find Filipinos. In any war that breaks out anywhere, any major disaster that happens on land or at sea, in every hijacking of a cargo boat, or any terrorist attack in a crowded public place in any big city—chances are one of the victims could be a Filipino worker. This has made the everyday outlook of the average Filipino global. In the short span of 40 years, we have, by necessity, become interested in what is happening in the rest of the world because of the broad dispersal of our overseas workers.
Before the military coup in March, Mali was touted as an exemplar of democracy in West Africa. The military junta has since stepped down, but beatings and arrests continue in Bamako, the capital.
Laudable was the editorial on Mali, the 38-year-old elephant caged in Manila Zoo for more than 30 years (Inquirer, 6/24/12). I agree: Mali should be kept there no further.
