As has been described here, Cameron has been visiting regularly with some dogs outside a pet store near her apartment in Suzhou. Her favorite seems to be this little white one, whom she has named XiaoBai Snowflake.
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| XiaoBai Snowflake, Photo by Cameron Ishee |
In her best Mandarin, she told the boys that what they did was not good and that it could make the dog sick or even die. They were visibly skeptical that the animal could die from drinking the contaminated water. But she made sure they saw her dump it out, and use a lot of water to rinse out any bacteria, before filling it again with fresh, clear water.
Soon after, one of the boys pushed a stick through the cage of XiaoBai Snowflake and began poking her with it. Cameron again corrected him, in a kind but firm manner. He protested that he wasn't hurting the dog, that she liked it and was having fun.
Cameron stopped him and asked him a simple question: If someone poked you in the side with a stick, would you like that? Would that feel fun to you? He looked stunned, as if such a thought had never occurred to him.
The boy walked away with his stick and then, after a while, came back to her. He held the stick far out in front of him, and then threw it away dramatically, saying something like, "I don't want this, no, no, I don't!" Then he bent down and began petting the dog he had been tormenting. He seemed happy with his decision. And so was Cameron...
Some readers may not know that Cameron is working with a renowned primatologist at the conservation division of the San Diego Zoo. Dr. Chia Tan is studying how to save a rare species of monkey that survives in only one forest in China. It is one of the most endangered animals on earth.
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| Guizhou Snub-nosed monkey (Photo courtesy of Xiaoping Lei) |
The aim is to help the next generation of Chinese develop a connection to animals beyond utility, and inspire them to preserve those species they can. Their theme is : 播撒博爱之种,促进物种保护! (Sowing the Seeds of Love to Promote Species Conservation!) The Chinese-led campaign to save the Giant Panda has inspired the world and offers a shining example of what can be accomplished when the Chinese people set their mind to something important.
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| Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding |
Cameron is very excited about the opportunity to support Dr. Tan's work. Currently, Cam is helping to build conservation libraries at three primary schools in Guizhou Province and will develop a curriculum on preventing forest fires, (with Ling-Ling the tiger playing the role of our Smokey the Bear). When she returns to California, Cameron will make a video for third-graders for Dr. Tan to deliver on her next trip to China.
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| Little Green Guards of Guizhou |
I think with this young boy in Suzhou, Cameron got a taste of the impact she can have, and reinforced her passion for how, someday, she might apply all she is learning about communication and culture in China. By planting the seed of empathy in that child's mind, Cam may have just slightly altered the trajectory of his life regarding animals, and opened a door to a lifetime of relating with animals differently than his parents did. The harvest may be amplified by all the people he might impact with his new awareness throughout his life.
To me, this small incident speaks volumes about why we let our little girl travel so far away from us. Cameron is destined to make this world a better place, in many ways, and it seems likely that one of those venues will be supporting the growing movement for animal welfare in China. Through such work, all the talents and energy that make Cameron Cameron could come together and contribute to meaningful change. Isn't that what we all hope for our children? The chance to follow their bliss and live lives of meaning and passion?
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| Cameron at age 12 |
~ Posted by Pam Hughes
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