Lynn Hildebrand maintains a strong community presence and volunteers with the First Congregational Church in Corona, California. Concerned about pervasive links between human violence and animal abuse, Lynn Hildebrand also teaches humane education with the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley. Popularized in American literature by Ernest Hemingway, one of the controversial traditions of Spain’s Basque country is the running of the bulls, which centers on the Festival of St. Fermin in Pamplona. Each day over nine days, bulls destined to be killed in the bullfighting ring are first run through the streets, with young men traditionally testing their virility by running in front of the stampeding bulls. This year’s running of the bulls was particularly violent, with 12 human participants gored, a record over the past decade. In addition, a torero was fatally gored in the ring, the first such death of a professional bullfighter in more than three decades. At the same time, the scourge of sexual assault has hung heavy over the festival, with the 2016 even bringing about a record 16 arrests of men for unwanted advances, including an attempted rape. Pamplona’s city council has been proactive in trying to change the image of the event, but faces an uphill battle, given what many consider the essentially inhumane nature of bullfighting itself. The animal rights community has not been inactive. Since 2002, PETA has held annual protests at the event, and there have been recent calls for a complete ban on bullfighting.
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Lynn Hildebrand is a humane education teacher with the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley. As a humane education teacher, Lynn Hildebrand conducts seminars in local schools to teach children humane values that help break what’s known as "The Link." A phenomena documented by extensive research, "The Link" is defined by the Humane Society as the connection between abuse to animals and violence toward people. The abuse of pets and animals has long been considered a predictor for domestic violence, with studies finding that over 70% of women who have found shelter from domestic violence also report that their partner had injured or killed their pet. Another way "The Link" can be seen is through the actions of children. The Humane Society points out that children are not typically violent or cruel towards animals. If it is observed that a child is acting out in a way that is cruel to animals, they may be a risk to others or themselves, or they may be experiencing abuse at home. If this violence is noticed early, and the child receives professional help or is removed from a bad situation, they are more likely to be successful in ceasing their own violent or abusive behavior. Lynn Hildebrand is a humane education teacher with the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley, an organization that operates with a mission of educating the community and preventing cruelty to and neglect of animals. In addition to her work with the California-based organization, Lynn Hildebrand supports the Institute for Humane Education (IHE). Educational opportunities presented by IHE include the Most Good (MOGO) Workshop. Designed to give participants the skills and resources to pursue a vision of creating a more peaceful, sustainable, and humane world, the MOGO Workshop combines elements of retreat, educational, and personal-development experiences. The interactive workshop enables participants to gain confidence in their abilities and receive guidance on how to best help animals, people, and the environment. Activities also teach effective communicate skills with a focus on compassion, and allow participants to increase their knowledge of a range of humane education topics. Workshops utilizes MOGO’s seven-keys principle as a guideline for personal exploration, which focuses on lessons such as responsibility, pursuing joy through service, modeling your message, and fostering communities. Individuals may register for full-day or half-day workshops, and all registered participants receive a copy of IHE President Zoe Weil’s book, Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life. For more information about the MOGO Workshop, visit its informational page at humaneeducation.org/workshops/mogo-most-good-workshop. A humane education teacher with the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley, California, Lynn Hildebrand introduces children to the concept of animal rights and kind treatment. Through this process, Lynn Hildebrand teaches young people the power of their own actions and the importance of their individual choices. While humane education begins by helping children understand how and why to be kind to animals, it also serves a much broader purpose. Humane education requires children to think about how they act toward those in a vulnerable position, which in turn changes the way they look at other people. As they learn that their actions have the potential to help or harm, children develop empathy and internalize the value of gentle, peaceful choices. Multiple studies have demonstrated a connection between humane education and increased compassion, responsibility, and peaceful behavior in later life. Researchers have also found that humane education plays a key role in identifying potentially abusive behavior, as more than half of domestic abuse victims also report harm to their companion animals by the abuser. Humane education programs can help to identify those children who may be disposed to mistreat animals, an indicator that can prompt early intervention and help children cultivate compassion while still young. |
AuthorIn addition to her work with the HSSBV, Lynn Hildebrand maintains an active involvement with the First Congregational Church of Corona, California. As a member of the congregation for over 50 years, she has taught Sunday school, led the children’s choir, and served on the Christian Education and Mission Boards. Archives
February 2018
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