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bonjour-rainycity · 4 years

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Odin’s Ward ~ Chapter 1

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Rating: T

Summary: After your mother’s untimely death, your father sees no use for you in Alfheim’s castle. He turns to Odin and Frigga, his longtime friends, and begs them to raise his daughter. This results in what many families yearn for their daughters to have: practically unhindered access to Asgard’s finest resources, as well as the attention of Asgard’s princes. Closer in age and personality, you get along better with Loki, and the two of you become fast friends. As you get older, that friendship grows into something more. Always hanging over your head is the threat of your father calling you back to Alfheim to fulfill the one duty he has for you: entering into a strategic marriage and increasing his own power. Still, you and Loki decide to make the most of the time you have left...however long that may be.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters nor am I making any money from this story.

A/n: Hello, thank you for stopping by! I originally posted this on ff.net, but now that I’m reading it, I kind of hate it. So I decided to clean it up, rework it a bit, and post it here! Also, all the ages I include here are the Earthly approximates of Aesir ages. Because they live for thousands of years, time passes differently for them. I just went with my approximation of their Earthly ages for my sanity and simplicity’s sake.

Word count: 2947

Warnings: None

Y/n: 7 // Loki: 9 // Thor: 14

Y/n’s POV

“Come now, girl,” Odin’s pinched voice calls ahead of me. I pick up the skirt of my dress and quicken my pace, hoping not to displease him further. The high walls of the castle are imposing enough—I don’t need the added stress of an angry king. Odin continues. “This is Idsol. She will show you to your room and serve as your nanny until you are old enough to require a maidservant.”

He says nothing more. Taking that as a dismissal, I curtsey and murmur a, “thank you, Your Majesty,” to the king.

Idsol, an older, severe-looking woman with a slicked back bun, beckons to me, and I follow her to the doors of my new chambers. When she speaks, her voice is rough, though her phrasing is elegant. It is clear she’s grown up in the influence of Court. “Here, let us get you changed into something fresh.” She leads me into a generously sized room and takes me straight to the wardrobe on the far-right wall. I don’t even have time to assess my new dwellings, because Idsol is pulling the fabric of my dress over my head and shoving me into a new one made of a soft blue color.

“Dinner begins at seven o’clock. I will come to retrieve you and escort you to dinner. During dinner, you will take your seat quietly and not speak unless spoken to. Understand?”

She waits for my nod before continuing. “Keep your head down and your elbows off the table. You don’t want to make a bad first impression, do you?”

I shake my head ‘no’, but in reality, I can’t find the energy to care. It’s been a long, exhausting day, and there’s still nearly half of it left. “Good.” Idsol approves. “Stay here in your chambers until I come to collect you.”

She leaves and I stare blankly at the door, not feeling much at all. Lacking the willpower necessary to climb onto the huge bed, I sit on the cold stone floor and pull my tiny doll—Elsa—into my arms. It’s then that the tears hit me. I rock myself back and forth, clutching the doll that looks so much like my mother, searching for a comfort that is unlikely to be found.

“Mama…” The name echoes off the stone walls.

{***}

When my room becomes dark due to the absence of sun streaming through the windows, Nanny Idsol finds me curled into a ball on the floor, still gripping my doll. Tears stain my face, but I ran out of new ones long ago.

“Oh, now,” Nanny Idsol chastises, pulling me off the ground and setting me on the plush bed. She disappears, returning moments later with a washrag, which she uses to wipe my face clean. She quickly styles my hair into a presentable braid, then picks me up and places me on the ground. “Time for dinner.” She plucks Elsa from my hands, earning a noise of protest from me, which she quickly silences with a look.

I follow her dejectedly to the eating hall. She pushes me in, then abandons me. I file into what I hope is my seat. As the King’s Ward, I know I’m invited to dine with the Royal Family, but I do not feel lucky, as many would. I just feel sad.

King Odin enters and I stand, well aware of protocol even in my current state. As soon as he sits, I make a move to take my seat again, but am stopped by a warm hand gripping my elbow.

Gulping in surprise, I raise my head to see who is touching me. The boy stopping me is tall with wavy blonde hair reaching to his chin. Most likely one of Odin’s sons.

“My Lady, I’m afraid that this is my seat.”

“I-I…”I try to speak, but all that comes out is air. Panicked, I look at the ground.

The boy sighs and uses his grip on my elbow to pull me to the middle of the table. The King’s seat.

“Father, who is this and where does she sit?” Annoyance colors the boy’s voice. If I had to guess, I’d say this one is Prince Thor. I’d heard he’s the eldest of the two.

Odin looks up and seems surprised by my presence. “Ah, I almost forgot.” He stands, evidently preparing to make an announcement. I take a few steps back, hoping to hide behind Prince Thor’s height. It doesn’t work.

“Lords and Ladies of Asgard.” The Court snaps to attention. “It is my…pleasure,” he seems to stumble over the word, “to present to you Y/n Y/L/N. After the tragic death of her mother, my family has agreed to take her in and raise her in her family’s stead.”

Prince Thor rolls his eyes and pushes me forward so the people in the eating hall can get a better look at me. I feel my cheeks heat up as I look down at the sixty-or-so gods and goddesses in the room. They applaud, evidently pleased with Odin’s charity. He smiles and waves before taking his seat a few moments later. The matter of my seat, however, has yet to be resolved.

“Mother?” Prince Thor’s voice is now positively whining.

Queen Frigga looks up at us and assesses the situation. A kind smile crosses her face, and I feel a twinge in my heart. “Sit here, child.” She points to a seat at the far left end of the table next to a boy a few years older than me who had previously gone unnoticed. He’s likely Prince Loki, the youngest.

I shuffle to my seat and wait to be served.

The boy gives me a couple of curious glances but doesn’t say anything until dessert, when he confirms my hunch. “I’m Prince Loki.”

I look up to meet his kind green eyes. “Y/n.” He nods, and that’s the end of it.

After dinner, Nanny Idsol comes to escort me back to my room. As she changes me for bed, she feels the need to talk. “Did you enjoy dinner, Young Mistress?”

I shrug. I don’t remember the taste of anything. Nanny Idsol’s mouth sets into a frustrated line, but she says nothing further. She puts me into bed and leaves me to my tearful night.

{***}

The next three days drag by. I spend every moment I can in my room, but I am still forced to attend dinner. My spot continues to be next to Prince Loki, who never ceases his curious glances but rarely says more to me than, “please pass the butter”. No one else acknowledges my presence.

On the fourth day of my self-imposed isolation, there’s a knock at my door. I open it to see Queen Frigga standing there with a soft smile on her face. My eyes widen and I quickly curtsy. “Good morning, Your Majesty.”

She clasps her hands together, her grace and expensive dress causing her to appear statuesque. When she speaks, it’s with the grace and elegance only obtained through royal blood and years of quality instruction. “Good morning, Lady Y/n. How are you today?”

My mouth goes dry. This is the most intense conversation I’ve had since I departed from Alfheim. “Q-quite well, Your Majesty. And yourself?”

An amused smile floats across her face. “I’ve nothing to complain about. Tell me, young one, why do you keep yourself locked in your chambers?” She bends slightly so she’s closer to my height, but I am still intimidated. It’s not everyday the Queen personally visits the young daughter of a diplomat.

I don’t risk lying to her. “I miss my home, Your Majesty.” She raises an eyebrow, expecting me to elaborate. I oblige. “I miss my friends, and my tutors, and my horses. I miss the music and the sunsets. I miss…” My voice trails off and my eyes find a spot on the floor. I just want to go back to bed.

But the Queen is not done with me, and probes further. “You miss…?”

I sigh, realizing I cannot avoid the words it will hurt to confront. “I miss my mother.”

Queen Frigga’s face turns into one colored with pity and sadness, and something in my stomach clenches. “Young Y/n, your mother is now in Vanaheim, a place lovelier than any other. It is our burden to miss the ones that are gone, but we should also celebrate their fortune. She is happy, I can promise you that. And she watches over you still; she cares for you and sends her love to you.”

My eyes fill with tears. I bite my lip in a desperate attempt to keep them from spilling over.

The Queen continues. “Although I did not know your mother well, I am a mother myself. And, as a mother, I can guess that it would sadden her to see you sequestered into your chambers all these hours. Come, let us get you freshened up. You shall please your mother by playing with the other children.”

I sniffle and follow her to my wardrobe. The impropriety of the situation manages to strike me. “Your Majesty, I can call for Nanny Idsol—”

“Do not trouble yourself,” she interrupts, ending my attempts at protesting. “I know how to dress a young lady, as I once was one…long, long ago.” She throws an impish smile over her shoulder, one I’m sure she does not show often. I feel honored, and a hesitant smile begins on my face. She finds a dress that catches her eye. “How about this? Lilac would look lovely with your hair.” I blush and thank the Queen.

Soon, I’m wearing a new dress and my hair is done in a braid wrapping around my head.

Queen Frigga says nothing of the doll in my arms and beckons me to follow her into the hallway. There, we find a scandalized Nanny Idsol.

“Y-Your Majesty, please. Let me escort Lady Y/n. You must have—”

Queen Frigga cuts my nanny off with a raised hand. “Thank you for your offer, Nanny Idsol, but I’m sure I can manage. In the future, however, please remember that a good caretaker does not ignore the needs of her ward.”

“Y-yes, my Queen. Sorry, my Queen.”

Queen Frigga offers a kind yet firm smile, and I’m filled with admiration. What it must take to exude the perfect balance of authority and benevolence.

We continue on our route, and I get more and more confused as we wind through the labyrinthine halls. It will be quite some time before I will be ready to accurately navigate Castle Asgard alone.

We come to a double set of large oak doors, and the guards posted outside straighten before opening them wide. Cool air hits my face.

The room is a large, circular shape, and the center is slightly lowered than the rest. Mostly decorated in browns and golds, the room has an earthy feel to it. A window opposite the doors allows for some natural light, but the room is largely lit by light spheres and torches. I raise my eyebrows appreciatively. This room could be quite peaceful.

“Mother!”

Any hope of peace is quickly erased by the sight and sound of the two Asgardian princes.

“Thor, Loki.” The Queen uses their names as a fond greeting. “Spend some time with Lady Y/n; help her to feel more at home.” Both boys nod dutifully, but I can tell Prince Thor is a little annoyed at his task of entertaining a young girl. I restrain a huff of indignation. If only he knew how content I would be in my own chambers.

Still, I retain my respectful attitude. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” I curtsy as the Queen leaves, then turn to my face my playmates, curtsying to them both as well.

“Your Highnesses, I am sorry to disrupt your time of leisure.” They both stare at me blankly, as if they’re unsure what to do with me.

Finally, Prince Thor nods, and I take that as my dismissal. I find a spot on the edge of the room and sit there with my doll. Quickly, Prince Thor and Prince Loki forget my presence and resume their game of war. I busy myself playing with Elsa’s hair, admiring how well the color resembles the one shared by me and my mother. It reflects off the light from the torches, creating a mesmerizing effect. I spend the better part of an hour braiding and re-braiding the hair of my doll.

“Mother said to play with her.” Despite his attempts, Prince Loki’s hushed voice carries to my side of the room.

“No,” his brother’s voice retorts, full of manufactured authority. “Mother said to make her feel at home. She looks pretty at home to me on that edge there.”

Prince Loki huffs, and Prince Thor rolls his eyes. “I did not mean that rudely, just that she does not seem like the type of girl to enjoy being around other people.”

I pretend to not have heard their conversation as the youngest prince stomps over to me, his brother reluctantly following behind him.

Prince Loki stops a few feet from me, raising an eyebrow. “Would you like to join us, My Lady?”

Knowing better than to refuse the request of a prince, I accept. “I would be honored, Your Grace.”

Prince Loki takes it upon himself to explain the rules of the game. “You see, Thor’s the hero, and I’m the villain. My goal is to steal the orb he’s guarding, and Thor’s job is not to let me.” Upon seeing Prince Thor’s pointed stare, Prince Loki quickly adds, “You can be on my team.”

I continue to stand safely out of the way. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Ready…go!” Prince Thor’s booming voice begins the game. I study Prince Loki’s movements as he tries to concoct a strategy to get past his brother. Prince Thor is older and stronger, but Prince Loki is clearly smarter. He uses strategy and cunning in his attempts, while Prince Thor relies on brute strength. In the end though, Prince Thor wins by decisively tossing his brother across the room. My eyes widen and I clutch Elsa tighter to my chest, but Prince Loki just laughs good-naturedly and brushes himself off, walking back to join us in the center of the room.

“Lady Y/n, why don’t you take a turn?”

Prince Thor and I are in similar states of disagreement with Loki’s suggestion, yet neither of us argues. Not loosening my grip on my doll, I step forward to face Prince Thor. He’s at least double my height and his arms are the size of my head. I’ve heard tales of his affability, but he could probably crush me on accident alone! Still, I dig my heels into the floor, steeling myself for what’s to come. He lets me make the first move—a small step in his direction—before ending my forward progress; with a grand step, he’s placed himself in front of me. He reaches his meaty arms toward my frame and—

Bam!

He takes a startled step backwards.

It takes a second before the gravity of what I’ve just done hits me. Oh gods. I just punched the future king of Asgard in the face.

Prince Loki howls with laughter, but I am utterly mortified.

“Your Highness, please forgive me. I-I am so sorry! I don’t now why I did that. I-I just…”

Prince Thor glowers.

Prince Loki steps between us. “Oh, come now, brother. You cannot seriously be angry with the girl. You scared her, and she reacted accordingly! Leave her be.” Prince Loki’s defense of me is harmed somewhat by his continued laughter.

Prince Thor’s eyebrows twitch before he excuses himself and stalks off to the other side of the room to do some exercise.

Prince Loki’s giggles subside but the mortified look does not leave my face. Still choking a bit on his laughter, he approaches me. “Lady Y/n, I assure you, you did no harm. I do not mean to offend you, but Thor will not have so much as a bruise on his face, as there was not enough force behind your strike.”

I nod dimly, still in a state of shock. I just punched Thor Odinson. My father will be livid if he ever finds out.

As if he can sense what I’m thinking, Prince Loki softens. “No one will know what has occurred here today. Come sit with me, I think I know of a way to cheer you.”

Doubtfully, I follow him to a set of chairs a few feet away.

“May I borrow your doll?”

I very reluctantly hand him Elsa, my most treasured possession.

Prince Loki wraps his hands around her and closes his eyes, already deep in his concentration. His lips twitch as he mutters something I can’t hear, but when he opens his eyes, Elsa straightens.

I furrow my brows and lean in, confused yet eager to see what will happen next.

Prince Loki sets Elsa on the ground between us and lets go. She begins to dance!

My eyes widen and I can’t help it: I laugh. I laugh and clap in delight until Prince Loki joins me. Our laughter even draws Prince Thor in, and the sight of my dancing doll draws a hesitant smile to his face. This is how Queen Frigga finds us when she comes to summon us to dinner, and I can’t help but notice the happiness behind her eyes.

A/n Thanks for reading! Let me know what you thought of it and if you would like to be added to the tag list :)

Link to next part: https://bonjour-rainycity.tumblr.com/post/629970408715763712/odins-ward-chapter-2

Tag list: @80strashbag @dark-night-sky-99

#Loki #loki fanfic #loki fanfiction #thor #marvel #marvel fanfiction #marvel reader-insert #loki reader-insert #friends to lovers #slow burn #we love tropes yayyy #loki x reader #loki x you #loki x y/n

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cowboyworf · 3 years

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Alright, I'm sure there are a million of these posts around that are more eloquent then I could ever be, but

Tips for going out to protests:

• If possible, do not wear contacts. Chemical agents, such as tear gas and pepper spray, can get trapped in contacts, prolonging the effects and making them worse. If you have an extra pair of glasses, please do. If not...

• Wear protective eye coverings. This will not entirely prevent the effects of chemical agents, but it can help. Safety goggles, scuba goggles, etc. are all good ideas, especially if your only option is to wear contacts.

• Wear water-based sunscreen. There are some reports that chemical agents will be more difficult to wash off when you are wearing something oil-based on your skin. While I'm not positive if this is true or not, in my experience as being a street medic, those wearing oil-based sunscreen did seem to have much worse reactions than others.

• Identify your street medics, if possible. Street medics are harder to spot than they used to be, as they are huge targets for police. Some still wear easy to identify clothes (usually wearing something with red medical symbols). Unfortunately, it's not as safe for medics to wear those now, but medics will usually show their presence, even in subtle ways.

• Know your exit routes. Police love to arrest, assault, and kill protestors- whether you're breaking the law or not. Study maps of the area beforehand and scope out where the police are stationed. Know what streets and alleyways are blocked or dead ends and know which ones are the safest ones to make an escape. If it's well hidden or one the police wouldn't suspect, even better.

• Bring a change of clothes, but pack light. Chemical agents can (and often do) seep into clothing, irritating the skin and creating a lot of pain. If you are hit with chemical agents, try to leave the scene, decontaminate, and change quickly. Make sure your change of clothes is sealed tightly in a zipped plastic bag, preferably also sealed in another larger bag.

• Bring a change of clothes (cannot stress this enough) and do not wear anything that brings attention. No bright patterns. Nothing unique or that stands out. Cover any visible tattoos. When you're wearing a mask, police will use clothing as identifiers to find you if you become a target for their anger. Blend in and change your clothes discreetly if you get any feeling that they're trying to arrest you. Dispose of your old clothes or put them in a sealed bag (again, for chemical agent reasons).

• Wear latex gloves and bring extra. Gloves are already great during the pandemic, but there are more reasons than that. Leave no fingerprints. Leave no evidence. And the last thing you want is to get chemical agents on your hands, as avoiding touching your eyes and face- especially when you're in pain- is extremely difficult.

• Wear layers. This is trickier when it is hot outside, because you don't want to overheat. If this is the case, wrap the top layer (jacket/hoodie) around your waist and put it on at the first sign of of police preparing to use chemical agents. The less contact with your skin or clothing that is directly touching your skin, the better.

• Mask up! Protect your identity, because the police will try to find you and, unfortunately, for some reason other protestors think it's a good idea to post photos and videos of unmasked protestors online (don't fucking do this). I tend to prefer hard masks as opposed to cloth- chemical agents again- but regardless of what you choose, bring an extra as always.

• If you can afford to, bring a burner phone instead of your normal phone. This seems overly paranoid and I promise you, from experience, it isn't. If you get caught, police will look through your phone to find incriminating evidence against you and whoever you've contacted. They aren't gonna use some warrant or ask politely. Trust me. Only have necessary contacts. If you text on it, keep the messages vague. And if you can't afford one, make sure you only discuss the protest in an app that are more difficult for police to restore deleted messages.

• Bring water and snacks. This seems frivolous and it's not. More than likely, you will be there for a long time and it is vital to take care of yourself. Keep your blood sugar levels up. Stay hydrated.

• Write emergency contacts (someone who will post bail and a lawyer- research the lawyers first to make sure they aren't boot lickers) on your skin. Cops will confiscate your phone, your wallet, your purse, anything in your pockets. They are not going to help you make that phone call. In fact, they are going to do anything in their power to ensure you get a court appointed lawyer, especially one who is on their side. Do not ever assume police will go about things in a legal way. They won't. They rarely do.

• Know what medicine you take (as well as the dosage) and write it down, on paper and on your skin. If you come with someone, make sure they know it too. If you get injured and either need help from a street medic or an EMT, they need to know what medications you are on. Even if you have it memorized, write it down. Unfortunately, not everyone will be conscious during medical treatment and ensuring your safety is top priority.

• Do not incriminate yourself. Do not incriminate anyone else. Know your rights, but prepare yourself for the possibility that police won't listen anyway. Stay silent and if you answer questions, keep it vague.

If anyone has anything to add or wants to offer corrections, please feel free. I will be typing up a post to prepare street medics later on, including what to bring. Stay safe!

#not trek

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khalilhumam · 4 years

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Diaries from the Frontlines: COVID-19 and Education Inequality: Who Is Most at Risk of Being Left Behind?

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/diaries-from-the-frontlines-covid-19-and-education-inequality-who-is-most-at-risk-of-being-left-behind/

Diaries from the Frontlines: COVID-19 and Education Inequality: Who Is Most at Risk of Being Left Behind?

Over the last several weeks of the “Diaries from the Frontline” series, we have shown how COVID-19 and school closures have affected some of the world’s most vulnerable students. Education organizations have had to be adaptive and responsive to meet the most pressing needs of their students and their families while trying to plan for the long-term impacts of the pandemic. In this final blog post of the series, we take a look at the impacts of COVID on the most vulnerable students. CGD colleagues have written about how school closures are exacerbating inequality, how learning loss will be greater for children with less connectivity and parents less able to help them, and how school closures will put some children at higher risk of violence and other forms of abuse. Girls are more likely to be negatively affected by COVID-19, as 69 percent of education organizations said in response to a CGD survey. These impacts are likely to continue to be felt in the long term. As evidence from Argentina, the United States, and Indonesia has shown, less educated workers are more affected by economic crises, and students who drop out of school or experience significant declines in learning are likely to face lower lifetime productivity and earnings. That’s in addition to the potential psychological impacts of isolation and in some cases abuse during lockdowns. This week, we examine how one particularly vulnerable population served by the Luminos Fund—refugee children in Lebanon—has been affected. The Citizens Foundation in Pakistan describes what school closures mean for girls and their education and life opportunities. And Educate Girls, an organization based in India new to the series, shares stories from the frontlines.

Luminos: Education for refugee children during COVID-19

Lebanon is navigating economic strife, inflation, unrest, painful cross-border tension, and a pandemic, all while hosting one of the largest refugee populations in the world per capita. There are 910,256 registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon, but the actual number is likely even higher. Despite the Lebanese government’s efforts to offer school placement to refugee children, over a third of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon at the age of compulsory schooling (6-14) are out of school. For those that are in school, this academic year has had major disruptions: schools closed for weeks in the autumn due to political protests and unrest, and again beginning in March due to COVID. In Lebanon, the Luminos Fund offers back-to-school and homework support programs for Syrian refugees, including robust psychosocial support such as art and music therapy to help students process trauma. Many students have been out of school for years, and all are learning in English and French (the standard languages of instruction in Lebanon) for the first time. These programs are an opportunity for refugee children to catch up to grade level and prepare to assimilate into Lebanese classrooms. During COVID, Luminos has shifted these programs to online and message-based learning, for example through WhatsApp, which many families identify as their preferred communication format. For the refugee families that Luminos serves, financial pressure is a greater concern than COVID, which has implications for education. Mahmoud, a father, describes the stress that he feels: “My daughter receives some lessons on WhatsApp, and I go to my neighbor's home to use their internet connection to download the lessons because I do not have enough credits for 3G. Honestly, I am embarrassed because, first, I feel shy when I go to my neighbors’ for internet connection and, second, my financial status is very bad. I am borrowing money to buy food so I don't know how to afford buying my children notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, etc. I cannot find a job.” Syrian refugee children, both boys and girls, are at particular risk of dropping out of school, especially now. Boys may be needed to earn income for the household. Girls are at risk of early marriage, perhaps to a man with a degree of financial stability, and may be at greater risk of sexual and gender-based violence during the pandemic. Even before COVID, Luminos needed to adjust school hours during harvest season because children go to work, and the crisis is accentuating these hardships. Some children are studying online, says Assem, a teacher, but adds that he sees children working, like selling napkins at a nearby traffic stop, or playing outdoors during COVID. Families report seeing some children scavenging for food or potential toys. When the Lebanese-Syrian border reopens, some refugee families may decide to return to Syria, depending on when schools reopen in Lebanon and the family’s assessment of the economic situation—a choice that illuminates the confluence of crises these families face. Luminos has continued to evaluate new ways to support refugee families and students through the crisis, such as by providing cell data cards to families who will have trouble accessing lessons otherwise. It has considered distributing tablets, but there is concern families may sell these devices for short-term income. “I hope schools will open and my children return to their schools,” says Azab, a father. “I hope life becomes normal again. I think life will not be normal as it was before because life is financially harder now. Honestly, I don't know what will happen.”

TCF: COVID, gender, and class

“What are we supposed to do with a learning continuity plan when we don’t have anything to eat at home? Our girls are better off stitching footballs, at least that way we can put food on the table,” parents told Shakeela, a TCF principal running a government school for girls in a village in Narowal, Punjab. TCF estimates that a significant proportion of its students are currently at risk of dropping out, primarily girls and students from the lowest-income families. Boys who come from the lowest socioeconomic backgrounds, especially those currently in secondary school, are also at risk of leaving school to serve as an extra set of hands in the fields or at local shops. Principals, teachers, and community members from across the TCF network are echoing the challenge of keeping female students in school if closures persist. There’s a particular concern about girls dropping out during the transition from primary to secondary schooling, a problem which predates the pandemic but is likely to be exacerbated in its aftermath. The reasons for this are familiar: the loss of livelihood has a disproportionate impact on girls, as they are expected to take on traditional caregiver roles around the home while their mothers earn a living; distance to school and the cost of; early marriages; and familial and societal pressures. With several low-cost private schools at risk of closing due to the economic impact of COVID-19, parents are increasingly worried about their daughters’ job prospects (teaching is seen as a safe and respectable job for women, as we noted here). They are calling into question the value of educating them instead of teaching them skills such as beautician work, embroidery, or stitching. Ahsan, aged 10, used to help his father in the fields after school, but is now working from daybreak to sunset. He says, “Every day we used to play and do activities at school. I miss meeting my teachers and friends. Without school, it’s only work.” For many boys like Ahsan, the transition back to school may be challenging or even impossible, due to the economic pressure his family is facing. In addition to economic pressures to work, the digital divide is also preventing the continuity of learning for some students who do not have access to technology. That puts kids at greater risk of dropping out, as they’re unable to catch up. Accounts from the field of the impact of all these factors, however, have been mixed—some TCF principals are confident that they will be able to retain all of their students, while others are much more apprehensive. TCF’s TV program, self-study magazine, and community outreach have sought to keep families and students engaged with education. Continued parental support, where we find it, has been predicated on community members feeling that TCF did not leave them behind: the relief work that TCF has done, coupled with the regular community outreach by phone from principals and teachers has meant that some parents are happy to send their children, daughters and sons alike, back to school. How long this patience will last is yet to be determined.

Educate Girls: Losing girls due to lockdown?

The team at Educate Girls in India recognizes that learning loss due to COVID is important, but has been more troubled by the possibility of scores of girls losing out completely on continuing their education as a result of the pandemic. They have seen cases of this play out firsthand: girls who had been child brides but were allowed to stay home and finish their education have been sent to their in-laws. In other communities, Educate Girls staff have seen several girls trapped at home during the lockdown with an alcoholic father. The pandemic and lockdown have increased the risks of gender-based violence, with reports of calls to national helplines rapidly increasing. With Educate Girls’ field teams on lockdown, it is hard to translate these stories into quantitative data, but the reports from staff in communities Educate Girls serves have been deeply concerning. They have seen cases of this play out firsthand: Gita, a girl in a remote village in Rajasthan, was on the verge of completing her education when the pandemic hit and her school closed. Gita is a child bride who had been allowed to finish her education before moving in with her husband. Her family deemed it inappropriate for her (as for many girls in the area) to have access to a mobile phone—preventing her from accessing distance learning. When she did briefly use the phone to text a girlfriend, her father and brother believed her to be dishonoring her family, talking to a boy and not her husband, and sent her off to her in-laws earlier than planned. News traveled fast and three other girls in similar situations in Gita’s village were also sent to live with their husbands—accelerating their child marriages and diminishing their futures. They are unlikely now to ever set foot in a class room again. Another girl, Pinky, and her three sisters live in fear of their alcoholic father, even without a lockdown and now, cooped up at home, the situation is precarious. The pandemic and lockdown have increased the risks of gender-based violence, with reports of calls to national helplines rapidly increasing. With Educate Girls’ field teams on lockdown, it is hard to translate these stories into quantitative data, but the reports from staff in communities Educate Girls serves have been deeply concerning. Educate Girls, in partnership with the government of India and local communities, has enrolled more than half a million girls into school over the past 12 years, many for the first time. But the pandemic and lockdowns have created a real fear among staff that more than a decade of progress could disappear overnight. As livelihoods and health issues loom as the greatest risks, education is deprioritized. It is hard for a field worker to pick up the phone and have a conversation about school when their family has lost its income and its food. Like many other education NGOs, Educate Girls’ staff and volunteers have pivoted to do relief work beyond their usual role, supporting over 100,000 of the worst-hit families across 1,500 villages with the highest concentration of out-of-school girls. Despite substantial fears about the impact of the crisis on girls’ education, the hope is that the crisis will be an opportunity to rethink the systems and policies that have been at the root of girls’ repression all these years—and that NGOs can help press the reset button on the systems that are holding the most vulnerable back.

Thanks very much to the teams at the Luminos Fund, TCF, and Educate Girls for sharing their stories. These stories have illuminated for us what new relief operations, distance learning and learning loss, the roles of educators, and COVID-19 impacts on girls and the most vulnerable populations have meant in reality. While the series is ending for now, CGD’s education team will be continuing to research these issues related to the pandemic’s longer-term effects on global education.

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the90dayfianceblog-blog · 5 years

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season 7, episode 2

The episode begins with Tania continuing to panic in the taxi, with her entourage. “THERE’S TRAFFIC!,” she says about New York City. We are not from NYC and yet, even we know you should probably leave 5 minutes earlier than you think. Because city traffic. The three friends finally arrive at the airport, where they proceed to drop rose petals all over the floor. Of the airport. A janitor comes behind them to sweep up the obvious slip hazard they have created, and they proceed to yell at him. Tania continues to describe her mild stress in wildly dramatic ways. “I’m having a panic attack,” she says. (She isn’t.) Finally, the man of the hour arrives. The three women erupt into…maniacal laughter? Really, though – Tania cannot stop laughing. “Yo yo yo,” Syngin decides is a good greeting. They embrace, and it’s briefly cute until she opens her mouth to hyena-laugh again. Syngin admits to the camera he thought they’d be a one-night stand. One point given for honesty. We have 90 days to figure out if our future is a lie, he continues. He is maybe ¼ joking. Finally, he addresses her friends. “It’s nice to meet everybody,” he says, laughing nervously. Tania sort of introduces them. They do not shake hands but awkwardly wave at each other instead.

They all (yes, all) head back to the hotel, and he is touched by Tania’s effort with the rose petals and sex toys. She instructs her friends to come back in exactly two hours so that they can have some alone time. He is confused, as are we all, about the friends being there, as he just wants a shower and some sex. He mentions to Tania that her friends being there is weird, and he asks if this is something he should expect going forward. Conveniently, the two hours elapse right at that moment, marked by the return of her friends. “LET’S TAKE SOME SHOTS!” Tania says, rather than answering his question. They proceed to take shots of gin with a Red Bull chaser, because evidently they are drinking for the very first time. At least it is decent gin. Syngin is up for it, which seems to be his nature, and then out they go into the “concrete jungle.” He is mesmerized by it all. Golly gee I’m just a guy from the bush, he says about the very large, modern city of Cape Town. They put a blindfold on him – again, he is shockingly compliant – and drag him out into some public square to reveal a banner (this couldn’t have occurred at the airport?) that says “thanks for moving around the world for me, love, your suger.” No one notices or cares that a 29-year-old spelled sugar wrong, and I briefly wonder about the butchered contents of her democracy protest signs. Tania has since said she knows it was spelled wrong and that is how Syngin spells it. This may be a viewpoint on their relationship. We end their segment with more of the same concern from Syngin that perhaps 90 days is not enough time. “There’s some nitty gritty niggles to sort out,” he says, and shame on TLC for not using this as the name of the episode.

Alyssa predicts: I still don't think they end up married. I actually kind of like Syngin because he wants to make Tania happy right now, even if he is a bit uncomfortable. Tania is presently insufferable.

Laura predicts: Agreed - I still think they won’t get married. They’ve got way more than nitty-gritty niggles to sort out (recall the “kids freak him out” issue), and I don’t see her as the master of compromise or conflict resolution.

Michael and Juliana

These two get the most airtime this week, because the BIG VISA INTERVIEW is upon us. Michael is preparing to go to Brazil. But not without first taking a trip to the jewelry store to buy a $4,000 custom necklace that is red, white, blue, green, and gold, to represent America and Brazil, because all of those colors definitely go together. We hear him continue to defend his relationship to no one in particular, including a discussion how modest Juliana is, layered over a gratuitous shot of Juliana in a string bikini. (I see you, TLC.) Juliana calls him while he is at the jewelry store. There’s an issue with a credit card. “You probably maxed out the card,” we hear him say. “Oh, shit,” says the jewelry store clerk, all judgment. Ah yes, the money. We begin to learn the extent of it. He won’t say how much he’s spent on her, or whether it’s more than $150,000. She bought a car with the credit card, despite her apparent plans to move to the US in a few weeks. “I want her to respect the value of things,” he says about his teenage daughter adult girlfriend.

He arrives in Rio, visibly stressed. He arrives at a hotel, where Juliana is waiting. They both seem genuinely happy to see the other, which is a surprise on her end. She is beautiful, but I would believe she was 16. You look skinny, he tells her, and he chalks it up to their lack of recent extravagant vacations. Somehow the next words out of his mouth are “You’re a poor Brazilian when I’m not here and a rich American when I am.” This appalling statement has no effect on her, but I imagine she’s heard worse. She’s nervous about the interview but is determined to go to America to work…oh yeah, and live with Michael. Work consistently comes first in her stated “why America” priorities. She’s using him, clearly, but he is a negging paternalistic asshole, so I support her choice.

They’re on their way to the interview. She’s in a sexy outfit; he’s in an ill-fitting suit. For someone who is "rich," you think he could find a decent tailor. “Ready to rock and roll?” he asks, as every dad asks his daughter before taking her to school, err, to her visa interview. We meet them on the other side of said interview. It was “very bad,” she says. They wanted to know whether she’d been working as a prostitute, as we already know from the promo that has aired 900 times. Plenty of girls in my position do it, she says, but not me. She says this very matter-of-factly, almost rehearsed. Maybe it’s just her nature, but she doesn’t seem particularly bothered. Michael is more visibly affronted: “WHAT DOES THAT MAKE ME? A PIMP? A JOHN?” He’s quick to let us know he’s never had to pay for sex, as though this were somehow about him. It’s increasingly clear that he is obsessed with his own status and others’ perception of him. They need to produce a police report on Juliana for the consulate’s consideration, so something – maybe not capital P prostitution, but something – definitely happened. Now he has doubts. I’ve been naïve with women my whole life, he says, and I wonder who that’s about…probably not Sarah, the stable mother of his children. He is afraid of what they’ll find on that police report, and he decides there’s about a 50% chance that Juliana will get the visa. She suggests they move to London instead, but oh that’s right, you have kids. She admits to the camera that she’s worried he will give up on her and doesn’t know if she’s important enough to him. She starts to cry about this. This, but not the prostitute accusation. Again, let is remind everyone that Michael claims he and his ex-wife married too young, but his relationship with a 23 year old is different. Anyway, they’re still a better couple than Big Ang and Mai-kuhl. It bears mentioning we’re so glad they haven’t shown up yet.

Alyssa predicts: they end up married, but Michael continues to be patronizing and Juilana uses the show as a stepping stone to a model career. They do not stay married.

Laura predicts: they end up married. She’s in it for money, he’s in it for arm candy, and they’re both getting what they want. Seems like he has enough money to throw at the visa problem.

Emily and Sasha

The happy couple heads off to dinner with Masha, Sasha’s first ex-wife. (The rhyming names would be cute if she didn’t so clearly resent him and his life choices.) She looks quite a bit like Emily – blonde, fair, and waifish. The purpose of the dinner is to convince Masha to let Daniel visit them in the US. In all honesty, it may also be a way for Emily to convince herself that Sasha is the "good guy" and the other wives were "mistakes." But first, we recount Sasha’s history: he married Masha at 22 and left her for his second wife a few years later. The second wife and second kid remain anonymous, and good on them for staying away from this dumpster fire. Sasha says that he became more muscular and his second wife didn’t like it, because that’s definitely how marriages end. Emily loudly mentions how much she, in contrast, appreciates his physique, and much more quietly mentions that she and Sasha were “talking as friends” while he was married to his second wife. Sure you were. Anyway, the dinner. No one’s particularly thrilled to be there. Emily says beforehand that she’s going to fake being nice to Masha, but she doesn’t fake it well. They don’t even communicate directly or even look at each other. They rely on Sasha to translate, and he takes some liberties. I’m tired, says Emily eventually. “She’s tired of this situation,” Sasha (correctly) translates. Masha, it turns out, doesn’t have a strong opinion on the Daniel question. Daniel can choose whether he’d like to visit or not. File this dinner under “could have been accomplished in a text message.” Emily insists once again that she isn’t feeling well and promptly leaves. Masha then gets a bit more friendly with Sasha, reaching over and touching his arm and telling him she doesn’t want to leave. Her post-dinner thoughts are more critical, however. “Where the wind blows, there a man flies,” she says of Sasha, and I am definitely saving that phrase for a rainy day. Masha puts herself and the second wife in the same category – “good, kind, calm” – and sees Emily as nothing more than an excuse for Sasha to get to America. At this point, doesn’t seem like an unfair assessment. I would prefer more of Masha and less of Emily at this point.

Alyssa predicts: they get married, and Sasha finds wife number 4 at a crossfit class. He seems like he'd get into crossfit here.

Laura predicts: they won’t get married and agrees with Masha that Emily is Sasha’s easy ticket to the US. We know that kids aren’t a compelling enough reason for him to stay with her.

Robert and Anny

Robert goes for a beer with his friend Juan, who is Dominican. I know Dominican girls, says Juan, and they’re all just out for your money. Robert makes a valid point that this is an awfully sweeping generalization about an entire country, but he does not really have the high ground considering the circumstances of his own relationship. They end up having a very adult conversation about it; Robert says he respects Juan’s opinion, and Juan says he’ll feel stupid if he ends up being wrong about Anny.

Later, it’s airport time. Bryson is very excited. It’s clear that Robert really wants a mother figure in this kid’s life, which is a veritable crapload of pressure for an eight-hour relationship. Bryson is similarly invested. “I love Anny,” he says. They wait at the airport long enough for Bryson to get cranky, and then here she comes, somehow pulling off a denim jumpsuit. Bryson sprints towards her, and she’s genuinely happy to see him. She’s very put-together (which is always impressive post-airplane) and family-oriented. “Bryson is my new kid,” she says. She wants a big family with Robert. She loves how funny and hardworking he is, and how much he loves his son. I didn’t expect this affection from Miss Angry Emojis. She admits she has a temper, but we don’t see it this week. There is a moment in the car where Anny looks at Robert and seems to be a genuine look of love.

They head back home. Their rapport is shockingly natural for only having spent 8 hours together. Things sour a bit when we learn the house contains only one bed that they’ll all be sharing. Where exactly was that lingerie meant to be used? Robert admits he didn’t get around to getting a bed for Bryson, and Anny is understandably displeased. Robert tries to put Bryson to bed, to no avail. Bryson really wants to show off for Anny in the form of climbing all over her. She is increasingly less thrilled. She’s sexually frustrated, which she tells us in so many words. There’s some metaphor about a lion. Do lions have a lot of sex?

Alyssa predicts: I have more hope for them this episode. I think they'll get married. I also hope Juan shows up more, because he seems sensible.

Laura predicts: they will get married. This is not a well-thought-out relationship, but they’re both clearly motivated to build some kind of family unit.

Mursel and Anna

Mursel and Anna head off to Anna’s house from the hotel. They had sex, which I find hard to imagine. Mursel, like anyone who has ever driven through Nebraska, is unpleasantly surprised at the lack of mountains and the surplus of corn. He decides, rather quickly, that he is no longer excited and misses Turkey. He starts playing some Turkish music and his mood turns back around just as quickly – he begins dancing as passionately as one can dance in a car. There's something...endearing about this. Anna is uncomfortable with the dancing and says she’ll just have to learn to live with it. (Again, back to the disbelief at the sex.) They’re both nervous about meeting her sons. Mursel decides he wants to be a brother to the older two and a father to the youngest one, which is some interesting line-drawing. The meeting of the kids is a bundle of awkward. They try to ask about his trip and ask if he likes pizza (the answers are “good” and “yes,” respectively). The pizza that arrives is inferior to Turkish pizza, Mursel decides, and won’t eat it. I’m not sure if he’s jet-lagged, culture-shocked, or just naïve, or maybe all of it, but in any case his behavior is strange and borderline rude. Her kids are offended that he doesn’t like the pizza or their house. “It was really awkward,” Anna summarizes. Yeah, no shit.

Mursel, Anna, and Gino (the middle kid) head out to dinner with Anna’s mom. It’s suggested that the mom might have some negative views of Turkish people. In reality, she is an absolute racist nightmare. She asks her actual grandchild to type “Don’t stone Anna” into the translator app. Seriously, if there isn’t a GoFundMe for these kids’ extensive therapy, now is the time. Mursel is confused and offended, which is appropriate. He says to the camera that he wants to protect Anna, not hurt her. The dinner goes on, though, and Mursel doesn’t want Anna to have a beer, but she needs one. We all need one from watching this go down. Anna should have been far more nervous about this encounter than the meeting with her kids. Mursel reveals to everyone that his family doesn’t know about Anna’s kids, he doesn’t plan to tell them, and if they find out, he might go back to Turkey. It’s a blow to everyone. Anna starts crying. Gino now has even more doubts. It is not a pleasant outing.

Alyssa predicts: they do not get married. Mursel returns to Turkey and Anna is devastated.

Laura predicts: they will get married and said marriage will swiftly end in divorce. This divorce will almost certainly include some Mursel family drama. Seriously, what is the long-term strategy there?

#90dayfiance

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daddyslittlejuliet · 7 years

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Why a Dog Body Language Expert Needs to Watch the Full Footage From the “A Dog’s Purpose” Scene

I’m simply not satisfied with or convinced by Gavin Polone’s or W. Bruce Cameron’s statement about what happened to Hercules the German Shepherd during the filming of A Dog’s Purpose.

I don’t know about you, but when I watched that poor dog struggling to get free, clawing his way up the sides of the pool, my heart dropped and I covered my mouth, holding my breath for what felt like an eternity. When I saw him go under, I started to cry, fearing he would drown. This was the reaction felt by many who watched this video. It was heart wrenching.

What happened next is the kind of shitstorm that serves only to divide people and keep them from thinking critically for themselves. That said, this piece is not about PETA or TMZ. It IS about getting to the truth of what happened during shooting that day, when a terrified Hercules was forced into a pool of raging water.

We can learn from this incident, and we can work harder to protect animal actors in film and TV production. Let’s focus on what the world saw so we can move forward to better hold accountable those who need to be held accountable.

Producer Polone’s take

Polone said this in his statement:

“As with the TMZ video that you saw, two things were evident: 1) the dog handler tries to force the dog, for 35 to 40 seconds, into the water when, clearly, he didn’t want to go in; and 2) in a separate take filmed sometime later, the dog did go into the water, on his own, and, at the end, his head is submerged for about 4 seconds. These two things are absolutely INEXCUSABLE and should NEVER have happened. The dog trainer should have stopped trying to get the dog to go in the water as soon as the dog seemed uncomfortable, and the trainers should have had support under the dog as soon as he came to the side of the pool and/or had less turbulence in the water so he never would have gone under.”

Yet, later in the same statement, he said this:

“What is clear from viewing all the footage was that the dog was NEVER forced into the water.”

Really? Does this mean that what we all saw, including Polone, was something we didn’t really see?

Polone admits culpability because he wasn’t there and wasn’t proactive enough during the hiring of the American Humane Association (AHA) representative and the trainers, Birds and Animals Unlimited:

“I also hold myself accountable because, even though I was not present, I knew and had written about how ineffective AHA has been over the years. Its monitors have been present when bad things have happened to animals on sets, not offering enough protection to stop those events and displaying no real protest after they occurred.”

I have a ton of respect for anyone who admits their mistakes, and to do so publicly is admirable. However, it doesn’t take away from the fact that what the world saw is a petrified dog being forced into the water — and that part, that 40 seconds was NOT edited as some say in dismissal of the overall framing of the video TMZ released.

Putting the blame on AHA and questioning the intentions of TMZ and PETA has merit, yet it also serves to distract viewers from the fact of the horror that we saw in that video. AHA has its share of problems, as The Hollywood Reporter reveals.. TMZ is a news outlet with, some might say, a dubious reputation. And PETA is a so-called radical animal rights organization with a reputation that divides animal lovers. However, none of this should minimize the fact that Hercules was forced into the water and that he was petrified during those long 40 seconds.

This matters because these kinds of traumatic events can have lasting emotional effects that could take years to overcome. “Happy” is how Polone and Cameron describe Hercules after the incident. I beg the question: How is Hercules now in the water? Was he affected by this traumatic event? Without doing a further investigation, we will never know.

Why a veterinary behaviorist or dog body language expert should watch the full footage

I contacted Polone and asked if there was a third-party expert (veterinary behaviorist or dog body language specialist) hired to watch the full video with him? His answer was “No.”

Why is this important? Most people don’t know how to read the subtleties of dog body language — lip licking, whale eye, rounded body, yawning, look away, hiding, over anxious, panting, drooling, etc. — and someone with a trained eye would see things that the lay person would not.

Image couresty Dr. Sophia Yin/illustration by Lili Chin.

For example, I noticed in the footage that everyone was wearing coats, heavy coats. It was cold, but the water was warm with steam rising. You could hear someone saying ‘the water is warm.’ The temperature of the water was to be said to be between 80 to 85 degrees F.

A veterinarian would know that while that temperature is great for rehabilitative water therapy, it would not be for a dog swimming for long periods of time. Swimming in water that warm could lead to heat exhaustion, which could make a dog not want to do another take. Dogs working on sets often endure long, hard grueling days. They are often asked to do take-after-take, unable get the rest required for peak performance.

Hercules could have rehearsed this scene 20 times before we that 40-second clip was filmed. When he was finally forced into the water and made it to the wall where he was unable to get out, he went under. The stress, the water temperature, the rehearsals of this stunt could have exhausted him and just couldn’t swim anymore. A veterinarian watching the full footage would have taken all of this into consideration, but a film producer might not.

And if the expert watched in slow motion, they could point out the subtle body language cues that showed Hercules was stressed. I saw lip licking even in the short, blurry clips. This dog was panicking, hiding, trying to get away, and looking away from the trainer. For this trainer not to stop the minute Hercules showed these signs of discomfort was thoughtless, cruel, and “INEXCUSABLE” as Polone stated. This would be considered abuse by many veterinary behaviorists and trainers.

Questions that still need to be answered

1. Was the trainer investigated? What are his credentials? Does he have a history of abuse? Did they ask how many times Hercules had done this same stunt that day? Did they ask if Hercules seemed off or had not eaten a full meal that morning, or any number of other health-related questions that might add context to why Hercules did not want to go into the water, that time. They said it was because the location change made him “spooky.” How did they come up with that reason having not asked any of these questions?

Amblin Partners released this photo of Hercules at home after the incident. (Photo courtesy Amblin Partners)

2. Was an investigation done with Birds and Animals Unlimited to evaluate the facility where the scene was shot, inviting Animal Control to join them as a third party? If not, why? If so, what was the outcome?

3. Was Hercules evaluated by a veterinarian after he went under water? Was there a veterinarian on set during the dangerous stunt? How often did they monitor dogs for their emotional and physical well-being during a long shoot? Is it a requirement to have a veterinarian on-site?

4. Was there an investigation into representative from AHA? If so, will they inform the public as to the findings?

5. Was there an investigation as to why this footage came out 15 months later?

My final thoughts

Polone said that the video was edited. Yes, it was edited, and I can see exactly where. But the entire 40 seconds or so of Hercules being forced into the water was NOT edited. That cannot be disputed.

So, in my opinion, Polone’s and Cameron’s statements hold little credibility because they both lack the knowledge, expertise, and experience to know Hercules’ emotional and physical states of mind before, during, and after being forced into the water.

The public was promised an investigation, and we didn’t get it. We want answers, and we need them to move forward and better protect our animal actors.

About the author: Jill Breitner is a professional dog trainer and dog body language expert. She is a certified Fear Free Professional and Fear Free Professional for Foundation for Puppies and Kittens as well as Certified in Animal Behavior and Welfare. She is the author of the Dog Decoder, a smartphone app about dog body language. Join Jill on her on her Facebook page.

The post Why a Dog Body Language Expert Needs to Watch the Full Footage From the “A Dog’s Purpose” Scene appeared first on Dogster.

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jeffreyrwelch · 7 years

Text

Why a Dog Body Language Expert Needs to Watch the Full Footage From the “A Dog’s Purpose” Scene

I’m simply not satisfied with or convinced by Gavin Polone’s or W. Bruce Cameron’s statement about what happened to Hercules the German Shepherd during the filming of A Dog’s Purpose.

Producer Polone’s take

Polone said this in his statement:

Yet, later in the same statement, he said this:

“What is clear from viewing all the footage was that the dog was NEVER forced into the water.”

Really? Does this mean that what we all saw, including Polone, was something we didn’t really see?

Why a veterinary behaviorist or dog body language expert should watch the full footage

I contacted Polone and asked if there was a third-party expert (veterinary behaviorist or dog body language specialist) hired to watch the full video with him? His answer was “No.”

Image couresty Dr. Sophia Yin/illustration by Lili Chin.

Questions that still need to be answered

Amblin Partners released this photo of Hercules at home after the incident. (Photo courtesy Amblin Partners)

4. Was there an investigation into representative from AHA? If so, will they inform the public as to the findings?

5. Was there an investigation as to why this footage came out 15 months later?

My final thoughts

The public was promised an investigation, and we didn’t get it. We want answers, and we need them to move forward and better protect our animal actors.

The post Why a Dog Body Language Expert Needs to Watch the Full Footage From the “A Dog’s Purpose” Scene appeared first on Dogster.

0 notes

stiles-wtf · 7 years

Text

Why a Dog Body Language Expert Needs to Watch the Full Footage From the “A Dog’s Purpose” Scene

I’m simply not satisfied with or convinced by Gavin Polone’s or W. Bruce Cameron’s statement about what happened to Hercules the German Shepherd during the filming of A Dog’s Purpose.

Producer Polone’s take

Polone said this in his statement:

Yet, later in the same statement, he said this:

“What is clear from viewing all the footage was that the dog was NEVER forced into the water.”

Really? Does this mean that what we all saw, including Polone, was something we didn’t really see?

Why a veterinary behaviorist or dog body language expert should watch the full footage

I contacted Polone and asked if there was a third-party expert (veterinary behaviorist or dog body language specialist) hired to watch the full video with him? His answer was “No.”

Image couresty Dr. Sophia Yin/illustration by Lili Chin.

Questions that still need to be answered

Amblin Partners released this photo of Hercules at home after the incident. (Photo courtesy Amblin Partners)

4. Was there an investigation into representative from AHA? If so, will they inform the public as to the findings?

5. Was there an investigation as to why this footage came out 15 months later?

My final thoughts

The public was promised an investigation, and we didn’t get it. We want answers, and we need them to move forward and better protect our animal actors.

The post Why a Dog Body Language Expert Needs to Watch the Full Footage From the “A Dog’s Purpose” Scene appeared first on Dogster.

0 notes

buynewsoul · 7 years

Text

Why a Dog Body Language Expert Needs to Watch the Full Footage From the “A Dog’s Purpose” Scene

I’m simply not satisfied with or convinced by Gavin Polone’s or W. Bruce Cameron’s statement about what happened to Hercules the German Shepherd during the filming of A Dog’s Purpose.

Producer Polone’s take

Polone said this in his statement:

Yet, later in the same statement, he said this:

“What is clear from viewing all the footage was that the dog was NEVER forced into the water.”

Really? Does this mean that what we all saw, including Polone, was something we didn’t really see?

Why a veterinary behaviorist or dog body language expert should watch the full footage

I contacted Polone and asked if there was a third-party expert (veterinary behaviorist or dog body language specialist) hired to watch the full video with him? His answer was “No.”

Image couresty Dr. Sophia Yin/illustration by Lili Chin.

Questions that still need to be answered

Amblin Partners released this photo of Hercules at home after the incident. (Photo courtesy Amblin Partners)

4. Was there an investigation into representative from AHA? If so, will they inform the public as to the findings?

5. Was there an investigation as to why this footage came out 15 months later?

My final thoughts

The public was promised an investigation, and we didn’t get it. We want answers, and we need them to move forward and better protect our animal actors.

The post Why a Dog Body Language Expert Needs to Watch the Full Footage From the “A Dog’s Purpose” Scene appeared first on Dogster.

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grublypetcare · 7 years

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Why a Dog Body Language Expert Needs to Watch the Full Footage From the “A Dog’s Purpose” Scene

I’m simply not satisfied with or convinced by Gavin Polone’s or W. Bruce Cameron’s statement about what happened to Hercules the German Shepherd during the filming of A Dog’s Purpose.

Producer Polone’s take

Polone said this in his statement:

Yet, later in the same statement, he said this:

“What is clear from viewing all the footage was that the dog was NEVER forced into the water.”

Really? Does this mean that what we all saw, including Polone, was something we didn’t really see?

Why a veterinary behaviorist or dog body language expert should watch the full footage

I contacted Polone and asked if there was a third-party expert (veterinary behaviorist or dog body language specialist) hired to watch the full video with him? His answer was “No.”

Image couresty Dr. Sophia Yin/illustration by Lili Chin.

Questions that still need to be answered

Amblin Partners released this photo of Hercules at home after the incident. (Photo courtesy Amblin Partners)

4. Was there an investigation into representative from AHA? If so, will they inform the public as to the findings?

5. Was there an investigation as to why this footage came out 15 months later?

My final thoughts

The public was promised an investigation, and we didn’t get it. We want answers, and we need them to move forward and better protect our animal actors.

The post Why a Dog Body Language Expert Needs to Watch the Full Footage From the “A Dog’s Purpose” Scene appeared first on Dogster.

0 notes