And here we think that watching Animal Planet and wildlife documentaries will educate and inform our children about the wonderful world of nature out there - perhaps even bring to them the message about the need for conservation of habitat, and to create an important example of the humane treatment of the creatures of the world. Who knows, we might be encouraging and educating future generations of Jane Goodalls.

I remember watching the programs 25 years ago with the likes of Marlin Perkins and marvelling in the reality of the films, and being so horribly disillusioned when these shows were denounced as faked and that in the filming there had been abject cruelty inflicted upon the beautiful beasts we had watched.

How happy I was that these adventurers had gone by the way-side and I could take comfort in the knowledge that because of the exposes, those days were long gone. I do admit to being a little skeptical and suspicious of the amazing camera work, but consoled myself that today's film makers would never stoop to the old tricks.

Well, my gullibility has been proven again...this Fifth Estate report was as horrendous a reality as any I have faced. I had to walk away from most of the graphic depictions of the treatment of these animals even while knowing that we all needed this wake up call once more. Even David Attenborough has been shown as deceiving us with his underhanded stage setting and lies, despite his assertions to the contrary.

As I write this, I am inclined to feel that there is nothing sacred left in this world; that there is no one left to trust. How absolutely naive of me to have believed that anything we read or see or hear can be trusted. I do resent that there are so many parts of our world that cause us to become cynical and afraid to believe that there is good out there. Shame on those who lead us onto that path.

Of course, I know that tomorrow I shall pull up my socks, get back to my activism and my allies, such as the folks here on AAS, and take on the bullies yet again. Thanks for allowing me to rant and for helping me to remember the good parts.