MSI Press Blog

  This post continues the series of Caturday posts about cats trapped in war zones. Cats are not political (nor are dogs or any other animal for that matter--nor, generally, the people caring for them, nor this post). In peace and where people watch out for them, cats enjoy being loved and learn to return love. Yet, cats (and other animals) do get find themselves struggling in war zones. They, just like people who have done nothing to bring harm to anyone else but just happen to live there, suffer the consequences of evil descending unexpectedly from sources external to them. Like people, cats and other animals suffer when they are homeless and without food or winter. And they are often completely forgotten when war (or natural disaster, for that matter -- they drown in floods and burn in fires) breaks out. Like people, they have to dodge bullets, bombs, and other dangers. Unlike people, they are often not calculated into humanitarian outreach efforts. (Ditto for dogs and other ani...

  Bashir Al-Bani, Orator of the Grand Mosque of Damascus ... Al-Bani’s delicate sensibility often surprised me. This quality could be seen not only in the way in which he seemed to be always worried about people who were suffering but also in his concern for animals, cats in particular. For over seven years, I worked as a Program Officer at the Syrian Office of the United Nations Development Program. In this capacity, I was responsible for a number of development projects supported by UNDP in Syria.  One day I was asked by Al-Bani about the feasibility of initiating a domestic waste recycling program in Damascus. I said I would investigate it but that environment was not one of the areas that I supervised. Little did I know that Al-Bani’s request was destined to be repeated with ever increasing momentum until the question, “What have you done about recycling?” became one that was automatically asked upon my arrival at his home.   “Why?” I finally asked,...

  Running late this Caturday, but it is still Caturday in California! Briefly, then, I would like to point out that not only people were victims of the recent earthquake in Syria. So were a great many critters. Ernesto's Sanctuary for Syrian Cats in Aleppo has been working miracles taking care of abandoned and homeless cats in war-torn Syria. Now, they are helping with cat rescue following the recent devastating earthquake. And HERE is a video of cats being rescued. Note: I assume that they could use prayers, donations, and/or sharing this information as widely as possible. For more Caturday posts, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  in exchange for  reviewing  a current or forthcoming MSI Press ...

  Murjan doing what he did best: Communicating with his staff Be Kind to Animals Week is here—a time to reflect on the many ways we can show compassion to the animals who share our world. At MSI Press, we believe every week should be kind to animals, but this one gives us all a little extra motivation to step up. Here are a few ways you can join us in spreading kindness: 1. Support Animal Advocates Around the Globe Follow your heart when it comes to supporting rescues, shelters, and advocates—but consider lending a hand to animals in places facing exceptional hardship. Rescuers in Gaza , Syria , and Ukraine are doing heroic work in devastating conditions. We’ve highlighted some of these dedicated people in past posts. If you’re able, please join us in donating directly to help their lifesaving efforts. 2. Stay Alert for Local and Urgent Animal Needs Animals in high-kill shelters often face deadlines that only funding or foster placement can change. These calls for help are poste...

  Maktoub  Arabs say that from the day of your birth the name of your beloved is invisibly engraved on your forehead. Perhaps this is true and explains the mysterious flicker of recognition I felt the day we met.  December 15, 1955 was a cold, overcast Thursday, and snowflakes were swirling down from dark skies, blown by gusts of biting, cold wind. I took the earliest bus into the city, and, as I hurried up the steps of the Main Building of New York University, I glanced at my watch. Eight o’clock. Good, I thought, three hours to review for my Russian exam at eleven. I had to do well because the possibility of a full scholarship hung on my grades this semester.  Looking back, I know it was actually fate that propelled me out of bed before dawn that day. Fate, destiny–the Arabs have a better word for it. They would say our meeting was maktoub or “written”. Omar Khayyam put it nicely: “The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,/ Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit/ Sh...