Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Saigon Dog Stories Part I

Some small reports about the way dogs were treated and kept in Saigon. Some best practise and roles models, but also some very sad stories. Today I show you two dogs that belongs to construction workers. At least in the morning the dogs are allowed to play around.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Hear we go again Thomas! I still think it's native people operate according to their norm in Society. If it doesn't appear to offend leaders, it would generate more interest if you would go to the Pham Van Hai Market to take videos of the dogs being slaughtered and sold for dog meat in brought day light. I was so sick of it when I passed by one day and witnessed this environment. I thought of taking videos but I was afraid of being mopped or worst being followed and tracked down for "inciting propaganda". Some day I might have the courage to do it. There are "Cay To" (means ready to eat dog meat) restaurants lined up on Lac Long Quan Street in Ha Noi and I noticed vans pulled in with groups going in for this delicacy. Pham Van Hai Market is a perfect location because it's also in close proximity to the Little Korea.

I can go on and on about "Society" that influence what local natives do. I LOL when I read Westerners blog about the technique of crossing streets in HCMC and how to ride a scooter the VN way. How about the street sweepers sweeping garbage into the drainage openings? The Rationale for Natives to through rubbish into the street is "it will be swept tonight". There are no garbage cans outdoor because they will be snatched in no time and sold as "Phe Lieu" or "Re Chai" meaning waste material for recycle. Street vendors on the streets next to the river or open sewer just toss rubbish right down there. in general, there is no consideration for others around a Local Native. I had to place my 2 hands horizontally when I waited in line to at the cash registers at an nice looking supermarket so that the Local Natives don't cut in front of me as the "Fundamental Right to Cut off anyone at any time".

Please don't get me wrong that Most Westerner are very kind and try to avoid criticism which is a good quality. I just need to air out my rants and raves. One day I stood in line at the ANZ Bank in Me Linh Square and a Native had the audacity to cut right in front of me and I lost my temper and raised my voice so that Everyone at the bank would notice. Here we go again, ANZ is foreign own but the Local Native staff still don't get it. This includes the Gloria Jean Cafe incidences.

There are good side to this "Social Norm" thing. When appliances are purchased, the consumers don't pay until the items are fully delivered and installed to successful plug and play. This is good and free of charge and the reason behind this NORM is that Local Natives act differently before and after taking your money (The Woman at Gloria Jean overpaid by accident is one of the example) I had other bad experiences regarding not fulfilling promises after I paid for good and services in HCMC). In general, my take is that the Westerners have been treated some what differently (better treated) than any one else because they are perceived to have lots of money at the same time they tend to pay higher prices and still don't mind about it if it's still cheaper than their native home countries. Discrimination is part of the Norm.
This writing might not be my best writing I have done because I have to rush back to work and did not really take out sufficient time to insure its quality. I would love to debate with anyone on "Social Norm" when I get a chance.
Tommy

thomas said...

My intention is not a westerner vs. local discussion. I don't even know if the dog owners are Vietnamese or Korean or whatever. I do the videos to show people how to handle dogs in a better way and how to do not. And I think a mix of Dos and Dont is better than showing dog meat on the market. That would put Vietnam in the wrong light.
an it's not so much about norm in society. I know well educated people eating dog meat as well as poor people strictly vegetarian. It's about education and respect of others - even animals.