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[RC] UAE - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: John Bass jbass@xxxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== Desert Racers Camel racing, the oldest and most venerated sport in the Middle East, is a draw for some of the region's wealthiest sheiks, whose stables compete for grandiose prizes. Hidden behind lavish spectacles, however, is a disturbing reality. The tiny jockeys who compete in these races are victims of a horrible slave trade, all young boys who have been kidnapped or sold into slavery as mere infants. In addition to enduring inhumane living conditions and beatings, the boys are intentionally starved to keep their weight down. Weak from undernourishment, some are maimed or killed while trying to pilot the 1500-pound camels. Using hidden cameras, REAL SPORTS travels to the United Arab Emirates for a special expanded report on the perilous lives of camel jockeys and the pitiless human traffickers that exploit them. Correspondent Bernard Goldberg interviews John Miller, a State Department ambassador at large, to determine whether the U.S. government is doing enough to stop the practice in this tense political climate. -------- This is an absolute outrage. The AERC should break all ties with with the UAE, including a boycott of the upcoming WEC. Just picture being either kidnapped or sold, starved, beaten, raped, sleeping on the ground, penned like animals and haven't seen your 8th birthday yet. Then you are strapped to the back of a 1500# camel wearing an oversized helmet, not for protection, just so the shieks can see their stables colors. You then use all the strength your 50 pound body can muster to guide your camel to victory. There are no spectators to watch you ride your million dollar camels, just the shieks who have bet their buddies untold amounts of gold and cars. These camel jockeys are just babies. Granted I can't write as well as Lynne or Kat or Angie, I'm not educated like Truman and many more on this list. But there is one thing I can do. I can smell a skunk and this stinks. In the past I've accused Howard of being a racist, not having any credibility and a few more things. He gave Ridecamp a headsup on this. Listen to him. Please. This needs to be dealt with. John Bass Beatty Nevada =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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