“Now” in 2017 there is a little more of an “awareness” of what goes on with animals. MC: No, a little bit more. No. There IS “An Awareness”. Before there wasn’t. Barbara: So tell me about this “awareness” and your own personal animal activism and involvement. I know you just finished doing a PSA (Public Service Announcement). MC: Yes, I just did a PSA for the “USDA Black Out of the Animal Welfare Data Base”. My friend Shannon Keith has the foundation “Beagle Freedom Project”. You should interview her because she has had 5 states pass a law regarding research institutions and beagles. One of the things her foundation does is rescue animals from the state research institutions. . In the past, once research dogs served their purpose they were put to sleep or sent to other dubious places. Under Shannon’s “Beagle Freedom Project”, the dogs are taken out of this terrible environment and given a new life. So what Shannon is saying is “Don’t euthanize the dogs”. Give them to us! Her program is a start in terms of moving the needle of compassion in the right direction. Obviously, we don’t want animals experimented on “at all.” But things are one step at a time and this is a gigantic first step.. Shannon has also created a wonderful new App (“Cruelty Cutter” by Beagle Freedom Project) that consumers can utilize to find out if a company conducts research on animals. This resource will help consumers support the companies that support the animals. Why extend buying power to companies who do not have animals best interests at heart? If you want to buy a hair product for example, you can find out right away if the company is pet friendly! This App is amazing. Barbara: Wow, that sounds like a fabulous resource for animal lovers! MC: Well, alot of Celebrities and Non celebrities are wanting to do this PSA but politics seem to get involved.. and I told Shannon. “Listen, you know I preferred Trump to Hillary but that doesn’t mean that I am going to applaud what this government does if It’s not right.” So, I am going to speak out against this issue because it is a crime. I am not attacking the government. I am attacking “the issue!” And I told her, if you want me to talk I am happy to do some interviews etc. Barbara: Well that is normal. What is happening to people that you have to be All Trump or All Clinton? Why do we have to be either “All” or “Nothing” on anything? I don’t get it. Nothing is so black and white. MC: Well, by adding a little line.. the PSA is clear in saying that this is not attacking the government . It is attacking the issue! And Shannon said that Trump’s camp has been very supportive of this issue. That’s something people should know because people say “Oh, of course .. Trump”.. they don’t always like him.. And of course there are issues that we are not always going to see eye to eye on. So, we have to decide what is most important to us as human beings. Do we want to live secure, to protect our lives (to protect our present and future)? And then, once that is in place or being worked on we can then fight for animals rights.
So that’s what we are going to do. That is the campaign that is going on. Barbara: So, what is the tagline of the campaign? MC: “USDA Blackout of Animal Welfare Data Base!” Why is that happening? Why are we blacking out the data base? Why are we doing that? It should be allowed for ALL of us to see what’s going on. That’s it! Barbara: So where is she going to put this? Where is this campaign going to run? MC: Everywhere. Where do you put things? Barbara: The media, pr, magazines.. MC: Yeah. I believe she has a publicist ..”You tube” etc.. I am also working as the Executive Producer on Carmen’s new TV project, “The Real Pooches of Beverly Hills” which is in development. Barbara: I love the name! Just knowing Carmen and your own very Beverly Hills pooches you are “made” for this idea. Give us the details. Carmen: Well, “The Real Pooches of Beverly Hills” (RPBH) is an original unscripted series that follows the luxurious lives of 9 pint- sized pooches (most of them rescued from abusive homes, death row or shelters), and their six adoring human mothers. They receive the best second chance ever and now live like Hollywood stars, but the joy and love they bring to their owners makes it hard to tell “who rescued who”! Barbara: I love the premise of your show Carmen. It is so Beverly Hills and it is so “right on” as to the reality of how many women see their pets now. It is truly the happy side of the pet/people equation. And you are right. The pets rescued and treated like special fur babies are very very fortunate. The majority of dogs around the world do not have the good life. These are the lucky ones that have hit the “jackpot” so to say.. I also think there is a strong possibility of major success in the stars for “Real Pooches”.. I wish you both lots of luck on this new project. Certainly, I will be delighted to cover it in its progression. Carmen: Well we are excited about the idea as well and time will tell. Barbara: So Maria, Carmen told me you have “5” Movies coming up and premiering this year.. You have so much going on! MC: Yes, I am finally putting most of my time and energy into my career after putting it “on hold” when I became a political activist for Latin America dedicating around 85% of my time to politics. So the first movie I did last year which is now premiering in Panama was shot in spanish and called “More than Brotherhood,” “Mas Que Hermanos”. Barbara: What is that about? MC: It’s about two young siblings who end up living on the streets, having nothing left but their love. It is a story about survival, second chances and second falls, with an unexpected turn at the end. Barbara: Is this a true story or fiction?
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