The family court system in the United States is horrifically flawed and broken. We've seen and felt the destruction of lives that come from the influence of dark hearted souls. The pain of injustice is with me every single day. In 2011, the social worker in our case was charged with "28 combined felonies, including theft, forgery and attempt to influence a public servant." READ CASE. More charges were filed against her for other acts of fraud.
I'm happy to report that my daughter received a life saving transplant in October of 2011! She is on the road to recovery. 2012 shows much promise.
I was diagnosed with cancer at the end of September 2010. My treatment was major surgery and fortunately, the pathology came back clean, which meant the cancer had not spread. So for now, I have no more signs of carcinoma. Time will tell, but it's the least of my concerns. There are simply too many other major challenges that far out weigh any thoughts about whether the cancer is gone for good or not. I'll cross that bridge if/when the time comes.
Below are a few photos from my Asia travels that took me through Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Bali.
Typical reaction to (me) a nearly six-foot American woman traveling through Asia.
This was my Russian Minsk motorcycle that I toured around Vietnam on for six days. We covered 900km. Click on bike for my travelogue.
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“To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen
to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive.”
Robert Louis Stevenson
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Betsy Seeton -
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR & WRITER
I currently make my living as a private investigator in Colorado and as a writer/researcher. Check out my private investigator website: thepifactor.com for more specific information. To hire me as an independent contractor call 720.277.8897 or email me. Check out my article "Did You Know..."
I'm a third generation native of Colorado. My great-grandfather was a gold miner and also the first mayor of San Miguel County in southern Colorado. My grandmother was born in Ouray, Colorado. She loved telling the story of when she rode over a 12,000 foot mountain pass on a horse drawn sleigh making her the first woman into a Colorado mining camp in Gunnison County. She was a sharp shooter and could cast an awesome fly on the streams. I was blessed to have grown up with her.
Something I care deeply about is ending animal and human trafficking. I also advocate for animal and human rights. You'll find many links to this throughout my website. An excellent organization where you can learn about slavery ( 27 million people enslaved around the globe) including slavery in the United States, England and Australia, is notforsalecampaign.org. Read about the child slavery in the chocolate industry too.
ARTIST & PHOTOGRAPHER
An important part of my life is creatively expressed through my painting, welding, and photography. I'm drawn to avante-garde style in all my artistic endeavors. The great curator, Josine Ianco Starrels, once wrote, "Avante-garde artists, by definition, depart from what already exists and thereby change the way we perceive things." That concept appeals to me. Some of my work has been on display in Colorado in Denver's art district.
Read why I call my site livehonestly
TIGER TEMPLE INVESTIGATED FOR ANIMAL TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE
Nothing quite compares to the feeling of petting a tiger or riding an elephant. The photo of me petting the tiger was taken at the Tiger Temple outside of Bangkok when I solo traveled through Asia for five months between October 2006 and March 2007. On June 22, 2009, I learned some devastating news. While petting real tigers was a highlight experience in my life, it appears that the Tiger Temple violates all that I stand for..... read a very disturbing report by CWI: Care For The Wild International.
When I was at the sanctuary, I sought out volunteers to interview because I was curious and concerned about what was going on behind-the-tourist-scene. One young man was a school teacher from Australia on his summer break. He said he witnessed nothing abusive during his month long stay and highly recommended becoming a volunteer. Another young volunteer said it was the best experience she ever had. I specifically asked if the tigers were drugged so that tourists could pet them. I was told definitely not and assured that tigers sleep an average of 17 hours a day. It never occured to me that the tigers might be trafficked versus being "rescued tigers", but that's one of the claims in CWI's report backed by man other reputable organizations.
I don't know the truth, but I'm devastated at the thought that I may have supported a fraudulent, animal abusing organization. [Anyone with more knowledge is welcome to email me.] I'm going to continue investigating these charges. This is a huge lesson to all of us... We need more knowledge so that we don't innocently contribute to animal abuse and trafficking!
".....endangered animals are the new blood diamonds for militias and warlords...." This is a must read article about the horrendous cruelty and exploitation of animals. Learn about how you may be unknowingly supporting the killing of elephants, rhinos and tigers .....
"Magic isn't what makes your dreams come true; it's what it feels like when they do." by Betsy Seeton
"What an awesome experience! Elephants are such gorgeous, intelligent, emotional and truly exceptional creatures." Click on the the photo and go to WWF podcast!
IDA: IN DEFENSE OF ELEPHANTS - click to go to 10 worst zoos for elephants
ASIAN ELEPHANTS
Kaew was my 7-year old elephant in Lampang, Thailand at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center where I took a three day mahoot elephant training course. Read about mahoot training.
Click below on Kaew to hear a World Wildlife Fund podcast about elephants from award winning journalist John Nielsen. Click on Kaew to the right to go to the elephant conservation center in Thailand.
 This is Pum. He was my mahoot trainer. He's still at the conservation camp taking care of Kaew. Mahoot trainers are often with their elephants for a lifetime. Cool Elephant facts. |  I watched Kaew paint this! He even made it into the Bangkok Post for his artistic talent. Watch a video of how an elephant learns to paint.
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 Boda - photo by Betsy Seeton |  Monkey on my back - slide show video Boda was a 10 month old Asian bear who was rescued after his mother was killed by poachers. He was playful like a big puppy. I met Boda and the macaque (grooming me above) , who was also rescued from poachers, at the trail head on the Gibbon Experience where I zip lined to in Northern Laos in the Bokeo Reserve. We were looking for gibbons and stayed two nights in tree houses. I saw some civets - no gibbons - but it was beautiful with awesome ziplining.
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Click on the picture to go to my life blog....
Please become informed about how exotic animals are exploited and care enough not to buy products made by slaves. This site will help you discover companies that are dedicated to a slave free workforce.
CHIPPY VILLAGE VIETNAM PHOTOGRAPHER NEPAL ABOLITIONIST WRITER
