As evolution and time has gone on, human beings
have destroyed natural habitats, a ken advantage of natural resources meant for
all life forms, and had become a destructive force on earth. The idea that
because we are human and are "dominant" because we are more
intelligent than other species is ignorant many believe that we are the
"chosen" species and everything around us is for the taking,
specifically put here for humans to use. Even when it comes down to taking
lives. In all honesty, even though I am personally a vegetarian, I'm not
here to condemn eating meat. The truth is that its been happening for thousands
of years, and will continue for thousands more, even after humans have become
extinct. I am here, however, to condemn the cruel practices used to slaughter
animals for meat.
In todays society, animals used for livestock
(cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, etc.) live in horrible conditions where they
are born in factories, pumped with chemicals and steroids (they grow to
enormous sizes where their bones cannot support their bodies), raised in
overcrowded CAFO's, and crammed into trucks/trains an transported to
slaughterhouses to meet their cruel fates. There, they are lined up, stunned
with electroshock, and throats slit, where they die slowly as their blood is
drained. They don't receive anesthetics, and sometimes they are still conscious
as their throats are slit.
Once again, I'm not trying to persuade anyone to
convert to vegetarianism, but I am asking for a change in conditions for the
animals involved. It is a cruel life to live, but doesn't have to be.
These animals have the ability to feel pain, care
for one another, and are intelligent creatures. They deserve as many rights as
many groups of people have fought for throughout history with their oppressors.
The only difference is that these animals can't fight for themselves,
especially while they are being used and abused by humans. Therefore it is up
to us as the "dominant" species on earth to fight for them. Therefore
it is up to us to improve their lives. Many animal rights groups like PETA
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the ASPCA (American Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) have fought for years to better
treatment of animals in this country. What can be done by regular everyday
people to help the cause is to recognize that this is a problem that needs to
be changed. Donate to non-profit organizations that can make that change, and
lessen the amount of meat and dairy products you use (lesser demand, lesser
supply. less lives taken).
Links:
http://bit.ly/bjHerX
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/interviews/haw.html
I totally agree with the point that you raised. The conditions in which the animals are being brought up in are just atrocious! Making the conditions better, even just slightly, would make us feel better as the consumers. Then again, companies know that people aren't just going to stop consuming meat. It's like what I told Cheyenne in, "We Need to Stop Wanting More," companies will keep working chickens around the cluck, in addition to other animals. How could these places go about making these conditions safer? One idea I have is to let these animals grow up on legit farms and not cages. Let them run out in the open. Nice open space would be so much better for them than small, bacteria infested areas.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wfad.org/treatment.htm
^I showed that to Cheyenne, but I think you should take a look at that as well!
"However, even though it’s not captured on tape we do know some other things that happen in slaughterhouses. Some of the treatment includes the use of electric prods, castration with no anesthetic, branding and tail docking with no pain relief, and hot iron de-horning with no pain relief."
http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/ar-aninsidelook.html
Whoa, the treatment of these animals are just going too far! Something has to be done! There has to be some other way!
http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x6557e/x6557e02.htm
The above link shows the rules and regulations of running a slaughterhouse, do you think that these regulations are being followed?
--Joseph
I feel you completely on the fact that you aren't one of those people that force your ways upon others. And I agree with you completely on the fact that these conditions that these animals have to live in are horrible. When animals are slaughtered and processed (i.e., when the meat is cut up and packaged), several dangerous elements come into play. The first is the presence of fecal matter from slaughtered animals, which can contaminate meat with high levels of bacteria such as E. coli. Other sanitation lapses can also contaminate food, as can animal diseases like Salmonella and Campylobacter. People are aware of these things but it confuzzles me as to why nothing is being done to prevent these out breaks of wild diseases. The way I see it our meat is being tenderized before even getting to our plates. They are abused and pushed around. As the secret videos show, cows at the Westland slaughterhouse in California were forklifted, electrocuted with cattle prods, kicked and otherwise abused by workers in order to get them into the processing lines so they could be used as meat for the human food supply.
ReplyDelete-Amandar!
Source:
1) http://www.gracelinks.org/279/food-processing-slaughterhouses
2) http://www.naturalnews.com/022666_beef_recall_products.html
Imani,
ReplyDeleteI think that you raise some interesting points here. My mind immediately goes to thinking about Native American cultural practices. I wonder if people started using ALL of the animal if things would change.
Things that make you go hmm...
Post Score: 29/30
I agree with this post, I don't agree with the conditions either. After all the videos we've seen, I am still shocked about the way the animals are treated even though we are very used to the fact that no animal is safe once they are under the rule of the government. The thing is , after the movies I've seen I don't even hesitate to eat meat. I wish that the animals could be raised differently but if the government has anything to do with it won't happen anytime soon. I also agree with Joseph , let them grow on a regular farm and be free I think that would be a more healthy way for everyone. The video that Imani linked is horrible and I hate to see any animals like that.
ReplyDeleteComment Score: 17/20
DeleteThe way the animals are treated before they are killed for our food i disgusting appalling and embarrassing. I'm a meat eater but the way these poor innocent animals are sacrificed is so terrible it brings tears to my eyes. The treatment of animals all over the world is horrific. Humans think because we can stand upright and use our thumbs that we can just treat any living thing any living thing any which way that we want. the idea that superiority equals the right to mistreat others reminds me of an idea Hitler would have. It's unfair and tragic. No living thing that has feelings should ever suffer. In an article on the treatment of animals (http://www.mercyforanimals.org/investigations.aspx) says that "Hidden-camera video footage secretly recorded by an MFA undercover investigator at a Burger King cheese supplier has led to the arrest of a manager and two other workers at Bettencourt Dairies, one of the largest dairies in the country. Workers were caught on video viciously beating and shocking cows, violently twisting their tails in order to deliberately inflict pain, and dragging a downed cow by her neck using a chain attached to a tractor." There's no reason for such heartlessness. Even criminals on death row are supposed to be given the most painless way of execution so why not innocent animals? Do you think slaughterhouses that mistreat animals should be shut down?
ReplyDeleteComment Score: 17/20
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