PETA strikes again!

[Chris]

Over in San Diego a US Federal judge is being asked to determine whether animals have some of the same rights that humans do. In this case, the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) organisation is claiming that keeping whales (specifically Orcas) in tanks and forcing them to perform tricks is tantamount to slavery.

I'd suggest they don't have a cat in hell's chance of getting it through but it might mark an improvement on their usual tactics? Even so it raises a host of questions not only regarding our use of animals as labour (e.g. seeing eye dogs, trained dolphins, draught horses and the like) but also the use of animals as a food source.

Food for thought if nothing else!

[jen]

We, (and in my opinion, particularly the Americans) are becoming very good at humanising things. We, watch movie after movie where we endow an animal with human thought patterns and emotions. 50 years ago it would have been unheard of for someone to pay several thousand dollars to keep a pet alive, if it 'got something' that was going to take $3000 to fix, it would simply have come to the end of its usefulness, and been put down.

If we are going to continue to humanise animals in movies and documentaries, I guess this is the next logical step? And where to from there? I am not so sure that PETA looks past the thin edge of wedge.

[Bravus]

I'm fine with their usual tactics...

Did I just say that out loud?

[Chris]

I'm fine with their usual tactics...

Did I just say that out loud?

Well I have to admit they seem to get the point across.

[jen]

I kinda agree with some of the things they do...but to make a lawful decision creates a precedent... and although I think it the beginning of that is a good thing, it will be strung out and misused from here on in, and before you know it someone will be saying I can't eat a lamb chop by referencing 'PETA vs'!

Having said all that... did anyone see the footage from the abbatoir in Wilberforce on Lateline last night. Disgraceful. I can deal with animals dying so that we can eat, but not dying like that. The bloke with the iron bar needs serious medical help.

[Chris]

Having said all that... did anyone see the footage from the abbatoir in Wilberforce on Lateline last night. Disgraceful. I can deal with animals dying so that we can eat, but not dying like that. The bloke with the iron bar needs serious medical help.

That was totally disgraceful and one of the reasons I keep trying to return to being vegetarian.

For me, it's bad enough they have to die to feed us... but if they *must* die then the least we should do is to make sure they are not aware of what's happening to them when they are killed. I actually felt as much ashamed as disgusted!

There are times I think PETA has some valid points... even if sometimes their methods could cost them as much support as they gain.

[bambu]

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/covert-evidence-of-cruelty-halts-abattoir-20120209-1rx7w.html

Covert evidence of cruelty halts abattoir


A SYDNEY abattoir has stopped slaughtering and faces closure and prosecution after hidden-camera footage of chilling animal cruelty emerged.

The NSW Food Authority ordered the immediate halt yesterday to slaughter at the Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors at Wilberforce, in Sydney's west, after seeing undercover footage apparently taken by a worker at the abattoir.

''This is one of the worst cases I've seen in an abattoir of animal cruelty,'' said Peter Day, a spokesman for the authority. The footage, recorded over six days at the end of last month, shows workers mistreating sheep, cattle, pigs and goats.

It shows sheep being hung up and skinned while apparently still conscious, and a man repeatedly belting live pigs over the head with a metal bar.

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Close it down.
Prosecute it and those involved in the cruelty.
Throw the book at them!
Find jobs elsewhere for the 'whisteblower' and anyone else not involved.
 

[jen]

It is closed Bu, when the footage was shown to the owner, he asked for 48hrs grace, and made the report himself, according to Lateline last night. He was as shocked as anyone (so maybe he should have been more aware, but at least he made the call himself).

[bambu]

It is closed Bu, when the footage was shown to the owner, he asked for 48hrs grace, and made the report himself, according to Lateline last night. He was as shocked as anyone (so maybe he should have been more aware, but at least he made the call himself).

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http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/cruelty-video-rogue-abattoir-checked-four-times-in-a-year-20120210-1saat.html

NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson said today the footage should act as a wake-up call for all abattoir operators.

"I've seen this footage, and it may well be a one-off, but we're certainly going to review the operations in all abattoirs as a result of this," she told ABC Radio.

"I want to make sure that all operations right across NSW are being conducted in a manner which follows those animal welfare guidelines." [/i[

#####

Simple solution, Jen...CCTV must be installed in all abattoirs.

Cameras were installed to watch baggage handlers after what was discovered during the Corby case, and now all abattoirs and their workers must be under constant camera surveillance too.