I don’t know if you could tell by the word “poetry” plastered left right & centre, but poetry is kind of the focus around these parts. It may seem odd, then, to choose an animal rights protest as my first object of review. And it is. What I’m most concerned with, though, is the poetry in the protest, its metaphorical work.

“Shocking protest by Animal Equality in Germany” is the title of a Facebook album posted by Animal Equality, International Organization for the Abolition of Animal Slavery. The following caption accompanies each photo in the album:

On 29th July 2012, 40 activists […] participated in a demonstration in Regensburg, Germany[,] to show the consequences of animal exploitation.

The activists held the bodies of dead animals – victims of animal exploitation who once felt pain, sorrow and anxiety. These animals died because they were looked upon by society as ‘property’ and their bodies on this demonstration represent the millions who are massacred daily in farms, slaughterhouses and other centres of animal exploitation. The demonstration aims to create reflection in society, encouraging everyone to think of the anonymous victims, putting faces to the deaths.

Little other detail is available, but the photos show activists arranged in a triangle, all facing one point of the triangle, from where most of the shots are taken. Each activist is holding hands in front of chest to display a dead animal. Most photos show chickens, chicks, and piglets being held, but there are also several fish and mice and at least two other birds (a pigeon and what looks to be a hawk). The facial expressions of the activists range from neutral to somber.

The central activist above is featured in several of the more widely circulating photos of the demonstration. Source: Animal Equality group, Facebook.

Full disclosure: I eat meat, despite not having reconciled that lifestyle with my politics. I have killed and prepared small animals for food. Animal Equality promotes staunch veganism, which I entirely respect both as a lifestyle and as an eco-political agenda. As I said above, I’m primarily concerned with the metaphorical workings of this demonstraton—in particular, how these animals’ bodies are being framed as symbols and how we are being instructed to interpret them.

On one hand, we’re told that these animals’ “bodies” are synecdoches for “the millions who are massacred daily”—that is, each body here stands in for millions of similar animals. On the other hand, we’re told that the demonstration’s goal is to “[put] faces to the deaths”—that is, to combat the anonymizing work done by farming and slaughter practices that separate animal and human until the body parts of the former are on the latter’s shopping list or plate. Here’s the problem: as performed in this demonstration, these two goals are in tension.

. . .

Dead symbols symbolize death

If you Google “in hands” and click on the ‘Images’ results, you will see the following in cupped hands: the Earth, hearts, trees, houses, infants, fire, seeds, soil, sun, sky, electronic devices, and one really terrible upper back tattoo of a lumpy infant in what look like hands wearing gloves made of someone else’s hand-leather. What else do you try to hold in cupped hands? Water. Sand. Putting toys and tats aside, images of cupped hands are highly symbolic, usually fraught with connotations of preciousness or responsibility, and often ceremonial or quasi-religious in tone. In other words, it’s usually not about the material object (or subject) held in your hands; what you’re holding is typically intended and read as a stand-in for an idea or a larger whole.

In this sense, of course, the demo works: Animal Equality closes the gap between animal and human by taking these animals’ bodies out of the context of food and toward the context of death. The activists take them into the street, they treat them with a kind of invented ceremony, and they present them as whole bodies rather than as the anonymized ‘cuts’ or culinary chunks that consumers might be more familiar with. Instead of “chicken” (used as a non-count noun, like ‘water’) representing food, here “a dead chicken” (singular, individual) represents many other dying chickens.

We already know the stories of those animals who are absent from this demo but represented by it. In the service of representing them, however, the animals whose bodies are used in this demo—their material experiences, their embodied individualisms—are blurred or hollowed out. First, how exactly these animals died is unclear and unaddressed, but because they are whole and undisposed of, their causes of death are certainly distinct from those absent-but-represented animals. Each had a very material cause of death, and such materiality should be at the focus of a demo that aims to re-embody the animals we see as food. They certainly didn’t die, as the Animal Equality’s caption claims, “because they were looked upon by society as ‘property.’” This implies that the systemic discourse of (i.e., the way we talk about) animal ownership, slaughter, and consumption is concrete rather than ideological, that society’s gaze just swivels around claiming stuff and thereby killing it. Second, what will happen to these animals’ bodies after the demo is unclear and unaddressed. In other words, the important part of their ceremonious treatment is the highly produced spectacle of death-that-is-occurring-elsewhere, of murder-falling-on-those-animals: the veneration of these animals as dead equals is hidden, if not summarily dismissed.

(The death-spectacle is only underscored by the baffling decision to dress all the activists in full slaughterhouse kit, including latex gloves, under their Animal Equality t-shirts. Why are these activists dressing as murderers? Why are they refusing skin-to-skin/feather/fur contact with these dead equals, an act that materially reenforces the conceptual barriers between human and animal, between living human and dead animal, between subject and object? All this contributes to the demo is cognitive dissonance.)

The animals we see in these photos are present-but-unrepresented. At best, by the numbers, they are under-represented in the wider circulation of the demo. Of ninety-five pictures in the Facebook album, over sixty are either waist-up shots of a single activist holding an animal or wide shots of several activists holding animals in formation. In these shots, at resolutions and positions ideal for capturing human faces, the animal’s faces are only visible if the animal happens to be large enough. Over twenty-five photos in the album are production shots, acting as behind-the-scenes explication, showing speakers at the demo, support staff in action, or just activists sans animaux. These shots are about the demo as demo. Only seven photos are close-ups of the animals supposedly at the centre of the demo. Se7en.

Ultimately, the tension between aims in this demonstration is dense: how can we “[reflect]” on “the anonymous victims” and “[put] faces to the deaths” in the same act? The literal faces of these animals, barely visible in the demo’s photos, belong to these animals alone. If we see them as the faces of all the absent animal victims, we’re perpetuating anonymity. We’re turning their faces into Guy Fawkes masks, masks for a romanticized movement. Cute little masks for the romanticized act of demonstration that is truly at the centre of this demonstration. “But you’re nitpicking!” you say. Sure. Nits are the eggs of lice, so you’re welcome for removing them from your hair (and placing them gently in the grass, non-animal-murderer-style). Why ‘nitpicking’ ever gained a pejorative sense is beyond me.

Down to brass tacks: could I conceive a better demonstration?

I’m glad I asked. Here are three options.

1) Use live animals in your demo. That is, focus on the present equality of living animals rather than the retrospective equality of dead animals. Hell, just focus on the animals. Maybe even dramatize or demonstrate options for living with animals in a respectful way. (Right now, the implicit alternative to full-out slaughter is sudden cessation of animal-based industries and complete segregation. That’s a false dichotomy, and while it may be a fine dichotomy to falsify in the more privileged urban areas of the world, it’s less convincing in areas where animals are more obviously critical for labour and sustenance.)

2) Buy an animal product in-store. Track down all of that animal’s body parts for reassembly and ceremonious public wake and burial. Make it easy on yourself and start with a (nearly) whole chicken carcass. Produce a documentary on the impossibility of doing this, contrasting it with repatriation of your country’s war dead.

3) Use conventional techniques to slaughter a large animal, let’s say a cow, in a public place. This will produce sheer horror in those with no concept of animal-to-food processing, really closing that cognitive gap and probably reducing their comfort with eating animals. This will also result in criminal charges, including animal cruelty charges. Publicize like mad. Point out the ironies on your way to jail.

In any case, try to aim for what is actually revelatory rather than simply headlining your demo as “shocking.”

 So I thought that I’d ask a simple question on Experience Project. What I asked was this:

 ”Your in a burning building. There is a child to your left and a puppy on your right. You can only save one. Who?”

 Now, before I even talk about the responses I got let me first say that in no way does my own decision mean the other is worthless. But, what I am actually trying to see is how my own opinion can some how bring out the judegement of others. This worked better than I thought it would really.

 On this detail box, I said, “This was hard for me, but my gut says the puppy”. I was being completely honest and in no way said the child was worthless and didn’t DESERVE to be saved.

 But, the responses I got were expected. Some said they’d die trying to save both. One said puppy, but they would try to save the child if they could. And the others, well the others said they would without a doubt save the child.

 These answers are all respectable. In fact, every one is different. We all have different experiences and views and were not all going to agree. Nothing is a “normal” decision for all humans too choose. And some people in reading that I would save the puppy didn’t take it well. In fact, went on to say things like:

 ”Fuck the dog, humans need to save their own kind. For you to pick a puppy over an innocent child. You need help.”

 First of all, both are very innocent. That was the point. To take away this idea of innocence and go to instinct of personal favoritism.  And this upset me, but didn’t suprise me that of course some one would say the humans need to save their own. As if suggesting we were BETTER than animals. As an activist, I remain with the idea that we are EQUAL. All animals and humans deserve peace and a right to live. And humans in no way trump nature. I would even go to say in some cases nature trumps us more often. Because it gives us life and food and shelter. And we owe it some respect.

 Now, I got a second answer saying this:

“I would not hesitate to save the child. It is natural for us to want to save our own.”

 I have a problem with this also. Saying something is natural is always false when it comes to opinion. Because that would be referring to something being “normal” meaning the average accepted decision of society. But we forget that society does not control our opinions. And I further said that whether or not I am right or wrong does not matter because we both have respectable opinions and we are, again, all different. And this person not only ignored my statement but said for me to go to hell and I probably support abortion as well. This person is exactly why I chose to do this.

 The human race has become so civilized according to the expected morals and ideas of society that any differing opinion is seen as immoral and evil. And this produces all the hate and racism and anti-gay and any other judgement that we face now.

 I did not mean to offend, nor did I say any thing in the purpose of offending. I simply wanted to see who would answer what. And I was disappointed with the narrow minded answers I got from some people.

‘… A Norfolk pig farm at the centre of animal cruelty allegations has been suspended from the RSPCA’s Freedom Food scheme.

The Little Thorns weaner unit near Swaffham was one of two farms targeted by animal rights activists from the pressure group Animal Equality.

Undercover video footage appears to show animals on the farms being beaten, badly handled and inhumanely killed.

Serious concerns about the footage were raised by the RSPCA. It sought an urgent meeting with the East Anglian Pig Company, which runs the farms.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “Further enquires have revealed that some of the footage is thought to include pigs under the RSPCA’s Freedom Food scheme.

“In the light of this development, Freedom Food has immediately suspended the Little Thorns unit from the scheme while investigations continue.”

Any animal welfare failures by Freedom Food members were totally unacceptable and taken very seriously, said the RSPCA spokesman.

“The footage that was given to us on Friday (21 April) largely contained images from Didlington – a farm not approved by Freedom Food.

“However, on further investigation of the footage, we became aware of totally unacceptable welfare practices on Little Thorns Farm – which is Freedom Food approved.”

The farm had now been suspended from the scheme.

“From time to time, individual members can let us down – but these are very rare cases. We will always take swift action when such breaches are brought to our attention.”

The RSPCA spokesman also criticised Animal Equality for waiting months before making its allegations of animal cruelty public.

“We must stress that this footage was taken in January and has only now been made available to us via the media, despite being taken more than four months ago by Animal Equality,” he said.

“This greatly concerns Freedom Food and the RSPCA.”

Anyone with information relating to breaches of animal welfare should inform the RSCPA immediately, otherwise they could be allowing continued suffering, said the spokesman …’

Read the item and add your comment online at www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/24/04/2012/132574/Pig-farm-suspended-from-welfare-scheme.htm

[Vegans say abandon the exploitation, abuse and slaughter of all animals, and abandon the production and consumption of all animl products.]

.

The first lecture is part of the theme Animal Capacities, session 2b: Higher order cognitive capacities in animals.

Have nonhuman great apes acquired a human language?

Since the beginning of the 20^th century scientists have been interested to find out whether nonhuman great apes can be taught some form of human language. The first studies tried to teach spoken words to great apes, but failed to do so. From 1966 onwards, the Gardners started projects using sign language, with the chimpanzee Washoe as their first subject. These chimpanzees acquired signs and other projects soon followed: Patterson studying the signing gorilla Koko and Miles analyzing the use of signs by the orangutan Chantek. Other researchers such as the Rumbaughs used geometric symbols called lexigrams, teaching them to bonobos such as Kanzi. Most of the ape language researchers concluded that a form of human language had been acquired by their ape subjects. However, another project with a signing chimpanzee, the one by Terrace with chimpanzee Nim, obtained results that did not point to a linguistic explanation of the signing behaviour. This caused what has become known as the ape language controversy. What can we conclude about language in nonhuman great apes after these decades of research?

The field of ape language research has suffered from problems of method and interpretation. Many studies did not film the interactions between the apes and the humans, leaving room for errors of perception and memory and making it unable to examine the role of imitation in the apes’ utterances. Selective presentation of data has also been a major problem. The author analyzed the archives of all the projects with signing apes and found that particularly Patterson presented the data about Koko selectively, publishing data that seemed linguistic, but omitting the rest of the data that showed otherwise. The author also carried out a large, systematic study of the use of signs by Washoe and the other signing chimpanzees, analyzing hours of videotaped interactions between the chimpanzees and their longtime human companions. The results were that the chimpanzees mostly made 1-sign utterances, using object and action signs and request markers. Combinations of signs showed no semantic or syntactic structure, but consisted largely of stringing various signs in order to provoke their human companion into action. The communicative intentions of the chimpanzees’ sign utterances predominantly consisted of requests for objects and actions. Another systematic study that filmed all the behaviour, was carried out with Kanzi, demonstrating that he could understand hundreds of English spoken words. Unfortunately, no further reliable studies have been carried out. If we take the scientifically sound studies into account, we can draw the following conclusion about language in nonhuman great apes. The apes have demonstrated understanding of human words or symbols (an ability that has recently also been demonstrated in border collie dogs). When it comes to combining symbols into meaningful utterances like humans do, however, the apes do something different. They do not add a meaningful structure to combinations, but string symbols together in order to manipulate the humans into fulfilling their requests. With regard to the motivation for using symbolic communication, humans have a rich variety of different motivations for communication. The nonhuman apes, however, almost exclusively use symbols in order to request objects and actions from the human. Terrace called this an “acquisitive” motivation. These conclusions mean that it has not been possible to teach a human language to a nonhuman great ape and that a qualitative difference remains between human and nonhuman apes. A difference that may not have moral consequences, however.

The second lecture will be part of the theme Animal Ethics, session 4a: The moral relevance of socio-cognitive abilities.

Is absence of language in nonhuman great apes morally relevant?

The capacity for language has figured as a morally relevant ability in multiple animal ethics theories. Frey argued that language is a required capacity in order to have beliefs and desires and therefore interests. Carruthers claimed that language is a necessary ability to phenomenally experience mental states, argueing that nonlinguistic animals do not have sentience. In the Great Ape Project (GAP), set up by Singer and Cavalieri, the results from the studies with signing apes were used as an argument for equality among all great apes (human and nonhuman).

The author analyzed the archives of all the signing ape projects and carried out a systematic study of the use of signs by the famous signing chimpanzees. The results of his study were that there was no evidence for a linguistic capacity in these apes. If one considers all the results from the various ape language studies (including those that examine the use of lexigrams by bonobos such as Kanzi), one can conclude that nonhuman great apes are able to understand hundreds of words or signs, but when it comes to combining symbols in a meaningful way (grammar) there is no solid evidence that the ape subjects are able to do so. Also, when it comes to the motivation for (symbolic) communication it seems that there is a qualitative difference between human and nonhuman great apes. The subjects of ape language studies use symbols more as a tool to acquire things from humans rather than use it for a rich variety of motivations as humans do. Tomasello has suggested that humans are more focused on cooperation, with nonhuman great apes focusing more on competition in their communication. Until new evidence comes forth, we have to conclude, then, that only human apes have the capacity for language.

Where does this conclusion lead to, when it comes to our morality towards nonhuman great apes? The position held by Frey and Carruthers is considered incorrect. It is not our linguistic terms for different conscious states that make them phenomenally aware, but the emotional feel of various conscious states has primacy, to which we humans then add a linguistic label. Arguing for equality among all great apes based on the capacity for language, like the GAP has done, however, is also incorrect, now that these new studies have shown that there is no evidence for the linguistic claims of the ape language researchers. Nonhuman great apes thus appear to be qualitatively different from human apes. It is, however, a matter of argument whether higher cognitive abilities such as language or rich motivations for communication are morally relevant or not. The author argues that in our morality towards humans we consider qualitative differences in cognition or motivation to be irrelevant for moral equality (cf. the argument from marginal cases). Among humans, the presence of sentience or phenomenal consciousness is considered a sufficient condition for a morally equal status. In order to avoid the risk of being speciesist by limiting equality to humans only, equality should be extended beyond humans to include all beings capable of sentience or phenomenal consciousness. Thus, equality for all great apes, nonhuman and human, is still arguable, despite the absence of language in our nonhuman cousins. Indeed, with our current scientific knowledge, equality should be extended to all nonhuman animals.

I hope these abstracts have stirred up your interest. I would like to hear from you what you think of them. You can register for the conference by clicking here. A cheaper ‘early bird’ registration is still possible until April 27. Looking forward to meeting you at Minding Animals this July!

Download [pdf, 2.9 Mb]

Find out more about Animal Equality at http://www.animalequality.net

Download a vegan starter guide

‘… On March 20th, Animal Equality celebrated World Meat Out Day by packing animal rights activists in plastic supermarket trays. Six activists were plasticized to protest against animal use for food and called for a vegan lifestyle.

This international day is commemorated since 1985 to help people get involved in a cruelty free plant-based diet …

Other demo.s were celebrated in Caracas, Madrid, Seville, Roma and London.

‘Igualdad Animal | Animal Equality’ is an international Animal Rights organization working against speciesm …’

Read the item, view images and add your comment online at www.demotix.com/news/1115545/animal-equality-demonstration-barcelona-world-meat-out-day

.

Related articles

• Animal Equality shows the sadism and brutality hidden in the pig farm of El Escobar de Murcia (preciousjules1985.wordpress.com)
• Animal Equality Exposes Horrors of Spanish Escobar Farm, please take action (our-compass.org)
• Pig farmer under investigation for animal cruelty found dead at home (guardian.co.uk)
• Farmer at centre of RSPCA pig cruelty probe found dead (mirror.co.uk)
• Pig farmer slammed by RSPCA for horrific cruelty to his animals found dead in suspected suicide (dailymail.co.uk)

Thanks to Luree for sending this important information!

‘… Over the course of 72 days, with 200 hours of footage, Animal Equality recently exposed serious cruelty and neglect at a pig farm called the Harling Farm, in Norfolk, UK. The pictures and video are simply unacceptably gruesome. I apologize for including them (and you don’t have to look at them) but there still are people who deny that such treatment actually occurs. It does indeed, and this farm is a typical, medium-sized operation with over 3,000 pigs and 370 breeding pigs, 160 of whom are sent to the slaughterhouse each week.

The reason for this unique undercover investigation was to reveal the true horrors that farmed animals endure each and every day, literally from the day they’re born to the day they die a most disrespectful death. Their journey from the farm to the slaughterhouse is a gruesome one filled with pain, suffering, and terror until they’re freed from being tortured by being killed, often inefficiently.

Animal Equality has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about an industry that exploits animals of various species and show the public that even where quality standards are said to be highest (or, in the case of Harling Farm, “Quality Assured”), deaths and injuries are commonplace and caused by workers who were observed systemically abusing animals and seemingly finding pleasure while they did so.

Pigs are sensitive animals, social by nature and extremely intelligent. Animal Equality found that over the 72 days and from the 335 photographs taken, pigs were treated like mere objects. They were left dying in other pigs’ feed, iron bars were used to move emaciated and lame animals from one area to another and, in one instance, a high-powered rifle was used to shoot a pig in the head, in full view of other pigs.

Some of the findings of this investigation include:

- Piglets who had recently been separated from their mothers being thrown several feet through the air by their legs and ears, and kicked hard across the floor.

- Pigs who were reluctant to move being slapped, kicked and beaten into submission with the use of pig boards, iron bars and gate rods; and workers scraping a knife across the backs of pigs to force them to move.

- Sustained beatings that resulted in pigs with facial and other bodily abrasions. Angry swearing accompanied these beatings. One pig was beaten black and blue, and had a bloody snout as a result of being thrashed with a pipe.

- Sick, injured and depilated pigs were left to languish with no veterinary attention. Rectal and vaginal prolapses that were left to rot and drop off so that the animals could be sent to the slaughterhouse. Pigs who had difficulty walking with shoulder sores, injured or infected joints, and hind end paralysis.

Nearing the end of the investigator’s time at Harling Farm, he wrote: “Today was my last day and I walked out at lunch time. The images in my head of this hell-hole will stay with me always. I felt absolutely powerless to stop the pain, suffering and death.”

Many other similiar incidents were recorded and observed by the investigator and, because of the length of time that he worked undercover, Animal Equality views these incidents as being the norm on this farm and others. It is easy to question whether this treatment of animals is ethical and justified when options are at hand in the choices we make. Indeed, no one has to eat pigs.

Animal Equality promotes a vegan lifestyle that does not exploit animals and gives people the chance not to contribute to what occurs in places like Harling Farm. The belief is that if people are made aware of the suffering and pain inflicted on sentient beings, then they will look to other lifestyles. Pigs are one of many types of animal used by industries that produce food for our dinner plates.

The undercover investigations of other organizations have shown time and time again that what was observed at Harling Farm is not an isolated exception, but sadly an ingrained part of what many people believe to be a ‘humane’ way of treating animals. Recently there was a report of pigs being stabbed with swords on a Spanish pig farm to supply Morrisons Supermarket in the UK.

By exposing the abuse and showing standards that are claimed to be monitored and credited by “welfare organizations”, people can see the reality of each and every day for farmed animals. This reprehensible abuse must be stopped now.

Each of us can add more compassion to the world by not eating factory farmed animals and by ending factory farming. This is an indisputable fact so please, let’s begin today. Your choice of your next meal can make a difference. No one has to eat bacon, pork, or sausage …’

Read the item and add your comment online at www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal-emotions/201202/makin-bacon-unspeakable-and-grisly-abuse-pig-farm

[Go vegan!]

.

‘… A recent investigation by Animal Equality at a pig farm in Norfolk found animals being kicked, slapped and beaten with iron bars and gate rods, and workers scraping a knife across the backs of pigs to force them to move.

The 200 hours of footage has now been handed to the RSPCA, which has described it as ‘some of the most shocking we have ever received and we are taking this most seriously’.

The farm’s owner claimed not to have known what was happening and says that he has dealt with the staff involved ‘appropriately’.

There have been many investigations into UK farms in recent years that have shown the abject misery of animals and the cruelty they are forced to endure. It’s time to go meat-free.

Read the item at www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/NEWS/news_factory//2629//

Please support Animal Aid and all their campaigns.

.

‘… An RSPCA investigation has begun into “shocking” footage of pigs apparently being beaten on a farm in Norfolk.

Animal Equality said it had filmed the animals being kicked, slapped and attacked with iron bars at Harling Farm, in East Harling, near Norwich.

The RSPCA said the footage was “some of the most shocking we have ever received”.

Stephen Brown, who runs the farm, said it was co-operating with investigators.

“We are horrified to learn what has allegedly happened and have dealt with the staff involved appropriately,” he said.

Undercover reporter

“We are co-operating fully with all investigations and are pleased that the RSPCA has visited and approved all our practices at the farm.

“We take animal welfare extremely seriously and place it at the heart of everything we do here.”

An RSPCA spokeswoman said it had received the footage on Friday.

“We have begun a full investigation and a number of our officers have visited Harling Farm,” she said.

“The footage is some of the most shocking we have ever received and we are taking this most seriously.”

Animal rights organisation Animal Equality said the investigation “marks the beginning of an intensive campaign” to expose the “true face of animal farming in Britain”.

“It provides a stark contrast to the pig industry’s celebrity-endorsed ‘Love Pork’ marketing campaign,” said a spokeswoman.

“The shocking revelations of the investigation have been submitted to the relevant authorities.”

It said the footage was filmed by an undercover reporter between 27 July and 30 September last year.

The farm had been approved by the Red Tractor food quality assurance scheme, which aims to ensure “responsible farming methods”.

‘Shocked and appalled’

David Clarke, chief executive of Assured Food Standards (Red Tractor), said: “The behaviour shown on the video has no place within the assurance scheme and we completely condemn it.

“As soon as we were alerted to the issue on Friday of last week, we immediately removed the farm from the scheme on the basis of the video evidence and we have had an inspector on the farm during the weekend.”

He added: “We are reviewing our systems in light of the lessons learned here and will almost certainly revert to more unannounced inspections.”

NFU animal health and welfare adviser Catherine McLaughlin said: “The NFU is shocked and appalled by the scenes contained within this footage.

“We cannot comment on this individual case until a full investigation has revealed the truth behind the accusations, but the NFU does not condone any behaviour of animal cruelty or neglect.”

The 600-acre (242 hectare) arable and mixed farm has 4,000 pigs and has been owned by the Brown family since 1920 …’

Read the item at www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-17004268

The item was also broadcast on the BBC 1 TV ‘Look East’ evening news programme today (12th February).

Visit the Animal Equality web-site at www.animalequality.net/

[Vegans say abandon the exploitation of all animals, and the production and consumption of all animal products - go vegan!]

.

‘… Introduction

Animal Equality works to raise awareness on the suffering and death of non-human animals in our society and calls for the abolition of animal use.

Animals are sentient beings and able to feel emotions and sensations such as pain, pleasure, fear or stress and, like us, they are individuals with their own needs, desires and an interest in living. Most people believe that animals should not be harmed unnecessarily, but the consumption of animal products forces animals into a life of misery and an untimely death.

By choosing a varied vegan diet, we won’t be taking part in their exploitation, and this way we can each prevent thousands of animals from being harmed and killed on our behalf.

The reality of pig farming

Animal Equality has carried out a unique, intensive two-month undercover investigation into a so-called ‘Quality Assured’ (Red Tractor)[1] farm in Norfolk – Harling Farm, belonging to A. J. Edwards & Son.

Harling Farm is a medium sized farm, with over 3,000 pigs and 370 breeding pigs. The pigs are raised outdoors, and fattened indoors. Over 160 pigs are sent to the slaughterhouse each week, including the pigs who are no longer able to give birth.

The investigation spanned from July to September 2011, with the Animal Equality investigator working on site for a total of 72 days. Over 200 hours of footage and recorded conversations, as well as 335 photos, provide a truly shocking insight into the British pig industry, and demonstrate that regardless of whether a farm is labelled as ‘Quality Assured’, there exists pain, suffering and exploitation on a huge scale.

This unique, intensive undercover investigation reveals the life of pigs who are reared for their flesh in Britain.

Investigation findings

Animal Equality’s investigation reveals the reality of the British pig industry. Our investigation reveals appalling scenes of suffering, pain and physical violence.

• Piglets who had recently been separated from their mothers being thrown several feet through the air by their legs and ears, and kicked hard across the floor. This would likely cause extreme stress and injury to the animals. Deprivation from their mothers also causes trauma and leaves the piglets vulnerable to disease.
• Pigs who were reluctant to move being slapped, kicked and beaten into submission with the use of pig boards, iron bars and gate rods; and workers scraping a knife across the backs of pigs to force them to move.
• Frantically squealing piglets who had limbs that were being crushed by their mothers. Animals who were bar-biting – a behaviour commonly indicative of frustration, anguish, and/or panic at not being able to control a situation.
• The routine clipping of teeth on piglets between 24 and 48 hours after their birth. Tooth clipping causes pain and leaves piglets open to potential infection.
• Sustained beatings resulting in pigs with facial and other bodily abrasions. Angry swearing accompanied these beatings. One pig was beaten black and blue, and had a bloody snout as a result of being thrashed with a pipe.
• Piglets being left dead or dying within pens, and inside feed.
• Sick, injured and depilated pigs being left to languish with no veterinary attention. Rectal and vaginal prolapses that were left to rot and drop off so that the animals could be sent to the slaughterhouse. Pigs who had difficulty walking with shoulder sores, injured or infected joints, and hind end paralysis.
• Lacerations that were large and deep enough to require suturing being lanced by workers so that pus came out. The wounds were subsequently left untreated. Pigs suffered tumours – some with ulceration. One apparently malnourished pig had a large abdominal hernia.
• Dead bodies that were dumped in an illegal shallow and uncovered pit to save the farm money.
• The killing of animals, for example by blunt force trauma – swinging pigs so hard that their heads slammed against concrete floors, and the battering of animals with gate rods. Workers were observed walking away as bleeding pigs struggled violently on the floor. Some were thrown into a ‘dead-bin’ whilst still alive. The bodies of live pigs in the bin convulsed on top of the dead.
• Lactating pigs being forced to endure the intensive confinement of metal farrowing crates scarcely larger than their bodies for weeks on end whilst crushed, emaciated and ill piglets lay dead or dying in the crates. Pigs unable even to stand were artificially inseminated.

Conclusion

Animal Equality has carried out a thorough investigation to expose a typical British pig farm to show that regardless of whether animal farming is labelled as ‘Quality Assured’, there exists pain, suffering and exploitation on a huge scale. We do not need to contribute to the institutionalised deprivation, humiliation, imprisonment and suffering that occurs each day to billions of sentient beings. Without the public demand for animal products we would avoid a great amount of misery and exploitation.

Animal Equality urges consumers to stop funding animal exploitation by adopting a vegan lifestyle.

Be part of the solution, by making a difference. Choose Veganism.

“Animal Equality’s recent investigation of the UK pig industry exposes some of the abuse and neglect inflicted on the animals imprisoned on farms and is convincing evidence that these squalid institutions should be closed forever and remembered only as relics of barbarism.”        (Professor John Sorenson) …’

Read the item and access the report at www.britishporkindustry.co.uk/report.php#.TzgOA1tuR2E – view video at www.britishporkindustry.co.uk/

[Vegans say abandon the exploitation of all animals, and the production and consumption of all animal products.]

.

For example, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the largest animal rights organization in the world, ”focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in the clothing trade, in laboratories, and in the entertainment industry (PETA)”, as stated in their mission statement. PETA is made up of a group of individuals who choose to support the ideologies of vegetarians, and they go to great lengths to promote their beliefs through the power of celebrity advocates and by trying to reach people on an emotional level.

The video below is an example of how PETA tries to spread their message by toying with viewer’s emotions:

Moreover, the PETA website even supplies a “Vegetarian Starter Kit” for those who have been swayed toward the idea of vegetarianism, or have decided to change their lifestyle. Upon ordering the free starter kit, PETA appeals to individuals who are considering making the transition to vegetarianism by stating the following: “Did you know that you could save 100 animals per year by adopting a meat-free diet? That’s right—going vegetarian saves lives! And if that’s not appealing enough, it’s easy too! (PETA)” Considering they pride themselves on their values, the website also provides a list of tips for people who are “making the transition” Despite the fact that PETA conveniently provides people with the reasons and benefits to becoming a vegetarian, they neglect to mention the health factors that people need to consider when making such a decision. However, it is not in the best interest of vegetarian advocates  to discuss the downsides of their beliefs if they want people to agree with their principles.

 To continue, ideologies such as vegetarianism can be related to religions, as each group shares specific beliefs within their collection of individuals. Comparable to religions, different ideologies possess different beliefs; whereby each group believes that their own ideology makes the most sense. With that being said, people do not need to agree with every (or any aspect) of ideologies, but respecting the beliefs of one another is crucial to the freedom of expression in modern-day society.

-Jessica Jillings

SOURCES:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iErz6lThokg

http://www.peta.org/

http://www.mccruelty.com/facebook.aspx

http://www.ariseandshine.com/thevegetarianwayoflife-whatsitallabout.aspx

http://www.naturopathicsun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/the-myths-of-vegetarianism.pdf

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266543/quotes

https://elearning.kwantlen.ca/courses/file.php/7912/Week_4/Discourse_and_ideology.pdf

They installed there a Cemitery of Animals. No, not a real one. But there was this shocking display with one hundred crosses, each one representing a real animal that was killed directly by human action. On each cross, there was a picture of the animal and a short story of how it was killed.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It was interesting to observe some kids looking at the crosses and asking many questions to they parents. What is this animal? Why is he dead? Why people do that?

Why people do that?

…

Why people do that?

How we desperately need the brilliant simplicity of children to get right to the important questions!

PS: a newspaper article, in italian, about the display, here.

Thank you.

z

“But in our world of plenty, we should spread a smile of joy!
Throw your arms around the world at christmas time.
But say a prayer – pray for the other ones;
At christmas time, it’s hard but when your having fun.
There’s a world outside your window;
And it’s a world of dread and fear;
Where the only water flowing is a bitter sting of tears.
And the Christmas bells that ring there, are the clanging chimes of doom;

Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you….

And there wont be snow in africa this christmas time
The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life…” – “Feed the World” – Sir Bob Geldoff

Is buying more stuff really giving?

Recently while attending an anti-fur rally, I saw some people demonstrating across the street. There were about ten of them, and they held signs which read, “Buy more stuff”. I thought to myself, “how clever! the perfect anti consumerist demonstration!” After I left my rally, I went over to find out just what these cats were all about. Since they were located in the area which until recently had been the camp ground for the Occupiers of the city, I thought for sure they were part of the Occupy movement; downtown demonstrating against useless, selfish and wasteful consumerism. How silly of me to give them that credit, and to think that they were being ironic, and signifying anti-corporate greed, and anti-planet destruction. When I approached one of the women holding a sign, i asked what they were all about, and her reply was that they were there for exactly what their signs said. Ok, keeping in mind that this was Black Friday, the biggest sale and shopping day of the year, I asked her why they needed be on the corner to convince shoppers to do what they normally do. I asked her if she had seen George Carlin’s “Stuff” routine. No, she hadn’t. She said, “People need stuff. I like to buy stuff. Everyone needs stuff. I just bought this coffee, and earlier I bought a scarf.” I think she was part of some “buy more stuff” cult.

Her partner came over; a strapping gent holding one of the signs, wearing a suit, carrying a few extra pounds over his belt, who had a beard, longish hair, and looked as if he might later, after the demonstration, head on over to his nearest comic book store for the latest Star Trek figurine or set off for the local science fiction festival. Hell, it might even have been the guy in the photo above, but I am not sure, as I downloaded it from the internet. So, I tried chatting him up as well to figure out the meaning of their demonstration; to no avail. I asked if he had seen the Carlin “Stuff” routine, and he said yes. I asked if he had seen the Story of Stuff, and he said yes. It was a very bizarre interaction.  It seemed like I was talking to someone whose brain cells had died long ago; or a follower of Jim Jones. Imagine the 21st century libertarian Jim Jones: The cult that instead of killing you with kool-aid, kills you by locking you inside your home, surrounded by the hoards of stuff that the cult has convinced you to buy. That’s what these people seemed like; members of some new cult, whose sole ambition was determined by some CEOs hidden away in some high rise building with bodyguards lining the halls. “Tell the people to buy more stuff; namely, more of OUR stuff”, say the CEOs. When I asked, “what do you think about the planet being finite,” he just responded by saying, “You need stuff. You need food, right? You need toilet paper, right? You therefore need stuff.” (At this moment he pointed to the sign and gave me a big smile) You know, I see mindless people all day long. I am often baffled how some people who are ignorant to the point of disbelief have managed to stay alive. One thing I don’t often see is a group of village idiots, who at some point in their lives will most likely win the Darwin award; huddled together holding useless signs, and protesting for others to do what they normally do anyhow.

And Now For Something Completely Different….

This year, Instead of joining the rest of the sheeple; entering the hustle of bustle of stores near the helliday, how about staying home with those you love, and instead, donating to some charitable organizations in the names of those whom you love?  This is a way to show your support for the well being of the planet, teach values of love and empathy, and a way to take a stand against massive, needless, destructive consumerism which is ruining the environment. Neither we, nor our children need more STUFF. However, what some people really need is more food this time of year.

Feed the World

Wouldn’t it be nice to feed the world this Christmas? The no. 1 way you can feed the world is to stop supporting the animal agriculture business, and eat a plant based diet. This unequivocally includes not supporting the multi-billion dollar DAIRY industry as well. There is plenty of information on the diary industry HERE or, HERE. The animal agriculture industry takes food out of the mouths of the starving, and turns it into what they call feed, which they then spray with chemicals and antibiotics for farm animals to eat, who will then be slaughtered needlessly to put on the plates of impoverished and rich alike, knowing no difference between the genetics; making everyone sick on the inside.

Instead of people showing a bit of self sacrifice, (which really is NOT a sacrifice at all, as being vegan I can say without a doubt that I eat better now than I ever have) people continue to remain in denial about the fact that their food choices are causing catastrophic consequences for other animals; humans and non, around the globe, support industries that are causing hunger all over the world. I have heard, “I am just one person, so what difference can it make if I don’t eat butter or cheese, or that slice of bacon?” Another I have heard is “I could not be vegan. I like eating cheese and/or (insert some part of an animal carcass here), or they live in fear of not being polite at a dinner party, and offending. The hypocrisy committed by people who think themselves compassionate and generous must be addressed; even if by something so harmless as LIVING UP TO YOUR VALUES of non-violence in the presence of others by refusing to partake in the cultural norm of butchery. Please; by all means, offend people’s sensibilities. Their sense of propriety and decency needs to be offended by people who live a system of values that does not condone murder. There will be no push from the government for people to adopt a plant based diet and vegan lifestyle in order to help feed the world, as that would remove trillions of dollars, and most likely cause a financial collapse. Big animal agriculture is funding the government and policies; so instead, yet again, of starting at the base of the river to solve a problem, (because we do not want to face real change, and want to continue with the status-quo) we go downstream, keep slaughtering non human animals by the millions per day for some facade that it is actually necessary, destroying massive ecosystems and polluting air, soils, and water, and we put band-aids on the problem of world hunger. We would rather spend billions of dollars sending food over to Africa on ships from the United States, rather than give money and have it produced locally for example.

Gifts of giving that match a compassionate person’s values

Regarding band-aids, and trying to make a difference downstream; which is mostly what people like you and I can do, as we don’t have billions of dollars to have a full out war against big agriculture conglomerates, here are some photos from the 1980′s Band-Aid: “Feed the World” campaign created by Sir Bob Geldoff, that appeared on MTV in 1984 around this time of the year. PLEASE CLICK ON ALL OF THE PHOTOS BELOW to see different organizations to whom you might consider donating this Christmas instead of fueling the “stuff” industry; helping fill more and more landfills, and taking away from the true spirit of Christmas and the season of “giving”. Giving can mean lots of things, but the most valuable gift anyone can give to their loved ones in the right now is to “Give” up the idea of what Christmas is via television and advertising, and give love and kindness to all those on the earth by saying NO to uber consumerism, and YES to donating to organizations that improve living conditions for ALL beings, including humans on the planet.

CLICKING PHOTOS TAKES YOU TO THE SITE TO DONATE FOR THE HOLIDAYS:

1. Animal Equality/Iqualdad Animal (one of my favorites)

You can watch them in action HERE. The 2010 protest will BLOW your mind.

2. Mercy For Animals

3. PCRM – Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

4. Animal Legal Defense Fund

5. In Defense of Animals

6. Vegan Outreach

7. Food Not Bombs

8. Center For Biological Diversity (http://7billion.org)

9. Gentle Barn (sanctuary)

10. Stop UBC – Like PCRM, 501C3 to stop UBC research on nonhuman animals

11. Friends to the Forlorn – Education & Outreach, helping THE Number One Most Abused and Neglected Dog Breed Today; from dog fights, to being bred continually, to breed specific legislation in cities that bans their existence, to horrific abuse.

12. BUAV – British Union For the Abolition of Vivisection (They WORK hard, and have LOTS of campaigns)

13. Born Free – Wild Animals Belong in the wild

14. AAVS – American Anti-Vivisection Society

15. Well Fed World – On the Ground Relief and Community Solutions

Lastly, for the easiest gift YOU can give to the starving humans all over the world, please click on the photos below to learn how to begin eating a plant based diet, and how to live a vegan philosophy; which I am sure fits with your value system of non-violence to all. If you can’t donate, at least you can START with your plate.

Please DO NOT donate to HEIFER (major animal exploitation, major use of fossil fuels in transport), OXFAM, (giving live non human animals) WORLDVISION, (taking your money to transport living beings to give that “one loaf of bread” to a family, but not helping teach them how to grow that bread) WWF where they are only promoting stopping extinction so they and other rich people can continue to hunt) the Sierra Club (who in order to save national forests, hold BBQs, and then do not reply to emails asking if meat will be served as most deforestation occurs due to animal agriculture) I tried finding recent information on the group, but a lot out there is propaganda from the Center for Consumer Freedom or says that they are getting more radical. IF ONLY!!) or MERCYCORPS, who are proponents of donating non human animals to families in other countries (which means exploitation and uber fossil fuel use for transport of these live animals), when instead, they could promote education about cultivation and obtaining and maintaining clean water. “Donating” living beings who will travel on ships to reach their final destination is causing suffering, pain and discomfort. This is EXPLOITATION and slavery. The ONLY thing these organizations like Heifer and Mercycorps should be proposing in order to feed the world is a plant based diet for everyone, and especially those in the United States, where one person consumes the amount of what ten people do in under-developed countries. If you would like to help starving families in the rest of the world, please stop supporting animal agriculture and become vegan, and MOST importantly, tell everyone you know about the lies the industries perpetuate to line their pockets, while killing billions of non humans AND humans alike. It’s all a game of PROFIT, and it is PROFANE. Remaining silent is complicity.

Give someone a loaf of bread and he/she eats for a day. Give someone seeds to plant to harvest and make their own bread, and he/she eats for a LIFETIME.

In all seriousness, I hope that some who’ve read this decide to make a donation to one of these organizations instead of buying trinkets. This, obviously includes animals as presents. Don’t be a shit. Don’t buy animals. One thing that is important to know is that at least one of these organizations has a donor matching program going on right now through the end of the year; for example, if you donate to Mercy For Animals, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar by a generous donor up to a certain amount. If you can afford to buy trinkets this season because you are expected to buy holiday gifts then it is only logical that you can give a little money to one of these worthy causes, if not in addition to, then in lieu of. If you would prefer, there is always doing a search in your browser to find a reputable animal sanctuary or rescue in your area, and giving them a donation. It is a better idea to give to local humane agencies rather than giving to the larger organizations, as that supports direct action. If however you cannot afford to give monetarily this year, please adopt the vegan philosophy to “afford” equality to all species. This is the easiest gift to give; the gift of allowing all beings to live free from suffering. Do the more than 25 million NH (non human) animals know that it’s Christmas? Yes. They know fear. They know they’re about to be killed. They wait in line to die. Their massacre will increase many times over during the holiday so that humans may celebrate their lunch and dinner festivities. Make the change for the holidays; and always. Be compassionate. The time to end slavery, breeding, exploitation, and murder of all beings is NOW.

click the beautiful cow painting by Vijaya Laxmi

Below are instructions on how to start giving the gift of food to the hungry, and the gift of life to non human animals. It is your chance to do the easiest thing you can; by starting with your plate. Please check out the sites below. I spent lots of time weeding through many to find some of the best because I love and want to help everyone.

VEGAN HOLIDAY RECIPES:

LIVE VEGAN-Holiday Recipes

Eat Drink Better’s 21 Vegan Holiday Recipes. (GREAT SITE with videos)

Holiday Recipes from VeganBaking – Substitute coconut oil for ALL margarine

The V Word – Spinach Stuffed Roast (never seen anything look so good)

Field Roast – A heck of a main course

Another Roast Idea by Post Punk Kitchen. It’s a Loaf!

Stuffings: Click,Scroll Down, find several from which to choose

Grrrrravy! Here are 2: PostPunkKitchen  Vegangster’s Homie style gravy

Grean Bean Casserole by PostPunkKitchen

Oh She Glows – HOLIDAY Recipes Yummy

Mashed Potatoes Vegan Style by PostPunkKitchen

Mouthwatering Vegan – Holiday Foods With Miriam

Vegan Butter: Add to ANYTHING you make and it’ll make it HEAVENLY

Cranberry Sauce by PostPunkKitchen

Oh She Glows – Brownie and Gluten Free brownie Recipe

Vegan Desserts

Holiday Cookie Recipe – EASIEST PB and choco chip cookie evah!

Cashew NOG – YUM

Nothing will ever change unless deliberate physical actions/direction is given/taken by ourselves to change the system. Every moment we do nothing is simply prolonging the moment when we are Free because we have created a system / world that is actually best for us / what we would like.

How long will it actually take to transform this system we live in completely and absolutely so that it support and honour all life and self expression. So that it actually support our functionality and existence within such a system, so that we are not “fighting” or “Struggling” with the system where it makes our lives more difficult. A System that makes our lives more difficult shows a lack of intelligence.

How long will it actually take to re-create the entire world/system from the perspective of changing/transforming that which is “man-made” into a structure that function in such a way that it allows us to actually do what we all common sensically would like to do with ourselves in our life on earth. That is simply enjoy ourselves here, have fun.  Explore, Expand, Investigate ourselves and the world we live in, Being Free to simply be Here.

Take a look at so many individuals in this world living their life, working their job, earning their money. What does their life consist of? When/Where are they taking part in bringing forth a New System That will actually support us on this earth or have they accepted the current system and simply have created Their Life and are now set/locked into their “Life”…Working their job, going on holiday, buying products, buying a house, setting themselves up in the current system so that they can functionally exist until they Die.

So many simply live in this system, and have no idea how it is created or how they contribute to this creation. They have simply accepted the general layout and structure of things and attempt to make it work for them the best they can.

I see that nothing will ever change if we as individuals do nothing to change it. I would suggest to have a look at your expression/ participation in your day to day living, and ask yourself “where are you going with this” ask yourself “what will this lead to” What are we doing here. What is the point of existing – To exist within a closed cycle within the current system until we are dead?

Are we happy with how the System Currently Function?

Happy with millions of people starving to death

Happy with slave labour

Happy with working a job we don’t even like because its “all that’s available”

Happy to have “the weekend”  2 days a week where we are  apparently “free” from our lives/responsibilities.

Happy to always struggle with, fight with and fear money.

Happy to give up our hobbies and what we really enjoy doing as self expression because we must dedicate more time “making money”

Happy to live in a world which we are constantly trying to escape.

That is the current life that we have accepted and allowed ourselves to live.

Lets Rather Create a World that we do not want to escape from = Common Sense.

But are grateful and appreciative to exist within. A world where We want to be Here.

The longer we wait, The longer we wait.

Every moment is a moment to take physical practical direction in bringing forth a new world, a new system.

For more information with regards to understanding how to Re-Create Yourself please visit the Desteni Website

desteni.co.za

Desteni also offer a comprehensive course which practically assist one to begin the process of self creation/transformation where one will discover/learn/ become aware of how one actually “create” themselves and this world, thus providing a practical foundation for one to be able to in fact support the creation of a World and a Self that is Best for ALL.

Desteniiprocess.com

One is also able to Support the Emergence of a New System based on the principle of “What is Best For ALL” by purchasing exclusive products such as Books, Interviews, Music available at the Equality Store.

http://store.desteni.org/

 Featured Products at Equality Store

It’s becoming a home more than a just a place that I help out.

All the animals are such family.

The dogs we have here at the moment are such distinct personalities.
There are the 6 Tibetan Terriers all of whom roam around in the back kennels as if they were a family.
Wombat is the most adventurous of them all. Such a brave man to be speaking for the pack in receiving his first bout of human affection and camaraderie. He’ll even eat something out of my hand. Considering they bit Emma and I when catching them for their health check – they have come a long way in accepting human companionship.

I relate to a quote I read recently in “Free the Animals” by Ingrid Newkirk – Something about animals being different nations, exhibiting different behavioral patterns and languages that we are yet to understand.

To me this rings true as I see animals more and more on the equal and less and less as me being the superior.

It is easy to get wound up in ego thinking and saying, I am superior. But real language and real communication can only be effectively reciprocated between equals. And I think this is one reason why we have lost our ability to effectively communicate with our environment and our world – because we think we are better than it and we think that it is at our disposal.

Nature has been showing unconditional love for a while. It’s about time she plays our fire back at us.

Back to the dogs.

We have Tess. Such a playful puppy who was a major demodectic mange sufferer. She is always so loving and always waiting to give you a gentle hug when you walk in the door or the gate or wherever – she is there.

There is Roley. The Shar-Pei X puppy left over from a litter that has otherwise been successfully readopted. He follows me everywhere and lets me know he’d prefer being on my lap than watching me brush cut the front garden.

Amber – A former australian champion as a puppy. She was confined to a metal pen in local kennels for the rest of her life until she was rescued and now she lives with us. I have seen a video of where she came from and I now understand why she acts the way she does. She is always so cautious but so gentle. An all round beautiful dog. She will scout the house when let in and then lay down next to me. Her presence is that of a wounded animal – but emotionally wounded. Her playful streak comes out sometimes when in with the other dogs.

Tess and Roley are playing with each other next to me while I write this. Tess is much older (a few months) than Roley (6 weeks or so) but regardless of the size difference Tess still shows a genuine gentleness even when playing. She’s happy to entertain the puppy as though an older sibling. Tess just jumped up on my lap to let me know I was writing about her. It’s so funny how animals can tell.

I currently have George on my lap giving me a cuddle. He and his brother Dudley came here last week. Brought by someone claiming to have found them somewhere. We were suspect, but just the same, happy to have the dogs out of harms way. They are a lovely pair who enjoy cuddles and trust each other immensely. When one barks the other does also. George is quite dark with a white streak and Dudley has black and tan on him.

There there is Alfie and Spud. Two characters of the farm who have been here for a while and it has been said they are just like the naughty kids in class – always getting out of fences and always running away. They love to help me work outside and lie in hay while I talk to them.

Spud is quite lively and takes a little getting used to. He settles after a while and then sits on my lap with utter exhaustion.

Alfie always jumps up on my lap any moment he gets and licks me in the face constantly. Looking at me with such an affectionate gaze I can’t but resist to pat the little bugger. He sleeps in my room when he is out roaming in the farm and surrounds.

Then there is Minnie – she was rescued from a puppy farm in Victoria. She is a little Shnauzer who loves to sit on your belly when lieing down and cuddle up. She also loves to eat – a lot. Thus I have been asked to keep the feeding program steady when she is around. “Pull in the reins on that belly, Minnie.” She gets real big as Shnauzers do if unwatched with a plateful of food.

There are five greyhounds. All of which have their own personalities – Matilda, Jake, Benjy, Rosie and Daisy and don’t forget Olive the Whippet.

Matilda is very playful and wants to party all night long. Sometimes waking us all up with a bark to wake someone else up to play at 5 in the morning!

Jake is a gentle giant and loves to keep his distance and then respectfully come in for a pat. As is Benjy but Benjy is much more of a gentleman and acts like a 70 year old man.

Rosie is so sweet. She pokes her tongue out at you and looks like a real model. Graceful and loves to run.

Daisy and Olive are house dogs who have been here for a while. Daisy is the world’s laziest dog in the world. Every now and then she wakes up for a play and love a huggle.

Olive follows me into the toilet to sit next to me while I relieve myself for the purpose of companionship in this period of being a human.

There is Raffy – he was going to be euthanized. He is a pure bred golden retriever puppy that has been diagnosed with blindness. Yet his attentiveness to words and smells is beyond the ability of many of the other dogs. His little eyes are pale blue. The rest of his litter was sold by the breeder.

This is just a few…

There are also other animals!

There are cheeky goats. One goat, Garratt, in particular screams “Help” “Help” all the time (at least that’s what it sounds like) and when I turn around he is doing something wacky like standing on a box or looking out of the hay shed – as if to say, I’ve been naughty give me attention.

The roosters have so much verbrato in their crowings that on a sunny day the valley echos with their calls and I swear it sounds like a man screaming. I have been caught more than once lifting my head thinking it was, and then realising it most definitely wasn’t.

There’s the cows. One particular is Bubby – he loves a hug. Once Esther got out of the cow paddock and was roaming around. Bubby was calling for something I didn’t know what and then Esther came towards him and touched noses and that was what Bubba was doing – getting his friend back.

There’s the pigs. Of which they have found a most ingenious way of getting wherever they want. Saying, “We won’t be fenced in.” I have already spent hours reinforcing pig fencing but to not much avail – they go where they want.

There’s the ponies. A foal, Daisy, which is in the herd here at Brightside comes up to me when I am crouching down and asks for a pat but when I stand the foal gets scared and does not recognise me for a second. It has slowly built up the confidence to come up to me when I am standing and when I am near the fence where it eats hay in the barn she comes close for a gentle massage of her neck.

We all thrive on touch and love. Animals are equal on this. Human animal and animal animal. No difference.

Here’s a little video clip I took and edited to show you some life in the barn on a Wednesday morning.

An interesting experience happened at work today. This morning as we turned the horses out to their stables I was walking this one horse through this section where there was a cord which the horse and I required to walk over on the way to the stable.

I noticed the cord the day before and saw that it was definitely a hazard which would cause problems if a horse where to get tangled in it.

It simply was a basic point which was not being directed which create an unsafe environment for the animals.

I mean they are quite relaxed on the farm with regards to the care of the horse which is cool in one respect though this also turn into a form a abuse where points within the environment are being neglected. So a point for myself here to see the difference between “being relaxed” and “neglecting ones surroundings” and simply to not accept and allow a merging of the two points where “being relaxed” actually become overlooked for what it is really standing as. Meaning when this turns into a form of neglect must be stopped and not accepted or allowed. Clarity and Specificity are required Here. And are required within this world to actually push ourselves to move towards a more effective human.

Anyways I saw this “cord point” but did not fix it as we were busy with other things, as well as the fact that “ I am new” and have no right to say what I think should be done (self defined belief). Now what I mean by this, is I noticed this point coming up within myself quite a bit where because I am simply learning how everything thing works their, that I can simply not assume that things should be this way or that if I do not have the entire picture. But have noticed many points coming up within regards to points within the environment which are simply not being considered from the perspective of actually creating a safe environment for the animals. Yes the animals are smart and are capable of looking out from themselves, however one of these points which I in a way “allowed within the environment under the idea that I am “still new and is better to not suggest or say anything”  actually today caused quite a disturbance.

As I walked the horse through the area where the cord was, only seconds before I attempted to adjust the cord temporarily so that it would not get hooked up with the horse…as I walked the horse over the cord, sure enough his foot caught the edge of the cord and spooked the horse a bit, then the cord got even more hooked up in the legs of the horse and he totally freaked, and reared up, and then proceeded to drag me around 6 or 8 feet as I simply slid across the gravel on my shoes attempted to stabilize the horse, after a few moments of frantic flailing about the horse settled down, breathing heavily through his nose afterwards he walked with me to his stable and I let him in. This could have been avoided and basically by allowing this cord point I also tacitly allowed and supported this experience that the horse when through, not actually considering the implications that this have on the horse, other possible outflows/consequences of such neglect

So this was an interesting point because here was a practical point which I saw in the environment which is “not cool” for the horses, yet I let it slide, I did not take responsibility for the point but rather, allowed the responsibility to be abdicated to “those in charge” like a kind of “this is their stable, who am I to tell them how to go about it” And the result was a completely unnecessary experience which could have actually injured myself or the horse.

This event illustrating still How I am simply allowing the current system in place to be the dominant system and am not yet standing up as an authority and taking responsibility for what is here.

So here I see that I am still holding back in actually expressing points and taking responsibility for points which I see, and simply standing by the fact that it is not acceptable anymore within this reality to allow such points.

Abuse has become so accepted in our world that we do not even realize anymore that we are abusing. And so I see this point as well, where its not a matter of who is right or wrong, and I to judge is unacceptable from the perspective of seeing many points that must be directed – I mean a few years ago I would not have even noticed and actually this kind of consideration had to be pointed out to me also, so understand how these points can simply not be seen as “important” by beings in this world.

So a re-education process is required.

So the environment is quite cool actually to be able to express myself within practically directing myself to create a safe, stable environment for the Animals. But just wanted to write about that one point which occurred today.

So I have had many of these experiences so far of really at this point, allowing myself to be shown how they do things, even if it is not necessarily how I would do it from the perspective of ensuring the point is directed absolute, but I will compromise myself within these moments and “let it slide” because that’s what they do, and I mean who am I to change things.

This is exactly the point I was writing about a few posts ago about accepting and status quo and just going with what is the established way of doing things, and in a way being to afraid to actually challenge the status quo out of fear of causing friction.

I mean overall the place is pretty cool, it is simply just in some moments there are points not being considered which I can see, so its cool, I simply have the opportunity to bring these points into awareness just the same as they were done for me.

But obviously not to wait on this because today’s experience with the horse showed me that these points that I am seeing are in fact valid.

So from this perspective “give to another what I would want to receive”

And explore the point of equality and how I can bring this point to the table so to speak in way which is not being considered.

It will be a long process because fuck, these horses are in small little pens with no grass, some are in nice big field but also some small pens

I wouldn’t want to live in those pens.

Pretty Cool though to see how an equal money system will actually free the animals so to speak, where the conditions where animals lived will no longer be based on making money so will not have to be subjected to these bull shit conditions of enslavement imposed upon them from an ignorant inconsiderate humanity, that see animals as for there own personal gains, not as equals to be treated as such and be free in the exact same way as humans.

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to give permission to this system of abuse that is currently here have president and authority simply because it is here.

I forgive myself that I haven’t allowed myself to actually stand up for life and what is best for all and actually start to walk this process within my immediate environment.

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to support this current system of abuse and self interest instead of what is best for all.

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to fear standing up and saying something out of fear of friction.

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to fear I will be met with resistance and not then know what to say.

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to hold back in speaking out of fear of being yelled at or argued with where in my point will not be herd and I will end up feeling embarrassed.

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed fear to be my god, my authority, and that which I use to direct the choices and decisions I make and words I speak and do not speak.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to simply merge into what is here as this current system instead of actually standing up and not more accepting and allowing myself to “go along with it” because I do not want to “disrupt or upset” someones world.

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to consider other peoples worlds from the perspective of not wanting to cause ripples in other peoples perfect worlds, even if those worlds are not what is best for all. And within this I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to support self interest instead of what is best for all.

I forgive myself that I have accepted and allowed myself to simply go along with this world, out of fear of setting off other peoples egos.

Igualdad Animal eller Animal Equality har de siste årene blitt en markant abolisjonistisk dyrerettighetsorganisasjon med sete i Spania. Det er en internasjonal organisasjon for avskaffelse av dyreslaveriet.

Igualdad Animal er mest aktiv i Madrid men har også hatt mange markeringer i Barcelona, Seville, Huelva, Caracas, Lima og Bogota. De har også noe aktivitet i latinamerikanske land som Peru, Venezuela og Colombia.

President og talskvinnen Sharon Nunez forteller at de i Madrid har fem aksjoner i uken hvor de fronter veganisme. De har også aksjonert mot tyrefekting, bruk av dyr til underholdning, jakt, fisking og selfangt. De er mye i mediebilde, spesielt i forbindelse med film og billedmateriale de publiserer fra slaktehus, gårder og andre steder dyr utnyttes. Sivil ulydighetsaksjoner som åpne frigjøringer av dyr har de også utført.

Animal Voices Radio intervjuet Sharon Nunez i et program fra februar, det kan høres her.

Igualdad Animal ble stiftet i 2006 av Sharon Nunez, Javier Moreno og Jose Valle. De hadde vært aktiv i andre dyrerettighetsorienterte organisasjoner men følte ikke det var rom for deres abolisjonistiske oppfatninger. Påvirket av abolisjonistisk dyrerettighetsteori og teoretikere som Gary L. Francione og Joan Dunayer stiftet de Igualdad Animal. Navnet er inspirert av boken Animal Equality av Joan Dunayer og uttrykker deres kjernefilosofi om at dyr er likestilte og at speciesisme må bekjempes på linje med rasisme og sexisme.

Igualdad Animal arbeider for anerkjennelse av dyrs rettigheter ved å opplyse offentligheten om dyreutnytting, speciesisme og veganisme. Det er en abolisjonistisk organisasjon i den forstand at den utelukkende fokuserer på abolisjon, på at dyr har rett til frihet og at dyreutnytting må avskaffes. De støtter derfor ikke noen dyrevelferdsreformer, eller andre dyrerettighetsgrupper som gjør det.

Nunez hevder at historien til dyrevernbevegelsen har bevist at forsøke på å “humanisere” utnyttingsformene dyr lider og dør under, i det lange løp, kun bidrar til å legitimere og skape enda mer utnytting, lidelse og død. Anti-speciesistiske abolisjonistisk opplysningsarbeid går i steden til ondets rot, ved å dekonstruere menneskets legitimitet til å dominere og bruke dyr i det hele tatt. Nunez kan fortelle om mye positivt respons fra folk og at det er lettere å overbevise folk til å bli veganere enn det mange tror.