The background sound for the Virtual Battery Cage came from the undercover video “Inside an Egg Factory Farm” from Compassion Over Killing. Turn the sound off this one (bottom right corner) before you watch the one below.
If you care about animal welfare, please consider this perspective on “humane” egg production, from the Faces of Free Range Farming, presented by Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary who asks these two questions:
1. What happens to ALL of the male chicks – not just few token roosters – but ALL of them? Here’s a Hint. More here.
2. What happens to the hens when they are no longer laying enough eggs for this facility to be profitable?
What are you actually paying for at the grocery store? Take a look at the state of “organic” and egg labeling generally from these links:
One of the most unbelievable (as in how can you say that) things that comes up in discussions about vegetarianism, animal rights, etc. is that those are only concerns of urban elites (whatever that’s supposed to actually mean) who “don’t know anything about” animal agriculture and farming etc. I have animal agriculture on both sides of my family – my father was a ‘hog man’ and my husband comes from a family based around his grandfather’s small dairy operation. They can’t run the actual dairy anymore but his grandfather still trucks cattle to slaughter. My brother and sister in-law have worked in slaughter houses. I don’t talk about any of that here.
I’m happy, however, point to other people who “know some things” and who are talking about it. I just found this full documentary about Howard Lyman, author of Mad Cowbow: The Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Wont Eat Meat. I’ve pointed to him before and have to highly recommend this film – it’s in 6 parts here on youtube. Check it out. Here’s part one, click though to see all 6.
“How else are you gonna do it?” That’s from the end of part 4.
One answer is, of course, is that we don’t actually have to do it in the first place. You can get the farming, the dignity of producing food, the closeness to nature without being involved in the hideousness (that is the totality if not just the end game) of most types of animal agriculture. We can get the good without the bad. But we have to want it to be that way. And we have to act, vote, shop, and eat like we give a damn.
The deplorable conditions uncovered at Conklin Dairy Farms highlight the reality that animal agriculture is incapable of self-regulation and that meaningful federal and state laws must be implemented and strengthened to prevent egregious cruelty to farmed animals.
Although many of the abuses documented at Conklin Dairy Farms are sadistic in nature, numerous MFA undercover investigations at dairy farms, pig farms, egg farms, hatcheries and slaughterhouses have revealed that violence and abuse to farmed animals – whether malicious or institutionalized – runs rampant nationwide.
Compassionate consumers can end their direct financial support of farmed animal abuse by rejecting dairy, and other animal products, and adopting a vegan diet.
This should help add some depth to your readings of the clothing/outer covering, clothed in type symbolism.
Click this image to go to a page with the rest of the meat fashion show.
Step 2. The slaughterhouse.
Bring the sacrificial system to life in under two minutes. If you haven’t already, see the completely morally innocent, non-violent creatures die because of our absurdity. What does it mean to worship the lamb that was slaughtered? When you think of the human face of the Lamb on the altar/cross does that make you want to go and create more victims and celebrate their victimhood? Or does it humble you to have to face / image / imagine the the victim you created?
Take a listen. Most of the sources he mentions on my Resources page or in the Library Thing link in the sidebar. When you’re done with these, check out the other videos from the Wake Up Weekend set from the link underneath.
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.” (Prov 12:10)
However men may differ as to speculative points of Religion, JUSTICE is a rule of universal extent and invariable obligation. We acknowledge this important truth in all matters in which MAN is concerned, but then we limit it to our own species only.…To rectify this mistaken notion is the design of this treatise, in which I have endeavored to prove, that as the Love and Mercy of God are over all of his works, from the highest rational to the lowest sensitive, our Love and Mercy are not to be confined within the circle of our own friends, acquaintance, and neighbours; nor limited to the more enlarged sphere of human nature, to creatures of our own rank, shape, and capacity; but are to be extended to every object of the Love and Mercy of GOD the universal Parent; who, as he is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works, will undoubtedly require of Man, superior Man, a strict account of his conduct to every creature entrusted to his care, or coming in his way; and who will avenge every instance of wanton cruelty and oppression, in the day in which he will judge the world in RIGHTEOUSNESS. ~ Humphrey Primatt, 1776
Just came across this lecture by Tom Regan, ”Animal Rights: An Introduction” at the Interdisciplinary Lectures on Animal Rights at Heidelberg in 2006. Tom Regan taught philosophy at NC State until 2001. A timely find after the last post on the issue of dog meat. He opens with a similar story from the prologue of one of his recent books, Empty Cages. He goes on to talk broadly about what animal rights are, about different types of animal rights advocates – or how people come to be animal rights advocates, and about the terminology of moral rights in general. Here’s part one of five, click through to youtube to watch the rest.
The only thing that needs updating is the percent of the population in the US that’s vegetarian … currently it’s more like 3% (of adults). If that’s accurate then there are nearly twice as many vegetarian adults in the US (@ 7 million) as there are members of the NRA (@ 4 million). Interesting. Read more…
If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise with their fellow men. ~ St. Francis of Assisi
