Hardly a day goes by without another gruesome story of cruel atrocities against animals. The latest revelations
(don't click this link if you're squeamish) about the horrific
suffering inflicted on animals transported live huge distances in tiny
cramped stifling hot spaces without food or water (they have to be
alive when slaughtered to conform to the grotesque, painful,
ritualistic slaughtering standards of the world's fastest-growing
religions) come as no surprise to animal welfare activists.
Massive,
monstrous factory farms that reduce living, feeling creatures to milk
and meat machines, in lifelong misery and suffering. Slaughterhouses
whose activities are so heartless and barbaric that a single visit can
leave you traumatized for life. Testing labs that profit by torturing
animals because it's cheaper than other methods of demonstrating
product safety. Puppy mills (many run by 'quaint' religious groups)
that breed sickly animals non-stop under unimaginably dreadful
conditions, just for profit. And some of the animal cruelty designed to
procure organs, tusks and other parts from (often endangered) species
as quack cures and health enhancers defies description. It just goes on
and on.
Regular readers know that I've largely given up on
political solutions to complex problems. There is just too much money
greasing too many greedy political palms to ever permit the passage and
enforcement of any kind of reasonable animal welfare regulations. So
what can we do?
First, we can refuse to buy the products of
companies that profit from animal cruelty. Become a vegetarian or a
vegan. If you can't do that, buy only locally-produced,
free-range meats from small farms whose owners you know personally.
It's good for the local economy, for your health, and for the animals.
And boycott farms that produce, and restaurants that serve, meats from
confined milk-only-diet baby animals (e.g. veal).
When you buy
health, personal and chemical products, buy only those clearly
certified as not tested on animals. The standards are poor,
inconsistent and sloppily regulated, but they're a start. Or make your
own products from simple natural ingredients (saves money too).
Never
buy animals from puppy mills or pet stores. If you are looking for a
pet, please select one from an animal shelter. And make sure it's
neutered. If you choose a cat, please do the birds a favour and keep it
indoors. And please don't keep animals caged in small spaces or tied
up. Confinement is crueler than pain.
We'll never get the laws
changed, or the religious practices changed. People have been trying to
reform animal cruelty laws and religious practices for centuries, with
virtually no success. Of course we should keep trying, and identify and
vote for candidates who take no money from Big Agribusiness or Big
Pharma. But political activism will never be enough.
What we can
do is starve the organizations that profit from animal cruelty --
factory farms, slaughterhouses, Big Agribusiness and Big Pharma, pet
stores, fur merchants, irresponsible restaurants, cosmetic, health
product, personal care and chemical companies, and transportation
companies that ship live animals.
Only when enough of us buy
intelligently (or, more accurately, stop buying ignorantly) will we
have enough of an effect to make animal cruelty unprofitable. And only
when it becomes unprofitable will it stop.
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MADE IN CANADA
trust your
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