Jain Spirit 2001 06 No 08

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 14

GLOBAL NEWS
Post
Foot and Mouth Washington Epidemic
Condemns Sweeps Britain
Meat Industry
On 10 April the world famous investigative newspaper ran the following cover story: Under a 23-year-old federal law, slaughtered cattle and hogs first must be "stunned" - rendered insensible to pain - with a blow to the head or an electric shock But some plants don't always stun properly, with cruel consequences for animals as well as workers. Enforcement records, interviews, videos and worker affidavits describe repeated
violations of the Humane Slaughter Act at dozens of slaughterhouses, ranging from the smallest, custom butcheries to modern, automated establishments such as the sprawling IBP Inc. plant here where Moreno works. "In plants all over the United States, this happens on a daily basis," said Lester Friedlander, a veterinarian and formerly chief government inspector at a Pennsylvania hamburger plant. "I've seen it happen. And I've talked to other veterinarians. They feel it's out of control.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the treatment of animals in meat plants, but enforcement of the law varies dramatically. While a few plants have been forced to halt production for a few hours because of alleged animal cruelty, such sanctions are rare.
A foot and mouth epidemic has swept the UK and possibly the rest of the world. The disease is spreading uncontrollably. The British government has taken the drastic action of culling in excess of 2,000,000 farm animals in an attempt to try to stop the disease in its tracks. But how could this extreme action take place in a country which is considered to be one of the most civilised nations on the planet?
As with all industries, the agriculture industry is driven by money. A product has to be made as cheaply as possible and has to be sold at the highest possible price to ensure maximum profit. The UK superstores are currently in a "price war" therefore the price of meat has been driven down. This loss of profits then lowers the price of meat bought from farmers, thus forcing them to find more economic ways of rearing livestock. This unfortunately means that many farms use intensive farming methods which are quite frankly appalling. Intensive farming is not only cruel but also extremely unhygienic. Therefore, it shouldn't be a surprise that the agriculture industry lurches from one disaster to the next.
In an attempt to stop the spread of foot and mouth disease the British government has ordered a mass cull of all livestock where there has been a foot and mouth incident. Any livestock which has passed through the infected area must be culled. Any animal within a three-mile radius of an infected area must also be culled. The result: millions of animals slaughtered just because there was a small chance that they would have contracted the disease. You could not escape the image of hundreds of dead cows piled high and set alight in some remote field as shown in the media. Even though vaccination was a possible cure the government dismissed it because it wanted a clean reputation as a quality meat producer and exporter. The murders were committed for profit.
The fundamental issue here is that many people see animals as commodities and not the living souls that they really are. Animals are manufactured, processed and packaged the same way as the other grocery items you would find in a store. It is this attitude that is at the root of all animal mistreatment.
Facts about Meat
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The average cow 20 years ago produced 4,000 litres of milk per year. Now, due to new production methods, the average cow produces 5,800 litres of milk a year. One in five men between 30 and 34 in the USA had arterial plaque, the type of blockage that is responsible for heart attack and stroke. Animal protein, fat and cholesterol are the main contributors to arterial plaque. Animal-related export trade in the UK amounted to more than £lbn in the year 2000. This included trade in meat, live animals and breeding stock. In the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 1922-24, over 250,000 animals were slaughtered. This new epidemic has claimed millions more lives! Number of people is 100 million, who could be fed using the land, water and energy that would be freed up from growing livestock feed if Americans reduced their intake of meat by 10%. Production of excrement by US livestock: 230,000 pounds per second
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MAGNUM
Facts about Vegetarians
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NOTICE NO ADMITUS
FOOT & MOUTH
According to a year 2000 poll, there are 5 million vegetarians in the U.S. and millions more who strive to eat fewer animal products. A National Restaurant Association poll found that one in five diners look for vegetarian meals when eating out. Whether for ethical, environmental, spiritual or health reasons, the trend is clear: more and more people are seeking alternatives to the meat, egg and dairy industries. Cholesterol found in all grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds: None. Dietary cholesterol intake needed to support human health: None - the body makes its own.
June - August 2001. Jain Spirit
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