Tragic whaling, hypocritical outrage

Controversy has recently been sparked over the return of commercial whale hunting in Iceland for the first time in 20 years, thus breaking a ban imposed in 1985. The media attention and resulting outrage given this situation have both been extraordinary. Such an intense reaction is extremely hypocritical given our apathy, ignorance and facilitation of the millions of animals who suffer not only a far worse death but also a far worse life than this whale on a daily basis for our benefit. Perhaps it is the extreme visibility of a whale hunt that makes it so easy to protest. Seeing a gentle giant slowly harpooned to death gives us all an opportunity to express our disgust and display our own compassion as concerned human beings for the welfare of animals. However, what we choose to ignore is a far greater crime: the millions of animals suffering behind closed doors without the media spotlight exposing their misery. It is ironic that so many of us claim to be against animal cruelty, since it is our own actions which facilitate the hellish life and death of an animal raised in a factory farm. For most people there is a detachment between the food they see in the grocery store and the animals from which it came. Meat in particular is carefully marketed and packaged so as to ensure this disconnection persists. However, there are also people who recognize precisely what they are eating yet have a misconception of where it came from. Many people think animals are raised on traditional farms and are allowed to live out the same natural existence that a wild whale would enjoy in the ocean. Sadly, these farms are now the minority and corporate factory farms have become the norm.

I am sure most people have heard of factory farming by now. It is the method of using economies of scale to produce the highest output at the lowest cost in agricultural production. From a business standpoint this makes perfect sense, however the key element left out of this equation is that animals cannot be treated the same as a product on an assembly line. And while companies may have lowered their monetary costs , the negative repercussions on the animals, humans and the environment have far exceeded any of the perceived benefits.

Chickens, pigs, and cows are crowded into confined spaces many of them never seeing natural sunlight. This unnatural setting causes many of them to become aggressive. Chickens are particularly prone to violence and many are de-beaked without anaesthesia to prevent them from pecking each other to death. Living in these conditions causes many animals to become ill, thus a preventative barrage of antibiotics are pumped into their food. In addition to these drugs the food is also largely comprised of animal by-products, thus animals who are natural born herbivores now consume the remnants of other animals. No wonder they need antibiotics.

It is also important to factory farms to ensure that the animals grow as large as possible as quickly as possible. For this end, growth hormones are administered. These hormones allow animals to grow abnormally quickly oftentimes rendering the animal immobile or unable to even stand up; not that they have adequate room to do so even if they could.

If the treatment of these animals does not disturb you, then perhaps concern for yourself will. The cannibalistic feeding practices of factory farms have been linked to causing mad cow disease. Furthermore, the antibiotics and growth hormones in the animals end up in us and can wreak havoc on our own bodies when we ingest them.

I am not suggesting by any means, that everyone needs to become a vegan or even a vegetarian to stop this barbaric practice. Rather, make intelligent informed choices, support traditional farmers and not factory farms. Choosing free range and organic eggs, meats and dairy whenever possible is the best way to send the message to these farms to put an end to this torture. We live in a free market economy. where you as the consumer have the greatest power of all to affect change and make a difference. These practices will only continue so long as we continue to facilitate their existence. The whale in Iceland at least got to live a dignified, natural life before its death. We owe farm animals the same. Eating meat does not have to equate torture.

For more information on factory farming and what you can do to stop it please visit:
www.themeatrix.com