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Free Speech Photo of the Week
(Oct. 6, 2007)
Animal rights activist Harmony Qura lays spattered with fake blood in a giant meat tray during a protest on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 2, 2007. Oct. 4-10 is World Farm Animals week and activists around the world are demonstrating to put an end to animal suffering at factory farms and slaughterhouses. Reuters photo: Jason Reed |
Factory Farms Spread to Third World
Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007
In Paris, women dressed as minks and wild cats called for an end to the fur trade.
In Brazil, volunteers showed visitors how a humane farm is operated.
And in Washington, D.C. Harmony Qura transformed herself into packaged meat in an attempt to get people's attention about the ethical price of animal protein.
These demonstrations were part of the World Farm Animals week. All sorts of animal rights groups are participating. Some want people to become vegetarian or vegan. Some want more laws passed to treat livestock more humanely. Some want an end to factory farming where animals are kept in tight spaces and treated with growth hormones and antibiotics.
But the world-wide trend is that more fish, cows, pigs and chickens are being raised in factory farms. The simple reason is because more people in the developing world are eating more meat. That's especially true in China, where a booming economy means people with disposable income want to treat themselves to more meat.
Worldwide, meat production is growing by about 2-percent annually. In 2005, farmers produced 265 million metric tons of meat, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. That's a tough number to understand, so take a look at the graphic below:
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Worldwide Animal Slaughter
Sources: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and U.S. Navy Graphic by Joshua B. Good |
The spread of factory farms is not only bad for animals, it's bad for people, says Barbara Castleman, the U.S. spokeswoman for the World Society for the Protection of Animals.
Castleman says when factory farms move into poor countries, poor family farmers can't compete and go out of business. Her group tries to convince officials in developing countries to support small farmers who traditionally use more humane farming methods, such as letting chickens, cows, goats and other animals to range more freely. Small farmers also sell their meat closer to home, which both reduces the use of fossil fuels to transport livestock and keeps animals from making long journeys to a distant slaughterhouse.
Her group came up with a list of 10 ways people can help reduce animal suffering. The recommendations are:
1. Help reduce the population of unwanted animals by spaying or neutering your pet and picking an animal from a shelter.
2. Report animal cruelty.
3. Live in harmony with wild animals by keeping cats indoors, feeding pets indoors and reducing the use of pesticides.
4. Choose free-range chicken and beef and eat more fruits and vegetables.
5. Buy products you are sure have not been tested on animals.
6. Reduce waste, such as paper napkins, recycle and reuse plastic bags when you shop at the grocery store.
7. When on vacation don't support businesses that exploit animals.
8. Don't visit marine parks, zoos or theme parks that keep wild animals in captivity.
9. Prepare for a disaster by having ID tags for your pets and taking them with you if you evacuate.
10. Support the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations.
More info at: http://www.animalsmatterusa.org
