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A "MAKE-BELIEVE" ANIMAL LOVING NATION A special LGVN feature through Looking-Glass / VeggieGlobal by John O'Donnell A web of moral double standards entangles the conscience of an "animal loving" UK. From the effects of Foot and Mouth Disease to the appalling treatment of animals used for sports in Britain and Ireland. And in-between this, the fluffy-bunny mentality, which somehow seems to make all other extremes of consumer based animal cruelty socially acceptable. The UK and the USA display a high level of animal compassion, more than most countries and particularly enhanced by the media's portrayal of western society as a fluffy-bunny culture. But it could be argued that animal cruelty is as rife in the suburbs of London as elsewhere around the globe. It all depends on how each culture quantifies its view of the mistreatment of animals. The British, in their usual regimented determination to make a square fit a circle, will question and collate statistics for referral and debate. And so, on the surface it appears that they are doing all they can to alleviate the suffering of animals. But underneath, a story of undulating hypocrisy emerges. The demographics
collected through the subscriber forms of Looking-Glass and VeggieGlobal
provides an interesting insight of how the Brits view their own levels
of compassion. A meat-eater with
a conscience, who is truly honest about his relationship with animals
should realistically click "2 - Sometimes compassionate". In the middle of
August 2001 British television reported that consumers where back in
the butchers to buy meat by the kilo… Any animal "compassionate"
will remember that the entire handling of the Foot and Mouth crisis
in the UK was an insane, criminal sham right from the start. To top it all during the post Foot and Mouth crisis, the large percentage of the UK population who appear to be suffering from gnat-brain-itis, i.e. anyone who gets off on TV's Big Brother, could then replenish their sadly impaired taste in culture and entertainment, by voting to kill a pig via a website called "Pig Brother". All of this to support British farmers. Every culture on Earth
displays social characteristics in very different ways. On the surface,
the effects of one culture's non-compassionate and non-humanitarian policies
can present dramatic displays of cruelty and ignorance. But below the
surface, is there that much difference between the on-the-surface actions
of an "undereducated" culture and the glossy policies an "educated" westernised
society? To some extent, perhaps the only difference is that the west
can afford to package "compassion" into a social lifestyle,
whilst shifting the goalposts to suit government self-interests. Much of the sentiment
found in the western world towards animals is nothing more than cosmetic
endearment. In some circumstances, even the subject of pet ownership raises
questions about the psychological purpose of a human / pet relationship.
With all the arguments of this article taken into account, this is why countries like Britain etc., react more passionately to TV shows that depict domestic animal death and mistreatment rather than the human equivalent. It is a culture-based, almost "programmed" response on the domestic level - and for meat-eaters it's also a subliminal "conscience-based" response to appease their culturally programmed hypocrisy - as to why they'll eat bacon - but they won't eat "Babe" (the baby pig from the movie). As someone who has
worked so extensively within animal welfare - from bloody hands while
saving them to authoring websites about them, I've acquired - over years
- a different perspective as to how I view animals depicted either fictionally
in entertainment or factually in TV documentaries. I don't turn away when
I see a dog die on an operating table during "Animal Hospital"
- I even laugh along (although with slight discomfort) at the bizarre
and unfeasibly surreal situations dead animals are represented in programmes
like 'Monty Python' and 'One Foot in the Grave'. However, it should also be said that generally, the British do engage in a more humanised interaction with their animals. As mentioned, like many western cultures, the UK generally aquire pets for ornamental value as well as companionship. But at least the animals stand more chance of a non-abused life. Whereby much of Eastern / Southern Europe and South America ... particularly Brazil, use cats and dogs for nothing more than rat catchers or guards. Dogs are confined in appaling conditions, while cats are similarly treated with complete disregard. Unwanted kittens and puppies are generally tied up alive in carrier bags and thrown in dustbins or rivers. In the regions of South East Asia, China etc, dogs and cats are exterminated as nothing more than vermin - or else caught and eaten or skinned (sometimes while still alive) for their furs to make cloths or cheap toy animals for children - much of which gets exported back to Europe and the UK disguised with fictitious, exotic fur names so not to upset the fluffy-bunny mindset of the Brits. The British, Americans and some European countries may well cast a sad eye over the poor stray animals that walk the city streets and holiday resorts of the countries mentioned. But the befriended strays, which holiday makers leave behind, face certain death at the end of the season - either through starvation, poisoning or brutal extermination. The suffering of those animals is conveniently forgotten by tourists once back on their home turf ... just another sentimental memory of their holiday. But while there is
open abuse in other world countries, there is "disguised" mistreatment
towards animals in the UK ... and it is widespread. Do we consider a
livestock farmer an animal compassionate? ... Of course not… and farmers
have no right to lay such claims. The treatment of livestock prior - and during slaughter surmounts to one of the most monumental misdemeanours driven by everyday consumer ignorance." Ignorance" as in meaning "ignore the truth about how the chicken, steak, chops or tender duck in the Chinese restaurant travelled from its birth place to the consumer's plate". Livestock animals in their billions world-wide suffer inconceivable pain and suffering during their journey from birth ... to murder. All these activities, where humans require the service of animals for personal consumption or financial gain have no place when compliling the annals of compassionate, harmonic interdependency between life on earth. There are of course
a few sanctuaries around the British counties who try to rescue as many
of the animals as they can for re-homing. In an ideal world animal shelters
wouldn't need to exsist and the quandary in the real world is that sports
animal rescue organisations provide a "conscience easer" for those people
who race the animals for sport … or rear animals for profit. The mistreatment
of animals in all relative sports that cause distress to animals should
simply be stopped in the first place. And finally ...
whilst waving the vegetarian flag ... To
rephrase the "Dog is for life, not just for Christmas" bumper sticker
…. let's open up the phrase a little: John O'Donnell For more about countries
and their treatment towards animals read the major news story For more about animal
care and considerations before owning an animal visit For more about all
aspects of animals, rescue and wildlife conservation visit Find out more about the serious abuse of dogs in the Greyhound racing industry by reading The Annette Crosbie Column here at Looking-Glass and VeggieGlobal. If you are not already a vegetarian but are thinking of becoming one then please visit the VeggieGlobal front page and follow the links to the VeggieGlobal introduction for meat eaters.
This article last updated or added to in: May2002
For more "Environment News " articles please go to the LGVN front page and choose from there. For discussion on these issues see GGL's at VeggieGlobal.com
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