|
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
|
|
|
|
Temp:
|
-4°C
|
|
Feels like:
|
-4°C
|
|
Humidity:
|
N/A%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Animal activists completely out to lunch |
|
|
|
Written by KATHI TRAVERS
|
|
Sunday, 10 August 2008 |
It was shocking to read the gory details of the recent brutal murder of Tim McLean, a young passenger riding the bus from Edmonton to Winnipeg.
Then, just as I put those pictures out of my mind, PETA comes along and figures this is the perfect opportunity for them to do their schlock grandstanding to promote the vegetarian lifestyle.
Thye dare to compare the slaughter of this young man to the slaughter of animals.
I have nothing against those who prefer a vegetarian lifestyle. I respect my dearest friends such as Valerie, Kelli, Vanessa and Lorie who are vegetarians. However, what can one expect from an organization whose trademark is sensationalism of the worst kind in order to promote that and the vegan lifestyle?
According to the many past messages of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), every time we sit down to chicken dinner we are aiding and abetting the moral equivalent of Nazis murdering Jews in concentration camps.
Why is PETA not more sensitive in their approach to work for change with respect to animal welfare and even animal rights?
It can be explained with this view of Ingrid Newkirk, founder of PETA: “There is no rational basis for saying that a human being has special rights. A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. They’re all mammals.”
The animal welfare philosophy, on the other hand, is fundamentally different from the animal rights philosophy.
It promotes responsible use of animals to accommodate many human needs, not unlike the way non-human animals use other animals. So, some animals are carnivores and others eat only vegetation. Animal welfare means ensuring that all animals used by humans have their basic needs fulfilled in terms of food, shelter and health, and that they experience no unnecessary suffering.
Leadership by example is a credo I try to live by. In this case, I would then have to assume that if you wish animals to be treated “ethically” as the acronym PETA states, the best way to start is to treat people ethically.†
Is PETA doing that? I do not think so!
To me, to be continually opportunistic with events which cause others to grieve, to belittle the Holocaust by comparing it to chicken farmers and their chickens, does nothing to further the cause of ensuring that animals do not suffer.
Many of the practices we have, with respect to the welfare of farm animals, domestic animals and other controlled human-to-animal interfaces, have not been changed because of PETA, but in spite of PETA, by people who not only care, but are interested in “getting their hands dirty” in order to effect change.
The B.C. SPCA has made major breakthroughs in the area of farm-animal welfare. Geoff Yurton and his team have worked feverishly and have major accomplishments without ever using the extremes that PETA continually uses. The B.C. SPCA is an animal-welfare organization. They save animals by practicing welfare not sensationalism.
n On another note: I was made aware the Comox Valley Echo, in their Friday newspaper column entitled Beefs & Bouquets, made the following comment. “A BEEF to some dog owners. The only place a dog should be seen, other than inside a fenced yard, is on a leash, or on a menu.”
The paper which boasts it has the “Comox Valley’s First and Best Readers’ Forum” ought to be ashamed of themselves. What an insensitive statement to make! First and best?†
Certainly not in this columnist’s eyes.
n My deepest sympathies go out to Bob and Louise Beatch who’s dear sweet Muffy received her wings. We know that all dogs go to heaven. I am not the most religious person in the world but I do believe that our pets are gifts from God. Remember what Dog spelled backwards is.
 |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 10 August 2008 )
|
|
|
Who's Online
We have 233 guests and 17 members online
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
One good thing about PETA, though, is the lesson learned of what a lobby group should NOT do when voicing opinions to the general public!