Animal Voice Supporters Print E-mail
Thursday, 09 August 2007

Animal Voice Supporters urge DG of Agriculture to phase out sow stalls

Dr Felix Schneier“Dear Mr Mbongwa,

You and I have been blessed with being born on the African Continent. It is a continent which has suffered colonial exploitations, intolerance and inhumanity for many hundreds of years... “Surely we in South Africa should try to make this continent a more humane place.

“Would it not be a wonderful gesture for our Department of Agriculture to do everything possible to see that animals are treated in a humane manner.

Dr Felix Schneier, Specialist Physician, Johannesburg

Pigs and chickens will not receive the Second and Fifth Freedom according to the new draft Animal Care and Protection policy. There will be...NO phase-out of battery cages...NO phase-out of sow stalls for pigs... and NO acknowledgement of animals as ‘sentient beings’. Read more.

Marlise Richter“Dear Mr Mbongwa,

It is with alarm that I have noted that the Department of Agriculture is not planning to prohibit the use of gestation crates for pigs. This is an immensely cruel and inhumane method of breeding pigs for human consumption, and I would appeal to the Department to urgently ban this practice.

“South Africa prides itself on its commitment to ubuntu, respect and empathy. I believe that in creating a legislative environment for cruel-free, non-violent and humane farming, our society and the environment will benefit tremendously and be true to the values enshrined in our Constitution.

Marlise Richter, PhD Candidate, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand

CONFRONTING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
> A kilogram of beef causes more greenhouse gas and other pollution than driving for 3 hours while leaving all the lights on back home. - Japanese study, New Scientist, August 2007
> Organic beef produces 40% less greenhouse gases and consumes 85% less energy because the animals are raised on grass rather than concentrated grain feed. - Swedish study, 2003, Animal Science Journal
> Globally, 3.9 billion mammals are used for food annually. - (WSPA 2006)
> Globally, 55 billion poultry are used for food annually. - (WSPA 2006)

Helen Lombard“Dear Mr Mbongwa, How arrogant is it of us to assume that, just because they are not the same species as we are, animals do not experience frustration, torment, pain and sadness?

“The only difference between them and us is that they cannot voice their pain and suffering, therefore we are able to fool ourselves into denying that it exists...

“If there is anyone out there who denies that animals have feelings, let them explain why it is that an animal immediately responds to warmth and kindness just as people do; where is the difference?"

Helen Lombard, caring consumer, Parklands

 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]

Water Footprint

On World Water Day (22nd March) and on every other day, for that matter, we need to remember that meat-eating carries a giant water footprint.
Did you know? It takes 13 million litres of water to raise and convert one cow or ox into meat!
Did you know? To produce one portion of beef (250g) requires the same amount of drinking water that one person needs (at one litre a day) for 34 years of life!
For further info, go to: http://www.waterfootprint.org/