This is an addendum to my previous posting regarding the Yulin Dog Meat Eating Festival, and the comparisons I drew with the food production industry that uses 'farm animals'. The accuracy of some of my comparison has been challenged, so I thought I'd just clear the matter up for those who fail to see the similarity.
Be warned, if you're not aware of what goes on at either of these killing venues, you may find the contents upsetting.
Yulin
The Yulin Festival began in the 1990s although there are countless others all over the Far East, some reportedly dating back 600 years and more. It is documented fact, supported by substantial photographic evidence and multiple eye witness accounts that at the Yulin Festival dogs are:
Chased, trapped, cornered or even kidnapped. They have a chance to escape but pursuit of them is relentless.
Forced into crates by having strangulating wires hooked around their necks and lifted off the ground, choking as they do so.
Transported in those crates packed so tightly there is no room to move.
Left awaiting their fate, terrified, for hours on end.
Hit over the head with a hammer (smashing their skulls) to stop them struggling but leave them alive because then 'the meat tastes better.
Hung up with hooks through their flesh whilst still alive.
Skinned whilst still alive.
It is particularly heart rending to learn that some dogs are still wagging their tails when they are slaughtered.
They cry pitifully as if pleading for their lives, and constantly try to escape.
They are savagely beaten by the slaughterers if they show the slightest lack of cooperation.
There is no 'need' for these Festivals other than that they are traditional and acceptable in Far Eastern cultures. Production of other foodstuffs in China is sufficient to negate eating dogs (or any other animal) as a requirement for subsistence.
Slaughterhouses
According to Wikipedia, farm animal slaughter houses emerged as a coherent institution in the nineteenth century. It is documented fact, supported by substantial photographic and video evidence, and countless eye witness accounts that animals taken to slaughterhouses are:
Rounded up with no chance to escape.
Forced into transporters using electrified cattle prods, kicking and beating.
Transported in vehicles packed so tightly there is no room to move.
Left awaiting their fate, terrified, for hours on end.
Have retractable bolts shot into their skulls so as to stun them and stop them struggling but leave them alive because then 'the meat tastes better and fresher'.
Hung up with hooks through their flesh whilst still alive.
Skinned whilst still alive.
Would you be surprised to learn that they literally scream as if pleading for their lives and constantly try to escape?
They are routinely tortured by the slaughterers, including having their eyes poked out, legs broken and parts hacked off them. Other actions are simply too obscene to mention. There are many prosecutions brought against slaughterhouse workers that amply evidence this torture. They are reported as being 'the tip of the iceberg'.
There is no 'need' for these slaughterhouses other than that they are traditional and acceptable in all cultures. Production of other foodstuffs worldwide could easily be sufficient to negate eating animals as a requirement for subsistence.
Now try telling me that my comparison is unfair. Yulin is evil and not remotely acceptable in the 21st Century. Slaughterhouses are no better. Maybe even worse. If you find Yulin is deplorable, how can slaughterhouses be OK? Why is the horrific treatment and eating of dogs intolerable and the horrific treatment and eating of other sentient beings justifiable? Why do we reserve our compassion for some species and not extend it to others? Have you really challenged yourself to find an answer?
For most of us, it's probably easiest to fall back on that old argument of "There's nothing I can do about it." But deep down we know it's lame, it's empty, and frankly, it's bullshit. The simple truth is that we don't care enough to take personal action. If we did, we wouldn't accept that we are powerless. We would seize the power that is available to us in our own behaviours, actions, thoughts and words. We would lead by example. We would no longer eat meat. We would seek to persuade those over whom we have influence. We would vocalise at every opportunity the wrong that is being done in the world.
But just one final thing. Please don't think it's OK to use that ridiculous excuse that some creatures were put here by God for us to eat. I know that's a nonsense.