IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING, YOU DON'T KILL IT.

Jim Sinclair who has autism, helped organize Autism Network International. He has written some insightful and poetic essays regarding his autism, and his experiences living in a world in which he is "different".

The ANI was founded not for parents or family, but rather for the people with autism. Their annual retreat attempts to provide a space in which they can interact with each other without the pressures of a world trying to find a "cure" for their differences.

Sinclair is also for animal rights. He wrote the following poignant piece in response to Temple Grandin, who works for the meat industry by providing more efficient methods of animal slaughter.

If you love something, you don’t kill it.

I didn’t need to spend time in a squeeze box to learn that. Love is not killing. If you know what another being feels--not just how you feel when you touch it--then you know that living things want to remain alive. It doesn’t matter if they’re not afraid of death before they know what’s going to happen to them. In the moment when the killing happens, they know, and they want to stay alive. I have seen this, and I have felt death happen. I haven’t seen as much of death as someone who is obsessively drawn to slaughter factories, but I’ve seen enough to know. Life does not consent to be killed. I don’t need a Ph.D. in animal science to recognize that. Dying as a natural process is not the same as killing a healthy living creature. I have witnessed sudden death from injury, and gradual death from aging or disease. They’re not the same. (I have not witnessed deliberately inflicted death, because I will not stand by and allow killing to happen in my presence.) It’s irrelevant if a middle-aged scientist can say that she doesn’t fear death, that she understands it as a natural part of life. Almost all the beings whose lives she helps end are immature or just barely mature. Almost none of them are close to natural death. They’re not ready to die. If someone were to shoot or stab or electrocute the middle-aged scientist today, she might find that she’s not ready to die either. If you understand life, you know that it wants to continue. If you feel life throbbing under your touch, you know it’s desecration to set your hand to stop that living pulse. If you love something, you don’t kill it.

There’s a special technique involved in tying a hangman’s noose so the victim is killed instantly by a broken neck, rather than slowly by strangulation. I suppose it’s part of a hangman’s professional expertise to learn to tie this knot properly. That expertise doesn’t make the hangman a caring or compassionate person. The hangman’s knot, the guillotine, the electric chair, the gas chamber, and the lethal injection were all designed to make deliberately inflicted death less painful to the victim. But I’ve never heard the inventors or the users of these technologies hailed as great humanitarians. I’ve never heard them praised for their great empathy toward the lives they’ve ended. Certainly it takes some ingenuity to invent new equipment. I’m a pretty smart person, but my expertise with knots is limited to being able to tie my shoes, to make a slip knot and a square knot. I tie these knots the way others taught me to tie them; I’ve never invented a new kind of knot by myself. If I were to try to design a knot that could quickly and painlessly kill someone, I’d never be able to figure it out. Whoever invented that knot had a type of mechanical creativity and skill that I don’t have. But if I did have it, I’d use it for other purposes. I wouldn’t need to invent a way to kill with a knot, because I would never be willing to participate in any way in killing a bound and defenseless person. Skill and ingenuity are not the same as empathy and caring. And love is not the same thing as killing. If you love something, you don’t kill it. It’s as simple as that.


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Grandin claims to know what animals want... I dare say they want want their lives:

Art, mental health and slaughterhouses - I see in pictures too.

VEGAN MUST AIR DAIRY 'S DIRTY LAUNDRY

I wasn't even going to blog about the Mercy For Animals dairy investigation. I figured enough had been said about it:
ABC'sWorld News Tonight with Diane Sawyer and Nightline,CNN, and hundreds of newspapers, radio and television news networks from coast-to-coast featured the investigation, including the
Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and Forbes.

But when my comments were restricted from being heard on the Dairy Goddess blog site I am compelled to reply here.

However before doing so, I must say, in all my blogging - or communicating in any form -I've never attempted to silence my opponents viewpoint. I've invited everyone no matter what their opinions. I've never omitted, refused, trashed or deleted any one's input - Even if some comments are embarrassing to the author. I figure, if my position is worthy it will stand up to any critic and hold its own merit.

I really don't know why my comments were snuffed by the Dairy Goddess blog. It's not like it costs the blog owner time, or money - or even noticeable bandwidth. And I wasn't untruthful, irrelevant, vulgar, disrespectful, brash or crude either...






My guess is I might have come too close to airing the dirty laundry about animal agriculture and how it is not only unnecessary, but hinders our progress into the future.

So on those comments that were censored - I post my rebut here:

In response to Brett who said that he believes that God created mankind first and then animals, and that man should rule over them and care for them. I argue that this position has many flaws.
Whose "gOd"? Whose bible? This hierarchical system of "domination" was written by men to benefit men, "high priests" and kings. And we can see a continuation of such a structure in today's economics where countless favors are granted to "shepherds" of factory farms and animal industry as a whole.

There are many people who believe in the Christ man and see him as one whose philosophy was rooted in kindness. Many believe he was an Essene and walked with the Desert Fathers who lived on flat breads, fruits and seeds. And that the Christ man went into a rage at the Holy Temple because of the brutalizing and slaughter of the helpless. All this would be consistent to the teachings of a man who advocated non-violence and love to Others. Many believe that the caring of innocent nonhumans does not include feasting on their tender flesh...

Actually, I pointed out to Brett that many refer to Genesis 1:29-30 (King James Version) "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so".

Brett also said "We humans are on a different moral plane. In my world view, cattle’s purpose is food. God created them for us. Just like the hawk we need meat as well. I’m not a nutritionist, but I say look no farther than our teeth. Our incisors in the front were made to eat meat, while our molars in the back were made to chew. God made us to eat both."

The idea that animals were created for the purpose of man's "use" calls to mind some other archaic views: Like other races were made for whites to use; And women were made for men... And the purpose of children was to be extra "hands" on the farm... etc.

I hold that every living being has their own "purpose". That each of us owns but one prized thing and that is our lives. And to steal this possession for frivolous wants is indefensible. And I do not embrace this belief on any disputable, or possibly contrived words written on paper or stone, but because of a belief in the value of fairness and compassion.

I pointed out that the hawk is following an imperative to survive... That biologically he has no alternative but to devour his prey. But that man, in contrast, can thrive on a plant based diet: From The American Dietetic Association: An appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.

And my last comment to Brett was that I thought it was ironic that he should begin his argument based on the questionable "will" of a deity and conclude his position based in "science". But my science is: The Comparative Anatomy of Eating. by Milton R. Mills, M.D For isn't it possible that our ethics have evolved quicker than our dentures? Who bases their morals on molars anyway???

The only thing I failed to include was that no one will betray their faith if they refuse to kill or eat animals.

The other participant that I never fully got to engage was writenowbiz, who thought procedures done to cows should be acceptable because: "if consent is needed then we must immediately stop spaying and neutering pets – "

I say: There's a world of difference between a procedure that is done to protect an animal from harm... And one that is done to further the financial benefit of the "owner", no matter how benign.

S/he also said "It seems what the view of wrong is seems a bigger issue. To you it’s wrong to use animals – to the majority of the population it isn’t."

And I found this very troubling as I don't subscribe (and with good reason) to what mob rule might endorse. Just because a large group thinks or acts a certain way, does not make that way correct. Justifications that anchor themselves in crowd-think or "tradition" fall in line with ideas that "might makes right". And I sincerely don't believe that's so.

Finally, writenowbiz concluded: "No matter what we eat – I don’t see many oats or soy or carrots jumping onto a plate by themselves either – they too must die for people to live."

And this is similar to the time-worn "theory" that plants feel pain. To which I respond that even if someone is concerned about the "suffering of plants" they would still cause less harm by eating the plants directly, rather than fattening nonhumans in order to eat them. And that there is a world of difference between the accidental deaths of animals during crop harvesting and the deliberate breeding and slaughter of 10 billions of animal for the sake of "meat".

I also interjected that we should be exploring greenhouse expansions, vertical farms, urban gardening, barge cropping technology and humanure just to name just a few alternatives to animal eating. I concluded that our differing views divide us into those who expoloit captive subjects... And others who are repelled by such an idea. And that if one truly wishes to strive for a better world... Peace begins on your plate.

photo: Washday- my backyard

Extend Your Kindess to Those Who Need it Most - Go Vegan

Elaine Vigneault at Vegan Soapbox does some incredible vlogging for veganism on youtube... But this is my favorite video of all:


I'm sure we all like to believe we are kind... But most of us never really question what kindness truly is...

If kindness, compassion, generosity, peace or justice is to have any meaning at all... If it is to be genuine.... Surely it does not do so by excluding those who are most vulnerable. It does not do so by denying those most able to benefit from "kindness and compassion".

Suppose there was a contest to help the most needy person in the world... This person who "won" would receive clean water, shelter, electricity, food, etc. Now, the only thing is, the person must register to be a contestant for this prize. Of course, this unfortunate person does not have food or bear essentials --- Let alone a telephone, internet or a postage stamp to fulfill the requirements to "qualify"... And any reasonable person hearing this would say the contest was a sham!

Likewise, nonhumans who are most at the "mercy" of man's exploitations... Also cannot "register" or "enroll" in our "prize" of compassion. Indeed some people try to deny kindness to animals because they lack a "soul". Of course a soul isn't a tangible thing --- And the concept could have very well been invented by man in an effort to justify his using of animals to begin with... Are you with me?

The crux of it is... Are you extending your compassion to those who truly need it? To those who suffer and are violated most? Or is your "gift" of kindness limited to only those within your pre-determined ((human) group? And more importantly, do you exclude some from the "prize" because you enjoy hunting them, wearing their skin, riding their backs, watching them perform; Or because you use them for experimentation, breed them for income, or kill them for the eating of their flesh?

What kind of person are you? Do you limit your generostiy to those who benefit least, or to those who are the most missed? Come on! You know you're a good person! You know you want to align your actions with your values!
By going vegan you can do just that!

Dairy Sickens Residents - Some States Care - Wisconsin Could Give a Cow Turd...

When my neighbors had a contractor who fowled up their renovations... I listened to them. I made sure I didn't call the same unreliable and unprofessional people to do my work.

Similarly, when my friends had their car engine poorly serviced by Mr. X mechanic --- I made sure I kept my vehicle out of his hands...

Logical - right? You learn by mistakes made by others... Well, such is not the case with the two neighboring states of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

You see, the residents of Thief River Falls, Minn. have been in a 3 year battle with Excel Dairy.

"People who live within a mile of the dairy were sickened by the stench from uncovered manure pits. They complained of headaches, nausea, breathing problems and sore throats from foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide emissions that shrouded their homes."

"The operators had more cows in the barn than they should have had, they built a feed pad without permission, and they tried methods of treating manure that weren't approved. Cows were removed from the dairy after an agency order a year ago. Excel has not fulfilled another part of the order, to clean up three manure lagoons that still emit gases", Assistant Attorney General Jeff Grell said. "The dairy also left a pile of feed on the property, in defiance of the state, and rats and other animals have moved in. They also ignored orders to repair and empty manure ponds and failed to cover manure ponds that can hold 33 million gallons of manure."

Neighbors for more than a mile around have been enduring extremely high levels of hydrogen sulfide. (intense rotten egg smell)

One resident said:
"I used to be happy all the time, and now I feel like I'm drowning. We feel like we have no control of our life with the barn's odor trespassing on our property all the time. It is not a manure smell, it burns your eyes, your throat; you cannot be in it. It is so brutal, it takes your breath away, you cannot breathe it, [and] it goes through the walls of your home."

During the warm months of 2008 and 2009, the dairy exceeded safe levels of hydrogen sulfide nearly 800 times. The Minnesota Department of Health said the fumes were so bad, people living nearby were evacuated.

So, you'd think that their sister state of Wisconsin would benefit from this ordeal and be cautious about the health considerations of their own citizens... But not so.

Despite environmentalists' concerns that manure might poison groundwater supplies, a Wisconsin dairy farm has been given permission to double its herd from 4,000 to 8,000 cows...

I guess it's true what they say... People get exactly what they deserve.

I'm taking bets now... Within 4 years this "new dairy" will be responsible for the same ill health that the townspeople in Minnesota are suffering.

Oh yeah, I'm also wagering too - That the additional 4,000 cows will be just as "happy" as the original 4,000. Happy to be confined. Happy to have their calves stolen from them. Happy their young are going to grow up to be nice little "veal chops". Happy they themselves too - will meet the "humane" captive bolt, and that their hides will be immortalized as tomorrows and yesterday's fashion accessory.

If you don't like environmental pollution - If you don't like air and water contamination - If you don't like animal suffering AND use - Please... Go Vegan

Economic Misery for Meat/Dairy Industry - Then and Now

I keep an eye on what happens in US economics. These are volatile times, for sure. And yes, I admit too - that what I pay attention to regarding the animal and "meat" industries, has special meaning for me... I suppose it's the 10 billion animals I'm keeping track of.

Erik Marcus of Vegan.com did a comprehensive recap 2009 Year of Meat , citing the spills, trials and woes of the meat industry. Most were by their own demise... Some tweaked along by outside forces. It's a wonderful read that truly illustrates the waste and blunders this enterprise has been bailed out of.

Mostly it was the dairy industry that lost 45% of it's profit... Could have been financial ruin... If not for the taxpayer hand outs.

Funny thing though... Taxpayers "paid" dairies to stay in the black... Now, taxpayers are paying more for the dairy they oddly still wish to buy. What strange and corrupt symbiotic relationship!
Consumers wish to exploit cows for their milk... The government sucks on consumers for money to pay to dairy folks. A fairy-milk godmother --- so to speak.
But here's what one analyst has in view for the meat industry in 2010:

In addition, American meat consumption is starting to trend downward, he said. Even chicken consumption, which has trended up or stayed consistent for years, is starting to drop. American per capita consumption of meat is 43 pounds. of chicken, 39 pounds. of beef, 27 pounds. of pork and 7 pounds. of turkey.

Perhaps it's so, that more and more people are starting to get the message:

The meat industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars lying to the public about their product. But no amount of false propaganda can sanitize meat. The facts are absolutely clear: Eating meat is bad for human health, catastrophic for the environment, and a living nightmare for animals.

Go Vegan