The Whole Truth About The Whole Turkey

To all those celebrating the holidays with a "whole turkey":

Now, that's not entirely the "whole truth" - Now is it???

Turkeys have feet...

Turkeys have heads...


Turkeys have hearts and feelings too... They'd really rather live than be killed.  

Please use your head and heart... And have a Happy ThanksLiving Day instead!

The Chicken, The Egg, The Cruelty - Billions Sacrificed

what is in your breakfast

if it ever cried, ever lived

and sadly, died

is not food at all

for food is meant to

sustain

not bring about suffering,

heartache or pain

Karen Lyons Kalmenson

Posted at Our Compass with the full story regarding the recent Mercy For Animals investigation into where McDonald's eggs (and all production eggs) are sourced. 

There is no system that can "serve" billions and billions without the sacrifice and bloodshed of billions and billions of others.

What Happens To The Male Chicks?

This study The Economics of Farm Animal Happiness rightfully says that there is an either/or scenario that eliminates the ability to be "humane"... That for profit - certain (most) animal industries MUST do things a certain way. 

"Sometimes it makes more economic sense to sacrifice the happiness of each animal, so that you can have more animals producing. Producers are not paid based on the number of eggs produced per hen, but rather on the total number of eggs coming out of the barn.”

Many attempt to eat only "cage free" eggs... But here are the USDA's standards for labeling FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING: 

"Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside." 

In essence all this means is that if you are a hen inside one of these facilities - You're given the opportunity to fight your way through thousands of other birds to find the 2 x 2 foot opening that leads you to an exit into another fenced pen.  These exits may be arbitrarily closed for any reason and for any length of time for the "welfare" of the birds.  

The Truth About Free Range

And what happens after hens are no longer laying eggs is self evident:

If you are still eating eggs, dairy or meat - You'll find that these systems exist in every "food-animal" industry.  It is an inherent part of their economic profit... And "sacrifices" are made by everyone who's a part of it.
Sacrificed lives.  Sacrificed human decency.   

"Animal cruelty takes a million different forms and it takes billions of victims. What we do to the animals, we do to ourselves..." 

~Dr. Steven Best

I don't want to be treated as a drone or a widget... Or a consumption machine.  I want to be treated fairly.  With justice and respect.  And kindness. I don't want to serve or be "served"!  I have the choice... We all have the choice to refuse to participate in these bottom-line conveyor- belt systems.  But the victims... The ones who are units, given essentials but not comfort... Necessities but not freedom... Shelter but not safety... Care but not life... Cannot walk away and choose another course.  They are forced to endure to the bitter end.

If you've already made your decisions to change things for the better - I applaud you!  Now our message must continue till every cage is empty! Billions and billions of innocent lives are depending on us: 

Do not accept cruelty in any degree!  Go Vegan*

This Vegan Doesn't Get Nice, Holy Killing

Holy and home-style slaughter... There's a lot of that going around these days. In fact each November marks the beginning of a two month long blood bath of victims that will either be killed to serve "religious" custom or gustatory delight. In any case, seems like everyone wants to get in on doing it "nicely" themselves.



For instance, from The Jakarta Post: City gives all sacrificial animals a nice, clean bill of health - 10,796 cows, 964 buffaloes, 47,618 goats and 3,450 sheep were killed on one day mostly by do-it-yourselfers...


In Kuwait "My family will feast on this sheep tonight," said one Kuwaiti customer, Salah, who planned to slaughter the animal at his house. "It's fine. This is Halal."


"I will slaughter the animal in my house, because it's better for the children to see it." (Isn't that nice?)


In Spain there is the (nice) Festival of Sacrifice - Killing of Lambs


And all over the U.S. (nice) hunters will begin their annual gutting and "dressing" of their kill over picnic tables and in their garages... Just in Michigan alone hunters are expected to kill 275,000-300,000 during the firearms season that opens tomorrow...  More than half of the deer killed will be shot on the first two days, and a large percentage of them during the first minutes after dawn. Yeah... They even take their kids out of school for the (nice) experience.  


Yep, the blood sure does spill - And everyone wants to get into the act! "Nicely" of course as this Equal Time Radio interview indicates. Just 3 minutes into the discussion I heard the word used 9 times! Yes, everything about killing animals up close and personal is so very "nice".


And just think for those planning a "nice" turkey-dinner, (who can't participate in the holy-bloodletting event themselves), are paying someone else this very moment to do the deed for them!  Of course - It's all so very nice.


nice

   [nahys]  Show IPA

adjective, nic·er, nic·est.

1.

pleasing; agreeable; delightful: a nice visit.

2.

amiably pleasant; kind: They are always nice to strangers.


Synonyms: friendly, delicate, exact, polite. 

I suppose then, that the antonyms: unpleasant,  unkind, careless and rude would apply to those who don't kill or don't pay others to kill for them.  

You know who I think is rude? People who abuse animals. Killing an animal and eating its decomposing body could at the very least be described as “rude”. Am I rude for bringing this reality to these people’s attention? Perhaps they may view it as such simply because it is unpleasant news to be confronted with. For them to call me rude for bringing this up is simply the pot calling the kettle black. ~Vegan Rabbit

Yep, that's us alright... vegans who'd rather live another way... Apparently we're rude and not so "nice". 


So as these "holy" days advance I think it's fair warning for me to fess up and admit I just don't speak the same language as others do!  


And since this is the case - Please, family, friends and neighbors spare me the confusion when you tell me how "nice" it was that your brother shared his venison with you... Keep me from being embarrassed and bewildered when you say how "careful" you are because you source "free range" eggs... Refrain from telling me how your God will offer you mercy because you "humanely" slit the throat of a lamb... I confess!  I don't understand a word you say!  


When you tell me you're planning a "nice" Thanksgiving... I haven't a clue what you're talking about!  And quite frankly... I don't want to learn your pleasant language anyway. But I do understand Benjamin Zephaniah who knows how to talk turkey AND how to be sincerely nice! 


So in your festivities and celebrations that gorge on "compassionate" murder... Consider me uncommunicative and unable to comprehend you.  Oh yeah and if you're killing animals?... 
Be sure to 

               !

Carnist Trade Deals with Korea is NOT for the Dogs!

I was disgusted when Bush Jr. attended the 2008 Olympics in China.  For all the human rights violations China inflicts, the most ethical thing to have done would have been to boycott the whole of it... As a symbol of how much we Americans value freedom.  But GWB said he wanted to keep politics out of the event.  S-u-r-e.

Fast forward to this past Oct. 13 when the U.S. ratified trade deals with Columbia, Panama and Korea.  Despite ongoing protests in Korea - All the big money interests here in the U.S. totally approve... They say it will create jobs.  

"A study by the labor-backed Economic Policy Institute estimated the agreement will cost about 159,000 jobs over seven years. The White House says it will help create or maintain more than 70,000, while congressional Republicans see as many as 250,000 new jobs."

Obviously these three guesstimates aren't using the same fuzzy math...

Anyway, even if it does create (some) jobs - The major big win is for the flesh peddlers: "U.S. farmers and big agricultural exporters are excited about new sales opportunities for beef, pork, poultry, corn, wheat, soybeans and other food products in the three markets, but they lament the long delay as a lost opportunity."


Now what does all this have to do with the Olympics in China?  Everything!  It is just one more time that the U.S. is selling out ethical principles for blood-greed.  


In this case, I'm referring to the hideous practice sanctioned in Korea by not enforcing laws against "fragrant dog meat".  It's abominable!  Any civilized people ought to vehemently abstain from any "deals" with a nation that endorses these vicious acts.  But commerce trumps all morality - doesn't it?  I mean, we need jobs right?


Meanwhile take a look at the labors in the White House kitchen as staff prepares the "Fall Harvest" menu for Korean President and other dignitaries. No... No fragrant dog meat here! Just Texas Wagyu beef rib eye steaks, apparently the Western version of Kobe beef.  


Is it just me or can anyone else see the ludicrous absurdity of it all? This meal is dedicated to a pact that profits through murder.  The meal is meant to indulge those who permit the beating of dogs - till their delicious,  by serving up pampered cows on gold-rimmed plates.  I mean - WTF? It truly does boggle the mind!


If by any chance you're offended at the idea of munching on Spot... But buy jackets made of hide - You might be interested in discovering why this is just as problematic. 

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism

All beings love their lives... Please live compassionately.