In 2013 a survey by the Humane Research Council found that two-thirds of Americans believe in “eliminating all forms of animal cruelty and suffering.” Despite this clear majority, animal interest association PETA still continues to push its extremist advocacy in a misguided direction.
PETA claims to be an animal rights group, but Gary L. Francione, an animal rights theorist, disagrees on the basis that he believes that there is no true animal rights movement in America. Francoine sees PETA as an animal welfare organization, whom trivializes the public’s understanding of animal rights and fabricates the illusion of significant change being accomplished versus the actual, small change occurring. To understand PETA’s claiming of “animal rights” advocacy would call for an examination of how they define such a term. PETA argues that while “animal welfare” is largely theoretical, working in the interests of animals, it prioritizing human interests if seen “justifiable.” It focuses on implementing humane guidelines to for the consumption and use of animals. “Animal rights”, they maintain, states that the interests of animals cannot be sacrificed for the benefit of humans. PETA, being a rather extreme and major advocate for veganism, does not condone the use of animals for food, entertainment, or research experimentation. According to Google’s “Ngram Viewer,” which tracks the shift in thinking over time, maps the concern for animal welfare until recently and thus, around 1975, there begins a steady increase. Since the topic of animal rights and welfare is quite subjective and grounded largely on ethics and personal notions of what “seems” good for the animal, it is difficult to quantify and scientifically examine. This makes it a tricky topic for research, and equally hard to receive funding for. A 2013 survey by the Humane Research Council found that aside from pets, most U.S adults rate “not very” to “not at all” knowledgeable on animal issues, especially research and entertainment animals. Thus it is clear that though two-thirds of the public believe animal’s should not suffer at human hands, most voters claim not to know very much at all about the details of animal rights and welfare issues. Here, lack of knowledge and public information is the largest proponent in perpetuating the stunted revolution in the way animals are treated and handled in different sectors. Providing access to such information is the key to improving their livelihoods. PETA is certainly working in the animal’s best interests, but their intimidation routines, extremism, and peddling of veganism seems to require an “all-or-nothing” effort from anyone who wants to fight for the better lives of animals. Their methods can be intimidating, especially combined with the graphic, grotesque, and guilt-inducing methods PETA uses, like splashing blood on people wearing fur coats and picketing agricultural conferences. It’s more about the cosmetics and shock factor, and less about change. Animal welfare looks at using animals in a way that is most efficient and mindful of their right to as natural a life as possible, a certain sense of stewardship. Welfarism is practical, focusing on such issues as improving the travel stress of chickens on commercial transport trucks to keep them from developing diseases or dying en-route. Or looking at how much space a cow needs to feel comfortable in a stable with a hundred or thousand other cattle. Or even how to slaughter a pig in a way that causes the least pain and stress. These are viable and necessary areas to which animal welfarism attends, and those to which we should direct our resources, money, and efforts. As Mahatma Gandhi once observed, “the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Copyright: Siobhan Speiran This report about a farm in Spain that offers and raises geese humanely for foie gras is great!6/24/2014 These are my cats, Cappuccino (orange) and Buckwheat (black). Buckwheat passed away last year of a blockage that caused him to become paralyzed and so we were forced into euthanasia. He had been one of my best friends, I could talk to him and he would respond to me as if on cue. Cappuccino, his sister, is still alive and well, and currently lurking around me. We found them at a home for stray cats in Toronto over a decade ago. They are part Persian and part mutt- or rather - part Tom cat. They spent almost their entire lives indoors living in our finished basement, but in the last five years we fixed up the garden and started letting them spend the day out there together, stalking bugs in the high grass.
Check out this video on poultry welfare with my professor, Dr. Ian Duncan. |
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