The Pig Farm

Documentary on SBS tonight called, The Pig Farm.  It's about "one of the worst serial killers in history" - more than 60 women.  No mention of how many pigs.

SAVE KEVIN

Someone posted this on Facebook.  I don't think the author has the same intentions as me -- probably a butcher -- but I will choose to twist it to suit my argument.  I would consider making a 'SAVE KEVIN' T-shirt but people might think I'm a K-Rudd fan.

Cogs In A Machine

I recently took this picture when I visited Yankalilla for the Leafy Sea Dragon Festival.  I’m not sure of the artist’s vision but for me it brought to mind the idea that animals are often treated as cogs in a machine.  In fact, there was a time in history when great minds (eg. Rene Descartes – read the gory details here) actually believed that animals were nothing more than very complex organic machines, incapable of feeling pain or at least not pain that was ‘morally relevant’.  Hmm... factory farming... vivisection... I guess history does repeat itself – you were wrong Neil Finn.

Do you believe pigs are capable of experiencing pain in the same way as humans?

New research on heart disease

New research has revealed another way in which red meat may cause cardio vascular disease.  Pork is considered red meat in case you were wondering.

“...researchers found a chemical in red meat called L-carnitine is associated with a build-up of fatty deposits in blood vessels, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes”.

“...eating red meat may result in heart disease, separate to the influence of cholesterol or saturated fat in the meat”.

Read the full story here.

The article also makes mention of bowel cancer and the increased risk associated with eating “large amounts of red meat”.  Read the below excerpts from Geoff Russell’s book, then ask yourself why the Australian Dietary Guidelines still recommend “no more than 2.5 to three serves of lean unprocessed red meat a week”.

From CSIRO Perfidy (2009) by Geoff Russell:

“Official Australian health statistics predict that a million of us will get bowel cancer during our lifetime.”
“The 2007 Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer report by the World Cancer Research Fund is the most thorough review of the scientific evidence relating to lifestyle, nutrition and cancer for a decade.  Its judgement was absolutely clear.  There were no ifs, no buts, and no caveats – red and processed meat cause bowel cancer.  The report was equally clear that this isn’t a “statistical association”, but causality.”
“Scientists... at the Victorian Cancer Council calculate...that about half of all cases of bowel cancer are attributable to eating more than one red meat serve per week.  This is 6,000 new cases annually.”

Kids & Pigs

Gracie met Kevin & Francis for the first time and was a little tentative to begin with - perhaps because I had warned her that they can be a bit bitey.  "It's OK, they just like to taste you with their teeth".  She really enjoyed giving them a pat and touching their curly tails.

Make It Possible

Check out this fantastic poster made by fellow villager, Karen Nilson.  It's constructed from the images of the thousands of people who have already pledged their support.  See the full version here.  Then visit the Make It Possible website to watch the video and show your support for the campaign.  Be sure to watch the 11min video.

Something To Consider

I recently saw the film, Lincoln – which by the way I enjoyed, contrary to some bad reviews.  There is a moment when the white male American politicians are debating the abolition of slavery and they collectively voice their outrage at the suggestion that it could lead to blacks and women having the right to vote.  They were regarded in much the same way as animals are now ie. that they are less intelligent and therefore not entitled to equal rights.

It led me to consider how cultural beliefs can evolve and made me wonder how future generations will regard our treatment of animals.  Peter Singer says, “What one generation finds ridiculous, the next accepts; and the third shudders when it looks back on what the first did” and “If possessing a higher degree of intelligence does not entitle one human to use another for his or her own ends, how can it entitle humans to exploit non-humans?”

I'm interested in hearing some other opinions, so please share your comments below.