Worldwide Response to Speciesism

Covid-19 originated in a “Wet Market”, a place where individuals of another species are murdered for the profit of the human species.  This resulted in Covid-19, a zoonotic disease.  Zoonotic disease is the cause of many worldwide epidemics and pandemics including HIV AIDS, Ebola, SARS, MERS, Black Flu, Spanish Flu, Avian Flu, Swine Flu, among others.  In addition, the meat and dairy based diet is a causative factor in Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer and antibiotic resistance.  Speciesism has also been linked to Climate Change, Species Extinction, Habitat Destruction, and other worldwide issues.  There is a growing movement in the world today to right these wrongs!  Specifically:

Asia - Nepal - Animal Rescue Mission and local Nepali organizations:

Nepal’s Dashain Festival to the ‘blood thirsty’ Goddess Kali is one of the most brutal events on Earth.  The streets run red with the blood of tens of thousands of innocent animals.  Animals are subjected to unimaginable brutality.  Crowds scream, push, and fight with machetes.  Terrified animals are dragged through these crowds of people.  Other animals watch the murder of their friends and relatives knowing they will be next.  No animal is safe.

 

The festival is carried on throughout the night and into the next day.  The larger animals, mainly water buffalo, are reserved to be beheaded on “Black Night”, which supposedly commemorates the victory of gods over demons.  During the darkness of night, a convoy goes to a secluded, sacrificial epicenter. In the morning, a two-hour killing spree frantically erupts, and a sea of water buffalo are decapitated.  Water buffalo are often preyed upon in Nepal.  Local sources estimate that 70,000 to 80,000 are killed violently in animal sacrifices every year.

Animal Rescue Mission and local Nepali animal advocate groups are working tirelessly to create awareness of this situation and hopefully end the bloodshed by promoting alternative sacrifices. 

Pacifica:     Animals Australia, and SAFE For Animals, New Zealand

Live export is one of the cruelest practices on Earth.  Recently, Gulf Livestock 1 capsized.  The casualties included 41 crew members and almost 6,000 cows.  This tragedy led the government of New Zealand to announcing a temporary ban on live export, and yet another fruitless review into this cruel and unnecessary trade.  Soon the live export ship, Yangtze Fortune, will take thousands of New Zealand cows on a long and stressful sea journey with no food, water, removal of excrement or deceased individuals.  In sweltering heat, individuals literally cook to death on these ships.  The animals live exported from New Zealand and Australia are sent to countries with lower animal welfare standards, or no animal protection laws at all.

In Indonesia, Animals Australia learned that the banned and brutal Mark 1 slaughter box is back in action.  Cattle who survive the conditions of live export are subjected to horrific roping slaughter - a practice supposedly wiped out of the industry ten years ago.  Terrified cattle are tripped, roped and killed in brutal slaughter boxes.  Frightened sheep are dragged, man-handled, stuffed into car boots in searing heat, sold for backyard slaughter or killed in the streets where they lay beside the flailing bodies of other animals.  In Jordan, the ‘Festival of Sacrifice' awaits individuals who survive the live export ordeal.  Rough and brutal street slaughter is 'the norm' for sheep shipped there from Australia, New Zealand and other countries.

Animals Australia, SAFE for Animals New Zealand, other organizations and individuals are working tirelessly to stop cruel and barbaric live export which has already affected hundreds of thousands of innocent individuals over the years.

Africa     Governments of Kenya, Senegal, Gabon, and others

 Poaching, the murder of innocent individuals for profit, is a tragedy of enormous proportions on the continent of Africa.  It is wiping out large populations of individuals resulting in species extinction.  Murder of an innocent gorilla for ‘bush meat’ is the original cause of the zoonotic disease, HIV AIDS.

In order to the prevent the murder of innocent elephants, the Governments of Kenya, Gabon, and others have disincentivized ivory poaching by burning existing stockpiles of ivory.  Senegal considers their lions a national treasure, and is very concerned about the effect that climate change and other unnatural events are having on them.  Preventing speciesism is one of the priorities of many African governments.

 Europe     Ireland, Ban Blood Sports

Currently the Irish grass roots organization, Ban Blood Sports, is seeking amendments to the Irish Animal Health and Welfare Bill which would eliminate Fox Hunting. Hare Coursing, Greyhound Racing, Badger Culling, Horse Racing. Digging Out, Terrierwork, Ferreting, Badger Culling, Fur Farming, and the use of Animals in Circuses.  Ban Blood Sports, other organizations and individuals are working tirelessly to achieve the goal of preventing the cruel and unjust exploitation of innocent individuals.

 Planet Earth     The Save Movement:  Animal Save, Climate Save, and Health Save

The Save Movement, started in Toronto, Canada, currently has 1,000 chapters on 6 continents, and has held 4170 vigils in 2019.  The Save Movement’s mission is to hold vigils at every slaughterhouse; bear witness to every exploited animal; reverse catastrophic climate change by defunding animal agriculture; and ensure that plant-based diets, which prevent disease and improve quality of life, are accessible to all in the world community.

It is time to finally have a comprehensive solution to the global issue of Speciesism:  A United Nations Convention Against Speciesism proposed by Vegan International (www.VeganInternational.org).