Challenge to a public debate on live export trade

MS GIBSON ( TB, 29/ 6/ 15), you say you cannot tolerate cruelty to animals.

All the politicians say that, every time the horror of the live export trade hits the airwaves, but most of them dry their tears and continue with business as usual.

So it begs the question, what practical form does your “intolerance” take?

Live exporters are in it for the money, not to “better our neighbour’s standards.”

Grudging improvements have only come about in response to regular exposure of atrocities.

“Education” would stop the moment the price wasn’t right.

Don’t jump to conclusions. What makes you think I’m a vegan or that I will not allow meat in my kitchen?

Do you think a person must be dedicated to “eating leafy greens” if he opposes the transport of livestock to countries where laws against cruelty to animals don’t exist?

And please try not to confuse the exercise of free speech with a lust for dictatorship.

Voicing an opinion is neither an attempt to “impose morals” on anyone else nor a decree that foreign countries must conform to our ways.

As to how “the live export trade is immoral” becomes “anyone contribu- ting to the live export trade is immoral”, that must have been done with mirrors, not language.

That the trade is immoral follows from an acceptance that it is immoral wilfully and unnecessarily to bring harm or suffering to innocent beings.

We can all do with less meat and less cruelty in getting it.

You tell us that “morals are for everyone to choose”. You can’t mean it. Female genital mutilation? Honour killings? Am I allowed to voice my disgust, without being told that I’m forcing my morals down others’ throats?

In your opinion “a quick kill makes the meat taste good”. Many Chinese people say that torturing animals before killing them makes the meat taste better. Perhaps you should set them straight.

After all, China is the next boom destination for the unfortunate victims of the live export trade.

The TB has given us more than our fair share of print space: let’s now organise a public debate. Maybe Ewen Jones would join you in a defence of the present policy on live animal exports?

He and I go back a long way on this issue. MIKE DOWNES,

North Ward.