Animals and rubbish
Animal cruelty
CRUELTY to animals is an international subject. There are organisations which work towards prevention of cruelty to animals. It is generally believed that human beings are kind, compassionate and loving towards animals. It is reflected in the animal pets kept in many homes — cats, dogs, birds etc. Pet owners spend large sums of money looking after them
However, the ground reality is shockingly different. A documentary titled : “Dominion” graphically shows the heinous cruelty unleashed on animals of various categories. Particularly those animals which are reared in captivity for human consumption and other associated industries such as leather, blood and bone manure or fur garments.
The most popular animal industry is poultry farming. Here the chickens are reared in very confined spaces and artificial lighting conditions to make them eat more and lay more eggs. From hatchery to slaughter is a mindboggling story of how these chickens are treated cruelly.
The pig farms have yet far more abominating stories to show. They are crammed in filthy spaces where young piglets are drowned in filth or are crushed under the weight of larger pigs. Their tails and testicals are cut and their slaughter is a nerve-racking sight of cruelty.
The cruelty on dairy farms, beef cattle farms, sheep farms, rabbit farms, monkey farms, horse breeding farms and camel breeding farms are no less abominating. It is difficult to believe that the animals are put through so much cruelty through artificial insemination. The methodology used to slaughter these animals by using gas, stun guns, bullet guns or simply by drowning. The quivering carcasses send shivers down our spine. However, the workers on the farm carry out this cruelty with impunity. Their emotions and feelings are dead!
Mankind is caught in a catch-22 situation. It is a question of showing compassion to animals on one hand and to feed the teeming millions of hungry mouths on the other. Their insatiable demands for animal products is also increasing rapidly.
There will be no end to this debate. Animal lovers will continue to raise their voices against animal cruelty. But the food lovers will make their demands for more animal protein, even if our oceans are plundered and over fished to depletion.
DEWAN CHAND
Donu Place, Namadi Heights, Suva
City filth
EVERYDAY a lot of people go to
Marine Drive in Lautoka for morning or evening walks. Even a well-known hotel is located in that location. I don’t understand why can’t the Lautoka City Council clean Marine Drive properly. Overgrown grass and rubbish is seen everywhere. Maybe those highly paid with fancy positioned people need to get out of the airconditioning office and see how dirty our Lautoka City is.
Recently the Local Government Minister did the ground-breaking at Namoli Green Area for night market and food vendors and today that same area is full of rubbish and overgrown grass.
TASHA BECKS
Simla, Lautoka