Not cool to be cruel

For years, the horrendous cruelty to animals has been known and discussed and yet nothing is done (“Live animal shipments pose risk to public health,” April 8). Even if one is impervious to the cruelty inflicted on those defenseless animals, then what about the health hazard? Are the people so desperate for the meat that they could easily dispense with for healthier food, that they close their minds to the dangers even to their children?

Disease is rampant on those horror ships that carry the animals around the world and this should horrify people. It’s a strange thing about this country but the innocent – whether it be humans or animals – don’t get the same level of protection as terrorists who commit the most heinous crimes against our people.

“The only way to prevent the suffering of animals in live shipments is to stop them,” Animals Now told The Jerusalem Post and I would add that we are being given an opportunity to get a head start on the coming of the messiah when everyone will be vegetarian. The health opportunity is enormous as well as the ability to end unnecessary animal suffering.

EDITH OGNALL Netanya

World Health Day (April 7) has passed at a crucial epoch in humankind. Alarming bells have been ringing for some time.

The coronavirus pandemic was a ghastly reverberation of imbalances looming large from faltering economies to burgeoning populations, conflicts, impoverishment, massive displacement to environmental unsustainability. Alien species do not fall from heaven. They emerge from the interaction between humans, livestock and wildlife and sneak through societal cracks, accentuating myriad inequalities and impeding human development.

The current pandemic is an immersive experience that should nudge us to hone our insights and skills, respect the intertwined fate of people and planet and reduce our carbon footprint that shrinks our opportunities.

DR MUNJED FARID AL QUTOB

London, United Kingdom