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After Much Debate, Denmark to Ban Bestiality

October 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

In response to an onslaught of negative press, Denmark is outlawing bestiality on the grounds that animals cannot consent to sex. Denmark is the last European country where sex with animals is legal, which explains why busloads of tourists from other countries travel there to engage in legal bestiality.

Animal rights activists have been lobbying for a ban for years, but authorities resisted due to fears that it could drive the worst offenders underground. Lawmakers also rejected the idea in the past because Denmark’s ethics advisory body said that a crime is not committed if the animal isn’t injured. That argument, however, was diminished by evidence of atrocities against animals used in the sex trade.

ban_bestiality

The 2014 documentary Animal F*ckers, which chronicles the efforts of animal rights activists to ban sex with animals, presented a nuanced view of the practice, informing viewers that zoophilia (attraction to animals) is, for some, a sexual orientation, not a fetish, and that “zoophiles” love and care for their animal companions.

In the film, Oliver Burdinski, a German man who speaks openly about his sexual relationship with his dog, says, “When I was 14 or 15, I wasn’t sure if it was right, so I tried to get human partners. But I was not happy with them. I tried to be normal. In 1994, I got internet and realized that I’m not alone.”

Oliver Burdinski says his huskie decides when they have sex.

Oliver Burdinski says his Siberian Husky decides when they have sex. (photo: Vice.com)

Opinion

If Denmark outlaws bestiality on the grounds that the animals cannot consent, then will lawmakers take a closer look at other circumstances in which animals are exploited without their consent? Gestation crates on factory farms have been banned in other European countries, yet they’re still legal in Denmark. What pig would willingly reside in an indoor crate that is so small that she can’t turn around or lie down?


Filed under: Companion Animals, Victories
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Every Nation is the Worst Offender

October 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment


Opinion

In moments of frustration and anger, many of us demonize an entire country when we learn about the atrocities they commit against animals, but those feelings are misguided. Only a small percentage of people in any country participate in the abuse, and most are probably unaware. In addition, whatever country we happen to call home is probably committing abuses that are every bit as bad, so why point a finger?  Every nation is culpable:

The French insert tubes down the throats of ducks and force feed them:

Force-feeding of a goose to make foie gras

The Spanish set some bulls on fire and chase others through city streets:

photo: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty Images

photo: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty Images

The Chinese skin animals alive for fur:

skinned alive

Americans lasso young animals, wrestle them to the ground and twist their necks at rodeos:

Rodeo cruelty

Canadians club baby seals:

Canadian seal hunt

Africans tear the tusks out of elephants’ faces:

Photo: Mark Deeble & Victoria Stone

Photo: Mark Deeble & Victoria Stone

Australians hack flesh out of sheep to keep insects out of their wool:

Mulesing

Mexicans stab bulls to death to cheering crowds:

bullfight+animal+rights

The Danish drive pilot whales into the shore and butcher them:

Denmark whaling

Photo: Sea Shepherd

The Japanese shoot harpoons with explosives into protected whales and serve animals at restaurants who are still alive:

Photo: sundayworld.com

Photo: sundayworld.com

This list goes on. Instead of vilifying entire countries, which does nothing to help their animals, we should target our anger – and energy – toward those who commit the atrocities and the authorities who have the power to stop them.


Filed under: Opinion
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Denmark Says “Animal Rights Come Before Religion”

February 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

Denmark has banned kosher and halal slaughter. According to British newspaper The Independent, “European regulations require animals to be stunned before they are slaughtered, but grants exemptions on religious grounds. For meat to be considered kosher under Jewish law or halal under Islamic law, the animal must be conscious when killed.” Muslim and Jewish leaders are claiming discrimination, but the Danish government is defending the law, stating “animal rights come before religion.”

slaughter

Photo from The Independent

News & Opinion

In spite of worldwide outrage, the Danish government didn’t intervene in February when the Copenhagen Zoo killed a healthy young giraffe to prevent inbreeding and fed him to the lions. In addition, the Danish government continues to allow the brutal slaughter of hundreds of pilot whales each year in the Faroe Islands. Like every other country that claims to care for its animals while condoning and defending violence toward them, Denmark is being hypocritical. And the government should be held accountable until all forms of animal abuse are abolished. But that shouldn’t stop us from celebrating and promoting their historic declaration that “animal rights come before religion.”


Filed under: Food, Victories
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Copenhagen Zoo Kills Healthy two-year old Giraffe

February 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

Worldwide outrage didn’t stop the Copenhagen Zoo from killing a healthy baby giraffe named Marius “to prevent inbreeding.” Citing animal welfare and inbreeding concerns, the zoo also refused to send Marius to one of the other zoos that volunteered to take him. According to CNN, the giraffe was killed with a rifle and “dismembered in front of an audience that included children and fed to the zoo’s lions, tigers and leopards.” The Copehagen Zoo described Marius’ death as “euthanasia,” which is defined as “the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma.” But Marius was healthy. He should never have been shot in the head with a rifle.

News & Opinion

Wild animals belong in the wild, not in zoos behind bars or in enclosures. The “conservation” and “education” claims used by zoos are inaccurate, but, even if true, they wouldn’t justify the lifetime imprisonment of animals. Please encourage people in your network to boycott the zoo and learn about how wild animals really live by observing them in the wild or by watching wildlife documentaries on TV.


Filed under: Entertainment
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