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Making Sense of Nepal’s Animal Massacre

December 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment


Opinion

UPDATE: July 28th, 2015 –  Advocacy works. The Gadhimai Temple Trust has responded to the global outcry to ban the ritual slaughter of hundreds of thousands of animals that takes place every four years: “For generations, pilgrims have sacrificed animals to the Goddess Gadhimai, in the hope of a better life. The time has come to replace killing and violence with peaceful worship and celebration.”

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Every five years, Hindus from India and Nepal participate in Gadhimai, a ritual slaughter that takes place in Nepal. During the two day ritual, which took place in late November, practitioners chopped off the heads of approximately 300,000 thousand buffalo calves, goats and other animals as a sacrifice to the goddess of power, Gadhimai.

Global efforts to prevent the 2014 Gadhimai failed, but the media and activists shined an international spotlight on the massacre before it began. And, once it started, the 12,000 police officers hired to protect the killers were unable to block the cameras, raising even more public awareness. Pressure is mounting on Nepal to outlaw the ritual.

Actress Joanna Lumley at Gadhimai Protest in London (photo: CIWF)

Actress Joanna Lumley at Gadhimai Protest at Nepal Embassy in London (photo: CIWF)

Because Gadhimai is so violent, one would think that just a small number of people would participate, but, in 2014, the animal holocaust attracted 5 million Hindus.

gadhimai participants2

We can, and should, point a finger at the Nepalese and Indians who participate and expose their crimes, but we should also acknowledge that they are no worse than the millions of people who torture and kill animals in other countries around the world.

Denmark whaling

Annual Pilot Whale Hunt in the Faroe Islands (Photo: Sea Shepherd)

We could, and should, point a finger at Hindus, but we must also acknowledge that people from other religions torture and kill animals in the name of God.

Slaughter in the streets of Brooklyn

Observant Jews swing and sacrifice hundreds of thousands of chickens before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement

What is it about the human species that makes us kill gratuitously – for reasons that have nothing to do with our survival? How is it possible that the most intelligent species is the one that is destroying the planet? How did we become so violent?


Filed under: Food, Opinion
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Tiger Who Killed Zoo Visitor in India Was Being Held Captive

September 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

The white tiger who, on Tuesday, killed a 20-year old man who jumped into his enclosure at the New Delhi Zoo should have not been there in the first place. That’s because he, like the others being held against their will, is a wild animal.

In their natural habitat, tigers hunt for prey, raise their cubs, swim long distances, establish territories and forge relationships. In a zoo, they pace back and forth, unable to perform any of the activities that make their lives worth living.

Tiger on the hunt

Wild tiger on the hunt

Your Turn

Wild animals are innocent; so why do we put them in jail?  They are also living beings, so why do we display them like exhibits?

Zoos are cruel; exploitive; and unnecessary. They teach children that kidnapping and holding others captive are acceptable behaviors. Future generations will assuredly look at the images of wild animals in captivity with the same disgust that we reserve for images of humans who were held against their will.

Learn more about why holding animals captive in zoos is cruel. And then speak out.

 


Filed under: Entertainment
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Photos of Activist Being Attacked Generate Worldwide Attention

September 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

Photos of a Muslim woman in India who was mobbed while peacefully promoting a vegetarian diet have triggered worldwide outrage and sympathy — the type of response to an animal rights story that is usually reserved for an abused animal.

PETA activist attacked

Activist Tries to Protect Herself (photo: PTI)

The victim, who wore a lettuce costume, asked worshippers to choose vegetarian instead of slaughtering an animal in advance of the Islamic holiday Eid al Adha (Festival of the Sacrifice).

Ironically,  but not surprisingly, the woman – not her attackers – was charged with a crime: “outraging religious feelings.” Also ironic is that the woman who was working to stop violence was made to suffer it, as pointed out PETA, which organized the costumed protest.

photo: PTI

Police officer protects activist (photo: PTI)

Following is video footage posted by PETA. Who would believe that the presence of woman dressed up like romaine lettuce could trigger this kind of chaos?

Opinion

Media outlets around the world are reporting on this story, which will bring this brave and terrified woman – along with her message of peace – into millions of homes. Perhaps those who can’t relate to the suffering on an animal will be moved by the look of despair on her face and connect the dots.

pre-slaughter

Like us, animals experience fear, terror and despair


Filed under: Food
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India Bans Animal Testing for Cosmetics

May 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

India has banned animal testing for cosmetics, becoming the first country in Asia to do so. The European Union, Israel, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand already have cosmetic testing bans.

Credit: PETA

News & Opinion

According to Cruelty Free International, many countries in the world, including the U.S., still allow “antiquated, cruel, and unnecessary” animal testing for cosmetics. Animal testing is unnecessary because “non-animal tests are quicker, cheaper and more reliable.” Furthermore, the use animal tests to determine product safety has been “increasingly called into question because transferring the results of animal tests to humans has proven to be problematic and misleading in many cases.” To find out how you can help, please visit Cruelty Free International, “the only global organizations working solely to end animal testing for cosmetics and consumer products.”


Filed under: Experimentation, Victories
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