Live exports to Egypt suspended
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-04/livestock-exports-suspended-amid-cruelty-investigation/4669478
Australian livestock exports to Egypt have been suspended following the release of footage showing extreme animal cruelty during the slaughter process.
The video was obtained by animal welfare organisation Animals Australia, which passed it on to the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
"I was horrified," DAFF's deputy secretary Philip Glyde said. "I don't think anyone could condone the mistreatment of animals, let alone the cruelty that appears to have occurred in this footage.
"It's quite shocking. We have to go back and think again about why and how this has happened and need to take corrective action to make sure it doesn't happen again."
The live cattle trade with Egypt has a controversial and bloody history.
In 2006, the Egyptian trade was suspended after video showed cattle having their tendons slashed before slaughter.
Four years later, trade resumed under strict conditions, where cattle could only go into approved systems.
Comments (17)
Im an animal lover too. I dont like to see or read about such things... but several years ago, my work was missing a technician and so they sent me to connect some wires at a major meat company near town here.. and I had to wear protective helmet with shield and gloves and boots and coat.. I had to go right through the middle of everything happening.. and I just kept my eyes downward.. until I got to the small operating office where I did my work and got out of there as soon as possible. Unfortunately, that place made me feel sick that day. Strange, when I was a kid, none of that got to me.. but now it does.
Have a nice day.
Thanks NS
Very interesting tangent
To me it's more about ethics and track records of countries in human rights, so if poor, they are hardly able to concern themselves with the welfare of animals. So in the end should Australia really be exporting live animals to such countries particularly when vile things have been found and recoreded (despite some countries paranoias probably regionally justified with regard to freeedom of the press)
In the end inhumane is inhumane even when it's with regards to animals. As Singer points out how we treat our animals is a good pointer to how just and ethical we are in our humanity as a country.
Sorry I may have killed your blog
(Not with halal as we have halal in this country and Australia is aware of this as part of the international export of live animals agreement entered into)
The issue is with breaches to international animal welfare guidelines on the humane treatment of animals. The breaches are horiffic. This is why the suspension.
I hope this helps to clarify
So my question is should Australia in ethical terms be exporting to countries who have already breached international humane treatment of animal laws. I think we need to look at ourselves and question if we can support this trade given the issues wiht such countries in the past.
There are humane ways to raise and process animals for meat. Though, of course, the meatless diet is the most humane. As I say this, I have to acknowledge that I have been eating chicken, though I have cut out all other meats. Ironic because I raise chickens for eggs, but not for meat. It may be time to stop eating all animal products... thanks for the article - it is thought provoking.
The 'toxic' chemical I know a little about from food and chefs. One of the reasons that red meat and fish 'curl up' when cooked is due to that chemical affecting the protein strands as it makes the meat tough. Therefore they prefer humanely treated if only for this reason of presenting a better product on the plate
I pass no judgement on those who do or do not eat meat. But I think it speaks volumes for a society in how well they treat their animals. Thank goodnees for the work of the animal rights people to get the video footage out to our authorities in this country. They are a brave lot.
Yes it is one that gives pause for thought. Those poor animals. I can only imagine how the poor farmers must be feeling to see this blow up yet again in this country.
Niah
Yes I feel again we perhaps should look into the NZ decision on this matter
Thank you for your post
The Egyptian vet responsible for leaking the most recent footage pleaded with Australians to help ''bring pressure to our government to improve its abattoirs'' - but the Australian live export industry has proved time and time again it doesn't have the collective will or influence to improve another country's standards. And I suspect that underneath all this pretence of ''caring'', many in the industry are secretly yearning for the days when people couldn't record this stuff on their mobile phones, or better yet, for the days when animals were considered no more sentient than a phone.
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