Australia’s Secret Shame
Merino sheep are specifically bred in order to produce more wool per sheep. As a result of the unnatural amount and weight of the wool, many sheep collapse and die as a result of heat exhaustion. Also, because of the wrinkly skin of the merinos, moisture is collected during the hot months and as a result, flies are attracted to the skin and lay their eggs in the sheep. When the maggots hatch from the eggs, they feed on the sheep, causing great suffering.
The following information is taken from the PETA web site:
“To prevent this so-called “fly strike,” Australian ranchers perform a barbaric procedure called “mulesing,” in which they force live sheep onto their backs, restrain their legs between metal bars and, often without any painkillers whatsoever, carve huge chunks of skin away from the animals’ backsides or attach vise-like clamps to their flesh until it dies and sloughs off. Both procedures are terribly painful.
Mulesing is a crude attempt to create smoother skin that won’t collect moisture, but the exposed, bloody wounds often become infected or fly-struck. Many sheep who have undergone the mulesing mutilation still suffer slow, agonizing deaths from fly strike.”
These sheep suffer in the most extreme ways just for the wool on their backs. Having faced a lifetime of barbaric treatment, when they are later transported in ships, they can also spend several weeks at sea in temperatures that EXCEED 37° C!!
After all this, what lies in store for the surviving sheep?
For merino sheep that have fallen ill due to extreme exhaustion, stress and fear, some are fed into mincing machines while they are still conscious and some are even thrown overboard from the transport ships to be eaten by sharks! For the rest of the “lucky” ones, their ultimate destination is usually in a country where animal welfare laws are zero and they are sold off for ritual sacrifices and slaughter.
The suffering these animals have to endure really is indescribable. Even from a consumer’s point of view, there is not much value in buying wool when there are so many other attractive synthetic materials available to us. With the choices we have nowadays, there really is no reason for anyone to be supporting this cruel industry by purchasing woolen clothing. Wool is very expensive, it’s not very durable, it stains easily and clothing items made from wool shrink in the wash. So even from the point of buying wool, there is no real benefit.
For me, it is really hard to see so many animals being treated so badly in the modern age. Especially so when there are countless product substitutes available in both the food and clothing industries that were produced without a single animal having to suffer. In these modern times, we are spoilt for choice. So we should always push ourselves to be aware of the choices we make and make sure the choices we do make are ones that fit in with our spiritual practice.
Please watch this MUST SEE video and take a look at the lives of thousands of merino sheep who suffer greatly, all for the material they produce for the Australian wool industry. The footage you will see is heart breaking and some of the images are not pleasant at all. However, remember that the discomfort experienced from watching this video on the wool industry is nothing compared to what the sheep has to endure…Please avoid products that harm animals as much as possible and never eat animals. Be tireless to share the message with others…The animals deserve your hard work and efforts towards their sufferings.
Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at:
http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/AustraliaBarbarityActToTheSheep.flv
Will it be the same in New Zealand? Hmm.
What is wrong with us humans that we can do these things? Shared on FB. Hopefully people will watch and feel as shocked and sick as I feel. I buy wool all the time, blissfully unaware of the cruelty I’m supporting. Thank you for sharing this video Rinpoche. I am so ignorant of the suffering of animals it’s shameful.
namo buddhay this webside is amazing this motivate me and giving human values.i will homage to guru and they accept me his student