Pigs in Taiwan
Death is a very scary thought for most of us. It is, more often than not, the pain and suffering associated with death that scares us… especially if it involves being killed by someone else.
So, why would we wish to inflict the same on others?
Given that we slaughter animals for food, many feel that the most “humane” thing to do is to make sure that it is done in a quick and painless way. This killing of animals, no matter how humanely we try to do it, is something I disagree with. Furthermore, most animals slaughtered for food are terribly tortured before they die.
If you watch the video, you will see that the pigs are hung upside down in order to maximize blood drain, adding unnecessary agony before they are slaughtered. An iron hook will be used to forcibly hook the pigs’ head up by the jaw if they don’t stretch out their necks.
All of these add to the agony and pain of the pigs before they die. No being should ever be made to undergo such torture…
It is absolutely HORRIFYING the way the pigs are slaughtered. Some of the pigs are just stabbed and left squirming on the floor in pain while they bleed slowly to death in full view of other pigs. Since pigs are social animals like us, they would undoubtedly undergo untold horror when seeing their own kind being killed as well.
It is important to know where the meat that we eat comes from, and how it is obtained. For every piece of meat, something needs to be killed.
If we find it difficult to see how it is obtained, then maybe we should do something about it. When we consume meat, we are endorsing these killings worldwide directly. The only reason slaughterhouses exist, is to feed the growing demand – more will be killed.
Don’t give them a reason to kill more – stop consuming meat, especially when you know how they are obtained. No animal wants to die willingly, who does??? Please be kind to animals. Please do not eat them. Please never harm them…no matter what.
Tsem Rinpoche
http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/PigFarmingTaiwan.flv
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/PigFarmingTaiwan.flv
Time to form an International Amnesty for Animal Genocide & Cruelty. Don’t think it is possible to get to the root of the problem as not everyone in the world will go vegetarian if there is no positive action other than campaign.
There is two things that come to my mind when I watch this. These videos are great ways to educate people on how animals suffer before they become our meals. However, I think no amount of campaigning can do real change to people’s eating habits.
Hence, I think companies and people should look into replicating meat like how the Chinese replicate the texture of meat with soya products. So far, Chinese cuisine can only go so far. Perhaps genetic engineering can replicate meat without cloning the animal. Hence, no animal or sentient being needs to suffer for out meals.
David,
No one would disagree that habit dies hard.
Problem with meat eating is that it has been entrenched into human eating habits since pre-historic time. To reverse this by any measure requires an effort no less than that to tackle climate change. Those who are in the trade of supply meat to the market would be the first to oppose any actions that goes against the grain.
Campaigns and sanctions are too soft measures to make much diffence. Meat replication and genetic engineering takes too long and could fall into the ‘too hard’ basket for whoever the initiators are.
That’s only one possible thing left – let karma take its course. I do not wish it to happen but a world wide epidemic of animal disease that gives the animal themselves immunity against the disease but is threatening to human life if systemically consumed. This protects the animals and stops people eating them.
The epidemics that had happened intermittently in the past could well be a sign of worse to come. It’s common sense and a matter of mathematical probability – the more animals we kill, the higher the chance of natural imbalance.
It is really sad and I really really feel the pain for those animals and because our own greed and karma we crave for meat and these poor animals have to die for us consumption and the negative karma of those working in the slaughter house. May you quickly find other jobs that free them from slaughtering and collecting negative karma.
It is just so horrible how much pain they endure and pigs are very inteligent animals- actually the smartest domestic animal in the world.Have a look, very interesting facts:
“Intelligence research was done with pigs in the 1990s. One of the experiments was to train the pigs to move the cursor on a video screen with their snouts. When the pigs used the cursors again, they were able to distinguish between the scribbles they already knew, and the scribbles they were seeing for the first time. The pigs learned this skill as fast as the chimpanzees.
All species of pig are smarter than dogs, and capable of abstract representation. “They can hold an icon in their mind, and remember it at a later date,” says Professor Stanley Curtis of Penn State University, who discovered that pigs dominate at video games with joy sticks. Curtis goes on to say, “Pigs are able to focus with an intensity I have never seen in a chimp.”
Other tests were done where the pigs were taught the meaning of simple words and phrases. Several years later, the instructions were repeated, and the pigs still remembered what to do. The same thing was done with different objects placed in front of them. They were taught to jump over, sit by, or retrieve the item. Three years later, they could distinguish between the items.
The studies also showed:
•Pigs lead complex social lives that behaviorists once believed to be true only of primates.
•Mother pigs sing to their piglets while they are nursing.
•They excel at video games that would be hard for a young child, and sometimes better than the primates.
•Pigs dream.
•Pigs have a good sense of direction, and can find their way home from long distances.
•They learn from watching one another.
•Pigs outsmart each other. One will often follow another pig to food before grabbing it away from him, and the pig who was tricked will change behaviors to reduce how many times it is tricked.”
So, smarter than dogs! No wonder George Clooney had a pig pet:)
The opinions stated pertaining to inhumane treatment of animals for food ALL present fabulous angles and or suggestion/ reasons to stop such cruelty. Unfortunately the problem goes way beyond an alternative food source or any campaign no matter how convincing. The problem is mans sinful nature. From birth it’s inevitable that sin is woven into the fibers of our being making it almost impossible for us to make such morally correct steps on a global scale. Whether you support PETA or the SPCA your NEVER goin to stop the gluttonous apathetic trolls that make up the majority of the earths population. I’ve spent many lost moments pondering why we carelessly crucify other living creatures to fill our already bloated bellys. And Im sorry to admit its all part of the great Controversy of good and evil…. It’s just part of the pieces to the puzzle that no one will finish until our creator deems necessary… This is not a bible thumping blog… This is the sobering truth… And if u don’t believe in sin or for that matter righteousness then I suppose u can chalk it up to “the big bang theory” or survival of the fittest but I’m here to tell you…. The change starts with you. If u don’t want to be a part of this sick chain of events then don’t eat meat; of course supply and demmand play a part but to think we will change the red blooded human “hog” that was raised to see livestock as cash I have very sad news my friends, it’s never gonna end. So end if for urself and know that you did what’s right. The only thing you can ever really save is your soul. You stop the supply and demmand and know you did your part. That’s much more than the conquering the masses it’s the evolution of the elite…..and when you choose to make the change within u no longer need change the world. Just decide you no longer follow the sheep and the burden is left up to those that do. Namaste.
Unfortunately, I find myself with a belly full of glutton yet, after reading the above………..I am so inspired that at least one human knows exactly what in ‘this hell’ is happening! ‘Camille’ must be an eloquent angel that mistakenly landed on the wrong side of this “great controversy”! If only 1/3 of the planet had 1/2 of her insight, we might just ‘God Speed’ this puzzle right along to the very last ‘Advent’! I think I just became a vegetarian…not because of the absolute disgustingly way my ‘crispy beef’ got onto my plate this evening (because I think 90% of ‘due process’ is disgusting!) but because she is so right about the fact that being a part of an elite evolution does (and MUST) begin within oneself! As the puzzle pieces swirl around this galaxy, in such a finite fury…I hope she doesn’t mind if my jagged ‘lil edge find a notch into one of her smooth corners! I too want to be a part of that final picture of the purest “Namaste”…..one piece at a time. Thanks for the light, sister
Camille I agree it is very brutal the human treatment of aniamls , life can be a viscious cycle. and humans can be very brutal to each other as wel as other species. On the other hand If you truly believe in god an his infinite wisdom then you must admit that our species is one of many here on earth that feed on other living creature ( Meat hun) sharks , lions , tigers ,bears , eagles , it is basic nature ..is a cat sinning when it pouncing on a lil mouse andeats it , is a pride of lions sinning when the trap , kill and rip apart a small gazelle..I think not. there are 2 sides hun. Most species commit acts of brutality but most species do amazing and wonderful things too. that same brutal female lioness loves and care for her 3 cubs , playing with them and teaching them but most importantly preparing her cubs as best she can for the sometimes brutal life cycle that waits for them. Camille I dont think eating meat is a sin hun because so many of gods creations do it, including humans , and yes the way we treat live stock is brutal but there are so many humans so so many to feed . I can understand some of your feelings but to be honest I just wish mankind would learn to stop it’s never ending brutality towards it’s own kind. you see most species feed on others thats just nature , but our species for some reason is plagued by lust , power , greed , and war .
lol..i made a typo.. *** ANIMALS <.< duh !
Camille. You will always have the good in your heart. Good to see your ideal and intelligence has inspired. Hope life is good. I have a son named Axel. He is what you always said to me. Sorry to send this message on this important forum. Its lovely to read how strong you have held onto your beliefs. Xo
Not enough words to express the feelings I have when I see something like this. Pigs and also thousands,well millions of sheep during Hajj and Big Eid in the Muslim holiday,such a cruel holiday.I always think of God,as a God of compassion and peace,not as a blood-thirsty cruel God that would order the murdering of millions of innocent.
I think this horrible happen because buddhist did not do there duty to exhort the world to stop kill animals
what do buddhist today do to stop kill animals in law????
the animal killing are spread, even when such horrbile festival happend like hajj in islam, and christmas in christianity etc.. the buddhist are greeting these foolish religions on massacring festivals!!!!!!
after all this, how would we want to stop kill animals!!!! when we do nothing to stop it!!!!!
there is thing I forget to mention, even when bhutan the only country in the world ban to kill animals, remove the banned in 2005.
where are buddhist???? why don’t they protest to change the new law in bhutan????
the lord buddha in his time are strongly resist hindu sacrifice of animals, not like buddhist today, which always silent!!!!!
It’s just because people don’t realize what cruel meat industry is, or (most of them) just don’t know. their parents, grandparents, grandgrandparents eat meat, they learn it’s ok do to this from childhood. In acient times, it would have been impossible to survive without eating meat. But nowadays it’s more than easy. So i think it’s important to tell friends, relative, anyone about this cruel reality and also about alternatives for getting required nutrients. If u tell ppl in a friendly way, vegetarianism-veganism spreads like virus
more and more ppl choose to be veg ^^