In 2001 foot and mouth outbreak more than 7 million animals were killed and their carcasses burnt in funeral pyres throughout Britain.Today’s Guardian has what it calls an “Explainer” that contains the following key point:
Britain came within hours of vaccinating cattle in 2001 after it was recommended by vets to protect animals in Cumbria and Devon. But farm leaders were sceptical and the food industry lobbied strongly for it not to be used because it was concerned it would affect export markets and put off consumers.
“The huge disincentive against vaccinating is that under trade rules any vaccinated animals have to go into a separate supply chain. This is costly and puts business off,” said Lawrence Woodward, director of the Elm Farm organic research centre.
We'd never seen a live badger before! (Not this one but one like him.)It’s Hastings Old Town Carnival Week and we’re living in the midst of it. As we left the house at about 8 p.m. for an evening stroll, the auction in the middle of the street opposite the Jenny Lind was well underway.
We walked down to the sea front and then up to the top of the East Hill to watch the sunset. This is pleasant enough — despite the cold weather in August — and makes us pleased to be living here but then we unexpectedly experience two things.
After strolling through some of the narrow streets of Elizabethan, Georgian and Victorian homes, we come across a lady throwing white bread into some bushes on the side of a hill. And then we notice a badger! And we stand there open mouthed watching Mr. Badger eating. And the lady says, “There’s usually some foxes.” And sure enough. We see two foxes. Magical.
We continue on our way toward All Saints Church and stand outside listening to a concert of live organ music that’s part of the carnival. The organist played continuously that was a medley of extracts from the classical and contemporary repertoire. Magical, too.
So, we make our way back to the Jenny Lind for a night cap. And sure enough the open air auction is still going strong more than two hours later!
There’s been a lot of press coverage since the weekend and the announcement of the foot and mouth outbreak on the Surrey farm. While we wait for tomorrow’s news as to whether a nearby government or commercial agricultural animal research laboratory is or is not the source of the virus, read today’s Guardian comment from Peter Melchett.
We can all help. Foot and mouth poses no risk to people. Vaccines against many serious diseases are widely used in farming, including organic farming (as they are in human health). Apart from vegans, all of us consume dairy products and meat from vaccinated animals. We can make it clear to Gordon Brown that, whatever “the science” tells him to do, we don’t want those funeral pyres back, and we don’t want the countryside closed. In return, we will eat the products of animals vaccinated against foot and mouth just as happily as we now eat animals vaccinated against many other diseases.
It’s worth repeating: Foot and mouth is an economic disease cured by veganism.
The next best thing to attending a presentation by Tom Regan is to watch him here and then here on You Tube!
Tom Regan recalls
To the best of my recollection, the speech I gave, as presented on YouTube, was given in 1989, in London, under the auspices of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. It was part of a debate over the question, “Does the animal kingdom need a bill of rights?” I spoke in favor of the proposal, as did Andrew Linzey and Richard Ryder. Germaine Greer and Mary Warnock spoke against against it.
For its time, the event was a big deal. As I recall, the BBC televised it throughout the UK on one of the national channels. The room (it was a formal setting, in a regal hall) was packed, those in the audience as respectful as they were attentive.
I do not think there was any formal, or informal, vote on the question. So who won the debate is not something anyone can know. I do know, though, that it was a memorable event in my life. For me, personally, I had never before (and have not since) had the opportunity to address so many people, at one time, and in so many different places, on the philosophy of animal rights. I will never forget it.
As to how it came to be posted on YouTube: I haven’t the foggiest idea.
Kim Stallwood is an independent scholar and author on animal rights. His forthcoming book, Animal Dharma, explores what it means to care deeply about animals. Starting in 1976, he has held leadership positions with some of the world’s foremost organisations in the UK and US, including CIWF, BUAV, PETA, The Animals’ Agenda, Animals and Society Institute and Minding Animals International. A vegetarian since 1974 when as a student he worked in a chicken slaughterhouse. A vegan since 1976. His evil twin is the Grumpy Vegan.
New Book!
Kim Stallwood's forthcoming book explores what it means to care deeply about animals and discovers how we can live peacefully with ourselves and others by proposing four key values: truth, compassion, nonviolence and interbeing.
