From The Missing Peace:
“Existing on a plant-based diet is a loving choice. It is a decision to refrain from contributing to harm caused to any living being. Imagine a life where caring for one another and sharing food, thoughts and love are the centerpiece of existence; one that involves laying your head on the pillow at night, knowing that today you caused no suffering.”
Regrettably, animals that are raised for food have very few laws protecting them from abuse, overcrowding, filth, and neglect, not to mention the complete lack of exercise, access to practice their natural instincts, and void of sunshine, dirt and fresh air. The absence of legal rights for farm animals — as opposed to domestic animals is appalling.
Although, the ” Humane Slaughter Act of 1978″ exists, which states that animals in slaughterhouses are required to receive “proper treatment’ and “humane handling’ whatever you believe that to be, this law does not apply to fowl. And sadly, it is rarely, if ever, adhered to in any farm animal or fowl factory farm- because the numbers of animals slaughtered are too great to allow any kind of humane treatment. (USDA)
Laws need to be enacted to either stop the barbaric slaughter process and the factory farm environment, or soon our food won’t be safe to eat nor will it be nutritious enough to swallow. Animal deaths caused by illness and lack of nutrition is commonplace as the numbers can attest — only about 75% of them make to slaughter alive. They are sickly, diseased, weak and shot with hormones, antibiotics and eat food that isn’t fit for a rat. Something has got to change to enable them a better life, as well as a healthier environment for them as well as humans.
To read the complete article by Tina Volpe, visit: Animals as Food
Since recently reading one of my favorite Author’s articles on the exact same topic of Happy Cows, I thought I’d put my thoughts down on the subject as well. Since the swindlers are advertising Milk now as well as Cheese in Happy Cow, California …. (actually those commercials are filmed in New Zealand). I am a little bit more frustrated about this entire fabrication.
Happy Cows come from California
The television commercial, “Happy Cows come from California” airs on National television at least daily, in several different scenarios. The central commercial is depicting female milk cows in a beautiful pasture scene talking about how wonderful their lives are in California, sometimes introducing a new cow from another state raving about the weather and how beautiful it is there. The ad goes on to claim “Great cheese comes from happy cows. Happy cows come from California” portrayed in big bold words on your screen.
Surveys have proven the effectiveness of the inclusion of animals into an advertisement, photo or commercial. (Think Geico/gecko or the Aflac duck). It draws the viewers’ attention to the ad by using a subject that creates an emotional response, as most people love animals. This ad is also playing on the heartstrings of people who are concerned with animal welfare but who are unaware of the reality of the dairy business. The industry that is spending billions of dollars on these advertisements appears to be trying to influence people into believing that their production of dairy is humane and safe. This could not be further from the truth. A huge percentage of people eat cheese, so their target audience is the general consumer, i.e. anyone who shops for and consumes food. This ad is also making an effort to ease consumers’ concern for ethics in dairy production practices.
The commercial is focused on an idyllic scene of cows in a grassy green pasture with rolling hills, a few oak trees scattered around for shade, a sunny day and blue sky with white puffy clouds and a red, old-fashioned barn in the background – typical of a Norman Rockwell painting. The cows are smiling and seemingly happy. All of the cows pictured are Holstein bred cows (black and white), which are the most common milk cow used today. They are exceptionally clean and give the impression of being well fed, both physically and emotionally, and appear to be living a life of bliss.
The Milk Advisory Board paying for these commercials is obviously trying to thwart any notion of abuse or misuse of these beautiful and peaceful creatures because evidence has proven otherwise. (1) This ad also appears to be a reaction to the many lawsuits filed against the industry for inhumane treatment by the groups attempting to hold them accountable for their actions. (2) This ad also appears to be a huge endeavor to keep afloat in a seriously drowning industry. The milk industry is experiencing a downturn in business as more and more dairy farms are closing regularly. (3) It seems that keeping cows alive and well enough to produce 100 times the milk that would naturally be produced for their offspring, with added antibiotics, bovine growth hormones and all the other foreign garbage they feed them is costing them a fortune. Cows continue to die prematurely at an alarming rate as a consequence of their maltreatment and the industries profits die right along with them.
False advertising is a crime, however, considering that the bovine sensibilities and pain thresholds are difficult to prove since they cannot speak, the milk industry, since winning one arm of the lawsuit brought to them by PETA, has the OK from the legal system to continue to air these commercials. The Milk Advisory Board is trying to appeal to their viewers sense of ethics and morals by relieving consciences for the consumption of inhumane animal products in an effort to help the industry look beautiful, kind, loving and oh-so responsible. Their appeal to consumers is an attempt to provide proof – via these commercials – that their dairies and products are safe and nutritious. That most consumers cannot live without the protein or outstanding health benefits they supply. Unfortunately they have reached deep into their pockets to put out some of the most blatant lies ever aired on television.
The fact that advertisers in all facets of our lives try to ‘trick’ us into buying their products by appealing to some deeply seeded need or deceptive emotional requirement is absolutely unethical. What is even more astonishing is that a large percentage of consumers fall for the ads. We all purchase products without further research, trusting that these companies deliver what they are selling. We as consumers have to learn that not a single ad on television in newspapers or magazines can be trusted.
The illegal ad practice known as “failure to inform” is what is being used in the “Happy Cow” commercials; however, there are probably a few others not identified. False advertising has become big business and a consumer nightmare.
The point is that it is shameful that this type of deceit exists at all. Most people like myself are easily fooled when it comes to merchandise that promises to make us look and feel younger, thinner, grow more hair, even have better sex. Most of these things tempt customers to purchase based on the premise that these products will work. Why? Because the advertisement stated that it would. I think as consumers, we have to realize that there is a heck of a lot of deception going on out there in the marketing and advertising industry.
What the Happy Cow commercials are selling is good clean dairy food, namely cheese. Dairy is a food that is very detrimental to the human body. The Milk Advisory Board knows this; they have all seen the reports, statistics and the evidence of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and a host of other ailments that their products cause. (4) But ethics and responsibility fly out the window when the bottom line is money. How much money can they make with these contemptible commercials? How many more people can they fool into purchasing their products? Plenty. Their ads are effective and their tactics are working. In researching some comments on this ad from Happy Cow websites, most people who comment state they “just love” these commercials. Some even believe that this is the life cows lead in dairy farms. Most don’t even get up or change the television channel when the ad airs. They think the cows and the scenarios are adorable and the ad is appealing to the audiences’ pathos and in many cases logos.
I think we must become smarter and wiser than succumbing to these deceptive advertisements. That is the bottom line in fighting this trickery, not buying the products that do not project truth, which fuels their pockets to do more of the same.
1. Advocacy for Animals;
2007 The big Business of Dairy Farming; Big trouble for cows
http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2007/06/dairy-farming/
Unhappy cows come from California:
(http://tinyurl.com/yaj854o) or (http://www.unhappycows.com/)
2 UnhappyCows.com: 2010 PETA Takes “Happy Cows” Lawsuit to Higher Court. www.peta.org/feat/caldairy/index.html
3 Burnett, John – NPR
2009 Independent Farmers feel Squeezed by Milk Cartel
http://tinyurl.com/ncnalq
4. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
2010 Health Concerns about Dairy Products
http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/dairy.html
| We like to think of our little 10 acres as a wildlife refuge, but two days ago on July 12 it decidedly was not I was out behind our house admiring the blooming flowers when suddenly our neighbor’s three dogs found a baby deer nestled in the grasses and began chasing him. He cried loudly for his mother. He sounded just like a baby lamb. He was so frightened. Mom came running but stopped at the horrifying sight of three very fast dogs leaping and biting and me running and screaming at the dogs trying to get them to stop. I was running as fast as I could (which is pretty slow compared to the deer and the dogs) as they weaved back and forth among the grasses and trees. Finally, they cornered the baby in the creek. He was under the water except for his little head and obviously trapped by both the creek banks and the dogs. Thankfully,I was able to get him into my arms and carry him back to the house. He was soaking wet and bleeding badly from a bite on his hip. They nicked his ears and neck too. I saw the momma deer at the beginning of the chase so I knew she was somewhere watching. Before I took her baby into the house, I called out to her and told her I would bring her baby back to her, hoping I could keep my promise.
The bleeding finally stopped, and I called our local wildlife rehabilitation center–Operation Wildlife in Linwood, KS–and after describing his injuries, they agreed I should bring him in to them. As it turned out, the OWL staff found no broken bones, sutured him up, and gave him something for shock. They felt the best bet would be to try to reunite him with his mother and ask the neighbor to keep her dogs at home for a while (which I did). So here’s the miraculous part. I brought him back home just before nightfall. I set him down on the ground close to the deer path, intending to either nestle him in the grass and keep watch or follow him as best I could. And then I looked north toward the treeline. There she was about 100 feet from me waiting for her promised little one. He was a bit wobbly but off he went to join his mother who would know better than any of us how to feed and care for him. I walked the deer trails on our 10 acres the next morning hoping not to find him, and I didn’t. I believe Momma has taken him to a safer area. I feel so grateful that I was where I needed to be to help that precious baby deer and his mother. Holding him in my lap and close to my heart once I reached the house was a memory I will cherish forever. As we both caught our breath, I was amazed at how he seemed to trust me and somehow know that I meant him no harm. Time stood still as I felt his heart beating and gazed at his astonishing beauty–his perfect ears; his big, soulful eyes; the white camouflage dots on his silky back; his tiny hooves. It is said that those who are awake in this world live in a constant state of awe and amazement at the miracles all around us. It is moments like these that wake us up to the truth. All beings love life and freedom. May we all do our part to protect them and do them no harm They are not ours to hunt or eat or wear or dominate. They are here, like we are, to celebrate life in all its wonders. Operation Wildlife was wonderful and definitely helped save this little guy’s life They always need donations, and they have lots of animals to rescue, rehab and release, especially this time of year. So if you can, consider sending them a donation. You can donate online at www.owl-online.org. Peace to all beings all the time–Judy |
Thelma and Beauty
The animals I am lucky enough to share my life with – never cease to amaze me with the kindness they show to one another. Of course there is the occasional misunderstanding, or pecking order disagreement, but generally the chickens, turkeys, ducks, peacocks and all of the others are simply amazing in the love and kindness, even empathy – shown to one another.
The photo that is attached shows Thelma, one of the turkey’s I have adopted, and Beauty, an older Rhode Island Red chicken who has been with me her entire life…
Beauty is getting old by chicken standards, and it shows it in her walk - a slight limp and a very slow methodical manner of getting around is what can be seen from the outside. She is very trusting and sweet, and comes to humans for pets on occasion. She sometimes gets picked on by the younger chickens. But, Thelma is having none of that. She actually sits next to Beauty, sometimes covering her with a wing in a protective pose and when anyone comes around to touch Beauty’s food or thinks about picking on her, Thelma puts herself between Beauty and the other animal. When I see this, it displays love in a fashion that I wish I knew more of in this world.
Thelma passes up some of the treats I throw outside, something that most fowl will never do, in order to stay close to Beauty. It is astonishing how kind and gentle turkeys are, it took me awhile to realize they were such loving, kind and gentle beings. They have always been aloof, even to me, who raised them as babies, but to take on an older chicken to protect is beyond any kindness or empathy I would’ve imagined from a turkey. One of the “labeled” creatures for being the least intelligent. There is no stupidity in any turkey I have ever known. In fact, I’ve known more unintelligent human beings.
I am continually amazed at turkeys. They move in a slow and steady manner, never getting ruffled or excited, unless threatened by a peacock or an aggressive rooster, and even then, they perk up their feathers, show a little strength, and go on their merry way. Not ever have I seen a turkey actually attack or try to harm another animal who lives on this farm.
In the mornings when I open the pen to allow them their freedom, they are graceful and excited to be free and enthusiastically run toward the feeding area making excited cooing sounds…they usually spend their days dust bathing, picking at plants and grass and are peaceful and quiet creatures.
I cannot imagine ever doing any harm to any of these loving birds. I rescue them, but I would never consider eating them. I imagine what their brothers and sisters, OUR brothers and sisters for that matter are enduring in factory farms and slaughterhouses. These gentle birds constantly suffering makes me very sad. That someone could do harm to another creature who by nature protects older chickens – sickens me. I wish I could save them all.
Instead, I plea to others who do not have the opportunity to know turkeys the way that I do, to take my word – and to please help them too. Start by not eating them. Our food industry is consumer driven. The more of us that refrain from purchasing these beloved animals in those plastic wrapped packages, the more our voices will ring out that we don’t agree with the lives these animals lead.
The Nautilus Book Awards, whose mission is, “Changing the World One Book at a Time”, has named The Missing Peace: The Hidden Power of our Kinship with Animals as a 2010 Silver Award winner.
The Missing Peace shines a light on something we, as individuals and as a society, often neglect to see: the missing piece—our relationship with animals. Part I of the book is full of true, life-altering stories, guaranteed to prompt us to take a deeper look at our own dietary and lifestyle choices. Part II examines the spiritual, scientific and historical reasons for changing our views towards animals.
The Nautilus Book Awards was established in the year 2000 to honor and celebrate print and audio books of exceptional merit that make a literary and heartfelt contribution to spiritual growth, conscious living, high-level wellness, green values, responsible leadership and positive social change, as well as to the worlds of art, creativity and inspiration. The Silver and Gold winners are carefully selected in a three- tier judging process by an experienced team of book reviewers, librarians, authors, editors, bookstore owners, and leaders in the publishing industry.
Winning authors reflect the Nautilus Awards mission and include such distinguished authors and teachers as Deepak Chopra, Thich Nhat Hanh, Barbara Kingsolver, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Joel Olsteen, Caroline Myss, and Marianne Williamson. Founder, Marilyn McGuire, has created the “Nautilus Library of Imagination & Possibility” where all Nautilus Award winners are featured.
Here is the first part of a recent amazing interview with Dr. Jane Goodall by Bill Moyers for PBS. It was inspiring to watch. Dr. Goodall followed her dream by going into the jungles of Africa at a time when such expeditions, especially for a woman, were unheard of. Her compassion for both animals and people alike have led her to tirelessly travel the world, speaking on the importance of environmental conservation, on following dreams, and on a greater spirituality that unites us all. I hope you enjoy this interview.
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BILL MOYERS JOURNAL | Dr. Jane Goodall pt. 1 | PBS
Hope is the baby duckling hatched with only one moving leg -the bad one is stuck in the bent position and won’t open. I wasn’t sure she would make it – at first. She could barely reach the food or water, and didn’t seem interested. I held her up to the food and water several times a day and she would eat and drink, but would not eat or drink on her own.
Taking care of animals has been the biggest joy of my life, and a return to my childhood of having farm animals as friends. I started an animal sanctuary here in Parks, Arizona and began rescuing animals – only to be temporarily distracted from having a full fledged sanctuary, but presently happy with the mini-sanctuary that I wake to every AM – I can’t help but want to share some of the amazing acts I witness on a daily basis by these wonderful beings.
Dr. Grandin’s book “Animals Make Us Human” was a disappointment to this animal rights/vegan. I can only justify the reason for its apparent popularity, in part, to the underlying supposition being similar to Mr. John Mackey’s (CEO of Whole Foods) Humane Meat premise. One that is predicated on an attempt to give readers some “guilt relief” in their consumption of animal flesh and secretions and minimizes the responsibility to really consider the consequences of their actions on animals, the environment and health.
