Farmed Animal Watch - May 9, 2003

1. ANIMAL LIBERATION: 30 YEARS ON
"Animal Liberation at 30," appears in the May 15th issue of The New York Review of Books. Philosopher Peter Singer examines the philosophical debate over the moral status of nonhuman animals and discusses the progress that has been made in raising that status since his original essay, "Animal Liberation," was published in the Review in 1973. (A ten-year retrospective was published in 1985.) Marking the first time the phrase appeared in print, the 1973 essay introduced readers to the concept of animal liberation. Since then, the literature on the moral status of animals has grown from about 100 works to an estimated thousands.

The new article assesses the current state of the philosophical debate over the moral status of animals by asking and responding to 2 questions: Can speciesism itself be defended, and, if not, are there other morally relevant differences between humans and other animals that justify putting human interests far above the interests of the others. Examining the 1st question in 3 brief paragraphs, Singer asserts: "The continuing failure of philosophers to produce a plausible theory of the moral importance of species membership indicates, with increasing probability, that there can be no such thing." The 2nd question is considered in the next few pages. Singer refutes the argument that inclusion in the moral community should be based on the ability to reciprocate. He also notes the problem with many other proposed criteria in that some humans do not possess the qualifying characteristics while at least some other animals do. Arguments for and against determining nonhuman animal rights on the basis of human rights claims are explained.

Singer then visits arguments for giving the interests of all sentient beings equal consideration (in contrast to "rights"), a position to which he subscribes. He considers the wrongness of killing animals who have a realization of the future, and again contrasts the interests vs. rights-based views. Matthew Scully's Dominion (see issue #99) receives special mention as "a work that, although not philosophically rigorous, has had a remarkable amount of sympathetic publicity in the conservative press...." Singer states, "The history of the modern animal movement makes a nice counterexample to skepticism about the impact of moral argument on real life." He goes on to describe Henry Spira's groundbreaking strategy (see issue #63 and http://www.vegan.com/issues/1998/sep98/spira.htm ), and notes movement successes in regard to animal experimentation, fur, and companion animal overpopulation.

The remainder of the essay is devoted to farmed animal issues. It is noted that, with over 10 billion birds and mammals killed for food last year in the U.S. alone, animal agriculture constitutes the greatest source of human-inflicted suffering on animals. Singer contrasts farmed animal welfare developments in Europe -where "entire industries are being transformed because of the concern of the public for the welfare of farm animals"- with the situation in the U.S. The requirement for European egg companies to provide hens with access to a perch and nesting box and at least 120 square inches of space per hen by 2012 are deemed "drastic changes that will transform the living conditions of more than [200] million hens" (see N.10, V.2). In the U.S., hens typically have 48 square inches of space. Requirements imposed by some fast-food companies, which require egg suppliers to give hens 72 square inches (see issue #90), bring the standards up to those being phased out in Europe. They are described as "the first hopeful signs for American farm animals since the modern animal movement began." Intensive veal production, whereby calves are intentionally made anemic, deprived of bedding and kept crated, has long been illegal in Britain and will be banned in the European Union by 2007. Pig gestation stalls were banned in Britain in 1998 and are also being phased out in Europe (see issue #41).

Singer asks if Americans are less concerned with animal suffering than are Europeans. He explains how the money required for political campaigns give agribusiness financial contributors far greater control over the U.S. political system. He states that, by the same token, U.S. campaigns against corporations have been more successful than legislative or governmental ones. The successful Florida referendum against pig gestation stalls (see issue #94), which bypassed "the legislative roadblock," is given as evidence that it is a failure of democracy, rather than apathy, which causes the U.S. to lag so behind Europe in these matters. As evidence that animal liberation, "a purely moral demand," can succeed, Singer points to the progressive developments that have occurred, the dedication of animal protection advocates, and the increase in vegetarianism.

Contrasting this, he notes that popular philosophical views far from adopt the position that the interests of all [sentient] beings be given equal consideration. Additionally, most people still eat meat, oblivious [or ignorant] to the suffering of the animals involved; the number of animals consumed is much higher than it was 30 years ago and prosperity in Asia threatens to further escalate it. World Trade Organization rules threaten European animal welfare gains by permitting cheap imports from countries with lower standards. Singer concludes: "In short, the outcome so far indicates that as a species we are capable of altruistic concern for other beings; but imperfect information, powerful interests, and a desire not to know disturbing facts have limited the gains made by the animal movement."

2. CANADIAN ANTI-CRUELTY BILL CONTROVERSY
Canada is in the process of revising its 111-year-old law against cruelty to animals. First tabled in 1999, C-10B would increase penalties from a maximum of 6 months in jail and fines of $2,000 to 5 years and up to $10,000. Those convicted could also face a lifetime ban on keeping animals. The bill defines an animal as "a vertebrate, other than a human being, and any other animal that has the capacity to feel pain." Arguing that there is continuing scientific debate about "whether a being has the capacity to feel pain, the Senate's standing committee on legal and constitutional affairs called the definition overly broad and has proposed amending it to "a vertebrate, other than a human being." It declared: "The definition in Bill C-10B feeds into concerns that the bill adheres to animal-rights philosophy and that an ideological shift is taking place in favour of the emancipation of animals."

The committee charges that the bill invites frivolous prosecutions against agriculturalists, researchers, hunters and aboriginal Canadians. It wants to expand the bill's definition of an offense from one that focuses on anyone who "willfully or recklessly kills an animal without lawful excuse" to "....without lawful excuse and without necessity." It also wants to include groups that would, under certain circumstances, be exempted from the bill as long as the pain, suffering or injury caused to animals was part of their normal activities (e.g., farmers and researchers). Another exemption would cover natives practicing traditional hunting, trapping or fishing. The committee is also advocating for the "colour of right" defense, whereby an accused person could state an animal was their property to treat as they saw fit.

Animal-protection advocates accuse the Senate committee of capitulating to the animal-industry lobby, contending that the exemptions would create a two-tiered law. They claim the amendments would make animal cruelty cases more difficult to prosecute and set the law "back prior to 1892." The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and the International Fund for Animal Welfare are among those threatening to withdraw their support of the bill. The bill is supported by the Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and the governments of Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

"Bureaucrat Defends Cruelty Bill; Admits Killing ‘Many a Mouse," CanWest News Service, Peter O'Neil, April 30, 2003.
http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=e5ae275a-b8e4-4a04-9f97-6c04842b1486
"Definition of ‘Animal' May Hold Up Cruelty Law," The Globe and Mail, Kim Lunman, 4/22/03.
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030422.uanim0422/BNStory/National
SEE ALSO: "Crimes Against Animals," The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.
http://www.cfhs.ca/CriminalCode/index.htm
"Bill C-10 Criminal Code (Cruelty to Animals)," Alberta Farm Animal Care.
http://www.afac.ab.ca/LawsRegs/CrueltyAnimals.htm

3. FISH FEEL
A recent study has provided new evidence that fish can experience pain and distress. It found that fish have nervous system receptors that respond to aversive stimuli. According to the U.K. researchers, the fish showed "profound behavi[or]al and physiological changes comparable to those observed in higher mammals." They demonstrated a rocking motion remarkably similar to that exhibited by stressed mammals (including humans) and other behavior that did not appear to be mere reflex responses. The findings are in contrast to a recent paper by a University of Wyoming professor which states that fish do not possess the necessary and specific regions of the brain to enable them to feel fear or pain. Acknowledging that letting tens of millions of fish suffocate each year is unacceptable (it can take up to 10 minutes for fish to asphyxiate), U.K. fish farmers are considering the stunning of fish prior to slaughter. The U.K.'s government-appointed Farm Animal Welfare Council and the RSPCA have repeatedly called for regulations on the welfare of farmed fish. Brussels is proposing that fish be given the same level of welfare as is given to cattle, pigs and sheep.

"Scientists net evidence that fish feel pain," The Herald, James Freeman, April 30, 2003.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/archive/30-4-19103-0-31-41.html
"Stunning Fish Before Death Considered by EU," The Calgary Herald, Anthony Browne, 5/3/03.
http://131.104.232.9/animalnet/2003/5-2003/animalnet_may_5.htm#STUNNING
SEE ALSO: "The Hook Hurts - Will Anglers Feel the Pain?" The Times (of London), Valerie Elliott, April 30, 2003. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-663956,00.html
"Pain in Fish," Michael Cockram. http://www.vet.ed.ac.uk/animalwelfare/Fish%20pain/fish%20pain.htm

4. ENDING ANIMAL AGRICULTURE EDUCATION
As its premiere campaign, Responsible Policies for Animals (RPA), a new organization based in Glenside, Pa., is contacting universities and asking them to stop teaching animal agriculture. The campaign title, "10,000 Years is Enough," refers to the amount of time humans are believed to have practiced animal agriculture, which RPA says has now become "a merciless industrial monster." In a fact sheet, RPA states: "The most destructive changes to animal agriculture have occurred since Congress passed the Morrill Act of 1862 establishing land-grant universities to teach agriculture in the public interest." It goes on to say that teaching animal agriculture diminishes universities' credibility and intellectual integrity. The fact sheet explains why "Preventing needless animal suffering and deaths is reason enough" to stop teaching animal agriculture. It also discusses associated resource inefficiency, environmental contamination, health hazards and political problems. The head of the U. of Arizona animal sciences department called the campaign "misguided." He contends the research is done to benefit animals by improving their lifestyles. He also said the vision of a commercial animal-free world is unattainable due to land limitations and dietary needs. RPA also takes issue with universities funding the "atrocities" of animal-agriculture industries, which it says is not in the public interest. RPA intends to send a letter to universities in every state.

5. FARMED ANIMAL VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE
The number of veterinary students interested in farmed animal medicine is believed to be decreasing. Fewer veterinary graduates are entering farmed animal practice and many vets are leaving it. This is resulting in a shortage of farmed animal vets in the public, private, industrial and academic sectors. Such a shortage could cause the public to lose confidence in animal agriculture and its products. The increased threat of exotic diseases and bioterrorism heightens concern. Already, colleges are having trouble finding professors to teach large animal medicine, and rural practices are withering. In Canada, the B.C. government is experiencing difficulty finding a veterinary pathologist to work with fish farms, and both provincial and federal agencies are having trouble finding young vets to work with animals bound for slaughter.

Some believe the shortage is due to an image problem with the profession. Graduates may not be interested in the demanding schedule and substantial travel required to treat farmed animals. Others attribute it to the increasing predominance of female vet students. (In the U.S., about 70% of vet students are female, in Canada about 80% are.) One member of a Canadian task force studying the makeup of the profession explains: "Many practitioners feel strongly that we need more men in the profession if we are going to continue to meet the needs of society.....In general, women do not want to do farm animal practice which is very physically demanding, can be very wet and dirty and muddy and frustrating for someone who was raised in the city and never had to do farm animal chores." Some suggest that young rural males may not be able to academically compete with urban females. A controversial suggestion has been a quota system guaranteeing a certain number of vet school positions to men. Others say males are more attracted to more lucrative professions. Doctors and lawyers can make 3-4 times more money than do veterinarians.

In the U.S., a conference about this was held in October 2002 (see issue #89), and the Food Animal Summit Task Force has met several times to determine why this trend is happening and how to change it. The Task Force, comprised of members of various related veterinary practitioner groups, is planning an evaluative study of the matter. Results are expected by mid-2004. The study is intended to evaluate factors affecting potential farmed animal veterinary students, and determine how to recruit them and retain graduates.

"Food Animal Veterinarian Shortage Causing Growing Concern," The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Kate O'Rourke, January 15, 2003. http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/jan03/030115a.asp
"Male Vets in Short Supply," National Post, Margaret Munro, 05/05/03: http://tinyurl.com/bcjs
http://www.nationalpost.com/search/site/story.asp?id=9418FA11-2776-4F22-AFB1-53A740774AFA
"Task Force to Study Needs of Food Animal Veterinarians," The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, May 1, 2003. http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/may03/030501k.asp

6. ACTIVISTS SHUT DOWN EGG FACTORY
Gimranas Inc., the largest chicken hatchery in Sweden, the 11th largest in the world, was broken into on April 27th by 3 activists with Bye Bye Egg Industry (see N.10, V.2). The activists simultaneously entered 2 parts of the complex in 2 different towns, and destroyed hatching and brooding machines used to produce chickens for the egg industry. Some 42,000 eggs, which were a few days old, were cooled down. All of the machines in one factory were destroyed, resulting in a shutdown lasting several weeks. The loss is estimated to be about $240,000. A press release from the group stated: "This was an act of civil disobedience, done openly, with the purpose of preventing thousands of hens being born to a life full of agony." The activists left a letter for employees explaining that their actions were not to be taken personally but rather were an attack on the egg industry in general. They also left coffee and a vegan cake for them. Two of the activists were arrested at the site while the third was later picked up while leafletting about the attack. They were kept in isolation cells for 2 days and then released. A trial date is expected in a few months. They face a maximum of 4 years in prison but anticipate a sentence of a few months incarceration and liability for the damages. Photographs are posted on the web site listed below.

7. VEGGIE PRIDE MARCH
Veggie Pride will be held in Paris on May 17th. The event is being held to denounce "vegephobia," defend vegetarians' rights, and show support for the rights of farmed animals. The organizers state: "We refuse to rob sentient beings of their sole possessions, of their very flesh, their very lives; we refuse to take part in a concentration camp system which turns their short lives into a perpetual torment." For more information, including a manifesto, see: http://www.VeggiePride.org