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Should animal cruelty be
one of our top exports?
Australia's
live export trade is a horror story. It's also a story of profit at
any cost.
Each year tens of thousands of Australian sheep and
cattle die agonizing deaths while being shipped abroad. And the
federal government issues export permits that allow this to
happen.
A History
of Irresponsibility
The
horrendous voyage of the MV Cormo Express was just business as
usual. The live export trade has a shocking record of
mass animal deaths that runs into the tens of thousands each year.
In 2002 some 73,700 sheep died, and nearly two thousand
cattle, including more than 40 percent of one shipment. Over the
past two decades, hundreds of thousands of animals have died by
drowning, disease, suffocation or starvation.
'Voyage of the damned'
Instead of
the sky above - there is solid steel. You
can hardly move. Instead of the earth beneath your feet
- you have a rolling deck. Your only choice is to eat
pellets -or as many do - starve and die. Instead of fresh air
- you breathe in ammonia fumes from the animal waste you're forced
to stand in. You are hot, you are hungry, you are distressed. You
watch others die - and you cannot understand what
has happened to you, or what you have done to deserve
this.
A
Gruesome End
Those animals
who survive this horror face a death that can only be described as
barbaric. Many overseas slaughter facilities operate with few or no
animal welfare laws or guidelines. In Egypt, incidents have been
witnessed of slaughtermen, unskilled in handling large Australian
cattle subduing struggling animals by slashing leg tendons with long
knives or incapacitating them by stabbing their
eyes.
Why the
live animal export trade must end
Death and
suffering
In the
past five years 372,595 sheep and 10,173 cattle have died on board
livestock vessels. Last
year 73,770 sheep and 2082 cattle died. Whilst we can
count the dead - no-one can measure the suffering of those animals
that survive the journey.
Acts of Cruelty
Australia has
animal welfare legislation to protect animals from acts of
cruelty. The countries that Australia exports animals to
do not. . The live export industry's claims
that they can improve handling practices and facilities in importing
countries lack any foundation - in fact witnesses attest to the
contrary. Supplied equipment has been not used, disabled and
stolen.
Ethics
and Morality
Can profits
for some, ever justify suffering - or disregarding our
responsibilities to animals? The live export industry aids and
abets animal cruelty.
Australia should be leading the
way….
Australia
prides itself in being an enlightened nation. In this country
we have the opportunity to set standards in animal care and
protection for the world to follow. Instead, we are currently
world leaders in an industry that is condemned as cruel and
unacceptable by every major international animal welfare
organisation. If Australia takes a stand saying live
export is unacceptable, it will support other citizens in
other countries who want their nation to make a similar ethical
decision.
Why the
live animal export industry will end
The live
animal export trade has been compared by many to the barbaric slave
trade of the 1800's. It is not hard to see why.
One day, these two industries will sit side by side on the most
shameful pages of human history.
Australians
want live export to end. We want to restore our nation's
reputation and become a generation of Australians who will be
remembered for putting ethics above profits.
The next 12 months are crucial. If we care enough - live
animal export can become the first animal welfare issue on which an
election outcome rests. Any government will put ethics
before profits … if they see that their political future depends on
it.
You can
help Animals Australia to end live export!
Tell Prime Minister Howard and your Federal
member of parliament -
Australians won't tolerate a government that
tolerates live animal
export.
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