Christian Vegetarian Association Blog


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CVA Blog
Monday, May 21, 2007

Are we extending our circle of compassion to all of God’s animals?

Welcome to the weekly CVA blog! In it you will find famous quotes, news and commentaries.

1. Vegetarian Cuisine More Popular
2. Famous quote – Dr. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), German Alsatian theologian, musician,
philosopher, physician and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
3. Animal Husbandry
4. Bible verse – Ephesians 4:32
5. Last US horse-slaughtering plant is granted a reprieve
6. Cooperation Benefits Farm Animals

1. European Union raises chicken welfare regulations: A new European Union (EU) directive that raises animal regulations for chickens raised for meat will go into effect 2010. It will include limits on space requirements along with requirements for lighting, litter, feeding, and ventilation to ensure better welfare, among others.

Although the European poultry industry says the new requirements will increase costs, Eurogroup for Animals counters that they can protect market share by appealing to welfare-conscious consumers. To read the full articles please visit Broiler chickens benefit from new EU welfare rules and Producers squawk as EU backs bigger chicken pens

Any step towards alleviating animal suffering brings us closer to being good stewards of God’s animals. However, most people do not need to eat animals for survival, and especially industrial agriculture is not a need for humanity. We should all strive to adopt a plant-based diet, honoring God and all Creation.

2. "We are compelled by the commandment of love contained in our hearts and thought, and proclaimed by Jesus, to give rein to our natural sympathy for animals. We are also compelled to help them and spare them suffering."
~ Dr. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), German Alsatian theologian, musician, philosopher, physician and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

3. Animal Husbandry: Veterinarian Brian J. Gerloff admonished most agricultural and animal-husbandry groups that oppose changing cruel animal-husbandry practices. He believes that people involved in animal agriculture "need to objectively look at our animal-husbandry practices as an outsider would. And we must look beyond the emphasis of profit and performance." Gerloff wants everyone to ask themselves: Can we look them in the eye, assured that we are doing our best as their caretakers? To read the full article please visit Look your food in the fact

The only way to look at animals in the eye and know we are treating them with compassion and respect is to let them live and exercise their God-given rights. While some people treat their farm animals more humanely/less abusively than others, at the end the animals are killed for human benefit, regardless of the animals’ desire to live or their fear of death. The transition to a plant-based diet helps us respect and obey God’s ideal plan for all creatures.

4. (RSV) Ephesians 4:32 "...and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Christ's teachings emphasize compassion, love and forgiveness. While it's not easy to show kindness and forgiveness to those we believe cause hurt and harm to God's animals, we should remember that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness. We can witness Christ's love for all by being good stewards of God's Creation to the best of our abilities.

5. Last US horse-slaughtering plant is granted a reprieve: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit decided 2-1 to allow horse-slaughter plant in Illinois to temporally continue slaughtering horses for overseas markets. The decision was based on Cavel International's claim arguing "that it will go out of business absent a stay" because it will not be able to operate while its appeal of the court ruling is pending. To read the full article please visit Illinois horse-meat plant get reprieve

This federal court decision is a set-back in becoming better stewards of God’s Creation. Slaughtering God’s animals for human profit and benefit shows how hardened our hearts have become toward sentient creatures who desire to live free from human exploitation. Humanity should strive to adopt a plant-based diet for it honors God and benefits all Creation.

6. Cooperation Benefits Farm Animals: Steve Bjerklie, meat industry writer, notes that cooperation and conversation between the industry and animal advocates have accomplished more in favor of animal welfare than confrontation and argument. Public opinion seems to have played a crucial role. Paul Shapiro, the Humane Society of the U.S.’s director of anti-factory farming campaigns, said "I think more and more people in the industry are understanding that it’s unwise to defend what the public believes is indefensible."

To read the full article please visit http://www.meatpoultry.com/feature_stories_print.asp?ArticleID=85286

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