Guest guest Posted December 29, 2007 Report Share Posted December 29, 2007 John Edmundson Dear John, Animals Asia has never claimed success in relation to any dog or cat laws in China - there are none and, as you say, any that would address so-called humane slaughter would be unrealistic and unenforceable. Our aim remains to remove them from the dinner table and to extend that level of consciousness in people's minds to acknowledge the suffering for all animals in the food chain. We are not an organisation campaigning for vegetarianism now simply because we don't have the reserves of time and funds to be all things to all animals and, in that context, I cannot accept your criticism that I am speciesist. We focus on certain species to end barbaric practices - and to prove a point for future programmes that the species concerned differs no less than other species caught up in similar practices. It is important to be as informed as possible about specific subjects and with the bear farming industry as an example, I believe that we have the information to stand firmly behind the statement that bear farming is cruel, unnecessary and harmful to bears and people alike - and can back this up through welfare, medicine and science. Because we focus on bear farming are you once again accusing us of speciesism and insisting that we take on tiger farming or the farming of musk deer and Saiga antelope too? If we concentrate our efforts on ending one such practice and, if we succeed, we are surely closing the argument for ending those other abuses that operate under similar conditions and lies. Of course I am appalled by the sight of any animal on the food table, but by working on a project which highlights dogs and cats as animals we know have become more loved and respected than ever before in China, surely we are going down the right track of " eventually " sparking a convincing debate of sentience and intelligence in other food animals. Personally for me, the " light " in animal welfare and rights in China is the growing emergence of local groups and individuals who are clearly becoming a force for change and we will continue with as much encouragement and funding of these groups as we can manage as the progress continues. Below is the letter from which you took the extract as am not sure you have it in full. It was in response to deserved criticism that one of my arguments suggested that dogs and cats as food animals belong in a different category to other farmed domestic species. John Wedderburn also picked me up on this and thus a clarification and apology was sent. I don't believe that John is on our Board to influence change - he only has to pick up the phone and tell us if he is unhappy with any aspect of our work. Best wishes, Jill A recent statement which was issued by Animals Asia regarding our " Friends or Food " campaign requires clarification. We are not suggesting that farm animals in intensive farming practices don't suffer - they do. One of the issues that we highlight points to the fact that animals raised historically in farming practices have generally evolved to adapt better to herd or flock situations. However, in reality as we all know, it is not so clear cut - and animals do suffer enormously today as a result of intensively confined conditions. Similarly, raising dogs and cats under these conditions compounds the trauma that they suffer in the live animal markets of Asia. Dogs, particularly, are so stressed in these situations that they attack each other in unrelenting bouts of aggression, which is as horrifying as witnessing the slaughter itself. Our fear is that if we introduce other farmed species within this issue of slaughtering dogs and cats for food, there will be more of a risk that legislators in Asia will call for " humane " slaughter for all - and then add companion animals to their official list of foods. Acknowledging that the word humane means little to slaughterhouse victims across the world, it would also be hard, if not impossible, to introduce humane raising and slaughter methods for dogs and cats. We know that in China especially - a country with no welfare legislation - that even if such legislation were introduced, the suffering would not end but would continue behind closed doors. Such legislation would also undermine the tireless work of groups across Asia who have successfully lobbied for the cessation of dog and cat eating in various countries. I believe that we have to heighten the case for companion animals whilst people in Asia are speaking increasingly loudly in their defence. In China the status for dogs and cats is changing fast - for the first time in the history of the country people from within, together with legislators, are now publicly calling for change, and this unprecedented action is also being watched very closely by the decision makers. Our point is that by focussing on dogs and cats - animals which are fast becoming recognised as our best friends/companions/helpers here in China as they are in the West - then we can work towards having them removed from the table and ultimately present that same argument of suffering for helping other animals within the food chain. Again, with sincere apologies for any offence caused, we recognise and abhor the reality that farm animals suffer horribly in today's industry and would not wish anyone to think otherwise. Best wishes, Jill john edmundson wrote: > Hi Jill, > > Thank you for your email to me - I was highly surprised to receive it. > > OK - I agree to your request - I will elaborate. > > Is there any trace of " Kill some - love some " within your " Animals > Asia Foundation " Jill ? > > I bookmarked this post a few months ago - > > http://pets.aapn/message/12118 > > Excerpt - > > / " Our point is that by focussing on dogs and cats - animals which are fast > becoming recognised as our best friends/companions/helpers here in > China as they are in the West - then we can work towards having them > removed from the table and ultimately present that same argument of > suffering for helping other animals within the food chain. " / > > " Ultimately " - what an unusual word to use ! - it does not give a > reader of your post any indication that it is going to be anytime soon > that you will include these " other animals " - the less cuddly ones. > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speciesism > > As far as I am aware such a speciesist approach to promoting Animal > Rights has never helped animals " within the food chain " in a tangible > way anywhere in the world - the new pro-cat / pro-dog " laws " which > your group may sometimes claim to have influenced will largely be > unenforceable / ignored. > > Yes - speciesism does make for easier " short term " fund raising - for > a group which perhaps has leaders with " low self-esteem " issues to > work through. > > I personally place speciesism on a par with racism & sexism Jill - I > consider it to be a deep perversion - speciesism is a " tried & failed " > strategy. > > In the past John Wedderburn has strongly recommended people to read > the writings of Gary Francione - I have also heard John speak out very > strongly about individuals whom he considers to be racist. > > Is John on the Board of " Animals Asia Foundation " because he plans to > " ultimately " influence some of it's misguided policies Jill - have you > asked John about this? - I strongly suspect this this may be his strategy. > > Like every other country China certainly has a high proportion of > highly intelligent but mainly meat addicted people - as in every other > country the Chinese horribly mistreat animals before slaughtering them. > > When treating an alcohol addict you do not say - " I suggest that you > stop drinking spirits but it is OK to drink wines & beers " . > > Jill I strongly suggest to you that your attachment to speciesism is > perhaps a major disservice to animals in China. Jan 1 is almost here - > if you now resolve to get over it, refocus your group & move forward > in a really positive way I believe that you will see really fine results. > > Best wishes. > > > > John Edmundson > > *Former Meat Ingester & MBE (Member of the Bloody Empire)* > > */Jill Robinson <jrobinson/* wrote: > > John, is this a reference below to Animals Asia? I can only think > so as > John is on our Board. If so, please can you elaborate? Jill > > Jill Robinson MBE > Founder & CEO > Animals Asia Foundation > > ANIMALS ASIA HAS A BRAND NEW WEBSITE! > Find out more about the " China Bear Rescue " and " Friends.....or Food " > http://www.animalsasia.org > > > > John Edmundson wrote: > > > > I propose Merritt to be the new Moderator of this group! > > > > I believe that Merritt will be fair / unbiased. > > > > Most of Azam's posts are very helpful / very informative - however I > > would like to reply to Azam's small % of very crazy posts. > > > > My full & frank response to Azam's last bout of temporary madness > > was " censored " by our current Moderator AKA " Dad " ! > > > > Posts by known criminals get past him! > > > > Posts from " Kill some - love some " groups in which he has a position > > get past him! > > > > It is time for a change at the top! > > > > Are there any other nominations? / volunteers for our next > Moderator? > > > > aapn , Merritt > > Clifton wrote: > > > > > > >'SHOULD' is not that serious an offence as members cracking JOKES > > on > > > >serious animal rights issues at times that are up for debate/ > > > >discussions on AAPN which MUST be dealt with strictly. > > > > > > > > > Any idea that can't withstand the test of humor isn't worth > > having. > > > > > > > > > (By way of pointing out that anyone who wishes to have a good > > > laugh at me is quite welcome to, especially if I get to share it, > > > let me note that I wrote a sports column for 10 years as Jackass > > > Clifton; frequently point out my physical resemblance to a jackass > > > in my presentations on fundraising, in the context of noting how > > > advocates for various animals tend to mimic the behavior of the > > > animals they defend, which tends to be self-defeating when > > > advocating for feral cats; and for about 10 years produced a > > > self-parody called Anal People every April 1. My theory is that > > > anyone who wants to ruin my good reputation can go right ahead, if > > > it can be located, or can even be established that I ever had > one.) > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Merritt Clifton > > > Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE > > > P.O. Box 960 > > > Clinton, WA 98236 > > > > > > Telephone: 360-579-2505 > > > Fax: 360-579-2575 > > > E-mail: anmlpepl > > > Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org > > > > > > [ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing > > > original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide, > > > founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the > > > decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection > > organizations. > > > We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. > > $24/year; > > > for free sample, send address.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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