(IN): Govt responsible for rapid spread of bird flu: PeTA

[Guest guest]

Link: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec2008/City2

 

Govt responsible for rapid spread of bird flu: PeTA

 

CITY reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 19 – Blaming the State Government's inaction for the rapid

spread of the dreaded bird flu, the People for the Ethical Treatment of

Animals (PeTA) has stated that adequate precautionary steps were not being

taken by the government to check it.

 

Addressing a press meet today, Nikunj Sarma, campaign coordinator of PeTA,

said that the government ignored the group's early warning of deadly link

between factory, farm filth and bird flu.

 

" The condition of factory, farms in all the northeastern States is not

better than rest of the country and it is the filth and unhygienic condition

of these farms that is responsible for the outbreak of the disease. Even

backyard farming is also not hygienically done as per standard norms, " he

said

 

In a study conducted by the group, it was found that because of the filthy

and cramped condition that the chickens are forced to endure – including

being scalded to death in contaminated de-feathering tanks – diseases are

rampant. Antibiotics are routinely fed to healthy livestock and poultry to

make them gain weight faster and to compensate for unsanitary living

conditions.

 

The PeTA has also alleged that the process of culling is neither scientific

nor does it adhere to standard norms.

 

In a letter written to the Department, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, in

June 2007, the organization has also drawn attention towards poor husbandry

practices in the State. The letter further mentioned that gregarious abuse,

including starvation and mutilation of birds, is being done and birds were

scalded to death which could lead to potential health hazards, including

outbreak of bird flu.

 

" Suitable steps have not been taken to protect the birds from criminal harm.

Furthermore, the penalties for cruelty to animals are weak and outdated,

making enforcement of even the minimal animal protection laws extremely

difficult, " the letter mentioned.

 

In response to an RTI petition filed by the group, the Director of Animal

Husbandry and Veterinary Department has replied that the State government

poultry farm managers have been instructed to enact animal protection laws

as per guidelines of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act. They have been

trained up and provided with reading material for disposal of dead poultry.

 

However, the PeTA activist stated that every year the government wastes

crores of rupees on culling and compensation, which is nothing but wastage

of public money. Leading health experts including those at the UN, blame

unhygienic condition for the spread of H5N1 strain of bird flu.

 

--

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Now wait a minute! U mean to say that after all the money the governments of

India and Nepal have received from bilaterals, and all the money spent by

INGOs on H5N1 programs, that there is a problem? This is not a new issue

just hatched, and these programs have been in place for at least 2 years or

more, and in fact, the funding is starting to wind down and migrate to other

pressing issues, like global climate change (sic). I guess all those

posters, PSAs, and cartoons are not doing the job eh? Somedays I wake up and

feel like the entire human race is an ostrich with it's head stuck in the

sand. Government's take our money and spend it on stupid crap and we just

sit back and watch it on TV. What's wrong with this picture?

Jigs in Nepal

 

 

On 12/20/08 11:10 AM, " AZAM SIDDIQUI " <azam24x7 wrote:

 

> Link: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec2008/City2

>

> Govt responsible for rapid spread of bird flu: PeTA

>

> CITY reporter

> GUWAHATI, Dec 19 – Blaming the State Government's inaction for the rapid

> spread of the dreaded bird flu, the People for the Ethical Treatment of

> Animals (PeTA) has stated that adequate precautionary steps were not being

> taken by the government to check it.

>

> Addressing a press meet today, Nikunj Sarma, campaign coordinator of PeTA,

> said that the government ignored the group's early warning of deadly link

> between factory, farm filth and bird flu.

>

> " The condition of factory, farms in all the northeastern States is not

> better than rest of the country and it is the filth and unhygienic condition

> of these farms that is responsible for the outbreak of the disease. Even

> backyard farming is also not hygienically done as per standard norms, " he

> said

>

> In a study conducted by the group, it was found that because of the filthy

> and cramped condition that the chickens are forced to endure – including

> being scalded to death in contaminated de-feathering tanks – diseases are

> rampant. Antibiotics are routinely fed to healthy livestock and poultry to

> make them gain weight faster and to compensate for unsanitary living

> conditions.

>

> The PeTA has also alleged that the process of culling is neither scientific

> nor does it adhere to standard norms.

>

> In a letter written to the Department, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, in

> June 2007, the organization has also drawn attention towards poor husbandry

> practices in the State. The letter further mentioned that gregarious abuse,

> including starvation and mutilation of birds, is being done and birds were

> scalded to death which could lead to potential health hazards, including

> outbreak of bird flu.

>

> " Suitable steps have not been taken to protect the birds from criminal harm.

> Furthermore, the penalties for cruelty to animals are weak and outdated,

> making enforcement of even the minimal animal protection laws extremely

> difficult, " the letter mentioned.

>

> In response to an RTI petition filed by the group, the Director of Animal

> Husbandry and Veterinary Department has replied that the State government

> poultry farm managers have been instructed to enact animal protection laws

> as per guidelines of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act. They have been

> trained up and provided with reading material for disposal of dead poultry.

>

> However, the PeTA activist stated that every year the government wastes

> crores of rupees on culling and compensation, which is nothing but wastage

> of public money. Leading health experts including those at the UN, blame

> unhygienic condition for the spread of H5N1 strain of bird flu.

 

-- Paul Reitman, CEO

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