"The animals have been sacrificed to the human
need for expansion that knows only one single law: the
law of the jungle. The way in which we humans blatantly
force animals to do our will can be seen, for example,
in the bio-industry and in the many laboratories where
vivisection takes place. In the bio-industry animals are
forced to produce meat or eggs in circumstances so unnatural
that they are constantly frustrated in their most basic
biological and social needs". The philosopher Peter Singer wrote these words in 1975,
and unfortunately, I think his remarks are still of
current interest. The Dutch welfare policy for animals
in the bio-industry has hardly shown a long and encouraging
history, and now the government parties seem to vote
practically consistently against improvements of animal
welfare in intensive animal husbandry. For example:
in 1999 the Dutch government declared itself in favour
of a ban on mink breeding. However, in 2002 minister
Veerman decided to withdraw the bill "Ban on the
breeding of furbearing animals". And that is only
one example….
When I was about six years old I started to think about
the piece of meat I found on my plate every day. Or rather,
I thought about the animal it once was. The main reason
for this was the stories told by my teacher of that year,
who was a vegetarian. Strangely enough I stopped eating
meat a long time before I stopped eating fish. Apparently
I had fewer problems with that, maybe because the fish's
suffering was less visible to me? Apart from that I presumed
that fish had always known a free life. Meanwhile, I found
out that that was a rather naïve approach, since
fish are also being bred.
Within my circle of friends it is not (yet) very common
to be a vegetarian, so the reactions I get may vary.
What strikes me here is that many people consider animals
as articles of use, exclusively benefiting humans. But
what gives us the right to feel superior to animals,
to take advantage of them, to exploit them and to use
them? Almost everyone agrees that it is objectionable
and not necessary to wear a fur coat, because there
are enough alternatives. But aren't there enough
alternatives with regards to nutrition as well? Vegetarian
food is also healthy, tasty, varied and above all: made
without animals having to suffer for it. Personally
I cannot imagine how people can still enjoy foie gras
for example, when they know what a horrible "production
process" precedes the preparation of this so-called delicacy.
The more I went into the suffering of animals, the
more I discovered things I did not know, or I simply
had not thought of. Now I try to be as aware as possible
when buying cleaning products and cosmetics. Various
brands have managed to put good products on the market
that have not been tested on animals. If I have the
choice between a detergent that has been tested on a
rabbit's eye and a product that has not been tested
on animals, I would of course prefer the latter.
Now, in the year, 2002 we are astonished at the atrocities
humans committed in times past, about things that went
on in the Middle Ages. Now, if I look, for example at
the bio-industry, laboratories and public amusement
at the cost of animals, it seems, in that respect, that
for animals the time has been standing still. In short,
I think it is about time that people no longer see animals
as things, but that we bear the interests of all living
creatures in mind. I hope that many people share this
view, that in the year to come animal rights and welfare
will receive the attention they deserve, and that the
next government will bring many changes in that field.
By Ingrid Hofstede.