I've said it before but...

[altivo]

...it needs repeating apparently, and loudly.

Horses are NOT food!

As if it wasn't bad enough that the soulless Bush administration removed restrictions that protected wild horses and burros from slaughter, their USDA officials are moving to once again legalize the sale of horse meat in domestic markets. Yes, at the supermarket meat counter and in restaurants. And they want horses to be treated as livestock, with required inspections, tagging, etc.

If anyone proposed to solve the surplus stray dog problem by slaughtering the dogs and selling the meat to Asian buyers, the reaction would be instantaneous and absolute. Why then are Americans so silent on the subject of horse murder? Murder is what it is. I will not describe the sickening details, but if you saw it you would never, ever approve.

Please visit the USENTA web site and see the details of this issue. You can sign a petition there, it will cost you nothing to do that. If you are a little more moved, you could at least write an angry letter to your congresscretin. The Bush administration continues to move along with its own plans, with total and arrogant disregard for our opinions. We must say no, and we must do so now. Reversing these plans once they have been put into effect will be much more difficult than stopping them in advance.

I think we should solve the surplus Republican problem by slaughtering unwanted Republicans and feeding their corpses to the poor. Yes, I am deadly serious. It is time for the Soylent Green solution.

Comments

[captpackrat.livejournal.com]

Eat the Rich!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The trouble with that is that they are so high in cholesterol. Maybe we could use them to make soap? >;D

[duskwuff.livejournal.com]

Solve two problems at once: render their fat and use it as fuel.

[umakami.livejournal.com]

Holy be-jesus! OO; Th-that's just not right! When did they start slaughtering wild horses and burros?! I was totally outta the loop on this and now I'm completely upset! >.< You can definately count on me to sign any/all petitions against this horrible act of ignorance and asshole-ness, not to mention they can definately be counting on a nasty letter from me.

DAMNIT! Humans can be such stupid bastards!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The change to the status of mustangs and wild burros was slipped in as an amendment to a budget act last fall, and Bush signed it. Basically it removed some restrictions that have been in place for decades, that kept kill buyers from acquiring mustangs at BLM sales and forced all buyers to agree not to consign horses to slaughter for a number of years. Horses held by the BLM could not be sold directly to slaughter, but now they can if they have been held longer than a certain number of months.

There is a bill in Congress now to block this change, but the change is already in effect and some mustangs have gone to slaughter as a result. No one profits from this except for the slaughter house operators and the sleaze bag individuals who act as their agents. American horses are being killed (in a gruesome manner) in order to serve as a delicacy on Asian and European tables.

[umakami.livejournal.com]

That's... very depressing ;.; Why the hell would they ever decide to do something like that in the first place?!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Money. With this administration, everything is about money. And I mean everything. Even the supposed "moral imperatives" are driven not by any real belief in moral issues, but by the fact that big money donors to their campaign funds want those issues to be emphasized.

A few wealthy individuals make money off horse slaughter in various ways, and they operate a heavy propaganda campaign that depicts it as "humane" and "necessary". (I agree it may be necessary to put a horse down. I don't agree with then selling its flesh to be eaten by someone. And putting a horse down humanely is nothing like what they do in those slaughter factories anyway.)

Supposedly it would save money if the BLM didn't have to hold horses for so long waiting for someone to adopt them. Maybe. It would save more money if they didn't round up the horses in the first place. They do it not because the horses are an ecological problem, but rather because they compete with cattle that are grazing the same land, put there by wealthy ranchers who pay a pitifully tiny amount for the privilege of using OUR public lands.

[umakami.livejournal.com]

And then humans have the gawl to ask me, "Why aren't you more patriotic?" Because of shit like this! >.< I LOVE horses, and I've not even gotten to see on irl since I was 2! And here our "beloved" American government are trying to take them away from me before I ever get the honour and priveledge of witnessing their beauty! And for WHAT?! For a pidly profit for some f-head who contributed to Bush's campaign?! ARGH! >.

I agree completely.

[favouritewindow.livejournal.com]

Horses are not meant to be consumed as meat, they are meant to be ridden and cared for.

Re: I agree completely.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

But... the only way to prevent this is by having laws and regulations. It's an example of what happens when you remove regulations. Someone immediately sees an opportunity to make money, and then looks for a way to get rid of more regulations so they can make more money. Next thing you know, you're back a hundred years and have to dig your way out of the muck again.

[bariki.livejournal.com]

Bastards.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Nothing as polite as that. A bastard can't help the nature of his own conception.

This administration can only be described as master criminals, with highly paid public relations teams on their side.

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

I think more people are disgusted by the thought of eating dogs and cats, because they are pets, than are by the thought of eating horses, because somehow horses are akin to cattle because they are farm animals and so they are viewed differently. When in actual fact horses can be just as attached to their owners as dogs and cats are if given the same level of attention that pets get. (well, actually more attached than most cats)

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

I'm not saying they ARE akin to cattle. I'm saying that's how people who would eat horses would have to view them as...

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I understand. :)

The truth is, if people saw what happens in slaughterhouses, many would stop eating beef and pork too. Maybe even chicken and turkey (though from personal experience I have trouble granting a chicken much in the way of sentience, Chicken Run notwithstanding.)

The veal market in the US has almost shriveled up to nothing, largely because people were successfully educated about the nature of veal, where it comes from, and how young calves are treated to produce it.

The same kind of education is needed about horses. We can't allow people to think of food as something that comes in a plastic bag from some nebulous factory somewhere. This lets them avoid taking responsibility for the source of their diet. Anyone who would oppose the sale of dogmeat as food should likewise oppose the sale of horsemeat. The horse has been man's domestic assistant and close companion for nearly as long as the dog. He gives much, and deserves better than to be turned into McDeath's latest fad sandwich craze.

[moose-93395.livejournal.com]

It's times like this I pray for a plauge to decimate ( Reduce to a tenth the former size BTW) all of humanity.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well actually decimation only removes one in ten, but as long as we choose only Republican politicians, I'll go for it. I'd really favor a virus that turns corrupt politicians purple permanently, and leaves everyone else alone.

[ducktapeddonkey.livejournal.com]

I'm really surprised at this. Although there is a horse meat market in Europe, I always figured it was because they either used different anti-biotics for their horses, or they were collectively too stupid to realize the danger it posed.

From my understanding, many of the anti-biotics given to horses now are very similar to what humans use. Potentially this could lead to virulent strains that are dangerous to both animals.

Emotional and personal feelings aside; I had always assumed one of the reasons for not eating them was one of safety.

*sigh* I wonder if there are any desert islands left?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

You are right on all counts, I think. Here's the deal. The US government doesn't much care if meat sold abroad doesn't meet standards for consumption in the US. (Criminal hypocrisy, I agree.) Not only are the antibiotics a problem (and not just for those who eat it, but ultimately for all of us) but other medications used, for deworming and pain control for instance (ivermectin, bute, etc.) are known toxics to humans. Bute in particular is supposed to accumulate in the tissue and stay there.

The next step after legalizing sale of horse meat in US markets again would be to ban these substances from sale so that they won't be in the meat. And don't think for a moment that this administration wouldn't do that if someone makes a potentially embarrassing issue of it. Several European states do not allow the sale or use of bute, for instance, and this is the reason. Let the horses suffer, at least they will be safer to eat when they are killed. It's all truly abominable.

What exactly is the situation in Canada? I know that horsemeat is still sold for consumption there, but have no idea how large the market is or what the route to market for the poor horses is. We are told here that the foals born on "pregnant mare farms" (mostly in Alberta, as I understand it) where the primary money making product is the mares' urine used to produce birth control drugs for humans are often sold to slaughter. Where do they go, and where does the grisly "product" end up?

What ?

[favouritewindow.livejournal.com]

They do WHAT to Canadian Horsies???

Re: What ?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Read part of the story here.

Many of the popular birth control pills are made using progesterone that is extracted from mares' urine. Human and horse hormones and pheromones are very similar or even identical (which may explain some issues that are not part if this particular discussion.) Pregnant mares apparently pass large quantities of the desired substances in their urine. I understand that now it is possible to synthesize chemicals in various ways that serve the same purpose, and the demand for pregnant mare urine (PMU) is declining, but slowly.

Once there was an established market for the product, of course there were people willing to produce it to derive an income. Consequently, there are large horse farms, many of them in Western Canada for some reason, where mares (usually draft horses, you get more urine, you see) are kept pregnant for the purpose of producing urine. Not foals, but urine. They are kept in box stalls or sometimes standing stalls, with a urine collection tube and catheter attached at all times.

The foals are a by-product, rather like male calves are a by-product of the dairy industry. There is limited market for the foals. Some are in fact sold as registered draft horses, but only a few. Most are essentially discards, sold very cheaply to any willing buyer. We are told here by the humane groups that many of them end up in "feed lots" being fattened up for sale to slaughter houses. This certainly seems believable.

Rescue groups buy large numbers of these foals and offer them for adoption here in the US. I have considered it as a possible source for a Clydesdale, actually, but rejected it because ultimately I feel it still sends the wrong message to the people who are producing these unwanted foals. (And there aren't many Clydesdales involved. Belgians and Shires seem to be favored, and the stallion used for artificial insemination is often something else entirely. I've even seen some mule colts, suggesting that jackasses are occasionally used.)

This really happens. It is a whole industry that has grown up as a result of laissez faire policy toward the practice and successful suppression of the information from widespread knowledge.

Re: What ?

[favouritewindow.livejournal.com]

That is truly shocking. I hope that Canadians write to their government representitives and try to get these places shut down.

Re: What ?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It has been going on for nearly 50 years. As with the US, I suspect that Canadians are either blissfully unaware or simply don't care. Horses are just animals after all, as many have told me when I stated my objection to horse slaughter.

The PMU industry is slowly shutting down though. Some farms have closed, others are cutting back. Other less expensive means of production have been invented. The new short term question is, what will happen to all those mares? And I dread the answer.

Re: What ?

[favouritewindow.livejournal.com]

(which may explain some issues that are not part if this particular discussion.)

It may not be part of the this particular discussion, but it'd be interesting to hear your thoughts on whatever issues these are :)

Re: What ?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Not in this venue. ;p

[pioneer11.livejournal.com]

No, they are not.

>.<