Press Releases from the EVU
Brussels, 10 June 2003
UK: An end to ritual slaughter?
Vegetarianism offers an alternative to ritual killings and slaughter
in general. More and more people are discovering the advantages of a meatless
diet, among them many Jews and Muslims, and the European Vegetarian Union
works in the interest of all those who are interested in non-violent culinary
lifestyles.
The question of ritual slaughter without prior stunning, whereby a religiously
trained slaughterman cuts the throat of a cow, sheep or chicken and lets
it bleed to death, has led to heated arguments in many countries and to
a variety of compromises. When the government funded Farm Animal Welfare
Council (FAWC) advised the UK Department for the Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs that ritual slaughter leads to “severe suffering to
animals” and “should be banned” because “cattle
can take up to two minutes to bleed to death - amounting to an abuse of
the animals”, a serious conflict with some religious groups became
imminent.
According to European regulations all farm animals must be stunned prior
to slaughter, unless exemptions for religious reason are granted. However,
FAWC recommends an end to these exceptions. Chairwoman Dr Judy MacArthur
Clark explained: "The rendering of unconsciousness is a very immediate
thing that happens. Therefore those animals are clearly suffering far
far less because the period of time over which they suffer is extremely
short."
On 10 June, listeners of the BBC News heard the upset comments of members
of the Jewish and Muslim community culminating in the outcry of one man
stating that without halal meat he would have nothing to eat and starve
to death.
Nothing to eat?
Vegetarians do not get involved in the discussion of different killing
techniques because they simply refuse participating in slaughter which
takes away the only possession an animal has: life. However, the present
row calls for the need to indicate that a meatless diet is not only possible
but even beneficial to human health, as has been established by many different
studies conducted with a large number of participants, over long periods
and in many different corners of the world.
It is a remarkable coincidence that just at the moment where the emotions
about slaughter procedures flair up, the British Heart Week is celebrated
from 7-15 June 2003 where it is recommended to eat “a healthy diet
with plenty of fruit and vegetables”.
Under the sub-heading “ There is good evidence that eating a diet
that is rich in a range of vegetables and fruits lowers the risk of heart
disease” the British Heart Foundation states: “It is not known
exactly why fruit and vegetables have this good effect. It seems to be
due to the antioxidants (vitamins and other substances) in the fruit and
vegetables. Antioxidants prevent 'oxidation' - the chemical process which
allows cholesterol to form atheroma within the coronary artery walls.
However, there is no evidence that taking vitamin tablets has the same
effect. Fruit and vegetables are also rich in potassium, a mineral which
may help to control blood pressure and prevent irregular heart rhythms.
Fruit and green vegetables are also rich in folic acid. This reduces the
blood level of a substance called homocysteine, which itself may be a
risk factor for heart disease. However, more research is needed to find
out whether eating more folic acid will, by itself, reduce heart disease.
Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. On average,
people in the UK eat only three portions a day. Five portions may sound
a lot, but in some countries people eat an average of eight or nine portions
a day. “
The reason for more and more concerned citizens turning vegetarian can
be explained by the continuously emerging proof of the beneficial consequences
of that compassionate lifestyle and its positive consequences on human
health, the well-being of animals, environmental issues, natural resources
and the fight against global hunger.
The organisation “Compassion in World Farming” reports that
“800 million chickens, 15 million sheep, 9 million pigs and 3 million
cattle are slaughtered every year in the UK”. It is the aim of the
European Vegetarian Union to point out that a meatless diet is a valid
option and that a change from the traditional meat- to a plant-based culinary
alternative will bring about positive changes for the society of humans
and the community of animals alike.
“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival
of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.”
Albert Einstein
European Vegetarian Union
e-Mail
website: www.european-vegetarian.org
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