A day to count the cost of factory farming

Last year, a mind-boggling 70 billion cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and other sentient land animals were brutally and violently slaughtered for food. The majority were raised in sunless, stinking factory farms inside cramped cages and pens. Many were subjected to agonising mutilations without pain relief and many others – broiler chickens – were deliberately bred in a manner known to cause painful crippling. Around 6 billion male chicks – deemed “trash” by the egg industry – were minced up alive or suffocated. In addition to this, trillions of fish were subjected to excruciating pain as they were hauled from the depths in trawl nets or slowly suffocated to death in fish farms. Given that we can live healthily and happily with no animal products in our diet, how can we justify condemning so many innocent and inoffensive animals to this torture?
World Day for Farmed Animals is aimed at drawing attention to the plight of these creatures and encouraging kinder food choices. October 2 also happens to be International Day of Non-Violence, so what better time to commit to embracing a humane and healthy non-violent vegan diet.
Jenny Moxham