" Animal Rights " Threat to Food Supply !

Social media and the Internet were used to create an Australia wide demonstration in  support of animal rights at the weekend.  In Melbourne a group of people sat in the middle of the road in the inner city, badly disrupting the traffic flow while another group blockaded the city aquarium.  Others in distinctive black and white " uniforms " surged into farms and abattoirs, chaining themselves to machinery and freeing sheep and cattle and allowing them to roam freely.

In New South Wales this activity was centred on Goulburn.  Activists had to be physically carried away by the police and nine people were arrested.   In Queensland there was a bizarre deal  struck between the management of an abattoir and the demonstrators when they agreed to leave peacefully in exchange for three sheep.

One of the alarming aspects was that the organizers have managed to print a detailed map of Australia which located individual farms, abattoirs and factories that process meat products.  That resulted in small groups of activists invading farms , breaking down fences and allowing stock to disperse to neighbouring properties - and in some case into the path of traffic on surrounding roads.

All this seems to be the work of vegan activists who object to the farming of animals and the consumption of meat in any circumstances.  They seem intent on forcing their vegan lifestyle on the rest of Australia by delivering financial harm to farmers and the meat industry.

This has caused the attorney general to classify the movement as an organization and as such it is engaging in a systematic effort in collecting, using and disclosing personal information to the detriment of farmers and agricultural producers.  Its exemption under the privacy act as been revoked and now for any breach of the law under the privacy act it may be fined up to $ 2.1 million or $ 420,000 for individuals.

The issue behind this activism is animal " cruelty " and to the activist any form of farming - however benign - is cruel.  They object to sheep being shorn because they may feel the cold without their wool clip.  They object to stock being confined in paddocks and desire to let them free to roam widely.  In fact they disagree with the process of farming that has been practised for centuries.

Recently, publicity disclosed the plight of sheep shipped to Middle East markets in the height of the northern summer.  The sweltering conditions caused distress and some deaths and changes have been made to alleviate those conditions.  Some abattoirs handle cattle processing roughly and again publicity has achieved change, but social media is being used to convince many ordinary people that all forms of farming are needlessly cruel.

It is very important that people attracted to animal activism by strident social media calls to action not act impulsively and take the time to carefully evaluate fact from fiction.  Invading farms and breaking down fences imperils the right of farmers to earn a living and they have the right to seek redress.  Just don't be spooked by fanatics in pursuit of a cause that defies reason.