Mass Swine-Flu Killing in Egypt and Remembering <i>All</i> the Pigs | Animal Rights

Mass Swine-Flu Killing in Egypt and Remembering All the Pigs

Published April 29, 2009 @ 01:23PM PT

Egypt's government has ordered (and begun) the slaughter of all the nation's 300,000 pigs, in response to the swine flu. Obviously, those pigs were all destined for early death regardless, but I have to wonder how such a large-scale slaughter is taking place. Given the urgency with which the nation is rounding up and killing the animals, I can only imagine what kinds and levels of terror, panic, and pain the pigs are being put through during the process.

The focus throughout coverage of the swine flu is its effects and potential effects on humans, and the concern for humans--and the grief for those who've died so far--is certainly warranted. Absolutely. But me? I'm also quietly grieving not only the 300,000 pigs being killed in Egypt as a result of the current panic, but also the hundreds of millions of pigs killed annually on this planet for human consumption. Each one of them was as complex, unique, and deserving of a full, free life as the loving dogs at my feet. Each one of them had the capacity for the range of emotions and experiences these dogs have. None of them wanted to die. Abuse, mutilation, boredom, confinement, trauma, and early death--that is the life of a pig. But each pig in every facility right now, at this very second, has thoughts and feelings and a desire to truly live. And I am grieving them too--because I know none of them will get to. And there will not be worldwide, mourning coverage of their deaths in astounding numbers.

Share this Post

Comments (27)

Terrible!!

Posted by Mandi Traut on 04/29/2009 @ 03:30PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Mandi
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
horrible !!! makes me want to puke !! & cry !!!!!
so happy to be a vegetarian !!!

Posted by linda bruno on 04/29/2009 @ 06:35PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by linda
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
This is just disgusting! There aren't even any cases in Egypt! And people aren't getting it from pigs! I understand them being scared, but that's just ridiculous!!!

Posted by Candice Sherrow on 04/29/2009 @ 06:46PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Candice
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I agree with Stephanie Ernst completely. It is just so wrong to kill ANY pigs. The world seems to go into a mad panic when there is the slightest threat to humans contracting a disease. In reality the number of humans that contract this 'swine flu' is probably going to be very small & the number of humans that perish as a result of this flu even smaller. This reminds me of all the cows that were unnecessarily slaughtered when they thought there was a threat to humans. There will be millions of pigs slaughtered because of this mass panic & again it will be unwarranted. People will be outraged about the deaths of a handful of humans from contracting this disease and then just turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the fact that MILLIONS of defenceless pigs have been unnecessarily slaughtered. This world is so unbalanced and needs to address what is happening to the animals of our world. All animals deserve the right to live a long happy life, in their own surroundings, without the threat of being abused, tortured or slaughtered by human beings. In fact, unless it is to protect the animals by caring for them in a sanctuary or by taking in a homeless animal as a pet, humans should not intervene and leave animals to live out their lives in their own environment.

From one who is sick to the stomach of hearing, reading & seeing pictures of animal cruelty. My heart and soul break a little more everytime an animal is abused.
From one who cares deeply.
SALLY DIX

Posted by SALLY DIX on 04/29/2009 @ 09:01PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by SALLY
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Wow! That is utterly ABSURD! How unwarrented is that seriously useless reaction? I was under the impression that the pandemic was being spread from person to person, and was actually a concoction of more than one flu strain, so what on earth would justify such an immature reaction. Ignore the farmers who depend on the animals for livelihood, and the fact that the pigs themselves are no threat...and you've got a plan that just screams "we've given into mass hysteria and would love to promote ignorant hype."

Hey what other animals get sick? Maybe they should be slaughtered right now too, on the off chance that a mutated virus will some day spawn from them. And oh man, when we think about the fact that the normal flu can kill up to 500,000 people a year, the 250 people that died there from the avian flu really justified the massacre of the poultry market.

The government should be working to reassure it's public that proper procedures are in place to deal with this issue, and working hard to prepare their health systems for the potential threat. Reaching out for international aid makes way more sense than inciting panic.

Posted by Jessica Guertin on 04/30/2009 @ 07:53AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Jessica
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
That is just wrong!! But why would you just kill all the pigs when it is being transferred from human to human.....?

Posted by J H on 04/30/2009 @ 10:34AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
Would they then consider slaughtering humans to hault the spread? it's amazing and frightening how twisted our morals continue to be!

Posted by Daniel Eifel on 05/05/2009 @ 09:36AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by J
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Stephanie- to elaborate on my Twitter comment:

I recently majored in environmental economics and policy, so my mind bends towards thinking in net-suffering and net-cruelty. In the case of the pigs, a simple (and probably only partially naccurate, heh) economic model will tell us that since 90% of Egyptians don't eat pig, there will be NO WAY to sell all that pig that fast.

Sure- some can be sold internationally or turned into processed product that lat longer, but I am willing to bet that a lot (most?) will go to waste. since Pigs are not allowed to be raised for some amount of time, people will need to fill their meat demand with increased consumption of poultry and cow. And since it takes wayyyy more chickens to create the same amount, my half-assed analysis leads me to beleive that WAY more animals will die as a result of this- and like you said, they'll die more disgusting deaths than usual.

This is a total travesty for animals as far as I'm concerned :(

Posted by Farm Animal Rights Movement on 05/01/2009 @ 12:47PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
I guess I should have signed that

"-Michael A. Weber"

I thought I was posted as myself, not as FARM, haha

Posted by Farm Animal Rights Movement on 05/01/2009 @ 01:14PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Thanks for making that excellent point, Michael--and for revealing who you are. I've been wondering who exactly is behind FARM's online profiles! (Also, you're certainly not the first to accidentally post using a nonprofit account instead of an intended personal account, so don't feel bad. :) )

Posted by Stephanie Ernst on 05/01/2009 @ 01:31PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
I wonder, though. The Egyptian government has said that the pigs are being killed in slaighterhouses after being tested for the influenza virus, which would indicate that they will be going into the food supply. Most pork in that region is actually cured, I think, so it will likely remain in the food supply for some time.

I could be wrong on that, though.

My original point is that yes, these animals are going to be slaughtered prematurely (some of them anyway, since some may have been already at slaughter age) but they all would be slaughtered anyway within a few months.

While it is sad that this may mean more net animals will end up dying to feed humans, these pigs were already destined for death.

Posted by Glenn Gaetz on 05/01/2009 @ 02:00PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Absolutely. It is defintely obnoxious when a stubborn/proud omnivore gets all upset about something like this, haha: "WHAT, They're going to KILL the piggies?!?" *proceeds to order a bacon-burger*

I still think it's an exceptional tragedy because because of the haste, potential for wasted meat (leading to new net deaths), and because it blatantly tosses animals aside as things/property rather than sentient beings (even moreso than the industry as a whole).

At best, maybe this will open people up to how fucked up systematically killing animals is- whether it's done over a long period of time or not.

-Michael (from the correct profile this time! :D )

Posted by Michael A. Weber on 05/01/2009 @ 02:22PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Farm Animal Rights Movement
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Yes Stephanie. This entire horrible episode reinforces my severe disdain (I really mean hatred) for my own species. We are without doubt THE most destructive, violent, speciest, and useless of life forms. YES, useless! When omnivores insist that the microwave oven, the polio vaccine, moving pictures and landing on the moon are proof of our brilliance, I shudder. All these things were done with the torturing and murder of animals via "experimentation". And through all this, they are housed, tortured and usually skinned alive for their "food". Vegans march on, speak up and make our voices heard. I'm particularly angry that my life may be compromised because some bloated self indulgent omnivore just HAD to have their stuffed chops or hamburger.

Posted by dee f. on 05/01/2009 @ 02:35PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by dee
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
We're all grieving together. Their deaths and pain and suffering are not TOTALLY for naught if we're thinking, caring about and praying for them.... Thank you for this heartfelt post....

Posted by Haley O on 05/01/2009 @ 05:45PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
Sighh..., in any case, Egypts irrational killing of all its pigs is horrifying, tragic, reprehensible, shameful.

Posted by Haley O on 05/01/2009 @ 05:50PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Haley
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
When will our human species learn that we can't go on killing pigs, chickens, and other animals and not suffer harm ourselves? Animal agribusiness is the cause of this outbreak, as well as avian flu and others, while omnivores mindlessly continue eating animals. It reminds me of the story (myth or not) of Nero fiddling away while Rome burns to the ground. The saddest part of this, of course, is that billions of animals are made to suffer and die in the U.S. and all over the world for a few moments of pleasure at the dinner table.

Posted by Maryanne Appel on 05/02/2009 @ 09:02AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Maryanne
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I LOVE pigs! I don't understand how anybody can hurt or eat them?!? They are intelligent, emotional, precious beings!

Posted by Kristi H on 05/02/2009 @ 11:23AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Kristi
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Oh, si s~enor, there goes the stupid homo sapiens again. A one and a two and a three, let's all knee-jerk together. If one tree is ill, let's burn down all of our forests. Because it has the name "swine flu" let's destroy all of these creatures. Maybe if the word gets out it's called R2D2 or whatever they'll all settle down. The entire race makes me want to puke! Let's drop leaflets all over the world with FDR's quip that "All we have to fear is fear itself". I am so fed up with the whole mess I swear to God if aliens set down in my yard tonight I'm climbing on board because I firmly believe that there is other, real and certainly more intelligent life out there just waiting to make this rock into one big landfill. I could write a book on everything but I have to pack. Good night and good luck sayeth Edward R. Murrow

Cody3

Posted by William C. & Janet S. Reynolds on 05/02/2009 @ 01:12PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by William C. & Janet S.
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Oh wow - I completely agree w/ Dee Fox ... very well said!

Posted by Teshia O'Keefe on 05/02/2009 @ 01:46PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Teshia
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Stop the killing of animals know.
Change the eating habits by starting from schools know.

Posted by Yiannes Iordanidis on 05/02/2009 @ 09:21PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Yiannes
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Horrible. Heartbreaking. How terrified they must be. Poor babies. Poor, poor babies.

Posted by Cherida Hivale on 05/03/2009 @ 03:37AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Cherida
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I found this article a few minutes ago:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/03/egypt.pig.farmers.protest/index.html

Posted by Sue G. on 05/03/2009 @ 07:32PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Sue
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
We, as a people, must stop viewing living things as "property." We have no more right to a free life than do these animals. Gandhi said, "the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." World governments are proving to be much less great than they may think themselves to be.

Posted by Daniel Eifel on 05/05/2009 @ 09:33AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Daniel
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I have been living in Egypt for the past 6 months and have witnessed on an almost daily basis the cruelty to animals. Regarding the pig slaughter, this decison was made irrationally, uneducated and out of panic. The government hired in a contractor to kill the pigs as quickly as possible (not all have been killed yet). From footage I have watched, the pigs were rounded up into a crane (while men were just hitting them with bats), they were then thrown into a lorry container (while screaming as they were crushed on top of each other) and transported to an 'open grave' where they were then buried alive. Reports also said that an acid material was chucked on top of them. This is barbaric and cannot stop thinking about the awful suffering of these poor animals.

Posted by Jennifer Fergus on 05/25/2009 @ 12:55AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
Ok, that just did it.
I'm crying now.
How horrible!!!
How can ANYONE be THAT heartless???

Posted by Belle Severo on 06/12/2009 @ 06:15PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Jennifer
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Wow, that story made me feel horrible.
I feel so sorry for those pigs.
They're living creatures too.
What a torment.
Humans get worse and worse by the day... ;'(

Posted by Belle Severo on 06/12/2009 @ 06:14PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Belle
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Wow, perhaps when the next case of Chicken Pox shows up in Egypt, we should just kill everyone in Egypt to ensure safety. The logic, or lack thereof of people these days disgusts me! Aren't we supposed to be intelligent?

Posted by Carrie Lachapelle on 06/26/2009 @ 01:13PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Carrie
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Stephanie is an independent animal rights advocate, a vegan, a tree-hugging environmentalist, and a freelance editor and writer. She lives in St. Louis with an aging corgi-lab and an adolescent rescued pit bull.