Excellent and informative post, Kelly. Thank you for pointing out the intersection of oppression happening between the pigs and the religious minority in Egypt - no one else is doing so.

Quote from the article: "Now, they say, the cull is not a measure against swine flu but is intended more generally to improve public health."

This reminds me of the US government's successive reasons (lies) for invading Iraq and killing thousands of innocent people there (first it was because Iraq had WMD, then it was because Saddam was in cahoots with Al Qaeda, and the final strained reason was that we were "helping" the people of Iraq). When someone wants a real motive to remain secret, the successive lies generated to keep the real agenda under wraps tend to morph and evolve through time.

The Egyptian government is also using another tactic that is familiar to the US government - taking advantage of a situation to create a panic in the country so they can carry out their own selfish vile agenda. The Egyptian people are in a state of unnecessary fear and paranoia of catching the swine flu. In a quote from the article you linked, an interviewee says, "Muslims do not want to deal with my neighbor who sells electronic appliances as his shop is right next to a man who deals with pigs, [and they are afraid] that he might infect them with swine flu." Liken this to Level Orange hysteria and 911 racial profiling in the US. Only in Egypt, they're using alarmist propaganda and shock to conveniently further their own previous personal agenda. What's ensued is the racial profiling of pigs and Coptic Christians. The violations of human rights and nonhuman animal rights oftentimes go hand in hand.

I agree with what many animal rightists are saying about it - that what's happening to the pigs in Egypt isn't necessarily any different than what is happening anywhere else: the slaughter of animals is taking place everywhere on this planet and by the billions, including right here on our own US turf.

However, what is significant about this story is that it is a clear-cut example of how human oppression and animal oppression are linked. Just as violence breeds violence, oppression breeds oppression. Many vegans/animal rightists have commented on the atrocities happening to pigs in Egypt, but none that I have seen (except you) have commented on the interlinked crimes committed against both the pigs and the people who farm them.

One can easily and simply say, "Who cares about the farmers - they are killing pigs for profit - they deserve no sympathy." But oppression, usually derived from another source of oppression, often fans out into various branches (sometimes like a trickle-down effect). In this case, there is simultaneous oppression of members of a religious minority, the underprivileged, the workers, the children...and pigs. Yes, the pigs are the most affected and that cannot be understated, but by ignoring the oppression happening to the people as well, is to ignore the elements that cause oppression itself (and stubbornly prevent the possibility of understanding and uncovering the origin/root of oppression). If the Coptic Christians in Egypt were treated equally, perhaps they would not have resorted to raising and slaughtering pigs for profit to begin with. And if the Coptic Christians were not disvalued, perhaps the pigs would not have reaped the horrifying consequences of the Muslim's hate. It is not an accident that a large portion of the religious minority lives in squalor...and that consequently the animals associated with them suffer the most.

And there's more racism and hatred to throw into the mix. We can't leave out the Jews. A popular Muslim religious leader urged the slaughter of the pigs because he states that Jews are the source of pigs: http://albawaba.com/en/news/24548 .

To each their own agenda, right?

In Jordan, the Islamic Action Front (IAF) called for all the pig farms in the country to be closed: http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=17838 . And..."On Monday, the Balqa Health Department said it had installed thermal imaging detectors at the King Hussein Bridge to screen travellers coming from the Palestinian territories to ensure that they are free from swine flu..." Only the Palestinian territories, huh? The secretary general of IAF said, "Hotels and areas frequently visited by tourists should be put under constant surveillance to prevent the spread of the virus across the country." Hmm. I detect more intersections.  

"Researchers" are now saying that the Swine Flue originated not in Mexico (Smithfield off the hook? - not surprising), but probably in Asia: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/health/24flu.html?_r=2&emc=eta1 . Nice to know, since that is where they culled/killed millions of birds to ward off the Avian Flu.

Oops - after rereading I just realized how long my post was...sorry! Sometimes I get going on a subject that I'm passionate about, and I just go on and on...  -- ye olde windbag.

Great article Kelly! For more on the link between human and animal oppression, may I suggest David Nibert's Animal Rights/Human Rights: Entanglements of Oppression and Liberation.  It's a very interesting and eye-opeining read. Cheers!

It's an important point of the article to say that the oppressed (Christians) are also the oppressors (of animals).  The cycle is so obvious.  Except instead of, as in the USA, the Christians as majority, they are minority.  A reversal of what we, as Americans, perceive to be the norm. 

Perhaps an opportunity to view our "farming" practices through a different lens - see it for the aberration that it is.  Religion aside, CAFOs are not good for the land, the people, the animals, only good for business.

I am sickened by the cruelty our food animals undergo. I am trying to start an information website for my area in Vancouver B.C. Canada. This is for people who are not ready to be vegan but want to NOT be part of the cruelty that feed animals often suffer.

I would like to list it here and would appreciate feedback

www.ethicalmeat.ca

Dear Kelly,

With all my respect, you know that this photo was taken through a world wide campaign against the spread of swine flu and by all States to take measures of protection not as you mentioned. Relegion has nothing to do with this issue, we are living in one world and we all keen to protect our selves.