Animal Treatment

I watched the Farm Animals and Us videos and read several articles on the BBC website about animal rights and animal treatment. Having been raised on a ranch I understand that farm animals have personalities and and very intellegent. I don't believe that most animals are mistreated. For the most part they are very well taken care. Even the unethical ranchers know that you can't sell a animal for anything if they are unhealthy. I do not understand how giving animals the antiboitics they need to stay healthy is abusive or unethical. They are bred and raised to be food.
There is big difference between domestic animals that are raised as pets and the service animals that are raised for food. Regardless of the status of the animal all the basic needs of the animal should be met. Food, water and medical care should be readily available for all animals. However it would be very hard to slaughter an animal for food if you treated it like a pet.

Animals Deserve a Little Compassion

The videos, "Farm animals and Us" parts 1-3, were very interesting. I had not realized how intelligent farm animals were. That pigs could manipulate controlls, and chickens could get through mazes was more than i thought they could do. Before I thought that farm animals were just meant for eating and nothing else. I know now that they are very
intelligent creatures. However I do think that they should be eaten. I do think that the living conditions in which they abide are appalling. No animal should be confined and genetically bred like that. When I saw the chickens who could not even raise their bodies for water it pained me. Even though i believe animals should be eaten does not mean they have to suffer and be put through horrendous conditions.
I read the article on the BBC web site about pet treatment and agree one hundred percent. Animals as pets should have their needs met. Domesticated animals have their place in homes and with companions. Also some animals that are wild should remain that way. It is dangerous for people and for the animals when an untamed animal is domesticated. It is not natural and they should be as they were meant to be in their natural environment.
Overall I conlude that animals of all kinds should be treated with kindness. That is what struck me the most about the videos and article was that people need to treat animals nicely, even if they are to be eaten. While animals are in our care we should try to make them somewhat comfortable.

Eating Animals

This is a response from the article Eating Animals from the website www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals.  In the article, the main argument is raising and killing an animal for food  is morally wrong.  A question that arose while reading the article was if raising and killing an animal for food is wrong, then what about killing an animal that lives in it's natural environment, such as a deer, for food?  I agree with the fact of a dog or cat that is a pet having rights.  I however, disagree with the utilitarian's point of view on animal rights when it comes to cows, pigs, and chickens being used for food.  Animals have been used for food and human needs for as long as one can remember therefor I don't see what the problem is.  Sure if a dog or cat is being abused then action should be taken for stopping it but eating cows and pigs should be left up to the person who is eating them.  Animals are animals and humans have control over animals, so the fact that some people raise and kill them for food should be left alone and up to those people on how the animals are treated.  

Online Discussion on Animal Rights, Consumerism, and Narcissism

Class:  

I have posted a few different sources of information on the above topics.  Please read through the BBC page on ethical considerations for animal rights.  There are a lot of choices to choose from.  Also, view the videos and think about the postings together.  Gather up some ideas or simply write out a response to viewing this information.  Please make sure your posting is at least a paragraph or two long.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqbEHP3RzUE&feature=PlayList&p=B1303796BB470740&index=0&playnext=1

If the link above does not work, go to youtube and type in "Animal Rights" and watch "Farm Animals and Us."  Please watch parts one through three. 

Responses due by Wednesday, April 3rd at 5pm

Micaela  

Are Women more effected by disertification..if so, how?

Respone to Rita Yembilah, University of Calgary
In this artical the author discrides Iranian women and the hard life thay must encounter as their husbands leave to find work in other places. As a result, poor health, poverty, and other burdains are put on these women as they must fight for the survival of their family. Water is scarce as well as food and there is no sanitation or disease control. Mis-carraiges are prevalent and the way of life is saddening. In response to the article, the situation is unfortunate. Iran's government is extremely violent and unwilling to except foreign aid. These women face an unfullfilling life and we can do nothing directly to help. I feel bad for these women and wish that the situation could change.

Research Assignment Redux

Class- for this post, I would like you to access the MSU library databases and find an article related to the readings.  Potential topic areas are animal rights, meat production, consumerism, group ideology, etc.  Please read the article, and report back on the blog about what exactly you read and your reaction to it.  Please cite the article and provide the title, author, and what journal you found it in.  Responses are due by 5:00 pm, Friday, March 6th.