"This year some 800,000 Australian sheep were sent to the Middle East for this Festival almost a quarter of Australias annual exports. The majority of these animals were brutally handled without any thought whatsoever for their welfare and slaughtered by having their throats cut with blunt or inappropriate knives whilst fully conscious. Nearly all of the treatment documented by Animals Australia investigators is contrary to Islamic teachings and in contravention of the OIE (World Animal Health) guidelines for the handling, transport and slaughter or animals. "
....
"Pre-slaughter stunning is already accepted as halal in Australia by the Islamic community and the vast majority of Muslim importers."
If this is illegal, why is it still happening? I really believe the live export trade will eventually stop - perhaps in the next 20 years. It's just ridiculous that Australia participates in this brutality and I think animal welfare, sustainable fisheries etc will eventually become hot topics in the years ahead where a gradual swell of popular support will change the barbarism. eg. They don't just kill dogs in China for food and don't put a bar through the head like we do with Tuna to not only make the death quick but preserve the food taste, they beat the dogs up until unconcious, until the awake then beat them up again, or hang them up on a hook as they believe that ths long term adrenalin will make the dogs taste better. Slow torture. This can't continue. Animalsasia is a really good org.
The contact details for the Minister are:
Senator Joe Ludwig
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Australia
