Drastic measures are underway in the Netherlands in order to prevent the spread of Q fever to humans. Thousands of goats and sheep at infected farms in the country will soon be slaughtered.
In June, the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment reported an outbreak of Q fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The disease has spread to one-third of the country. More than 2,200 people in the Netherlands have contracted the disease so far this year. In 2007, less than 200 cases were reported.
By Dave Harcourt •
December 6, 2009
Yesterday, a “thanksgiving” festival for the seasons first fruits included the killing of a black Nguni bull by hand by 40 young men, after legal attempts to stop it failed. The annual festival was hosted by King Zwelithini of the Zulu Nation and attended by President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and other dignitaries.
Nguni Cattle
More South Africans Lean About Ukweshwama
A few days ago firebrand Julius Malema, the President of the ANC Youth League, said three times to reporter Deborah Patta that she knew nothing of the Pedi traditions. While we often like to not hear what Malema has to say, and he certainly knows little of the traditions of English South Africans, his words rang true given the storm now raging in South Africa over the Ukweshwama festival that includes the barehanded ritual slaughter of a bull by a group of 40 young men.
By Daniel Hohler •
September 8, 2009
Last Tuesday, EcoWorldly Staff Writer Bryan Nelson wrote an article on the suspension of dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan. The suspension came off of Japanese local media swarming on Taiji, after the award winning documentary film “The Cove” put the spotlight on the small Japanese village that slaughters thousands of dolphins every year.
Ric O’Barry, the dolphin trainer and activist who brought the location to the attention of filmmakers, returned to the site of the slaughter this week, just as the annual “hunt” would normally begin. However, this time with all of the media attention, no dolphins were killed in the first 2 days of the season.
By Rhishja Larson •
August 10, 2009
Controversial proposals by the Australian government would mean shooting more than 650,000 camels from helicopters - and even making camel burgers.
Camels have become a problem in Australia’s remote Outback.
There are now about a million camels, and the population doubles every nine years. The animals were introduced to the Australia in the 1840’s by explorers who relied on them to journey through the desert. But now, camels are competing with livestock for food - and are apparently scaring people by destroying water pipes and bathrooms as they search for water.
Sky News has reported that the Australian government believes the population needs to be culled by two thirds - and they have a budget of $19 million AUD to take care of the situation.
That means the mass killing of more than 650,000 camels.
By Marika Collins •
February 18, 2009
With milk prices plummeting and dairy farmers facing increased feeding costs, many are culling their herds in record numbers. It seems that the value of a dairy cow is not what it once was in the industry. Other dairy farmers are not buying. Selling cows that have become too expensive to feed to the beef industry has become the only viable option for the struggling dairy farmer trying to raise cash.
In a further effort to reduce costs, male calves are being subjected to even more callous treatment and cruelty as evidenced by the recent dumping of 30 dead calves at the side of the road in San Joaquin County, California.
By Dana Nuccitelli •
September 12, 2008
The Republican vice presidential nominee’s Alaskan administration has not only supported the aerial hunting of adult wolves, but also the slaughter of their pups.
Sarah Palin’s record is not very favorable for wildlife. She’s put efforts into undoing federal wildlife protections for polar bears and beluga whales in order to protect oil and gas drilling operations, for example. But her position on wolf hunting is perhaps the most controversial.
One of Palin’s first acts in office was to put a $150 bounty on the heads of her state’s wolves, allegedly with the goal of increasing the moose and caribou population. But this was no ordinary hunt - it was meant to incentivize the aerial killing of wolves, in which private hunters take a small plane and chase down wolf packs until they’re exhausted and can’t move any more, when they either shoot them from the air or land and execute them at point blank range. A Defenders of Wildlife ad illustrating this process is available at ClimateProgress.
