Jul30
Something Stinks Down Under
Posted at 12:41 PM | Permalink
| 
Comments (27)
 |
And that would be Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), which is (surprise, surprise) reneging on its promise to end mulesing by 2010.
AWI will have had six years to stop a horrific practice that no other country engages in. New Zealand stopped the mulesing mutilation almost 10 years ago. If AWI does not meet the 2010 deadline, retailers around the world will take action by sourcing wool elsewhere.
AWI has only itself to blame for losing the world market by trying to delay the inevitable. Of course we were spot-on: AWI has chosen not to live up to its word and is still stuck in the 1930s. Australian wool is no longer the standard—it is now a symbol of the way greedy people have behaved by treating thinking, feeling animals as if they were inanimate commodities.
Despite the fact that leading retailers across Europe and North America are refusing to purchase wool from mulesed lambs, the Australian wool industry's most recent ludicrous scheme is to adopt an equally cruel and painful procedure called "clip mulesing," in which clips are attached to the folded skin on lambs' backsides, causing the skin to rot and fall off. Clips are not an alternative to the mulesing mutilation; they are simply a less bloody form of it. We are pleased, however, to see that the wool industry has finally responded to the complaints of dozens of retailers around the world who want to buy only wool from sheep who were not mulesed (not even with clips) and who have asked that wool from clip-mulesed sheep be identified on a mulesing declaration form.
As the Australian Weekly Times wrote, "For an organisation that purports to be a research and marketing body, the decision by Australian Wool Innovation to abandon the mulesing deadline is reckless, unwanted and unhelpful." This shows that your voices—and those of retailers who are demanding that Australia join the 21st century and stop mutilating lambs—are being heard in Australia.
Please help PETA continue to pressure the Australian government to do the right thing by taking a few short moments to write to Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, to demand that mulesing be outlawed now. And, if you still wear animals even when so many wonderful alternatives exist, ask yourself why.
Posted by Tracy Reiman
TAGGED:
Comments
Putting a clip on an animals skin so that the skin rots and falls off???
Apparently these people have never been severely pinched by anything...now imagine not being able to remove what is causing the painful pinch, compounded by gangrene and exacerbated by fear.
I will never wear any kind of wool.
Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | July 30, 2009 01:05 PM
Pathetic Australia. Wake up and smell some compassion.
Posted by: Robert Caruk | July 30, 2009 03:47 PM
Steve Kilbey, the dynamic lead vocalist of "The Church" is always performing at vegan and cruelty-free living festivals. He's the most compassionate Aussie rock star. Daniel Johns and the Seekers Judith Durham are also Aussie vegetarians with great vocals.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | July 30, 2009 09:26 PM
This is just mind boggling, complete lack of care for what these beings suffer. It is greatly outrageous, and it is like something from the dark ages in its cruel stupidity. Because they can get away with it, they take feeling individuals and just treat them like objects and cut or rot off their flesh and also ship them in horrific conditions to experience horrific murders, too. There is no conscience at all. What these industries and these human devils do to feeling individuals is like what we would expect to find many ages ago in the most horrific and notorious periods, yet these atrocities are actually now far greater in scope than ever before in the vile history of humanity.
Posted by: stoptorture | July 30, 2009 09:57 PM
Pathetic Australia, huh?
For your information, some of us do have compassion.
We're not all heatless monsters, thankyou very much.
Posted by: Shannyn | July 31, 2009 12:01 AM
The AWI should demonstrate it's integrity by enacting it's promise to end the nasty practice of mulesing by 2010.
Posted by: Darien Midwinter | July 31, 2009 02:52 AM
I live in Australia and am appalled. I used to wear wool, but from here on in I won't be buying ANY wool products. I won't support this industry. And I'll be spreading the word. I love Australia, but this country rides on the back of cruelty, torture and murder. I became vegetarian two years ago adter seeing Earthlings. I am almost vegan. I have drawn a line in the sand I will no longer cross, and will be convincing as many people as possible to join me on the non-cruelty side. It's not just big International retailers who can boycott Australian wool. It is us, the people. Shame on Australian Wool Innovation. The only innovative thing I can see about you is your innovative cruelty to animals. Shame on you.
Posted by: Linda Dicmanis | July 31, 2009 05:15 AM
Listen Robert it won't do you any good to condemn and label another nation as "pathetic" and needing to smell some "compassion" because I can tell you that Australians (in general) are very compassionate, gets me thinking about a comment about most Americans being on prescription drugs if indeed that is where you hail from although whatever country you hail from has issues of one sort or another - recruit cops being mowed down like flies only a few weeks after attesting yet I am not saying I hope more and more get shot or stabbed am I? Not to mention the endless examples of animal cruelty that exist wherever you live. I do not recommend you even ATTEMPT to join your local police force - you would fail.
Posted by: Copper to be (hopefully) | July 31, 2009 06:08 AM
I could never imagine what that would feel like. How dare you!
Human rights? Pish Posh, people need done to them what they bestow upon others. I doubt this would be a problem if we were fighting fair.
Posted by: Cassie | July 31, 2009 08:59 AM
I'm Australian, and to be honest I am appalled, but not surprised. While Sydney and other major cities are quite 'with the times' and accepting of vegetarian/veganism, each and every time I have visited rural towns I have been greeted with shock and disgust that I have chosen to be a 'freak' and 'go against nature' by abandoning animal products. They have to be so desensitised to animal cruelty to do their jobs that they can't imagine the possibility that a sheep is anything but a paycheck waiting to happen.
Every time I think Australia might be getting better, something like this happens and reminds me I'm living in a country decades behind the rest of the world.
Posted by: Liz | July 31, 2009 11:25 AM
Maybe there can be a more concerted effort to get Australian businesses to help oppose this cruelty? I know things tend to be in their own little worlds, whatever they are, but it makes a good show of a company to the public if they step out and try to do good for a cause.
Posted by: drew | July 31, 2009 12:53 PM
We're standing by here in Ireland to protest Australian Wool.
Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN).
Posted by: John Carmody | July 31, 2009 01:40 PM
what kind of sick people do that to animals?
Posted by: adri | July 31, 2009 01:50 PM
I live in Australia now but was born in the UK. The attitude of the majority of Australians I have met since moving here towards animals, of any kind, is pretty appalling.
People simple don't care and don't want to know. They are happy living blissfully in there ignorant little world. So long as the lamb chops and veal steaks keep on coming they aren't bothered WHERE it came from or HOW it got there.
It does not suprise me in the slightest that the AWI has backed out of its promise to phase out mulesing.
I couldn't agree more with Linda Dicmanis - Australia does ride on the back of cruelty, torture and murder. They still employ farming methods such as mulesing and sow stalls; shooting national emblems seems to be a widely accepted past time and if you don't consume your own weight in dead animals monthly you are considered odd, soft and 'untrustworthy'.
And Liz - Sydney being with the times. Is it the same Sydney i'm living in?? Becasue I am sick to death of trying to find a restraunt out side of Newtown that gives you more than 2 veggie options on the menu. And what is with the super markets?? Someone needs to get on Paul McCartneys and Quorns case and get their vego/meat free alternatives exported to here.
But back on the mulesing issue - if NZ phased it out 10 years ago and everywhere else in the world seems to cope without its employment what is wrong with Australia?? I'll tell you...as usual, they are behind the times and are also putting their pocket before anything else.
Posted by: Thea | July 31, 2009 07:26 PM
apparently they dont care if the deadline is met because "they" dont have to feel the pain the animals bodies feel.
Posted by: mitchell lester | July 31, 2009 10:16 PM
This is very disappointing. AGAIN! First the uggs and now this. Austrailia is going to far with it's sheep and if we can just take out ALL the sheep from there that would be the best because if there giving them a deadline that's 5 months away they'll probably finish with all of them while they can. Vegestarianism needs to spread fast there cause they eat those poor beautiful kangaroos like if they were candy. It's ridiculous.
Posted by: Melissa | July 31, 2009 10:31 PM
I am shocked of these images. The greed of people goes beyond imagination and I am more impressed of the lack of humanity of this people.
I cannot describe my disappointment on how I was living and how I was helping these b$%#%^#$ to treat bad and kill animals.
Posted by: Hermann Brandi | August 1, 2009 12:19 AM
Animals have feelings.
Treat your animal
as you will be treated
Posted by: Kristina Lemon | August 1, 2009 12:57 PM
I feel so sorry for those poor Sheep. I think it's absolutely disgusting what the Australian Wool Innovation(AWI)are doing, they should stick to their agreement. I have no grudge against Australia/Australians because you can't blame everyone for what goes on in their country, for instance; I'm English, I'm against Fox Hunting but, sadly it still happens. But, hopefully if everyone speaks up, wherever they're from, then The AWI will listen & see sense!!
Posted by: Matt Greenwood![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.peta.org/nav-commenters.gif)
| August 1, 2009 01:03 PM
PETA has its heart in the right place, and for that, I support it. It has literally changed my life, as well as the lives of countless animals.
However, the organization does have a tendency to use extreme terms and thus hurt the cause it intends to promote. For example, lumping all of Australia into a category of cruelty. It turns those away who were considering joining, and provides fuel for the opponents.
Please, PETA, keep up the good work, but employ some common sense -- and especially accuracy -- to your wordings.
Posted by: J. Nations | August 2, 2009 03:43 PM
I'm a shamed to be Austraila
:(
Posted by: Jo-Anne Carlyle | August 2, 2009 09:58 PM
I am an Australian, vegetarian, grade 12 student, and I am amazed to see that these primative methods of wool removal are still used. This is disgusting, and I am no longer going to be supporting this industry by purchasing wool products, and I will be encouraging my friends and family to do the same.
Posted by: Eloise Ayre | August 3, 2009 04:49 AM
"reneging on its promise to end mulesing by 2010." its not 2010 yet
Posted by: Ryan | August 3, 2009 09:27 PM
Poor sheep... ):
I never wear any fur, wool, or leather.
Go Veg! Be Green! Save the Planet!
www.suprememastertv.com
Posted by: Jean | August 3, 2009 10:59 PM
Its not just wool you need to stop wearing, lanolin (made from sheep wool) is in many products, get reading your labels. Go vegan, boycott Proctor and Gambel,Body Shop, etc hit em where it hurts...in the pocket.
Posted by: Sally Greenhough | August 4, 2009 09:45 AM
Dear Peta,
Regarding Australia's killing of camels by air. I've written to the Aust. Amer chamber of commerce to tell them I will no longer buy Australian wines because of this action.
Australian American Chamber of Commerce
Posted by: Nan | August 5, 2009 07:14 AM
I think people ignore what they are not sure about and are prepared to accept an excuse if it lessens their need to become involved. Put mulesing on tv, let people see the cruel and disgusting process then show the options for good animal husbandry, make people see the choice and see then if they can ignore it.
Posted by: Pam | August 8, 2009 01:25 AM