Nov06
'Tradition Is Not an Excuse for Cruelty'
Posted at 12:45 PM | Permalink
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Comments (22)
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Sadly, during the festival of Ukweshwama, a group of youths torment and slaughter a terrified bull with their bare hands. They rip out the bull's tongue, shove handfuls of dirt into his mouth, tear out his eyes, and mutilate his genitals. This horrible murder has been excused from compliance with laws against animal cruelty under the country's "cultural liberty" exemption.
Abusing animals does not bring honor to any culture. Indian humanitarian, journalist, government minister, and advocate for animals Maneka Gandhi knows that and has sent a letter on behalf of PETA Asia to South African President Jacob Zuma urging him to modernize this cruel ritual. She writes:
While I respect culture, this bull-killing ritual causes extreme suffering to an innocent creature and has no place in the modern world. Tradition is not an excuse for cruelty, and many societies have ended or are working to end 'traditional' practices—such as slavery, cannibalism, infanticide, female circumcision, foot-binding, bullfighting, and fox hunting—that cause animals or humans to suffer.
As Maneka Gandhi points out in her letter, it's impossible to deny the link between violence toward animals and violence toward people. We hope that President Zuma and other world leaders who care about making their countries less violent will put an end to horrific practices such as this.
Posted by Heather Drennan
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Comments
Teaching children to be cruel to animals is wrong.
"Tradition" is not a reason to comment acts of violence against animals.
Its "ignorance" that makes this violence a "tradition"
GO TEAM PETA! This tragic "tradition" will come to a end soon!
Posted by: Shari | November 6, 2009 03:27 PM
Unfortunately, in Santa Catarina State, in Brazil,we have the same practice in Easter, even if it is ilegal,some people and autorities encourage it.It is terrible and coward.
Posted by: Marilena Rosa | November 6, 2009 05:06 PM
It's time to become enlightened, all creatures must be treated compassionately & humanly and stop living in ignorance.
Posted by: Claudia Martin | November 6, 2009 05:14 PM
slaughtering a bull with your bare hands?????? how the hell even is that tradition????? it's like people get together and brainstorm all the possible cruel things you could do!!
Posted by: Brandon | November 6, 2009 06:40 PM
Animal abuse in Africa is horrific and widespread but I guess it's "Politically incorrect" to critize a violent Continent wherein monkeys, bonobos and gorillas are savagely killed and then eaten as a gourmet food. It's people are brutalized by vicious Dictators and tribes too !
The great Nelson Mandela was and is a great role model but it seems like very few African leaders want to embrace his peaceful and nonviolent worldview.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | November 6, 2009 09:00 PM
Thank you Maneka Ghandi and Peta Asia. I hope that President Zuma is moved to end this abusive, senseless tradition.
Posted by: lynda downie | November 6, 2009 09:58 PM
This is one that I have never heard of before. Amazing, I thought I already knew of all the horrible things humans do to animals.....and it was enough!!!
Posted by: Tamra | November 7, 2009 01:01 AM
Tradition isn't a good reason to do anything whatsoever.
Posted by: Toby Saunders | November 7, 2009 10:05 AM
I'm a South African, but I almost feel too embarrassed to say it. South Africa is tormented by violence. Murder, armed robbery, torture, gangsterism, rape, child rape, sexual abuse and violence towards women and children are everyday occurrences here. It doesn't even appear on the front pages of the newspapers anymore.
This ritual teaches these boys from a young age that violence towards the defenceless is acceptable behavior. In a society where crime and abuse is the order of the day, this is the last thing that the youth of this counrty should be taught.
Please PETA, make a big deal of this. This is not the only cruel custom towards animals that are takes place here. Plans are being made to sacrifice cows in each of the stadiums that will be used in the 2010 Soccor World Cup, which is to be hosted by South Africa. The only way that this can be stopped is if there is an international outcry. If the international community refuses to endorse and support South Africa in the soccer, maybe the powers that be (who, by the way, all support these cruel practices) will make changes. There is an Animal Protection Act in South Africa, it's just not being enforced.
Posted by: M | November 8, 2009 09:36 AM
This is one of the most brutal ways of living in the guise of tradition. Probably those traditions were created when beasts were transforming into humans. Now that we have been completely transformed into human form, this is the time to avoid such traditions.
Posted by: Gopal | November 8, 2009 05:37 PM
Is there an address or email to write to so we can contact these leaders and ask them to stop this brutal practice? This is deplorable and insane.
Posted by: Lisa Moran | November 8, 2009 08:34 PM
Seriously! What the f!#k is wrong with people!!!??????
Posted by: Mary Ellen | November 8, 2009 08:59 PM
what sort of kids do such cruel acts? horrible.
Posted by: roxanne | November 9, 2009 03:55 AM
Animal cruelty like this repulses me and it would be justice if this was done back to the people who do this to animals. A punishment needs to be made so that these people will want to tear out their own eyes before they dream of doing any harm to an animal. We need to stick together and make a difference now.
Posted by: Pamrita | November 9, 2009 07:52 AM
this makes me feel savage and able to kill.all the people who do these things are worth less than nothing.i am a peaceful,gentle,caring soul.but i am also feeling complete hatred towards any person who abuses those weaker than themselves.BULLIES,PATHETIC LIMP,WEAK BULLIES.your reward waits for you in hell!
Posted by: michelle betts | November 9, 2009 02:23 PM
wow.. sick and discusting..Nice way to bring more civil humans into this already sick world!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: carla | November 9, 2009 04:31 PM
You have to be joking? I have never heard of this disgusting practice.. What in gods name are these children like?
I cannot imagine anything like this, and i hope that Peta Asia is able to stop this ...
Horrible, mean, cruel, heartless little whimps...tht is what u ALL are...!!
Disgusted Aussie...
Posted by: marea | November 9, 2009 08:21 PM
This is truely disgusting.
Just to let you know .In the UK fox hunting ban maybe abolished because of the snobby twats we have aka the tories .
If i had my way Greenpeace would be the government and there would be a better,cleaner place for our generation and future generations.
Hopefully Its not too late to save the world and the future children.
Posted by: Innocent Eyes | November 10, 2009 11:30 AM
I agree with Maneka on the behalf of sensibalisam in this culture, however, this was not right, even BEFORE modern day. Those bullls are r being killed as we speak! WILL SOMEONE PLEASE STOP THIS MADNESS?!?! How would u like it if someone put u in a pen, and then RIPPED OUT UR EYES AND TOUNG?..... With their bare hands, too! I absolutley despise this insignificant, stupid, ignorant, and uncaring african cultre!!!! How is the bull suposed to reproduce, that will eventually lead to mass extinction of these wonderful, strong, and magnificant creatures!!! there was a time when the human population was sustained entirely on bulls, buffalos and bison. Back then is when we NEEDED to kill animals TO STAY ALIVE!! Now, we have a little something called the super market!!! ooohh, ahhhh, it's sooo amazing, right? SOMEONE please do SOMETHING!!!
Posted by: Sammy Girl | November 11, 2009 03:35 PM
JUST SO U KNOW, I'M FRIENDS WITH SAMMY GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay back to the point why kill bulls for fun!!! that is gross,animal murder, and crulity why o why would u pull out a animals tounge shouve dirt into its mouth and then yank its eyeballs OUT!! i think that this is gross why cant people have sense?! i mean really what did the bull do 2 them?!! heres the answer NOTHING!!! how would they like it if there eyeballs were ripped out of their SKULLS!!! and if their tounges were mutilated out of their mouths and than having dirt shoved in!!!! I HATE CRULITY IT IS STUPIED SICK AND NASTY!! who ever started this crulity crap then THEY R A COMPLETE RETARDED FREAK
Posted by: mooly | November 11, 2009 03:52 PM
Can the organizing committee please advise us as to whether or not they are still going forward with this barbaric act?? There are plenty of people who have not yet bought their tickets to Africa who are seriously weighing up their plans. After all - youngsters are taught it's okay to kill bulls - what's the difference between torturing bulls and attacking tourists??? Do tourists seriously wish to be in the company of a nation that sees fit to train it's youth to inflict violent torture on innocent animals??? No respect for life.... I suggest World Cup be moved to a "civilized" country....and boycott Africa.. Disgusted Aussie (ashamed to be an ex South African)
Posted by: Lynda from Oz | November 14, 2009 05:07 PM
Pathetic!! Never heard of such cruelty been regarded as tradition before. Influencing locals should do something about it. Thansk God Peta has been involved in it ,now
Posted by: Nanci Dagragnano | November 20, 2009 06:36 PM