Christmas Come Early: A ‘Pig in Blankets’ Spreads Joy in Cambridge
Christmas is coming, so a PETA “pig” wrapped in blankets gave away packs of vegan pigs in blankets and festive recipe booklets to shoppers in Cambridge city centre today.
The action served to remind people that everyone, no matter what species they are, is entitled to live a life free from suffering – during the festive season and all year round.
Life on Factory Farms
Pigs on UK factory farms are typically confined to crowded, barren sheds, in which they’re denied the chance to do anything that comes naturally to them, such as playing, exploring their surroundings, foraging for food, and raising their babies.
The frustration and stress from this extreme confinement can drive these highly intelligent animals to engage in aggressive behaviour such as tail-biting, so farmers routinely cut off their tails and clip or grind down their sensitive teeth, often without painkillers.
These helpless animals are generally sent to slaughter when they’re just a few months old. After enduring a terrifying journey to the abattoir, they’re typically stunned with electric tongs or suffocated with carbon dioxide in a gas chamber before their throats are slit.
Eating Meat Hurts Us All
The COVID-19 outbreak originated in a wet market, where humans have direct contact with live animals and animal flesh. The exploitation and slaughter of other living, feeling beings has led millions of us to be infected with a potentially fatal disease – and it’s not the first time.
According to Public Health England, “Many (60 to 80% [of]) emerging infections are derived from an animal source.”
Human demand for animal flesh causes huge numbers of gentle animals to be crammed together on crowded, faeces-ridden farms; transported in filthy lorries; and slaughtered on killing floors soaked with blood, urine, and other bodily fluids. Pathogens like the ones behind COVID-19, SARS, and bird flu flourish in such conditions.
For years, scientists have warned that filthy farms full of sick animals are breeding grounds for new, antibiotic-resistant “superbugs”. Some studies suggest that by 2050, more people will die of such diseases than of cancer.
In addition to carrying a high risk of contamination from pathogens – including E coli, campylobacter, and salmonella – meat is laden with artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol and contains no fibre.
The World Health Organization has deemed the consumption of processed meat carcinogenic, just like smoking cigarettes.
What You Can Do
The most impactful thing you can do to help prevent pigs and other animals from suffering on farms and to reduce the risk of future pandemics is to go vegan. Order our free vegan starter kit today for more information and guidance on making the switch.
And don’t forget to spread compassion for all this festive season: opt for a delicious vegan Christmas roast!
