Calling All Pig-tivists

by Jasmin

When I was a kid, my older brother used to taunt me by calling me “Miss Piggy.” I see now that it was a compliment! Pigs are, without question, among the most social, warm, and playful farm animals. Just take a look at Susie Coston’s recent blog entry for proof (be sure to scroll down and watch the heart-warming video of Sprinkles and Tim).

Despite their extraordinarily high intelligence level, it is not breaking news that pigs are also among the most poorly treated animals in factory farms today. Recently, there’s been a flurry of media attention given to the porcine family. These are all opportunities for us to take action by utilizing our social networking skills and getting the word out far and wide that these precious creatures should not be treated with anything but compassion.

In the recent New York Times article, “Pathogens in Our Pork,” Nicholas D. Kristof explains that it would be ludicrous to add antibiotics to baby food as a means to ward off ear infections, given the fact that overuse of such drugs make us resistant to medication. He goes on to say that despite this, “we continue to allow agribusiness companies to add antibiotics to animal feed so that piglets stay healthy and don’t get ear infections. Seventy percent of all antibiotics in the United States go to healthy livestock, according to a careful study by the Union of Concerned Scientists – and that’s one reason we’re seeing the rise of pathogens that defy antibiotics.”

A few days prior, Kristof published “Our Pigs, Our Food, Our Health,” which talks about MRSA, a deadly staph infection, which now kills more Americans per year than the AIDS virus. Kristof explained that there is a strain of MRSA that is incubated and spread by pigs to humans. It was a Dutch study that linked pig-carrying MRSA to human heart inflammation.
 
You can post a comment to these (and other) Times articles by registering for free. Be sure to thank Kristof for his continual coverage of the abuses inherent in factory farming. You might want to also mention, in the nicest way possible, that “our pigs” are not “our food,” and “our health” would be better off if more people confronted that reality. (Some things just seem so obvious…)

While you’re at it, check out this New York Times review of the ground-breaking HBO documentary, “Death on a Factory Farm,” which goes undercover at a hog farm in Ohio, detailing horrid abuses, such as pigs being hung by chains and strangled to death. I recommend that you gather your meat-eating friends and watch this documentary. Also, read the Times review and please comment. The writer manages to eek in some ignorant remarks, such as one from a “sympathetic farmer” who says “we can’t all eat lettuce.” (Last I checked, my healthy and delicious vegan diet had a myriad of delectable food options.)

In the midst of a pig-filled week, we are asking that our pig-tivists also take action on this alert, detailing a tasteless ad put out by Boost Mobile in which two pigs are eating ham, enjoying the remains of a “fallen friend.” It’s one of the most insensitive and disturbing ads involving farm animals that we’ve witnessed. Some things are just not funny.

With Easter coming up – a holiday where many people still eat ham as part of a misguided “tradition” – why not order some newly designed “Truth Behind Pork” brochures so that you can help educate your friends and family in advance? Ask that they extend their circle of compassion to animals and consider some delectable (and cruelty-free!) vegan options.

And don’t fret. Remember the story of Sprinkles and Tim, and all the other ambassadors at Farm Sanctuary. Even in the midst of misinformed people, making some hay and refusing to be complacent does make a difference.

Take it from E.B. White, author of Charlotte’s Web:

The thought of death came to him and he began to tremble with fear.

“I don’t want to die,” screamed Wilbur, throwing himself to the ground.

“You shall not die,” said Charlotte, briskly.

“What? Really?” cried Wilbur. “Who’s going to save me?”

“I am,” said Charlotte.

Comments

[Andrea N.]

Beautiful post, Jasmin! I love pigs since I was a kid and hated to see them being raised in the dirt, in Brazil, and hear farmers say that the pigs "like it". Argh.

I'm helping the ducks and geese tonight! Leafleting (about the cruelty of foie gras) in NYC with a group of fabulous activists. :)

Have a wonderful weekend~

[Melinda]

As an intern at Farm sanctuary I have gotten the chance to experience what I had always heard: pigs are intelligent, affectionate and fun.

Thank you for keeping the dialogue going and for reminding us, with those heartwarming final words, that the wish to do right by these animals is somewhere in all of us!

[Gemma]

This is a wonderful post. The perception of these animals as dirty and unclean is a negative,faulty one. Ads like the one you mentioned and the one I wrote to by Ax are an example of the poor judgment of society. Videos like the one on sprinkles and Tim shows how they are loving, fun animals who play just like your cats and dogs. We must educate people to see what really is the truth.