The Gist: Good afternoon, and welcome to the fourth and final week of our discussion of The Bond by Wayne Pacelle. Next week, we will begin our discussion of Fear of the Animal Planet by Jason Hribal, which seems like a very interesting read. Be sure to get your copy, so you can join in.We finished the book by reading the entirety of Part Three this week, which includes two chapters. There is also a small section entitled "Fifty Ways to Help Animals," which literally states 50 ways to help, such as adopting a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle, writing letters to the editor regarding animal-protection issues, and just registering to vote. All of part three is mainly about creating a more humane world, and in chapter seven, Pacelle first states different cruelties that are still going on in the US and world, and tells about the people who defend these ways. The cruelties he talks about mainly encompass the use of animals for food, clothing, and sport. Organizations, such as the USDA, support the factory farmers because that's where the money is, and the National Rifle Association (NRA) defends all types of hunting, even the hunting that really isn't hunting—pigeon shoots, for example—because they believe it is a human right. Pacelle explains that is not about rights, but tradition and an unwillingness to change, that keeps these cruelties going.
In the final chapter of part three, Pacelle discusses how we could go about developing a more humane economy. He reiterates the fact that most cruelties stem from our not wanting to change and move away from tradition, even though once we do, the humane way is always the best option. He opens the chapter talking about when he went whale watching with a group of animal advocates, and relates how whale watching is now the norm in the Northeast, just a little more than 100 years ago the norm was whale hunting. So many inhumane practices are insufficient and costly, such as animal testing, but due to the fact that it's the norm, it is still happening. However, things are getting better, and small changes are being taken to help animals. Such changes include the development of chemical birth control to stem the population of wildlife, and possibly even dogs and cats in the near future. Also, the use of new and improved scientific methods to test the toxicity of chemicals in consumer products, without testing them on animals. It is changes like these that are helping us move in the right direction towards a more humane world.
The Discussion: Here are three discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!
1. What are your thoughts on the use of chemical birth control to keep the population of animal wildlife at bay?
2. Pacelle says that at the World Animal Forum in May 2010, they made several resolutions, including the worldwide ban on factory-farming practices by 2050. What do you think of these goals? Do you think they can be reached?
3. Overall, how did you like The Bond? Would you recommend it to a meat-eating friend?
The Assignment: Due to the holiday weekend, next week's discussion will begin on Tuesday, May 31. Please read the introduction, Prologue, and chapter one for our discussion. See you then!
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
1. Undecided.
ReplyDelete2. I hope so. We can only hope. I mean many parts of Europe have already banned veal crates and gestational crates, etc by 2012 or sometime in the relatively near future. So in 39 years time, Europe (esp. innovative countries like the Netherlands) will have probably banned factory farming. I don't see it happening so soon in the States though :( But again, one can only hope.
3. I loved this book. Read it in just under a week, which is pretty fast for a slow reader like me. It was so informative, covered so many areas of animal welfare, and was very well written.
I would definitely recommend it to a meat-eating friend. Granted they will probably only want to read the chapters on puppy mills or dog fighting, but hopefully they will read the whole thing and be educated by the chapter on factory farming too. Again, one can only hope...
1. What are your thoughts on the use of chemical birth control to keep the population of animal wildlife at bay?
ReplyDeleteWhile it’s unfortunate we are reduced to meddling with animals in this way, I believe it is better than the alternative. Some hardline abolitionists reject any sort of intervention in wildlife breeding, but I say that’s unrealistic. City councils and state legislatures are not run by animal advocates. Quite the opposite. When those deer nibble the flower gardens belonging to one too many important people, they’re going to be shot. Period. I’d rather that deer not be born in the first place than be blasted to pieces before he’s a year old.
2. Pacelle says that at the World Animal Forum in May 2010, they made several resolutions, including the worldwide ban on factory-farming practices by 2050. What do you think of these goals? Do you think they can be reached?
I think they’re good, realistic goals. As much as we’d like to see a cruelty-free world, it has to be achieved incrementally. I do think the First World will phase out some of the worst factory farm practices by then; there has already been great progress in Europe. However, the real challenge will be extending this momentum to the Third World. For them, animal products have for generations been out of reach. They will no doubt see cheap, mass-produced meat and animal products as a good thing. Also, in parts of the world with such extreme human rights abuses, poverty, and suffering, it’s easier for people to brush aside concerns about other beings.
3. How did you like The Bond? Would you recommend it to a meat-eating friend?
I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to others, including omnis. It’s accessible reading and the title doesn’t scare off people the way something like “Eating Animals” or “Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating” might.
I have mixed feelings on the birth control issue. It's something that should be unnecessary, but it's definitely a better option than killing.
ReplyDeleteIt is great to have goals, and I sincerely hope that it is possible to ban factory farming by 2050. I agree with Teni's thoughts about a European ban vs a US one.
I really liked this book. To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to read it or not. I am on the mailing list for HSUS and get a lot of their stuff in the mail and email, and sort of expected it to be just more of the same. I really liked how it was written, and would definitely recommend it to my meat eating friends.
It is the kind of book that is well suited to a meat eating crowd because it touches on all aspects of animal cruelty. It doesn't ever feel like an attack on meat eaters like some animal advocacy and vegan literature can, but makes the reader aware of how things really are. It's also great because in addition to the sad truths, there are good stories as well as positive ideas or changes for the future.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments! I'm glad you guys liked the book. I do agree that it is written in a style to not offend anyone, and I do like how it covers more aspects of animal cruelty rather than just factory farming—they are important issues too.
I will be wrapping up our discussion on Friday. I look forward to reading more comments!
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
1. Although I suppose its a better decision than killing them, we never know what effect we are going to have on the ecosystems we are meddling with. I wish we could just feed birth control to the idiots that build houses in the woods and then get mad at deer...but I guess that's not a compassionate view...
ReplyDelete2. Id like to think there will be an end to all animal farming by 2050, so we have to get to work!
3. I have already madea list in my mind of meat eating friends I will be gifting this book to! Although I don't agree with everything put forth in the conclusion of this book I do think it is an easy way for people that have no idea to takein the truth.
1. What are your thoughts on the use of chemical birth control to keep the population of animal wildlife at bay?
ReplyDeleteIt has pros and cons, just like anything else does. On the one hand, it will prevent animals from being born and then killed. On the other, we don't know what kind of impact this will have on the planet.
2. Pacelle says that at the World Animal Forum in May 2010, they made several resolutions, including the worldwide ban on factory-farming practices by 2050. What do you think of these goals? Do you think they can be reached?
I think these are wonderful goals to have. It would certainly be amazing to see a ban on factory farming by 2050, although I'm not entirely sure that it will actually happen.
3. Overall, how did you like The Bond? Would you recommend it to a meat-eating friend?
I would recommend The Bond to pretty much anyone, especially meat-eating family members and friends. I agree with others that it does a great job covering many aspects of animal cruelty, not just one. Also, it is not really "preachy, or pushy" like some vegan literature that's out there.