meat is murder

The first case of human-to-human transmission of avian flu in Pakistan has been confirmed.

Tests carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that bird flu killed some members of a family in north-west Pakistan late last year.

The WHO says steps were taken to prevent future fatalities in the area.

Pakistan’s north-west and southern regions were hit by bird flu last year. Thousands of birds were culled to control the spread of the disease.

Remainder of article at the BBC

An egg related story here at meatismurder. It appears as if China is now able to produce fake eggs. Please see related details of animal egg production here

Egg Piracy in China

During a recent raid on a wholesale centre in Guangzhou city, the capital of China’s Guangdong province, a large quantity of fake eggs was seized.

Their wholesale price is 0.15 yuan (S$0.03) each - half the price of a real egg.

Consumers have a hard time telling a genuine egg from a fake one. This is good news for unscrupulous entrepreneurs, who are even conducting three-day courses in the production of artificial eggs for less than S$150.
A reporter with Hong Kong-based Chinese magazine East Week enrolled in one such course.

The artificial egg can be fried sunny-side up or steamed. Although bubbles appear on the white of the egg, those who have tasted it say the fake stuff tastes very much like the real thing.

But experts warn of the danger of eating fake eggs. Not only do they not contain any nutrients, a Hong Kong Chinese University professor warned that long-term consumption of alum could cause dementia.

Following on from yesterday’s story about the suffering of animals in transport, here is another example of livestock injured due to travel. Except this time the animals died on the road instead of a slaughterhouse.

Armed police today shot several badly injured pigs after an animal transporter caught fire on a stretch of motorway.

Both carriageways of the A1(M) were closed for a time after the incident between Carville and Chester-le-Street in County Durham earlier this morning.

Durham Police said 16 animals were put down, three of which were shot by armed officers drafted in to assist vets.

The fire was sparked by a burst tyre on the three-tier vehicle - containing 200 pigs. It was being towed by a lorry on the southbound carriageway.

The road was closed in both directions for more than four hours but both carriageways have now reopened to motorists.

A police spokesman said: “Sadly the blaze resulted in injury to a number of animals.

“A vet was called in to put down some of the pigs and armed officers were also drafted in to kill three the vet could not reach.”

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From SARC
Rescue volunteers have saved 2 piglets from an agricultural college in the south. According to the rescuers, this college teaches people how to run a fully functional intensive pig farm, including the use of the notorious farrowing crates where mothers are caged in a space so small they can’t move or turn. The baby pigs were already weaned from their mothers and are now happy and healthy living somewhere suitable to their needs.

Animal rights activists ‘rescue’ more hens before court

Animal welfare activists in Canterbury say they have rescued 31 battery hens as an act of solidarity with a Wellington activist due to appear in Wellington District Court tomorrow. Mark Eden was charged after a raid on a Foxton poultry farm in November 2006. Christchurch Open Rescue released a statement tonight, saying they had rescued 31 young hens from a life of caged misery. “The action was carried out in solidarity with Mark Eden, an Open Rescue member in Wellington who is currently facing charges for his role in a rescue at a Foxton farm,” the group said. “The birds have all been provided with new homes where they can live out their lives free to exhibit their natural behaviours.” Christchurch Open Rescue’s Tracey Brown told NZPA that the raid on a farm south of Christchurch took place in the middle of the night a few days ago, but was announced tonight to coincide with the Wellington court hearing. Another Open Rescue member, Rebecca McCready, said: “In the last six months, Christchurch Open Rescue has freed 100 hens, and other Open Rescue groups around the country have freed even more, as well as extensively documenting the vile practices that hold up this horrific industry”.

Source

City fears over donkey meat ad

A MANGY donkey tied to a post all day in a Beijing street and wearing a coat sporting an advert for a donkey meat shop has sparked controversy in the Chinese capital.

There are fears the animal may affect the city’s image.

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