Tag Archives: kindness to animals

The Humane Hoax

The Humane Hoax: Animal Industry’s Labels and Lies

By Hope Bohanec, author and activist, Oregon

As consumers become aware of the animal agriculture industry’s cruelty and environmental impact, clever industry marketers adapt with “humane” labels, small-scale tall tales, and other feel-good falsehoods. The term “humane hoax” is defined as new language and labels in animal product marketing that convey a false narrative of humane treatment and sustainable management of farmed animal operations. The marketing language and euphemistic labels tell a story of a supposed distinction from conventional animal products. But the reality on the ground, in the manure pits, during the mechanical milking, and inside the terrifying slaughterhouse, is fundamentally unchanged, despite promises to consumers of something new. Humanewashing and greenwashing are becoming more prevalent and pervasive than ever.

Also encompassed in the concept of the humane hoax is the new trend of people attempting to “do-it-yourself” with backyard farmed animal raising and slaughtering, generally with good intentions, but all too often, with cruel consequences. It has never been more important to educate people on the truth behind the industry lies, and people are hungry for the truth.

Overview:

In the time since I wrote the first book on the subject of the humane hoax, called The Ultimate Betrayal: Is There Happy Meat?, consumer awareness of the suffering of farmed animals has grown exponentially and so has the “alternative” animal product industry. “Cage-free,” “Certified Humane,” and other comforting labels are no longer elusive—dusty items only seen in the back corners of health food stores. They are now as common and numerous as cattle on a feedlot, spotted in common places like Walmart and your local coffee shop. In 2010, eggs labeled cage-free were a mere four percent of the market; that had risen to sixteen percent by 2017. The industry predicts that to meet consumer demand, cage-free production will be seventy-five percent of the market by 2026.

It is a hopeful sign that consumers are demanding better treatment for animals, but the actual difference in the life and death experience for a cow or a chicken with humane labeling is sadly minimal. I have done extensive research on this issue, interviewed numerous stakeholders, and personally visited multiple animal operations, and concluded that these unregulated labels mean very little, if anything at all, for the animal’s experience. I have examined this particular area of farmed animal advocacy, having written the first, and one of the only books on the topic, and having been professionally involved in the field for over two decades. I found, for example, that comparing hens confined in battery cages to those in cage-free barns bodes only slight improvements and those differences can vary widely from farm to farm.

Animal activists have time and again exposed the horrors of egg-laying hens crammed tightly in battery cages, with only the space comparable to a crowded elevator to live in. In response, the shrewd marketers representing the egg industry have distorted the story, altered the labels, and changed consumers’ conceptions. Instead of rejecting the inherent cruelty of commercial egg production, shoppers have been deceived by the fictitious choice of a seemingly “humane” alternative of “cage-free”—but the reality for the birds, however, is bleak.

The difference in the experience of a bird in a conventionally managed operation versus a cage-free one is negligible. Despite the optimistic label, most chickens in cage-free egg facilities still live in miserable overcrowded conditions in massive windowless buildings. Their eyes and throats burn from the ammonia gas released from their accumulated waste. They never feel the sun on their wings or experience a simple satisfying dust bath. Irrespective of any label, all the chickens still go to a brutal slaughter at a very young age. We must not let the deception of “new” marketing eclipse the fundamental cruelty of animal agriculture. The perception invoked by the “cage-free” label—that the birds are now living a good life—is a decidedly false one, a mirage created by the interaction of euphemisms and consumer hopes in the absence of accurate information.

As animal agribusiness attempts to wash the blood off its hands with a new fabrication of fresh farming methods, consumers, activists, and other caring people must educate themselves about the new narratives that the industry continues to weave. This anthology features a range of knowledgeable authors who are at the forefront of this marketing shift, chronicling every aspect with in-depth analyses and intellectual rigor. Among other topics, the book explores how so-called alternative animal agriculture intersects with feminism, affects the environment, is represented in the media, and impacts human and non-human communities alike.

On Contributors to the Anthology:

This anthology has an impressive list of contributing writers who are a diverse assortment of activists, academics, authors, and campaigners. They range from radical protesters to educating advocates to professional scholars in the academy. Of the seventeen expert contributors, eight are published authors, five leaders of advocacy organizations, eight have Ph.D. degrees, and three have masters. What they all share is a forward-thinking vision and common concerns with animal agriculture’s marketing shift from big to small, from industrial to local.

The Humane Hoax contains essays by noted animal rights and environmentalism figures like Carol Adams, Robert Grillo, Sailesh Rao, Karen Davis, and Christopher “Soul” Eubanks. Some of the contributors have done extensive peer-reviewed research on the subject while others have been working with farmed animal advocacy for decades thinking deeply about this issue. Still others are rescuing farmed animals directly from local and small-scale farms, witnessing first-hand the undeniable suffering that is commonplace in animal farming.

The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs; edited by Hope Bohanec. The book is available as a paperback and also as an e-book from Lantern Publishing & Media; lanternpm.org.

Ramadan For All

Ramadan for All

By Zanjabila Khadija, age 8, Indonesia.

Asif was going to fast in Ramadan month for the first time tomorrow. He was still five years old. Eating was usually fun for him, so the first fast was a tough challenge for him. That night, he was restless. He wondered what would happen if he didn’t eat his favorite food. Too tired to think about it, he fell asleep at 8 p.m., even though he usually went to bed at 9 p.m. He was too flustered, so he fell asleep early.

In his dream, he found himself in the land of giants. On that land, a lot of giant-sized foods can be enjoyed, such as candy, ice cream, vegetables, fish, fruit, chocolate, and so on. He was full after eating many different food dishes. He laid down when someone’s voice startled him. It turned out that it was not a human voice, but a giant talking candy!

When Asif fell asleep, his mom and dad discussed Asif’s fasting. They tried to find a way so that Asif could fast comfortably without feeling too hungry or bored. His dad said, “What if we bring him a new toy that he can play with and thus get distracted?”

However, his mom said, “No! Asif was bored with toys. What about a pet? Chickens, cats, or fish. Let him choose it by himself!”

Asif’s dad agreed. The next day, Asif woke up very early to eat his pre-fast meal because he was so excited about his first Ramadan. After finishing his meal, his mom and dad asked Asif to pray at dawn. Later in the morning, Asif and his dad went to Nana’s house, a short walk from their house. Nana was his aunt. Nana had eight cats. Some of them were Persian cats, and the others were domestic short-haired cats. Asif was amazed to see those cats. He wanted three cats. He asked Nana, “Aunty, can I keep these three cats?”

“Oh, sure,” said Nana without hesitation.

Asif was allowed to bring one Persian cat and two domestic cats. He forgot his hunger during the month of fasting. He loved them when they jumped around and chased his toys. Also, they did not find any mice at home anymore. Asif named his first domestic cat “Mimi the Nimble” because he was the most agile at catching mice. The second domestic cat was called “Mike the Great Climber.” He loved to climb all the trees in their backyard and bask for hours on the rooftop. The Persian cat was named “Lulu the Groomer.” Almost all day long, she combed her fur with her tongue.

One evening, Asif went to the mosque. The mosque committee would hold an iftar. All people who wanted to break the fast were invited to come. Arriving at the mosque, he saw many people gathered there. He sat in the mosque next to an old man he had never met. The old man told Asif that he was a traveler and was going to the next town by bike. Asif felt very happy every time he broke the fast together with other people at the mosque. He felt warmth even though he didn’t know those people. He saw that rich people would sit on the same floor as the poor. He also saw that all people got the same food. No matter what their ethnicity. He then remembered what his dad had once told him: “All people are equal before God, except for the good deeds they have done.”

When he ate his Iftar meal, he remembered his cats. He thought they should feel the joy of breaking the fast as well. He set aside his empal, a traditional meat dish, for his three cats. After breaking the fast and doing maghrib prayer—an evening prayer, Asif ran home carrying that large piece of empal. As he opened the door, all his cats ran toward him. Lulu and Mimi rubbed their bodies against his legs, while Mike climbed onto Asif’s shoulders. The three cats then partied happily with that meat!

—Zanjabila Khadija, age 8, Indonesia. She writes: “I love writing poetry and short stories.” She has won several literary competitions for young writers in Indonesia. In 2024, the Ramadan will begin on Sunday evening, March 10th and end on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 with the festival of Eid al-Fitr. The festival lasts for three days.
Editor’s Note: Islam follows a lunar calendar and hence the Ramadan dates fall on different dates each year. Did you know that in 2030, there will be two Ramadans? The first Ramadan will be in January 2030, and the second one will be observed in the month of December. Also, on Dec. 25, as the Christians celebrate Christmas, the Muslims will be celebrating the festival of Eid!

The Boy who Wanted to be a Bullfighter

By Greg Evans, Tennessee.

One day at school, eight-year-old Roberto’s teacher asked each student what they wanted to be when they grew up. One student wanted to be a doctor, and another dreamt of becoming a famous soccer player. His best friend Juan wanted to grow up to be a lawyer like his father, and his neighbor Sonia wanted to sew beautiful dresses for all the princesses around the world. Then the teacher asked Roberto the same question.

“When I grow up, I want to be a famous bullfighter,” Roberto said.

“Have you ever been to a real bullfight?” His teacher asked.

“No, not yet.” Roberto said, “But I have seen pictures of matadors in the newspaper many times.”

 “I think you would be a wonderful bullfighter,” his teacher said. For the rest of the day, Roberto could think of nothing else but dressing in the fancy sparkling outfits and dodging the piercing horns of a ferocious bull.

That night at dinner he told his parents about the exercise at school and that he wanted to become a bullfighter when he grew up.

“I think you would make the family very proud,” said his father.

“I would love nothing more,” his mother said. Roberto decided that he would spend the rest of his life pursuing this dream. He wished to attend an actual bullfight but his mother told him that it would be better if he waited until he was a little bit older because bullfights were for grownups.

As the years went by Roberto never lost this desire. When he reached the age of fifteen, his father told him one day that he’d soon meet the man who would teach him how to become the greatest bullfighter. Roberto was so excited. He was finally going to get the chance to follow his lifelong dream. The only problem was that he had never actually seen a real bullfight.

“When the time is right, I will take you to watch a bullfight,” his father promised him.

The first instruction was agility and understanding how to successfully maneuver forward and backward without tangling the feet. In the days that followed Roberto worked on his footwork and practiced using a capote de brega, the red cape the matador holds. During the bullfight the bull charges toward it.

Roberto’s teacher told him that he was gifted and would achieve international fame and celebrity status. Roberto cherished the adoration from the great master.

After a few weeks, he was given a stick with a red cloth hanging from it. It’s called the muleta. It is used in the third and the final run with the bull.

Roberto’s natural technique and obvious skill were noticed and soon a crowd of townspeople showed up during his instructions with the master. Day after day more and more people showed up to watch the local boy that would bring the town great fame.

Finally, Roberto and his father arrived at the practice arena. Standing in the middle of the fenced area was an actual bull. It was a small bull but its mighty muscles rippled, and it stomped the ground with such tremendous force that Roberto could feel the vibrations at the gate. He shuddered and felt his pulse rise.

This was the moment of truth. He would finally face off against a real bull after so many years of dreaming about this very moment. And after all that hard training he had been through, he felt he was ready!

Accompanied by the master he faced off against the bull. Using extraordinary skill and maneuverability, he moved and dodged the young bull’s charges and lunges. The bull didn’t have any horns but to be struck by it could cause serious injury. Roberto was excellent and the crowd gathered cheered him with every successful action. After a while of using the cape, the master brought Roberto the muleta. He also handed him a wooden stick. “This, my boy, will be a sword in the real bullfight arena.”

“A sword?” Roberto asked, “Why do I need a sword?”

“To slay the bull, of course,” the master said. This wasn’t what Roberto had been anticipating.

“I don’t want to kill the bull,” he said.

“But that is the finale of the fight. To be a famous matador you must slay the beast to the great cheers of adoring fans.”

“No, I won’t do it.” Roberto said. His father entered the ring and pulled Roberto aside.

“My son, a big part of being a great bullfighter means finishing the fight gloriously with the kill at the end. That is what the fans expect. That is what they are there to see, a great fight.”

“To kill a bull for sport is wrong and I won’t do it,” Roberto said. His father explained to the master that they would go home and discuss the matter. This was all new to Roberto and he needed time to think about it.

That night both Roberto’s parents encouraged him and explained that bulls expect a real do or die fight. That is how it has always been. In soccer, you score goals and in a bullfight, you slay the bull. But still, Roberto refused.

Roberto refused to return to the arena to fight the bulls, much to the disappointment of his parents and the entire town.

Roberto eventually entered the veterinary school and became a very prominent veterinarian helping heal animals instead.

By Greg Evans, Mexican American, Tennessee. Greg attended a bullfight outside Mazatlan, Mexico when he was ten-years-old. It was not a memorable experience and he vowed never to return to one again. He is the Associate Director of Communications at King University in Tennessee. He is also a columnist for several newspapers.