So everyone goes frickin berserk over transporting cows to be inhumanely slaughtered in Indonesia. The law gets changed overnight! ( I agree that it was inhumane and live exports are horrific)
Yet MANY people are quite happy to allow CHILDREN who have arrived in Australia LEGALLY seeking asylum -( it is not illegal to arrive in a country and ask for asylum ) to be transported ALONE to Malaysia where we know their human rights will be abused in the form of caning and whipping them. Children. Human children. We are sending them to be abused.
The cows have been saved.
The children have not.
Indeed. Have thought that same thing several hundred times over the last few days. It is very sobering.
ReplyDeleteI am SO with you lady. It's uber hip to be into animal rights, but human rights? no way, its too hard and we might have to actually INTERACT on a human to human level.
ReplyDeleteChunkychooky for PM.
ReplyDeleteHere here Cath! Beautifully put
ReplyDeletexo
It's such a hideous situation isn't it? Do we as a country feel more empathy to cows than we do to "foreigners"? I guess so...just sad.
ReplyDeleteyes! I tried make this point at lunch at work the other day, but it didn't go down so well...
ReplyDeleteOne thing wins votes, the other does not. Politicians only get involved in causes that win them supporters.
ReplyDeleteWe live in sad times Cath, very sad times.
ReplyDeleteLove these cranky pants posts CC.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sick.
Yep. So much defies logic,
ReplyDeleteI just said the same thing this morning!! I don't think ANYONE should be sent to Malaysia regardless.
ReplyDeleteI KNOW....I KNOW..!!! What are they thinking...or are they not thinking. Maybe 4 corners needs to do some investigative reporting in to asylum seeking kids!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right - distressing images seem to be what is needed to motivate people unfortunately...
ReplyDeleteEveryone write to your local MP - it's a start...
I agree with you all, sadly it it is an election issue and sadly more people are willing to speak up for animal rights than people. I think its also interesting that the media also seems to be more prepared to speak out for the cows than asylum seekers.They create an environment of scorn and self righteousness over the cruelty to animals and one of fear and exclusion for people looking for a safe place to live. Sorry for my long rant but both are equally ethically and morally wrong. On a happier note thanks to all your comments I glad I'm not alone in thinking this.
ReplyDeleteJust echoing Tracy's thoughts from above. I've thought the same thing several hundred times a day for the last week or so. I'm astonished at how quickly our fellow Australian's cry out for the cow's and yet they have no sympathy for our fellow human being. In fact, the xenophobic view of asylum seekers perpetuated by Murdoch's media has become the norm. Incredible.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you posted on this issue. As a nation we have ostracised those who have mistreated people forever..and now it is shameful to think that our own government is condidering using people..real people with real lives and feelings and loved ones..to sacrifice as an example to other refugees! What are you thinking Miss Gillard?????
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I'm a bit offended by some of the comments here. Why do you assume those who are advocating for compassion to be extended to animals are not also advocates for human rights? I agree that the way asylum seekers are treated is atrocious and inhumane. I also think the way animals are treated by industry is atrocious and inhumane. The Animals Australia footage sparked public outrage which in turn created the perfect opportunity to push for change. I too would love to see that same compassion extended to asylum seekers and I think we can & should advote for both.
ReplyDelete-Michelle
(a 'hip' vegan for the past 18 years)
As a country what are we doing? I am ashamed of the stance that our government - libs and labour, continually takes. Yes they have acted regarding live animal exports (thankgoodness, the report on 4 corners was HORRIBLE but so important to see - and I also do not agree with some of the comments here) but I do agree that we need to also take a stance on immigration in a humane way as well. These people are desperate...they have to be, who would put their family on a rickety boat and cross the ocean if they were not?? Imagine if it were us?, our mother, father, children?? We are so fortunate to live in a country of peace. I have said it before, but as a country I do not believe we are the compassionate people we say we are.
ReplyDeletenook, I don't think you should be offended, and I'm sorry that you are. I certainly didn't mean that 'those who are advocating for compassion to be extended to animals are not also advocates for human rights?' I'm a vegetarian and a human rights activist myself.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do find sobering is that wide public support was so easily generated for the cows, but campaigns for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers are met with widespread hostility. As for a government that shows itself able to act so swiftly on one issue and to make such a mess of the other...it's sobering and heartbreaking all at once.
Again, sorry that you feel offended.
oh cath i think just the same thing. just such an uproar over cows, not trying to lessen the importance of inhumane treatment of animals, but refugees and asylum seekers nothing is being done, well, nothing making any sense is being done. i find it embarrassing....
ReplyDeleteI just want someone to show me the 'queue' that these poor souls, so terrified that they would one day leave everything they have ever known and attempt so frightening a voyage to a new life, a safer life; are supposed to be 'jumping'. It is, in my mind, the vile debasing rhetoric surrounding asylum seekers that we need to address in order to begin a widespread community movement to support the rights of those claiming asylum.
ReplyDeleteWe're so relieved to see some blogger political activism. Good for you Chunkychooky. Josh Thomas made some very apt and succinct comments on Q & A last night too. When the whole world seems to have gone right-wing crazy it's good to know there is compassion still out there.
ReplyDeleteyou are spot on! i missed this one. so so so inhumane and sad. makes me sick.
ReplyDelete