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When animal rights go wrong (Aussies standing up to PETA)
The Daily Telegraph ^ | 6/10/2008 | Tony Burke

Posted on 06/10/2008 6:03:09 PM PDT by markomalley

THEY oppose kids keeping goldfish. They oppose people riding horses. They even oppose blind people using guide dogs.

But who would have thought that some so-called animal rights groups would end up promoting animal cruelty?

Back off PETA: Sign The Daily Telegraph's petition

That is exactly what has happened with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal (PETA) protests calling for an immediate ban to mulesing.

It is not the first time this organisation has been on the absurd side of an argument.

The reason for mulesing is simple - it prevents the sheep from being killed by flesh-eating maggots.

Our merino sheep were developed through selective breeding, some time around 1870 - about the same time the blowfly made it here from South Africa.

The folds in the breach of the merino's skin together with the introduction of the blowfly became a lethal combination, creating a new disease: flystrike, where the folds in the skin become infested with maggots and the sheep dies a slow and painful death.

That's why mulesing was first introduced. Removing some of the wool and skin around the breach prevents the sheep being eaten alive. Farmers don't enjoy doing it, but the alternative is far worse.

The American-based organisation PETA knew that Australian industry had agreed to a 2010 phase-out of the practice to provide time to develop alternatives to mulesing.

Some of the alternatives being developed have involved clips, sprays and selective breeding. But then earlier this year PETA decided to embark on a campaign which, if successful, will only cause more sheep to die through flystrike.

They called for mulesing to be banned immediately. Then they went to different retailers around the world and tried to talk them into boycotting Australian wool because we had not met our 2010 deadline.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: animalrights; peopleeattastyanimal; peta
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Tony Burke is the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

URL for the "BACK OFF PETA" Petition is here

1 posted on 06/10/2008 6:03:09 PM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

I despise PETA. These people are seriously distrubed.


2 posted on 06/10/2008 6:06:12 PM PDT by faithinchaos (eternal pessimist, recovering optimist)
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To: markomalley

I am a proud member of PETA. People Eating Tasty Aminals, that is.


3 posted on 06/10/2008 6:09:03 PM PDT by irishtenor (Check out my blog at http://boompa53.blogspot.com/)
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To: markomalley

I am a proud member of PETA. People Eating Tasty Animals, that is.

SPELLCHECK!!!!!!!!!!!


4 posted on 06/10/2008 6:09:36 PM PDT by irishtenor (Check out my blog at http://boompa53.blogspot.com/)
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To: markomalley

Wow, this is the silliest thing I’ve heard all year.


5 posted on 06/10/2008 6:12:42 PM PDT by Soothesayer (I'm breaking out of this hand basket!)
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To: markomalley

I don’t know why it is that organizations such as PETA are given any sort of ear. There is no doubt a mental disorder exists, much akin to liberalism in general.


6 posted on 06/10/2008 6:14:11 PM PDT by brushcop (B-Co. 2/69 3rd Infantry Div., "Sledgehammer!" ...and keep hammering 'em!)
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To: markomalley

It’s good to see PETA making an azz of itself somewhere other than in the US.


7 posted on 06/10/2008 6:15:22 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: markomalley

Support PETA,
Stop Mulesing!
END MULE Circumcision NOW!
Carve out a position!
Take a stand on Mule Foreskins!


8 posted on 06/10/2008 6:18:10 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: markomalley

Anybody know what “mulesing” is, actually? Apparently it is a surgical procedure and is painful to the sheep.


9 posted on 06/10/2008 6:18:10 PM PDT by Misterioso
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To: markomalley

These PETA types are seriously disturbed. What say we give them a few islands on which they can live in harmony with the world as they see it? I’ll donate to that cause. Might even do that $1 a day plan to keep sending them stuff so they never have to leave the islands.


10 posted on 06/10/2008 6:18:50 PM PDT by PubliusMM (RKBA; a matter of fact, not opinion)
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To: Misterioso

Send that PETA fellow over here and hand me the shoat rings and pliers.


11 posted on 06/10/2008 6:19:58 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Misterioso

Read the article. He describes exactly what it is.


12 posted on 06/10/2008 6:21:02 PM PDT by markomalley (Extra ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: markomalley

I read the article, and I too still have no idea what it is. What’s the “breach” of a sheep? And what do they do with it?


13 posted on 06/10/2008 6:32:50 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: Ramius

They give the sheep a butt-lift (remove the extra skin). Remove dark, moist, warm places for the maggots to grow.


14 posted on 06/10/2008 6:35:56 PM PDT by markomalley (Extra ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: Misterioso

http://www.woolisbest.com/animal_welfare/mulesing/


15 posted on 06/10/2008 6:41:41 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: markomalley
The point is sheep have a right to live, too. Not that the PETA ethicists care about sheep.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

16 posted on 06/10/2008 6:47:35 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: PubliusMM

Ooh, ooh, next version of survivor! And since they can’t hunt or fish, all cameras flying overhead will witnessed the wonders of:
* vegetarians figuring out how to eat real raw fruits and vegetables, and figuring out if it is ethical to deprive the wild pigs of a meal, growing skeletal in the process
* debating whether or not to save a friend from the now emboldened wild cats and leeches, since they can’t harm the animals
* cannibalism, since it’s the only thing they can ethically eat. Do they vote someone off the island and onto the roasting spit? Or do they fight for the right to commit suicide first?


17 posted on 06/10/2008 7:00:04 PM PDT by tbw2 ("Sirat: Through the Fires of Hell" by Tamara Wilhite - on amazon.com)
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To: markomalley
These wingnuts came to Maine some years ago to save the lobster!

We sent ‘em packing.

18 posted on 06/10/2008 7:10:30 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (Typical Gun-Toting, Jesus-Loving Gramma)
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To: Misterioso
Apparently it is a surgical procedure and is painful to the sheep.

Is it more painful than being eaten by maggots?

19 posted on 06/10/2008 7:14:02 PM PDT by LibertarianLiz
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To: Misterioso

it’s where they cut the wool and some skin around the ass crack to prevent the sheep from being eaten alive by maggots...

maggots get there when flys lay eggs in there.

either shave the sheep’s butt and take some skin or have the poor animal eaten slowly by maggots and die from infection.


20 posted on 06/10/2008 7:15:48 PM PDT by Principled (Vaporize the "Divide and Conquer" taxes - Have everyone pay the same marginal rate!. NRST!)
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