Mass Swine-Flu Killing in Egypt and Remembering All the Pigs

by Stephanie Ernst · 2009-04-29 13:23:00 UTC
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Egypt's government has ordered (and begun) the slaughter of all the nation's 300,000 pigs, in response to the swine flu. Obviously, those pigs were all destined for early death regardless, but I have to wonder how such a large-scale slaughter is taking place. Given the urgency with which the nation is rounding up and killing the animals, I can only imagine what kinds and levels of terror, panic, and pain the pigs are being put through during the process.

The focus throughout coverage of the swine flu is its effects and potential effects on humans, and the concern for humans--and the grief for those who've died so far--is certainly warranted. Absolutely. But me? I'm also quietly grieving not only the 300,000 pigs being killed in Egypt as a result of the current panic, but also the hundreds of millions of pigs killed annually on this planet for human consumption. Each one of them was as complex, unique, and deserving of a full, free life as the loving dogs at my feet. Each one of them had the capacity for the range of emotions and experiences these dogs have. None of them wanted to die. Abuse, mutilation, boredom, confinement, trauma, and early death--that is the life of a pig. But each pig in every facility right now, at this very second, has thoughts and feelings and a desire to truly live. And I am grieving them too--because I know none of them will get to. And there will not be worldwide, mourning coverage of their deaths in astounding numbers.

Stephanie Ernst wrote the original Animal Rights blog at Change.org until December 2009. She can now be found at Animal Rights & AntiOppression.
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