“We The People – Finding Global Solutions for Global Problems”, the 67th United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) Non- Governmental Organizations (NGO) Conference was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, August 22 -23, 2018.
Those present committed themselves to foster people centered multilateralism to address global challenges, to uplift those whose human rights are most under threat, and to protect our planet by living in harmony with nature. This multilateralism shares responsibility and accountability among all stakeholders. It was noted that youth (people under age 30) are currently half of the world’s population, and that multinational corporations are beneficiaries of a dramatic shift of power. A Call To Action was adopted to ensure that the 2030 Agenda leaves no one behind.
It was also affirmed that far too many are being left behind, and that benefits for some come at the expense of others, especially the most vulnerable. It was mentioned that colleagues and friends are being arrested, abducted, and even murdered with impunity. Progress towards sustainable development requires a multinational system that provides effective safeguards for all.
Through the conference outcome document, attendants pledged to work together to guarantee that the benefits of development are shared equitably by all, now and in the future.
This organization of people who are peace and sustainable development oriented has done a wonderful job of addressing many issues, but it doesn’t go far enough. There are additional considerations in the global situation which may still need to be addressed. For example:
Climate While it is applaudable that cities, counties, and even entire countries are becoming 100% sustainable energy users, this does not address the main source of climate change: the meat and dairy based diet. The massive amount of animal feces from raising animals for food, is the largest source of airborne methane in the United States, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Methane traps heat in the atmosphere 20 times more effectively than carbon dioxide.
Pollution The meat industry causes more water pollution in the United States than all other industries combined. Animals raised for food produce 130 times more excrement than the entire human population, but without the sewage system.
Agriculture More than 45% of earth’s total land is devoted to raising animals for food. 3.5 billion more people could be fed by growing plants for human consumption on land currently used to grow crops for farmed animals.
Deforestation Animals raised for food are the number one cause of deforestation as forests are cut down to provide grazing for cattle.
Nature Animal agriculture is the number one cause of wild life habitat loss, and species extinction. Wild animals are expected to lose 2/3 of their population by 2020.
Hunger More than 80% of starving and hungry children live in countries where food is grown to feed animals raised for food.
Population Youth currently comprise half of the 7 billion human population. Animals raised for food account for more than 70 billion individuals. Two out of three of these individuals is raised intensively (factory farmed).
While attending the Conference, I had breakfast in the UN cafeteria. I saw fresh fruit, which is a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and energy. But on the other side was sausage, and eggs. Factory farmed pigs who ultimately become bacon and sausage live in the worst oppression imaginable. The egg industry is one of the most violent on earth, with 6 billion male chicks murdered annually in the USA alone, and the females mutilated so that they are unable to commit suicide due to their life of exploitation and suffering. At lunch in the UN Café, I could find no vegan alternatives, but chicken sandwiches were prevalent. These birds suffer immeasurably, and eating them has proven to cause heart disease, diabetes, and cancer in people, with the accompanying burden of health care costs.
Yet there is no ‘room at the table’ for the interests of these individuals who are the most vulnerable.
Corporations, benefactors of the dramatic shift of power in the world today, are being held accountable for their actions. Australia’s largest live sheep exporter, Emanuel Exports, recently had its license revoked. After sheep are no longer considered profitable, they are shipped alive. More than 100,000 liters of urine and feces accumulates on a typical live export ship every day during the weeks that the sheep are on board. The ship won’t be ‘washed out’ until after they disembark. There is no food or water for the animals, and heat makes on-board conditions catastrophic. When temperatures soar, sheep are literally cooked alive. Any live animal needing to lie down risks being buried in excrement. Those who survive will continue to suffer, now surrounded by the dead bodies of their companions.
Heavily pregnant ewes are shipped for slaughter like every other animal. They will endure the trauma of live export while going into labor and giving birth. Babies born on live export ships will lose their mothers, be trampled, or be killed by distressed crew members who are routinely ordered to slit the babies’ throats. Weeks later, when they arrive in the Middle East, those individuals remaining alive will be slaughtered in the most horrific ways imaginable. All this is after enduring a lifetime of suffering.
Sheep raised for wool routinely live a life of constant suffering. Shearers are paid by weight, not by time. It does not matter to them if an ear, breast, or testicle is sheared off. If an animal does not survive being sheared, it is cooked and eaten by workers in full view of the survivors, who know exactly what is happening. No medical attention is provided, even for the most serious conditions.
Thanks to Animals Australia, corporations providing live export will no longer be tolerated.
The Save Movement is the fastest growing grass roots movement in the world today. It is currently comprised of 450 chapters in 50 countries. Activists bear witness to pigs, cows, chickens, and other farmed animals on route to slaughter. They give water and some comfort to those individuals about to be ‘murdered with impunity’ to provide “pleasure for some at the expense of others, especially the most vulnerable”. The Save Movement’s goals are to raise awareness about the plight of farmed animals, to help people become vegan, and to build a mass animal justice movement.
The real global challenge is to protect all those whose ‘rights are most under threat’, and all those who are ‘murdered with impunity’. Everyone on planet Earth deserves ‘a place at the table’, to be treated with respect and dignity, and given rights, regardless of their perceived value, and a share in the promise to ‘leave no one behind’.
Leave a Reply