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Thursday, January 17, 2008

Good Eggs

"A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."
Proverbs 12:10.

The UK Government is set to ban the production of battery-farmed eggs from 2012, and not a moment too soon (see BBC news report). For years we have only purchased free range eggs and eaten free range chicken meat. Of course, free range products cost more than the battery-farmed stuff. But what price a good conscience? The ban on battery farming should help to bring costs down eventually. I'm reminded that good old Wilber, who campaigned against the evil slave trade, was also an early advocate of the humane treatment of animals. What a good egg he was!

Battery farm grief

Free range joy

1 comment:

Tom said...

I just stumbled across this from an internet search, and thought I'd point out that this is a hugely empty victory. Contrary to the picture you posted, this is more typical of modern 'free-range' farms:

http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/AAKH001346/free-range-chickens?popup=1

In any case, even if all hens were roaming freely, they would still have their beaks cut off, and suffer from osteoporosis because humans have so distorted their genetics (by selective breeding) that they lay more eggs than their bodies can cope with.

In addition, millions of male chicks would still be summarily slaughtered at birth, because the industry has no need for them, and the hens themselves are killed far earlier than their natural lives would end.

I just don't understand why more Christians cannot grasp the obvious solution - stop using animal products altogether. Why create death and suffering in God's world, for God's creatures, when there are so many alternatives?