The Cost of a Pandemic
A Meat and Dairy Industries Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM AnimalJusticeProject.com
May 2020

With over 200 zoonotic diseases recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), some of which are highly infectious, the underlying problems within our societies and industries could not be clearer.

Downloadable PDF: The Cost of a Pandemic Exposed Brochure

Sign the petition HERE:  We must demand an end to animal exploitation by corporations and push for innovative and environmentally-conscious plant-based farming

A pandemic created by a zoonotic disease can cause unimaginable upheaval and suffering. Those, including coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), HIV, Bird flu and Swine flu have devastated populations around the world. But what is the true cost of a pandemic? And who pays the price?

What are we dealing with & who pays for it?

The coronavirus pandemic that has engulfed the world is deadly to both human and non-human lives. With the toll of human victims increasing, the numbers of animals at the mercy of this disease is rapidly growing too. Supply and demand chains have been hugely affected. Millions of animals around the world are being buried alive and slaughtered on farm. They are treated as though they are objects we can simply throw away. Each individual, a sentient and feeling animal who wants to live and thrive, discarded. Whether they are fish from British fish farms or pigs and chickens on US farms, millions are dying indirectly from this pandemic.

"Farmed" fishes

Exposing existing problems

With over 200 zoonotic diseases recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), some of which are highly infectious, the underlying problems within our societies and industries could not be clearer. Animal exploitation – animal agriculture and aquaculture, the fishing industry and wild animal consumption – is the greatest cause of pandemics and epidemics. With increased pressure on these industries, the cracks are beginning to show. The truth is being revealed: animal agriculture is propped up by the government; when exploiting animals is no longer profitable, government bailouts are essential to keep these businesses going, which in turn shows the intense fragility of a food system that is heavily reliant on animal-based foods; taxpayers’ money is being used to fund these exploitative industries; violence is inherent within these industries and when problems are faced, violence is always their solution.

Bailing out animal exploitation

With the existing problems of how these industries are run now being fully exposed during this pandemic, we must urge the government to take responsibility and cease any and all funding promoting animal exploitation! There are currently many small slaughterhouses closed, £10 million has already been given to the fishing industry, £1 million has been committed to increase the public’s dairy consumption, plus £10,000 for each dairy farmer. Others, including the shellfish industry, are reaching out for help too. We are at a pivotal time. These industries have been propped up with bailouts and funding for too long. Resources are being lost and animals are paying the ultimate price. Violence is at the heart of these businesses and this is not what we should be supporting.

The need for change

The time for change is NOW. With desperate pleas coming from many animal-exploiting sectors, we must pressure the government to hand over funding only to industries willing to transition to less-destructive and kinder productions. We must demand an end to animal exploitation by corporations and push for innovative and environmentally-conscious plant-based farming. It has never been more urgent for us to demand whole system change and a move away from traditional abusive and violent cycles. People and animals are dying by the millions.

In the media

• Intensive farming practices provide the perfect environment for bacteria and viruses to spread across the world
• The UK’s fishing industry receives a £10m bailout from the government
•  Animal agriculture risks human health and is built on a system of violence
•  Rather than culling millions of animals, we must end animal agriculture completely
•  Dairy farmers receive £10,000 each plus the government invests in a £1m ‘Drink Dairy’ campaign
•  Mass killing of animals is taking place on farms due to slaughterhouse closures

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