http://rutlandherald.com/article/20121027/NEWS03/710279906
Published October 27, 2012 in the Rutland Herald
Protesters, students clash on oxen’s fate
By Lucia Suarez
STAFF WRITER
POULTNEY — Protesters gathered in front of Green Mountain College on Friday in a last-ditch effort to save oxen Bill and Lou from slaughter.
About 20 protesters from surrounding states converged with signs advocating for the safety and livelihood of the college’s 11-year-old oxen, who are set for slaughter at the end of the month. The protesters lined up along College Street with signs that read “Save Bill and Lou,” “Mascots not food” and “Respect existence or expect resistance.”
“We are here to save Bill and Lou,” said Jennifer Wolf, protest organizer with the New Hampshire Animal Rights League. “This is not a meat-eating issue or a vegetarian or vegan issue. This is about saving these animals and that they receive the retirement they deserve.”
Judith Romeo said she drove about two hours from Albany, N.Y., to Poultney specifically for the protest after hearing about the oxen through Facebook.
“I feel like many groups of animals have someone representing them (but) farm animals have nobody,” Romeo said. “They don’t have to die. I am here to show my support (for Bill and Lou).”
Green Mountain College has recently taken a lot of flak for its decision to slaughter the oxen after Lou sustained a recurring injury this year. Since the news broke several weeks ago, more than 45,000 people from around the world have signed online petitions in hopes of saving Bill and Lou, who have worked at the college for 10 years.
College spokesman Kevin Coburn said the college was very surprised about the outcry it has seen over the last couple of weeks and believes many groups and individuals are using Bill and Lou as a way to promote a “very extremist agenda” — no meat consumption at all.
“We run a small farm on campus that serves as a venue for education for our students,” Coburn said. “They are learning about the ethical choices farmers have to make while running a small family farm.”
“The plan from the beginning was that (the oxen) would be processed for their meat,” he added. “There is a difference of opinion on campus, but there was a consensus (to kill them).”
About two dozen students also gathered in front of the protesters to support the college’s decision.
Jena Stevens, a senior at the college, said her main reason to attend the protest was to support her college. She said that although she is a vegetarian, she completely supports GMC’s decision.
“Green Mountain is such a small community. We can come together to support each other,” Stevens said. “I am here because of the crazy backlash that we have gotten.”
She added that college officials have been very transparent about this decision, hosting several campus-wide forums and discussions before making the ultimate decision.
“We are trying to practice what we preach,” Stevens said.
While the majority of the students showed their support for the college’s decision, a couple of students stood with the protesters opposing the killing of Bill and Lou.
Junior Lilly Byers said the two oxen have been overworked and should be retired at a rescue or sanctuary.
“I think their minds were made up (early on),” she said about the college’s decision. “I want to give these animals a voice.”
The peaceful protest eventually became an opportunity for people on both sides of the issue to start a discussion after a handful of students approached the protesters.
Mieko Lunetta, a senior at the college, said that although it was a difficult decision for her to make, especially as a vegetarian, she supports what has been decided. She said one of the benefits many students see from all of this is that it has started a conversation on campus to look at ways to reduce the amount of meat served by the college’s dining services and to find humanely raised local meat to serve.
Michelle Sinnott, a protester from Vermont Law School, said that although she can appreciate the college’s decision, Bill and Lou can be more than just the next meal on a student’s plate.
“I respect the hell out of your farm and the work you do,” Sinnott told Lunetta and several other students. “You guys have the opportunity to be really radical … and Bill and Lou can be a part of that.”
Coburn said he appreciated the discussions that arose among the students and protesters, adding that they were much more productive than the college being inundated by messages.
“These are the sort of dialogues that we like to have and do have (on campus),” he said.
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This is so stupid. Look at all those old people who think they know what's best for everyone.
ReplyDeleteIf Springfield had college students they'd be all over the selectboard and in the face of Town Managment
ReplyDeletePanicking cow kills Palestinian in Muslim feast
ReplyDelete6 hr ago |By Diaa Hadid
During the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice," a panicked cow killed a Palestinian butcher.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — A panicking cow killed a Palestinian man who was trying to slaughter the beast on Saturday during the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha, a Gaza health official said.
Muslims around the world slaughter sheep, cows and goats during the four-day holiday that began Friday to commemorate the sacrifice by their Prophet Ibrahim — known to Christians and Jews as Abraham.
But accidents are common as people frequently buy animals to slaughter at home instead of relying on professional butchers. The festive atmosphere surrounding the site of the slaughtering also tends to make the animals fidgety.
In addition to the death, Gaza heath official Ashraf al-Kidra said that 150 other people were hospitalized in the Gaza Strip with knife wounds or other injuries caused by animals trying to break away.
There were also two similar incidents in Pakistan on Saturday.
In the northwestern city of Peshawar, a bull escaped from untrained butchers and injured three people, including a 12-year-old boy. Police official Abdul Waheed said the bull was chased by dozens of people and re-captured an hour later.
DeleteIn southern city of Karachi, a young boy was lightly wounded by a runaway cow. Abdul Quddoos, the cow's owner, said it took two hours to reclaim the cow.
Impoverished families scrimp all year to pay for part of a sheep or cow for the holiday. Many also distribute the meat to even poorer families, giving the celebration a sense of communal solidarity.
Associated Press writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar and Shakiil Adil in Karachi contributed reporting.
Are they butchered yet? Today would be a good day to do it, lots of wind so you wont have the smell and the meat dries quicker. I'm hungry just thinking about it. Time to go water and feed MY cows. I'm glad I put one to butcher a few weeks ago, they get expensive to feed. Only 3 left!!
ReplyDeleteA state as broke and depressed as Vermont and there fighting over a cow's fate? That's epic....
ReplyDelete