Certain customs, passed down from generation to generation, stand the test of time. We outgrow others as times change — and that’s not always a bad thing.
Animals have been victims of cruel human traditions for far too long, and it’s time to put an end to these five practices.
1. Hunting
Hunting was once a necessity for survival, providing food, clothing and materials to make tools. But after agriculture emerged, hunting became a form of entertainment.
Weapons with night vision and automatic focus, allow hunters to take down an animal from miles away. Sometimes hunters even have the added advantage of pursuing their target in an enclosed park, where animals are bred for the sole purpose of being hunted. It’s not a necessary fight, much less a fair one.
Modern hunters maintain that their actions help with conservation efforts, but scientific research has disproven that claim. Instead, many animals are being hunted to near extinction. Costa Rica banned the practice after thousands of concerned citizens expressed their concern. It’s time for every state and country in the world to follow suit.
2. Rodeos
What started in the 1800s as a competition among cowboys turned into a huge event so popular that it is the official sport of Wyoming, South Dakota and Texas.
The “show” is extremely violent with events like roping, in which a rider yanks a calf by its neck into the air, slams the animal down on the ground and ties its legs together, leading to severe injury– or even death.
Behind the scenes, animals are tortured before the competition even begins. Cruel devices like electric prods and metal spurs make the usually tacit animals overreact and give the daring cowboy more of a challenge.
The United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the city of Pasadena, California, are among the places that have recognized the cruelty in rodeos and banned the practice. Unfortunately, an estimated 30 million people still attend rodeos every year, considering them to be a fun tradition.
3. Zoos
Most people have a fond memory of visiting a zoo as a child. What’s not to love when observing exotic creatures? Sadly, for the animals on the other side of the cage, it’s not such a fun experience.
Even the largest enclosure cannot compare to the freedom of the wild, and captivity takes a toll on wildlife health, lowering life expectancy and altering behavior.
Conservation is not a a valid excuse to keep animals under lock and key, as these creatures bred in captivity won’t be released back into the wild.
Why not start a new tradition of visiting an animal sanctuary instead?
4. Bullfighting
Bullfighting is a major cultural tradition, especially in Spain. The “show” consists of a matador luring a bull in a sand arena and stabbing him to death to the viewers’ applause.
In the words of comedian and activist Ricky Gervais, “It’s terrified already — the crowds shouting — it’s disorientated, it just wants it to stop. It’s done nothing wrong, this bull.”
The first bull fight dates back to the 12th century, when people also gathered to watch criminals get stoned to death. Today, this violent tradition has no place, and waning audiences highlight that fact. 60 percent of Spaniards oppose bullfights.
In Southern France, bullfights were removed from the cultural heritage list. Catalonia has banned them too. Meanwhile, Alicante has replaced its usual running of the bulls with a cycling race. Villafranca de los Caballeros ditched its annual bullfight, and the city used the money saved to buy books for needy kids. Next time you travel, skip the bullfight.
5. Meat consumption
Perhaps no tradition is more embedded in our culture than carnism, or eating meat. As a society, we love our pets and don’t want to intentionally harm animals, but we don’t think twice about eating a double cheeseburger with bacon. Once upon a time, eating meat was necessary for survival, but today it makes no sense.
Science has shown that a plant-based diet is not only complete in nutrients, but also healthier than a diet supplemented by meat. And that’s without even factoring in the horrors of factory farming, the environmental toll of meat production and the impact on world hunger.
There’s certainly value in longstanding cultural practices, but sometimes “it’s just the way things have always been done” can become an excuse. It’s time to retire that tired statement, as well as these cruel institutions.
This article was first published by Care2.com on 01 Sep 2017.
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