Thought this should be put out there since SO many MDC moms seem to like IKEA..
Quote:
Unlike a traditional reindeer hunt, modern ranchers buzz over the animals in helicopters, herd them with snowmobiles and truck them hundreds of miles, causing them mental and physical stress.
Around 70 per cent of Swedish reindeer slaughtered are calves, which means they die without seeing snow, claims the animal welfare group Viva!.
I personally wouldn't know ANYTHING about IKEA since we don't have one here, and I have never shopped at one, so... not sure WHY so many MDC mamas like them, but I sure have read a lot here recommending them.. oh, and here's IKEA's response..
Quote:
"Modern equipment such as snowmobiles, motorcycles and helicopters are used because of the large size of the reindeer herding area (half the size of Sweden), which makes gathering the animals more difficult. The vehicles keep the reindeer safe from predators.
"In terms of transporting reindeer to the abattoir, our supplier follows the same law applying to all other domestic animals in Sweden which sets maximum transport time and breaks, access to water and so on."
I am guessing that "abattoir" is a nice name for slaughterhouse- not sure though, and too lazy to look it up right now..
Abbatoir is French for slaughterhouse, and it is also the usual term in the UK. Since your quotation is from a British newspaper, there is nothing "nice" or "fancy" about it, any more than Americans are being "nice" for saying ""cash register" instead of the good ol' British "till." It's just British English.
Viva is similar to PETA-- the goal is to get people to stop eating meat altogether, and there isn't anything IKEA can do short of not selling any meat, at all, that would satisfy the group. Which is fine, but it isn't really honest of them to come down on IKEA selling reindeer meat that sounds like it's treated the way any other meat livestock is treated in Sweden, by claiming that it's somehow worse than any other ranching. If one is really upset about IKEA's reindeer ranching practices, one probably will be upset about any meat consumption whatsoever and should just be a vegetarian. Why is Viva coming down especially hard on IKEA? It's a gimmick just because they think most British people aren't used to the idea of eating any kind of venison any more.
I'd have to agree. As one who is against all animal consumption, I don't have any more problem with IKEA than I do with any other company that sells meat. I do recognize that the idea of eating certain kinds of animals gets more public attention, though, so it's a smart move.
It's like if a resturant started selling meat made from puppies and dogs from a shelter. I wouldn't see it as worse than any other form of meat, but would hope that groups like PETA would be all over it for the news. The average consumer would probably be quite disturbed by a story like that and maybe they would start questioning why it's ok to kill baby calves for meat but it bothers them when dogs (or reindeer, horses, kittens, gorillas, etc.) are killed for meat.
I agree with lolar-- this doesn't bother me anymore than any other store that carries meat that comes from less-than-ideally-treated animals. I shop at conventional grocery stores that carry conventional meat, why should I boycott IKEA for doing the same? Doesn't make any sense to me.
One positive thing going for these reindeer is that unlike conventionally-raised US cows, these animals got to enjoy some freedom and some real life in the wild before meeting their end. I honestly feel like we need to get more riled up about some of our US beef practices (and chicken, and etc.) before we start going after fairly harmless companies like IKEA.
Originally Posted by LionTigerBear
I agree with lolar-- this doesn't bother me anymore than any other store that carries meat that comes from less-than-ideally-treated animals. I shop at conventional grocery stores that carry conventional meat, why should I boycott IKEA for doing the same? Doesn't make any sense to me.
One positive thing going for these reindeer is that unlike conventionally-raised US cows, these animals got to enjoy some freedom and some real life in the wild before meeting their end. I honestly feel like we need to get more riled up about some of our US beef practices (and chicken, and etc.) before we start going after fairly harmless companies like IKEA.
I agree with both Lolar and LionTigerBear. Factory farmed animals in the US NEVER have even a taste of freedom or peace. Most meat is really inhumanely raised/slaughtered.
I actually have more respect for people who hunt and eat what they kill than people who buy it in a neat package at the grocery store.
I'll still shop at Ikea, and I still won't eat meat.
Originally Posted by veganone
I agree with both Lolar and LionTigerBear. Factory farmed animals in the US NEVER have even a taste of freedom or peace. Most meat is really inhumanely raised/slaughtered.
I concur.
We eat local humanely raised meat, but I'll keep shopping at Ikea. I just don't get the meatballs...
I lived in Alaska in the early 90s and Pizza Hut had 'reindeer sausage' pizza's. I can't get nearly as upset about caribou being shot from helicopters/planes as I can about factory cattle/chicken farming. We eat kangaroo down here, so I can't get all that upset about eating 'symbolic' meat (by that I means something that's been anthropomorphized into a friendly story).
I lived in Alaska in the early 90s and Pizza Hut had 'reindeer sausage' pizza's.
Yeah, reindeer meat is fairly common there. I remember that a big advertiser during the winter was a company that would turn your hunt into products like reindeer sausage.
Originally Posted by veganone
I agree with both Lolar and LionTigerBear. Factory farmed animals in the US NEVER have even a taste of freedom or peace. Most meat is really inhumanely raised/slaughtered.
I actually have more respect for people who hunt and eat what they kill than people who buy it in a neat package at the grocery store.
I'll still shop at Ikea, and I still won't eat meat.
Originally Posted by athansor
I'd have to agree. As one who is against all animal consumption, I don't have any more problem with IKEA than I do with any other company that sells meat. I do recognize that the idea of eating certain kinds of animals gets more public attention, though, so it's a smart move.
It's like if a resturant started selling meat made from puppies and dogs from a shelter. I wouldn't see it as worse than any other form of meat, but would hope that groups like PETA would be all over it for the news. The average consumer would probably be quite disturbed by a story like that and maybe they would start questioning why it's ok to kill baby calves for meat but it bothers them when dogs (or reindeer, horses, kittens, gorillas, etc.) are killed for meat.
Originally Posted by the_lissa
Abbatoir is an actual common word, and not a euphemism. I'm surprised people don't know it.
Yep, it's an often used one here.
What I find amusing is the way the organization is pushing this idea of the reindeer as a cute cuddly critter that pulls santas sleigh.. that's as much a myth as the old guys sleigh itself. Reindeer can be like 6feet tall, they travel in herds and will run as a herd from any predator...including humans in helicopters. They would have been just as distressed if a few wolves had been rounding them up for dinner. I think the animals had far FAR more humane treatment than the millions of cattle & chickens raised in tiny cages & then slaughtered. as Lissa said.. abbatoir...it's not a pretty place.
In their herd behavior, they aren't much different than wild horses. However, there would likely be a huge uproar (at least in the states) if a business started selling horsemeat. (I'm not saying it's any worse than eating factory farmed meat...I guess eating a wild horse would be better than a feedlot cow...but I do think that the horses will get the public sympathy and would be a good way to get people to think about the issue).
Originally Posted by athansor
In their herd behavior, they aren't much different than wild horses. However, there would likely be a huge uproar (at least in the states) if a business started selling horsemeat. (I'm not saying it's any worse than eating factory farmed meat...I guess eating a wild horse would be better than a feedlot cow...but I do think that the horses will get the public sympathy and would be a good way to get people to think about the issue).
I've seen places that sold it. Didn't seem to be a big deal to the customers.
Originally Posted by alaskanteach
Are venison rounded up on helicopters? I really don't know hunting practices in Europe.
Wolves are shot from helicopters, and people are irrate about it, but I guess because they aren't eaten that is the difference?
No, you're missing the point. Those of us who are against animal cruelty/eating meat think that what the treatment you described above is NO WORSE than factory farming in the US (and, frankly, probably better). Factory farming and unethical hunting practices--of reindeer and wolves--are equally loathesome.
I've never had reindeer meat but it sounds delicious.
Um, it IS delicious. Sometimes we chop it and put it in spaghetti, or in omelettes..
course around here it is probably more accurately called carideer or reinbou.. Sheldon Jackson brought reindeer here for farming/ranching opportunities, but because of some illnesses and other problems, they (most, many) were released, and, um, hooked up with the locals
Originally Posted by tayndrewsmama
IKEA sells reindeer meat? Where? I have only been to one a couple of times, but I never saw anything like that at all.
Originally Posted by tayndrewsmama
IKEA sells reindeer meat? Where? I have only been to one a couple of times, but I never saw anything like that at all.
i was thinking the same thing.
also people eat dogs, horses, cats etc in other places around the world.. not sure why that would make people question whether or not to eat meat.
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