Help us stop this torture

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Monday, September 01, 2008
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This is SouthWales

WHEN visiting Mumbles last week, I saw a small group of

protesters gathered peacefully outside one shop, which, I later

discovered, sold foie gras.

I couldn't quite read what was written on their placards. I

walked nearer to see, and the sign read Torture Victims. I was

so moved and horrified I felt I should share with readers who,

like me, are totally unaware of what was written.

It's no wonder foie gras has been dubbed "torture in a tin".

Ducks and geese are being driven from the ponds and into

intensive farms in their millions, where they are ritually

abused in the name of fine dining.

Every year in France, 30 million ducks are forced into cages

so small they can't stretch their wings. Trapped and helpless,

a metal tube is thrust down their throats and vast quantities

of food are pumped into their stomachs so that their livers

swell painfully up to 10 times their normal size.

There is no escape and no respite. The suffering of it!

The treatment of these birds is so extreme it would be

illegal in this country. However, free trade laws mean that

every year we import tons of these livers, marketed as an

expensive delicacy. For the millions of female ducklings born

in France, another horror awaits. They are tossed alive into

electric mincers at just a few days old, their only crime being

that they don't put on weight as quickly as their brothers.

Help make Britain a foie gras-free zone.

I felt compelled to write in as a caring person who was

totally ignorant as to what foie gras was and, even more so, to

what ends it is made. I for one was very humbled to have met

these people who take time out to peacefully protest in the

name of decency.

Visit www.viva.org.uk/foiegras

Karen Bartle

Gorseinon, Swansea

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6 Comments

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    by M Wood, Mumbles

    Wednesday, September 10 2008, 1:31PM

    “I agree with G Thomas - I was offered a leaflet by the people outside Mumbles Fine Wines and had no idea they were selling this disgusting product. I will certainly not be shopping there again unless they stop doing so despite the fact that I have been a customer for years. The people who gace me the leaflet were polite and dignified and I wish them every success. It's not many people in this day and age who will actually take some time to try and make a difference. It's much easier to sit in your armchair and criticise like Swansea Jock. Also I would like to know what humanitarian work Swansea Jock is involved in helping the downtrodden of the world that he is so concerned about?”

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    by G.Thomas, Swansea

    Wednesday, September 10 2008, 10:05AM

    “Swansea Jock; while your entitled to your own opinion, it would be far fairer if what you were stating was based on fact. I have also seen the demonstrators outside Mumbles Fine Wine - they have information if people want to read it, they do not challenge anyone who wants to go inside and they do not hinder anyone from going inside the property. They offer you the information and you have every right and opportunity to decline without any challenge. So, for you to state that & accuse them of such is slander and/or libel. They have not made any statement that geese are more important than humans, so you have nothing to base that on either. They have every right to peacefully express their views, as are you, but the difference seems to be they do not resort to false allegations of criminal activity, like you just have. While you state "the only view these protesters have is their own" is stating the obvious given the actual theory of having a view - your view is you don't think fois gras is an issue, so "the only view swansea jock has is his/ her own!" ? your arguement isn't consistent with sense and I think you should reconsider making false accusations or making extreme comments about something you clearly have no knowledge of.”

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    by claire batchelor, swansea

    Thursday, September 04 2008, 8:49PM

    “The production of foie gras is so cruel that it is banned in the UK and yet businesses continue to sell it regardless of the suffering involved. Thank goodness some compassionate people care enough about these poor geese and ducks to do something to challenge it.”

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    by Linda Myers, Swansea

    Thursday, September 04 2008, 3:03PM

    “I have been in Mumbles on two occasions when these demonstrators have been outside of Mumbles Fine Wine, and neither time have I felt intimidated. I also truly believe that animal rights folk value humans as much as they value animals, after all who said we are more superior?!”

  • Profile image for This is SouthWales

    by Swansea Jock, Swansea

    Wednesday, September 03 2008, 10:57PM

    “who really cares other than an extreme minority? A few well meaning individuals are then highjacked by the looney mob. First the legitimate businesses receive emails and letters, then rent-a-demonstrate turn up outside, peacefully intimidating the legitimate businesses and their customers, and then what happens if the legitimate business refuses to stop selling whatever it is that the mob decides is bad?
    Pity the poor downtrodden peoples of the world, when duck and geese are more important than the poor and the starving. And I have heard this stuff actually tastes of snot, but it is still not illegal to sell it. The only view these protesters have is their own, they are not interested in anyone elses point of view. They right we wrong.”

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    by chris tofer thomas, swansea

    Monday, September 01 2008, 2:17PM

    “it does taste nice though”

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