A bit of personal trivia.

During my RAAF years in Richmond NSW I had some accrued leave, and we Rif Raffers would often go to the local Abbotoirs at Rivestone to pick up some casual work during off time.
I went..for 2 days.. I felt like I was in hell.

My job was the first bloke on the line after the sheep had their throats cut, after which they were hung in these hook things upside down. (back feet only) They arrived to me up the stairs from the slaughter area still kicking, shaking, and bleeding. I had to push two sheep at a time forward so another bloke could hook their front paws into other hooks, after which their skins were ripped off.

Some were still alive when their skins were ripped off them.

I lasted 30minutes on that before I was out of energy, both emotional and physical. So they put me in the 'rendering' section.. aka Dante's inferno. Myyyyyy goodness.. a long line of huge boiler things, steam everywhere.. and large cauldrons on blocks and tackles.
All the other workers had bandages and dressings over their heads arms and necks.. After a while I asked why, they said due to the wounds inflicted by the unpredictable spitting of the poorly maintained boilers of molten fat on them.
Then I had to climb up and stand knee deep in a caulron of mush..comprising partially rendered heads and feet etc..which I had to shovel into these rail trolley things.

Hmm.. come to think of it.. it WAS HELL... if I am ever reduced to having that as my only choice of work, I'll say a quick prayer asking forgiveness and drink some concentrated roundup. No offense to any meatworker here.. I'm sure things are better now.

Other than that.. there are many interesting points here being raised. I was not aware that the Muslims had requested all meat be slaughtered halal and that underlines the importance of the debate about cultural intrusion by minorities.

David I had an idea that all our meat was being processed the Halal way. How else can a place like Krispy Cream donughts or local butchers be able to access Halal meat. I couldn't say for sure because I didn't know for sure but it doesn't surprise me.

The fact that it is a Islamic Law matter is a serious concern. How can our Government be so blase in relation to matters of such significance and that set such precedents. How can they not realise the implications of what they have done.

Our Government would sell our soul to protect their own reputation and position of power.

I really am interested to know what Muslims think about this. Do they think it is fair and right? Would they agree with the opposite being done in their Country?

David
Appreciate your sharing

Little's changed. Malaysia's keen to increase trade with Australia.
Instead of the “State Governments- Labour actually developing a policy to support Australia they have signed contracts to send more alive overseas 'with our jobs and knowing! their treatment.

Bare with me Jolanda its connected. A few days ago again! we had Australian Animals chased dowbn Streets and attacked with axes. Whats JH saying and his Minister - Gee Wiz they promised me they wouldnt do that anymore!!
We ship out the jobs and then they sell it back to Australian Muslims and the billion dollar world wide market. Yes Jolanda eventually that’s all that will be available.

If we can stop live exports we can start "then insist" on improvements especially at the local plants save our jobs and have control over standards in our own country.

If we dont ?
David A little off topic but your kind offer on your other thread to have me post the letter to Salivation Army re drought Appeal is gratefully accepted.
I could not reply at the time.
I was wondering if you might perhaps open another thread at some stage and invite input into the letter.
You have a real gift David with your writing.


I don’t believe a religion [any religion] should be the guideline for slaughter methods.

It should be the kindest to the animal.

You are correct it does outline the importance of the debate about cultures.

As I said Kosher is THE cruelest of all.
.

Not all abattoirs In Australia are Halal[ Yet].
If we can’t agree on religion we should at least agree to slaughter in a method of the MOST humane manner
Then Kosher, Christian, Muslim people who DON’T like that and WON’T except that should as you mentioned David go to Hell.

Jolanda Muslims don’t mind people eating non Halal products. However it is forbidden to them

Please see many pages Halal Australia
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=halal+meat+foods+australia&hl=en&cr=countryAU&start=0&sa=N

This one is of particular interest>.

http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/malaysia/fta/factsheets/agribusiness.html

Antje Struthmann

Antje - Why should Muslim people mind others eating non Halal meat? I don't mind others eating Halal meat.

I dont like the idea that Halal meat has been forced onto the people without any debate or imput from Australians requested by our Government. That was a rather large decision to make on their own!!

I despair when I think of the animals. Stressing animals is the same as stressing humans. It triggers Mycoplasma infections in animals and this disease is highly contagious and makes animals, including humans, very lethargic and sick.

It is in our healths interest that our meat is slaughtered in the most humanely way.

Jolanda.

You misunderstood me. Animals slaughtered in a non halal way are forbidden meat "To Muslims". It is 'Haram' [forbidden] "to them "

http://www.google.com.au/search?
hl=en&q=haram+non+halal+meat+forbidden&btnG=Google+Search&meta=cr%3DcountryAU

Read From Here>
We may eat with them and they with us. But this general proclamation of permission is preceded by a reiteration of the statement: ‘All good things have been made lawful to you.’ This indicates that if the People of the Book either do not observe those principles of cleanliness and purity which are considered obligatory by the Law or if their food includes prohibited items, then one should abstain from eating them.

If, for instance, they either slaughter an animal without pronouncing the name of God or if they slaughter it in the name of anyone else but God it is not lawful for us to eat that animal.

Likewise, if intoxicating drinks, the flesh of swine, and any other prohibited thing is found on their dining table we may not justify our partaking of such items on the ground that the persons concerned are People of the Book.

The same applies to those non-Muslims who are not People of the Book, except for one difference-that whereas the animals slaughtered by the People of the Book are lawful provided they have pronounced the name of God at the time of slaughtering them, we are not permitted to eat the animals killed by non-Muslims who are not People of the Book.”

Jolanda

Muslims regard meat very differently to us.
I know I will offend many a good Muslim person by puting it this way to you. Its as important to them as our Beer is to Aussies.
I have always thought personally that Mohamed had marketing skills and what better way to control an industry!

He who has control of the meat industry world wide- rules.
Australians have no control as our Governments both! labour and the Libs stick their heads in the sand.

Its a six hundred billion dollar per year Industry and close to more like a trillion dollar.
Thats a lot of control leaving aside Animal Welfare concerns

I've been wondering how much meat - halal or otherwise - is involved in the creation of a "Krispy cream doughnut" anyway? The very notion inspires mental images that make me slightly bilious. Give me a nice falafel anyday :)

Or perhaps poor Jolanda's confused with halal flour, sugar etc? In which case it's hard to imagine that the wheat is threshed and milled, or the sugar cut and crushed, in any crueller process than that by which any other such food is processed.

Maybe the certification of 'halal' (i.e. permitted) for these kinds of foods is a kind of religious equivalent of the Heart Foundation 'tick' - notwithstanding the improbability of "Krispy cream doughnuts" being awarded the latter appellation.