“Us” vs. “them”—that’s the mentality that gives humans the “excuse” to hate and cause harm. Real talk: This year of violence and unrest has lain heavy on the soul. In order to heal our society and ourselves, we need to start recognizing and reducing the violence in our day-to-day lives, including the violence that might accompany our “food.”
When it comes to the basic desire to live, humans are the same as pigs, cows, birds, and fish. There is no “them”—we are all us, humans and animals alike.
Animals just like these are systematically bred into a life of misery, locked in a cramped, filthy shed or cage for their whole lives. It doesn’t matter if their bodies will be labeled “humane” or not—they all wind up packed into this truck. This video captures their last moments on Earth.
They’re heading to the slaughterhouse, and they’re scared.
Hannah Gregus, a 22-year-old recent college grad who lives in Toronto, religiously visits these desperate, often thirsty, and exhausted animals as the truck makes a stop outside her house.
She knows that this is their last breath of fresh air and last chance to see the sun—through the holes in the sides of the transport truck.
Hannah gives them water, kindness, and apologies—apologies for what is happening to them and for the fact that she can’t give them the freedom they crave and can’t save them from the horror at the end of the trip. Then, she posts their final living portraits on Instagram so that everyone can “meet their meat.”
Imagine what it’s like to live in other bodies and endure their transport-truck horrors.
These moments with Hannah are likely the only kindness the animals have ever experienced. And soon after, slaughterhouse workers slit their throats and cut up their bodies to be distributed to meat aisles around the country.
There’s a silver lining to this story of violence: We all have the power to help stop it from happening to even more animals.
Lesson of 2015: If you want to reduce the pain in the world by saving more than 100 animals every year from ever setting foot inside that transport truck, all you have to do is stop eating them! It’s really easy, and peta2 is always here to help you along the way. Start 2016 out right by helping animals.
