tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060262614421430567.post2162849973984079925..comments2023-07-28T12:45:16.010+01:00Comments on Ahmed's Chunks: That pig cullAhmedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11258780928267576523noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060262614421430567.post-26801638348853739072009-05-12T01:00:00.000+01:002009-05-12T01:00:00.000+01:00I should add that the position some muslims take o...I should add that the position some muslims take on swine flu is ignorant and stupid. There is no case for us to gloat here. The flu virus is constantly evolving. There was a strain that was first carried by birds, then it evolved into a strain that humans can carry too. Now we have another strain that first managed to find itself a home among pigs, and then evolve into a human-carriable form. And so on. We don't know what or where the next-evolution carrier will be. <br /><br />I do not eat pig, because I think it is an unclean animal, and whatever miniscule parts I've eaten of it, I've found unpleasant, but trying to find a "sign" in swine flu - as some muslims seem to be doing - is stupid.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12009885036771508390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060262614421430567.post-63363390649119237192009-05-11T18:41:00.000+01:002009-05-11T18:41:00.000+01:00Avantcaire,
I'm typing this again from memory bec...Avantcaire,<br /><br />I'm typing this again from memory because I must have done something wrong first time round, or blogger's screwing me up.<br /><br />Anyway ...<br /><br />Main points:<br /><br />1. I agree. The government's decision seemed to be policy on the hoof. Improvised policy. Cull now, think later. Would have liked to be at that meeting: Hatem el Gebeily (Health minister) and his advisers.<br /><br />2. If egyptian media is now looking at the issue from the muslim/christian angle, I think that's because of the initial western reaction to the decision.<br /><br />There's a pattern: muslims get incensed that western media accuse them of intolerance, and christians relish the embarrassment of muslims.<br /><br />3. I would love to know exactly what the christian position is on pig meat. I remember several christian friends telling me they don't eat it and consider it an unclean animal. There's an argument that the jewish restriction also applies to christians. But I guess not all christians adhere to that interpretation.<br /><br />If you look at the UK defra site, you find that there are 5m pigs in the UK - for a 50m population. One pig for every 10 citizens approx. Plus the UK imports about as much pig meat from abroad. So, let's just say 1 pig for every five citizens is the overall consumption rate. In egypt, there are approx 300k pigs for an approx 6m christian population. I am not aware that egypt imports pig meat. The ratio is thus one pig for every twenty christian citizens. Which goes to show my point: christian consumption of pig meat in egypt is very low anyway.<br /><br />4. I simply cannot see how any group of people can say to another: "our cull policy is better than yours". Whether you HAD TO CULL, or not, the fact of the matter is you're actually rearing these animals to kill them.Ahmedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11258780928267576523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060262614421430567.post-64217674255192213562009-05-11T16:00:00.000+01:002009-05-11T16:00:00.000+01:00coupe of points:
the christian / muslim angle is ...coupe of points:<br /><br />the christian / muslim angle is the primary prism that the egyptian media seems to be looking at this story through as well btw.<br /><br />part of the reaction is to do with the govt's disinenuous initial reasoning of it having to do with swine-flu as opposed to opportunistic restructuring that the govt has been aiming for some time.<br /><br />the comparison with mad cow disease and foot an mouth is unfair too i think. mad cow disease can be passed on to humans by eating the beef and there was a foot and mouth epidemic in the uk - both cases needed immediate action to salvage the respective industries and i am guessing the farmers were fairly compensated.avantcairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10777004218047165775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060262614421430567.post-71202353161905459142009-05-11T13:03:00.000+01:002009-05-11T13:03:00.000+01:00The last I heard, they _will_ compensate.
The m...The last I heard, they _will_ compensate. <br /><br />The meat would not be 'diseased' because (a) they would presumably identify if the animal was infected first, (b) authorities all around the world have said it's okay to eat pig products because the disease cannot spread that way.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12009885036771508390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060262614421430567.post-66141353362345734162009-05-11T04:23:00.000+01:002009-05-11T04:23:00.000+01:00I am not sure where I read it now, but the article...I am not sure where I read it now, but the article stated that the confiscated pigs in Egypt would be slaughtered and so the authorities would not have to reimburse the owners for the taking of their property, the authorities said that they would be returning the butchered (and diseased?) meat to the owners. Imagine that! I wonder if that is the way the big pig kill is playing out over there?Mz.Many Nameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03024590325712635526noreply@blogger.com