The Effectiveness of Hong Kong's Nature Conservation Policy

Designing Hong Kong has done an analysis on how the nature conservation objectives established by the government in 2004 has progressed. Not surprisingly, not much. For more info (Don't worry. It's not long like a thesis but quite simple and straight forward), please click here.

還是關於雞

說我膽小罷，猶記得小時候祖母在家裏殺雞，用刀把咽喉割開放血的情狀。我可以想像到它的恐懼，它本來溫暖的身體逐漸變冷。直到現在我還是寧願一輩子不吃也不願意做殺一隻雞。

雞肉不等於雞 by梁文道

對大部分在都市里成長的小孩來說，陪媽媽去街市可能就是他們最早的一次生命教育了。我上小學的時候，曾經目睹小雞孵化的整個過程。在老師的指導之下同學們要分組認養小雞，看著它們漸漸長大，嫩黃的絨毛裹著一顆蛋似的胖胖身軀，整天吱吱喳喳，可愛得不得了。後來呢？不知道為甚麼，我就是想不起來那些雞結果都到哪里去了。我對那些雞的最後印象，就是它們開始生出雞毛掃子般的羽毛了，叫聲也愈來愈像街市雞籠裏的那些雞……

母親至今不吃兔肉，因為她小時曾在市場見過肉販扭斷兔脖子的景象。我很明白她的心情，我也曾無數次站在雞檔之前定睛看著檔主用刀俐落地割開雞頸，再把它丟進熱水桶裏的情形。一瞬間，本來還在驚慌尖叫的雞一下子就變成了斷線的玩偶，只餘輕微的掙扎抖動。當它從熱水桶裏被提出來的時候，它已經徹底地沉默了，一地飛落的羽毛。

我沒有因此戒掉吃雞，就和其他見過屠雞卻依然吃雞的小孩一樣，我們都長大了。人皆有之的惻隱之心未必能讓所有人變成素食者，可是那短暫的矛盾卻教給了我們重要的一課，我們的生，靠的原是無數生靈的死。這一課如此殘酷，如此真實。乃致於後來有些人懂得感恩，有人知道要珍惜食物，大部分人則變得對一切冷淡漠然，因為生命本來無奈，並且荒涼，每一個去過街市的人至少都學到了一些事情。所以後來當我們吃雞的時候，我們會很清楚自己吃的不止是一種肉，而且是一種叫做雞的禽鳥，因為大家都曾見過雞變成雞肉的過程。

很快地，我們的下一代就不會再在市場裏看到這麼血淋淋的場面了。香港不准雞場繼續存在，也不想街市雞檔繼續自行宰雞。以後我們吃的雞要不是經過中央屠宰室，就是超市冰櫃裏那一團團用塑膠袋包好的肉，沒有頭，也沒有毛，當然更不會啼叫。下一代是幸福的，他們在吃雞肉的時候不會聯想到雞，電視上活蹦亂跳的雞與盤子裏令人垂涎的雞腿是兩回事，二者間的連系不見了，或者說被遮蔽了。

泰森食品（Tyson Foods）公司是全球最大的肉食供應商，每年生產二十億隻雞。在美國超級市場的貨架上，平均四隻雞裏就有一只是他們的。這是家典型的現代食品公司，他們的合約供應商全部採用工業化農場（industrial farming）的模式，是全世界畜牧業的典範。一走進去，你首先感到的是一股濃烈得熏眼的阿摩尼亞味，因為在一批雞被送進來然後再推去的那短短幾十天裏，根本就沒有為它們清理排泄物的需要。如此一家典型的制肉工廠通常可以同時容納三萬隻以上的材料雞，每只占去的空間不超過一張A4紙。換句話說，它們這一輩子幾乎是不用動的，就算想動也動不了。如果這還算是動物的話，它們的唯一動作就是進食、排泄，以及因為過度緊張而互相啄咬（同時生出一種會灌注肌肉的激素）。

到了該來的那一天，它們終於有了生平第一次走路的機會，以每小時七千兩百隻的速度列隊，蹣跚地邁向死亡。首先是被倒進一個充電的水池，目的是為了減輕工人下刀的難度。雖然他們卻對外宣稱這可以緩解雞的痛苦。可是研究表明，在被宰的那一刻，大部分的雞都還是清醒的。甚至到了泡熱水的最後一關，居然也還有三分之一的雞活著。於是在那個巨大的燙桶裏，它們死命抓踢桶身，爪子在鋼壁上急速刮出刺耳的聲音，眼球則因體內的壓力變化爆裂彈出，所以每次燙完一桶，水面都浮著一層眼珠。

如果市場裏現宰活雞的場面是血腥的個別謀殺，絕大部分冰鮮雞的背後就是納粹式的毒氣室了，分別在於我們看得見前者，卻目睹不了後者。

所以我們的下一代吃到的雞肉都是乾淨完全的肉，他們根本沒有任何機會把雞和雞肉聯繫起來，更無法想像這個轉變所需的步驟。也許，就像廣告裏的動畫一樣，那些雞都是快快樂樂，一邊唱歌一邊跳舞地變成了炸雞塊。除非他們有機會看到幾年前一個動物權益組織在某家肯德基供應廠裏偷拍的片段：那些工人把忙亂之中沒割死的雞當成足球，踢來踩去。又或者將它們摔到牆上，還用濺在上頭的血畫塗鴉……

Thich Nhat Hanh's Letter to KFC

Dear Mr. Novak,

I hope that this letter finds you in good health.

I have heard reports that KFC's suppliers cut the throats of conscious chickens, that many birds are still conscious when they are sent through scalding water, and that KFC refuses to persuade its suppliers to use methods that are more humane both for the chickens and for the humans who handle them. It also has been reported to me that chickens raised for KFC are genetically and pharmacologically manipulated to grow so unnaturally large, so quickly, that they are crippled by their own body weight. These are very distressing things to contemplate.

I have offered retreats for business leaders such as yourself; many of my friends are businesspeople too, and I understand the pressures you must be under. I also am certain that you do have a heart of compassion. If these reports are true, please, stop and reconsider. No feeling creature should be treated so cruelly. Treating chickens with brutality not only hurts every one of those birds; it hurts every one of us, including you yourself, and even your loved ones. If you look deeply, I am sure you will see this clearly and you will be determined to find another way. I believe you know already in your heart that our success in life cannot be measured in dollars and cents alone.

Please, reflect on this and do your best, at least to implement the recommendations of your own animal welfare advisors. I am here for you, as well, and would be glad to hear from you.

Thank you dear friend, for taking the time to read this letter.

Thich Nhat Hanh (Zen Master)

Source: Plum Village Practice Center

Watermelon

Watermelon, this is what this bear is called. He is blind and has spent his life in a bear farm cage until last year. While this may upset some people especially those who find even naming an animal an insult to science, I want to say that I think he is smiling and is happy. For more of Watermelon, click here.

What We Do

The video is from Jane Goodall Institute, but I think that it is not only about what JGI does but also what we, all of us, are doing that contribute to why they do what they are doing now.

What We Do from The Jane Goodall Institute on Vimeo.

Interview with Jane Goodall

"Every single day, we make an impact on the world." - Jane Goodall